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Reported phenomena — as catalogued
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1853 Limestone Prison Residence in Stillwater, Where Gertrude Wolfer's Apparition Is Still Reported
602 N Main St, Stillwater, MN 55082
Research updated June 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
$
Adults $10; children 6–17 $3; WCHS members free. Flashlight paranormal tours sold separately in October.
Access
Limited Access
Two-story limestone building with stairs; limited accessibility
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1853 · National Register of Historic Places · Second-Oldest House Museum in Minnesota · Minnesota Territorial and State Prison History
The Warden's House was constructed in 1853 by the Jesse Taylor Company to designs by architect Jacob Fisher, who used Greek Revival and Federal elements with locally quarried limestone. It was built as part of the original Minnesota Territorial Prison complex on the bluffs above the St. Croix River in Stillwater. When Minnesota achieved statehood in 1858, the territorial prison became the Minnesota State Prison, and the warden's residence continued in use.
Thirteen wardens occupied the house from 1853 until 1914, when the prison relocated to Bayport. Warden Henry Wolfer held the position for 22 years — the longest tenure of any of the thirteen — raising four children and later grandchildren in the residence before the family vacated in 1914. After the prison moved, the building served deputy wardens and superintendents until the bulk of the original complex was demolished in 1936.
The State of Minnesota transferred ownership to the Washington County Historical Society in 1941, and the house opened to the public that June as the second house museum in Minnesota. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 17, 1974 (Reference No. 74001044). Today the museum contains 14 restored rooms with period furnishings, exhibits on regional lumbering and pioneer life, and artifacts related to the James-Younger Gang, who were imprisoned at Stillwater in the 1870s.
Sources
Gertrude Wolfer was the daughter of Warden Henry Wolfer, who occupied the house for 22 years. She married, gave birth to a son, and died of appendicitis shortly after. Her son went to live with his grandfather, Warden Wolfer, who remained in the house until 1914. The story has circulated among Warden's House visitors and staff for decades.
Paranormal accounts at the museum concentrate on the upper floor. Multiple visitors and at least one psychic brought in by investigators have independently described a young woman moving between rooms, sometimes observed holding her stomach — consistent with appendicitis pain. Others report a rocking cradle moving on its own and the general impression of an infant being sought. Local accounts have given the spirit the nickname 'Trudy,' a diminutive of Gertrude.
A trustee prisoner is said to haunt the backyard, reportedly continuing to tend horses and carriages that no longer exist. The Johnsdale Paranormal Group conducts annual investigations at the property and presents findings publicly. The Washington County Historical Society hosts special paranormal events alongside the annual open house, and October flashlight tours incorporate the ghost stories directly into the historical narrative.
Notable Entities
Media Appearances
A 45-to-60-minute tour through 14 restored rooms depicting late-19th and early-20th-century life. Docents cover the prison's history, the 13 wardens who lived in the house from 1853 to 1914, and exhibits on lumbering, pioneer life, and the Younger Brothers' incarceration at the adjacent Stillwater State Prison.
After-dark tours in October that include the paranormal history of the house, reported apparitions, and the story of Gertrude Wolfer. Tours depart at multiple times each Friday and Saturday evening in mid-October.
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