Cottagewood Store, 20280 Cottagewood Ave, Deephaven, Minnesota
From Placeography
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| + | |house_intro=The over 125 year old Cottagewood General Store has a long and varied history. From its over 20 owners dating back to its construction in the late 1890s to the current ownership by the community, the Cottagewood Store has remained a staple to this small community nestled along Lake Minnetonka in the heart of Deephaven, Minnesota. In 1994, this community nearly lost this building to yet another new owner, but instead, the community came together to purchase the the store. Most of the store’s 120 year history is documented in a book by one of its previous owners, Carl Soelberg, titled, “The Cottagewood Store; 1895 to 2000 and Beyond,” published in 2000. This community staple continues to stand the test of time and remains at the heart of the community of Cottagewood, Minnesota. | ||
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Revision as of 00:30, November 3, 2016
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The Cottagewood Store | |
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| Address: | 20280 Cottagewood Avenue |
| Neighborhood/s: | Cottagewood, Deephaven, Minnesota |
| City/locality- State/province | Deephaven, Minnesota |
| County- State/province: | Hennepin County, Minnesota |
| State/province: | Minnesota |
| Country: | United States |
| Year built: | 1895 |
| Major Alterations: | Some/mostly intact |
| Historic Function: | Business |
| Historic Function: | Grocery store, general store, apartment |
| Other Historic Function: | Grocery store, general store, apartment |
| Current Function: | Business |
| Current Function: | Non-profit general store, apartment |
| Other Current Function: | Non-profit general store, apartment |
| Material of Roof: | Shingle |
| First Owner: | Ralph M. Chapman |
(44.925687° N, 93.538612° WLatitude: 44°55′32.473″N
Longitude: 93°32′19.003″W)
Contents |
Memories and stories
Memory
All Hallows Eve at the Cottagewood Store and the surrounding Cottagewood neighborhood is crawling with children and families. At 6:15pm, one can’t drive more than 10 miles an hour for fear a young costumed child may come running through the bushes into the street. Almost all of the houses surrounding the store and Cottagewood Children’s Park have lights on, pumpkins on the front step and some even have music playing. The sign on the front door to the Cottagewood Store says closed, as it's the last day of the season, but the lights are on and the door is wide open. Candy is brimming from the glass display case close to the door.
Lines of kids file in with their parents to get a handful of candy. Squeals of excitement can be heard from down Cottagewood Avenue. A small costumed policeman is leaning up against the candy counter eyeing the chocolates and leaves the store with a jack-o-lantern basket that is just a little bit fuller. A small werewolf howls on its way out of the store. A young Wayne Gretzky fills his bag with goodies. To say the streets and sidewalks are packed with families is an understatement.
The store is a beacon of joy and excitement on this dreary and rainy night. Parents say hi to other children they know entering the store and comment on the fabulous costumes worn by all. Kids wonder in without parents and are welcomed with open arms and greeted by their first names. The store staff knows nearly every family filing in the door and asks how each family is doing. Hugs are shared between parents and kids. Two storm troopers, mom and son, wielding light sabers enter the store.
As I exit the store, a little skunk hops off her father’s shoulders and squeaks as she runs into the store. The drizzle hasn't stopped people from stopping in, but it has slowed some foot traffic. High school students work behind the counter with Laurie. Though the building does have a stop sign out front, there is some traffic that passes by. As a princess comes running down the sidewalk, cars slow down to make sure the two sumo wrestlers nearing the store don't get hit. Sidewalks line Cottagewood Avenue, but side roads go without. The number of kids entering the store must number in the hundreds tonight, leaving the store comparing the amount of candy they’ve received. Parents huddle in groups holding cups of hot cocoa on the sidewalk.
This experience is like being in a Halloween movie. Themed Halloween music can be heard across the park with the faint screams of young children. Haunting organ music emanates from up small hill at the north east edge of the park, no more than 500 feet from the store. The misting rain and whistling wind creates an atmosphere like those in Hollywood movies about Halloween. It's almost as if I was waiting for the Sanderson Sisters, from Disney’s Hocus Pocus, to come skulking down the street, broomsticks in hand.
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