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Dassel's Historic Properties
Dassel's Historic Preservation Commission is charged with identifying and encouraging preservation of those older buildings in the city with significant stories or unique architecture. To date four properties have been added to Dassel's historic property listing. The Commission is always looking for opportunities to add additional properties. If you have a property that might be worthy of inclusion contact the City Administrator
Universal Laboratories
901 1st St. N.
The Universal Laboratories building is nationally significant in the world of industry as a World War II-era supplier of ergot, an importand crude drug. The building is also significant under Minnesota's statewide historic context of Railroads and Agricultural Development. A botanical most often imported from Russia or Spain before the war, ergot is the active ingredient in medicines that treat a variety of ailments, including migraines and postpartum bleeding. Through the success of its ergot processing plant in Dassel, Minnesota Universal Laboratories became the country's first reliable, domestic producer of the crude drug and demonstrated that there was a sufficient domestic supply for the nation's needs. This achievement allayed pharmaceutical industry fears of an impending wartime shortage, and eliminated the need for drastic governmental measures. The period of significance for this building extends from 1937, when Universal Laboratories initiated ergot processing, through 1945, the war years. The plant actually continued production into 1971 before other sources of ergot eliminated its use. Today the Universal Laboratories building is on both the Dassel and the National Resister of Historic Places. This property was built in 1937 by O. H. Rice.
White Eagle Gas Station (Mushroom Bldg.)
501 1st S. N.
This building is a key landmark in Dassel's history as it relates to the transportation system that heavily impacted the development of the city and its commerce. Dassel had the good fortune to be located on what eventually became two key transportation routes, the east-west Hwy 10 (now Hwy 12) and the north-south Hwy 15. The novel and quirky shape of the building tells a story of architecture common in the early to mid-twentieth century along the nation's highways. This property was built in 1931 by Louis Belin.
Kauffman House
250 Pacific Ave
This property represents a significant step in the evolution of small-town medical care, having its origin as a home-based medical clinic built in the form of a residential house. In that roll, it represents a time when the railroad depot/downtown business district of Dassel was maturing into a thriving central hub of commerce and activity. This new structure contributed to the vitality of that era. It has maintained its physical integrity wiht the exception of the closing in the front porch, and the addition of aluminum storm windows. The structure was built in 1897 by Dr. John H. Kauffman.
Railroad Park Bandstand
Railroad Park on Atlantic Ave
This structure exemplifies cultural and social heritage of the Dassel area community. That cultural heritage is the town center business and social life common to small, rural communities, including Friday or Saturday night store openings and community band concerts. While Dassel was not unique, it was quite representative with the structure being the last vestage of those twentieth century years when downtown life was vibrant. This property was originally constructed in 1915, with significant modification in 1976 and 2004.