Overview

The Loberg Houses are excellent examples of carpenter-built immigrant housing. 

• Location: 171 Island Avenue East, 175 Island Avenue East 
• Neighborhood: Nicollet Island – East Bank 

Historic photo (1990)

Architecture

• Architectural Style: Greek Revival
• Architect(s): Unknown

Use

• Historic use: Residential
• Current use: Residential

Construction

• Construction date: 1875
• Contractor: Ole and Andrew Loberg (likely) 

Significance

• Area(s) of significance: Social History; Architecture 
• Period of significance: Undefined 
• Date of local designation: 1985
• Designation: Exterior
• Date of National Register designation: Not individually listed

Historic profile

The Loberg Houses are excellent examples of carpenter-built immigrant housing. They represent the Scandinavian community in Cedar-Riverside between 1880 and 1916. Ole Loberg built his house 1814 4th Street South around 1875. This house is the same design as the Andrew O. Loberg House, built at 1812 4th Street South around 1875.  

Brothers Andrew and Ole Loberg were born in Norway in the 1840s. They came to Minneapolis around 1872. Historians think the brothers designed and built their homes since they were carpenters. The houses are significant examples of the Greek Revival architectural style. They have prominent eave returns. Both have open porches with decorative arches under the roofline. 

The houses were two of the oldest homes in Cedar-Riverside neighborhood. The neighborhood developed in the late nineteenth century. It was an important center for Scandinavian culture between 1880 and 1916. The homes moved from their original location to Nicollet Island in 1990. Ole’s house is at 171 Island Avenue East and Andrew’s house is at 175 Island Avenue East. A total of five houses were moved to Nicollet Island around this time. 

Photo credit

Circa 1990 photo: Courtesy of Hennepin County Library 

Work cited

Loberg Houses designation files