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The historic home of Olivia Irvine Dodge was demolished earlier this month. The 115-year-old mansion on Delaware Avenue in West St. Paul, known as Dixie Slope, was torn down by the Dodge family and will not be replaced.
“I call it ‘reverse development,’ in accordance with my mother’s philosophy,” said Thomas Dodge, Olivia’s son and current owner, in a brief email confirming the demolition. “Nothing planned for the spot but a beautiful grassy hill.”
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A city permit issued on June 17 approved the demolition of the mansion and pool to “be backfilled to empty land.”
The property is one of several lots on Delaware Avenue owned by Thomas Dodge that back up to the Dodge Nature Center.
Dixie Slope History
The mansion’s white facade, front terrace with columns, sweeping hills and surrounding fields evoked Southern plantations, earning it the name Dixie Slope. A 1964 article described it as “the most distinguished home in the community.”
- The son of the founder of South St. Paul’s stockyards, Charles Stickney built the home in 1909. At the time, its poured concrete basement walls and ground floor were cutting-edge innovations.
- Horace Klein, a Webb Publishing Company executive, bought the property in 1909. Klein established extensive gardens and planted the apple orchard at the corner of Delaware and Wentworth where University of Minnesota experiments led to the creation of 22 varieties of apples.
- Klein died in 1963 and the property was sold. Klein did deed the caretaker’s house and one acre to Bill Heuer, who oversaw the building and grounds for more than 35 years.
- Olivia and Arthur Dodge bought the mansion in 1964 when they returned to Minnesota. Within a few years Olivia Dodge would begin buying up surrounding property for preservation and create the Dodge Nature Center.
Fun fact: Dixie Slope was not Olivia Dodge’s first mansion. She grew up in what would become the Minnesota governor’s mansion. Her family donated that home to the state in 1965. Dodge worked hard to preserve the governor’s mansion, clashing with Governor Jesse Ventura when he suggested selling the mansion and briefly shuttered it in 2002.
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I it does my heart great sadness to drive by and see the house that had so many great times I was wishing that it would be made in to a place that the. Public could stop in a n d tour the home thar help. Out so many. As I stop by to see this sad demotion I could smell Chris cookies I saw little olive walking threw the livinroom looking for grandma. I here the laughter of here so many Christmas PARTYS I WENT INTO THE SUN ROOM WHERE SHE AND I WOULD TALK ABOUT WHAT WAS GO I NG ON AT THE CENTER I WALK ONE DAY WITH MRS DODGE AROUND THE PROPERTY AND LISTEN TO THE REASON SHE BOUGHT THE PLACE SHE WOULD LET ME KNOW if there was things we needed to work on. I found out Mrs dodge was a fair lady that was living out here dream. I have not step foot on the. Dodge nature center since the d a y I left. 25 years ago. AND I MOST LIKEY WONT EVER AGAIN. THANK YOU MIRS DODGE YOU WERE ONE OF A KIND. AND I HOPE ONE DAY WALK W I TH YOU AT YOUR NEW CENGER
Very sad to hear, I grew up a few houses away at 1750 Delaware. The Dodges were lovely neighbors, my dad gifted a few of our acres to their Dodge Nature Center one year because he loved it , felt we didn’t need all of our acreage and they could make good use of it for many people to enjoy.I loved their gorgeous home onto of that great slope. It reminded me of Southern Mansions I’d seen in our travels. I lived in the very modern home down the block but secretly always wanted to live in one just like Mr & Mrs Dodge’s home.
very sad – too much of west st. paul architectural history gone on whim and seen as an inconvenience.
I used to do x-rays on Mrs. Dodge at Miller and United Hospitals years ago. She was a lovely lady, very unassuming.I belonged to a wonderful woman’s group, did many walk abouts around the farm snd land.City kids educated learning about animals,Raptors, organic gardening and so many more educational programs and lectures for all ages.
How blessed West Saint Paul was the wonderful recipient of a little piece of Heaven on 🌏
My Godmother/Aunt Mrs. Alice Mabel (Beck) Larson and her husband Albert Larson worked many years at the Dodge mansion. It appeared to me they enjoyed the work very much. I wonder if folks familiar with the mansion remember them. I know little about their work there.
Hi Bruce, I remember your Godmother-Aunt Alice. She and the other female helper, Tay, cooked for Mrs. Dodge. I believe the two of them cooked all three meals, breakfast, lunch and dinner for the family. I remember once (as a child) making the social faux pax of asking Alice and Tay what they were making for lunch. Mrs. Dodge quickly corrected me, explaining that since I was an invited guest in the home that I should never ask such a question. I was terribly embarrassed. I knew better, but I was clumsily trying to make small talk! I remember playing croquet and other games in the front yard, bouncing on their trampoline and swimming in the pool. Once, while blissfully swimming in the pool with my best friend, Mrs. Dodge bolted out of the side patio and yelled, “Girls, get out of the pool and quickly come into the house, they’re broadcasting tornado warnings!” In her arms were a couple of fur coats that she wrapped us in, to help keep us warm as we waited for the storm to pass down in the dark, chilly basement. Many times I walked down winding, dirt paths hidden behind the mansion that led to a beautiful, lush, apple orchard and occasionally gave me a glimpse of what appeared to be a secret, enchanted pond. Reading a moment ago that the magnificent Dodge mansion on Delaware Avenue was torn down, while stirring up poignant memories, causes my heart to feel heavy and sad. I admired Mrs. Olivia Dodge. She was always classy, sophisticated and thoughtful. And, while I’m sorry I brazenly asked your Godmother/Aunt Alice and Tay “what are you making for lunch,” it helped me to vividly remember those two wonderful, hardworking, sweet, kind, chatty, elderly helpers. <3!!
Janet, Thanks
for your response to my inquiry about Aunt/Godmother Alice Larson at Dixie Slope! Your words add to my knowledge of her, her values, and service to others. I’ve written a story for my genealogical writers group here in Loveland, CO and will include your kind thoughts. Your note inspired me to look further into her life. I discovered in my files a newspaper report of her marriage to Albert Larson (can’t find year). But, Alice was listed as resident at 1006 Summit AVE. Guess what house that is! The Irvine Mansion. It’s the Minnesota’s Governor’s Residence! Olivia and her sister Clothilda gave the mansion to the people of Minnesota when their parents died. So, I suspect that Alice worked at the Irvine house as well as Dixie Slope. Thanks again and perhaps I can learn more from you. –Bruce Harshberger, bruceharshberger@gmail.com