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| Christie
House - The Dr. George R. Christie Family |
 Dr. George R. Christie (1858-1947) was Todd County's
oldest physician and surgeon. He was born and raised
in Berlin, Wisconsin, the son of Scottish
immigrants. Dr. Christie graduated from Rush Medical
College in Chicago in 1882. In 1884 he came to Long
Prairie at the urging of Dr. Lewis of Sauk Centre,
Sinclair Lewis' father. Dr. Christie made many house
calls from the days when travel on foot often had to
take the place of horse and buggy, by train, and
into the days of the automobile. He set up an office
on Central Avenue and owned and operated the
Riverside Hospital at 101 First Street North.
In 1887 Dr. Christie married Susan West (1859-1910),
a schoolteacher, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In the
1890s George and Susan lived in the "old house" on
what is now Gene-O's lot. Susan helped establish the
Long Prairie Literary Society in 1893. In the
Literary Society report celebrating one century,
Susan is remembered for her piano accompaniment in
Chataqua performances held at the local opera house.
 Dr. Christie was an influential man in business and
community organizations. He served as chairman of
the school board. He was one of the original
incorporators of the Bank of Long Prairie in 1890.
He was a bank director, becoming its president in
1904. A partner in the banking business, William E.
Lee, and Dr. Christie traveled to Washington, D. C.
to carry the state's electoral vote in the 1901
election of U.S. President McKinley.
Following the death of his first wife, Susan, Dr.
George married a childhood friend, Ida Lewis Mason,
in 1911. Ida, also widowed, was a domestic science
teacher living in Chicago. She was an expert needle
worker. Her only child, Lucille Mason, died in 1910.
Ida helped establish the first public library in
Long Prairie. Ida Christie died in 1944.
 Dr. Robert L. Christie graduated from the University
of Minnesota's Medical school in 1917, completed a
surgical internship and served as a lieutenant in
the Navy in Word War I, then joined his father's
practice. He became a well-known skin specialist and
was a consultant for the Mayo Clinic. Both Dr.
George and Dr. Robert performed surgeries at Asbury
Hospital in Minneapolis. In later years they
practiced from an office set up in the library of
their home. The kitchen was used as a reception
area. After his father's death, Robert lived alone
in the house, and continued to see patients there
until 1976. The Christies provided medical care in
Long Prairie for more than 90 years.
 The four Christie children were George West Christie
(1890-1956), who became a newspaper editor in Red
Lake Falls; Dr. Robert L. Christie (1892-1976):
Edith Lisle Christie (1894-1902), who died at the
age of eight from peritonitis and septicemia; and
Donald R. Christie (1896-1985), who became a banker
at Perham. George was married to Eva Lindbergh
(1892-1985), a half sister of Charles Lindbergh,
from Little Falls. Donald was married to Frances
Bennett (1899-1990), a niece of Ida Christie.
Dr. George and Susan Christie, their four children
and two daughters-in-law are buried in the Long
Prairie cemetery.
George and Eva's children were Lillian (1917),
journalist, and George Jr. (1922), retired
newspaperman. Both live in Mora, Minnesota. Donald
and Frances' children were Dr. Donald, DDS
(1923-2004) and William (1924-1998); attorney, both
in Washington state.
 The Christie House
According to the State Historical Society the
property is unique and valuable because the home has
remained unchanged over the years. Only the Christie
family lived here and the furnishings and artifacts
displayed are original to them.
The house was built in 1901 at a cost of $5000. The
architect was C.W. Smith from Long Prairie.
Blueprints, hand-drawn to scale on white linen, are
on display in the carriage house. The blueprints
have been followed in all repairs and renovations of
the property. Wood milling for the house was done at
the Schomaker Mill on the west side of town.
 The Christie house was donated to the city of Long
Prairie in 1976 following the death of Dr. Robert L.
Christie---the donors being Mr. and Mrs. Donald R.
Christie. The Christie Home Historical Society, a
non-profit corporation, was organized to preserve
the house. Interior repairs to the house have
included new dining room and kitchen ceilings, one
rebuilt wall in the kitchen, sanding the beautiful
maple floors, as well as replacing some curtains and
wall-coverings to represent the early 1900s. The
house was opened to the public in 1976.
The carriage house is used as an interpretive
center. The floorboards are the originals, turned
over. Horse stalls are in the basement. The hayloft
and basement are not open to the public. From the
outside we see the side door where horses entered.
 Lifetime interests of the Christie sons are included
in the museum. Donald R. Christie's duck decoy
collection is displayed in the carriage house. Shriner items from when George West Christie served
as Grandmaster of the Minnesota Masons are displayed
in the attic. Dr. Bob Christie was the first
Minnesota Amateur Billiards Champion. He was also a
good golfer. A trophy for golf is in the house.
Volunteer members of the Christie Home Historical
society are available to guide visitors through the
rooms of the house, in which they will see "pride in
workmanship and talent-preserved-as a memorial to
the substantial but gracious living of that period
of history."
Laundry Room
Copper boilers, wash tubs, scrub boards, and bar
soap were necessities of the time. Displayed on the
clothes rack are the original living room curtains.
Kitchen
Surgery was done on the kitchen table as late as
1917. The range has a reservoir for keeping water
hot and implements used to keep the fire burning
steadily. The basement door opens to a brick-faced
wall. Dr. Bob's billiard table was in the basement.
Back Stairs and Attic
The back stairs (maid's stairs) are unique because
they curve and because of the handsome oak
wainscoting. The attic skylight gives natural light
for artistic painting or handwork. Glass in the
original windowpanes is wavy. The hooks near the
ceiling are for clotheslines. The light fixtures and
electric meter are primitive. Seen from the north
window is the old Riverside Hospital at 101 First
Street North. It is now a private residence. Part of
the 1550 volume book collection is stored in the
attic. The two walnut beds are a carry-over from
when the Christie children used the attic as a
dormitory. Old trunks were used for railway travel.
Second Floor Hall
A beautiful curve highlights the hall's structure. A
built-in hall cupboard stores linens.
 Bathroom
Outdoor toilets were the mode of the day, with
plumbing added to the house about 1910. The
ball-and-claw-foot bathtub, the lavatory with
grillwork, and the small water reservoir in the
closet are original.
Maid's Room
The wallpaper is original. It is a fine illustration
of the border printed directly on it. A kerosene
lamp was needed for times primitive electric lights
failed. Chamber pots augmented the plumbing system.
All the bedrooms have walk-in closets.
 Guestroom
The massive mahogany bed and dresser are of the
sleigh design. The stained glass window is the Lotus
Blossom pattern. Wall and ceiling light fixtures are
signed Tiffany glass from New York.
Master Bedroom
The wallpaper is very much like the original in
color and pattern. The two rooms have matching
mahogany furniture-four poster beds, dresser and
highboy dresser. Pocket doors separate the two
rooms. The oval stained glass window is the Dogwood
pattern.
Children's Bedroom
When the boys used the attic as their dormitory,
this rooms was a guestroom. The hand carving and
brass work on the bed and lowboy dresser date this
set as older than furnishings in the other bedrooms.
Edith's doll and Robert's Indian collection are
museum quality relics of childhood.
Entryway
The front door opens to the entryway. Callers would
leave a calling card, or wait on the leather
cushioned window seat. We view the bottom of the
grand staircase from the entry. The tallest pillar
is made from one tree. On the newel post is a
Patrician lamp with a Tiffany shade. The baluster
uses groupings of three. The beautiful paneling is
all straight-cut millwork.
Grand Staircase
From the top of the stairs, we view the largest of
the stained glass windows. All the colors of the
outdoors are incorporated in the window: the blue of
sky, green of grass, yellow of sunshine and the
colors of flowers.
 Living Room
Oak woodwork throughout the house is in perfect
condition. The mantle and over-mantle are examples
of the artistry with which wood was used in the
home. The stained glass window facing the west shows
up brilliantly in the setting sun. Its colors
reflect from the mirror over the fireplace. The
Victrola with Caruso Records stored inside reflects
the Christies' refined tastes. Its original packing
crate was found in the carriage house, insured for
$300 in 1903. Pocket doors close off the living
room.
 Dining Room
Red burlap wall covering matches the original. The
stained glass window is the Horn of Plenty pattern.
The massive buffet has ornate carving. The matching
table has the leaves stored inside. A walk-in closet
stored table linens. Quilting supplies and the
bobbin lace-maker were found in the drawers of the
closet. French doors separating the living and
dining rooms are exceptionally fine because of the
beveled lead glass.
Pantry
The pantry is typical of homes of this period. Large
cupboards were used for good dishes. The dinner bell
was used to call family and guests to dinner.
 Library
Three built-in and one freestanding bookcase hold
volumes dating back to 1880. Stained glass windows
representing the Lamp of Knowledge, the Medical
Caduceus, and the Lyre for the arts reflect the
Christie family values. The medical ledger on Dr.
Christie's desk shows the cost of medical care in
the early 1900s. Family names and histories go back
to pioneer times.
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The Christie House Museum was recently added to the
National Register of Historic Places. |
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Additional Photo Gallery
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