Prehistoric and Euroamerican Archaeology of Elk River, Minnesota: Current Knowlege and Probability Modeling

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P.O. Hawes built a store at Orono in 1856 so it is possible that Godfrey's store was closed by then.134 (I7)Orono Cooper Shop Featherstone and Pollard, a cooper shop for manufacturing barrels, existed in Upper Town Elk River as early as 1875.135 It was located on lots 8 and 9, block 10 of the original Orono plat, on the south side of Main Street just west of the Main Street —York Avenue intersection.'31 In 1880 the cooper shop was being operated as Featherstone and Company, employing three people, and operating full time ten months out of the year.137 The barrels made at the cooper shop were mostly used for flour by the Elk River flour mill.138 The last reference to the cooper shop is in 1903. The burning of the flour mill and the loss of their major client likely caused them to go out of business.139 (1 S)Elk River Starch Factory A starch factory was started in Elk River in 1889 and was located on the south side of the Jackson Avenue and Main Street intersection, where there is now an open lot. The factory was incorporated by Thomas S. Nickerson, J.Q.A. Nickerson, H.O. Nickerson, W.F. Chadbourne, J.F. Lewis, C.F. Stimson, Amos Houlton, E. Thomas, and H.H. Wheaton. The factory used potatoes purchased from Elk River area farmers to make starch.140 The factory manufactured its first carload of starch, about eighteen tons, in September 1889, which was shipped to Boston.747 The factory burned down in 1898 after a fire got started in the livery stable, which stood immediately west of the starch factory. By that time, Thomas Nickerson had become the majority stock holder of the company and William H. Houlton had owned the livery stable.'42 (19)Old Sherburne County Fairgrounds The Sherburne County fair was held in Elk River on the piece of land that is bordered by the Elk River to the west and the Mississippi River to the east, south of what is now Morton and Norfolk Avenues. Although the first fair in Elk River was held at another location in August 1915, the first fair at this location was held in 1916. In 1917 a pavilion was built at this location that was 60 feet by 120 feet. Barns for hogs, cattle, and horses were also built. The fair was held here into the 1950s when it was moved to its present location. The 36