This Queen Ann Victorian mail order house was designed by the renowned 19th century architect, George F. Barber of Knoxville, Tenn. for R. C. Lubiens, son of St. Ansgar's first mayor. After the
depression, Mr. Lubiens lost a great deal of money, so boarders were taken in, and the family moved to the third floor. Another owner, Hugh Carr, turned this house into a rooming house and added an extra kitchen and bathroom for boarders to share. It was turned into apartments for many years and Duane and Laurie Kimber lived in the home and operated a dining room named the Victoria House for a few years.
In August, 1991, Sherrie Hansen moved to the area after 12 years in Colorado. Sherrie's grandmother and great- grandmother were originally from St. Ansgar. Although the inside lacked electrical, heating and cooling systems and a kitchen, the origianl maple banister, fireplace, tin ceilings, ornate mouldings, eight-foot maple pocket doors and stained and leaded glass windows were intact. The owner's parents, Everett and Mary Hansen of Austin, Minnesota, were instrumental in the renovation process as were many local and regional builders.
The Blue Belle has offered guest rooms since early 1992 with each room
having he name of a storybook. The dining room is open to the public Tuesday and Saturday for lunch, every Friday and Saturday evenings for dinner and throughout the week for private gatherings.
A granddaughter of the Lubiens, who had been born in the Blue Belle Inn, owned the house next door. In 2002, Sherrie purchased the home and named it "A Wrinkle in Time". It is used as her home or a guesthouse when needed. On 2002 The Blue Belle Inn was named one of the top 20 romantic inns in the nation by the American Historic Inns, Inc.
The Blue Belle Inn Bed & Breakfast
513 West 4th Street
P.O. Box 205
St. Ansgar, Iowa 50472www.BlueBelleInn.com/html/home.html
(641) 713-3113
Text from: The Story of St. Ansgar, Iowa 1978-2003; pg. 25;
BLUE BELLE INN BED AND BREAKFASTTranscribed by kaydoty@hotmail.com