It was a simpler time when the Archer House was built. The flow of life matched the flow of the scenic Cannon River passing through the town of Northfield. Northfield had developed a culture as well as a significant population and it now needed an elegant inn to attract people.
      James D. Archer saw this need. As previous owner of the Archer House in Hastings, Minnesota he had even greater plans for this hotel. It would be of grand design: French second empire influences, mansard roof, arched dormer windows and, for cool evenings and early morning teas, a portico, facing east.
      Contractor H.B. Martin did well. The hotel contained more than 50 rooms spread through a four-story central block with a three-story wing to the south.
      Its grand opening was held August 23, 1877. A reporter described it as "an episode of the grandest proportion in Northfield's history."
      A brass band and crowds of visitors from Dundas, Faribault, and St. Paul were included with the locals.
      "The hotel speaks for itself," the report concluded. "Externally and internally it would be difficult to out do in taste and neatness the ladies' parlor." (Shops occupy this southern space now.)
      The new hotel made the town seem more civilized, taking it further away from the "cowboy image" brought on by the Jesse James gang. A year before, they had plotted their raid of the Northfield bank during lunch in the St. Paul House - down the street and around a corner on West Water Street.
      Mr. Archer did not preside over the Archer for long. From 1878 to 1880, Capt. E.D. Dampier took charge of its operation. His son, A.W. Dampier, succeeded him until J.A. Lawrence leased the hotel in 1883.
      Little is known about the hotel until the momentous date of January 1, 1889, when Henry Kahler purchased the Archer House. Kahler was a man intent upon building an empire, and he started in this area.
      In the early 1880's the Kahlers entered the hotel business in Dundas. The first Kahler hostelry was located a half block from the Kahler harness shop and near the Minneapolis-St. Louis railroad station on the north side of West Street. Homer Roberts was the station manager and would fit intricately into the Archer House's future.
      Henry Kahler brought son John Henry into the Archer House endeavor. John was 22 years old, fresh from Europe with big European ideas. Father and son refitted and refurnished the Archer's dining and sleeping rooms in keeping with European trends.
      The Archer House became the largest and best hotel they and Northfield had. The Northfield News said: "The Archer House is a first class hotel. The proprietors, Henry Kahler and son, have been in the hotel business for years and understand just how to cater to the wants of the traveling public. Mrs. Kahler (Amelia Aldworth) has charge of the cuisine. The dining room and kitchen are under her personal supervision. John Kahler, the junior proprietor, will be found ready at all times to fill the wants of the traveler. He has full charge of the office and the commercial man will find him genteel and accommodating. The house runs a bus to all trains."
      In 1894, ownership of the Archer House went to Kahler's daughter Elizabeth and her husband, Homer Roberts. The Roberts kept enhancing the hotel, adding telephone accommodations in 1895, a north wing with dining room (retail shops today), and in 1900 electric lights "in every room."

      Ownership rapidly changed and in 1902, G.E. Thomas owned the hotel; W.H. Wright took over in May of that year. In 1903, Grant Bronson took over and renamed the establishment the Manawa. Some redecoration took place and juggling ceased until Bronson traded the hotel for land rights elsewhere. The new proprietor was Fred N. Ball who named the inn Hotel Ball in 1911. That same year Mr. Archer died at the age of 90 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
      A year later, G.R. Stuart took over the hotel, renaming it the Stuart Hotel. That December, John M. Rule took over proprietorship, but the name Stuart remained, just to eliminate confusion.
      In 1915, Rule sold the hotel back to Stuart. In 1916, J.W. Gordon took it over from Stuart. Three months later, Gordon sold out to a Mr. Erior only to buy it back again in April, 1917, selling it to Julius Mahl in May, 1918. Gordon again bought it back in July.
      A year later, Sheeran and Peterson Company of Faribault bought the hotel, only to sell it to Gordon again, who sold it again to H.C. Miller. A headline read at the time: "on again off again" about Gordon's fickle business habits.
      After a modernization in 1920, Gordon again bought the hotel. The buying saga involving Gordon may have continued but Gordon's demise brought H.C. Miller into succession.
      More improvements were made until October, 1921, when F.O. Morrison leased the hotel. In 1928, John Frame, the next owner, bought new carpet, wallpaper and fixtures for the hotel. The hotel then passed to J.C. Kretzschmar, followed by C. Ray Bray.
      Finally in July, 1937, ownership went to John O'Malley. O'Malley came to Northfield from the Lowell Inn in Stillwater, Minnesota and he operated the Northfield hotel for a number of years.
      The economy after World War II took its toll on hotel operations until, in 1948, the hotel came back into the hands of a member of its truly first family: Arthur L. Roberts, son of Homer and Elizabeth (Kahler) Roberts.
      In the late 1940s, preservation wasn't a major concern. Fortunately for the old hotel, finances were. High costs kept building plans on the blackboard. All Roberts did for the next few years included remodeling guest rooms, adding bathrooms, reopening the dining room and improving the building fascade.
      His grand plans were never completed. In 1952, Arthur Roberts died.
      Mr. and Mrs. LaVerne Paschall managed and owned the hotel after Robert's death. They did additional remodeling and added a riverside part at the rear of the property.
      In 1963, Robert and Mary Lethbridge bought the hotel, selling it in 1977 to Ron McDaniels. McDaniels sold the hotel in 1979 to Colonial Properties. Time and abuse took its toll on the hotel.

The hotel's value was realized by Dallas Haas, a Northfield building contractor, who bought the hotel in 1981. Major renovation and rebuilding commenced under Haas' hand. Retail shops soon occupied the lower level, where he had reclaimed old hardwood floors and woodworking. A front portico was constructed, patterned after old photographs of the inn. The sleeping rooms were renovated next, filled with American country furnishings designed for the hotel, each signed and dated by the designer. Each room was given a name relating to a special part of local history. Accompaniments were created by area crafts people. Beneath the old-fashioned flavor, new insulation, wiring, and plumbing were added, including sprinkler and alarm systems. Once again, an elegant hotel greets visitors.

To crown the successful renovation, Haas brought back the hotel's original name: The Archer House.

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