[Music] welcome to the Rapids historical marker project presented by the Rapids historical commission and CTN Studios you have access to information in regards to the historical marker for the dun house the dun house occupied the southeast corner of what is now known as Rapids and Egret boulevards the original House on this location was a halfway house or hotel and stop over for the users of the Red River oxcart Trail and later United States Military Road Travelers on the Red River oxcart traveled from Pina North Dakota which was in the Red River Valley area and Canada down through primitive Minnesota territory to St Paul due to the long journey many Travelers needed places to stop and rest along the Route in fact this area had several houses that were used as hotels and stopping places for travelers great places to get a hot meal and a good night's rest the original halfway house burned down in the late 1890s and was rebuilt soon after the new house had seven bedrooms upstairs two downstairs a large living room parlor and kitchen with a large dining area a large porch surrounded three sides of the house the house was built on part of the original 6 00 Acres of the John Dunn Farm the farm was later enlarged to include what is now known as the woodrest area and up to the river including the northern states power Dam Area which is now the Rapids Dam many of the oxcart drivers and Teamsters stayed overnight here because of the lodging and food a large barn and blacksmith shop were located across the road from the halfway house to accommodate the animals used for travel at that time over the years traffic on the road trickled to a few Travelers as Railway transportation became readily available eventually the house was demolished as times changed and new forms of transportation took hold the need for such stopovers as the dun house changed too today Rapids has many hotels and restaurants serving its residents and those just passing through and the dun house was one of the first to lead the way [Music]