5.6. SR 06-07-2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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president, and M.E. Waterman as secretary. A new concrete dam was built that same year several hundred feet up the river from where the old dam stood and a power plant was built to the east of the new dam. J.c. Jacobson, who built the paper mill and power plant at Sartell, supervised the construction of the new dam and power plant. The electric current was turned on in Elk River in January 1916.31 InstalIation of a municipal water system in 1920 was another major improvement in Elk River during this period. The new system was built at a cost of $50,000 and the Elk River Fire Department held a large celebration to dedicate the new system, including various competitions between area fire departments.32 The Jefferson Highway, or current Highway 10, was. constructed in the early 1920s and opened to traffic in November 1921. The highway was originally called Trunk Highway 3 and was renamed U.S. Highway 10 in 1926. The highway, like the railroad tracks, generally followed the original Oxcart trail and Military road,33 (For more information on State Highway Commissioner Charles M. Babcock, the Jefferson Highway, and other Elk River roads and bridges, see Elk River Historic Contexts S tutfy, 19-22,) In 1923, the first hospital and clinic were built in Elk River. Prior to 1923, health care was provided by a few physicians with their own offices. Dr. N.K. Whittemore practiced medicine in Elk River from 1873 until his death in 1907.34 Dr. George E, Parsons began to assist WhittemQre in 1906 and carried on that practice after Whittemore died until his own death in April 1923, Dr. G.E. Page also practiced medicine in Elk River until his death in 1935 and had served as county coroner for twenty years.35 Dr. George R. Dunn had led the effort to organize the hospital and clinic. Although there were several visiting doctors associated with the hospital in its early years, Dr, B, Roehlke was the only physician permanendy located in Elk River. He purchased the office and equipment of Dr, Parsons shortly after Parsons died.36 Along with this period of modernization, however, came the end of one of Elk River's most important early industries. The flour mill industry lasted in Elk River from 1851 until \ 1932, with evidence of at least five and possibly six different mills existing throughout that period. Floods and droughts, wheat shortages, competition from other mills, and fires were the main obstacles for the Elk River flour mills. From 1892 to 1912, the dam was washed away or undermined at least eight times, causing the flour mills to shut down until the water power was restored.37 The mills were also forced 17