The Story behind Historic Mayowood

Discover the legacy and story of Mayowood, exploring how Dr. Charlie and Edith Mayo’s vision transformed a wooded hillside outside Rochester into a remarkable family home and historic landmark.

The Beginning of Mayowood

Edith Mayo is said to have suggested acquiring a farm home for summer use. With a growing family, a summer home seemed a good idea, providing the children with many outdoor activities. Dr. Charlie purchased land outside of Rochester and built a summer home known as Ivy Lodge. The family so enjoyed their summers there that they decided to build a home in the country for year round use.

According to family legend, on a warm summer day, the family climbed the wooded hillside to picnic beneath a large oak tree. When lunch was finished, Dr. Charlie pulled out a ball of twine and began to outline a new home.

Construction of the sprawling home that they named Mayowood began in 1910 and was completed the following year. Built of stone, tile, and poured concrete reinforced with scythes and plowshares, the local newspaper reported the home cost an amazing $60,000. With more than 30 rooms spread over four floors, the house was spacious and comfortable, and became the center of life at the farm, as well as the site of gracious entertaining of friends, family, and dignitaries. 

Picture: Mayowood under construction, 1910-1911

Life on the Estate

The Mayowood estate comprised of over 3,000 acres (see previous page), including eight working farms. As Mayo Clinic grew, the farm proved to be an excellent source of relaxation for Dr. Charlie, who once said, "Farming is the finest thing for a busy professional man. I guess when I leave town and get in the car all thought of work goes and I concentrate on the farm."

The estate, which included a sulky racing track, zoological garden, and greenhouse featuring X-ray plates in place of glass, became one of the most unusual and unique in the upper Midwest.

To power the new home, Dr. Charlie diverted the Zumbro River to dam it and generate electricity. The resulting Mayowood Lake was actually a flooded meadow. With the dam in place, Dr. Charlie had a series of islands created modeled after Japanese gardens that connected to the shore by large suspension bridges.

Picture: Mayowood Greenhouse 

A Lasting Legacy

After Dr. Charlie's death in 1939, his eldest son, Dr. Chuck, moved into Mayowood with his family. Alice Mayo made a number of alterations to accommodate their large family and social life, including the removal of a wall in the dining room and the addition of bow windows to the gallery and living room. Dr. Chuck's son, Charles H. Mayo II (Young Dr. Charlie), and his family moved into Mayowood briefly while he completed his medical training at Mayo Clinic.

In 1965, Dr. Chuck and Alice gave the home, including collected furnishings and ten acres of land, to the Olmsted County Historical Society. The house and grounds are, in effect, all that remain of the original estate. In 2013, the History Center of Olmsted County transferred the house to Mayo Clinic. The Clinic has beautifully restored and repaired the home while the History Center maintains the furnishings and artifacts inside so the public may continue to tour Mayowood and its grounds and learn about the remarkable family who made it a home.

Picture: Alice Plank (on top), Dr. Chuck (bottom right) with their kids and nephews

Dr. Charles H. Mayo (Dr. Charlie)

Dr. Charlie was born July 19, 1865, in Rochester, Minnesota. As children, he and his older brother Will assisted their father, Dr. William Worrall Mayo, in his medical practice. After high school, he attended The Chicago Medical College (Northwestern University), where he received his MD on March 27, 1888. He did graduate work in 1889 at the New York Polyclinic Medical School and in 1890 at the New York Post-Graduate Medical School. He then returned to Rochester and joined his father and brother in practicing medicine here. As the reputation of the Mayos grew, so did their practice and number of patients. Their offices were housed in various locations in downtown Rochester until 1914 when they moved into a new building. On the lintel above the main door it read for the first time MAYO CLINIC. Dr. Charlie continued practicing medicine through the 1920s. He died on May 26, 1939, while visiting Chicago.

Picture: Charles H. Mayo, 1889

Edith Graham Mayo

Edith was born February 12, 1867, in Kalmar Township (west of Rochester). After high school, she went to Chicago to study nursing and graduated from the Women's Hospital in 1889. She returned to Rochester and became the city's first professionally trained nurse when she began working for the Mayos. Here is where she first met Dr. Charlie. They married on April 3, 1893, and together they had eight children, six of whom survived to adulthood, and later adopted a little girl. Once married, Edith ended her nursing career, but she remained interested in caring for others. She was active in the community through the Red Cross, the Civic League, the YWCA, the maternal health center, and the Day Nursery committee, among others. In 1940 she received the National Mother of the Year award from American Mothers, Inc., which described her as having "a fine sense of humor in which there is never any hint of unkindness." She died in Rochester on July 26, 1943.

Picture: Edith Graham, ca. 1890-1893

Dr. Charles W. Mayo (Dr. Chuck)

Dr. Chuck was born July 28, 1898, in Rochester. As an adolescent he attended Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, graduating in 1917. He went on to Princeton, graduating in 1921, and then on to the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, where he earned his MD in 1926. On July 1, 1927, he became a Mayo Graduate School surgery resident and continued practicing medicine at Mayo Clinic until his retirement in 1963. He joined the U.S. Army Medical Corps in January 1943, serving most of his time in New Guinea until WWII ended in 1945. He returned to his civilian medical career, but continued to serve his country through many special governmental assignments and diplomatic missions. He also served on several medical and educational boards and committees throughout his life. His dedication and efforts led to many accolades. He died tragically in a one car accident near Rochester on July 28, 1968.

Picture: Charles W. Mayo, ca. 1920s
 

Alice Plank Mayo

Alice was born January 5, 1907, in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. After high school, she attended the Philadelphia School of Design for Women and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, where she cultivated her interest in the arts and design. She first met Dr. Chuck when he was a student at the University of Pennsylvania, and they married on June 25, 1927. Together they raised six of their own children plus two nephews. As her husband was a top doctor at Mayo Clinic, Alice oversaw the planning and organization of a full schedule of events at Mayowood, earning her the title of unofficial hostess of Mayo Clinic and Rochester. She served her country and community on national and regional boards and committees. Locally, she was a patron of the Rochester Art Center and owned and operated radio station KLER from 1949 to 1955. She died in Rochester on November 9, 1967, after a year of fighting multiple myeloma. She and Dr. Chuck are buried on the grounds of Mayowood.

Picture: Alice Mayo, ca. 1930