USA > Minnesota > Renville County > The history of Renville County, Minnesota, Volume II > Part 22
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Village of East Fairfax. A man whose name is given as Rudolph owned nearly all of the lots assessed in 1883. Those who had secured lots were: Iver Gunderson, lot 3, block 1; James H. Smith, lots 12 and 13, block 1; Albertine Sell, lot 12, block 3: Wm. Comme, lot 4, block 4; lot 27, block 4.
Toward spring in 1883, Charles Bird erected a store in Fairfax where the postoffice now stands, and lived overhead. He planned to open a saloon but gave up the project.
There were few children in Fairfax during the spring of 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Kipp had a son, Charles M. Mrs. Ellen O'Neil had three children, Frank, Nellie and Mary. Mr. and Mrs Charles Schutnick had a son, Edward. Mr. and Mrs. Tim- othy Caton had several children. This constituted the young life of the village that winter. Many of the pioneers were unmarried, and most of the families were living in the buildings which housed their business establishments.
The first physician in Fairfax was Dr. C. S. Knapp, who came in 1883, and opened a drug store on lot 13, block 3.
The first lawyer was Mr. Joy. who came in 1883.
The biggest fire in the history of Fairfax was that of Sept. 17, 1895, when the northeast corner of block 6 was wiped out, . taking the Methodist parsonage, the J. C. Fullerton mill and other structures.
Fairfax was incorporated in 1888. A petition was presented to the county board, praying for the incorporation, dated Nov. 21, 1887, and signed by M. D. Brown. Dr. II. E. Lucas, Luther Nichols. C. Hornberg, Horatio Werring, A. M. Londe, O. H. Jert- sen, B. S. Martin, A. Hinderman, J. W. Gruber. Andrew Nelson, Gustav Sell, Emil F. Sell, A. A. Grueke. N. D. Lorge, Johan Lorge, W. A. Burchfield. C. N. Hiekox, August Thiele, Louis Thiele, J. Hirsh, Frank Bregel, J. J. Pokock, L. McBride, Otto Lundquist, Ole H. Grassmoen, J. C. Brennesholtz, G. E. Clark, M. W. Welter, Charles Thomas, M. Classen, Albert Runge, W. H. Bird. Charles Lammers. Thomas Greer. Phillip Kipp. H. H. Hindermann, John Cretty, Alois Huskamp, Henry Hauser and W. Knapp. At that time the official population of the village was 192.
The petition was favorably acted upon by the commissioners Dee. 2, 1887, at Beaver Falls, and an election ordered held. The election was held accordingly on Jan. 5, 1888, at the office of Martin D. Brown, lot 4, block 2, in charge of Martin D. Brown, Horatio Werring and Frank Bregel, Brown and Bregel acting as judges and Werring as clerk. It was duly decided to incorporate, but through some curious oversight the vote is not given in the village records.
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The first election of officers was held at the office of Mr. Brown Jan. 18, 1888, and resulted as follows: President, M. D. Brown; councilmen, Alois Huskamp, M. W. Welter, and J. C. Fullerton ; treasurer. Henry Hauser : recorder, Horatio Werring; justices of the peaee, Phillip Kipp and Thomas Greer; constable, Louis Thiele. Fifty-seven votes were cast.
The first meeting of the council was held Jan. 19, 1888. Oaths of office were administered and the bonds of the various officers accepted. No further business was transaeted.
The present officers of the village are as follows: President, C. W. Heimann : council. E. H. Brown, II. F. Diekmeyer. J. C. Grams; recorder, A. E. Carver; treasurer, H. E. Grasmon; jus- tiees, J. F. Russell, M. D. Brown ; assessor, John Meyer: village attorney, Frank Il. Hopkins; constable, Frank Pullen; marshal, Frank Willett : chairman of the board of health, Dr. G. II. Walker.
A water supply for fire protection was first considered Jan. 15, 1888, when the couneil determined to ereet a tank in the alley in the middle of block 2. John Donahue dug the cistern, Andrew Hinderman built the shed, and Hinderman & Shipplach set up the tank. A small hand engine, or force pump, was provided for getting the water from the well.
The next move toward fire protection was made by the council April 19, 1889, when it was determined to lease a well from Dodge Brothers, in the rear of lots 10 and 11, block 3. A wind- mill was erected soon after by the Phillips Well & Windmill Co. There was also a hand pump for use when the windmill failed.
As early as April 19, 1889, the council recognized the organiza- tion of the Fairfax Engine and Hose Company.
The first fire engine for use by the village of Fairfax was or- dered by the city council April 12, 1890, the eost being $1,700. On the same date a committee, consisting of Luther Nichols, Phil- lip Kipp and Charles Lammers was appointed to go to New Ulm to investigate the proposition of village cisterns. A shelter for the engine was erected on the railroad right of way, on the south side of Second avenue, and south of the alley which divides block 2. The present engine house occupies the same site. May 6, 1890, two bills from Henry Hlinshen for constructing two 500-gallon cisterns were accepted. June 2, of the same year, it was voted to dig a ditch from the old Dodge Bros.' well to one of the cis- terns. These cisterns were located where First and Second streets cross First avenue.
July 1, 1890, after the engine had been purchased, a staff was appointed as follows: Engineer, Fred Chambard, first assist- ant, L. MeBridge; second assistant, George W. Chambard; third assistant, John Calland. Albert Hornberg was appointed chief of the fire department. The department, however. at that time
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had not been organized, Mr. Hornberg in reality being chief of the hose company.
May 5, 1891, this organization was abolished, the village voted to purchase considerable fire apparatus, and the Fairfax Fire Department was regularly organized as follows: Chief engineer, Fred Chambard : assistants, G. W. Chambard and L. MeBride; hosemen, A. Hornberg (chief), John Cretty, C. Lammers, E. F. Sell, W. B. Dodge, B. Marty, Peter Springer, Joseph Kelfgen, W. A. Burehfield and Luther Nichols.
The department now has thirty members. The officers are: Vincent Drexler; assistant, L. L. Palmer; treasurer, J. C. Ful- lerton ; secretary, H. E. Grasmon.
At a special election hell March 9, 1897, the voters decided in favor of issuing certificates of indebtedness to the amount of $4,000. The council took the necessary steps and the bonds were issned. The purpose of the issue was to pay for the fire engine and to purchase other apparatus.
On Dec. 4. 1897, it was voted to buy a 300-pound fire bell.
A waterworks system was first publicly advocated at a mass meeting held at the schoolhouse April 11, 1892. April 12. 1892, Carson & Greer were given the contract of digging a well on or near the railroad right of way, southeast of lot 8, block 1. June 21. 1892. the conneil, then consisting of Luther Nichols, president ; W. A. Burchfield!, John Cretty and Henry Hauser (Thomas Greer being the recorder). let a contract to IL. Il. Harrison & Co. for constructing a system of waterworks for $4,068. The mass meet- ing held had seemed favorable to the project, but there had been no vote of the citizens authorizing such an act on the part of the council. Work on this contract was started at once. The system with trifling exceptions was accepted Aug. 31. 1892.
As the next move in the waterworks situation an entirely new board was elected in 1893, consisting of Paul Albrecht, presi- dent, Phillip Kipp. Wenzel Frank and Antone Altman.
This board on July 8, 1893. passed a resolution repudiating the work done by H. HI. Harrison & Co .. disavowing any obligation or debt on the part of the village toward that company, and ordering the company to remove the watermains, windmill, and the like, already erected.
This system consisted of a windmill and tank at the old village well, and three blocks of watermains The matter was taken into court and the village won its contention.
.Inly 12. 1894. a special election was held to decide the ques- tion of issuing $4,500 in bonds to buy the waterworks from the Harrison Company. In the meantime Harrison had placed his price at $5,200, and had received village orders, later repudiated, for $5,043. He now offered to compromise for $4.000. The re- sult of the election July 12, 1894. is not recorded in the village
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minutes. but the decision of the voters was unfavorable to the project.
April 6, 1895, the village conneil decided to purchase lots 12, 13 and 14. in block 5, south of the railroad tracks, for village pur- poses.
At the same meeting it was decided to build two cisterns for the village, of 500 barrels capacity each. One was to be on block 5. on the village property, and the other in the street opposite J. P. Mondloh's in Brown's addition.
A special election was held July 30, 1895, and the citizens again voted on the question of issuing bonds to the amount of $4.500 for the purchase of waterworks. The proposition carried by a vote of 63 to 20, four other votes being spoiled.
Efforts were at once made to issue the bonds. Oet. 2, 1895, the waterworks were accepted from H. H. Harrison & Co., the purchase price being $5,500, a sum considerably in excess of Harrison's previous offer. The bonds were not sold and were read- vertised. A vote was passed JJan. 7, 1896. in which the council reaffirmed the acceptance of the waterworks.
June 8, 1896, it was reported that the village had been unable to sell the bonds. It was, therefore, decided to pay the company $1,000 at once, $1,000 on April 1, 1897, on April 1, 1898, on April 1, 1899, and $700 on April 1, 1900, $4,700 in all, the village to re- ceive the orders issued Aug. 23, 1892, amounting to $5.043.
In the fall of 1896 a tubular well was put in by Palmer & Diekmeyer. On the same date it was decided to buy a gasoline engine, and extend the mains, and erect a pump house, the con- traet being awarded to O'Hara, Diekmeyer, Dieter and Palmer.
The work was accepted Feb. 15. 1897. The well and pump house were located on the village property. where the present plant is situated east of the village hall. The water was pumped through mains to the tank southeast of block 1.
At a special election held in August, 1897, it was voted to issue $4,000 bonds to extend the waterworks. The bonds were issued and sold to Cliff W. Gress.
The proposition of erecting a new tower and water tank came before the people at a special election March 11, 1902. Bonds were to be issued to the amount of $3,000. The proposition was defeated, 45 voting in its favor, and 82 against it.
The old water tank. southeast of block 1, was eondemned July 18. 1907.
Again the question of a new water tower came before the voters Aug. 27. 1907, the proposition being to issue bonds of $8,000 for the purpose. The proposition was favorably acted upon by a vote of 32 to 16. Bonds of $12,000 were issued, the extra $4,000 being for the purpose of refunding the bonds of 1897.
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The tower and tank were erected on the present site, in the spring of 1908 by J. F. Johnson, some trifling details, however, remaining unfinished for over a year.
The original lock-up was erected in 1888, the contraet being awarded April 16, 1888, to Henry Hauser at $174. It was located on the railroad right of way, across Second avenue from lot 15, bloek 2.
Theodore Edwin was burned to death in this lockup in the fall of 1897. He had been arrested for intoxication and had been put in the lockup withont being searched. In some way he man- aged to set fire to himself and to the building, in the front part of which were stored many inflammable substances belonging to the village. After some delay the young man was taken from the building but life had already departed.
The first street lights seem to have been installed in Fairfax in 1891. For some years oil was used. Later gasoline furnished the fuel.
For many years the proposition to ereet a village hall and electric light plant had a history in common.
March 10, 1903, at a regular election, the voters by a vote of 98 to 68 declared themselves in favor of bonding the village to the amount of $20,000 for the erection of a city hall and the installation of an electric light system.
The action of the voters was reseinded by the council, April 18. 1903, and a special election of the voters held May 5, 1903, to consider the two propositions separately. At the election in question the two propositions were defeated. The electric light proposition received 87 ballots and only 68 ballots were cast against it, but the majority was not great enough. The proposi- tion to build a village hall was defeated by a vote of 84 favorable votes and 70 opposing votes. The proposition has involved the issuing of bonds of $8,000 for the electric light plant, and of $12,- 000 for the village hall. A two-thirds vote was necessary to carry the proposition.
At the regular elcetion held Mareh 8, 1904, the proposition to bond the village to the amount of $10,000 to build a village hall was considered. The vote was 83 for and 74 against and the proposition was rejected.
The voters also considered the question of separating the vil- lage from the township. Only 38 favored it, while 75 negative votes were cast.
Feb. 18, 1905, a number of voters presented to the eouneil a petition asking that bonds of $7,000 be issued to erect a city hall and engine house. The council rejected the petition.
Feb. 13, 1906, at a special election, by a vote of 90 to 7, it was at last decided to issue bonds to the amount of $6,000 for village hall purposes.
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The old schoolhouse was purchased March 5, 1906, was moved to the site of the village property, and was extensively repaired and renovated. This is the present village hall, a sightly strue- ture, amply adapted to its various needs.
The village hall was formally opened on Tuesday, May 28, 1907, by a dramatic production. "A Noble Outcast," given by the Fairfax Dramatie Club, the cast ineluding A. M. Wallace, . Philip V. Ploof. Ben. Mamer, Attalus Madden, Alma Grasmoen (Mrs. Carsten O. Broughton), Lizzie Frank and Mrs. Jessie Paul. The entertainment was for the benefit of the high school piano fund. The next night East Lyn was given by the same cast. The scenery for the hall was selected by the Dramatic elub, and for several seasons the club continued to give theatrical enter- tainments in the new hall.
The village hall question settled, the electric light question continued to agitate the minds of the people. At a special elec- tion held Feb. 8, 1910, by a vote of 98 for to 25 against. the voters decided to issue $5,000 bonds for the purpose. Ang. 17. 1910, a contract was let to the Western Electric Co. for installing poles, wires, and the like. and on Sept. 15, 1910, a contraet was made with the Crescent Milling Co. for furnishing the power.
The electric light eurrent was turned on for the first time Wednesday evening, Dee. 7, 1910. This was for residence and business use. The street lights were turned on the next evening. For a year and a half, however, there was considerable difficulty in furnishing continuous service, and during that time the com- pany received no pay for the enrreut.
The proposition of establishing a village park on an available site in the part of the village known as Brooklyn came before the voters March 10, 1914, and was defeated. Out of 204 votes east for officers only 180 were east on the park question. Of these only thirty-seven favored it, no less than 133 being against it.
Telephone service in Fairfax is furnished by the Fairfax Tele- phone Co. The officers are: President, William Diekmeyer : vice president, Paul Albrecht ; secretary and treasurer, H. G. Lam- mers ; manager. A. E. Fenske. The Renville Rural Telephone Co. also centers here and uses the same exchange. Long distance service is furnished by the Tri-State and the Northwestern. The Fairfax company succeeded the Minnesota Central Telephone Co., and obtained a franchise March 5, 1906.
Oet. 7, 1897, permission was given to the Western Minnesota Telephone Co. to erect poles in the village for the purpose of opening an office and transaeting long-distance telephone bnsi- ness. The eity was to have free use of the wires for city business.
Nov. 2. 1897, the Sibley County Telephone Exchange Co. was granted the privilege of setting its poles and stringing its wires in the village.
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A franchise for a local telephone system was granted to Con- rad H. Davis, May 18, 1900.
The Tri-State Telephone and Telegraph Co. was given a fran- chise June 26, 1905.
For a long period during its early history the village of Fair- fax was rent with dissentions caused by the rivalry between the West street (First street) and the East street (Second street). Grady's store, the first in the village, had been built on the West street. The Posen & Anderson store had been built on the East street. As other business houses were erected along the two streets the rivalry became intense. In time the proposition re- solved itself into two districts, the East street people led by Luther Nichols and the West street people by Horatio Werring. The bitterness was intense. Every proposition considered was considered in the light of its effeet on the two factions. When any publie improvement was advocated by one faction the other faction opposed it, whatever its merits. So keen was the rivalry that on one occasion two separate Fourth of July celebrations were held on the same day, each faction having its own celebration. The growth of the village was thus somewhat retarded. But of late years better counsel has prevailed and the village is now at har- mony.
Two efforts have been made to include East Fairfax, some- times called "lloboken," within the limits of Fairfax. The first time the people of East Fairfax themselves desired to come into the village. They were championed by Luther Nicholas and others who favored the elaims of the East street (Second street) to business supremacy. The people of the West street (First street) and their friends opposed the admission of East Fairfax. The opposition was led by Horatio Werring and E. F. Sell. When the vote was taken, it was found that the proposed annexation had failed to carry.
Later the proposition was again broached. This time the peo- ple of the West street desired the annexation, and the people of East Fairfax themselves opposed the proposition. They were upheld by their friends of the East street, and once again the annexation project failed.
The story of the drainage of Fairfax and vicinity is a most interesting one. In the earliest days several small ditches were dug both by individuals who wished to drain their own lots and also by the village. The first venture of any magnitude was that of the Rev. Father Peter Rosen. He conceived the idea of eon- strueting a diteh by voluntary work. The ditch was to extend along the side of the road south of the village. The people rat- lied to the proposition and considerable work was done but through lack of the services of an expert engineer the project so nobly eoneeived failed of its objeet.
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The next attempt at drainage on an extensive scale resulted in a county ditch emptying into Maxwell creek. The engineer was E. A. Deiter. This ditch carried off a part of the surface water but only in a measure accomplished its real object. A few years later this diteh was cleaned out and in some places deep- ened, thus furnishing a fair surface drainage.
lut 1915, on petition, a new tiled diteh was constructed at a cost of some $15,000, a larger part of which was met by the bene- fited land owners. The new diteh follows practically the line of the old diteh until within some three miles of the old outlet, at which point it swerves, and empties into Mud Lake creek, for- merly known to history as the Little Rock creek. This new ditch furnishes adequate drainage and will serve its purpose for many years to come.
A recent summary of Fairfax activities and advantages con- tains the following items: One jitney, one livery. one bakery, two hotels, one produce, three banks, two tinshops, one creamery, one gun elub, one pool hall, cigar factory four churches. village council, one auctioneer, two orchestras, one drug store, one stoek yard, one wood yard, one tailor shop, two ice dealers, a business block, one pop factory, insurance agents, one public school, one citizens' band, one harness shop, one water tower, two wagon shops, two section crews, three oil stations, expert electrician, two barber shops, one juvenile band, one bowling alley, real estate agents, two buteher shops, two picture shows, two lumber yards, one land company, one cement works, two jewelry stores. seven auto dealers, one printing office, four general stores, electric light plant, several dressmakers, M. & St. L. Railroad, four grain ele- vators, one commercial club, village water works, two parochial schools, two millinery parlors, two implement stores, two hard- ware stores, two shoe repair shops, three blacksmith shops, Chan- tanqua in summer, one little German band, one telephone ex- change, two motorcycle garages, two antomobile garages, one well drilling outfit, two photograph galleries, shade trees in abun- dance, one clothing and shoe store. one substantial stone jail, hunt- ers and hunting dogs, elever amateur performers, competent vil- lage marshal, church societies and lodges, one dray and transfer line, several beautiful boulevards, several dealers in live stock, one musie and stationery store, several miles of eement walk, lyceum course, fall and winter; one ball park and grand stand : village hall, 500 seating capacity : 1,050 progressive and soeiable people ; one depot, day and night agents ; one fire department, well equipped ; three confectionery stores and restaurants : good graveled roads leading into village ; one 600-barrel mill, running night and day ; several architects, contractors and builders; in- structors in voeal and instrumental insie ; many beautiful homes and well kept lawns; two good village wells, with motor attach-
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ment; local and rural telephone company; one postoffice, post- master, lady assistant, four rural carriers; two baseball teams, basket ball teams, tennis clubs and other athletics; market for grain, poultry, live stock and every other produce from the farm; Western Union Telegraph and Northwestern and Tri-State long- distance telephone connections ; two physicians and surgeons, two dentists, two attorneys-at-law, one veterinary.
Fairfax is surrounded by a thrifty and prosperous farming community. Some of the farmers are able capitalists, and are financially interested in Fairfax banking, manufacturing and other enterprises. Some of the most beautiful homes to be found anywhere are on the neighboring farms.
The Fairfax Commercial Club is a flourishing organization and has done much for the progress and betterment of the vil- lage. It fathered the project to carry the water mains to the stock yards, thus furnishing to the stock an abundant supply of fresh water. It encouraged the creamery project, approached the railroad company on the question of a site, and paid for mov- ing away of the building which previously stood on the site. It was also prominent in the securing of the county diteh which has so materially improved the land in this vicinity. Perhaps one of its most important ideals has been the fostering of the Ft. Ridgely Park proposition. In these and many other ways the elub has stood for the advancement of the village and its inter- ests, and at the present time has many other projects under ad- visement.
The club was originated early in May, 1913, when an informal meeting was held at the village hall to consider the question of a regular commercial organization. At that time a village park was under consideration, and other matters of importance to the busi- ness men of the village were being considered to the extent that an organization seemed advisable.
May 16, 1913, a meeting was held with C. W. Heiman in the chair, and various sites for a possible park were informally dis- cussed. A. E. Carver acted as clerk of the meeting. Those present at the meeting were H. E. Grasmon, Philip V. Ploof. J. F. Russell. Rev. Jacob Berger, Rev. J. J. Goergen. Rev. Im. F. Albrecht, William Bregel, Dr. A. M. Crandall, B. J. Schramm, A. S. Black. C. Bartelson, A. Rund, Emil Enger. H. Hulskampf, Frank Willett. C. C. Knudson, B. Bauermiester, L. L. Palmer, JJohn Iago, C. H. Hopkins. B. M. Weisberg, S. H. Gumpolen, L. Pullen, Charles Lammers, O. H. Grasmoen, J. C. Fullerton, A. E. Fenske, William Pullen, E. W. Wigley. F. H. Hopkins, C. W. Heimann and A. E. Carver.
The election of officers was held .Inne 2, 1913, and resulted as follows: President, Frank HI. Hopkins; vice president. S. H. Gumpolen ; secretary and treasurer, Philip V. Ploof: steward.
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Frank Willett. Those present were A. E. Carver, P. V. Ploof, Rev. Im. F. Albrecht, Rev. J. J. Goergen. E. H. Brown, A. E. Fenske. B. M. Weisberg, L. L. Palmer. S. Il. Gumpolen, I. E. Grasmon. Frank Willett, Ed. W. Wigley, Henry Huelskamp, E. O. Enger. W. Il. Pullen. Frank II. Hopkins. C. H. Hopkins, L. P. Pullen.
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