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Amblard, Emile (1840–1914)

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Photograph of Emile Amblard leaning on a table, holding his gloves and wearing a boutonniere. Circa 1910.

Emile Amblard, c.1910.

Emile Julien Amblard, known as the "Duke of Clearwater Lake," became one of Coney Island's leading residents. He bought his first piece of land there in 1893. The western edge of the island and a building in Waconia would become his passion for the next twenty-one years.

Amblard was born in Paris, France on April 4, 1840. He was the son of a wealthy landowner and mayor of the town of Périgueux. Amblard spent his youth at the family's country home in Burgundy and in Paris schools. As an adult, he worked for F. Chauvenet and Company, distributors of fine French wine. As the company's representative in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, a lot of Amblard's time was spent traveling, introducing and importing Burgundy wines. After a yearlong absence to serve in the Franco-German War (July 19, 1870–May 10, 1871) under Napoleon III, he spent the rest of his days working for F. Chauvenet and Company.

Amblard first visited the United States in 1889. The following year, he visited an old friend, former German Army Officer Rudolph Steinmetz, who lived in Minneapolis. While there, Amblard was invited on a fishing trip to Clearwater Lake. He fell in love with the beauty of the area and stayed.

Amblard purchased his first property on Coney Island in 1893 from Mary Orth, with an existing cabin. The following year he married Mary Augusta Wood of Manitoba, Canada. The family, including Mary's mother and Amblard's daughter from a previous marriage, Marie Therésè, spent their summers on the island. In the winter, the women lived in their Summit Avenue home in Minneapolis, while Marie Therésè attended St. Joseph's Academy. Amblard spent his winters traveling for work.

In 1898, Amblard bought more land on the island and built his main summer residence. Known as "Villa Emile," the building was one story, with a two-story tower on one side and a veranda on three sides. The original property became known as Villa Marie, for his wife, Mary. The Amblards also built Villa Topsy, a five-room guesthouse, named for their beloved dog. Over time, Amblard added a park, gardens, a boathouse, a bathhouse, a billiard room, a chess room, and gazebos. The area became known as Amblard Point and Amblard Park. When the 1904 Waconia Cyclone hit, it wrecked the boathouse, the boat landing, gazebo, and Villa Topsy. Villas Emile and Marie were left undamaged. In 1906, Amblard purchased a building on Vine Street in Waconia. Over time, he added an automobile garage, guest rooms above, and a dining room.

By 1911, Amblard's health had begun to deteriorate, and the family was living mainly in their Minneapolis home. In 1912, he spent weeks ill in the hospital and in 1913, he fractured his leg. Despite his poor health, the family took a final trip to the Amblard home in Burgundy, then on to Paris, Nice, and Monte Carlo. In July 1914, Amblard entered the Swedish Hospital in Minneapolis for surgery; there were complications.

Emile Amblard died in the hospital on July 15, 1914 at age seventy-four. Legend has it he wanted to be buried standing up, facing his beloved island, but he had a traditional burial in the Waconia city cemetery. His is the only grave in the cemetery facing the island, in a north-south direction, as all other plots face east to west.

Mary Amblard was the sole heir to Amblard's estate, but she had little interest in the land. The Coney Island property was sold to James R. Ferris of the National Hotel in Minneapolis and became "Frenchman's Point." The garage and club-house in Waconia were sold to James E. Hamilton of Janesville, Wisconsin, and became the "Waconia Tavern and Garage." Mary sold the Minneapolis home and then lived in California, Belgium and France. She died and was buried in Winnipeg, Canada in 1946.

In the twenty-first century, no Amblard structures remain on the island. The club and garage in Waconia were placed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 4, 1980. They were converted, and are now the Wishing Well Apartments. Amblard's passion for building lives on in that structure.

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"A Crew of Men Are Busily Engaged on the New Addition to the Amblard Building." Waconia Patriot, April 17, 1908.

Anderson, Keith, "Historic Waconia Building Welcomes Changes." Carver County News, October 4, 1990.

"E. Amblard, A French Gentleman from New York." Carver County News, May 25, 1894.

Holcombe, Maj. R.I., ed. Compendium of History and Biography of Carver and Hennepin Counties, Minnesota. Chicago: Henry Taylor and Company, 1915.

"Mons. Amblard Property is Sold." Waconia Patriot, August 21, 1914.

"Mons. Emile Amblard Gone to His Reward." Waconia Patriot, July 17, 1914.

"Mons. Emile Amblard Was Here Tuesday." Waconia Patriot, April 5, 1912.

"Monsieur E. Amblard." Carver County News, August 8, 1890.

"Mr. Amblard Left Tuesday for Minneapolis." Waconia Patriot, September 4, 1903.

"Mrs. Marie Amblard Dies in Canada." Waconia Patriot, April 4, 1946.

Waconia Heritage Association. Waconia, Paradise of the Northwest: The Lake and Its Island. Dallas: Taylor Publishing Company, 1986.

"Waconia's Most Progressive Citizen, Mons. Amblard." Waconia Patriot, May 19, 1911.

"We Are Pleased to Note that Mons. Emile Amblard." Waconia Patriot, April 11, 1913.

Related Images

Photograph of Emile Amblard leaning on a table, holding his gloves and wearing a boutonniere. Circa 1910.
Photograph of Emile Amblard leaning on a table, holding his gloves and wearing a boutonniere. Circa 1910.
Photograph of Mrs. Emile Amblard sitting on a wicker chair with a tennis racquet in ther hand, a boat cap on her head, and a dog seated by her side. Circa 1910..
Photograph of Mrs. Emile Amblard sitting on a wicker chair with a tennis racquet in ther hand, a boat cap on her head, and a dog seated by her side. Circa 1910..
Photograph of four people in front of Villa Marie in Waconia. From left to right: Mrs. Emile Amblard; her mother, Mrs. Wood; Lillian Osterfelt; Mr. Emile Amblard.
Photograph of four people in front of Villa Marie in Waconia. From left to right: Mrs. Emile Amblard; her mother, Mrs. Wood; Lillian Osterfelt; Mr. Emile Amblard.
Amblard Auto Garage and Clubhouse
Amblard Auto Garage and Clubhouse
Villa Emile
Villa Emile

Turning Point

In 1890, Emile Amblard’s visit to Clearwater Lake inspires him to buy his first property on Coney Island.

Chronology

1840

Emile Julien Amblard is born in Paris, France on April 4.

1870–1871

Amblard serves in the Franco-German War under Napoleon III.

1889

Amblard visits the United States for the first time.

1890

Amblard visits a friend, former German Army Officer Rudolph Steinmetz, in Minneapolis. While there, he is invited to fish on Clearwater Lake in Waconia and falls in love with the beauty of the area.

1893

Emile Amblard purchases his first piece of land on Coney Island from Mary Orth, with an existing cabin.

1894

Fifty-four-year-old Amblard weds twenty-two-year-old Mary Augusta Wood of Manitoba, Canada.

1898

Amblard expands his property on the island and builds his main residence, Villa Emile.

1904

On August 20, the Waconia Cyclone causes extensive damage to Amblard’s property on Coney Island.

1906

Amblard purchases a structure on Vine Street in Waconia, adding an automobile garage, guest house, and dining room.

1911

Amblard’s health begins to deteriorate and he spends less time on the island.

1912

Amblard spends weeks ill in the hospital.

1913

Despite Amblard’s poor health, the family takes one final trip to the Amblard family home in Burgundy, then on to Paris, Nice and Monte Carlo.

1914

Amblard enters the Swedish Hospital in Minneapolis for surgery; there are complications. He dies in the hospital on July 15, 1914. He is buried facing his beloved island in Waconia.

1946

Mary Amblard dies and is buried in Winnipeg, Canada.

1980

The clubhouse and garage located on Vine Street are placed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 4 and converted into the Wishing Well Apartments.