Section Foreman's House

Built in 1902 by the Great Northern Railway, the Section Foreman’s House was home to the local section foreman and his family. The section foreman was responsible for the maintenance, repair, and upkeep of approximately twenty-five miles of track along the line. Since it was often difficult to find decent and affordable housing off company property, the railway built these prefabricated homes where foremen only paid for utilities. The homes were all built to the same specifications so carpenters could quickly assemble them. Also, if a foreman and his family had to move, their furniture would fit perfectly in the new space. Although many section foreman houses were built in desolate and mundane areas, the house in Wayzata was special for its prime location on a perfect stretch of beach with a million-dollar view across Wayzata Bay. Today it is one of the very last section foreman houses to survive in Minnesota and might be repurposed for public use in the near future.