The Hill House Servants: Life Downstairs

Not unlike the divided household of Downton Abbey, we have a dramatic example of upstairs/downstairs life right here in Minnesota. The "Empire Builder" James J. Hill and his family were the primary occupants of 240 Summit Avenue but another, less familiar group of people lived there as well: the 10 to 12 live-in domestic servants who did the cleaning, cooking, laundry, and maintenance work at the house. In piecing together the stories of these servants, information is culled from a variety of sources that can be found in the collections of the Minnesota Historical Society.

[@billhoskoformayorofsaintpa1295]

Well done. Thank you.

[@jodidonaldson2923]

been there 15 yrs ago. there's definitely a certain feeling about the place. one must experience for themselves!

[@lisajimenez3760]

My husband I were living in MN in the mid 1990's, and we visited the Hill House to take a tour. The docents were so rude that we left without taking the tour. Even all these years later, it stings. I hope that they have hired better people to represent the Hill House since our unsettling visit.

[@lavenderflowersfall280]

Hahaha I was 6 years old in the mid-90s!
sorry about your imposing experience though I'll have to take it up with the lady of the house through her lady in waiting

[@rockertopunk]

No they haven't. I had a 3 year old and an older lady whom didn't speak much english (she wasn't listening) so they we're annoyed we took a little longer than the group. Straight rushed us through.

[@bruiserbong4001]

Get over it. That was over 30 years ago. It’s a beautiful tour and you can choose self-guided if you wish.

[@gracietilert8952]

@@bruiserbong4001it could very likely have been there was no self guided then. Who would want to go back after that? You get over it.

[@gracietilert8952]

It is amazing how poorly working class people were treated and this was how it was during that time period

[@laurahicks9558]

Interesting.

[@chicagogyrl7849]

It must have been awful there, and the stingy owners did not pay well. If they would have paid well, the cooks would not have quit so often!

[@HobbyOrganist]

Not true, the pay was a going rate for that type of servant, they never stayed in one employ that long because they were like today's Pizza Hut, Dominos and Walmart workers- it's easy to find a position elsewhere without college or skills, it was the same for servants, but a good cook or maid could find work almost anywhere back then. Sounds more like MRS Hill was a super nit picker who micro-managed everything and barked orders all day long and people got tired of it and went elsewhere, you can see evidence of this just by the fact there are documents showing her overt, constant involvement in the kitchen etc and her keeping a meticulous diary, you KNOW she wrote down every little thing the help did wrong or that she didn't like how it was done so she could "talk" to them about it later!

[@ILoveManCity.]

5 per week is 150 dollars in today's dollar which is a lot for just a cook helper at that time. Usually was 2 dollars.

[@lavenderflowersfall280]

Wasn't a treat but probably better than being homeless starving

[@horst5511]

frugal lol