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Elk River Historic Context: <br />Industry and Commerce,1851-1950 <br />Elk River's industrial development began with the dam constructed by Ard Godfrey in <br />1851, and its first stores followed soon thereafter. This historic context extends from <br />1851 to the construction of Highway 10 after World War II. <br />S�) <br />7f <br />}- yr- -•. - <br />A r. <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 Townsites and Industry <br />With the construction of a dam and two mills by Ard Godfrey and John Jameson in <br />1851-2, Elk River became the site of the first mills built outside of the St. Anthony Falls <br />and St. Croix. waterpower area " <br />Hundreds of townsites were platted in Minnesota in the 1850s, laid out and recorded by <br />land speculators and others who hoped to quickly and profitably sell lots. In Sherburne <br />County at least five townsites were recorded between 1855 and 1857, including Orono <br />(1855), Wheeler, (1856), Clear Lake (1856) Groton 1857), Liberty (1857), and Marseilles <br />(1857). 52 <br />Orono <br />The impetus for Orono was its fine mill site on the Elk River, the proximity of the Red <br />River Trail, and a potentially productive timber and agricultural region beyond. Orono <br />was laid out by surveyor John O. Haven for its owner, Ard Godfrey. The plat of Orono <br />was a simple grid of about 14 square blocks arranged along the Elk River around <br />Godfrey's dam. Configured much like a New England mill village, streets were named <br />for Godfrey's wife and daughter, as well as Elk, Merchants, Minnehaha and Hiawatha. <br />Elk River Historic Contexts Study Draft 412002 <br />19 <br />