History of Freeborn County, Minnesota, Part 31

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn. 4n
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago : H. C. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1220

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Public Library. In the sping of 1897 a few energetic and pub- lic-spirited women banded together and made plans for establish- ing a library. A time was set for a meeting, and all interested in the project were asked to be present. Those present at the first meeting were: Mesdames Olberg, Fuller, Day, Jacobus, Brainerd, Von Berg, Huntoon, Krebs, Dwight, Prentice, Strauss, Hibbs, R. B. Skinner, Jacobus, Hewitt and Merrill. Senator H. A. Morgan was asked to be present, to draw up the constitution and by-laws. Mrs. Olberg was chosen to preside, and officers were elected as follows : Mrs. Olberg, president; Mrs. Brainerd, secre- tary, and Mrs. Fuller, treasurer. The name of the association to be Albert Lea Library Association.

Any person paying a fee of one dollar a year could become a member and have the use of the books for that period. The first difficult question was, where should the library be located ? The only available place at that time was a room in the Eaton house on the corner of Broadway and Water streets. This old house was one of the early structures erected in this city, and was in a very dilapidated condition. However, the association had it put in as good repair as possible, and placed the few books they had on shelves put up for the purpose. The rent for the room was six dollars per month. In May of 1897 the association opened its doors to the public, with Mrs. Wyman Greene as librarian. There were about fifty books on the shelves, and thirteen dollars in the treasury. A paper was circulated and about fifty names were added to the association the first week the library was opened, thus adding enough funds to enable them to send for more books. Bills seemed to accumulate faster than books or patrons, but just when things seemed most discouraging, something was done to help the cause along, so the library was not in debt any length of time. The first year was one of struggle; the next was not much brighter. Mrs. Greene served as librarian until November, 1897 ;

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then she resigned. The place was filled for a few months by a teacher of the public schools, who would attend to the work. as the library was only open Saturday afternoon and evenings of each week. That same year the teacher gave up the work, and Clara Olberg took charge and served until the next spring. when she went abroad. and Mrs. Brainerd was prevailed upon to fill the vacancy.

The association continued to grow and reap good results. but not without strenuous efforts on the part of its active women members. In the spring of 1899 it was decided to turn the asso- ciation's belongings over to the city, upon the agreement to levy a tax with which to support a free public library. Accordingly proper methods were taken and a public library was established. The first patron of the full public library was Mrs. Bouchard. In the fall of 1899 they moved into more commodious quarters, known as the Enterprise building. After moving into the new home the library was open two afternoons and two evenings each week. Mrs. Brainerd was appointed librarian and Nellie Levens assistant.

In the meantime, while the board was doing all possible to promote the growth of the library, C. L. Luce, H. G. Day and a few others had started a movement and petitioned Andrew Car- negie for money with which to erect a building. After waiting for many weeks, despairing of ever hearing from his agent, one day Mr. Luce received the good news that the required sum could be had by meeting certain conditions. The proposition was ac- cepted by our board and the city council. The check came. These were busy days for the library board.

Within a year after the check came the building was ready to be occupied. In May, 1904, the library moved into the handsome new building which it now occupies at the corner of Washington and College streets.

An interesting side light on the history of the public library movement in Albert Lea has been given by the late D. R. P. Hibbs. under the heading "Recollections of Former Libraries." He gives the following account of the first attempt to found a library in Albert Lea, the articles of incorporation for which were filed March 27, 1873: "The incorporators were Frank Hall. Samuel Eaton, Charles Kittelson, D. G. Parker, J. H. Parker, J. W. Smith, S. Batchelder, T. C. Johnsrud, C. W. Levens, A. M. Tyrer, C. W. Ballard, Augustus Armstrong, H. D. Brown and F. B. Fobes. The officers were: Frank Hall, president; S. Batchelder, vice president ; D. R. P. Hibbs, secretary; J. H. Parker, director. Pleasant rooms for this library were fitted up over the old postoffice, and after about a year, when interest lapsed and the library was closed, the financial account showed the receipt of

MR. AND MRS. THEODORE NAEVE

NAEVE HOSPITAL

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$466.19 and disbursements of $450.88, leaving a balance of $15.31, which, on the organization of the present association, was turned over to its treasurer. Among the valuable books secured were 108 volumes of the rebellion records, which with others to the- total number of 176 volumes were by resolution turned over by Librarian J. C. Alling to the city school board, to be forever kept for the free use of the people of Albert Lea.

Hospital. Of all the public questions which the people of Albert Lea were called on to meet and solve, without doubt the securing of a properly equipped public hospital has been given the most attention. Such an institution is of first importance in every community, and for thirty years past different individuals tried to meet and solve the problem. In 1877 Dr. J. M. Todd, one of the best-known surgeons in the Northwest, opened a private hospital. Later on Dr. Frank Blackmer established a private hospital, as did also Dr. Henrick Nissen. While in a way these institutions provided for the most pressing needs of the commu- nity, none of them proved financially successful, and were aban- doned. In- 1896 the Albert Lea City Hospital Association was organized, which used the Dr. H. H. Wilcox home for hospital purposes. A short time later all the local physicians, with one or two exceptions, banded together and established a hospital in the building on St. Mary street, in the rear of Dr. J. P. von Berg's home. This did not prove a success, and after a short trial was . abandoned. Then for a few years, and up to 1905, Albert Lea was without any hospital facilities, except such as were furnished by the individual doctors. In December, 1905, a meeting of citi- zens was called to consider the subject, and at a. gathering in the city hall the City and County Hospital Association was organized. A Board of Directors, consisting of Messrs. W. A. Morin, E. W. Knatvold, John H. Griffin, George P. Lattin, H. C. Carlson, Rev. O. H. Smeby, L. P. Lawson, Geneva, and H. C. Nelson, Hayward, were selected. The board met later and elected W. A. Morin president, John H. Griffin secretary, and E. W. Knatvold treas- urer. A plan was evolved by the board whereby the Dr. H. H. Wilcox home would be leased for a term of five years for use as a hospital, provided $5,000 could be raised. It was estimated that $1,000 above the usual income would be needed to operate the hospital. Committees were appointed and $5,000 was raised.

During the first three years of the period for which the lease ran meetings were held and plans talked over for a large modern building, suitable to the needs of Albert Lea. Nothing definite came of this until Charles Soth, on behalf of the Naeve estate, donated to the association the Naeve homestead, valued at $10.000. This was the first tangible asset on which to base a fund to erect a desirable building. Before anything definite was done, however,

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Mr. Soth was accidentally killed. Following his death, and carry- ing out what they thought to be his wishes, his heirs offered the association a donation of $5,000.

The matter rested there until September, 1909. the annual meeting was held and the following Board of Directors elected : Ludvig Kemper. H. C. Hanson, C. L. Luce, E. W. Knatvold, Bert Skinner, C. E. Paulson, Martin Blacklin, William Wohlhuter and H. C. Nelson, Hayward. Immediately following this meeting the board held a meeting and elected Ludvig Kemper president, C. L. Luce secretary and E. W. Knatvold treasurer. At this meeting a committee was appointed to devise ways and means to secure $30,000, the amount estimated as needed to erect a modern hos- pital. Many plans were considered, and in November, 1910, on the request of the committee, the Business Men's League ap- pointed a committee to work with the board in securing the needed funds. A plan was then laid out to have a general cam- paign of the county, a day to be set aside, when it was hoped by united effort the money could be secured. It would be impos- sible to go into the detail of this campaign, or to mention indi- vidually the large number of business men who donated their time and in many instances conveyances to visit a majority of the citizens of the county, but on Tuesday, December 13, 1910. nearly one hundred business men, working two days, secured subscription to the total amount of $21,000, which with the $5,000 already donated by the Soth heirs made a grand total of $26,000.

With this fund subscribed, the Board of Directors of the hospital association appointed the necessary committees to look up plans, etc., and early in April, 1911, a contract for the erec- tion of the building was let to Kingsley & Payant, of Faribault, Minn., while the contract for the heating, plumbing, etc., was given to P. J. Gallagher, of the same place. The first week in May the corner-stone was laid, and, appreciating the magnificent donations made by the Naeve and Soth estates, the hospital was christened the Naeve hospital. The work is now rapidly ap- proaching completion, and by the first of next January the build- ing will be completed, furnished and ready for occupancy. When completed it will cost approximately $40,000. The building is planned along the latest, most scientific lines, absolutely fireproof throughout, three story and basement, built of vitrified brick, with Kasota stone foundation and trimmings, and frame. floors, stairs, etc., of reinforced concrete. The operating room will be on the third floor, with a large elevator to convey the patients to the different floors. Between thirty and forty patients can be accommodated.

Shortly after the organization of the association, the board

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requested Mesdames Ella Truesdell and Alice I. Todd to act as a committee of organization of a Women's Auxiliary. In 1906 the auxiliary was organized, with Mrs. Ella Truesdell president, Mrs. A. Wiegand secretary and Henryetta Armstrong treasurer. During the following years the women composing the auxiliary have been indefatigable in their work, giving an annual charity ball, tag day, and various other schemes to raise money for the cause. By their efforts they have secured a fund of approxi- mately $2,500, which will be used in furnishing the new building. The present officers of the auxiliary are: President, Mrs. Alice I. Todd; vice president, Mrs. Martin Blacklin; secretary, Mrs. H. A. Spencer; treasurer, Mrs. Albert Meyer.

Albert Lea Business Men's League. This is one of the active organizations of the city, and has had an important part in making Albert Lea the beautiful city and progressive business center it is to-day. Its quarters over the Citizens' National Bank are pleasantly furnished, and fulfil their purpose most admirably. The league has taken an active part in practically all the recent improvements in Albert Lea, and is regarded as the father of the street paving project, the extension of the sewers, and the loca- tion here of the state creamery experiment station, the erection of the high school building, and other projects which have been. of much advantage to the city. There have been various busi- ness organizations and boards of trade in Albert Lea in the past, but the present organization dates from 1906. The present offi- cers are : President, D. C. Armstrong; vice president, F. A. Thompson ; treasurer, C. E. Paulson ; secretary, C. L. Luce.

Cemeteries. Jacob Adrian, the first person to die in Albert Lea, and also Elias Stanton, who died near the shores of Free- born lake, were buried near the present site of the Luther Acad- emy in Albert Lea, that locality at that time being the part of a school section. Bones believed to be those of Stanton were found in 1911, while excavating for the new building of the Luther Academy. After these burials, interments were made on speculators' land, about a mile due east of the Milwaukee station.

The Albert Lea Cemetery is located west of the city, on a pleasant piece of land, which is well kept and beautified with many monuments. February 20, 1875, after considerable dis- cussion, during which the present site of the Albert Lea College was suggested as a suitable location, a piece of land was pur- chased from Rev. Isaac W. McReynolds, by a committee of citi- zens, the money being furnished by an appropriation from the town treasury: The cemetery was neglected, and in the spring of 1882 the subject of a new cemetery was agitated, and in May a meeting was held to discuss measures. H. D. Brown was called to the chair. The matter was freely talked over, and it was the

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almost universal feeling and decision of all present that a new cemetery ground should be purchased and the old cemetery abandoned. As to the location, there were various opinions. although the majority seemed to favor a place north of Fountain lake. Others favored a location east of the Rock Island vards The matter was finally relegated to a committee of nine, consist- ing of II. D. Brown. chairman: T. H. Armstrong, J. A. Lovely, D. R. P. Hlibbs, W. P. Sergeant, W. W. Johnson, J. W. Smith and Dr. A. C. Wedge, who were to report to a future meeting of citizens concerning all the matters that pertained to the location of a new cemetery. This agitation resulted in a greatly improved cemetery. it being finally decided to retain the old site. The cemetery is at present controlled by an association of citizens.

The Itasca Cemetery in the southwest part of section 31, Ban- croft township, was platted and laid out as a burial place in 1871, and was controlled by a private company. The cemetery is now practically abandoned, the last burial being ten years ago, when Henry Lacy, for many years county surveyor, was laid to rest there at his own request.

Catholic Cemetery. In 1910 the people of St. Theodore's par- ish opened a cemetery north of Fountain lake, near the Norwe- gian Lutheran cemetery. Previous to that date the interments of the people of that parish had been made principally in the Catholic cemetery located in the southwest corner of section 2, Albert Lea township. Many bodies have been reinterred in the new cemetery.

The Norwegian Lutheran Cemetery is pleasantly located north of Fountain lake. It was purchased by a committee of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church, of Albert Lea. in 1879, and laid out at once. Among the early burials were : Nellie H. Hanson (two years of age), Mrs. G. A. Hauge, Caroline A. Skaug, Endre A. Gulbrandson and Frederick M. Frost. The first committee consisted of O. R. Wulfsberg, N. O. Styve, B. H. Skaug, C. G. Johnsrud and M. Leen.

First Telephone. A telephone system was installed in Albert Lea as early as 1884. This was the Bell system, and was managed by Chas. N. Farnsworth for some time.

H.W. JENSEN

SECY. - TREAS.

H.C. HANSON

PRESIDENT

THOS. H. HJORT

VICE PRESIDENT

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SIDAN CAS MACHINE CO

AMERICAN GAS MACHINE CO. PLANT AND OFFICERS

CHAPTER XXV.

ALBERT LEA INTERESTS

American Gas Machine Company-Albert Lea Gas Light Com- pany-Albert Lea Hide and Fur Company-Albert Lea Packing Company - Corset Companies - Wedge Nursery - Lake Shore Greenhouses - Albert Lea Mills - G. A. Olson Manufacturing Company - American Culvert Company - Other Companies - Loan Associations - Modern Business Houses.

Albert Lea is. justly noted for its manufactured products, and several Albert Lea trade-marks are known all over the world. The manufacturing history of the city begins with 1855, when George S. Ruble began the operations which resulted in a dam at the foot of Fountain lake, and the mercantile history begin with 1856, when Julius Clark opened a small store on Clark street.

American Gas Machine Company. With an authorized capi- tal of half a million dollars, the American Gas Machine company is easily the most important manufacturing institution in Albert Lea and in Freeborn county. The company has an enormous new factory at 233, 235, 237 and 239 East Clark street, where also is located their general offices.

As the name indicates, the American Gas Machine company is engaged in the business of manufacturing devices for pro- ducing and burning gas for lighting, cooking and heating pur- poses, such apparatus being made in the form of lamps, gener- ators, carburetors, et cetera. All such devices and apparatus are constructed to manufacture such gas from ordinary gasoline at great economy.

The company at present (1911) has over 75,000 square feet of floor space in its factory building and has about 250 employes, including the office force and a large corps of traveling salesmen. It also has over 700 agents throughout the country, together with - many representatives in foreign countries. Two large branch houses have been established, one at Fargo, North Dakota, and another at Binghamton, New York, both of which are important distributing points for the company's products. The Fargo house supplies the trade of the Northwest and of Canada, while the Binghamton branch cares for the entire Atlan- tic coast business. Each branch house has a force of traveling salesman and many established agencies.

The American Gas Machine company of to-day is the develop-

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ment and outgrowth of the invention and genius of its president and general manager, H. C. Hanson, who as far back as 1894 first conceived the idea of manufacturing illuminating gas from gasoline. Mr. Hanson began a long series of experiments and devised crude apparatus which went through rapid development for the first few years, and finally was perfected into the present efficient line of machines and devices put out by this company.

The first manufacturing was conducted by Mr. Hanson in what is known as the C. D. Edwards building, on West William street, and here a few of the earlier styles of machines were made. The light afforded by these lamps was quite a wonder in their day, being far superior to any known methods of lighting. In the spring of 1899 the little factory was moved into the old Enterprise building, corner of William and Washington street, at which time Thomas H. Hjort, now vice president of the com- pany, became a partner to Mr. Hanson, and later was joined by a third partner, Walter Olson, superintendent of the present modern factory on East Clark street.

The partners widened the scope of their operations as rapidly as possible, and eventually reached the point where greatly increased manufacturing facilities were necessary. It was there- fore decided to incorporate under the name of the American Gas Machine Company, and application for a charter was filed No- vember 28, 1903. The incorporators named in the document were: Ferd Larson, N. B. Christensen, J. P. Jensen, C. A. Ran- som, Edward Olson, George Hurd, E. W. Knatvold, R. C. Black- mer, Julius Larson, H. G. Day, A. A. Robinson, H. C. Hanson, Walter Olson and Thomas H. Hjort.

The first board of directors consisted of H. C. Hanson, Walter Olson, Thomas H. Hjort, Edward Olson, Ferd Larson, C. A. Ran- som and A. A. Robinson, and the first stockholders' meeting was held December 7, 1903, with H. C. Hanson presiding, and C. A. Ransom acting as secretary.

The board of directors at a subsequent meeting selected the first officers for the company as follows: President, H. C. Han- son ; vice president, Thomas H. Hjort; secretary, Ferd Larson ; treasurer, C. A. Ransom.

The first business of importance transacted by the new com- pany was the decision to build a larger and more commodious factory. During the final period of the old partnership, the business had been moved from the old Enterprise building to East William street, where a small building. now occupied by Tapager & Hanson as a carpenter shop, had been erected. This building had been quickly outgrown, and the new company accordingly purchased land to the east of this building, and in 1904 erected what was really its first factory building.

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This structure was 32x100 feet in size, and two stories in height, and was thought to be large enough to take care of all possible increase in the business. Yet so rapidly did the new method of lighting gain in public favor that within a year the company was again cramped for room. From that time there was a constant building of additions to the factory building, while more and more modern. machinery was demanded and installed.

Finally. in the spring of 1910, it was found that the company had no more room in which to enlarge, and the board of directors was empowered to select a new factory site and arrange for the construction of a modern factory and office building. Desirable property was soon secured on East Clark street, and the erection of the present building was begun in March, 1910, the structure being completed and occupied in February, 1911.

The new factory is 66x140 feet and has six floors, comprising an area of 75,000 square feet. The total cost of the building was nearly $100,000, and it is equipped throughout in the most modern style, including fireproof construction, automatic sprin- kling system, steel lockers, sanitary drinking fountains, inde- pendent telephone system, automatic signals, and the like, and is brilliantly lighted from top to bottom with apparatus of the company's own make.

The American Gas Machine company finds a market for its products all over the world, shipping goods to practically every civilized country.

The present officers of the company are: President and gen- eral manager, H. C. Hanson; vice president, Thomas H. Hjort ; secretary and treasurer, H. W. Jensen. The present board of . directors consists of the following: H. C. Hanson, Thomas H. Hjort, H. W. Jensen, Walter Olson, Edward Olson, F. C. Larson, William Peterson.

Albert Lea Gas Light Company. One of the large concerns which has helped to make Albert Lea famous throughout the United States is the Albert Lea Gas Light Company, with its familiar "Brite-Lite" trade mark. This characteristic label, which shows against a black background, the earth, girdled by a "Brite-Lite" band, and illuminated at the opposite poles by the sun and the Albert Lea Gas Light Company light, is seen in thousands of homes, on many village street lights, and in churches, office buildings and public halls; and wherever found is a guar- antee of the article upon which it is stamped. Its "Comet" mark is also well known.

The company, though young, has at its head a man who for many years has been identified with gas illumination in all its phases, and to this new enterprise he brought not only his wide

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and minute experience, but also many new ideas in development and improvement, and the products of the company represent the highest point reached in artificial illumination.

The company manufactures exclusively all kinds of gasoline lighting apparatus and fixtures for stores, churches, halls and residences. An important feature of the business is the making of a portable light, which consumes gasoline ; and at a cost much less than that of kerosene, furnishes a strong soft brilliant light, which those who have used it, declare to be superior to any other form of artificial illumination. The boon that this single make of lamp has been to the rural districts can scarcely be measured, and only those who have replaced flickering and mussy kerosene lamps with a brilliant "Brite-Lite" lamp can appreciate the revolution which has taken place. However, this portable lamp is but one line. At the present time the company is making a specialty of installing lighting plans in farm residences. By this system, which is recommended both for its cheapness and simplicity as well as for its excellence, the most remote farm house can be supplied with a lighting system equal if not superior to the illumination in any city home. In the way of fixtures for these systems, the company carries a line of ornamental work suited to the finances of those in the most moderate circumstances, or satis- fying the tastes of the most luxurious.

A specialty is also made of street lights for villages, and where these lights have been tried the village fathers have united in praise of their reasonable price, ornamental appearance, sim- plicity of service and excellence of results. In addition to the lines mentioned the company has also paid special attention to the lighting of stores, churches and halls: Its catalogues and descrip- tive matter are in themselves an education in the art and develop- ment of artificial illumination.

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History of Freeborn County, Minnesota, Part 31

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn. 4n Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Chicago : H. C. Cooper Number of Pages: 1220

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn. 4n
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago : H. C. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1220