This property appears to have been owned by the Irwin family. John W. Irwin was a Scotsman, born in New Brunswick, Canada. [or Maine] He became known throughout northern Minnesota as a partner in the Irwin & O’Brien Lumbering operation, and Irvine Avenue in Bemidji is named for him.
In 1900, the family was boarding at Markham Hotel – Occupation: Lumbering, Wife Hattie, born May 1964 in Missouri. Son, age 6, Walker Irwin, born May 1894 in Minnesota.
In 1905, the Irwin family lived at 700 Minnesota Avenue. Two sons, Walker and Kenneth. Occupation: Lumbering. He was a Charter Member of Bemidji Elks Lodge 1052 in 1906.
“The friends of J. W. Irwin, who has made his home in this city for the last ten years, are congratulating him on the fine showing which is being made by his fast little pacing mare, “Isinetta.” “Isinetta” was bought by Irwin from W. J. Phelps in this city in 1906, and considerable local interest is taken in the horse since she became the property of Mr. Irwin. The little mare was carefully trained by Mr. Phelps and has at all times exhibited a world of speed.” (1908)
Fast Horse Owned By J. W. Irwin in State Fair Feature Race. (1910)
Bemidji horsemen and other local sportsmen who are lovers of horse racing were greatly interested in the outcome of the free-for-all pacing race, which was the feature event of the speed program at the state fair Monday afternoon. This interest was occasioned by the fact that the owner of Isineta, one of the speediest entries in the race, is owned by J. W. Irwin, for many years a resident of Bemidji and known all over Beltrami county as a member of the big logging firm of Irwin & O’Brien. Mr. Irvin purchased Isineta from “Dad” Phelps, the veteran driver of Minneapolis, five years ago, when “Dad” was participating in the races which were being held on the fairground tracks in Bemidji. (1910) Along with Walter J. Markham, J. W. Irwin purchased the St. Louis Hotel in Duluth on Dec 4, 1911, and he planned to be an active manager of the hotel.
By 1909, the property at 700 Minnesota was owned by W. W. Browne.
Waldron W. Browne was born in Georgia in Sept 1867. He was married to Bertha Mehring on October 16, 1899 in Hennepin County. They lived in Bemidji in 1900. They appear to have purchased the property from J. W. Irwin. In 1909, Browne advertised the building on the property. For Sale: A snap: Building 16×32, new sills siding and floors, $300. Cash if moved at once. 700 Minnesota Ave. (1909)
Waldren Brown owned the Armstrong Café. They had twin girls, Verna and Vera Browne, born April 27, 1908. A new single family dwelling was built in 1910.
In 1910, he purchased the Orpheum Vaudeville Theatre in Jamestown, North Dakota, only to have the property destroyed by fire the first night it was open. That was December 8, 1910. The family moved to Stony Plains, Alberta, Canada in June 1912.
Mr. and Mrs. Philip Gill moved into the house and advertised for a girl for general housework for family of two. Mrs. Philip Gill (July 20, 1912). They appear to have lived in the house for several years. It was next owned by the G. W. Harnwell family.
Gordon Harnwell married Edith Kate Wismer. Their son George was born in Minneapolis in 1907. The family lived in North Dakota in 1910. By 1916, they were at 700 Minnesota Avenue.
The Win One class of the Methodist Sunday school will give a “Batlatnat” social at the home of Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Harnwell, 700 Minnesota avenue, Monday evening, Oct. 30. The purpose of the social is to have a get-together meeting and boost the work of the class. (Oct 23, 1916)
A daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Harnwell, 700 Minnesota avenue, named Jean Constance Harnwell on June 12, 1917.
The Women’s Home Missionary society of the Methodist church will meet at the G. W. Harnwell home, 700 Minnesota avenue, this evening at 7:30 o’clock. All members are
requested to be present. (Oct 4, 1917)
The Home Guards and Mother Jewels of the Methodist church will meet with Gordon Harnwell, 700 Minnesota avenue, tomorrow afternoon at 3 o’clock., Everyone welcome. (May 3, 1918)
The Harnwells moved to 923 Beltrami Avenue before 1920. He was the manager of a lumber company in Bemidji. Their children in 1920 were George, Howard, Alice, Lillian, and Jean.
By 1921, 700 Minnesota Aven was owned by Dr. McCann.
Dr. and Mrs. D. F. McCann and family have moved in from their summer cottage at Birchmont to their residence at 700 Minnesota Avenue. (Aug 26, 1921)
Dr. and Mrs. McCann Entertained friends at their home (1922)
The owners in the 1930s and the 1940s were the Stout family.
James DeGarmo Stout was born at Clear Lake, Wisconsin on April 19, 1898. During WWI, enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He was married to Selma Ajer in Wisconsin in October 1923. In 1925, he was employed by J.C. Penney in Bemidji. They lived at Grand Forks Bay in 1927. He became the manager of Penney’s in Bemidji in 1929. In 1942, he was listed in Who’s Who in Minnesota, 1942. He was a commander of the American Legion.
President Charles Sattgast and his wife Bertha moved to this house between 1951 and 1953. Mrs. Bertha Sattgast died in 1957.
President Charles Sattgast left BSTC the fall of 1943 to begin training at Fort Custer. Michigan. Sattgast returned to the campus after military leave to officially resume his duties as president of the college. At this time work was progressing on the new laboratory school which opened in 1950 and Bemidji State Teachers College was entering the greatest period of growth and expansion in its history. Mrs. Bertha Sattgast died in 1957. Dr. Sattgast remarried in 1959. Under his guidance the college campus grew from 20 acres to 74 acres. A graduate program was started and was flourishing in 1964. He encouraged a start of the liberal arts programs. Plans were on the drawing board for the A.C. Clark library at the time of his death. He sincerely wanted Bemidji State to be and felt that it was “the friendly college.” Charles Sattgast died in 1964.
After Sattgast’s death, Mable Sattgast remained in Bemidji, where she stayed active in civic affairs. In August 1974, she was named Bemidji’s Woman of the Year and the city’s outstanding senior citizen. She left Bemidji and headed for California in 1975.