Built in 1887 (Italianate architecture). Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
One of 20 National Register listings published here for Anoka County · listed in 1979 · category: Building · built in 1887, Italianate architecture.
Sources: the case file at the National Archives · the National Register database, National Park Service
Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 90 fires within 5 miles of Porter Kelsey House between 1992 and 2020, burning about 1,350 acres in total. None started naturally. 19 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Arson/incendiarism | 19 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 18 |
| Railroad operations and maintenance | 17 |
| Debris and open burning | 17 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 8 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 6 |
| Smoking | 2 |
| Fireworks | 1 |
| Misuse of fire by a minor | 1 |
| Other causes | 1 |
The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 August 2006 | Railroad operations and maintenance | under an acre | Minnesota Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 21 August 2006 | Railroad operations and maintenance | under an acre | Minnesota Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 21 August 2006 | Railroad operations and maintenance | under an acre | Minnesota Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 1 August 2007 | Arson/incendiarism | 1.0 acres | Minnesota Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 28 July 2006 | Debris and open burning | 2.5 acres | Minnesota Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 3 June 2009 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | under an acre | Minnesota Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 8 May 2004 | Debris and open burning | under an acre | Minnesota Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 7 May 2020 | Debris and open burning | under an acre | Minnesota Department of Natural Resources | not named |
Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 1 working within 5 miles of Porter Kelsey House: 1 producer. All of them still produce. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anoka Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer |
Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Andover, the town this property stands in, in 30 storm reports between 1997 and 2024: 17 hail, 9 thunderstorm wind, 2 tornado, 2 heavy rain. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Andover | $100,000 | Large trees and sheds blown down along 1.5 mile path within Andover per NWS damage survey. Minor house damage. |
| September 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Andover | $5,000 | A metal stoplight was blown down at the intersection of Hanson Blvd, and Bunker Lake Blvd, in Andover. |
| August 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Andover | - | Photo report via social media of large tree uprooted. |
| August 2024 | Tornado (EF1) | Andover | - | Tornado developed in the northeast corner of Andover and continued north-northeast into the southeast portion of Oak Grove, where it dissipated. Hundreds of trees were broken or uprooted, some of which fell on houses, sheds, and vehicles. In addition to performing a storm survey, drone video from the Sheriff's Office was viewed. |
| May 2022 | Hail | Andover | - | There was a social media picture of golf ball size hail. |
| September 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Andover | - | Several reports of large tree branches and tree damage in Andover. |
| May 2012 | Heavy Rain | Andover | - | A local observer measured 3.01 inches in the last 24 hours. |
| May 2012 | Heavy Rain | Andover | - | A local observer measured 5.50 inches in the last 24 hours. |
| July 2007 | Hail | Andover | - | Golfball to baseball sized hail damaged a car on 161st Ave. |
| August 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Andover | - | Reported by city official. Several trees down across road. |
| August 2006 | Hail | Andover | - | Reported at Round Lake Blvd and 45th. |
| September 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Andover | - | Scattered trees toppled. |
| September 2005 | Tornado (F0) | Andover | - | A damage survey determined there was a brief touchdown just to the north of significant rear flank downdraft damage in Andover (see separate entry for thunderstorm wind in Anoka County). The tornado traveled along 142nd Avenue, from just west of Tamarack Avenue, to just east of the intersection of 142nd and 143rd Avenues. |
| September 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Andover | - | Tress and power lines were downed. |
| July 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Andover | - | Scattered trees and power lines down. |
| June 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Andover | - | Large branches down. Estimated windspeed. |
| June 2024 | Hail | Andover | - | no account filed |
| June 2023 | Hail | Andover | - | no account filed |
| August 2020 | Hail | Andover | - | no account filed |
| July 2019 | Hail | Andover | - | no account filed |
| April 2012 | Hail | Andover | - | no account filed |
| July 2007 | Hail | Andover | - | no account filed |
| August 2006 | Hail | Andover | - | no account filed |
| September 2005 | Hail | Andover | - | no account filed |
| September 2005 | Hail | Andover | - | no account filed |
| May 2001 | Hail | Andover | - | no account filed |
| July 1999 | Hail | Andover | - | no account filed |
| October 1998 | Hail | Andover | - | no account filed |
| June 1998 | Hail | Andover | - | no account filed |
| June 1997 | Hail | Andover | - | no account filed |
No historic map-sheet match is published for this property yet. That does not mean no map exists. This record needs a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary. Browse the county's mapped places while that work is pending.
Other National Register properties close enough to walk or drive between, ordered by distance from this one. Both positions come from the same geocoding pass that matched these properties to their map sheets.
| Photograph | Property | Distance | Listed |
|---|---|---|---|
 | District No. 28 School | 1.4 miles | 1979 |
 | Jackson Hotel | 3.0 miles | 1978 |
 | Anoka Post Office | 3.0 miles | 1979 |
 | Colonial Hall and Masonic Lodge No. 30 | 3.1 miles | 1979 |
 | Windego Park Auditorium/Open Air Theater | 3.1 miles | 1980 |
 | Shaw-Hammons House | 3.1 miles | 1979 |
| National Archives record | The nomination case file for reference 79001186 in Record Group 79. |
| Anoka County | All 20 listed properties in this county. |
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