Historic Banfill-Locke House
by Ryan Dawson
ABC newspapers originally printed this article in 2009
The Banfill-Locke Art Center in Fridley is a historic building that has a colorful history, rich in culture and community service. Built in 1847 by John Banfill, a mason from Vermont, it first served as a wayside inn along the Red River Trail at the confluence of Rice Creek and the Mississippi River. Just two years later, the Banfill Inn had gained a reputation as a “resort hotel” to some, as described in a letter from 1849: “We arrived at Banfill’s in time for an early supper, which consisted of viands that even in these luxurious days would be tempting to the appetite; after supper the dining-room was cleared, and we had a grand dance …”
By 1852, Banfill had added a general store and post office to serve the needs of the growing community and a sawmill was constructed on Rice Creek. In 1854, a ferry was constructed near the inn, which had become a well-known travel stop and important hub for the community. Around 1857 Banfill sold his remaining share of the property, served as Minnesota’s first auditor and was elected to represent the 24th District in the first state Legislature.
The ownership of the inn changed hands several times until being purchased in 1912 by Cassius M. Locke and his wife Roberta Pratt, daughter of a former Minneapolis mayor. The Lockes raised dairy cattle and began many civic programs involving youth, such as the Douglas House, 4-H clubs, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. Their programs consisted of gardening, fishing and nature hikes In 1967, the property was purchased by Anoka County and turned over to the historical society for use as a museum and a restoration project began.
The building itself was constructed in the Greek revival style which had began to appear as early is 1799 in Philadelphia. Several architectural books were published in the early 1800’s that furthered its popularity. According to a study by Miller Dunwiddie Architects in 1980, “The Banfill Tavern is a particularly well preserved example of the Greek revival style typical in Minnesota during its territorial period … “Examples of this quality are rare in Minnesota.”
In 1989, the historic site became the new home of the North Suburban Center for the Arts, which had operated for 10 years in the Apache Plaza in St. Anthony. The group assumed the name Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts (BLCA) in honor of the buildings previous owners who had played in integral role in the shaping of the community surrounding the house. Currently, the BLCA hosts a variety of art classes and features gallery exhibits for various local arts organizations such as Anoka County Arts Alliance, Artists del Norte and Bridgeview.
Editor’s note: Ryan Dawson is a volunteer writer for the Anoka County Historical Society