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813/Star News/Saturday August 19,2017•Visit us on the web at www.erstarnews.com
<br /> Connecting the Community
<br /> through the writtenn*Twr�LyySo�rd ain� reams
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<br /> Elk River,MillIleSOta
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<br /> UWAALKING
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<br /> BACK IN TIME
<br /> Lance Lindberg led a tour that delved early 1900s,Lindberg said.The Houlton building
<br /> into the history of downtown Elk River at the northwest corner of Jackson and Main,now
<br /> home to Edward Jones,was built in 1903.Elk Riv-
<br /> by Joni Astrup er Meats,724 Main St.,also was built about 1903, . .
<br /> Associate editor Lindberg said.
<br /> Lance Lindberg The water tower on Jackson Avenue was built in
<br /> spent his ear- 1920 and improved fire protection.
<br /> ly years on the The group then headed west along Main Street
<br /> West Coast,be- -uw to the Handke Stadium at 1133 4th Street.Along
<br /> fore moving to Elk Riverthe way,they passed cement posts with iron rings
<br /> with his family in 1962. -.r in them.Lindberg said he often wondered about
<br /> "I came to Elk River them as a kid.Turns out they are old hitching
<br /> and Inever wanted to posts where people tied up their horses.Several
<br /> leave,'he said Aug.10, are still visible along Main Street,including two
<br /> he led a walking tour in front of the Hitchin'Post Condominium.
<br /> of the historic highlights The group paused at Handke Stadium.The site
<br /> Of downtown Elk River. was a pond before being converted to a stadium in
<br /> Over the years he de- the 1920s.Lindberg said there was apparently a
<br /> veloped a deep interest Lance tindbef9 near-drowning in the pond and it was considered
<br /> in the area's history,and dangerous.
<br /> now serves on the Elk River Heritage Preserva- In the 1930s,a youth-corps-type government pro-
<br /> tion Commission. grain built the stonework at the stadium.
<br /> On last week's tour,Lindberg led people through High school football games were played in the
<br /> downtown Elk River,west to the Handke Stadi- stadium until the 1950s,he said.
<br /> um,past a couple of historic churches,then on to The stadium also has been a kid magnet for all
<br /> Bailey Point Nature Preserve before ending back of its years.
<br /> in the heart of downtown. For people who grew up in Elk River,for decades
<br /> Lindberg said the original settlement in what is the stadium was the central.part of being a kid, -
<br /> now Elk River was known as Orono.It was platted Lindberg said. Photo by Jo i newp
<br /> in 1855 west of the Oro
<br /> no dam.Lumber milling Continuing on to the Union Congregational
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<br /> was the commerce that initially drove the devel- Church,United Church of Christ at 1118 Fourth
<br /> opmant of the little village,followed by other mills Street,Lindberg said many of the early Elk River ;y-.
<br /> such as flour. settlers were New Englanders,and Union Church
<br /> Within a decade,Elk River was platted approxi- was the church that they formed.The church was XE
<br /> mately a mile from Orono. was t established in the 1870x. •
<br /> Elk River's downtown was originally on the north Down the street at 1326 Fourth Street is another
<br /> side of the railroad tracks and consisted of 18 to historic church-Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. 1 CourllmU$e
<br /> 20 buildings,Lindberg said.Fires,however,were The congregation dates to 1859 and the church 2 Ppbll[$[hOQ1S
<br /> a recurring problem. building to 1891.
<br /> "Downtown burned down two,maybe three times The oldest building in Elk River,however,is a M€Q1DdISa Chll[Cb
<br /> over there,"Lindberg said ofthe original Elk River house,Lindberg said.That is located just west of 4.Epis[opal Cflo[Ch
<br /> downtown. the Orono Dam,overlooking Lake Orono.
<br /> That led to the establishment of a new downtown The group then moved on to Bailey Point,locat- 5.Sherburne base
<br /> in its present location along the Mississippi River ed at 1 Morton Avenue,which has a rich history
<br /> and south of the railroad tracks. all its own.The area was once home to the Sher- 6 Elk River House
<br /> The oldest.downtown building is the Sunshine burns County Fairgrounds,a golf course and the 7.Post ofhLe
<br /> Depot,which was originally a drugstore,Lindberg high school football field.Lindberg said the Bailey
<br /> said. Point area also was the site of two battles between S Generdl mel ehdnl
<br /> The block oftmildings on the west side of Jackson, the Dakota and the Ojibwa in 1772 and 1773. g;Ell[m1U[0 Store
<br /> between Main Street and Highway 10,is known In 2012,it came under city ownership and today
<br /> as the Brick Block.Those structures data to the it is known as Bailey Point Nature Preserve. 10;$1lerifl S Of11re,CTL
<br /> 1l.Eeneralmerrhauls
<br /> a ;. 12Drugpisl
<br /> 13:8ai'lware`
<br /> 14 Tirol'
<br /> 15 Newspaper otb[e
<br /> 16 Mire
<br /> 17 Law office
<br /> 18.Doctors orhre
<br /> 19,Doctor's orOte
<br /> 20 Hdhress sbop
<br /> "^ 21 Carperrer dull bo piff Shop
<br /> 22.Carpenlers shop _
<br /> 23 Mc River sawmill
<br /> 24.Blatksmnh Shop
<br /> 25.Ferry across Mississippi Rkner
<br /> 26,Livery stable
<br /> 27&28 Elk Riverlloutiur mills anR sawlili
<br /> 29.M'anoudnilblacksmithshop
<br /> 30.&enerdi merehaodise,Oiland hardware
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