|
IIIdesign of state funded projects,including adoption of
<br /> standards for highway and bridge design.
<br /> The state leader in highway reform was Charles M.Babcock
<br /> (1871-1936)of Elk River.Trained as a civil engineer,he had a
<br /> career as a banker and merchant in Elk River,where his family
<br /> had long operated the Babcock Store.In 1917,Babcock became
<br /> the first commissioner of the Minnesota Department of
<br /> Highways. He served in this position until 1933,and authored
<br /> the"Babcock Plan"for the state trunk highway system.
<br /> Babcock Memorial Park(1938-1939)commemorates his tenure.
<br /> It was built by the National Youth Administration(NYA)and
<br /> the Minnesota Department of Highways 43
<br /> The Jefferson Highway
<br /> Elk River's connection to the Jefferson Highway,a federally-
<br /> funded national route completed in the early 1920s,was
<br /> certainly ensured by Babcock. Among promoters of the road
<br /> were automobile associations,who had a growing interest in
<br /> automobile touring.44 The portion of the concrete paved
<br /> highway in Elk River used Depot,Main and Fourth streets.
<br /> The new road carried much of the county's west-bound traffic,
<br /> and also the north-bound traffic on Highway 169,which
<br /> branched to form the Jefferson Highway at Elk River.The
<br /> concrete Elk River Bridge over the Elk River was part of this Below:The Jefferson Highway
<br /> improvement,replacing the 1884 metal truss bridge. By 1928,a on the eve of construction of
<br /> variety of implement dealers,elevators and feed mills,potato Highway 10,1941.Photo:
<br /> III and produce warehouses,the Houlton lumberyard,and MHS.
<br /> gasoline filling stations lined the highway.
<br /> a
<br /> 4,
<br /> i ION " ,a ,
<br /> _, ,,,,,,,,,, u , 1 7,-1 vs... r.„ ,,,,,,ik..txfft,-„,.. , ,-..-,.--- _.„, ,
<br /> i ,� „
<br /> �, 4 s jj$$FF 'e=
<br /> sitatil
<br /> do-; j z,� it a ' it N p, 1.0 4 4 . " 'u'14
<br /> w I ,
<br /> - �w 'A',i ' 3r,
<br /> 4,°: k' t s ,
<br /> ��y
<br /> t�tl'�'"aQ � 3
<br /> ti a It
<br /> While Sherburne County's road planners were organizing for
<br /> better roads,some promoters seemed to be waiting for a
<br /> different transportation shoe to drop.In an article promoting
<br /> • the county's agricultural opportunities,J.A.Monger
<br /> complained that the county's potential was untapped,noting
<br /> that this section was overlooked,
<br /> Elk River Historic Contexts Study Draft 5/2002
<br /> 18
<br />
|