Growing up in historical home gave historical society head keen appreciation for history

Sara Markoe Hanson grew up in a neighborhood on Lake Avenue imbued with history. No wonder she has enthusiastically served as the executive director of the White Bear Lake Area Historical Society for the past almost 25 years. 

Hanson has undergone treatment and surgery for breast cancer this past year, and happily has been proclaimed cancer-free. She is slowly returning to work as she regains the energy she had prior to her diagnosis.

The family homestead (now 4609 Lake Ave.)  was built in 1887 by one of the city founders, James C. Murray, who as Hanson points out “came to White Bear in 1850s with his parents and two brothers and owned Murray House (a resort near the west side of Second St.) and most of Lake Ave.”

“He was the first president of the village council, railroad station master, postmaster and more,” she chuckled.  At the time there were only about 50 people in town, so multitasking was inevitable.” 

Hanson’s ancestral roots in White Bear are long. Her family arrived in the mid 1850s. The family’s original home, called to this day “the Markoe cottage”, is at 4581 Lake Ave. – not far from her childhood home. 

4609 Lake Ave in the 1880s. Sara Markoe in the mid '70s, and Sara Markoe Hanson in 2024.

Mound aka ‘Markoe’ Cottage is oldest home on Lake Avenue

In 1873, William Markoe (no middle name or initial) purchased the property surrounding the area’s largest Indian burial mound on Lake Avenue and built Mound Cottage near it. Hundreds of visitors enjoyed picnic lunches on the mound, while enjoying the spectacular view it provided, thanks to its height.  Markoe was also the builder of the first hot air balloon in Minnesota and was Hanson’s great-great grandfather.

In July of 1888, a young man named Charles Wheeler was killed when his carriage hit a tree root in the road, and he was thrown from the vehicle. Charles’ sister Nellie, who was a passenger in the carriage at the time, filed a lawsuit against the Village of White Bear. The suit was unsuccessful but was the catalyst for the Village to order the removal of all obstructions in the roadways, including the largest of the burial mounds.

Sadly, Markoe was unable to protect the mound from residents concerned about old-fashioned transportation safety, and in 1889 it was leveled. Many Indian artifacts were discovered as the mound was dismantled, along with human remains – most of which were later reburied in southwest corner of Union Cemetery.  

Until the 1950s, Hanson’s extended family owned the Markoe Cottage (4581 Lake Avenue) and surrounding land with a couple cottages, so they could spend time together in the summer. Murray’s former home (4609 Lake Ave.) was purchased by Hanson’s parents in 1969, when they moved down the block from one of the cottages close to Shady Lane.

According to Hanson’s family files, it was turned into a duplex during the 1920s or 1930s, and a sleeping porch and enclosed the downstairs porch were added at that time. Her family enjoyed the home for 16+ years. 

Hanson was only 12 when her parents decided to downsize and sold the house. “I had no idea how lucky I was to live across from a beach with lots of room to play,” she concluded wistfully. But she’s grateful for the appreciation of history growing up in a historical home provided and how it has influenced her life’s work.