There’s an interesting challenge involved with determining the answer to the question based on which structure is the oldest still-existing building in Albert Lea.

One real contender is the authentic log cabin at the Freeborn County Museum and Historical Village next to the fairgrounds entry on North Bridge Avenue

This building is now 156 years old and was built by Ole Kolbjorn Livedalen. He and his wife Astri Mellem Livedalen and her 2 1/2-year-old daughter, Christi, by a previous marriage came to what soon evolved into Freeborn County during early 1853.

These Norwegian immigrants may have thought they were building a new home in Iowa. However, they actually ended up a few hundred yards or so north of the state line. Thus, this family became the county’s first permanent settlers.

The Livedalen cabin had split burr oak logs for flooring and a sod-covered roof.

In the fall of 1854 this family had a son, Kolbjorn Ole, who became the first white child born in Freeborn County.

The William Beighley family purchased the cabin in 1856 and soon replaced the log flooring with sawed-oak boards and removed the sod roofing and used shingles instead.

This cabin was continuously occupied by several families until 1904. In 1909 the cabin was moved to the fairgrounds through the sponsorship of the Territorial Pioneers Organization. The rustic cabin was located at the north end of the fairgrounds until 1957 when it was moved to its present site.

The original site of the Livedalen cabin was next to what’s now 813th Avenue (County Road 106) about a quarter mile southeast of Gordonsville. A historical marker near the grove of oak trees now marks this site.

When the Livedalen cabin was moved to Albert Lea a century ago, it automatically became the oldest building within the city limits, plus the county. Yet, after two moves this cabin had contenders with at least two other buildings in the city, which were still at their original locations.

It has been assumed that the brick building at the corner of South Broadway Avenue and West Clark Street is the oldest remaining structure in the city. One historical reference says this building was built for Dr. Albert C. Wedge in 1872 to be used as a drug store. However, local historical researcher Kevin Savick declares the building was actually built in 1871. This may add a year to the age of the building at 104 S. Broadway Ave. where the Taco King and the Community Hearing Center are now located. However, Savick said the brick building next door at 106 S. Broadway Ave., now used by the Dave Klatt State Farm Insurance Agency, was actually built a year earlier in 1870.

Both buildings have been remodeled several times through the years and had additions made to extend their lengths to the alley.

The corner building was used for a drug store under various names for a good portion of its existence. Partial proof of this can be seen with the remains of a faded Rexall sign on the wall facing Clark Street. This building also once had a barber shop in the basement, a dental office and apartment on the second floor, and shoe repair business, Tiffany’s Ice Cream Store and later offices for an accounting firm in the back portion facing Clark Street.

Next to this building at 106 S. Broadway Ave. is a structure that has been used for a hardware store, drug and stationery store, Stevenson’s Apparel, Albert Lea Bakery, the Added Touch, and now the Dave Klatt agency.

In summary, Savick said the corner building, now housing Taco King, is the most intact and the structure to the south, which he lists as a year older, has been extensively remodeled and altered through the years.

Yet, there’s a nagging thought that maybe a private dwelling somewhere else in Albert Lea may be a few years older than the 1870 date. Could it be that one of these homes has been extensively remodeled and still retains a portion of the original structure? Then again, maybe one of these pioneer homes was moved to another location within the city limits.