USA > Minnesota > Rice County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 11
USA > Minnesota > Steele County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 11
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The Owatonna Electric Company, controlled by a Mr. Da- zell, entered the field in 1900, purchasing the franchise rights and equipment of the preceding company, and securing a twenty- five year franchise direct from the council, allowing the esta- blishment of a gas and hot water heating plant in addition. Mr. Dazell did not have the necessary financial backing, and so a year later he sold to the present owner of the Public Service Operating Company, A. J. Stahl, of LaPorte, Indiana. C. L. Powell was installed as manager, the heating and electric light service was greatly extended, and the company has ever since done a thriving business. Dozens of different resident managers have held sway, prominent among them E. G. Porter, L. L. Herrick, W. II. Wilfred and Harry G. Wagner. Charles L. Yergin is the present incumbent. A\ gas franchise was granted the company. in 1906, and the others renewed for a period of twenty years. Owing to the fact that the Public Service company has had a monopoly for many years, it is alleged by many citizens that they have been until recently excessive as to rates. In order to remedy this state of affairs, the question of bonding the city for a $50,000 municipal electric light plant was submitted to the voters at the last March elec- tion and approved by an overwhelming majority. With this whip in their hands, the council with the aid of an expert elec- trician, J. Millar, undertook to force the company to come to reasonable terms, surrender their franchises and take others under the new charter. It seemed very probable that this arrangement would be made, until A. L. Ober, of Chatfield, Minnesota, entered the field, asking for an electric and gas franchise. After careful consideration of Mr. Ober's terms, they were accepted, and a twenty-five year franchise has been recently signed by him and the city, and it is expected that Mr. Ober will deposit the bonds necessary within the near future. A ten-year street-lighting franchise, providing for a large in- crease in the number of lights, has also been given him. The Public Service Operating Company has expressed its willing- ness to surrender its franchises and take others under the new
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charter in order to help preserve its treasured monopoly, but has been refused. The company is in a very prosperous condi- tion, however, and as it has many years of life under its old franchise, it will doubtless continue to do business. They have recently laid several thousand feet of gas mains through the west side, making a total of over eight miles of gas lines, and now have about four hundred consumers of gas, from five to six hundred of electricity, and over a hundred of hot water heat. The service has been greatly improved of late, and liberal inducements are being offered to new customers. They have about a mile and a quarter of hot water piping. Their equip- ment is entirely up-to-date, consisting of generators and other electrical machinery-mostly of Allis-Chalmers make-of the best types. The engine develops in the neighborhood of five hundred horsepower. Carbureted water gas is furnished.
Numerous companies have, at various times, seriously con- sidered establishing plants in Owatonna, but have failed to materialize. John I. Wilson, D. E. Virtue, C. L. Pound, orga- nized as the Light, Heat and Power Company of the city of Owatonna, created quite a ripple in 1900, and procured a fran- chise for an electric, steam and hot water heating plant, January 5, 1900, which they never took advantage of. It lapsed through their failure to use it, and was officially revoked by the council June 7, 1904.
OWATONNA SEWERS.
Shortly after the installation of the waterworks system in 1891, the city began arranging for a suitable sewerage system. There were practically no sewerage lines in Owatonna at this time, that of Pillsbury academy-partly built at the city's ex- pense, in 1889, and emptying into Maple Creek, being the only one of importance. Charles F. Loweth, a civil engineer of St. Paul, was awarded the contract for the plans which contem- plated the laying of several thousand feet of piping, Cedar being the first street to be supplied. The bid of Clefton Brothers, $8,506.97, on this work was officially accepted, March 23, 1892, and construction immediately commenced. The city now has eleven and three-quarter miles of city sewers, put in at a cost of $48,696. No year has passed without the laying of new lines. During 1904, the west side got its first sewerage service, twelve hundred feet being laid at an expense of about twelve hundred dollars. This sewer empties into Straight river. as do all the lines in the other portions of the city, excepting the Pills- bury academy sewer, and a few hundred feet of line in that neighborhood, which drain into Maple Creek. The sewer system
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has been greatly extended this last year-1910-and at present rapid progress is being made.
CEMETERIES.
Forest Hill Cemetery. The first Owatonna cemetery was established near the present depot of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul and Northwestern railroad lines, and remained there until the coming of the railroads in 1866. The property was then taken for right-of-way, and the city purchased a suitable site, located west of the river and north of city, and immediately began the removal of the bodies. These grounds were used for cemetery purposes until 1872, during which year the city became the owner of the present site of the Forest Hill cemetery, arrangements being made with the recently organized Forest Hill Cemetery Association whereby the city became the owners of the property, but left its control and management with the association. The association consists of all citizens owning lots in the cemetery, and a board of directors is elected yearly who render detailed reports to the city at regular intervals and attend to the maintenance of the grounds. Seth Hotchkiss and L. Bixby were respectively president and secretary of the first board, and signed the deed conveying the property to the city. The members of the present board are as follows: Dr. A. C. Searl, president; H. Schmidt, secretary; George R. Kinyon, treasurer ; A. L. Sperry, Harvey S. Dartt, and Guy B. Bennett. H. Schmidt ranks first in length of service, having been a mem- ber since 1880, and secretary since 1888.
G. W. Shaw was the first actuary, and after several years was succeeded by S. N. Sergant who held the office up to 1891. T. J. Rions was then chosen, and remained in charge until the first of July, 1908, when F. W. Adams, the present actuary, assumed office.
Forest Hill cemetery is located on Mineral Springs avenue, a fifteen-minute walk from the heart of the city. It contains thirty acres of land, and is one of the most naturally beautiful spots in the state, being well elevated above the surrounding country and thickly covered with native trees which have been judiciously thinned. Model driveways wind in and out through the grounds, and the well-kept grass and flowers add to the charming effect, a general air of quiet and peace prevailing, making a fitting resting place for those gone before. Besides the city vault, installed about 1890, there are eight private vaults, many of them of rich and costly design. In 1892, the actuary's house was built, situated just east of the grounds. The ceme- tery is thoroughly up-to-date in all its appointments. A fifteen
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hundred foot, covered drainage ditch is being put in at present, and a new road leading to the cemetery will be added after its completion.
Sacred Heart Cemetery. Forty-two years ago, the present Sacred Heart cemetery was inaugurated, five acres of land, situated about a mile and a half south of Owatonna, being purchased from Frank Kubista. Five more have been added during the past year, and the installation of a vault in the near future seems certain. The property is in the name of the Right Reverend Bishop Heffren, of Winona, but Father Pivo of the Sacred Heart church, together with an executive com- mittee, consisting of John Lynard, Thomas Cashman, Charles Ringhofer and Andrew Parolik, have the management. The well-kept grounds and graves enhance the natural beauty of the place.
German Lutheran. The Owatonna congregation came into ownership of its present cemetery consisting of three and a half acres, located directly north of the Forest Hill cemetery, May 1, 1901, the property being purchased from the Forest Hill Cemetery Association at a cost of $750. Much of this amount had been previously raised by the sale of lots. A fence and other improvements have entailed an expenditure of over $100. The cemetery is under the direction of a board of managers, consisting of Fred W. Tuerk, president; William Hammond, secretary ; John Martin, treasurer ; Carl Kaspri, Charles Finger, Louis Wilker and Louis Wobbrock.
CITY AND FIREMEN'S HALL.
In the spring of 1905, the Owatonna fire department began agitating, with characteristic vigor and energy, the question of a suitable city and firemen's hall to take the place of the antiquated structure then in nsc. The firemen early showed a willingness to do more than their part, offering a contribution amounting to $4,500, provided the city agreed to erect a building to cost not less than $16,000. This donation consisted of the site, which the firemen had purchased for $3,500, and $1,000 in cash. They also agreed to loan to the city for two years the money necessary to provide up-to-date fire equipment.
The proposition met with favor with the city fathers, and they granted a petition, drawn up and circulated by the firemen, asking for the submission to the people at a special election of the question of issuing $15,000 bonds for the building. The special election was held September 19, 1905, and the bonds voted, but a month later the legality of the bonds was challenged in the courts by a tax-payer, and they were declared illegal on
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account of the loose manner in which action was taken in ordering the special election.
Thus it became necessary for the work of circulating a peti- tion, and again securing a satisfactory vote on the matter, to be done all over again. In the meantime. the firemen were offered $4,500 for the site, $1,000 more than they had paid for it, but the offer was refused. Nevertheless it practically added $1,000 to the amount the firemen were contributing toward the building.
The election of March, 1906, finally decided the bond ques- tion, their issue being authorized by a majority of 112. Great care was taken to have the proceedings correct, so that no further trouble was experienced.
July 17, bids were received for the construction of the building, that of Hammel Brothers and Anderson, $19,643, being accepted, and work was immediately begun.
The cornerstone was laid with impressive ceremonies under the auspices of the Masonic order, September 8, 1906, and Chief E. M. Twiford of the fire department formally presented the city the deed to the lots and $1,000 in cash.
As the building neared completion, it became evident that it was to cost more than at first planned, and again the firemen showed true public spirit. Under the agreement the city was to finish the entire building, giving the firemen a perpetual lease of the third floor. Now the firemen agreed to the third floor's remaining unfinished, or in other words undertook to finish it themselves, which they subsequently did at an expense of about $2,000, thus making their total contribution to the hall over $6,000.
The opening of this magnificent City and Firemen's hall, October 5, 1907, will be long treasured in the minds of the citizens of this city. Every business, profession and trade, every degree of affluence, every class of society, was repre- sented, and all mingled happily together in the festivities of the occasion, which formally introduced Owatonna's new civic home and the headquarters of one of its leading official organizations to the public. A fine promenade concert, a grand ball and a sumptuous banquet. each sufficient for an event by itself, and all combined making the occasion an event of the first magnitude in the history of Owatonna. The music for the concert was furnished by members of the Owatonna military band. who generously donated their services for the occasion.
The structure itself is representative of the highest type of buildings of this character, and is one of which any city might well be proud. The first floor is devoted to engine and stable room. The second contains the municipal court, council cham-
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ber, firemen's sleeping room, and three offices. The third floor includes the large dance hall, cloak rooms, and a large retiring room in front.
It is of interest to know that the oak used in the interior woodwork was cut from trees grown in Steele county. The exterior of the building is composed of a high grade of white brick, with sandstone arching the doors.
Too much credit cannot be given to Fire-chief E. M. Twi- ford, who, more than any other man awoke the citizens to a realization of their need of this building. Every fireman, in fact, was an active worker and promoter. The city is also especially indebted to Messrs. Robson, Hoffman. Williamson and Clefton, members of the building committee of the common council during 1906 and 1907, who gave freely and generously of their time.
CITY HOSPITAL.
The Owatonna City Hospital is located on Cedar street, sur- rounded by a beautiful lawn, the building consisting of the orig- inal brick veneered residence of J. A. Oppliger, with an addition erected by the city and an addition erected by W. H. Kelly at a cost of $10,000. Various additions and improvements have also been made by Mrs. Elizabeth Batzle, in memory of her husband. Up to 1909 the hospital board was an advisory one, but since the change in the city charter the hospital board is independent, and is allowed a certain sum each year for the maintenance of the institution. The present board consists of one member from each ward of the city and one elected at large. The members of the board are: President, M. S. Alexander ; secretary, A. H. Smith; W. H. Vinton, John Deviny, Frank LaBarre and O. K. Kubat. The hospital has about thirty rooms, most of which were furnished by various individuals and organi- zations of the city.
The Owatonna City Hospital is the outgrowth of a sentiment which assumed tangible form during the summer of 1899. At that time the need of an institution of this kind was discussed among the physicians of the city in an informal way, and the conclusion unanimously reached that the time was ripe for putting in operation the plans which then seemed proper and feasible. Subscriptions to the amount of $1,200 were obtained, and in March, 1900, the city voted $10,000 for the purchase of a suitable location and the erection of the necessary buildings for a hospital. At the same time a board of nine was appointed by the council as follows: S. R. Nelson (chairman), G. W. Peachey (secretary), M. J. Toher, M. S. Alexander, A. G. Leick,
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G. J. Kaplan, John Deviny, John Adsit and William Gausewitz. The board organized at once and elected an advisory board of five physicians, consisting of Drs. Adair, Hatch, Smersh, Schulze and Eustis. After duly considering various sites, the property of the late J. A. Oppliger on South Cedar street was purchased for $6,500. An addition was at once erected at a cost of $1,500. The Kelly addition was built in 1906.
OWATONNA PUBLIC LIBRARY.
The history of the Owatonna Free Public Library properly begins at the time of the death of Mrs. Elizabeth C. Hunewill, which occurred on February 4, 1896. Mrs. Hunewill bequeathed to the city of Owatonna the specific sum of $10,000 and the further sum of two-fifths of her residuary estate, to be used for library purposes under the following terms and conditions: Five thousand dollars to be used to pay the last bills on a building to cost not less than $10,000 exclusive of the lot; and the remain- ing $5,000 together with the residuary legacy to be kept forever intact as an endowment fund, and the interest therefrom only to be used for the purchase of books for the library. More- over, the entire bequest was based upon the further condition that the city of Owatonna establish a public library under the laws of the state of Minnesota and provide for its perpetual maintenance and purchase books for the same at a cost of not less than $5,000. It soon became evident by reason of the successful and economical administration of the estate of Mrs. Hunewill, that the residuary legacy would amount to at least $11,500. Therefore, encouraged by the assurance of a splendid legacy of $24,500 the city council unanimously voted to estab- lish the public library under the state law, and pursuant thereto chose a library board of nine directors. The library board as thus constituted held its first meeting January 8, 1897.
September 18, 1897, the city council purchased, for the sum of $3,000, the excellent site upon which the library building now stands and deeded the same to the board of directors. On January 25, 1898, the library board requested the city council to put to a vote at the following March election, the proposition to issue $10,000 library bonds. This proposition was voted by a large majority. The provisions of the state library law allowed a tax, not to exceed one mill, in cities of the size of Owatonna, to be levied for the support of the library and accordingly, in the fall of 1897, a tax of $1,000 (two-thirds of a mill) was levied by the council. Therefore, the board were enabled to enter upon the task of building and equipping the library. The board then spent much time in studying the buildings and equip-
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ments of other libraries. It soon became apparent that the best results could be secured by having a committee visit several model libraries in the East where the library movement has reached its most widespread development. The board, therefore, chose two of its members as such committee, who, in August, 1898, made a journey to Boston and vicinity, covering a distance of over 3,500 miles, occupying over two weeks' time, and for which journey the board allowed each member of the committee $75.00 for expenses.
September 7, 1898, this committee made a written report to the board. The report was unanimously adopted and thic board set to work to obtain a building which should, as far as pos- sible, embrace the ideas as set forth in the report. During the fall of 1898 the plans of the present building were perfected. It then became evident that a suitable building which should in all respects meet the requirements of a model library, and at thic same time be suitable to the size of the city of Owatonna, could not be built for much less than $20,000. At this point a large number of our public spirited citizens gave a written guarantee to the board in the sum of $5,000, making it possible to let the contract at once. And in accordance with this guarantee the citizens again voted in in March, 1899, by a large majority, to issue $5,000 additional library bonds. Having thus provided for the construction of the library building, it was necessary to give attention to the purchase of $5,000 worth of books in accord- ance with the Hunewill bequest.
Miss A. L. Sargent of the Medford, Mass., public library, was engaged to prepare a buyer's catalogue of 5,000 best books for the library. Later Miss Sargent was employed regularly as agent for the purchase of books and also to catalogue and to prepare the books for library usc. This work occupied several months and was performed to the great satisfaction of the board.
The furnishing and maintaining of the children's rooms, which could not otherwise have been available until a later time, on account of lack of funds, was undertaken and successfully com- pleted by the ladies, members of the Nineteenth Century Club, and of the Cosmopolitan Club, both of Owatonna.
In brief, the library, as it stood on the opening day, ground, building. equipment and books, represented an investment of practically $32,000, and $27,000 of this sum had come from the public funds and $5,000 had come from the Hunewill fund. In return for this expenditure of money, there is an endowment fund of about $16,500, which yields an annual income of about $900 to be used for the purchase of books.
The library was opened on February 22, 1900, and has had a large and increasing patronage since that date.
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The liberality of the citizens of Owatonna in voting bonds for the library and the subsequent good will and loyalty of the city council in providing for deficiencies in the funds of the library board, should be praised. And mention should be made especially of the tireless efforts and vigilant watchfulness of a few persons, intensely interested in the library movement for Owatonna, who shamed opposition and who bore the burden of such a difficult undertaking.
The present librarian is Elizabeth H. Plumb, and the present members of the board: R. G. Nelson (chairman), A. L. Sperry (secretary), John Adsit, Benjamin F. Darby, C. K. Bennett, H. K. Tompkins, Dr. J. H. Adair, Rev. P. J. Kiernan and Robert Johnson.
The library maintains branches at Havana, Bixby and Ellen- dale.
OPERA HOUSE.
The Metropolitan Opera House is one of the quasi-public buildings of the city, of which the citizens may well be proud. It was opened November 4, 1897, by Otis Skinner, and Novem- ber 1, 1904, passed into the possession of W. F. Gage, of La Crosse and Albert Lea, the consideration being $15,000 in cash and the agreement that the building should be maintained as a theater so long as it should stand. C. J. Servatius is the present local manager.
On September 8, 1896, a public meeting was held in the court house to consider the question of building an opera house. M. B. Chadwick was elected chairman and S. S. Green, secre- tary. At this meeting a proposition was made by a number of gentlemen. This proposition said that if the citizens would contribute $5,000 they would agree to secure the lot on Main and South Cedar 66x132 feet, and erect thereon a substantial three-story building of pressed brick, modern in all respects, to cost not less than $20,000 exclusive of site. The building was to have a seating capacity of 1,000 persons. The gentlemen making this proposition were B. S. Cook, WV. R. Kinyon, Geo. R. Kin- yon, C. S. Crandall, S. R. Nelson, T. H. Kelly, J. M. Schafer, P. Ganser, J. Glaeser, H. M. Hastings, C. M. Lorence, J. A. Op- pliger, M. S. Alexander, W. H. Kelly, Hammel Bros., H. R. Moore, L. L. Wheelock, W. A. Sperry, Jos. Hoffman, Wm. Gauswitz, N. J. Schafer, Herman Schmidt, C. Butsch, Nor- man Evans, L. G. Nelson, L. L. Bennett and Carl K. Ben- nett. A Committee was appointed to canvass the meet- ing to see what might be secured at that time, and later the following ward committees were appointed for the same purpose : First ward, Dr. A. B. Stewart, J. Newsalt, Jas. W.
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Connor ; second ward, A. G. Leick, E. W. Richter, S. F. McClane; third ward, Lewis Lord, G. W. Peachey, A. J. Ogden ; fourth ward, J. II. Robson, W. E. McClintock, Charles Fuermann.
On September 22, these committees reported that $3,600 had been raised, and two other committees were appointed to assist in the work. These were: J. M. Diment, P. Ganser, Jos. Hoff- man, J. Z. Barncard and J. A. Oppliger. The other committee was made up of E. C. Zamboni, C. J. Clefton, Charles Albertus and E. K. Whiting.
On September 29 they reported that the $5,000 had been raised. Messrs. J. W. Connor, J. H. Robson, A. G. Leick, J. M. Diment, Lewis Lord and S. S. Green were appointed to collect this money and deposit it in the bank.
On December 2, 1896, a meeting of interested parties was held and the articles of incorporation were adopted. The in- corporators were M. S. Alexander, H. M. Hastings, W. A. Sperry, C. S. Crandall, Geo. R. Kinyon, O. Lindesmith, Wm. Gausewitz, Peter Ganser, N. C. Nelson, Soren R. Nelson, S. G. Nelson, Herman Schmidt, L. L. Wheelock, Joseph Hoffman, J. M. Diment, Louis F. Hammel, John L. Hammel, Norman Evans, W. H. Kelly, N. J. Schafer, J. M. Schafer, W. R. Kinyon, J. A. Oppliger and Jacob Glaeser. The capital stock of the com- pany was placed at $20,000 and the company was given power to contract debts to the amount of $10,000. The first officers of the company were : M. S. Alexander, president ; J. M. Diment, vice president ; L. G. Nelson, secretary ; Herman Schmidt, treas- urer. Board of directors, M. S. Alexander, H. M. Hastings, J. M. Diment, W. A. Sperry, T. H. Kelly, C. S. Crandall, Geo. R. Kinyon, O. Lindesmith, Wm. Gausewitz, Peter Ganser and N. C. Larson. Architect Snyder Lovell, of Chicago, was engaged to make the plans and specifications, and later L. F. Hammel was engaged as superintendent of construction. When they met to open the bids it was found that but one bid had been made, and it was for the sum of $23,000 to complete the building ready for ocupaney. It was decided to erect the building by days' work under Mr. Hammel's superintendency and thus the building was completed and gotten ready for the opening night.
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