Spring 2023 Hometown Messenger

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According to newspaper articles from the 1920s, Schroeder served on the Shakopee City Council for 18 years, organized the city’s first fire department and served as its first president, was active in St John’s Lutheran Church, the Lutheran Mutual Aid society, and the Valley Cemetery Association Remnants of Schroeder’s legacy can still be found throughout the city Though many of the downtown buildings that were constructed with the signature red bricks have been destroyed or covered with other building materials, collec tors and renovators have done what they can to keep these bricks alive in local designs The downtown Shakopee sign with Chief Sakpe and his horse is one example; the red rosette bricks underneath the sign letters are replicas of the rosettes crafted by Schro eder Brick Replicas were used to pay hom age to this unique design, as actual Schro eder rosettes can no longer be found Residents have been known to collect the rarer Schroeder bricks that were stamped with the word “Shakopee” Only one in every 100-or-so bricks was stamped These stamped bricks have even sold for upward of $100 at Shakopee Heritage Society auctions The brick work on the Schroeder House con tains standard bricks along with decorative brick architecture that shows off the capabilities and craftsmanship of the company’s workers “The house, in particular, is distinctive with its intricate brick details, including egg and dart trim, rosettes on the pilaster capitals, and a carved skirt of acanthus leaves,” the Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office said in a statement The brick livery on the property, which has two smaller wings, is also included in the National Register listing The Schroeder Brickyard workers

The red rosette bricks beneath the sign letters are replicas of a unique design crafted by Schroeder Brick and Lime Manufacturing Company

constructed an outhouse addition to the liv ery for their own use, which has elaborately designed brick architecture Schroeder’s bricks were so iconic, they were used in construction projects across the region and neighboring states According to the Scott County Historical Society, an order of 200,000 bricks was shipped to Fort Pierre, South Dakota in 1906, and another order of half a million bricks was sent to Fairmont, Minn , to build a new courthouse Historians have noted that Schroeder’s house features details that were not observed on nearby brick buildings, including egg and dart trim, rectangular rosettes and acan thus leaf carvings As the brickyard propri etor, Schroeder likely wanted to showcase his product and demonstrate his wealth through intricate decorations, which would have required greater skill and more time to craft

“The skill is really apparent when you look closely at the features of the Schroeder House,” Kerski said “This is the late 1800s we are talking about—many of these bricks were made by hand Schroeder’s brickyard didn’t start using a brickmaking machine until the 1890s, a decade after the house was built” Now that the property is officially on the National Register of Historic Places, the city has plans to turn the house into a destina tion to be enjoyed by the community Until 2020, when the city purchased it, it was being used as a rental property At some point the interior was renovated into a duplex The city hopes to restore the exterior, and the inside could be used as a location for weddings, meetings and special events The livery would be open to the public, with his torical displays as part of the trail system, similar to the Schroeder limestone kiln that has been preserved with signage along the Minnesota Valley State Trail Ultimately, the vision is for the Schroeder House and Livery to become a part of the riv erside Cultural Corridor starting near Huber Park and ending at The Landing Plans for the Shakopee Cultural Corridor include a cultural trail that offers a glimpse into the lives of past inhabitants of the region, from Native Americans to European settlers “It’s not every day you find a 150-year-old house with so much historical significance standing mostly in tact,” Kerski said “We are thrilled at the opportunity to preserve it and integrate it into our unique plans for a Cul tural Corridor”

One in every 100-or-so bricks were stamped with the word “Shakopee”These are highly valued by local collectors

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