Charles E. Vanderburgh: Benefactor of Minneapolis
This is the second installment of our Charles E. Vanderburgh story. The first installment covers his role as a jurist of Minnesota.
It doesn't take much research into Charles Vanderburgh to come to learn just how influential he was in the early days of Minneapolis. Not only did he serve as a district court judge and sit on the bench of the Minnesota Supreme Court, famously ruling against Dred Scott, but Charles Vanderburgh also led a life of public service. According to the History of the Bench and Bar of Minnesota, "it is impossible to estimate the influence which the private and official life of Judge Vanderburgh had upon this young and growing community".
Let's look into that more to gain a more meaningful understanding of Judge Vanderburgh's influence outside of his judicial capacities.
Active Presbyterian, Involved Citizen, Affluent Benefactor
According to the History of the Bench and Bar of Minnesota, Judge Vanderburgh "was a staunch Presbyterian, interested especially in theological seminaries and missionary societies, all of which he liberally supported during his life." In 1888, Volume 8 of The National Magazine: A Monthly Journal of American History wrote of Mr. Vanderburgh "Judge Vanderburgh has long been recognized as one of the leading church and Sunday-school workers of the city. He has been a member of the Presbyterian church since 1862, is an elder in that church, and has been for many years a superintendent and teacher in the Sabbath-school, a work near to his heart, and in which he is at present very active and deeply interested. In many other ways has he made himself useful to the community with which he has been so long identified."
A long-time elder of the Presbyterian Church, in 1873 Charles Vanderburgh founded a mission school on Franklin Avenue, which eventually became the Franklin Avenue Presbyterian Church. Following his death in 1898, this church was rededicated as Vanderburgh Memorial Presbyterian, but the details are unclear. For example, according to FindAGrave, the church was open for nearly a century, closing in 1999; according to the University of Minnesota Houses of Worship Project, it burnt down in 1913, and was not located on Franklin Ave but on 30th Ave and 33rd St, and according to a second page of the University of Minnesota Houses of Worship Project, the congregation erected a building in 1913 and worshiped in it until 1937.
Nonetheless, it would seem that Charles Vanderburgh was certainly a much loved Presbyterian elder, and at the time of his death, much of his will left legacies to the Presbyterian Church. According to History of the Bench and Bar of Minnesota, "his private estate was valued at about four hundred thousand dollars. His will, after making ample allowance for his family, gave several special legacies to theological seminaries and colleges, and the residue of his property, amounting to two hundred thousand dollars, to the following societies:
You'll see that he left $5,000 to the Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Omaha. In 1905, these funds were used by the seminary to build what became known as the 'Vanderburgh House' (below) serving as a home to the President of the Seminary.
Mr. Vanderburgh's private home is another example of the significant financial/property legacies he left behind. The house (below), once at 929 7th St S, was built in 1875 and purchased by Swedish Hospital in 1910, during which time it was used to house nurses and students for the following 49 years until its eventual demolition in 1959.
In his lifetime, Charles Vanderburgh was also a board member of the Bennett Seminary (incorporated in 1869 and also known as the Minneapolis Female Seminary), a member of the first board of trustees of the Plymouth Church in 1856, elected Vice President in 1859 of the first meeting of the Atheneum Library Society, and elected Vice President in 1866 of the YMCA.
In addition, he was the first President of the Minneapolis Gas Company, a member of the first board of directors of the Security Bank of Minnesota, and was also a member of the board of the American Exchange Bank of Duluth.
A Lasting Legacy
What I found most interesting in my research was the lasting legacy Charles Vanderburgh continues to have on the city of Minneapolis. Twice in my research I found his name listed on registration and evaluation sheets for properties eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). If you aren't familiar with the NRHP, it is an official list, administered by the National Park Service, of sites, districts, structures, and objects deemed worth of preservation for their historical, cultural, or natural influence.
I found two mentions of Charles Vanderburgh on NRHP documents, indicating just how influential he was in the early stages of Minneapolis.
This registration form for the NRHP for the Sumner Branch Library explains that the building of the North Side Branch of the Minneapolis Public Libraries was built in 1894 on land donated by Charles Vanderburgh. According to the Minneapolis Historical Society, the site was valued at $6,000 when it was donated in 1892, and the building (right) is the oldest existing building in Minnesota that was originally built as a library. Today, it houses Emerge Community Development.
A second reference came from an NRHP Evaluation/Return sheet for the Porter Electric Warehouse in the Minneapolis Warehouse District dated as recently as 2016. This type of NRHP document indicates that the original attempt to classify a property on the NRHP had failed, but is now being reconsidered.
According to the document, the Minneapolis Warehouse District was officially listed on the NRHP in 1989 "for its architectural significance and commerce significance associated with the wholesaling and implementing industries in Minneapolis." In 1888, the Porter Electric Warehouse (below, left) was erected at the request of Charles Vanderburgh, who was listed along with his second wife Anna as a contractor. Interestingly, the document goes as far to identify Mr. Vanderburgh as "a long-time benefactor in Minneapolis, especially of Presbyterian interests in the community, and served on many business boards."
Original attempts to preserve this building and include it in the Register with the Minneapolis Warehouse District had failed, due to the determination that the building was "non-contributing, principally because a substantial metal screen spread across the entire facade of the upper floors." But the document goes on to note that this screen has since been removed which "substantially improves its historic integrity" and now the building "contributes to the historic significance" of the district.
Interestingly, it seems this area is slated for some renovations, according to this February 2017 StarTribune article. See the photo to the right. The article, published less than a year ago, even mentions our Judge Vanderburgh! A true testimony to how his legacy lives on.
On January 9, 1899 in the supreme court room in Minneapolis, a memorial of Charles Vanderburgh was presented to the session. The ten page document can now be found on the official Minnesotan government website, and contains numerous memorials once spoken of Mr. Vanderburgh by his judicial colleagues. Below are the words spoken of him by Hon. John B. Gilflillan:
"His labors were not confined to the bench or the bar, nor circumscribed by any six-day limit, for the seventh seemed the busiest of all. His life was full of good works, for he was ever active in the interests of literature, of education, the church, the mission, the Sabbath school, charity, in fact in everything that makes for good in a young and developing community. As a citizen he was the peer of any man. Whether considered as a man, a citizen or a jurist, the mainsprings of his life and character seemed to be steadfast fidelity to duty, sincere convictions, of what he believed to be right, and fearlessness and courage in expressing those convictions."
And his legacies last on in Minneapolis today.
Note: all sources for this information can be found in the links provided.
It doesn't take much research into Charles Vanderburgh to come to learn just how influential he was in the early days of Minneapolis. Not only did he serve as a district court judge and sit on the bench of the Minnesota Supreme Court, famously ruling against Dred Scott, but Charles Vanderburgh also led a life of public service. According to the History of the Bench and Bar of Minnesota, "it is impossible to estimate the influence which the private and official life of Judge Vanderburgh had upon this young and growing community".
Let's look into that more to gain a more meaningful understanding of Judge Vanderburgh's influence outside of his judicial capacities.
Active Presbyterian, Involved Citizen, Affluent Benefactor
 |
| Portrait featured in The National Magazine: A Monthly Journal of American History |
A long-time elder of the Presbyterian Church, in 1873 Charles Vanderburgh founded a mission school on Franklin Avenue, which eventually became the Franklin Avenue Presbyterian Church. Following his death in 1898, this church was rededicated as Vanderburgh Memorial Presbyterian, but the details are unclear. For example, according to FindAGrave, the church was open for nearly a century, closing in 1999; according to the University of Minnesota Houses of Worship Project, it burnt down in 1913, and was not located on Franklin Ave but on 30th Ave and 33rd St, and according to a second page of the University of Minnesota Houses of Worship Project, the congregation erected a building in 1913 and worshiped in it until 1937.
Nonetheless, it would seem that Charles Vanderburgh was certainly a much loved Presbyterian elder, and at the time of his death, much of his will left legacies to the Presbyterian Church. According to History of the Bench and Bar of Minnesota, "his private estate was valued at about four hundred thousand dollars. His will, after making ample allowance for his family, gave several special legacies to theological seminaries and colleges, and the residue of his property, amounting to two hundred thousand dollars, to the following societies:
 |
| The Independent, Volume 51 |
- The American Bible Society
- Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church
- Board of Home Missions of the Presbyterian Church
- Board of Missions for Freedmen of the Presbyterian Church
- Presbyterian Board of Relief for Disabled Ministers and the Widows and Orphans of Deceased Ministers"
You'll see that he left $5,000 to the Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Omaha. In 1905, these funds were used by the seminary to build what became known as the 'Vanderburgh House' (below) serving as a home to the President of the Seminary.
 |
| Vanderburgh House at the Presbyterian Theological Seminary |
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| Vanderburgh residence as photographed in 1959 |
In addition, he was the first President of the Minneapolis Gas Company, a member of the first board of directors of the Security Bank of Minnesota, and was also a member of the board of the American Exchange Bank of Duluth.
What I found most interesting in my research was the lasting legacy Charles Vanderburgh continues to have on the city of Minneapolis. Twice in my research I found his name listed on registration and evaluation sheets for properties eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). If you aren't familiar with the NRHP, it is an official list, administered by the National Park Service, of sites, districts, structures, and objects deemed worth of preservation for their historical, cultural, or natural influence.
 |
| North Side Branch of Minneapolis Public Libraries on land donated by Charles Vanderburgh |
This registration form for the NRHP for the Sumner Branch Library explains that the building of the North Side Branch of the Minneapolis Public Libraries was built in 1894 on land donated by Charles Vanderburgh. According to the Minneapolis Historical Society, the site was valued at $6,000 when it was donated in 1892, and the building (right) is the oldest existing building in Minnesota that was originally built as a library. Today, it houses Emerge Community Development.
A second reference came from an NRHP Evaluation/Return sheet for the Porter Electric Warehouse in the Minneapolis Warehouse District dated as recently as 2016. This type of NRHP document indicates that the original attempt to classify a property on the NRHP had failed, but is now being reconsidered.
According to the document, the Minneapolis Warehouse District was officially listed on the NRHP in 1989 "for its architectural significance and commerce significance associated with the wholesaling and implementing industries in Minneapolis." In 1888, the Porter Electric Warehouse (below, left) was erected at the request of Charles Vanderburgh, who was listed along with his second wife Anna as a contractor. Interestingly, the document goes as far to identify Mr. Vanderburgh as "a long-time benefactor in Minneapolis, especially of Presbyterian interests in the community, and served on many business boards."
 |
| Porter Electric Warehouse as photographed circa 1989 |
 |
| Renovation proposal as featured in StarTribune |
Interestingly, it seems this area is slated for some renovations, according to this February 2017 StarTribune article. See the photo to the right. The article, published less than a year ago, even mentions our Judge Vanderburgh! A true testimony to how his legacy lives on.
On January 9, 1899 in the supreme court room in Minneapolis, a memorial of Charles Vanderburgh was presented to the session. The ten page document can now be found on the official Minnesotan government website, and contains numerous memorials once spoken of Mr. Vanderburgh by his judicial colleagues. Below are the words spoken of him by Hon. John B. Gilflillan:
"His labors were not confined to the bench or the bar, nor circumscribed by any six-day limit, for the seventh seemed the busiest of all. His life was full of good works, for he was ever active in the interests of literature, of education, the church, the mission, the Sabbath school, charity, in fact in everything that makes for good in a young and developing community. As a citizen he was the peer of any man. Whether considered as a man, a citizen or a jurist, the mainsprings of his life and character seemed to be steadfast fidelity to duty, sincere convictions, of what he believed to be right, and fearlessness and courage in expressing those convictions."And his legacies last on in Minneapolis today.
Note: all sources for this information can be found in the links provided.
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