Most of Golden Valley was developed as a first-ring Minneapolis suburb in the 1950s and 1960s, but its origins go back to the mid 1800s, even before Minnesota statehood, when it was pastoral farmland with prime areas around lakes… that part hasn't changed.
The tax records list only 23 homes homes in Golden Valley built between 1800 and 1900. A recent listing of mine was from those early days. The tax records say it was built in 1900 but it was actually built earlier than that, sometime between then and 1889, when the empty farmland was purchased from the man for whom nearby Sweeney Lake was named with a dirt road running through it called the Watertown Road.
When my clients bought the home in 1957 Watertown Road had become Golden Valley Road, a quiet two-lane road with the most excitement an Ewald Dairy truck making milk deliveries. There were apple trees and a chicken coop on the .61 acres of land. Looking out over the current yard I can picture it as a quiet farm, with chickens hanging out down in the far corner even though the now busy Golden Valley Road is right on its doorstep.
The story is told that Golden Valley got its name from an early settler looking out over rolling fields of golden daffodils. I can envision a piece of that history on this historic farm that was loved by the current owners for 59 years. It feels good that this bit of Golden Valley history is still here, soon passing on to another family.
Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results
The HomesMSP Team - Sharlene, John, Angela – Golden Valley Realtors
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