Historic Home Buying In St Cloud MN

The Pantown Historic District is one of the most interesting neighborhoods in St Cloud. If you want to view many of these homes drive down 8th Street North.

Look around the corner from the factory and you will get a very nice view of the well preserved district. Pantown Historic Neighborhood was built for employees of Pan Motor Company and is a fun search area for historic home buyers.

 

History of the Pantown Historic District Homes

The Pantown District is a group of homes for the workers of the Pan Motor Company and the Pandolfo Manufacturing Company in North St Cloud MN. The auto plant was a 22 acre complex of buildings with underground tunnels and from 1917 to 1921. The factory produced approximately 750 vehicles. The location is now the Electrolux plant on 33rd Ave North.

Sam Pandolfo built over 50 homes for his factory workers. He also convinced the city of St Cloud to extend the sewer and water lines out to his new development. The neighborhood is known as Pantown and is classified as one of St Cloud’s 3 Historic Neighborhood Districts.

 

Both the Pan Motor Company building and the Pantown neighborhood are listed on the National Register of Historic Places:

Pan Motor Company Office and Sheet Metal Works (added 1984 – Building) 435-437 33rd Avenue North Saint Cloud and Pan Town Residential District (added 1982 – District) Thirty, Thirty-second, and Thirty-third Avenues North Saint Cloud.

 

The Pan Automobile is featured regularly by the St Cloud Antique Auto Club, Inc. in St Cloud. Check out the book “The Legend of Sam Pandolfo: Minnesota’s Pan Motor Company and its Legacy”. It is a great read to learn more and is available at the St Cloud Public Library.

 

The Barden Park Historic District in St Cloud MN is located right next to the St Cloud State University campus area. The address is 720 5th Avenue South, Saint Cloud, Minnesota. Barden Park, the oldest community park in St Cloud, is the gateway to the campus.

In 2005 Barden Park celebrated it’s 150th birthday. Barden Park is widely supported by the St Cloud community. The volunteer commitment from its inception is wonderful and they are active. A granite plaque in the park commemorates the volunteers from the St Cloud Reading Room Society. Circa 1880, the Reading Room Society was the original group of prominent female community enthusiasts.

History of Historic Barden Park District

Barden Park was originally know as Central Park. The name was changed in 1938 to honor Charles Barden, an early park director and benefactor to Barden Park. He is quoted by the St Cloud Historical and Neighborhood Preservation Association as saying “Beautify your city as you would your home.”

As the years passed the Barden Park area neighborhood grew up and so did the University. In fact St Cloud State University grew so much that through Imminent Domain there was the removal and destruction of many homes directly east of Barden Park. In fact the only home remaining east of the park has been preserved as the St Cloud State University Alumni House.

Barden Park Neighborhood Preservation

There was a plan to construct a 4 lane highway through this area too. A community group called NICE, Neighbors Interested in our City’s Environment, was formed to stop this from happening to the area. This group became known as the South/Southeast Neighbors Association, and they were successful as there is not a highway through the Barden Park Neighborhood.

In recent years there has been a great resurgence to save the historic homes in St Cloud. The neighborhood’s citizens are very active once again in protecting out heritage and historic homes. In 2005 St Cloud was awarded a Preserve America Community award by the First Lady, Laura Bush, and in 2010 St Cloud MN received the This Old House Best Old Neighborhoods Honor too.

St Cloud Historical and Neighborhood Preservation Association

SCHNPA, as it is casually nicknamed, the St Cloud Historical and Neighborhood Preservation Association, has played a very large part in the recent revival of historic preservation in St Cloud too. There are some rules that will come into play if you own or buy a Historic home in St Cloud, so before you begin a renovation project check to make sure you are in compliance with the local regulations.

Barden Park is anchored by an elevated granite band shell festooned with red white and blue bunting. Throughout the spring and summer season there are many activities held at Barden Park. The St Cloud Municipal Band will hold several free concerts at the band stand in Barden Park in upcoming weeks.

Barden Park is a wonderful place to gather, with plenty of picnic benches, a playground for the children, lots of cool shade provided by the majestic oak trees, and a lovely view of some of St Cloud MN’s historic homes.

Historic Home buying in St Cloud Made Easy

If you are interested in buying a historic home in the St Cloud area please contact me to help. I have lived in a Century old home for most of my life and would be happy to help you find yours.