Lund-Hoel House

The Most Famous House in Town!

Stone headers and entrance gate to the historic lund-hoel house.

The Piano Years

Nella's youth and 30 year ownership

1903-1931 in Canby

Nella Hoel was born the year the foundation of the Lund-Hoel House was laid in 1891. When Nella’s parents purchased the house from Mrs Hoel’s Brother, John, Nella would move into the home when she was 12 years old. She lived in the house until her parents passed away leaving the house to Nella.   


"Miss Hoel" --a grown up title for a young girl barely in her teens-- allowed Nella the authority she needed when she began teaching piano at the house, around the year 1905 at age 14. For a quarter of a century, piano lessons kept Miss Hoel busy in the parlor where her piano stands today.


This time during the history of the house is referred to as 'The Piano Years' in honor of Nella Hoel's teaching career. Others continued giving those lessons while living in the house. Nella inspired future piano teachers and musicians with the gift of music.

The "Piano Room" was also the Rev. Hoel's official place for marriages and ceremonies. Nella and Andrew were married in this room after her parents deaths. 

At age 40, Nella married Andrew Berg, age 42, on August 19, 1931. He was a Lincoln automobile dealer from Minneota, MN. A year had passed since the death of the bride's parents. This marriage was for each partner a late one, and no children were born to the Bergs. Nella's "children" were her many piano students who came to the Hoel House over the years for weekly lessons. 


Although the house transferred to Nella upon her parents deaths in 1930, Nella subsequently married in 1931, and moved to Minneapolis in 1932. She rented the house as apartments to different families until 1954. Nella died at age 86 while living in Minneapolis. 

1931-1954 in Minneapolis

Nella Hoel, who had devoted her youth to caring for her aged parents, married on 19 August 1931 Andrew Berg, a Lincoln automobile dealer from Minneota, MN. A year had passed since the death of the bride's parents. This marriage was for each partner a late one,, and no children were born to the Bergs. Nella's "children" were her many piano students who came to the Howel House over the years for weekly lessons. 


When Nella and Andrew Berg moved to Minneapolis where they'd purchased a house, Nella packed up and took with her most of the original Lund-Hoel family furniture, the unique stained glass window panel in the front door, family photos and much more. These items would eventually return from the Berg home in Minneapolis when Nella passed away.


Nella retained ownership of the house, which had been transferred into her name in 1928, until 1954. She leased it to various Canby families for more than a quarter of a century. 


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Site last modified:  01/17/2024