WALKER HOUSES

See T.B. Walker for a description of Walker's plans to turn St. Louis Park into an industrial town in which he controlled the land, the streetcar, and the factories.  To house the workforce of his new industrial town, Walker built about 100 so-called "Walker Houses" west of the industrial circle in Oak Hill from 1888 to 1900. Renting for $9-$14/month, the houses were identical, narrow, two-story affairs with two rooms up and two rooms down. They were heated by parlor stoves, and had no indoor plumbing. They were built so close together on Walker's 25 ft. lots than when a fire took one house, an entire block could be destroyed.

Walker's dream collapsed with the Panic of 1893, and he turned his attention to other endeavors.  He was left owning (and paying taxes on) a great number of unsold lots.  In the 1930's, the E.H. Shursen Agency (Earling Shursen) sold the last of them.

As of 1999 there were about 50 of them left, a few in near-original condition, and some modernized so thoroughly that they are unrecognizable as Walker Houses. Although the greatest concentration is on Edgebrook and North Streets, many have been moved from their original locations. The house at 3551 Pennsylvania appears to be made up of three Walker Houses stuccoed together.

This house was at 5920 Oxford, built in 1893.  It was demolished to make way for Village in the Park.  It seems to be a typical Walker House.

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This information comes from a variety of sources: newspapers, books, yearbooks, phone directories, interviews, etc. Given the varied sources, we cannot guarantee that all of this information is correct, and welcome any additions and corrections. Please contact us with your contributions and comments.