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<br /> 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.
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<br /> Babcock Store(ca. 1900). This store stood at the north end of Jackson
<br /> Street,where Highway 10 is today.Such business blocks often had
<br /> offices and Masonic halls on the second floor,such as the I.O.O.F
<br /> shown here.Photo:SCHS.
<br /> Pioneer
<br /> Town
<br /> sites and Industry
<br /> With the construction of a dam and two mills by Ard Godfrey
<br /> and John G.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.49
<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 towns
<br /> were recorded between 1855 and 1857,
<br /> including Orono(1855),Wheeler,(1856),Clear Lake(1856),
<br /> Groton(1857),Liberty(1857),an d Marseilles(1857).so
<br /> Orono: "Uppertown"
<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 /> 41 Godfrey.The plat of Orono was a simple grid of about 14
<br /> Elk River Historic Contexts and Phase II Downtown Commercial Area Study
<br /> 25
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