VanDyke–Libby House, Second Empire residence in Hastings, United States.
The VanDyke-Libby House is a residential building in Second Empire style located on Vermillion Street in Hastings. The mansard roof is the defining feature of this design, built in the 1860s and distinguished by symmetrical facades and classical details.
A banker named William J. Van Dyke built this residence in 1868 as a private family home. The building later changed ownership and was converted into a hospital, serving as a medical facility for several decades before closing in 1929.
The house reflects how successful merchants and industrialists expressed their prosperity through their homes during the late 1800s. The Second Empire style with its distinctive mansard roof was the choice of those seeking to display wealth and social standing in Minnesota.
A visit works best as part of a walk through the historic neighborhood since the house sits on an accessible street. The building and surroundings can be viewed from the street, offering a clear sense of the architecture from this period.
The building had a surprising second career as a medical facility when it was converted into a sanitarium in 1914. This repurposing demonstrates how historic houses change their function to serve different community needs over time.
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