6.3. HPSR 04-26-2018 813/Star News/Saturday August 19,2017•Visit us on the web at www.erstarnews.com
Connecting the Community
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BACK IN TIME
Lance Lindberg led a tour that delved early 1900s,Lindberg said.The Houlton building
into the history of downtown Elk River at the northwest corner of Jackson and Main,now
home to Edward Jones,was built in 1903.Elk Riv-
by Joni Astrup er Meats,724 Main St.,also was built about 1903, . .
Associate editor Lindberg said.
Lance Lindberg The water tower on Jackson Avenue was built in
spent his ear- 1920 and improved fire protection.
ly years on the The group then headed west along Main Street
West Coast,be- -uw to the Handke Stadium at 1133 4th Street.Along
fore moving to Elk Riverthe way,they passed cement posts with iron rings
with his family in 1962. -.r in them.Lindberg said he often wondered about
"I came to Elk River them as a kid.Turns out they are old hitching
and Inever wanted to posts where people tied up their horses.Several
leave,'he said Aug.10, are still visible along Main Street,including two
he led a walking tour in front of the Hitchin'Post Condominium.
of the historic highlights The group paused at Handke Stadium.The site
Of downtown Elk River. was a pond before being converted to a stadium in
Over the years he de- the 1920s.Lindberg said there was apparently a
veloped a deep interest Lance tindbef9 near-drowning in the pond and it was considered
in the area's history,and dangerous.
now serves on the Elk River Heritage Preserva- In the 1930s,a youth-corps-type government pro-
tion Commission. grain built the stonework at the stadium.
On last week's tour,Lindberg led people through High school football games were played in the
downtown Elk River,west to the Handke Stadi- stadium until the 1950s,he said.
um,past a couple of historic churches,then on to The stadium also has been a kid magnet for all
Bailey Point Nature Preserve before ending back of its years.
in the heart of downtown. For people who grew up in Elk River,for decades
Lindberg said the original settlement in what is the stadium was the central.part of being a kid, -
now Elk River was known as Orono.It was platted Lindberg said. Photo by Jo i newp
in 1855 west of the Oro
no dam.Lumber milling Continuing on to the Union Congregational
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was the commerce that initially drove the devel- Church,United Church of Christ at 1118 Fourth
opmant of the little village,followed by other mills Street,Lindberg said many of the early Elk River ;y-.
such as flour. settlers were New Englanders,and Union Church
Within a decade,Elk River was platted approxi- was the church that they formed.The church was XE
mately a mile from Orono. was t established in the 1870x. •
Elk River's downtown was originally on the north Down the street at 1326 Fourth Street is another
side of the railroad tracks and consisted of 18 to historic church-Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. 1 CourllmU$e
20 buildings,Lindberg said.Fires,however,were The congregation dates to 1859 and the church 2 Ppbll[$[hOQ1S
a recurring problem. building to 1891.
"Downtown burned down two,maybe three times The oldest building in Elk River,however,is a M€Q1DdISa Chll[Cb
over there,"Lindberg said ofthe original Elk River house,Lindberg said.That is located just west of 4.Epis[opal Cflo[Ch
downtown. the Orono Dam,overlooking Lake Orono.
That led to the establishment of a new downtown The group then moved on to Bailey Point,locat- 5.Sherburne base
in its present location along the Mississippi River ed at 1 Morton Avenue,which has a rich history
and south of the railroad tracks. all its own.The area was once home to the Sher- 6 Elk River House
The oldest.downtown building is the Sunshine burns County Fairgrounds,a golf course and the 7.Post ofhLe
Depot,which was originally a drugstore,Lindberg high school football field.Lindberg said the Bailey
said. Point area also was the site of two battles between S Generdl mel ehdnl
The block oftmildings on the west side of Jackson, the Dakota and the Ojibwa in 1772 and 1773. g;Ell[m1U[0 Store
between Main Street and Highway 10,is known In 2012,it came under city ownership and today
as the Brick Block.Those structures data to the it is known as Bailey Point Nature Preserve. 10;$1lerifl S Of11re,CTL
1l.Eeneralmerrhauls
a ;. 12Drugpisl
13:8ai'lware`
14 Tirol'
15 Newspaper otb[e
16 Mire
17 Law office
18.Doctors orhre
19,Doctor's orOte
20 Hdhress sbop
"^ 21 Carperrer dull bo piff Shop
22.Carpenlers shop _
23 Mc River sawmill
24.Blatksmnh Shop
25.Ferry across Mississippi Rkner
26,Livery stable
27&28 Elk Riverlloutiur mills anR sawlili
29.M'anoudnilblacksmithshop
30.&enerdi merehaodise,Oiland hardware