This was once a row of fine two-story houses on Block 2 of the original Fern Hill subdivision, which was platted in 1907. These houses were replaced by commercial buildings. They are all listed on this same page because many times more than one house can be seen in a single picture, and more than one old property became one replacement building.
OLD 4501 MINNETONKA
The house at 4501 (Lot 1) was built in 1918. Photo below courtesy Sue Dam Hill, who says the porch ran across the entire front of the house.
In 1964 The Easterling Silber and Fine China Company was listed at 4501 Minnetonka Blvd.
4503 MINNETONKA
The house at 4503 Minnetonka (Lot 2) was built in 1913. It was the home of Arthur and Anna Engebretson.
The photo below shows both 4501 and 4503, facing south. Photo courtesy Julianne Renner.
PRESENT 4501 MINNETONKA
The house at 4501 Minnetonka was torn down and in 1962 an office building took its place. In the photo below from June 1963 you can still see 4503 next door. In the photo below that from 2007, 4503 is gone.
OLD 4509 MINNETONKA BLVD.
From what we can tell from tax assessor records, the house that was originally on this site (Lot 3) was built in 1916. From 1948 to the mid 1950s it was occupied by the Reynold C. Andersen family. The house was demolished on December 7, 1965. The photo below is of the Andersen family, courtesy of Bruce Andersen. The house at 4503 can be seen at left.
This is also 4509, taken by the tax assessor in 1960.
PRESENT 4509 MINNETONKA
A commercial building with the address 4509 Minnetonka Blvd. was built in 1966. It took the place of houses at 4509 and 4513 Minnetonka Blvd. (Lots 3 and 4)
2007
OLD 4513 MINNETONKA
This house, on Lot 4, was the home of Park sports figure Elmer “Shorty” Dale. This house was demolished in 1973. Photo below courtesy Judy Dale Carlson.
4517 MINNETONKA BLVD.
A house was built in 1908 on Lot 5. In 1964 it was replaced by the East Pointe Office Building.
2007
4525 MINNETONKA BLVD.
It appears that this property took up lots 6 and 7, at the end of the block at Monterey. In 1962, this was the address of Mrs. L. Ray Johnson. There had been a tennis court on the lot.
In 1974 six new homes were built on the property, facing Monterey.
