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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-09-08 PACKET 08.A.=y1'- HISTORICAL WHISPERINGS Washington Countyi5l' Historical Society Volume 42 Issue 2 Washington County, Minnesota July 2015 The First Battle Over a St. Croix River Crossing—in 1871! By Robert Goodman The 45 -year struggle to locate and build a new highway bridge at Stillwater is at last over and has ended peacefully. The first contention over a bridge on the St. Croix, which took place in 1871, ended peacefully only after a brief "naval war' between lumbering and railroad interests. The story begins when the fust railroad to reach Stillwa- ter was formally opened on December 29, 1870. This railroad was the Stillwater & St. Paul (S&SP), which went to White Bear Lake, not St. Paul. There it joined the Lake Superior & Mississippi Railroad (LS&M), which connected St. Paul and Duluth. The LS&M was controlled by the Philadelphia in- vestment banker Jay Cooke; as were the S&SP branch to Stillwater, the Northern Pacific Railroad then building west from Duluthandport facilities in Duluth. A rail connection between White Bear junction and Minneapolis was under con- struction. At 10:00 a.m. on December 29 an excursion train to Stillwater filled with 300 guests of that city pulled out of St. Paul. The multitude gathered at Stillwater's Concert Hall for a pre -lunch speechification. F. H. Clark, Cooke's man at the LS&M, took the podium. He announced that an elevator of 120,000 bushel capacity would be built on the Stillwater wa- terfront. He expected that a good share of the Minnesota wheat trade would be sent into Stillwater by barge, out by rail to Du- luth, and on through the Great Lakes by ship. In This Issue ... . we learn about an early conflict over a St. Croix River bridge and hear about WCHS's exciting purchase of the his- toric Boutwell farm ... plus, news of the organization. Executive Directors Report p. 2 Summer Museum Events p. 3 Museum Events Report P. 6 Calendar of history events P. 9 Historic Boutwell house P. 10 The Stillwater & St. Patti Raib�oad eistered Stillwater from the north in 1870. Because there was little room between the saw mills and the cliffs, the tracks were built out into the lake. They ended just south of the company's elevator (top left) which un- loaded grain from barges and into rail ears.for shipment. Clark went on to urge Stillwater to not be satisfied with only one railroad. The West Wisconsin Railroad was building toward the St. Croix. The West Wisconsin met the Chicago Northwestern Railroad near Tomah, Wisconsin. When the line reached the St. Croix, the two rails together made a straight line to the great commercial hub of Chicago. The point where it met and crossed the St. Croix was not yet established. How- ever, if it crossed at Stillwater the route would go through White Bear to Minneapolis and Duluth, bypassing St. Paul. Also bypassing St. Paul would be wheat going into the mills of Minneapolis and the flour—some 600 barrels a day— going out. The St. Paul people had not expected this when they made over the rights to the Stillwater branch. They were visi- bly unhappy. Governor Austin sent a message urging them "to kiss and make up." BATTLE—C©NPINUEU ON PAGE Q. Karlene McComb Director Angie Noyes From the Executive Director Board & Staff Director Washington County It has been an exciting time around here these past few months. The Washington County Historical Society Historical Society stepped in and saved the Rev. Win. T. Boutwell House — a significant historic site in Washington County and Minnesota — from destruction. It is our goal to get the house and property back to the level of significance it deserves and to attempt to have Board it listed on the National Register of Historic Places. David Lindsey President Doing all this will take time, effort and money. You, as members of the Washington Scott Foss Vice President County Historical Society will be receiving a letter requesting financial help for the pro - Joe Otte Recording Secretary ject. We hope you will be able to help. Tom Simonet Treasurer In other news, the summer interns have started and have fit right in to the flow of the Myron Anderson Director organization. We have some very excellent college students working for us — come visit Ryan Collins Director the museums to say "Hi." And be sure to check out our new histagram page at insta- gram.com/welrsmn where the interns will be posting and sharing images from our massive Holly Fitzenberger Director photograph collection! Karlene McComb Director Angie Noyes Director Becky Pung Director Jeff Rankin Director Staff Brent Peterson Executive Director Sean Pallas Warden's House Manager Dustyn Dubuque Hay Lake Museum Manager Chairs Robert Goodman Endowment Fund Chair Nancy Goodman Newsletter Editor Historical Whisperings is published quarterly by the Washington County Historical Society, PO Box 167, Stillwater, MN55082-0167. Website. www.wchsmn.org Phone. 651-439-5956. For information about stories and newsletter articles, contact editor@wehsmn.org For information about events and collections, contact infoi-mation@wchsmn.org To book museum tour contact spallas.wchs@gmail.coni or phone 651-439-5956 2 HISTORICAL WHISPERINGS In June we had the 8th Annual Hay Lake School Beer Tasting. With 14 breweries and the Scandia-Marine Lions Club food wagon, it was an excellent event. Thank you to all the volunteers that helped to make it a success! There is a full schedule of events at both the Warden's House and the Hay Lake School Museums. Check page 3 and the calendar on page 9 for dates and times. We hope to see you at one of them this summer. We hope you'll play an active role in YOUR Historical Society! Contact me, one of the site managers or one of your board of directors if you have any suggestions or com- ments or would like to volunteer. Thank you all for helping make WCHS the best county historical society in the state of Minnesota!! BrentT. Peterson WCHS Executive Director News of WCHS ... Hay Lake Museum Is on the Barn Quilt Trail. The Johannes Erickson Log House at the WCHS Hay Lake Museum is now a part of the Wash- ington County Barn Quilt Trail that winds through the beautiful communities of Scandia, Marine on St. Croix, and the Town of May. On the 16 -mile trail, painted quilt designs can be found on several barns and at two muse- ums: Gammelgarden and Hay Lake. Shown at right are Barn Quilt Trail enthusi- ast, 12 -year-old Olivia Nienaber (center front), and family members. These volunteers created the "Peace and Plenty" quilt design now gracing the Log House. Barn quilts are typically 8 -by -8 - feet or 4 -by -4 -feet wooden squares painted to resemble quilt blocks. Fiend out more at http://www.washington countybamquilttrail.com/ Summer Events at the Summer Events at the Hay Warden's House Museum Lake School Museum Save the Date! Accacia Masonic Lodge 1501h Anniversary Presentation Sunday, July 26, 2015 - 2-3 PM Join Grand Lodge District Representa- tive Greg Guffey as he delves into Min- nesota's Masonic history to commemo- rate the sesquicentennial of the Accacia Lodge in Cottage Grove. Outhouse Archeology Sunday, August 16, 2015 -2-3 PM Mark Youngblood will share his unique style of unearthing history. A century ago, folks used their outhouses as gar- bage dumps - but what was trash 100 years ago is sometimes today's historic artifacts. Four Lights and a Ring: Profes- sional Wrestling in Minnesota Sunday, Sep. 13, 2015 - 2-3 PM Join former American Wrestling Asso- ciation (AWA) color commentator and current promoter of Twin Cities based Steel Domain Wrestling (SDW) Mick Karch and George Schire, author of Minnesota's Golden Age of Wrestling, as they discuss the history of profes- sional wrestling in Minnesota. Whether you are a current wrestling fan or re- member it as a kid, you'll enjoy these stories of the era. Note: All museum events listed on this page are free and open to the public! Learn More About WCHS! Visit our website: www.wchsmn.org and find us on social media — search "Washington County Historical Socie- ty" on Facebook, and check twit- ter.com/WCHSMN. New! Explore the visual history of Washington County with our interns on instagram.comNVCHSMN See you at the WCHS booth in Build- ing C at the Washington County Fair July 29—Aug.2. Local Boys in the Civil War Sunday, July 19, 2015 - 2-3 PM Bob Goodman, co-author of In Their Own Words. The Civil War As Seen by Washington County Soldiers, will talk about the men from the county who were there 150 years ago. Bob's book will be available for signing. 1 Teacher, 1 Room, 8 Grades Celebrating One Room Schools Sunday, Aug. 23, 2015 -12-3 PM Stop in to the Hay Lake School to enjoy a day of reminiscing and learning. We will be offering FREE tours of the museum staring at noon, plus school activities for kids and adults, and old- fashioned games. At 2 PM gather to hear Susan Apps- Bodilly chronicle what it was like to attend school in the one -room country schools. She will detail the experiences of the students, the role of the teacher, and give examples of the curriculum. She will also be signing copies of her book Stories from the One Room School: I Teacher, I Room, 8 Grades. WCHS Fall Meeting Will Be Thursday, Sept. 24! Make a date now to hear Denis Gard- ner, of the State Historic Preservation Office, Minnesota Historical Society, discuss "The Bridges of Washington County" at the WCHS Fall Dinner Meeting on Sept. 24, 2015. The event will be held at the Lowell Inn Banquet Center, 102 N. Second St., Stillwater (there is a parking ramp attached to the center). Gardner is the author of Wood, Concrete, Stone and Steel: Minne- sota's Historic Bridges, and Minnesota Treasures: Stories Behind the State's Historic Places. For more information, check www.wchsmn.org Photographing Hay Lake School Sunday, Sep. 27, 2015 - 2-3 PM Join Marilyn Rau and a local photog- raphy group as they explain modern photography techniques, including the techniques they used while photograph- ing the Hay Lake School. Feel free to take your own photos of the museum! The Full Story of the 45 -year Struggle to Build a New St. Croix River Bridge Is Now in Print. Minnesota historian Don Empson and his wife Kathleen Vadnais have pro- duced a new book on the long process that was required to build a new bridge across the St. Croix River at Stillwater and to preserve the existing Stillwater Lift Bridge. The book, entitled Crossing the St. Croix River: The 45 year strug- gle to build a new Stillwater Bridge and save the historic Lift Bridge, is availa- ble from Donald Empson, 1206 Sec- ond St. N., Stillwater, MN 55082 for $25 plus $5 for postage and handling. For more information email <past- writer@gmail.com> or check https://sites.google.com/site/ emp- sonsite Don Empson and wife Kathleen Vadnais are Stillwater historians who were en- gaged in the Stillwater bridge issue from the 1990s. BATTLE—Continued.firom page I A Tale of Two Cities It started back in 1857. Congress had passed a bill giving the Territory of Minnesota a huge grant of public lands to sup- port the construction of several railroads. The bill specified the routes of the railroads, one of which began at Stillwater, ran through St. Paul, and branched to the southwest and the north- west. Selecting the companies that would build the railroads was left to the Territorial Legislature. After a battle among prospective railroad magnates, the Stillwater line was awarded to the Minnesota & Pacific Railroad, controlled in St. Paul. The land grant allowed the railroad some 110;000 acres as an incentive to build the section from St. Paul to Stillwater, a grant worth perhaps $7 an acre at 1870 prices. This was not enough incentive for the St. Paul folks, who by 1870 had built their two western branches as far as Sauk Rapids and Benson, with not a shovelful of dirt turned over on the Stillwater sec- tion. In 1867 the Stillwater men got tired of waiting. Moving rapidly, they incorporated in January 1867, negotiated a trans- The 1874 Andreas Atlas clearly shows Stillwater Junction, where the branch line of the St. Paul, Stillwater & Taylors Falls diverged to meet the West Wisconsin at the bridge. Jay Cooke's St Paul & Stillwater RR enters Stillwater from the north. This map predates the Stillwater Street Railway & Transfer Co. lay- ing track to connect the northern and southern lines. 4 HISTORICAL WHISPERINGS Per of the rights to the Stillwater & St. Paul from the St. Paul company. The state legislature confirmed the transfer in March. Building a branch line to Stillwater was agreeable to St. Paul, but building the whole line wasn't. One month after the last rail was laid on the S&SP, two of Cooke's men went to Governor Austin's office to collect a deed for 100 sections (64,000 acres) of land. There on January 30 they found three leaders of the St. Paul bar opposing the transaction, on the grounds that White Bear Lake was not St. Paul. The Stillwater folks had on their side a law which appeared to give them rights to the grant as soon as they either went direct to St. Paul, or connected with another line that did so. St. Paul saw a plot to bypass their town got up by Minneapolis, Stillwater and Jay Cooke. Dr. Foster of the Duluth Minnesotian saw a counter -plot to steal back all or a part of the land grant. A New Railroad Enters the Fray The theft would benefit a new St. Paul contender. The St. Paul, Stillwater & Taylors Falls (SPS&TF) had been incorpo- rated in December 1869 to build from Taylors Falls to St. Paul by way of Marine and Stillwater, with a branch to Hudson. Given the terrain, it was an ambitious project but not yet begun in December of 1870. Some cynics thought Taylors Falls was named as a terminal only to gain the legislative support from that quarter, and the real objective was a junction with the West Wisconsin at Hudson Three Stillwater emissaries—town founder John McKusick, real estate man H. R. Murdock and ex -state senator J. N. Castle—hurried to the New York offices of the West Wisconsin and in early February 1871 returned bearing an agreement to build the West Wisconsin direct to a crossing at Stillwater. It was understood that the bridge would cross north of the city, near the Schulenburg sawmill, so as to not disrupt navigation for large steamers and log rafts. Stillwater offered a resolution to contribute a $25,000 bonus to the bridge fund. But on February 24 the Wisconsin legislature passed bills fixing the crossing at Hudson, and prohibiting the West Wis- consin from merging or being taken over by another road. The first was a matter of protecting local interests; the second sup- posed to be influenced by St. Paul and Chicago interests, both coveting the West Wisconsin, but afraid of being outbid by Jay Cooke. On March 15 the legislature went on to specifically authorize a bridge at Hudson "not to obstruct navigation," and permitting the West Wisconsin to buy out any Minnesota rail- way that might connect with them at or near their bridge. Back in Minnesota a compromise bill passed awarding the land grant for twelve miles of road to the S&SP railroad with, the rest going to the SPS&TF company. The Stillwater people were not happy. Local newspapers thought the whole business was certainly immoral and likely unconstitutional —yet the two railroads went on building toward the despised Hudson. A 91Af --- M GM IIS sou, s 4-_ V l lI O Illb u.,•, .tp,� . _ bill"( L, LL♦i�Jl �� I 1 I � R � ' E'ASS LGNC STA. ]/7�rr4A���' J "'i ❑I k , II'd Nut I I;, .a _I /f.Dre]n l Nb� LANELANn 1C � ' I• .I .......... , l r, i;el The 1874 Andreas Atlas clearly shows Stillwater Junction, where the branch line of the St. Paul, Stillwater & Taylors Falls diverged to meet the West Wisconsin at the bridge. Jay Cooke's St Paul & Stillwater RR enters Stillwater from the north. This map predates the Stillwater Street Railway & Transfer Co. lay- ing track to connect the northern and southern lines. 4 HISTORICAL WHISPERINGS Per of the rights to the Stillwater & St. Paul from the St. Paul company. The state legislature confirmed the transfer in March. Building a branch line to Stillwater was agreeable to St. Paul, but building the whole line wasn't. One month after the last rail was laid on the S&SP, two of Cooke's men went to Governor Austin's office to collect a deed for 100 sections (64,000 acres) of land. There on January 30 they found three leaders of the St. Paul bar opposing the transaction, on the grounds that White Bear Lake was not St. Paul. The Stillwater folks had on their side a law which appeared to give them rights to the grant as soon as they either went direct to St. Paul, or connected with another line that did so. St. Paul saw a plot to bypass their town got up by Minneapolis, Stillwater and Jay Cooke. Dr. Foster of the Duluth Minnesotian saw a counter -plot to steal back all or a part of the land grant. A New Railroad Enters the Fray The theft would benefit a new St. Paul contender. The St. Paul, Stillwater & Taylors Falls (SPS&TF) had been incorpo- rated in December 1869 to build from Taylors Falls to St. Paul by way of Marine and Stillwater, with a branch to Hudson. Given the terrain, it was an ambitious project but not yet begun in December of 1870. Some cynics thought Taylors Falls was named as a terminal only to gain the legislative support from that quarter, and the real objective was a junction with the West Wisconsin at Hudson Three Stillwater emissaries—town founder John McKusick, real estate man H. R. Murdock and ex -state senator J. N. Castle—hurried to the New York offices of the West Wisconsin and in early February 1871 returned bearing an agreement to build the West Wisconsin direct to a crossing at Stillwater. It was understood that the bridge would cross north of the city, near the Schulenburg sawmill, so as to not disrupt navigation for large steamers and log rafts. Stillwater offered a resolution to contribute a $25,000 bonus to the bridge fund. But on February 24 the Wisconsin legislature passed bills fixing the crossing at Hudson, and prohibiting the West Wis- consin from merging or being taken over by another road. The first was a matter of protecting local interests; the second sup- posed to be influenced by St. Paul and Chicago interests, both coveting the West Wisconsin, but afraid of being outbid by Jay Cooke. On March 15 the legislature went on to specifically authorize a bridge at Hudson "not to obstruct navigation," and permitting the West Wisconsin to buy out any Minnesota rail- way that might connect with them at or near their bridge. Back in Minnesota a compromise bill passed awarding the land grant for twelve miles of road to the S&SP railroad with, the rest going to the SPS&TF company. The Stillwater people were not happy. Local newspapers thought the whole business was certainly immoral and likely unconstitutional —yet the two railroads went on building toward the despised Hudson. A Minnesota law was passed in March that authorized the West Wisconsin to bridge the St. Croix at Stillwater. Since a railroad bridge south of Stillwater's city limits was prohibited, a Stillwater lumberman got an injunction against the West Wisconsin bridge builders, C. C. and E. G. Smith of La Crosse, Wisconsin. The Battle of the Piles Stillwater had the law on its side; the bridge builders had their crew and their steal poised to begin construction. Both sides lawyered up. On Monday, July 3, 1871, the Washington County sheriff served the injunction forbidding further work by the pile driving crew, who promised to desist while the sides met. While talks were underway, however, the bridge crew acted, and soon the gap between their pilings in the main channel was less than 100 feet, too narrow to take even a small St. Croix raft 120 feet wide. This was done, said the Stillwater Messenger, solely to injure and spite the lumbermen. Close to the Wisconsin shore the bridge builders had left a wider gap. When the Stillwater steamer Wyman X with one barge tried it, she promptly ran aground. Through most of the gap there were only six inches of water over the Willow River sandbar. Hudsonites jeered and booted. Meanwhile, 30 million feet of logs and lumber made up into rafts lay unable to move down the lake. This was too much for Stillwater rafters, who "took the necessary steps to clear the channel of these obstructions" (ac- cording to the Stillwater Gazette). On July 7 a "riotous mob of lumbermen" (said the St. Paul papers) swooped down in sever- al steamboats. The pile drivers desisted, and the "mob" used the steamboats to pull out the obstruction. Printed in The History of Washington County and the St. Croix Valley, by Warner and Foote, is what is said to be a ver- batim account of the action: "Atfive minutes past ten a. m. the attack was commenced. A great hawser was uncoiledfrom the deck of one of the steamers. Several gallant, but slightly excited, men fastened it to one of the piles. The commander commanded, the bells rung, the engines moved, the wheels revolved, the hawser slipped off, and Hudson whooped with joy... . The hawser was again fastened, the command given and this time the steamer was victorious. The pile was drawn and fi-om up river went a yell of delight .... Throughout the day eighty piles were drawn. " Stillwater applauded the act — "A Nuisance Abated," shouted the headlines in the Messenger July 14 — and denied that the sober and orderly upholders of free navigation were a mob. The bridge contractors claimed they could drive piles faster than the opposition could pull them out, but the powerful ine powerjut rajinout Loulhvlliv, 0wneu ay Inn alit Iwutei rafting firm of Durant and Wheeler, was one of the boats that tookpart in the "battle ofthe piles." raftboat Minnesota kept watch over the channel to prevent it. Hudson and St. Paul called for their state militias to march to the bridgehead and make war on the Stillwater "navy." Cooler Heads Prevail Talks reopened in Stillwater on July 16. The conferees decided that the top decision makers of the West Wisconsin were needed so both construction and destruction were sus- pended until they arrived. Meanwhile, the engineer of the St. Paul, Stillwater & Taylors Falls looked into repositioning the bridge with help from the Washington County surveyor. After some negotiation, the Stillwater side accepted the realignment with a 140 -foot gap clear of piers and piles over the channel and 136 feet at the waterline. The war was over. The Stillwater Gazette reported afterward that the city council voted to repay the steamboat captains for their part in the battle. The steamers Louisville and Minnesota received $100 each; the B. G. Knapp and the Swallow each received $50. (Two other raftboats, Whitmore and Bro. Jonathan, were also said to be involved, but there is no mention that the cap- tains were paid.) The SPS&TF built the branch to Stillwater, but never reached Marine or Taylors Falls. The. West Wisconsin, known as the "Wisconsin Timber Line," did well from its connection through St. Paul. In 1880 the two roads merged with the St. Paul & Sioux City Railroad, creating the Omaha Road. Jay Cooke, his banking house, and his railroads went bankrupt in 1873. His failure signaled a financial panic and subsequent depression. The railroads went on under different ownerships for years afterward, but today all have left Stillwater. Their remnants make a good bike trail. Robert Goodman is a Stillwater historian and author of A History of Washington County, Gateway to Minnesota History and The Last Rafter. He has written many articles for Historical Whisperings on Washington County history. JULY 2015 5 * Museum Events Reports * Interesting Summer at the Warden's House By Sean Pallas Warden's House Site Manager Hello, Historical Whisperings readers! Whether you've pulled this newsletter out of your mailbox or off a table during one of our museum events, I'm glad you've taken a minute to learn a bit about WCHS! We've had everyone from Swedish tour groups to fourth grade field trips to couples celebrating anniversaries visit us here at the Warden's House this summer... and we're only a few months into the season! In addition to tours, the museum has also hosted two very interesting programs covering inmates of the Stillwater prison and the infamous Civil War Andersonville Prison. Thank you to everyone who attended and made these presentations such a huge success. (especially everyone who came to the first one since I was giving the talk!) Now, don't fret that you missed our first two events here ... we still have plenty of great programs on our calendar: Meet the WCHS Summer Interns An annual donation from the DeLonais Foundation allows WCHS to hire three college students to work internships at the Historical Society over a ten -week period in the summer. This year, as in the past, it was a very difficult decision with the high quality of appli- cants that we heard from. Those we chose were the best and will be a great fit into the craziness that we have here at WCHS. Alicia Tipcke was a 2014 graduate of Stillwater Area High School and is attending the College of St. Scho- lastica with a major in Communication and History. She volunteered at the Warden's House Museum last year and found it a wonderful experience. She feels that this internship will help her in both her communi- cations skills and in learning more local history. On July 27, we'll take an insiders look at the history of Masonic Lodges of Washington County with District Repre- sentative Greg Guffey. We'll roll up our sleeves and plug our noses with amateur archeologist Mark Youngblood on August 16 as we discover what historic treasures can be found digging in abandoned outhouses. Climb in the ring September 13 with former American Wrestling Association commentator Mick Karch and wrestling historian George Schire as they jump from the top rope into the history of wrestling in Minnesota. (Note: All folding chairs during the event are only to be used for sitting, not striking other audience members when the ref isn't looking) And, the Johnsdale Paranormal Group returns October 24 with another year's worth of evidence collected during their paranormal research efforts. Finally, we'll wrap up our year at the Warden's House with the Annual Holiday Event on De- cember 12. That's a pretty hefty calendar and I hope to see you at one (or even better, all!) of our upcoming events! And don't forget, the Warden's House runs tours weekly every Thursday -Sunday from 1 to 5 pm through the end of October! Stop in, say hello, and learn a bit about Washington County history! Contact Sean at 651-439-5956 or email spallas.wchs a@gmail.corn Lauren Anderson, from Eagan, MN, is attending the Univer- sity of Wisconsin—Eau Claire getting her Master of Arts in History, with a public history emphasis. She did her under- graduate work at Thomas Edison State College in New Jersey. She spent last summer in Bangkok, Thailand, as an English instructor and continues to be a private music teacher to more than 20 students. 6 HISTORICAL WHISPERINGS WCHS interns will help with events and develop research projects this summer. Left to right: Alicia Tipcke, Lauren An- derson and Maja Proeschold. Behind them notable pio- neers Joseph R. Brown and Rev. W T Boutwell. Swing by the muse- ums or one of our events to meet these future historians. Maja Proescholdt of Minneapolis is a graduate of Luther Col- lege in Decorah, Iowa, where she received the Regent and Wallin Merit Scholarships for Academic Excellence. She spent a year-long study abroad at the University of Nottingham in England, and earlier this year learned archival organization during her skill -based volunteer experience with the Minnesota Historical Society. She speaks several languages including Russian, Spanish and Polish. Enjoy Summer at the Hay Lake Museum By Dustyn Dubuque Hay Lake Museum Site Manager Since opening for the season in the begin- ning of May, the Hay Lake School and Jo- hannes Erickson Log House have been busy + with many different events. Throughout the month of May multiple school tours were brought into both museums. Here kids acted, learned, and did activities much like children used to do in a one -room school a century ago. The Hay Lake Speaker Series is in full swing! We had Ron Lawrenz, Executive Di- rector of the Lee and Rose Warner Nature Center, give short presentation on dragon- flies ragonflies and damselflies. After- ward, adults and children grabbed their nets and pro- ceeded to catch over 12 species of dragon- and damselflies on the grounds of the Hay Lake Museum! On June 20 we celebrat- ed the 8th annual Hay Lake Kids of all ages enjoyed learn- ing about dragon- and damsel- flies at the Hay Lake Museums. Beer Tasting and it was a terrific day. The day began with three 1860s vintage base ball matches that included the Menomonie Blue Caps, Rum River Rovers, and WCHS's own St. Croixs BBC. When the games concluded the beer tasting began. Under an open sky 2nd Annual Apple Away SK Walk/Run! A Collaboration Between the Hay Lake Museum and Gammelgarden Museum Join us Saturday, September 26 at 9 AM for the 2nd installment of this event. This is a great way to get outside to enjoy a Min- nesota fall and run or walk on a scenic (and historic) 5K route between the two museums. Registration begins July 15; you may download a regis- tration form on our website (www.wchsmn.org), or register in person at either Gammelgarden or Hay Lake Museum. Registration cost is $25, and includes a t -shirt, apple -based snacks at the end of the race, apple -based games, and free admission to each of the museums. For more information or questions please contact Dustyn Dubuque: dustyn.dubuque@hotmail.com or 651-433-4014. and warm sun the crowd began to grow with an estimated 225 people attending the event.. Upcoming events at the Hay Lake School are on Sundays at 2 PM and free. First a presentation by Bob Goodman about the Civil War soldiers from Washington County on Sunday July 19. Then on August 23, meet Susan Apps-Bodilly who will chronicle life in early country schools. Preceding her talk, there will be free tours of the museums and old-fashioned fun. Both authors will have books available to sign. On September 27 join Marilyn Rau and a local photog- raphy group as they explain modem photography techniques. See page 3 for more information I hope you see many of you at these events! Contact Dustyn at 651-433-4014 or email ditstyn.dubuque@hotmail.com. Under the big tent, attendee Kathy DeLonais checks out a nein craft beer. At least 225 people attended the event. Thanks for Coming to the 8th Annual Hay Lake Beer Tasting What a great June day! The attendees were introduced to three new breweries — Granite City Brewing (Eagan/St. Paul), Mankato Brewing, and Eastlake Craft Brewery (Minneapolis). Returning vendors were Still H2O, Joseph Wolf Brewing Co., Redneck Juice, Tin Whiskers, Lagunitas, Sierra Nevada, Bent Brewstillery, Opinion Brewing, and St. Croix Brewing. WCHS also received a terrific donation from Dot's Pretzels of North Dakota. To round out the festivities we had a silent auction, sold raffle tickets for our paranormal investigation fund- raiser (see page 8 for details), had two authors selling and signing books, and organized a group or people to play a round of Hammersel lagen (google it, people!). It was an overwhelming success! Please join us June 19, 2016 for the 9th installment of this event. Juw 2015 7 Is this one of y li the most 1 haunted places in Minnesota? 4. Paranormal Investigation Raffle The Washington County Historical Society is raffling an opportunity to join the Johnsdale Paranormal Group on a para- normal investigation of the Warden's House Museum in Stillwater. The group has captured what seem to be disembod- ied voices and unexplained flashes of light in their previous investigations of the property. The raffle winner, and one guest of his or her choice, will Membership Report The Washington County Historical Society welcomes a wonderful group of new and renewing annual members listed here. Thanks to you all for your support. And special thanks to those of you who added a donation to your membership check. We also welcome three new Life members: Jack Hooley, Stan- ley & Karen Hubbard, and Lavon Olander. WCHS truly appre- ciates your support! Questions? Contact: WCHS Memberships, PO Box 167, Stillwater, MN 55082 or email information@wchsmn. New and Renewing Sustaining Members Muriel Conrad * Mark & Gloria Desch * Phil Edstrom * Priscilla Farnham * Bruce Jenks * Arnold & Karen Johnson John J. Magnuson * Joe Otte * Don Josephson New and Renewing Patron Members Leroy Bendickson * Thomas V. Curtis * Lyla Davies * John & Jeanett Gibbons * Michael Orsted * Paul &.Peggy Quinn Jim & Mary Smith * David & Cheryl Smith* Tom Triplett New and Renewing Annual Members Richard Ahlstrom * Margaret Akin * Byron Anderson * Sally Anderson * Kathy Baker * Carol Barry * Duane & Kathy Barthel * Tim Behrends * Virgil Benoit * Phyllis Berglund Sandy Berglund * John Bergman & Gloria Sell * Richard Bielenberg. * Doug Blanke * John Brach * A]& Karen Bren- nan * Robert Boxell * Kathy Buchholz * Dan Cagley * Neill T. Carter * Tim & Barb Casey * Chuck & Judy Clausen * Betsy Collinge * Ryan Collins * Patrick Connors * James Cuff * Thomas Curtis * Suzy Dalin * Katie DeMarco * 8 HISTORICAL WHISPERINGS participate in an overnight investigation of the Warden's House. The Johnsdale Paranormal Group will explain their techniques and theories and the guest investigators will gain hands-on experience with the group's state-of-the-art evidence gathering equipment. Second and third prize winners will receive tickets to Crypticon 2015; a convention celebrating the horror genre of television and movies held at the Mall of America Ramada. Fourth prize will receive movie tickets courtesy of Woodbury 10 Theater. You must be 18 years or older to enter. The $10.00 entry free supports the Washington County Historical Society's ongoing mission of historic preservation The drawing will be held September 5, 2015, at 2 PM. You need not be present to win. Tickets are available at the War- den's House (602 Main Street N., Stillwater) until an hour be- fore the drawing. The museum is open Thursdays -Sundays, Noon until 5 PM. For full contest rules see www.wchsmn.org/raffle. Contact Sean at spallas.wchs@gmail.com or 651-439-5956 with any questions regarding the raffle or the museum in general. Robert & Deborah Deragisch * Mary DeRue * Rod DeRue Richard & Wendy Dianberger * Cortzie & Patricia Downs Helen Dwight * Jody Ebner * Terry & Karen Engleman Doug Ernst * Dennis Falaas * Helen Falde * Helen Fiebing Edward & Eileen Gordon * Bev Gross * Lawrence Gross Stephanie Gruver & Robert Marking * Alan Hagstrom * Robert Hagstrom * Barbara & Joe Halligan * Susan Halverson * Judy Hansen * Kenneth A. Harris * Jo Harrison * Nancy Hawkinson * Peggy & David Hayden * Michelle & William Heiting * John Helms * Craig & Jeannine Hoftbeck * Chuck Hoffman * Irene Holm * Robert & Kathleen Iverson Lorraine Jacobs * Jack & Judith Johnson * Lowell Johnson Edwin Jones * Helen Josephson * Suzy & Larry Kennedy Dorothy Koepeke * Peter Kostohryz * Brad & Kimberly Kruse * Karen Lampi * Chuck Lavallee * Sharon Lewandowski * Esther Lonseth * Maria Pugh Mack * Buck Malick * Robert Marzolf * Andrew Mathe * Sterling &Doris McKusick * Robert & Judith Michaelis * Art & Karen Monson * Patricia Mooney * John Myhr * Lorraine Nelson * Angie Noyes Patty O'Gorman * Bruce. & Shari Ohland * Ernest Peaslee Gene Peltier * Dolores Peterson * Jeff & Mary Peterson * Patrick Pfundstein * Gladys Potter * Nancy Prince * Thomas Przybilla * Becky Pang * Ory & Nadine Pang * Jeff Rankin Herb & Nancy Reekinger * Jack & Judy Rice * Mary Rish * Ann Roettger * Neal & Barb Rose * Sharon Sawyer * Mary Schmidt * Julia & Tim Schmolke. * Bill Schrankler * Myron & Dorothy Scullen * Jon & Candy Severson * Tom Simonet Sue Sorenson * Robert Spangenberg * Barbara Squadrito * David & Judith Stone * Jan Sloven * Shirley Tibbetts * Stan Turner * Martha & Francis Valainis * Gregory Van Erem * Robert Van Eren * Lois Victor * Stan & Pat Vogel * Thomas Warth * Stephanie Wedekind * Kathy Widin * Margaret Wolfer Williams * Lisa Winston * Wisconsin Historical Society * Emily Wolterstorff * Gertrude Ziebel WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORY Calendar of Events Please contact the sponsoring organization for updated information about these events: South Washington Heritage n^rieh, (5'IN'HS) 651-459-7950; Washington County Historical Society (WCHS) 651-439-5956, Denmark Township Historical Society (DTHS) 651-436-7639; Gammelgtirden 651-433-5053, Afton Historical Society 651-436-3500; Historic Courthouse 651-275-7075. Through Labor Day—Exhibit "The Roaring Twenties" at Af- ton Historical Museum. July 16 Thursday—Ice Cream Social and Talent Show, Kick- off to Stillwater Log Jam 4:30 PM, Historic Courthouse. July 18 Saturday—Demonstration Vintage Base Ball during Log Jam Days, St. Croixs host 7 other vintage teams in all - day play at Old Athletic Field, Stillwater. Begins 10 AM. July 19 Sunday WCHS program "Local Boys in the Civil War," presented by Bob Goodman, 2 PM, Hay Lake Schoolhouse, Scandia. Free. July 21 & 23 Tuesday & Thursday—Comin' to Amerika chil- dren's camp; Gammelgarden Museum, Scandia; cost $35 per child, reservations required. July 25 Saturday Tierney Tournament vintage base ball at Afton - teams and times to be announced. July 26 Sunday—WCHS program "Accacia Masonic Lodge 150th Anniversary," Greg Guffey tells the story at 2 PM, Warden's House Museum, Stillwater. Free. July 26 Sunday & fourth Sunday each month—Bluegrass and Lemonade in the Shade, 2-4 PM, Gammelgarden Museum, Scandia. Free. July 29 -August 2—Washington County Fair. Stop by the WCHS booth in Building C. August 2 Sunday—WCHS vintage base ball at the county fair, St. Croixs vs Afton Red Socks, 1 PM. August 16 Saturday—Spelrnansstamma (fiddler's gathering), Gaimnelgarden Museum, Scandia. August 16 Saturday WCHS free program: Mark Youngblood talks about "Outhouse Archeology" at the Warden's House Museum, 2 PM. August 23 Sunday—WCHS Celebration of One -Room Schools; free tours 12-2 PM., speaker Susan Apps -Bodily "l Teacher, 1 Room, 8 Grades," Hay Lake School, 2 PM. Free. September 12 Saturday—SWHS program: Harold Gifford will talk about the 1960 "miracle landing" of his DC -3 in an Iowa cornfield with the Mpls. Lakers aboard. St. Paul Park City Hall, 10 AM. September 12 SaturdayAnnie's Swedish Coffee Party, in- cludes tour. Gammelgarden Museum, Scandia; cost $15; reservations required. September 13 Sunday—WCHS free program "Professional Wrestling in Minnesota" with Mick Karch and George Schire. 2 PM. at Warden's House Museum, Stillwater. September 24 Thursday—WCHS Fall Dinner Meeting with Denis Gardner discussing "The Bridges of Washington County," Lowell hm Banquet Hall, Stillwater, 5:30-9 PM. September 26 Saturday—Second Annual Apple Away 5K be- tween Hay Lake and Gammelgarden Museums. Tickets $25 on sale July 15 at either museum. 9 AM start. September 27 Sunday WCHS vintage baseball at the Withrow Car & Tractor Show, St. Croixs vs Afton Red Socks, 1 PM. September 27 Sunday—WCHS free program "Photographing Hay Lake School," with Marilyn Rau explaining tech- niques. Hay Lake School Museum, 2 PM. October 10 Saturday—Annie's Swedish Coffee Party, includes tour. Gammelgarden Museum, Scandia; cost $15; reserva- tions required. October 10 Saturday—SWHS program: Fall bus trip to ride the Osceola & Saint Croix Valley Railway tourist train. Meet at Paul Park City Hall; time to be announced. October 24 Saturday—Johnsdale Paranomial Group "Para- normal Investigations in 2015," Warden's House 2 PM. WCHS free program. A Bit of Summer c.1910 — Wildwood Park Water Slide and Bath House Wildwood Amusement Park, on the southeast shore of White Bear Lake, opened as a picnic ground in the 1880s. The Twin City Rail Transit Company began running trolleys to the lake and the park soon added a swimming beach and bath house, thrill rides including a roller coaster, steam launch rides, rental boats and a dance pavilion that attracted big -name bands. In its heyday, as many as 1,000 people a day rode the trolleys to the park. The park survived a 1908 fire, but not the depression. It closed in 1932; the buildings were razed and replaced by lake homes. No trace of the popular park remains today. JULY 2015 9 Home of Rev. William T. Boutwell Saved! Washington County Historical Society Purchases Historically Significant Site This historic 1870 farmhouse in Stillwater Township, once the home of pioneer missionary William T. Boutwell, has been purchased by the Washington County Historical Society. Demolition had just begun when Nicole Curtis of HGTV's Rehab Addict, stepped in and paid off the demolition crew to stop. She hoped to work with the owners to find a path to sav- ing the house. Later, officials declared the vacant house a pub- lic nuisance and gave the absentee owner a May 1 deadline to demolish the building or secure the property and make a plan to restore it. The Society purchased the partly demolished house, along with two outbuildings and 5 acres of land on May 28, 2015 to make sure the significant pioneer home is preserved. Suburban develop- ments already encroach on the site, which sits across Boutwell Road from the small family ceme- tery that is the reverend's final resting place. As you can see from the photo at right, the house is not in great shape. A sizeable chunk of the back of the house was removed before the demoli- tion was halted. Years of neglect have also left the inside of the house in poor condition. What next? WCHS is now working to raise money to re- store and preserve the house. The WCHS Board sees its major goals as: 1) Restore the exterior to its original condition. The 1910 photograph will help. 2) Secure a place on the National Register of Historic Places for the house, which will give a measure of protection. 3) Renovate the interior. The house was vacant for many years and the demolition also exposed part of the inside. What will it cost? Restoration will probably cost around $400,000. WCHS is reaching out to the community for a portion of this cost. We also need your help. As a member of this Society we know you care about Washington County history. We hope you will help. Please consider donating to the restoration fund. You can send a check to the Society at PO Box 167, Stillwater, MN or donate at the WCHS GoFundMe page. Just go to www.GoFundMe.com/Boutvv,ell 10 HISTORICAL WHISPERINGS The above photo of the house was tak- en by John Runk c. 1910. Every dollar WCHS raises is a step closer to restor- ing this home and serving a piece of Washington County history! At left, WCHS Board Chair David Lindsey stands by the partly demol- ished rear of the house, noun covered by a tarp to prevent further damage. Volunteers have cleaned up the grounds and removed debris. What this means The former home of the Rev. Boutwell "is truly a community treasure and provides a tangible con- nection to our collective past," said Doug Gasek, Executive Director of the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota. "We at PAM could not be more excited to see the Boutwell house restored and lovingly cared for." "Boutwell's story deserves to be remembered by Minneso- tans ... across the state," declared Stephen Elliot, Director and CEO of the Minnesota Historical Society; `Boutwell served as a cultural bridge among Minnesotans of his day." "This is the mission of the Washington County Historical Society," said David Lindsay, WCHS Board Chair and resident of Cottage Grove. "If we cannot save one of the most historically significant sites in the county — why are we here??" So — Who Was Rev. William T. Boutwell? William T. Boutwell was an early pioneer in what would later become Minnesota. Born in New Hamp- shire, he graduated from Dartmouth College in 1828 and from the Andover Theological Seminary three years later. He.became a missionary and was sent to Mackinaw Island to learn the Ojibwe language. In 1832 he accompanied Henry Schoolcraft on an expedition up the Mississippi River and together they dis- covered the true source of the river. Schoolcraft asked Rev. Boutwell for a Latin word meaning true source; Rev. Boutwell gave him, "Veritas" meaning truth and "caput," meaning head. Schoolcraft combined the two words and created "Itasca," which name he christened the lake. Rev. Boutwell served as missionary to the Indians at La Pointe, Wisconsin, and at Leech Lake (Cass County) and Pokegama Lake (Pine County), Minnesota. He was al- so the first minister to hold a worship service in what is now Stillwater. He traveled by foot, canoe and horseback to preach to the people at St. Croix Falls, Marine Mills and Cottage Grove. In 1847 Rev. Boutwell permanently settled at the farm site on Boutwell Road purchased by WCHS. He helped to organize the First Presbyterian Church in Stillwater and was the first chaplain of the Minnesota Ter- ritorial Senate in 1849. He was later assigned to preach at Point Douglas by the Home Missionary Society. Rev. Boutwell's wife, Hester Crooks, is historically significant herself. The daughter of American Fur Compa- ny's Ramsey Crooks, Hester was one of the earliest female missionaries and teachers in the Midwest. Together they formed a lasting partnership for the advancement of their missionary work and laid the foundation for future settle- ment of the region. Both are buried in the small family cemetery across the road from the farmhouse, along with several of their children. Save the Date! First Time Ever! Sunday, October 11, Elim Cemetery Living History Tour The first ever Living Cemetery event will be held at the Elim Cemetery located across the street from the Elim Lutheran Church in Scandia, Minnesota. This event will run from 11 to 2 PM and is free to the public. Starting from the church, groups will be able to walls through the cemetery and learn about many of the people and events that have been an integral part of the area. Actors will portray people who are buried at the cemetery, and will give a quick history of their life and times. Notable characters and events include Rev. Theo Kjellgren, Esther Morrison, the 1930 church fire, the 1931 Meningitis outbreak, and more. This event is a joint partnership between the Gam- melgarden Museum, Elim Lutheran Church, and the Washing- ton County Historical Society. Art Donated by Joseph Wolf Descendent This portrait of Arthur Jamieson, produced c.1895 by the A. B. Cuffel Portrait Company of Minneapolis, was donated to WCHS by Sheila Jamieson Stewart and husband Mark, above, of Altoona, Wisconsin. The child's suit and a curl of his hair were donated with the portrait. Arthur Jamieson married Leona Wolf„ daughter of Stillwater brewer Joseph Wolf Arthur and Leona both graduated from Stillwater High School in 1910. The Stewarts also presented the Society with three framed oval watercolors, portraits of the daughters of Joseph Wolf. JuLY2015 11 DATED MATERIAL WMINUGH (OUNTV �KTGAHL SO(ITTV Box 167 Stillwater, MN 55082 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Contact Us To receive this newsletter by U.S. Mail or Email, or for information about the Washington County Historical Society, contact us at 651-439-5956 or email information@wchsmn.org On the web at www.wchsmn.org Cottage Grove HPC City Office 12800 Ravine pkwy Cottage Grove, MN 55016 Non -Profit Organization U. S. Postage PAID Permit No. 224 Stillwater, MN 55082 If;"s[ ,{-['l[ ------------------------- MEMBERSHIP APPPLICATION or RENEWAL I I Washington County Historical Society 1 I 1 Name I I Address 1 1 City, State, Zip Telephone Indicate preferred type of membership _Annual Individual ($25) _Annual Senior Citizen/Student (S15) _Annual Family ($35) _Annual Patron (S75) _Annual Sustaining ($125) _Life ($1,000) I I Additional donations are welcome and needed. Volunteer help is also needed (checkhere or call). I Detach and mail to: WCIIS Memberships I PO Box 167, Stillwater MN 55082 Membership includes subscription to Historical Whisperings. -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 12 HISTORICAL WHISPERINGS Our Mission The Washington County Historical Society collects, preserves, and disseminates the history of Washington County and the State of Minnesota. WCHS programs include book publication, speakers and workshops, historical reenactments, vintage base ball, school programs, exhibits, print and electronic newsletters, historical markers, and a history website (www.wchsinn.org) with links to other history organizations. Our goal is to provide an oppor- tunity for all county citizens to learn about and enjoy our area's history and to build a sense of community heritage. The Washington County Historical Society is uniquely situated to document early Minnesota history and to tell the story of immigrants from the eastern United States and Europe who settled the region in the mid -nineteenth century. The county's geographic connections to the Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers place the county at the forefront of settlement and the estab- lishment of the territory and state. For this reason we have chosen our motto, Gateway to Minnesota History