S. B. Strait House

Standing before the S. B. Strait House, you might feel like you’ve stepped back in time. It’s all that remains of a town that never really got off the ground. Just a few miles from the hustle and bustle of today’s bustling Minneapolis, a quiet story unfolds. It’s a story of bold ambition, dreams, and the river that shaped life in this part of Minnesota for generations. St. Lawrence was destined to be the river haven of its day, a bustling hub on the banks of the mighty Minnesota. At least that was the grand plan. It was 1858, and four ambitious entrepreneurs – Samuel Strait, W. H. Stodder, C. L. Pierson, and Warren DeCamp – had a vision. They envisioned a thriving community, a vibrant center for river traffic, complete with a sawmill, blacksmith shop, general store, and even a grand hotel. The future seemed bright, and they poured their hopes and resources into this paper town, a community that would be built from the ground up. But as time went on, their ambitious dreams began to crumble. The allure of nearby settlements like Jordan and Shakopee proved stronger, and their dream town was left behind. St. Lawrence, tragically, would never become the booming river hub they imagined. Though the heart of St. Lawrence faded, the S. B. Strait House persists. It stands as a silent testament to the dreams of a lost town, a tangible reminder of a time when the Minnesota River held the key to a community’s success. Today, this house serves a different purpose. It’s a touchstone to history, welcoming visitors to learn about the dreams that bloomed and faded along the river’s edge. Look closely at the S. B. Strait House and you can almost hear the echoes of a town that never was. Imagine the bustling activity around the hotel, the clanging of the sawmill, the rhythmic hammering of the blacksmith. The house is a reminder that plans change, dreams shift, and occasionally, the river has its own plans for the land. While St. Lawrence may be a ghost town, the story it whispers through the S. B. Strait House rings with an enduring lesson about the strength of human ambition and the often-unpredictable course of history. This humble dwelling, a reminder of a dream that once seemed so grand, now carries a new significance. Here, you’ll stand in the heart of a town that never was, and marvel at the enduring power of stories that span generations. Each year, the house invites you on a journey through the past. The S. B. Strait House, a reminder that even the most ambitious dreams can be swept away by the currents of time.