You'll spot the Foley-Brower-Bohmer House right in front of you-a striking red-brick mansion with a rounded turret rising up on your left and an impressively detailed façade that looks almost like it belongs in a fairy tale… or maybe in a movie about railroad tycoons.
Picture this scene in 1889: the scent of sawdust hangs in the air, as St. Cloud is humming with growth, and railroad tracks snake through the land beyond. Right here, Timothy Foley-a man with a nose for both pine trees and train tracks-decides he needs a house to match his success. And not just any house; he commissions this grand Romanesque beauty. Imagine parties under these soaring arches, candlelight glittering through all those curved windows, and deals being made over whiskey in richly paneled rooms. Now, the plot thickens! By 1895, it’s his brother Thomas who’s answering the door-must have made for some interesting family dinners. In 1902, the keys clink in the hand of Ripley B. Brower, a lawyer and a politician, who probably spent more time debating than decorating. By 1923, William J. Bohmer, a sharp banker, strolled these halls, maybe counting more cash than ghosts. This house didn’t just keep out Minnesota winters-it held together the stories of industry, ambition, and maybe a few family squabbles, making it a true landmark worth a spot on the National Register. Now, you’re standing where all these legends mingled-just don’t try to move in, unless you’re very persuasive with local historians!
