USA > Minnesota > Otter Tail County > Perham > Historical album and centennial book, Perham, Minnesota, 1871-1971 > Part 4
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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At one time this school became the second largest rural school in Otter Tail County. Henry A. Fiedler was elected as school clerk for 42 years.
School Dist. #237 of Edna Township, built by Fred Lueb- berman in 1906, now used by Lake Sybil Rod & Gun Club.
Perham High School in 1909, Mr. Costigan, Supt.
St. Joe School about 1910
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St. Stanislaus School in 1912
St. Henry's School - 1913
School Dist #129 having lunch on the wood pile in 1914
School Dist. #13 about 1914
Maypole Dance, 1915 - 2nd Grade
Perham Public School
DID YOU KNOW?
In July, 1872, the Lake Superior Puget Sound Company laid out the original town site in lots. The lots sold for $200.00 to $300.00.
Important Dates:
1871 - Railroad started to survey land.
1872 - Township Founding. Kemper and Drahmann erect- ed the first wooden building on the North side of tracks. This housed P.O. Lots sold. First carload of wheat shipped.
1875 - Saint Henry's Church built.
1880 - "Perham News" weekly paper was issued.
1881 - Saint Stanislaus Church built.
1882 - Methodist Church built.
1883 - Saint Henry's School built.
1883 - Steve Butler was the first man in Perham to pur- chase a U.S. Postal Note. Scarlet Fever epidemic.
1884 - Construction of N.P. Elevator began. First fire de- partment organized. Began work on artesian well.
1886 - Clemence Colo died.
1894 - Log drive from Saint Cloud to Winnipeg, Canada.
1900 - Saint Paul's (Mo. Synod) Lutheran Church built.
PERHAM BREWERY HAD $40,000 FIRE IN 1884
The Perham Brewing Co., under the direction of Peter Schroeder, did a rushing business in 1884. They added bottled beer to their products and enlarged their plant. Misfortune overtook the brewery, however, when a $40,000 fire razed the buildings. The fire caught in the dry room and the men sleeping inside were not awakened until the entire upper part of the building was in flames. The fire spread so rapidly that it was impossible to save anything. The local chemical department saved $6,000 worth of beer by spraying their hose on the beer room. In the building were 9,000 bushels of barley and 3,000 bushels of malt and 35 bails of hops, all of which were destroyed. Of the $40,000 only $17,000 was covered by insurance.
Hassler Hat Shop
Printing Office - 1870
THE SALT FAMINE
Temporary log cabins were hastily erected to serve as winter quarters. The first winter was a severe one. The nearest railroad station was at that time St. Paul. St. Cloud was the closest source of supplies, and that being 125 miles distant, the little band of settlers were deprived of many of the necessities of life to which they were ac- customed to in the homes in Ohio. Late in the first winter the settlement ran out of salt. Joe Weis and Joe Boedig- heimer with two yoke of cattle were sent to St. Cloud for supplies but upon the return trip had been caught on the prairie south of Clitheral by a terrific blizzard and nearly perished. They abandoned the supplies on the prairie and got to Clitheral safely. With the aid of the residents of that city they were able to bring the supplies to Clitheral, but were only able to procede to Rush Lake with half of them. In some manner the salt was one of the articles left be- hind. One day passed after all salt was gone. The second day nothing seemed to taste right and the third day they could not eat and became sick.
Mike Doll volunteered to go on snow shoes ot Clitheral and fetch the precious salt. Braving the ferocity of winter storms he started out. It took two days and one night to make the round trip of 48 miles. His spirit and stamina bore him over the unmarked trail and back to his fireside and the cheers of his comrades. The salt famine was over and the occasion was celebrated with great hilarity, yet with solemn thanks.
OTTER TALES
Twenty-two years before the arrival of the Rush Lake Settlement in 1866, the Woods Trail from St. Cloud to Win- nipeg (then called Fort Gary) wound its way across Otter Tail County following the Leaf River and Otter Tail Lake. A tiny fur trading post and land offices called Otter Tail sprang up in the vicinity of Otter Tail. The land office, which played a conspecuous part as the site of one of the earliest land offices in Minnesota, was raided by the In- dians in 1862, its records partially destroyed, and its career brought abruptly to an end. The census of 1860 showed Otter Tail county with a population of 250.
Mike Mallon's Machine Store
HELLO NEIGHBORS ! !
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PERHAM 346-5555
DR. WARNER
AND
DR. SCHOENBERGER
BEST WISHES FOR A VERY HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
JUNGLE SHORES RESORT BLAINE, WILMA & LARRY BRINCEFIELD (Owners)
Rt. 1
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Perham
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Box 68
CHRYSLER
318 MAIN STREET
MATZ & GREIFF Chrysler - Plymouth Sales & Service PERHAM, MINNESOTA
PLYMOUTH
PHONE 346-5400
ART & DEE'S LIQUORS
ON & OFF SALE
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Private Parties
Meetings
Call for Reservations - 367-2810
OTTERTAIL, MINN.
PERHAM HEARS ITS FIRST LOCAL BAND
(From Henry Kemper's History
"October 24th, 1880, John Haluck arrived here from Ohio, and taught school in the St. Joseph district and or- ganized a band there. This awakened the young men of Perham and we also organized a band with John Hauck as instructor.
Our first band members were the following: Michael Waltz, Louis Struett, John Wimmer, Theo. Struekens, J. B. Kemper, C. H. Tuesley, John Gerber, Sr., Peter Mohr, Andrew Schoenberger, and Henry Kemper. We rehearsed and practiced diligently and in six month's time we had advanced so far that we could play, "Coming Through the Rye," and other little old time tunes. We then gave open air concerts, serenades, etc.
I shall never forget the first open concert we had on the street crossing. The people were highly elated over our achievement and threw bouquets and other things at us. We started from our hall and marched up the street, just like we had seen other bands do in the cities, and played the last strains of "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, the Boys are Marching." - We hadn't advanced far enough to play the first part of the tune. The drums gave the usual sig- nal to commence playing brr bum bum.
Mike Walz being the tallest man in the band, took the lead. All went very smoothly and nice, good time, heavy expression, and the attack was brilliant - out of sight.
But just as we got opposite the Merchants Hotel, John Frisch's big yellow dog, who had never heard such fine music, rushed into the street and made a sudden halt in front of Mr. Waltz. Mike's eyes were intent upon his music book, having a difficult vibration to perform, fell over the nasty dog. Louis, just behind him, fell over Mike, Tuesley was the next man in the same pinch and seeing the havoc in front of him, played leap frog over the two, but turned back to help the boys up. Mr. Walz had bent his slide trom- bone by the incidental fall, and had to stop a little to straighten it up, Struett and Tuesley assisting. The rest of us marched and played on, to the street crossing and formed a circle. By this time, Walz, Struett and Tuesley came up, playing their unfinished part of the tune.
Now the concert was given orders to turn to page one and play "Sweet Bye and Bye." Walz, Struett and Tuesley had not been informed. Prof. Hauck gave the time one-two play and off we started. The attack was good, but what followed? Tuesley had misunderstood the orders of the professor and played, "The Last Rose of Summer." Struett thought we were to play the same tune that we had while marching and he tooted away at it with a vengeance. Walz got his book upside down by the unlucky fall and played the first tune backwards, commencing at the end. Prof. Hauck jumped up and down like a jumping jack, pulled his hair and shouted, "Wo! Wo! Hold on! You're Off!" Well, we took a new start and this time did a little better. And Perham had a band!"
Crude Coffin for First Deceased
Clemence Cole, who arrived in November 1886, was the first of the little band to succumb. There was no doctor within a hundred miles and though his friends did their best to minister to him their efforts were unavailing. He died late in the winter from pneumonia, as nearly as can be guessed from the symptoms.
For a coffin, the men knocked apart the packing boxes
in which they had brought their belongings and construct- ed a crude box. Cole was buried on the top of a knoll east of the church. This ground was used as a cemetery until 1885 when it was moved to its present location.
The original cemetery still remains on the land us- ually designated as the Paul Nau farm, on which Guenther Morgenroth resided.
DENT MINN.
A. E. John Variety Store - 1917
Herman Nieman Garage
PERHAM FIRE DEPARTMENT THROUGH THE YEARS
The Pioneers, as the newly organized fire department called themselves, held their first drill Tuesday, Jan. 22, 1884. The first drill team consisted of running ladders up and down Concordia Hall.
H. F. Holst was in charge of the hose. Fred H. Davies, John Oswald, John Hall, Phil Fitzpatrick, and Amos Marckel were in charge of the hose and ladder. Math Burelbach was in charge of the chemical in 1891.
In the early days of Perham, provisions had been made to cope with fires. The first equipment was a hose cart with one and a half inch hose and a pumper operated by manpower. It was a double acting pump and the faster the men pumped, the more pressure they had.
The building housing this equipment was located in the middle of the street about 40 feet from Highway 10, with the Grand Pacific Hotel (now the municipal Liquor Store) and the Cooper Shop (now Paul's Tavern).
From the railroad water tank, there was an under- ground pipe laid with stand pipe and hose connection by the southwest corner of the liquor store. Later the frame city hall was built on the same place as the present build- ing housed the equipment.
Along about 1896-1898 there was a well at the Power Plant and three hydrants were installed. Perham Fire De- partment then used standard sized hose. By that time they had the Hook and Ladder Company, Hose Company one and two and the Chemical Engine Company.
From then on the fire department grew with the vil- lage of Perham. The City Hall was built to house the trucks and equipment, and is still used in 1971. The first fire truck was purchased from Schmidt Bros. in 1924.
Fire truck built by Henry Schmidt Blacksmith about 1924
The biggest fires in Perham will be remembered by many of the readers; they were the Perham Elevator which has burned four different times since 1958. Also the fire that burned the St. Joe Church in 1966.
Today we have a pumper truck that serves only the village unless called to other towns. The John Bean Hi Pressure fog truck which serves five and one half town- ships and Richville besides Perham. We also have a tank er that holds one thousand gallons of water, and can al- so be used as a pumper.
In 1968 a rescue unit was added and they serve ten townships and three villages.
Henry B. Moenkedick, and Robert Perry were the Fire Chiefs for many years. Now Marlin Zitzow is Chief and Marlin Cole is the secretary.
Perham Fire Department about 1895
THEN
NOW
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DEPT
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HOSPITAL
St. James Hospital 1902. Note board walk. It was told that ringing of the bell summoned the doctor when needed.
The St. James Hospital was first built in 1902. Mother Angela of St. Francis Convent, Little Falls, at the request of Perham citizens, sent Sister M. Francis and Sister M. Agnes to investigate the prospects. After the nuns report- ed the results of their investigation it was then decided to build a hospital The general contract was let to Mr. Alex Nelson of Perham for $7,800.00. With everything else the total cost of the building was about $12,000.00. On October 23, 1902, the hospital was dedicated by the Rt. Rev. James Trobec, Bishop of St. Cloud.
In 1926, they added another addition because the com- munity was growing and the hospital was too small to meet their demands. The addition was 60 feet in length, three stories high, besides a complete basement. It was also equipped with an elevator which was a convenience of great value in a modern hospital. The hospital was under the management of the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls.
The year 1952, the hospital celebrated their Golden Jubilee Anniversary.
In 1957, the State Department of Health said that the Perham Hospital didn't meet the minimum requirements set by the State.
It was brought up to the Community and the only answer was to build a new hospital. Then it was decided to raise funds.
Albert G. Rotta was appointed the general chairman- ship of the appeal for funds to build the new community
Su M. Raphael
Supr Hyacinthe
Su Mi: Perpetua
Su TR. Severinu
Sun Thestas
Sum thetene.
$ in low
* * in. Hayalian
Sun yvonne
Sisters that staffed St. James Hospital
hospital. The total cost estimated was $500,000.00 for the one-story structure. The campaign set a goal of raising $250,000.00. The hospital would be aided with Hull-Burton funds and the federal government would pay 45% of cost of the approved project. The fund raising included fifteen townships and five surrounding villages. The campaign started October 21, 1957. They reached their set goal and even went over their goal.
The week of June 2, 1958, the new Memorial Hospital was underway. August 30, 1959, the hospital held its Open House.
The Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, Little Falls, and the Memorial Hospital Association Di- rectors of Perham reached an agreement that the Sisters would manage the hospital. The Sisters propose to convert the present St. James building and operate it as a nursing home.
St. James proved to be too small, so in 1969-70 the Memorial Home was built, which has sixty-two beds. All are being used.
Rear view of Schmidt Bros. Mfg. Co. about 1900 Two on right are Henry and Louis Schmidt, Owners.
Congratulations PERHAM
PERHAM COOPERATIVE CREAMERY ASS'N.
* Grade "A" Dairy Products
* Meat Sales & Service
Agricultural Service & Feed, Seeds
* Fertilizers
Telephone 346-6240
Perham, Minn.
SCHMIDT WAGON FACTORY HISTORY
The Schmidt Wagon Factory had its origin in the year of 1889. L. H. D. Schmidt was a native of the Village of Altonbrucken, in the Province of Hanover, Germany, the son of Dieterich Schmidt, a blacksmith. For a period of somewhat over two hundred years the blacksmith trade in the Schmidt family was handed down from father to the eldest son.
L. H. D. Schmidt, Founder of Schmidt Wagon Factory
SCHMIDT BROS.
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L. H. D. Schmidt passed away in January, 1943. Thereafter, the business continued to operate under the name of "Schmidt Brothers" (sons of L. H. D.) until 1946, when the business was sold and discontinued as a wagon factory.
REMEMBER WHEN?
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Perham Farmer Store - 1920
WELCOME TO PERHAM
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Drahmann Bros BUY POTATOES SELL
Built by Perham businessmen to foster potato growing. Managed first by John Frish and then sold to Drahmann Bros. who operated it for 16 years.
The old Shoe Shop
PERHAM CENTENNIAL PRE-EVENTS DANCE WERE YOU THERE?
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Mayor Ernie Kollar
Dear Friends and Neighbors
On behalf of the City Council and other members of City Government, I extend a most sincere greeting to all who attend our Centennial Celebration and participate in any way.
I also wish to thank the many, many cooperative people who gave of their time, money, and talents to organize and conduct the 100th Birthday Anniversary of the arrival of the railroad.
We are extremely proud of our city and are confident that the second century will be one of continued progress and accomplish- ment.
Sincerely, Erede Kallad
Mayor
PERHAM VILLAGE COUNCIL
Sandy DiBrito
Vern Nundahl
Ervin R. Lehmkuhl
F
Edgar Rosen
CENTENNIAL BELLS
Olga Mayer
Edris Meier
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Agnes Weis
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Laura Sieling
Ruth Knuttila
Joyce Haverland
Verona Larson
"MAGGIE AND SCOTTY"
STARS OF RADIO, STAGE AND TV
"JEFFREYS" Tops in Trapeze Performance
"Chick" Mauthe, Show Organist
CENTENNIAL
Calendar of Events
100 years Ago the Railroad came to Perham. Join the fun and excitement of our Centennial Year!
WED., AUG. 11 - Kiddie Parade, Stage Show beginning at 6:30 p.m.
A.M. - Inter-denominational Religious Services.
THURS., AUG. 12 - Farmers' Day, Milking Con- test, Flea Market, Astronaut's Visit, and 100 gun Salute, 8 p.m.
Official bustlette Style review contest.
FRIDAY, AUG. 13 - Grand Ball, Belle Contest and Coronation of Queen, 8:30 p.m.
SAT., AUG. 14 - Grand Parade at 2:00 p.m., Historical Pageant at 8:00 p.m.
SUN., AUG. 15 - Interdenominational Reli- gious Services in morning at Paul Miller Park. 2:00 p.m., Pioneer recognition, Ice Cream Social and Time Capsule Ceremony. 8:00 p.m., Whisker Judging and Shaving Contests.
"SMITH'S CANINES"
JEFF & LITA Novelty Dance Team
CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE
Standing, left to right . . Larry Mckinley, Bill Hughes, Don Swenson. Seated . .. Carol Fistler
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Standing, left to right . . . Walt Shasky, Frank Bradshaw, Fred Huebsch. Seated ... Verona Larson
Congratulations to Perham
I have enjoyed having the task of being General Chairman of this Centennial Celebration and wish to thank all those who assisted in any way. It has been very rewarding to see the community spirit, enthusiasm and cooperation of area citizens, without whom this Anniversary of the Coming of the Railroad to Perham could not have been a success.
Larry McKinley
KANGAROO KOURT, POLICE & JUDGE
Kangaroo Kourt "judge," Al Moe
PE
IN.
AUG
1971 2+11-15
CENTER
Other Pre-events
Jail-break
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The "phony fuzz" Kangaroo Kourt "police." Stand- ing: Burt Iverson and Bob Kinlund; Kneeling: Bob Licence and Jack Schmidt.
Jerry Kunza
George Doom
CENTENNIAL
Dr. Ray Fistler family: Back, left to right: Nancy, Jim, Ray; Front: Jon, Carol.
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Don Bernauer family - Back:Dolores and Don; Front: Cindy, Cathy, and Connie.
George Doom family - Back row, left to right: Phyllis, George, and nephew, Kim Wieking; Middle, left to right: Jay, Tami; Front: Craig:
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Lee DeFrance family - Back, left to right: Ron, Lee, Tom; Front: left to right: Lauri, Ruth, and Debbie.
Herb Meier's gals - Left to right: Debbie, wife Edris, and Pam.
FAMILIES
Patrick Doll family - Back: Ellen and Pat; Front: Peter, Debra, and Rose.
Paul LaFond family - Back: Bernice and Paul; Front: Mike.
.......... .
Fred Huebsch family - Back, left to right: Fred Geromaine, Jen- nifer; Front, left to right: Nancy, Doug, Stacie, and Peggy.
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Larry McKinley family - Left to right: Kevin, Leeanne, Barbara, and Larry.
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Dr. George Kupferschmid family-Back: Jeanette and George; Front: Kevin and Kris.
Compliments of
ELDON'S STANDARD SERVICE 210 EAST MAIN STREET PERHAM, MINNESOTA 56573
STANDARD
CONGRATULATIONS ON 100 YEARS' PROGRESS
STATE FARM
LIG
INSURANCE
RUDY HAUKEBO, Agent Auto - Life - Health - Home & Business
Perham and Battle Lake, Minn. Phone 346-3345 & 864-5506
COLONIAL MOTEL AND SUPPER CLUB
CHICKEN - STEAKS SEAFOOD - COCKTAILS
346-3900 - Perham, Minn.
One hundred years ago farmers wished they had P. C. A. P. C. A. has fulfilled the need for farm credit for thirty-five years in the Perham area.
roduction
ssociation
B. J. Iversen Branch Office Mgr. Perham, Minn.
BEST WISHES
ON YOUR 100th BIRTHDAY
Ft
SUPER MARKET
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DON'S SUPER MARKET
Perham
CENTENNIAL FAMILIES
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Sandy DiBrito family - Back: Sandy and Theresa; Front: Kevin, Kyle, Deanne, and Maria.
Roger Harmer family: Back: Karen and Roger; Front: Joel and Heidi.
Harley Haverland family: Jan and Harley, Vicki and Lori.
Arthur Ziolkowski family: Arthur, Sr., Rose, and Arthur, Jr.
Dr. Richard Omacht family: John, Kathy, Janice, and Dick.
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Gearld Van Watermulen family: Sue and Craig, Gearly and Tracey.
Bob Kinlund family: Susie, Lane, and Bob, Lisa, Lori and Lynn.
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John Haverland family: Joyce and John, Joey, Johnny, Jeff
CONGRATULATIONS TO PERHAM ON REACHING THIS GREAT MILESTONE
PERHAM STATE BANK Perham, Minnesota
WE ARE PROUD TO BE PART OF YOUR SUCCESS STORY
OFFICERS
William E. Lee
President
Wm. L. Hemmelgarn Vice President
John J. Cavanagh Cashier
Mary E. Knuttila
Ass't Cashier
DIRECTORS
Wm. L. Hemmelgarn John J. Cavanagh
William E. Lee
CENTENNIAL BOOSTERS
From Hughes' Department Store - Back row: Walt and Bill Hughes; Ladies, left to right: Mary Ann Palubicki, Dora Bucholz, Martha Lehmkuhl, Dora Bucholz, Lucille Hughes and grand daughter, Krista.
From Hughes ' Department Store - Left to right: Mary Ann Palubickı, Dora Bucholz, Martha Lehmkuhl, Dora Bucholz, Lucille Hughes and grand daughter, Krista.
From the "Sewing Basket" - Sally Richter, Janet Hen- drickx, Thelma Boedigheimer.
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From Perham Department Store - Left to right: Liz Laughlin, Myrtle Shamberger, Fran Pearce, and Helen Boedigheimer.
From Montgomery Ward's Store-Richard Defries
MONTGOMERY WARD AGENCY RICHARD & DOROTHY DEFRIES
125 1st Ave. S. Perham, Minn. Phone 346-7400
BEST WISHES From
DR. WM. K. RYAN CHIROPRACTOR
157 1st Ave. S. PERHAM Phone 346-3560
RICHTER'S MEN and BOYS' WEAR Gerard and Hildegard Richter 137 WEST MAIN STREET PERHAM, MINN. 56573
FISHERMEN'S HEADQUARTERS WE SPECIALIZE IN LAKE SHORE PROPERTY
FRANK'S SPORT SHOP AND REALTY PHONE 346-3355
132 EAST MAIN
PERHAM, MINNESOTA
Fishing Tackle (Wholesale and Retail)
Complete Line of Guns and Ammunition
CONGRATULATIONS TO PERHAM
DR. PHILIP J. KRUEGER, D.D.S. 238 E. Main Perham
Phone 346-6035
NUNDAHL OIL COMPANY
Phone 346-6600
PHILLIPS 66
245 West Main St.
PERHAM, MINNESOTA 56573
CENTENNIAL COUPLES
Bertha and Herb Brasel
Ervin and Martha Lehmkuhl
Lottie and Ernie Kollar
Mona and Rev. Ed Bittenbender
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Mary and Jerry Balubicki
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Herb and Joyce Guck
SEARS
SHOP SEARS & SAVE
PERHAM, MINN.
PERHAM CLEANERS and TAILORS Eugene Adamczyk 130 EAST MAIN STREET PERHAM, MINNESOTA
Perham Cooperative Oil Co P. O. Box 292 PERHAM, MINNESOTA 56573
. M MIDLAND
PHONE 346-6250
HAMMERS INSURANCE AGENCY PROFESSIONAL INSURANCE SERVICE 127 EAST MAIN STREET PERHAM, MINNESOTA 56573
FRANK H. HAMMERS
CONGRATULATIONS To Perham On Its 100 Years
KIEMEL BOTTLE GAS
PERHAM
RED OWL BERNARD & ESTHER PALUBICKI 201 West Main - Perham, Minn. 56573
Paul & Marian Loerzel
Holiday
HOLIDAY
STATION-STORE
410 West Main / Perham, Minn. / Phone 346-6525
DAN'S TEXACO SERVICE Gas, Oils, Greases, Tires, Accessories Phone 346-2700 PERHAM, MINNESOTA 56573
CENTENNIAL COUPLES
Laura and Henry Sieling
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Arilda and Walt Shasky
Frank and Joan Bradshaw
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Joyce and Ray Holten
Walt and Lucille Hughes and Grand- daughter Krista Hughes
Ruth and Jalmer Knuttila
F
FROM THE VILLAGE OF RICHVILLE, MINN. BEST WISHES TO PERHAM 100th
Cal Mielke'
GENERAL STORE WE HAVE IT.WE'LL GET IT. OR IT'S NOT "Hade !! UL.POST OFFICE GROCERIES. MPATS SPORTING GOODS
POST OFFICE
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CAL MIELKE'S STORE AND POSTOFFICE
RICHVILLE, MINN. 56576 PHONE 346-6740
Biggest Little Store in N.W. Minnesota
"We Have It - We'll Get It, or It's Not Made"
ALSO NOTARY PUBLIC AND PROP. OF CAL'S RAINBOW RESORT & HEAD LAKE CAMP
WELLS SECOND-HAND SHOP Esther & Iva Wells, Richville, Minn. Started by Mr. and Mrs. Bert Wells 1954 - Moved to New Site near Methodist Church-1962 USED FURNITURE, CLOTHING AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS AT BARGAIN PRICES
RICHVILLE TAVERN
Ambrose Loerzel, Owner
LUNCHES
Grain Bel
WAGON WHEEL
MEALS
BEER
RICHVILLE, MINN.
RICHVILLE
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Richville Main Street - 1908
"Richville on the Soo, That's the Place for You," was a slogan chanted by young and old alike in the early years of the century in the little town. It was used in greeting next door neighbors as well as the newcomer.
Before the coming of the Soo Railroad, families from southern Minnesota, western Wisconsin and northern Iowa - as early as the 1880's - had come to this part of Otter Tail County, attracted by homestead lands, cheap state lands, and last but by no means least, the virgin woods. There was some game and of course the lakes furnished a supply of fish. The cordwood, railroad ties and pole material could be exchanged for groceries and other needed supplies, including feed for the horses which were a most important asset to get the wood products to market.
Perham, on the Northern Pacific, furnished a good market for the wood products, but it was a long day's journey over the primitive roads. It was mainly the cord- wood that kept the wolf from the door.
The first houses were mainly constructed of native logs, notched by hand, using a broad axe. This was a slow process but made better and warmer buildings.
Then in 1901 came the rumor - The Soo Line is going to build on up to Winnipeg. The rumor became a reality. Men with foresight gained access to maps of the proposed route the railroad would be taking and in 1902 action began. "Here is where she goes - here is where we make our fortunes - here is where we'll build our town. We've struck it rich!"
Whether or not this is where the village got the name of "Richville" is not known. However, no more authentic record has been found (by 1971) and the name still stands.
The first completed building was a two and a half story hotel, built a few rods from where the Soo Line tracks were laid out and close to where the depot was built. This was in 1902. Many other building sprang up.
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