USA > Minnesota > Washington County > History of Washington County and the St. Croix Valley, including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota > Part 92
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528
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
the water is forced through eight miles of pipe, for distribution through the city. The lake is one-quarter of a mile from the city and elevated one hundred and fifty feet above Main street. These works were put in by the Messrs. Fruin and Company of St. Louis, and are probably the finest in the state.
UNION ELEVATOR COMPANY.
In 1870-71, the Union Elevator and Improve- ment Company built an elevator here of 50,000 bushels capacity. C. W. Newcombe was presi- dent of the company. The elevator was built and the company formed because of the advan- tage of transferring wheat here, on account of the navigation of St. Croix Lake being superior to the Mississippi at St. Paul. This company op- erated the elevator until 1877, when they leased it to the St. Paul & Duluth Railroad Company, who operated it till 1880, and sold it to D. M. Sabin, who again sold it to the "Union Elevator Company." This organization was effected in Oc- tober, 1880. The capital stock is $100,000, and the officers are, Louis Hospes, president, J. H. Townshend, vice-president; and H. W. Cannon, secretary and treasurer. They have increased the storage capacity from fifty to three hundred thousand bushels, and furnished the ele- vator with all the modern improvements for un- loading barges, cars or wagons.
GAS-LIGHT COMPANY. .
On May 12th, 1874, this company was organized and on the same day a city ordinance was passed, granting the exclusive rights to the company to manufacture and sell gas in this city for forty years. The stockholders who also constituted a board of directors, consisted of John McKusick, D. M. Sabin, Isaac Staples, D. Bronson, H. W. Cannon, L. E. Torinus and C. H. Nash. Isaac Staples was elected president. and H. W. Can- non, secretary and manager. During the follow- ing summer buildings were erected and about four miles of main pipe was laid through the principal streets, and gas turned on the city the same fall. The capital stock is $25,000, and they have increased their main lines to between five and six miles. The company is still under the same direction and management.
EXPRESS COMPANIES.
In the winter of 1854-5 the first express office
was opened in this city by the North-western Ex- press Company. Short, Proctor and Company were the agents. In 1857, John Fisher was ap- pointed agent, and in February, 1858, he was su- perseded by D.W. Armstrong, and soon after, the American Express Company purchased the North-western, Mr. Armstrong continuing as agent of the new company until 1864, when A. M. Dodd, who was his former partner, succeeded him. He took as a partner, C. J. Butler, known as Butler and Dodd until the fall of 1869, when the United States Express Company established an office here. In 1871, the American was repre- sented by Bronson and Folsom, and the United States by Frank E. Joy, who continued to repre- sent the latter company until the consolidation in 1876. After the lower road was extended to this place in 1871, Bronson and Folsom gave up the agency of the American, and L. E. Morris, sta- tion agent, acted as agent for one year, then Mr. Armstrong had it till the consolidation in 1876, and afterward, till March 10th, 1880, when the present agent, Frank Netzer, took charge of the office. Mr. Netzer is the only express represent- ative here.
Telegraph and telephone companies. In 1863 A. C. Lull, an old telegraph operator, came to Stillwater and endeavored to establish a tele- graph line and office. The result" of his [efforts was a subscription of $1,500 which was paid to the Northwestern Telegraph Company as a bonus to establish an office in the city. Mr. Lull was the appointed manager, but business was so meagre that for a time it was feared the company would be obliged to close the office. Soon population increased and with it the business of the tele- graph line, which now has a monthly business of about $400. The office is on Main street between Chesnut and Myrtle, and is under the manage- ment of C. E. White.
The" National Bell Telephone Exchange, es- tablished an office in Stillwater in January, 1880, and is meeting with liberal patronage. There are about fifty instruments in use connecting the city with St. Paul and Minneapolis.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The first efforts for the organization of a com- pany to resist fire, were made in February, 1859. After several meetings of citizens and slight
529
CITY OF STILLWATER-FIRE DEPARTMENT.
action on the part of the city council, the matter was allowed to drop without the formation of any organization for the protection of property. In 1872, after the city had been visited by several destructive conflagrations, the city council or- dered the erection of a temporary building for housing a fire engine. Steps were at once taken to secure an engine, and resulted in the purchase of a "Silsby," at a cost of $7,375. The condition on which the engine was purchased, was a test as follows: the engine, stationed near the lake, was to force a stream through fifteen hundred feet of hose and throw it over the court-house dome. The test was made May 29th, 1872, with satisfac- tory results. A company was at once formed numbering sixty volunteer members, with the following officers: David Bronson, chief engi- neer; B. G. Merry, first assistant; H. P. West, second assistant; C. C. Johnson, engineer; W. T. Per Lee, secretary; Fayette Marsh, treasurer.
The first call of this company for active duty, was on the evening of June 3d, 1872. They were on hand at the scene of the fire promptly, and in a few moments, by well-directed efforts, suppressed the flames. Since then the department has ren- dered efficient service. The equipment consists of a number three Silsby engine, two hose-carts and fifteen hundred feet of hose. The engine- house is of brick, and is located on Commercial street, between Main and Second. The officers are: David Bronson, chief engineer; A. K. Doe, first assistant; William M. May, second assistant, Officers of steam fire engine department, known. as "Stillwater, Number One," J. W. Johnson, en- gineer; R. Day, fireman; F. E. Joy, foreman; S. A. Krone, driver; J. C. Rhodes, secretary; and Joseph Tanner, treasurer.
St. Croix Hook and Ladder Company Number One, is also located on Commercial, between Main and Second streets. This company has been of great value in the suppression of fires, and is an able assistant of the engine company. The officers of this organization are: Charles Mc- Millan, foreman; D. B. Loomis, assistant fore- man; A. K. Doe, secretary and treasurer. This company has been presented, for services ren- dered, a purse of one hundred dollars, by L. E. Torinus, flag and staff by Schulenburg and Boeck- eler Lumber Company, valued at one hundred
and fifty dollars; and a desk, valued at fifty dol- lars, for hall, by Seymour, Sabin and Company.
The first building destroyed by fire was a house belonging to John McKusick, which stood where his present residence is located. The next was the Northrup house, which burned in 1847. The great fire of Stillwater, as it is called, occurred on the morning of December 26th, 1866. The fire started on Main street, in the second building from Chestnut street, and before it could be brought under control, destroyed twelve build- ings. The losses were quite heavy, and fell upon a class hardly able to bear them. March 5tl:, 1872, a fire broke out in a building, corner of Main and Nelson streets. Six buildings were consumed and three families left homeless. Two men lost their lives during this fire. In Decem- ber, 1872, a fire started in a building adjoining the Lake house. The engine was promptly on hand and for a time did good work, then became disabled. The Lake house and four buildings were destroyed. In 1873, a fire occurred at the state prison, but the fire companies were prompt and checked it with small loss. A number of small fires have occurred, but Stillwater has thus far escaped a conflagration of much magnitude, and with the present efficient fire department, may feel secure against future visitations.
BUSINESS BLOCKS, AND PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
The Sawyer block was built by Henry Sawyer, in 1856, and was the first stone building erected in Stillwater. The upper story of this building was used as lecture room and for public hall. In 1856, the blocks erected, were the McComb, built by McComb, Simpson and Company, now owned by Isaac Staples and used as a general merchan- dise store, and the Falen block, of brick. In 1857, the Eldridge brick block and the Bernhei- mer block, built by Elam Greeley. 1858, the Hol- combe block, built by Wm. Holcombe; the Odd Fellows meet in a hall in this block. In 1865, Mr. Schlenk built a block of stone, known as Concert Hall. In 1866, the First National Bank erected its block. The year following, the L. E. Torinus block was built. The Morin brick block was built in 1869. The Brunswick, the Green, and the Hersey and Staples blocks were erected in 1871. Wolf's brewery was built in 1872, and the same year, Deragisch and Henning and West
34
530
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
ing and Ditman built. The Union block was built in 1873-4, by three different parties; H. Evans and R. Sinclair, in 1873, P. H. Potts, in 1874, and Geo. Volmer, in 1875. Other blocks erected in 1873, W. W. Holcombe's and the Staples block. In 1874, the Shultz block was built by T. Shultz. The Marsh block by F. Marsh, in 1879. The Schermuly and Hardy block in 1880.
COURT-HOUSE.
As previously stated, the first court-house was built by Joseph R. Brown about 1841. It was located near where Schulenburg and Boeckeler's lumber mill now stands. It is not certain that this building was ever used for judicial purposes. It was finally torn down and the material used in the construction of a building at Stillwater. The second court-house was erected on the corner of Fourth and Chestnut streets, in 1849, at a cost of $3,600. The lot was donated by John McKusick. This building was 31x60 feet, and but one story high, furnishing one large room and two small ones. This was the first court-house in the territory of Minnesota. In 1866 the people began to consider the need of erecting new buildings for the use of Washington county, which led to the submission of the question to the people at the fall election, and resulted in a decision in favor of their erection.
In the spring of 1867 the county commissioners invited proposals for the construction of county buildings, consisting of court-house and jail. A city block was donated for the site by Messrs. Churchill and Nelson. The contract was awarded to G. M. Seymour and W. M. May, the building to cost $46,500, and to be constructed in accord- ance with plans submitted by A. F. Knight architect. The contractors agreed to complete the buildings as indicated by the plans, leaving off the two upper tiers of cells. The cost, in addition to the contract, on account of changes ordered by the commissioners, was $9,757, making a total cost of $55,257. The jail is in the wing on the south-east of the court-house, and is both strong and convenient. In 1868 the board of commissioners had a wall erected on the north and east sides of the lot. The buildings are finely located, and are a credit to the county of Washington and city of Stillwater.
POST-OFFICE.
The pioneers of this embryo city were subject to many inconveniences for the want of facilities for forwarding and receiving mails. Prairie du Chien being the nearest point on the south from which they could obtain their mails. When any one of their number was called upon for business or pleasure to make a trip to the south or east, he was commissioned as post boy and well loaded with business as well as letters of kindly re- membrance to the loved ones left behind in the eastern home. The infrequency of these trips, down river as they were termed, made it very in- convenient for the settlers. Much more so when by negligence the one sent by, forgot to deposit the mail in the office, but on his return found the package in his trunk, such being the case with one entrusted with the transmission of mails to Prairie du Chien. The increase of settlers to- gether with the increase of facilities soon began to obviate these difficulties. In the fall of 1845 a petition was forwarded to the department at Washington from the citizens asking for the es- tablisbment of an office at this point, also for the transportation of the mails, which was granted, and a commission forwarded to Elam Greeley as post-master, January 18th, 1846. The office was kept in the store of John McKusick, corner of Main and Myrtle streets. The commissions be- ing very light, Mr. Greeley concluded at the end of one year, that it did not pay him to devote his time to the office, and it was transferred to Mr. John McKusick. At the expiration of his term, it was transferred successively to John S. Proctor, Harley Curtis, Mahlon Black, Abraham Van Vorhes, D. H. Cutler, and E. G. Butts, the pres- ent incumbent. After the office left the store of Mr. McKusick, it was kept at different points until it reached its present locality, corner of Second and Chestnut streets. The business of the office has increased steadily, but rapidly, from the beginning. At the close of the first ten years, it was found that in 1856, the total receipts of the office for the year for stamps alone was $2,536. Prior to November, 1856, the mails were only received tri-weekly, but after that date through the earnest efforts of the citizens, a daily mail was received. Soon after the money order department was added to the office which greatly increased the facilities for business. In 1870,
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CITY OF STILLWATER-OPERA HOUSE.
this branch of the office issued six hundred and fifty-nine money orders, amounting to $12,957.99, also paying two hundred and eighteen orders, amounting to $5,505.80. In 1871, the office is- sued nine hundred and twenty-six orders amount- ing to $15,771.90, and paid two hundred and twenty-two orders, amounting to $6,488.81. The receipts of the office for box rent, stamps, and postage on papers and periodicals with envelopes and wrappers for 1879, was $7,891.08; the expen- ses for the same year were $3,337.20, making the total income for the year $4,553.88. The receipts for 1880, were $10,825.83, and the expenses for the same were $3,445.75, giving a total income from the office of $7,380.08. Money received for orders for 1879, was $38,820.46, and money paid on orders same year, $16,683.24. Money received for orders 1880, was $30,943.99, and paid $20,- 729.17. Number of registered packages for 1879, was 2,312; for 1880, was 2,774; number of letters, postal cards, newspapers to subscribers, transient printed matter; merchandize packages and official letters for 1870, was 400,720, and the same for 1880, was 745,680.
PUBLIC HALLS.
Among the first buildings erected in new towns provision is made for a hall or place where the people can congregate for purposes of amusement and education. The first building used for pub- lic entertainments in Stillwater, was the Lake house, built in 1849. Next was the Schlenk hall, in the Sawyer block, built in 1855. The Armory hall was opened to the public in 1855. Joseph Carli and Samuel Mathews erected a frame build- ing in 1866, known as Opera hall. In 1872, Her- sey and Staples built a block on the corner of Main and Myrtle streets, the third story of which was finished for a hall with a seating capacity of six hundred. This was known as Opera hall and was the principal public hall until the building of the
GRAND OPERA HOUSE.
This building, the pride of the city and the finest opera house in the north-west, was erected in 1880-'81, by L. E. Torinus, E. W. Durant, R. J. Wheeler and A. T. Jenks. These enter- prising gentlemen purchased of Dr. Carli, in the spring of 1879, a lot on Main street, between Chesnut and Nelson, for which $10,000 was paid.
The foundation was completed during that sea- son and the superstructure in 1880. The inside finishing and furnishing was completed in May, 1881. The design was furnished by Radcliff of St. Paul and the supervision of the work was en- trusted to Samuel Eldred. The building has a frontage of ninety feet and a depth of one hund- red and twenty feet. On the ground floor are four large store rooms with plate glass fronts. The railroad transfer tracks run in the rear of the building and afford excellent facilities for the re- ceipt and shipment of goods. In the walls were used 600,000 brick and the building has been pro- nounced by competent judges, a structure of un- usual strength. The basement is divided by stone walls corresponding to the stores above, and has a floor of cement. The exterior of the building is handsomely finished and is a combination of the Queen Anne, Victoria, and the Gothic styles of architecture. The trimmings are of Kasota stone, making it the finest looking building in the city. The main entrance is at the north-west corner and from it a stairway ten feet in width leads to the second floor.
At the head of the stairway is located the office of Durant, Wheeler and Company, which is fin- ished in hard wood and elegantly furnished. To the left is the ticket office, in gothic style, and again to the left is a short flight of stairs leading to the main corridor, which is 12x52 feet. At the end of the corridor is the ladies' toilet room, richly furnished. From the corridor six arches open into the auditorium, affording easy egress for the largest audience that could be placed in the theatre. The hall is arranged after the usual plan, dividing it into four sections, dress circle, parquette, balcony, and gallery, and has a total seating capacity of 1,217, of which the dress circle seats 446, parquette 190, balcony 415, gal- lery 150 and boxes 16. The opera chairs are of an improved pattern, with a hat-rest beneath each one. Numerous aisles, all carpeted, lead through the dress circle to the parquette, affording easy access to every seat. The circle railing is very handsome, of heavy bronze wire, with gold orna- ments, and the rail upholstered with crimson plush. The auditorium is beautifully frescoed. In the center of the proscenium arch is a large me- dallion of Shakspeare, and around the hall eleven others, Hayden, Schiller, Bach, Goethe, Dickens,
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
Handel, Walter Scott, Longfellow, Mozart, Tenny- son and Beethoven. In the dome is a beautiful painting representing the genius of fine arts, in the center of a group consisting of poetry, paint- ing, architecture, sculpture, music and the drama.
The proscenium boxes, four in number, form part of the arch, two on each side, one above the other, and by the great beauty of their decora- tions add greatly to the effect of the stage. On top of each upper box is a beautiful female figure representing summer and autumn, and on the same box, stands a life-like bust of Newton and Byron.
The stage, which is the finest west of Chicago, is thirty-nine feet wide by sixty-six feet long, and is supplied with all the mechanical appliances of a well-appointed stage. The scenes are all worked from the top, and there are no slides on the floor, thus giving the entire size of the stage. The scenery is all first-class, and so arranged that it can shifted in the shortest possible space of time. To the right, and underneath the stage, are the dressing-rooms, nine in number. The ladies' rooms are elegantly furnished and sup- plied with gas and water conveniences. The star's room is luxuriantly furnished with Brussels carpet, large mirror and furniture to correspond.
At each side of the wings are two standing water-pipes, each having a hose attached and ready for use; also in the fly galleries there are two pipes with hose connected. Any, or all of these are ready for use at a moment's warning, and the house can be flooded in a few minutes time. Every precaution has been taken to guard against fire.
The drop curtain is 32x26 feet, and is a marvel of beauty and fine work, representing a scene in the garden of the Tuileries in the time of Louis XIV. The drapery of the curtain is a beautiful scene typifying spring in a chariot drawn by butterflies. The whole was painted by Signor Arragoni, the scenic artist, and is a credit to both the artist and the owners. The orchestra pit, which is lowered so as to not obstruct the view of the stage, is railed in with a handsome and massive silver plated railing.
The facilities for heat, light and ventilation, are in every way first class. In the cellar are two sets of boilers, one for heating the stores and the office of Durant, Wheeler and Company, and
one exclusively for the opera house. Air passages lead from the basement to the third floor, where the heat is diffused throughout the house by one thousand small registers. The steam radiators in the balcony and in the corridor, also assist in heating. The system of ventilation is as perfect a one as is used. The hot air passes through the ceiling through two ventilators which are not visible: In the pipes, which are five feet in di- ameter, leading from the ventilators to the ori- fices in the roof, are placed steam ventilators which heat the air as it passes out, and thus aid materially the ventilation of the building. The entire building is lighted by gas .. Two large globe lamps light the street entrance and a twelve light chandelier is placed in the lobby. In the corridor are forty jets, and in the auditorium one hundred and one jets judiciously arranged give ample light. The arrangement of the stage lights has been such that the greatest effects can be obtained, and the lights of the whole house can be controlled from the stage.
Taken altogether, this opera house is most complete in its appointments, and the enterpris- ing owners deserve great credit for their generous outlay in furnishing the city of Stillwater with an opera house of which any city might be proud. The formal opening took place on Wednesday, May 11th, 1881. Prior to the rolling up of the curtain, Hon. William M. McCluer came upon the stage and formally presented the house to the public in language substantially as follows:
"Ladies and Gentlemen: A dedication to the public use of any public building is a matter of interest to those to whom it is dedicated. Especially is this the case when it marks a step in its advance, and it becomes a pleasure to pay tribute to the influences which have brought the enterprise about. Through all history probably nothing has given us a clearer insight into the civilization of past ages than the temples which they have erected devoted to the amusement of the people. The Coliseum, even in ruins, testi- fied to the power and wealth of the Roman em- pire, and had all the marks of the ruder sports which prevailed, and which testified to the dis- regard of human life which existed. The more chaste and elaborate temple of Olympia was the evidence of the more refined civilization which prevailed at that time. Both of these magnifi-
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CITY OF STILLWATER-STATE PRISON.
cent buildings are the products of the arts in periods of the highest civilization, and the theater has ever been the object upon which the supremest efforts of architects, sculptors and painters have been bestowed. Shall we then say that these may work the debauchery of the people of this place for a moral and political desolation? I might say much more on this point than the time will permit by returning to the good old days. Must I say that the halcyon days of the theater have passed away? We no longer look to the state for the building of temples of amusement, and must rely upon the enterprise of private citizens, and it is not the least of our reasons for congre- gating to-night that we have persons who have been willing to lay at our feet the product of their wealth, taste and enterprise for our dedication. Perhaps no place has fostered from the earliest time all dramatic entertainments so much as ours. We may regard this as a verification of the proverb that 'as the twig is bent the tree will in- cline.' This is historically true, for it lives in tradition that when a strange craft came up the stream, which proved to be Jake Fisher's wagon, he tied it to a Norway stump, and attracted by the musical sounds of an Indian drummer, he espied the stately outline of an Indian tepee, to which he made his way. No box-office proved a barrier to his way, and the ushers, without checks, showed him to the reserved seats, and the scalp- dance went on. It is needless to say the enter- tainment was an unqualified success, and that he was invited to a dog-feast in the green-room at the close. Is it any wonder, then, that this public, led by the influence of its early settlers, should have a taste for the drama in all its forms?"
The speaker went on to recite that it was im- possible for him to give any history of the drama in Stillwater, but in a felicitous manner referred to the earlier times of amusement in the city, touching them with bits of humor and local hits that were greeted with applause and laughter by the audience. "But all these places have passed away," continued Mr. McCluer. "They have performed their part, and we have a more mag- nificent place for our amusement, and, I trust, for our improvement. I can only hope that those whose taste, liberality and enterprise have given us this beautiful place may never have occasion to regret their choice, and that its chaste beauty,
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