The Middle Room

The middle room is the heart of the Fillebrown home and has been central to its history. Originally the main cooking area, it featured an iron range before the fireplace was installed. After a fire in 1922, the space was redesigned to include a lakeview dining area.

From 1934 to 1937, Helen operated the Chalet Tea Room here during the summer.

In 1946, a Nursery School, the first in White Bear Lake, was established in the space and ran successfully for ten years.

By 1930, Helen had moved her piano teaching from St. Paul to this room, which also housed a Raudenbush piano purchased around 1927. This is until the Tea Room and Nursey School pleaded with her to move it upstairs!

This room contains several sentimental items: Jonas Fillebrown’s desk from his fruit business, dishes from the Young Family, bound copies of Harper’s Weekly from 1872-1900, and a special chair purchased by Hallie Fillebrown that was once used by Abraham Lincoln – you’ll have to check out our youtube video on that one!