Nestled on the shores of beautiful Deer Lake in Effie Minnesota, this masterfully reimagined 1880s barn home is a symphony of provenance, craftsmanship, and storytelling. Painstakingly reconstructed with reverence to its origins, the barn was originally crafted by Civil War veteran Michael Welker, a participant in the Battle of Gettysburg. Today, it stands as a living archive of American heritage—one that was honored in Lake and Company magazine and featured by Ohio Valley Barn Salvage.
This extraordinary residence unfolds over a canvas of hand-hewn timber, alder wood accents, and centuries-old salvaged materials sourced from historic American landmarks. Custom alder front doors are flanked by cast iron Craftsman lanterns with original 1917 slag glass. Throughout the home, each element evokes a tactile connection to the past—whether it’s the 1920s Art Deco sconces from Valley City, North Dakota, or the pantry door adorned with hand-etched 1910 glass.
The kitchen is a bespoke work of art, where wormy chestnut cabinetry, hemlock barn siding, and alder wood appliance panels converge. The island, built from global shipping timbers once used at Wyoming’s Laramie Railroad Depot, is paired with a mid-1800s Iowa general store counter, creating a culinary space both soulful and functional.
Reclaimed wood flooring from 1800s Ohio barns flows seamlessly through the main living spaces, where an 1885 parlor stove anchors the room. The staircase, constructed of solid oak threshing boards from Ohio and Pennsylvania—features decorative cast iron panels originally part of an 1860s Cincinnati fireplace insert.
History whispers through every room: Doors from the former Nazareth College in Kalamazoo now grace the hallways. Hickory cabinetry in the master suite and lower level echo a timeless durability, while live edge maple window sills from Northern Minnesota add a refined rusticity.
The basement family room pays homage to Americana with barnwood paneling from Montgomery, MN, a Kenosha restaurant freezer door from the 1960s, and glass etchings from a 1910 Kenyon farmhouse. Each fixture—from the 1924 schoolhouse lights to the antique vents and 1908 parlor stove—was chosen not just for function, but for story.
Hand-forged metalwork by Black Turtle Metal Works in Western North Carolina finishes the home with a tactile authenticity, from light switch plates to custom handles.
More than a home, this is a curated experience—an architectural palimpsest built upon the bones of American history and shaped by generations of artisans. For the discerning buyer seeking a legacy property unlike any other, this is your invitation.
Offered exclusively by appointment.
Virtual Tours
Summary
Type:
RES | Residential - Single Family Residence
Price:
$1,474,900
$234/sf
$181,192/acre
Transaction:
For Sale
Status:
Active
Contingencies:
None
Agent Owned:
No
Lender Owned:
No
Manufactured Home:
No
Zoning:
Residential-Single Family
Bedrooms:
4
Bathrooms:
4
Square Footage:
6,304 sq ft
Lot Size:
8.14 acres
Year Built:
2021
Foundation:
2,623 sq ft
Garage:
Yes
Waterfront:
Yes
Stories:
Two
New Construction:
No
Listed at:
Fri May 23 2025 5:00:00 AM
Listing Age:
61 days
School District:
318-Grand Rapids | 218-327-5704
County:
Itasca
Rooms
Bedrooms
Bedroom 1:
Main 14x16
Bedroom 2:
Lower 15x12
Bedroom 3:
Lower 15x16
Bedroom 4:
Lower 11x12
Bathrooms
Full Baths:
3
1/2 Baths:
1
Main Floor
Living Room:
Living Room, 30x20
Dining Room:
Dining Room, 10x19
Kitchen:
Kitchen, 17x28
Bedroom 1:
Bedroom 1, 14x16
Laundry:
Laundry, 7x9
Mud Room:
Mud Room, 10x12
Pantry (Walk-In):
Pantry (Walk-In), 8x8
Lower Level
Family Room:
Family Room, 24x32
Bedroom 2:
Bedroom 2, 15x12
Bedroom 3:
Bedroom 3, 15x16
Bedroom 4:
Bedroom 4, 11x12
Storage:
Storage, 11x16
Upper Level
Bonus Room:
Bonus Room, 23x27
Loft:
Loft, 20x35
More Room Details
Dining:
Kitchen/Dining Room
Home Details
In Home Details
Sq Ft Above Ground:
3,944 sq ft
Sq Ft Below Ground:
2,360 sq ft
Basement:
Full, Walkout
Construction Material:
Wood Siding
Fireplaces:
2
Exterior
Siding:
Wood Siding
Roof:
Age 8 Years or Less, Asphalt
Utilites
Water:
Well
Sewer:
Private Sewer
Cooling:
Central Air, Ductless Mini-Split
Heating:
Forced Air, Radiant Floor, Propane
Property / Waterfront
Property Details
Garage:
3 spaces, Attached Garage
Lot Dimensions:
irregular
Out Building:
Additional Garage
Agent Owned:
No
Waterfront Details
Body of Water:
Deer Lake (Carpenter Twp.)
DNR Lake ID:
31033400
Type:
Lake Front
Frontage:
333 ft
Lake Acres:
1,854 acres
Max Depth:
50 ft
Bottom:
Sand
View:
Lake Front
Others
School Information
District Number:
318-Grand Rapids
District Phone:
218-327-5704
Financial Considerations
Tax Property ID:
102234218
Tax Amount:
$7,037 for 2024
Listing Data
Listed Price:
$1,474,900
Days on market:
38 days
First Listed at:
Fri May 23 2025 5:00:00 AM
Last Updated at:
Mon Jun 30 2025 4:40:04 PM
Total Days on Market:
295 days
Contingencies:
None
Assessments:
No
Foreclosure:
No
Lender Owned:
No
Special Notes
Internet Options:
Fiber Optic
Present Use:
Yearly
Public Survey
Range:
24
Section:
23
Township:
62
Northland Sotheby's International Realty is the brokerage office representing the owner for this listing.
© Copyright 2025, Regional Multiple Listing Service(RMLS) of Minnesota, Inc. all rights reserved. Information is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed.
The data relating to real estate for sale on this site comes in part from the broker reciprocity program of the Regional multiple Listing Service(RMLS) of Minnesota, Inc distributed by MLS GRID. Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than are marked with the Broker Reciprocity logo or the Broker reciprocity house icon and detailed information about them includes the names(s) of the listing brokers.
Positive Realty | Keith Schwankl is not a Multiple Listing Service (MLS), nor does it offer MLS access. This website is a service of Positive Realty | Keith Schwankl, a broker participant of the Regional Multiple Listing Service of Minnesota, Inc. Northstar MLS data last updated at Jul 23 2025 3:53PM.
