 The Dunnell House This Italianate style home was built by Mark Hill Dunnell in 1868-69 and was originally located at 357 East Main Street in Owatonna. Mark Hill Dunnell was born in Maine where he served as an educator, lawyer, and state legislator. During the Civil War, Dunnell was the U.S. consul to Vera Cruz, Mexico, and was instrumental in intercepting a shipment of arms from Europe to the Confederate Army. After the war he moved to Minnesota, first Winona, then Owatonna in 1867, where he was elected representative to State Legislature. He was appointed State Supt. of Public Instruction and was then elected First District representative to U.S. Congress. The house was sold to Pillsbury Military Academy in 1940 and was used as a cadet’s dorm, infirmary, piano classroom and residence. When the house was scheduled to be demolished for a parking lot, a group of citizens formed to save it, and led to its preservation and restoration by the Steele County Historical Society. The house was moved to its present location in January 1969 in two sections. |