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Elk River Historic Context: <br />Industry and Commerce, 1851-1950 <br /> <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 /> <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 /> <br />Pioneer Townsites and Indust~j <br /> <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 /> <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), Liberty (1857), and Marseilles (1857). so <br /> <br />Orono: "Uppertown " <br /> <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 /> <br />Elk River Historic Contexts and Phase II Downtown Commercial Area Study <br /> 25 <br /> <br /> <br />