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0 Elk River Historic Context: <br /> Industry and Commerce,1851-1950 <br /> Elk River's industrial development began with the dam <br /> constructed by Ard Godfrey in 1851,and its first stores <br /> followed soon thereafter.This historic context extends from <br /> 1851 to the construction of Highway 10 after World War II. <br /> ��,ms� do� <br /> 4 t;%.;,41 6 C/ , J!` -,"d .\:'A . ,>.` ,,...„. in <br /> \ - b %, /' :yam},I 1 akc:;_,..,..„,:q..7.-.0i3issiii404 , <br /> m <br /> • >.../ r,...,, ro`Mr9F" .�Q +P, a., <br /> Babcock Store(ca.1900).This store stood at the north end of Jackson Street, <br /> where Highway 10 is today.Such business blocks often had office and halls <br /> on the second floor,such as the I.O.O.F.shown here.Photo:SCHS. <br /> Pioneer Town <br /> sites and Industry <br /> With the construction of a dam and two mills by Ard Godfrey <br /> and John Jameson in 1851-2,Elk River became the site of the <br /> first mills built outside of the St.Anthony Falls and St.Croix. <br /> waterpower area si <br /> Hundreds of townsites were platted in Minnesota in the 1850s, <br /> laid out and recorded by land speculators and others who <br /> hoped to quickly and profitably sell lots.In Sherburne County <br /> at least five townsites were recorded between 1855 and 1857, <br /> including Orono.(1855),Wheeler,(1856),Clear Lake(1856), <br /> Groton(1857),Lberty(1857),and Marseilles(1857).52 <br /> Orono <br /> The impetus for Orono was its fine mill site on the Elk River, <br /> the proximity of the Red River Trail,and a potentially <br /> productive timber and agricultural region beyond.Orono was <br /> laid out by surveyor John O.Haven for its owner,Ard <br /> • Godfrey.The plat of Orono was a simple grid of about 14 <br /> square blocks arranged along the Elk River around Godfrey's <br /> dam.Configured much like a New England mill village,streets <br /> Elk River Historic Contexts Study Draft 5/2002 <br /> 22 <br />