National Register Listing

Avery, Carlos, Game Farm

5463 W. Broadway, Columbus Township, Ham Lake, MN

The Carlos Avery Game Farm Historic District is historically Significant under National Register Criterion A as one of the largest and best-equipped game farms in the nation at the time the facility was first placed in operation in 1937. The Game Farm was considered one of the most modern and complete of its kind and received praise from conservationists from Europe, Canada, and throughout the United States. The district is also historically significant as one of the first large-scale efforts at wildlife management in the state. The Carlos Avery Game Farm Historic District also represents a picturesque collection of buildings and structures designed in an unusual adaptation of the Colonial Revival Style.

In 1933 the Minnesota Department of Conservation purchased a tract of land consisting of 8,478.73 acres located in Anoka and Chisago Counties. The parcel had been purchased from the Crex Carpet Company, which had used the property to harvest wire grass for the purpose of manufacturing rugs. Upon acquisition, the tract was named the "Carlos Avery Game Refuge" after Carlos Avery, Minnesota's first conservation commissioner and one of Minnesota's leading conservationists. The land included three small lakes, several thousand acres of swamp land, and large heavily wooded areas, providing an ideal refuge for all types of game birds and animals.

Following the purchase of the refuge, Frank Blair, the Superintendent of Game Propagation for the Department of Conservation, who was well known for his successful work in introducing and propagating the Chinese ringneck pheasant, became convinced that this tract of land would be an ideal place for the construction of a plant for the propagation of the Bob White quail, a bird which had been plentiful in the past but which was fast disappearing from the state. He instructed Walter D. MacLieth, the architect for the Division of Game and Fish, to prepare plans for a modern and efficient propagation plant and he also entered into negotiations with the Works Progress Administration for the construction of the project on a parcel of land within the refuge which was set aside for this purpose. The state's first venture in game bird propagation had been conducted from 1915 to 1921 on a rented farm on Big Island in Lake Minnetonka. It was hoped that someday funds would be sufficient for a modern game farm with an artificial propagation system. However, it was not until the Depression Era, when assistance from the WPA was available, that such plans became possible.

After the project had been approved by both the WPA and President Franklin Roosevelt, A.D. Campbell, the WPA District Engineer, selected a superintendent of construction and assigned a crew of men. On January 2, 1936, Campbell inspected the site along with Emil Anderson, the WPA field superintendent, and A. engineer representing the Department of Conservation, who had previously surveyed the area and had established the locations for the various buildings. It was decided that the Barn and Storage Building would be the first building constructed in order to provide storage space for construction materials and to furnish protection for the workmen during inclement weather. Campbell described the first days of construction at the Game Farm in the following report:

"Since early morning men assigned to work on the project had been arriving at the site. The superintendent collected their assignment cards and set some men to remove snow from the site of building #5 and another crew to excavate the footings for this building, others hung a large canvas provided by the conservation department between trees for protection during lunch hours. The day ended with the project underway.

The weather in the following weeks during the construction of #5 was very severe. The temperature at one time dropped to 52 below zero on the local thermometer. There was also an unusually heavy snowfall. Two times during this winter the watchmen were snowed in for 24 and 36 hours, the relief watchmen being unable to reach the site to relieve them."

Construction continued until the Game Farm was completed nearly three years later with the formal dedication conducted by Governor Elmer Benson on October 16, 1938. The facility was constructed at a cost of $40,887, of which 85% was paid by the Works Progress Administration. The Department of Conservation praised the facility and described the WPA workmanship as superlative.

The Game Farm was actually one of several distinct and separate functional areas within the refuge which also included a sanctuary for wild birds and animals, a nursery, and a public hunting ground.

The purpose of the Game Farm was to replenish dwindling small game populations and to increase the opportunities for hunting. Game birds from the farm were distributed throughout the state. The propagation of Bob White quail at the Game Far in the spring of 1937 with 200 pairs of birds reared at the Blair Game Farm in Mound. This initial group yielded 1,879 birds that were released, and 1,000 pairs that were retained for breeding stock. Seven hundred Chukar partridge eggs were also purchased from which 469 birds were hatched. In 1938 a total of 27,224 quail were produced, the largest single annual output on record and 2,850 Chukar partridges were reared. Although the normal annual capacity of the plant was set at 30,000 birds of all species, in 1939 an all-time record was set with 22,486 quail and 11,772 Chukars. These figures were again exceeded in 1940 when production of quail and Chukars totaled 22,664 and 19,449 respectively. The phenomenal success of the entire program was attributed to the type of equipment, almost perfect sanitation, and the coordinated efforts of the qualified staff.

Additional game farms were also in operation at this time, such as a facility in Madelia. Yet, these farms represented very limited operations and none survive today.

Propagation of quail was discontinued in 1955 after approximately 150,000 birds had been released during a 17-year period. A total of 73,000 Chukar partridges were also raised between 1939-47. Beginning in 1947 the Game Farm concentrated on raising Ringnecked pheasants, a project which continued until 1981. Another important project which operated from the late 1950s to the early 1970s was a plan to reestablish Canadian geese in the state. Today only limited, small-scale projects are undertaken.

The Game Farm depicts an era in wildlife management in which the propagation of game birds was recognized as a game management tool. Since the 1930s, modern game management no longer considers it practical to raise game birds for release as a means to replenish the population. Rather, contemporary efforts include improving habitat areas and providing nesting cover and food.

The Carlos Avery Game Farm Historic District meets the registration requirements for listing Conservation Structures on the National Register of Historic Places as set forth in the Multiple Property Documentation Form entitled, "Minnesota Federal Relief Construction, 1933-41." The Game Farm was constructed between 1936 and 1938 by the Works Progress Administration. The facility was one of the largest and best-equipped game farms in the United States at the time of its construction and represents one of the first major efforts at wildlife management in Minnesota. The Game Farm is a rare reminder of the wildlife management philosophy of the 1930s which is no longer practiced in the modern era.

Local significance of the district:
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1991.