USA > Minnesota > Wabasha County > History of Wabasha County, Minnesota > Part 30
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St. Mary's Cemetery Association .- The cemetery controlled by this asso- ciation is located on Lyon avenue, across the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul
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Railway tracks, and has a history almost as long as that of the city. The first person buried there was Michael O'Loughlin, about 1868, at which time, or soon after, two and a half acres of the ground was purchased by St. Mary's parish for cemetery purposes. That area sufficed for half a century, but in 1919, the parish, making use of a donation of $1,000 by James Kane, bought two and a half acres more, thus giving the cemetery an area of five acres. The present association has had charge for the last ten years and has established more systematic and orderly rules of government than formerly existed. The ceme- tery fund has been kept separate from others connected with the parish, and the grounds have been improved and beautified by the planting of trees and shrubbery, the erection of fences, and in various other ways. Since the burial of Michael O'Loughlin fifty years ago, between 700 and 800 interments have been made in the grounds. The officers of the association are: Rev. J. A. Commiskey, president; M. O. Kemp, secretary; Miss Emily Lutz, who succeeded her mother, Mrs. M. Lutz, treasurer. The directors are: Mrs. Mary McCahill, Mrs. J. R. McCormick and Frank M. O'Loughlin.
The Lakewood Cemetery Association was organized in August, 1887, under a special charter, by J. G. Richardson, G. F. Benson, J. L. Underwood, C. A. Hubbard, L. H. Buck, A. T. Guernsey, J. W. Kennedy, W. J. Richardson, H. A. Young and J. C. Doughty. The ground purchased, consisting of 40 acres, located on Lakewood avenue on the south side of the city, belonged to Abner Dwelle, from whom the association purchased it, and had been used many years for burial purposes, the first interment having taken place there about the year 1865. The cemetery has been greatly improved and now contains many fine monuments. The association does not exist for money-making pur- poses, every dollar paid in being used for labor and the betterment of the cemetery, the trustees giving their time. Up to February 1, 1910, there had been 1,682 known burials in Lakewood, and since that date to February 1, 1920, 510, making a total of 2,192. Each year in June a day is set apart which is known as "Flower Day," when the graves are decorated and union services held, the pastor and choirs of the different churches alternating in the cere- monies. The idea has proved very popular, and the plan has been adopted in many communities throughout the country. The officers of the association elected February 23, 1920, were: President, H. A. Young; vice-president, J. M. Underwood; secretary, N. C. Pike; assistant secretary, Ed L. Burghardt; treas- urer, W. A. Hubbard; superintendent, H. F. Johns. The president appointed the following committees: On finance: H. G. Lange, M. L. Collins and H. F. Johns; on grounds : W. A. Hubbard, John Nordine and William Howatt.
St. John's Lutheran Cemetery Association was founded about twenty years ago by the trustees of the church, who secured four acres of land for cemetery purposes between Lyon avenue and Center street, about a quarter of a mile beyond the C., M. & St. P. railroad tracks. At the same time the Swedish Lutherans bought four acres adjoining, and by mutual consent it was made a joint cemetery, but operated independently by the two associations, each having one side, and the two sides being separated by a road running through the center. The grounds are well kept, intersected with convenient walks, and adorned with trees and shrubbery. The expenses are met by the sale of lots and by donations. Of the St. John's Association the present officers are: J. W. Burfeind, president; J. J. Vollmers, secretary, and John Roschen, treasurer.
Journalistic enterprise began in Lake City at an early date, a paper called the Tribune being established here probably about the middle fifties by a man whose name is not now remembered. It seems to have had a short exist- ence, as it had been defunct for some time when, in 1859, it was resurrected by Elijah Porter, a native of Westfield, Massachusetts, then 48 years old, who had had some journalistic experience in his native town. After devoting his editorial talent to the Tribune for two years, Mr. Porter gave it up to accept the office of postmaster, and disposed of his outfit to John McBride. who
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established a weekly four-page Republican paper called the Lake City Times. Mr. McBride, who was afterwards city justice here, had published a news- paper for several years in Guttenberg, Iowa. He conducted the Lake City Times from 1861 to 1865, when he sold out.
The successor of the Times was the Lake City Leader, the proprietors of which were T. H. Perkins and William J. McMaster. It was a four-page, seven- column paper, also Republican in its political complexion, the first issue appear- ing October 5, 1865. Five years later the Leader had to encounter the compe- tition of a rival, as on October 12, 1870, there appeared the first issue of the Wabasha County Sentinel, a four-page, eight-column sheet, published by Hiram D. Brown. Newspaper enterprises were now on a more solid basis in Lake City, as both the Leader and Sentinel were conducted successfully for a num- ber of years. In 1881 they were consolidated and issued under the name of "The Review" by Ben Northrop & Co., until September 12, 1882, when the Review was succeeded by the Lake City Graphic, published by Morris C. Rus- sell and Herbert L. Smith, the latter a native of Vermont. The Graphic was shortly afterward sold to a stock company, Mr. Smith being placed in charge. Other changes soon took place. On October 8, 1883, the business passed into the hands of Smith & Messmer, Mr. Smith having associated with himself for its purchase, Mr. W. S. Messmer, who looked after the editorial department, while Mr. Smith was the active manager of the prosperous and rapidly grow- ing business.
In the meanwhile Morris C. Russell, a native of Pennsylvania, and a man of rich pioneer experience, had become editor of the Lake City Sentinel. A speedy consolidation seems to have been effected, as the Lake City Graphic- Sentinel appeared about this time, or very shortly after the establishment of the Graphic. It was published by McKenny & Linnen, and later by H. L. Smith, and in 1892 was purchased by Arthur J. Meyers, a native of New York State, then 41 years old, who, before coming to Lake City, had for six years owned and published the Mazeppa (Minn.) Tribune. Largely self-educated, independent and fearless, Mr. Meyers conducted the paper as editor and pub- lisher. It was issued every Thursday and took rank among the leading papers in this part of the state, Mr. Meyers continuing in charge until he sold out in 1907 to L. A. Goodrich, who consolidated it with the Republican under the caption of the Graphic-Republican.
The Lake City Republican was founded March 3, 1888, by John A. Leonard, who continued as its editor until his death in January, 1894. Thereupon Mrs. Leonard assumed the management and published the paper until the fall of that year, when it was sold to Kidd & Axtell. In December, 1895, it became the property of C. A. Van Vleck, who maintained the Republican as a first class newspaper, increased its popularity and enlarged its circulation. Mr. Van Vleck conducted the Republican from 1895 to 1910, when the Lake City Printing Co. was organized, with Leroy A. Goodrich, who had purchased the Lake City Graphic-Sentinel in 1907, as vice-president, Mr. Van Vleck becoming a member of the company. The Graphic-Sentinel and Republican were then merged into the Lake City Graphic-Republican, now published as a weekly, with L. A. Goodrich as editor, and having a circulation of 2,000. It is the only newspaper now published in Lake City and runs from eight to sixteen pages per issue, according to the demands. A first class job printing office is main- tained in connection with the paper.
In June, 1914, Elmer R. Paterick established the Lake City Leader, the second paper of that name, which he operated until the spring of 1919 as an independent newspaper, having a circulation of about 1,200. He then sold the subscription list to the Lake City Printing Co., publishers of the Graphic- Republican.
It is not possible to prepare a full and connected history of the public schools of Lake City, owing to the destruction of the early records in the great
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fire of 1882. It is probable that during the early period they did not form an integral part of the school system of the county, having been organized prior to the school system of the state. Moreover, they appear to have attained sufficient growth to have been included in an independent school district, before the public school system of the county took form. The schools here were originally of the character known as subscription schools, being supported by the voluntary subscriptions of the residents of the place.
The pioneer school in the little settlement, now Lake City, was opened by the Rev. Silas Hazlett, in November, 1856, and was taught in a frame building, the lower portion of which was used as a carpenter shop, at the east corner of the Academy of Music block. The number of pupils in attendance was about thirty, and the estimated population of the settlement at that time was three hundred. From this date, schools in Lake City were regularly taught some- where. Gaylord's hall, near the present site of W. E. Perkin's livery stables, was subsequently opened for school purposes, and schools were taught at various places-now here, now there-for the next five years, the city having no school building of its own prior to 1861. In this year it was determined to build a suitable schoolhouse, and late in the fall the basement was finished, and school opened with Geo. T. Gibbs as the first teacher. This building was a commodious two-story frame, 40 by 60, with stone foundation and basement, located on Garden street. The basement only was completed in 1861, and in this school was held until the upper stories were finished and furnished in 1863, when the whole building was occupied for school purposes. It later did duty as the high-school building of Lake City.
In the meantime the citizens had made provision for a somewhat higher grade of scholarship than was contemplated in the common schools of that time and the Lake City Academy came into existence. This Academy build -. ing, also on Garden street, was largely erected by the private contributions of the citizens, with the evident intention of its becoming the property of the city, to be used as an academy for higher instruction. It was built for Mrs. C. W. Hackett, who opened a school or academy there and taught it for some years. The property subsequently passed into Mrs. Hackett's possession in some undefined way, and was sold. With the growth of the city, the accommo- dations of the wooden building erected in 1861 became totally inadequate to meet the wants of the city, and the erection of a new school building was determined upon.
By the legislative act of 1864, giving the settlement, now Lake City, all the rights and immunities of a corporate city without its responsibilities, a change was made in its government, and this was followed in 1865 by a change in the administration of school affairs. In the spring of this latter year a board of education was elected, of which Dr. Estes was clerk. This board deter- mined upon the erection of a school building in the first ward, that would accommodate all the children of that ward below the grammar and high school grades, and thus draw into one building the scholars scattered in various places throughout the city, as rooms could be obtained. This is the building between Oak and Garden streets, known as the first ward schoolhouse. Its entire cost, including sidewalks, fencing and furniture, was about eleven thousand dollars. School was first opened in this building early in the winter of 1872-73, with James M. Martin and Misses Anna Montgomery and E. M. Burrett as teachers.
In 1883 the second ward schoolhouse, also a brick building, was erected, on the original school lot on Garden street, just a little southeast of the old build- ing in which school had been opened in 1861. It was furnished in the latest style, well provided with all needed appliances, and cost a little in excess of the contract price, eight thousand dollars. The building was turned over to the school board on September 20, 1883.
For some years the buildings already mentioned proved adequate to the educational needs of the city, and the schools maintained a high standard, par-
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ticularly the high school, which about 1881 became the banner high school of the state, the percentage of its pupils passing the examinations prescribed by the high school board of the state being greater than that of any other of the fifty high schools competing for the state appropriation. But the number of pupils increased with the growth in population, the introduction of new methods called for increased facilities, and by 1894 it was found necessary to construct a new building to be used as a high school. The contract was let to the Bar- nett & Record Co., of Minneapolis, at $18,975, the total expense, including fur- nishings, being $23,980.25. When completed the structure proved to be an ornament to the city and one of the finest and most convenient school build- ings in the state. It was built on the north side of the old second ward brick schoolhouse, and is adjoined to it, making one building 90 by 140 feet in size, the new building, also of brick, measuring 90 by 100 feet. It is two stories high, with a roomy attic and basement, is well equipped with modern improve- ments, and contains 15 rooms, besides closets and wardrobes.
The city took pride in its new school and regarded its educational facili- ties as sufficient for many years to come. And, in fact, it was nineteen years before overcrowding made further building operations imperative. This need was declared by the Board of Education in January, 1913, and an appeal was issued to bond the district for $20,000 for the purpose of building and equip- ping an addition to the high school, the bonds to cover a period of fifteen years, coming due in 1928. The conditions were very crowded. It had been neces- sary to add two grade teachers since January, 1912, and one grade had been housed in a high school recitation room from that time. The first and second grades in the Lincoln building were accommodated in one room separated by a temporary partition. The high school enrollment was 163, with also nine special pupils, while the seating capacity of the assembly room was 128. Extra pupils were obliged to share single seats with others, and sit at the reading- tables. The high school enrollment was rapidly growing. The enrollment in manual training classes ran as high as 27 boys, and there were only 20 benches, with no room for more. The superintendent's office had to be used for class purposes. One room was occupied by the normal department, the state paying the teacher and the expenses of operating. In 1912 nineteen girls took training in that department, of whom sixteen were teaching in 1913. The agricultural department also occupied a room, the state paying nearly all the expense. It was proposed to erect a new building of four additional grade rooms. At the election held January 31, the question was carried by a vote of 168 to 21, but a second election was made necessary owing to the fact that the local board decided to borrow money from the state, and when this is done it must be so stated in the election notice. Women took part in the election, the law per- mitting equal suffrage in school matters.
The new high school building was erected immediately contiguous to the older high school and united with it so as to form one building, including also the old school bulding erected in 1883. It was formally opened on Tuesday, March 10, 1914. The contract price of the building was $21,100; the total cost with equipment, about $31,000. Bonds of $20,000 were voted in 1913, the money being borrowed from the state at four per cent interest, and covering a period of 20 years. It was proposed to bond another $10,000 in the same manner, the question to be decided at an election to be held Tuesday, April 7, 1914, when a favorable vote was cast. The question seemed to excite little interest, however, as only 54 votes were cast, but the result was decisive, there being only two votes in opposition to the project. On the first floor of this last addition there are four class-rooms and two reading-rooms, the high school room being located on the second floor in the north end of the building. Within recent years some further improvements have been made. The six furnaces in that part of the high school building erected in 1894, which were formerly separate, are now combined into one furnace battery, under the
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Smead system of heating ventilation. The last addition (of 1914) is heated by steam, and has a different system of ventilation, known as the Hackney ventilating system, the main features of which are two fans, one of which forces the fresh air in, while the other drives the foul air out. The old school building of 1883, now forming one building with the architectural divisions of the high school, has been remodeled, or readapted to new uses. It contained four rooms, two upstairs and two down. One of the downstairs rooms is now used for the agricultural class, and the other for a shower-bath for the stu- dents interested in athletics. The partition formerly dividing the two upper rooms has been taken out, so as to make one large room, which is used for a gymnasium. Around it a hanging gallery has been constructed for spectators. This room is also used for military drill work when bad weather prevents it from being held outdoors.
Waterworks and Light Plant .- The present water and light system of Lake City is the result of many years' development, through a process of experiment, and the elimination of worn out or unsatisfactory methods and machinery. For a number of years previous to 1893 a stand-pipe system was in use, the water being obtained from a well, and pumped by a steam-engine into an elevated wooden tank on top of the stand-pipe. This answered the purpose for awhile, but with the deterioration of the engine and the final collapse of the stand- pipe, a new system became necessary, and in 1894, during the mayoralty administration of Henry A. Young, a water plant was installed at a cost of $30,000, operating through direct pressure. The water was pumped from a mammoth well by a Hysler pump. This pump, however, proving too expensive, was set aside and sold for junk, and a Fairbanks-Morse compound engine put in, having a daily capacity of 1,000,000 gallons. A Triplex pump was also installed as auxiliary. In 1897 there were four miles of mains and 49 fire hydrants, and in emergencies an additional water supply could be obtained from the lake.
In connection with this system, an electric light plant was installed in 1895, at a cost of $12,000. It consisted of one machine of 220 volt direct cur- rent system, and one 75-arc machine; and over 1,000 incandescent lamps and 54 arcs were placed in operation. Power was furnished by a Ball & Wood compound engine, and two large boilers generated the steam for both plants. A neat and substantial power-house was erected on the lake shore.
A big step in advance had been made, but in time the direct pressure system proved unsatisfactory and expensive, and the power plant not adapted to the city's needs. It was proposed to construct a reservoir on the bluffs southwest of the city, and a pipe line, at an estimated outlay of $30,000,. and install a gravity system. A meeting of the citizens was held March 14, 1913, at. the city hall, at which J. F. Druar, consulting engineer for the Oscar Clausen Engineering Co., of S. Paul, presented a detailed report containing the esti- mated cost of construction. More than one hundred representative citizens were present, the meeting being presided over by Mayor W. C. Squire. Other speakers, besides Mr. Druar, were J. Cole Doughty, chairman of the Water and Light Commission; E. R. Paterick, then city clerk, and A. Wagner, manager of the Menominie Power Company at Red Wing. A motion was passed unani- mously that the council be instructed to proceed with the plan for the reservoir, and a special bond election was proposed, the city to borrow funds from the. state, as in the case of the school building.
The Druar plan not being accepted, Louis P. Wolf, of St. Paul, was em- ployed to construct the system. A cement reservoir of 500,000 gallon capacity was constructed on the bluffs, and connected by a 12-inch pipe with the water- main system down town, giving at the power station and pumping station an 80-pound gravity pressure. Valves were provided by which the reservoir supply can be shut off at any time to permit the cleaning or repairing of the reservoir, during which time the power is supplied by engines. After the:
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reservoir and pipe line were completed, the plant ceased to generate electricity and entered into a contract with the Wisconsin-Minnesota Light and Power Company, which now supplies the power. The water and light plants are combined in one, deriving their power from the same source, but using different machinery. The amount used is registered at the power station, and when the main current is shut off, power is supplied by a local unit, which can, if neces- sary, reinforce the main line.
Since foreign power was installed the system has been rebuilt and put into three separate and distinct circuits-one for each of the two wards of the residence district, and one for the down town district. The latter includes Lyon avenue, as the main street leading to the depot, and is operated all night. In the two residence districts the power is turned off between 11 and 12 o'clock p. m. There are now 82 fire hydrants. Gas is not used in the city, but there are many electric stoves which obtain their supply of electricity from the power-line service.
The plant has been very successful for the last six years, and has not increased the rates charged before the war. The reservoir and pipe line cost $31,000, and the pipe lines have since been extended to an expense of between $20,000 and $25,000. All the old water bonds, to the amount of $21,000, have been paid off, and a sinking fund of over $25,000 created to take care of repairs and improvements. The present vlaue of the combined plant is estimated at about $200,000. The plant is operated under a "home rule" charter by a sepa- rate commission, composed of three members and a clerk, the city council having no direct control, but acting in an advisory capacity.
The present city hall was built in 1899 at an approximate cost of $16,000, which was paid out of a sinking fund previously set apart for that purpose. Considerable repairs have since been made on the building, the present value of which is estimated at $24,000. It provides convenient quarters for the city offices and fire department, and is also occupied by the public library.
The first public library in Lake City was established in 1871, under the control of an organization known as the Lake City Library Association, with the following officers and trustees : John Fletcher, president; Mrs. C. A. Jewell, vice-president; W. J. McMaster, secretary; C. W. Hackett, treasurer; L. H. Garrard, C. A. Wood, Mrs. M. Hulett, Mrs. H. F. Williamson, Mrs. A. T. Guern- sey, trustees. Mrs. Henry Selover, then Miss Emma Doughty, was the first librarian.
About the middle of November, 1871, the reading-room was opened in the Richardson block on Center street. It was a free reading-room, well fur- nished, and supplied with the leading dailies of the Northwest, and also Wash- ington and New York papers. Foreign and home periodicals were also furnished, and the doors were opened every evening at 6 p. m.
Near the middle of December the first installment of books, consisting of 270 volumes, arrived. Later many more were added, some by donation. The association also instituted a course of lectures, including such lecturers as Wendell Phillips, Ignatius Donnelly, A. M. Griswold, Dillon O'Brien, Hon. Moses Cheney and others.
The library was ably supported by an organization called the Dramatic Union, a company of home talent. The library filled its place in the community until February 24, 1880, when the books were given to the high school to form the beginning of a high school library.
In 1898 the young ladies of the town, under the efficient leadership of Miss Emily McNairy, now Mrs. Charles Ballet of Philadelphia, opened a library and reading-room, in a room set apart for the purpose in the new City Hall. This was a subscription library and was well patronized. The first collection of books was made up of contributions of citizens. The room was supplied with comfortable chairs, substantial tables and book cases, and good periodicals were on the tables.
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