Historic Contexts Study and Phase II Inventory (Downtown Elk River) 2022

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Elk River Historic Context: Residential Architecture,1851-1930 This historic context encompasses the first log buildings of the pioneer settlement and extends to the creation of housing in Elk River before the Depression. The small building that served as Pierre Bottineau's trading post and residence was built of log, as were a number of the first temporary shelters built by farmers. A hand drawn map of Meadowvale at the Sherburne County Historical Society records at least six in that vicinity. The St. Anthony Express of March 3,1852 recorded a trip in the Elk River vicinity, and noted the existence of a number of log houses including those owned by Ard Godfrey. 1414 Main Street. This small frame house is typical of those of early Orono. Although a modern entrance and picture window have been added, the building retains much of its original character. Photo 2002. A limited amount of lumber was locally available to settlers in the early 1850s and was used for dwellings, farm buildings, and stores. The first generation of houses in the mill and railroad villages of Orono and Elk River reflect the New England origins of the community, with a preference for frame construction. B.F. Snow, an early resident, wrote that his house "was 16' x 24' in size ... nearly all the houses in this county at that time were built the same size, for the reason that the lumber which we bought at the mill was 16 feet in length ... so there was no waste in lumber. and saved considerable time in sawing." 6' The gable -roofed, Greek Revival style houses were one or two stories, with a porch carried by square posts. The 1860 census noted two carpenters, 36-year old George Davis, a native of New York, and William Adams, a 25-year old Canadian. The Charles Mansur House at 1808 Main Street, built in ca. 1856-1860, is thought to be the oldest extant dwelling in Elk River. Mansur was a native of Ohio and worked as a sawyer in the Godfrey sawmill. The streets of Uppertown were built with a scattering of such buildings. Although many of the exteriors have been modernized, their small proportions, low-pitched gable roofs, and regularly spaced windows are keys to their likely date of construction. Elk River Historic Contexts Study Draft 412002 29