Archer House Elegy
You don’t mourn the loss of a building,
like you’d mourn the loss of a spouse.
But there was more than just brick and mortar
In the stately old Archer House.
‘Twas built in Northfield, Minnesota
When James Archer rode into town
A year after the Jesse James gang
Tried and failed to bring a bank down.
It sits by the swift Cannon River
And guests would come to retreat –
Looking out the arched dormer windows
O’er the shops on Division Street
The mansard roof was admired
By those who knew architecture.
Some people thought the inn haunted
But of course that was all conjecture.
Last week it went up in flames
There was shock, anger and tears
Oh, the Archer House has been ruined
After 143 years!
What a sad day for Northfield. I hope it gets rebuilt!
I’ll probably delete this in the morning.
Lynniebeemuseoday 