USA > Minnesota > Hennepin County > Dayton > History of Anoka County and the towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County, Minnesota > Part 8
USA > Minnesota > Anoka County > History of Anoka County and the towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County, Minnesota > Part 8
USA > Minnesota > Hennepin County > Champlin > History of Anoka County and the towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County, Minnesota > Part 8
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WATER WORKS AND ELECTRIC LIGHT.
The plant of the Anoka Water Works, Electric Light and Power Co., was installed as a result of an election held in the fall of 1889. Its franchise runs thirty-one years from Jan. 1, 1890. The city rents 66 hydrants and 25 twelve hundred candle power arc lights for which it pays $6.336 per annum. The stand pipe is twenty feet in diameter and 115 feet high. There are seven and one- half miles of water mains.
INDUSTRY.
Aside from agricultural pursuits, the saw mills and flour mill furnished employment to the greater number of Anoka residents previous to the Civil War. Ammi Cutter built two ill-fated saw mills and a tub and pail factory, all of which were destroyed by fire. In 1860 James M'cCann purchased the water power and all the mills run by it except the flour mill, and three years later. equipped a much better saw mill than the place had theretofore contained, raising the capacity to twenty thousand feet of lumber per day.
In 1868 A. and L. B. Martin built a steam saw mill on the west side of Rum river with a daily capacity of one hundred thousand feet of lumber, and employing over one hundred men. In 1870 another steam saw mill was built on the opposite river bank on the site of the burned Cutter mill, which gave employment to fifty men, and had a capacity of 75,000 feet. In 1872 W. D. Wash- burn & Co. purchased James McCann's milling interests and immediately began the erection of a large steam saw
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HISTORY OF ANOKA COUNTY.
mill with an annual capacity of sixteen million feet of lumber and employing about 125 men. Logs for this large output were obtained on the upper waters of Rum river and its branches and from Mille Lacs and floated down the river to the mills. The lumber industry had attained its highest point when the country was swept by the panic of 1873. The lumber companies failed one
JAMES MCCANN.
after the other. WV. D. Washburn & Co. managed to keep afloat until Nov. 3, 1874, when they also made an assignment. Wages of common labor went down to a dollar a day and less. Recovery from this crisis was very slow throughout the country. The Martin mill passed into the hands of the St. Paul Lumber Co. and some years later into those of Reed & Sherwood. The smaller mill became the property of the Anoka Lumber
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CITY OF ANOKA.
Co., and later of Page Brothers, and W. D. Washburn succeeded in reorganizing his business under the name of the Washburn Mill Co. But credit was shaken and markets restricted, so that it was several years before the mills were back to anything like their old time cutput.
In the eighties it. began to be apparent that logging on Rum river was nearing its end, and a board of trade
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WASHBURN SAW MILL. Built in 1872.
was organized for the purpose of encouraging other industries to locate in Anoka to take the place of the waning lumber business. In 1886 Leland & Hall built the largest potato starch factory in the country at Anoka, and the same year a shoe factory from Lynn, Mass., was induced to locate in the place. There are now two starch factories at Anoka.
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HISTORY OF ANOKA COUNTY.
The Anoka shoe factory is now operated as a branch by the North Star Shoe Company of Minneapolis, who took possession of it Sept. 15, 1897. It has a capacity of 800 pairs of shoes per day, and a product valued at about $300,000 per annum. It employs about eighty men. In 1880 the Washburn Mill Company built the Lin-
LINCOLN MILL. Built in 1885.
coln Flouring Mill, with a capacity of Goo barrels of flour per day. This mill was burned in the great fire of August 16, 1884, but was immediately rebuilt with im- proved machinery. It was sold to the Pillsbury-Wash- burn Flour Mills Co. Feb. 19, 1890. The mill now has a capacity of 1600 barrels of flour per day.
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CITY OF ANOKA.
The first bank at Anoka was organized April 1, 1874, by Walter Mann, W. R. Merriam and C. E. Blake of St. Paul, and was called the Bank of Anoka. It was reor-
FIRST CHURCH IN ANOKA COUNTY.
Built by the Congregational Society on Jackson street, Anoka. in 1857. Purchased by the Catholic Church in 1866. Removed in 1888 to make room for the new St. Stephens church.
ganized as a national bank in 1881, and called the First National Bank. It was discontinued in 1889.
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HISTORY OF ANOKA COUNTY.
The Anoka National Bank was organized in 1883, with W. D. Washburn as the principal stockholder. The present officers are: John Coleman, president : A. D. Howard, vice president ; L. J. Greenwald, cashier.
The State Bank of Anoka was organized in February, 1892. Its present officers are: Jolm Goss, president ; Henry Lee, vice president; R. W. Akin, cashier.
NEWSPAPERS.
The first newspaper in Anoka county was established Aug. 25, 1860, by A. C. and E. A. Squire. May 31, 1863, the office was damaged by fire and there appears to have been no further publication of the paper. There are now no copies of this paper known to be in existence.
In September A. C. Squire sold the printing material and subscription list to A. G. Spaulding, who changed the name to Anoka Star, and the first issue of the new paper appeared Oct. 3, 1863. Many of the advertise- ments which had been running in the Republican reap- peared in the Star, printed with the same type. Nov. 5, 1864, the Star appeared with Chas. W. Folsom and Ed. H. Folsom as editors and publishers. In March, 1865, the Star passed into the hands of a stock company composed of citizens of Anoka, who voted to change the name to Anoka Sentinel. The first number of the Sen- tinel appeared April 8, 1865, with Chas. W. Folsom and J. M. Thompson as editors and publishers. The last issue of the Sentinel which can now be found is that of June 23, 1865. Probably the paper was discontinued at that time or soon after.
August 31, 1865, the Anoka Union was started by George Gray. Many of the advertisements which had been appearing in the Sentinel were continued in the Union, but Mr. Gray began his paper as Vol. 1. No. 1.
FIRST STORES EAST OF RUM RIVER. Main Street from First to Second Avenue in 1863.
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HISTORY OF ANOKA COUNTY.
April 5, 1866, the name of Granville S. Pease appeared as one of the publishers, and in June Mr. Pease became sole proprietor, having purchased all the stock of the company previously in control. The paper has never since changed ownership. The Union is widely quoted, and Mr. Pease has come to be one of the best known men in the state.
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WESTWARD HO!
Immigrants going west with ox teams in 1×68. Main street from First to Second avenne, showing Ticknor's drug store still unfinished, the first brick building in Anoka. Photo. by J. M. Woods.
Sept. 7, 1866. John M. Thompson started the Anoka Press, which he published seven or eight years, and then sold it to W. H. Campbell, who changed the name to Anoka Republican. About 1877 the paper passed into the hands of a man named Wildridge, who changed the name to Anoka Sun. He only published it a few months. Up to this time this paper had been printed on the west side of Rum river, but it was now moved to the east side
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CITY OF ANOKA.
and William C. Whiteman, now of Ortonville, became its publisher. The next publisher was Frederick D. Car- son. Double names for newspapers were now becoming quite common by consolidations, and Mr. Carson added the old name to the new, calling his paper the Sun and Republican. In 1879 Mr. Carson sold the paper to Ammi Cutter, who changed the name to Anoka Herald.
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ANOKA STREET FAIR. Main street from First to Second avenue Oct. 1, 1904. Photo. by Ralph Bruns.
and soon after engaged Alvah Eastman as editor. In 1880 Mr. Eastman purchased the paper, which he owned and edited until 1891, selling it in that year to A. A. and T. A. Caswell. For ten years I. A. Caswell's name ap- peared at the head of the Herald columns as publisher. In June. 1901, the paper passed under the management of C. I. Cook and F. A. Dare, and the next year was sold
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HISTORY OF ANOKA COUNTY.
to Cook & Chase. In 1904 Roe G. Chase became the sole publisher and editor. Under his management the high standard set by Alvah Eastman and the Caswells has been well maintained.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, ANOKA. Built in 1866. Afterward enlarged.
In 1901 the Minneapolis Democrat was moved from Minneapolis to Anoka by N. P. Olson, its publisher, and the name changed to Anoka Free Press. The paper
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CITY OF ANOKA.
found plenty of friends and was soon on an enduring basis. The paper is independent democratic. Mr. Olson is severe in his criticism of tendencies which he deems undesirable, and his editorials often cut like a whiplash.
One fact worthy of note is that the now powerful Minneapolis Journal is the outgrowth of a small weekly started in Anoka by W. H. Lamb in 1876. The Anoka Journal did not prosper, and when there came an up- heaval and consolidation of twin city dailies, Mr. Lamb moved the plant to Minneapolis and began the publica- tion of a daily of the same name. The paper changed hands several times, and finally became a very valuable property.
Other Anoka papers were the Headlight, published in 1885 and the Democrat in 1889.
CHURCHES.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL .- The first class was organ- ied at Anoka Dec. 10, 1854. This charge was first called the Benton County Mission, Wisconsin Conference, and James H. White was appointed as missionary. In 1859 a church was built on lot 1, block 15, corner of Monroe street and Fourth avenue, but when ready for inside furnishings was destroyed by fire supposed to have been started by an incendiary, July 11, 1859. Services were then held in the Third Avenue School House, and after- ward in a hall on Main street. The present church was completed in 1866, but has since been remodeled and greatly enlarged. The present pastor is Rev. A. A. Graves.
CONGREGATIONAL .- The Congregational church was organized May 6, 1855, at the residence of Rev. Royal Twitchell, just over the line of the town of Grow, with five members, Rev. Royal Twitchell, his wife, Almena
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HISTORY OF ANOKA COUNTY.
M. Twitchell. Benjamin Messer and wife, and Allen N. Nourse. A church was built in 1857, which stood on the present site of St. Stephens Catholic church. This was
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, ANOKA. Built in 1867.
the first house of worship in Anoka. In December, 1866. the building was sold to the Catholic society, and meet- ings were held in the town hall for a year. Meanwhile
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CITY OF ANOKA.
work was being pushed on the present church, which was completed in 1860. Extensive repairs were made in 1885. The present pastor is Rev. Edwin Ewell.
BAPTIST .- The First Baptist Church was organized
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BAPTIST CHURCH, ANOKA.
March 25, 1856, in the Third Avenue School House. Meetings were infrequent in the beginning, but Jan. 3, 1857. Rev. Lyman Palmer was called to the pastorate. In 1858 the construction of a church was begun on lower
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HISTORY OF ANOKA COUNTY.
Ferry street, and it was dedicated March 1, 1859. This church was several times enlarged, and was sold a few years ago and the present fine brick church built on the
ST. STEPHENS CHURCH, ANOKA. Dedicated July, 1889. Photo. by Nelson.
corner of Main and Ferry streets. The present pastor is Rev. F. R. Leach.
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL .- Services were first held in the Robbins School House on the west side of Rum river.
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CITY OF ANOKA.
The first meeting for the organization of the parish was held at the office of C. T. Curtiss, an attorney, Sept. 17, 1858. The church was erected on its present site in 1860 and dedicated July 11 of that year. Soon after the church was moved to Third avenue, south of the site of the present Library Building, where it remained until 1880, when it was returned to its original site. The present pastor is Rev. R. R. Goudy.
CATHOLIC .- The first mass was celebrated by Father Earth at the residence of Peter Donnelly, Aug. 15. 1856. As adherents of the church increased the services became more regular, and in 1873 Father McDermott became the first resident priest. In October, 1866, the old Congre- gational church was purchased, and this church was utilized until 1889, when the present fine St. Stephens church was erected, the dedication taking place in July, 1880. The church maintains a school in connection with St. Ann's convent. The present pastor is Rev. Oliver Dolphin.
UNIVERSALIST .- The Universalist church was organ- ized Feb. 10, 1867. J. J. Couchman, John Mayall and L. H. Lennon were the first trustees, and Rev. Moses Good- rich the first pastor. S. Stockwell was elected treasurer. In 1871 a church was projected and was ready for ded- ication Feb. 15, 1872. The present pastor is Rev. W. F. Trussell.
SWEDISH EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN .- This church was organized Jan. 11, 1870, and reorganized in 1871 by Rev. Jonas Osland. The first deacons were Jonas No- rell, J. Edsberg, P. Englund. Trustees : A. Petterson, Olaf Petterson and Jonas Norell. The present pastor is Rev. P. E. Fredlund. This society has a substantial church edifice located on Fourth avenue.
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HISTORY OF ANOKA COUNTY.
DR. KLINE'S SANATORIUM.
This popular home for the sick, which is beautifully located on south Ferry street on a rolling tract of fifteen acres abutting on the left shore of the Mississippi river and on the right bank of the Rum river at the forks of the two streams above the mouth of the latter, was es-
DR.KLEIN'S SANITACION ANOKA MINN.
DR. KLINE'S SANATORIUM, ANOKA.
tablished in the spring of 1892, and has been under the personal medical supervision of Dr. James Franklin Kline, the owner, from the beginning. The grounds have been lavishly laid out, and the landscape effects prove to any observer that the doctor is an expert not only in his own profession, but also in the field of landscape gar- dening, for here we find trees and shrubbery, buildings
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CITY OF ANOKA.
and all located just where they should be to secure charming views up and down the great river and over the smaller stream-desiderata so essential to the many indisposed who find beneficial treatment and rest at the Sanatorium. The main building itself is a three story structure with mansard roof and is constructed of pressed brick, with partition walls and joists fitted in with solid concrete, thus making it as nearly fire proof as possible without the use of structural iron. It has fifty-four rooms all adequately heated by steam and lighted with electricity. For utility and convenience the interior arrangement of Dr. Kline's Sanatorium is with- cut a superior in the Northwest. and it was designed to meet every emergency in medical and surgical treatment.
Housed within this institution Dr. Kline has all the remedies known to the medical profession, skillfully placed for immediate use, and a complete assortment of surgical instruments and appliances for quick or care- fully planned operations. Nothing seems to be lacking for medical or surgical treatment.
In addition to the above. the patient who is afflicted with neurasthenia -- or nervous disorders =will find in Dr. Kline's Sanatorium one of the best equipped electrical outfits in the state. The very latest practice in electrical applications is carried out, not only in the treatment of nervous tronbks, but also of many other afflictions for which electricity has been demonstrated to be of advan- tage. For catarrh and diseases of the respiratory organs complete spraying outfits are at hand. Baths in all forms. massage and Swedish movements are adminis- tered. and trained nurses are in constant attendance.
Just a word for Dr. Kline himself. He was born in Richville, Pennsylvania, January 4. 1862: was educated
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HISTORY OF ANOKA COUNTY.
in the common schools of his native state. He grad- uated from Bryant & Stratton's Business College in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1879, and later took a special busi- ness course at Archibald's Minneapolis, 1884-5. He took the medical course at the University of Minnesota, grad- nating in Homeopathy in 1892. He came to Anoka in
JAMES F. KLINE, M. D.
1893, since which time he has been in continuous prac- tice. Dr. Kline was health officer for the City of Anoka several years, and for nine years has been surgeon for the Great Northern Railroad Company. He is a mem- · ber of the Royal Arcanum, Woodmen, Royal Neighbors, Workmen, and Degree of Honor, and is examiner for
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CITY OF ANOKA.
the local lodges of these orders, and is also examiner for the New York Life Insurance Co. Dr. Kline was mar- ried Sept. 15, 1885, to Miss Anna Griffith, and there have been born to them Stella, Jessie and Harry.
THE PHILOLECTIAN SOCIETY.
BY MRS. GEORGE H. WYMAN.
During the fall of 1899 several prominent ladies of Anoka met at the home of Mrs. G. S. Pease for the pur- pose of organizing a club to be known as the Ladies' Social Club of Anoka. A simple plan of organization was agreed upon, the idea being to make the club almost wholly social in its character. The number of members was first limited to fifteen, but was afterwards changed to twenty-five, only married ladies being eligible to mem- bership. The club met at the homes of its members once in two weeks from three to five o'clock on Friday after- noons. The only officer was a secretary, the hostess al- ways acting as chairman, and the only committee an executive committee, whose chief duty was to arrange for a place of meeting. The ladies brought their work, and chatted or listened to the reading of some interesting article.
In the spring of 1890 a few of the members com- menced agitating a more complete organization, with a more definite object and an increased membership. A committee was finally appointed on constitution and by- laws, their report being read and adopted at a meeting held at the residence of Mrs. C. H. Tasker, June 20, 1890. Only a few of the rules and regulations, governing The Ladies' Social Club remained unchanged. The member- ship was increased to thirty-five; the name changed to The Philolectian Society; the object, the social and men-
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HISTORY OF ANOKA COUNTY.
tal improvement of its members, and an admission fee of fifty cents and dues of twenty-five cents quarterly were charged. New members were elected by ballot, three votes against excluding. The following officers were elected for one year, their term of office to date from the first Friday in June: President, Mrs. Flora L. S. Ald- rich, M. D .; first vice pres., Mrs. Cassimer Cutter ; sec- (pd vice pres., Mrs. Edward L. Reed ; third vice pres.,
COLONIAL HALL.
Residence of Doctors A. G. and Flora L. S. Aldrich, Anoka. Photo. by Nelson.
Mrs. W. W. Freeman; sec .. Mrs. George H. Wyman ; treas .. Mrs. William Giddings. There were twenty-six charter members, Mesdames E. (). McGlauflin, Aldrich. Bruns, McFarlan. . Featherstone, C. P. Cutter. Geddes, Hammons, Bond, Eldridge, Reed, Hilliard, Gilkes, Wy- man, Lenfest, G. D. Goodrich, Stone, Plummer, Brown, Gillespie, Chamberlain, Wm. Giddings, Freeman, Ma-
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CITY OF ANOKA.
comber, Berry and White. Only cight of these are mem- bers at the present time. Two have died, three with- drawn, and the others have found homes elsewhere.
The executive committee planned programs for each meeting, and interest in the literary work of the society rapidly increased. Articles on given subjects were read, papers written and discussed, debates were held, and some
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RESIDENCE OF GEORGE H. GOODRICH, ANOKA.
attention given to parliamentary law. The society sub- scribed for one or more standard magazines, but felt the need of books, especially those of reference.
In the spring of 1892, the Anoka Union published an article advocating the establishment of a free public library in the city. Almost simultaneously with this pub- lication, Mrs. J. H. Niles, who had been visiting a fine
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HISTORY OF ANOKA COUNTY.
library in Menominee, Wis., very enthusiastically pro- posed that the Philolectians undertake the establishment of a library in Anoka. Her enthusiasm was so conta- gious that the society decided to increase its membership to fifty, to incorporate this object in its constitution, and to proceed to take the necessary steps for the accom- plishment of this object. In accordance with certain pro- visions of the statutes of the state, a petition was circu- lated by them, presented to the city council, and unan- imously granted. A tax of one mill was levied, and a library board of nine directors appointed by the mayor. The society canvassed the city for books, periodicals, fur- niture, anything that would be useful or ornamental in such an institution, and met with a very liberal response. In January, 1894, the free public library of Anoka was formally opened to the public. Having pledged finan- . cial support, the society now entered upon a series of sociables, concerts and entertainments of various kinds, and have succeeded in contributing from one hundred to two hundred dollars annually to the library fund. be- sides giving books, at one time one hundred dollars' worth, and rendering other needed assistance. In 1898 and 1899 the library committee of the Philolectian So- ciety succeeded in having one of the four rooms recently occupied by the library, set apart for a juvenile depart- ment. Money was raised by the committee for books, tables and chairs for the children. They also organized a Library League, and meetings were held every Sat- urday afternoon, at which one or more ladies from the committee or the society, instructed and entertained the children. The meetings of the League have been dis- continued, but the children's reading room is still main- tained, under the supervision of the librarian. Further
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CITY OF ANOKA.
particulars in regard to the library are given in sub- sequent pages of this volume.
The membership of the society at the present time is limited to sixty, not including ministers' wives, who may become members by signing the constitution and paying the achmission fee. There are the following standing committees : executive, entertainment, music, membership. club courtesy and reciprocity bureau. Elaborate printed
RESIDENCE OF T. G. MCLEAN, ANOKA.
Photo. by Nelson.
programs of a literary and miscellaneous character are made out each year, by the executive and music com- mittees, for the regular meetings, while an occasional social evening event is arranged, to which the husbands and friends of the members are invited. The society joined the State Federation of Women's Clubs in 1895. and has usually been represented at its annual meetings. 'The colors of the society are brown and cream ; the flower,
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HISTORY OF ANOKA COUNTY.
the red carnation. The officers for the present club year 'of 1904-5, are: President, Mrs. D. S. Gow; vice pres- ident, Mrs. H. C. Johnson; secretary, Mrs. J. B. Berry ; treasurer. Mrs. C. P. McLean.
The Philolectian Society is one of the oldest, largest and has the reputation of being one of the best working clubs in the state. Beside its public work and helpful influence in the town, it has done much toward stimu- lating and broadening the minds of its members, as well as bringing them in closer touch with each other along lines of mutual interest and benefit.
THE ANOKA PUBLIC LIBRARY.
BY MRS. I. A. CASWELL.
The first attempt to establish a public library in Anoka was made in 1859. Several gentlemen gave and solicited 'money and books, collecting several hundred volumes and renting a room that was opened at stated periods to allow residents of the town to borrow books. Later, the rapidly growing little town needed this room for other purposes, and J. M. Woods, one of our pioncer photographers, permitted the library to be kept in his apartments. There being no regular librarian, it was inevitable that the volumes should by degrees become scattered, and when Mr. Woods' increasing business ren- dered it impossible for him to longer store the remain- ing books, they were, at some time after 1870, given to the public schools.
In 1880 a library association was formed with the purpose of endeavoring to establish a city library, but, owing to various discouragements, the attempt was a failure, and nothing more along that line was done until
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ANOKA IN 1869. From a bird's eye view drawn by A. Ruger.
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HISTORY OF ANOKA COUNTY.
in 1892, as previously described in this volume, the ladies of the Philolectian Society took, the matter in hand, with the gratifying result that a one mill tax for the estab- lishment and support of a public library was granted. and the city council appointed the following members of the library board : E. L. Reed, G. H. Wyman, A. E. Gid- dings, E. E. Hammons, W. A. Greenwald, Mrs. W. P. Macomber, Mrs. A. G. Aldrich, Mrs. P. S. Rose, and Miss Mary D. Woodbury. In organizing, the board elected Mr. Reed president, Mrs. Aldrich vice president, and Miss Woodbury, secretary and treasurer. The board rented the second story rooms in the Ticknor block, at the corner of Main street and Second avenue, appointed Mrs. Rose librarian, and bought nearly one thousand volumes, which, in addition to many books pre- sented by private individuals, made a total of about 1500 volumes, beside 1700 of Congressional records and public documents contributed by Senator C. K. Davis. The library was opened in 1894. and was eagerly patronized from its beginning. The number of books issued month- ly was at first about 800 a month, and the demand has steadily grown larger, until in 1904 an average of 1600 a month was issued, 200 of these being history. biography, travels, etc., and the remainder fiction. There were, ex- clusive of the public documents, about 3500 volumes in the library in 1904, of which 1634 were fiction for adult readers, 518 juvenile fiction, 177 biography, 164 history, 146 travel, 159 reference, 58 sociology, 87 bound period- icals, while the rest are theology, philosophy, poems, and unclassified books.
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