The Bradley House (built in 1855 by Albert Stevens) was sold to J. T. Bradley in 1861. This stagecoach stop, located at the east end, facing north, of the then College Street (now 4th Street) bridge, a block east of Broadway was on the Old Dubuque Trail. A fancy coach met all trains and transported customers and their baggage to the Bradley House.
Several Rochester landmarks are pictured in this early street scene. Some of the buildings visible are: Olmsted County Court House, Episcopal Church, Presbyterian Church, Congregational Church, Old Central School and the Universalist Church.
Five men are posed on the front porch of the E. D. Buck Store in High Forest, Minnesota. The men are, left to right: Charles Armstrong, Harry Johnson, Vet Johnson, E. D. Buck, V. C. Dickey. After serving in the civil War, E. D. Buck retired to High forest and engaged in the mercantile business.
A small group of people are standing in front of the Pierce House (built in 1877) with a carriage and team of horses in the street. The hotel was located at 215 South Main Street (now First Avenue SW). Over the years the name of the hotel changed several times: 1884 Commercial House, 1893 Grand Union Hotel, 1895 Rochester Hotel,1920 Olmsted Hospital, 1922 Rochester Hotel, 1923 Rochester's Nurses Home, 1928 Maxwell House (Hall) and 1968 Maxwell Guest House.
The Zumbro Flour Mill was owned by John M. Cole. This mechanical drawing provides a cross section of the mill and includes details on the water wheel, separator, cockle machine, bran duster, purifier, wheat bins, stock hopper, flour bins, grading wheels and receiving elevator and other machinery.
The Beardsley Saloon was located at 214 South Broadway. James Beardsley (on right with mustache) is standing with an unidentified man behind the counter. The saloon had a stove in the center and pool tables located in the back.
M. V. Rowley's blacksmith shop was located at 22-24 North Broadway. The interior of the shop is shown with a man shoeing a horse and featuring horse shoes hanging from the rafters, forges, tools, anvils and a stove.
A large stove dominates one wall of the Kennedy Saloon. Wooden chairs are placed on either side of the stove. On the opposite wall is the bar with Mr. Kennedy standing behind the counter. Other features include a large mirror over the bar and several spittoons on the floor. A man is sitting in one of the chairs by the stove reading a newspaper.
The barber shop operated by Dick (Richard V.) Russell was located at 318 South Broadway. Three men are posed next to barber chairs, shaving mugs in background; left to right: S. Barton Russell, age 15 (son of Richard V.), Richard V. Russell, age 48 (born 1847, died 1906), Harry Russell, age 18 (son of Richard V.). There is a sign in window advertising the Southern Minnesota Fair.
The dam, mill and cooper shop are located at the joining of the South Middle Branch and the North Middle Branch of the Zumbro River. This was the second mill, built after the first mill was destroyed by a fire in 1879. The mill was built by A. D. Allis.
The interior of the Collin and Griffin Insurance office is shown with J. T. Collin seated at his desk, Etta Burns (bookkeeper) seated at the table and Richard J. Griffin standing at the counter. The office was located in the Opera House building at the corner of Broadway and Second Street SW.
The First National Bank (1869 - 1909) was located at 201 South Broadway. The bank building was 18 feet wide and 50 feet long. This interior view shows four men posed by the main counter with teller cages; left to right: Simon Feeney (assistant bookkeeper), Walter Hurlbut (cashier), Charles N. Ainslee (assistant cashier), William W. Churchill (bookkeeper).
Burt W. Eaton is sitting at his desk surrounded by bookshelves and various office equipment. A typewriter, letter press and law books are arranged on the table and desk. The law office was located in the Opera House block.
Emma Mueller is wearing a dress trimmed with cranberries and dried fruits from Mueller & Company grocers. She wore the outfit at the Merchants Carnival in Rochester.
Gertie Miller is wearing a costume representing the Dodge Lumber Company at the Merchants Carnival. Her dress is decorated with wood shavings and millwork.
Maude Elliott is wearing a costume representing the Olmsted County Democrat at the Merchants Carnival. This newspaper was published by Elliott and Son. Her dress is decorated with various paper items.
The Merchants Carnival featured local Rochester businesses in an early ""trade show"" format. Employees from each business dressed in costumes decorated with items from the business.
Third Street SW is shown, looking north. City Hall (built in 1884) is partially visible on the left. The uniformed firemen are standing in front of the Rochester Fire Department, left to right: William (Billy) Murray, William J. Hall, Bill Cudmore, Charles Zimmerman, William Boylhart, Henry (Stoney) Jacobs, John Hohler, Jack McHugh and driver Jack Ryan. Richard Ryan rented his team to the Fire Department. The horses pictured are the first team used by Fire Department. Previous to the horses, hand carts were pulled by volunteer firemen. The Rochester Electric Light Plant (built in 1893) was located between City Hall and the Fire Department.
This winter scene shows a man, riding in a sleigh pulled by a horse, on the street in front of the W. H. . Dodge lumber yard. The business was started in 1869 by W. H. Dodge. His son, Elam Dodge, joined the firm in 1907 and the name was changed to Dodge Lumber and Fuel.
The E. J. Rice Store is pictured on the corner in this street scene. The store was built by M. W. Clay in 1874. In 1895, Rice bought the store from the McCray Brothers and it burned in Dec. 1907. An early automobile, closely resembling a buggy, is in the foreground, surrounded by a group of interested people.
Hitching posts line the street in front of a row of businesses in Dover, Minn. The businesses on the west side of Main Street are: Cady's Hardware (brick building with outside stairway), established by Clarence and Walter Cady in 1891; L. A. Groby (grocery); Post Office; Robinson's Meat Market; Modern Woodmen Hall.
Laundry supplies and wicker baskets are arranged around the interior of the Rochester Steam Laundry. The business was located at 107 South Main (First Avenue SW).
Shoes and boots are displayed on the walls of the George Leonard Shoe Store. The older gentleman, on the right, reading the newspaper, is George Leonard's father. The woman on the left is Abbie Leonard. The business was located at 227 South Broadway.
Will Ireland (right) and Leslie Stillwell (left) are standing behind the counter at Ireland's Book Store. Stationery supplies and books line the walls. The book store was located at 121 South Broadway.
Shaving mugs are displayed on the wall of the Beehive Barber Shop at 11 West Zumbro (now Second Street SW) in the Brackenridge Building. R. N. Sweet is the barber on the left and Phil Gentling is the barber on the right.
Wooden furniture, upholstered furniture, rugs and wall decorations line the walls of the interior of the P. F. Johnson Furniture and Undertaking Store. Wooden chairs are hanging from the ceiling. The store was located on the southwest corner of Broadway and College Street (Fourth Street SW).
Several people are working at looms inside the Rochester Rug Factory. Different types of looms and other rug making equipment are arranged around the room. A stove is located in the center of the space.
The W H Dodge Lumber Yard was located at 24 South Main (now 1st Avenue SW) in Rochester. The business, originally known as W H Dodge, General Dealer in Lumber, was started in 1869 by W H Dodge. His son, Elam, joined the firm in 1907 and the name was changed to Dodge Lumber and Fuel.
The W. H. Dodge lumber yard was located at 3rd and Main Street. This exterior view shows the front entrance. The business was started in 1869 by W. H. Dodge. His son, Elam Dodge, joined the firm in 1907 and the name was changed to Dodge Lumber and Fuel.
A piano, still in the shipping crate, sits on the sidewalk outside the Wagoner Music Company. The piano was manufactured at the Vose Piano Factory. The music store was located at 101 - 105 South Main (First Avenue SW). To the left of the music store at 107 South Main (First Avenue SW) is Rochester Steam Laundry.
A horse and buggy wait outside the grocery store on Main Street in Dover, Minnesota. The businesses are, left to right: coal sheds (low building on left side of street), unknown business, Dover Independent (newspaper), First State Bank, Charles Bush Dry Goods, grocery and drug store owned by J. G. Bush, barber shop, restaurant.
A small group of people are posed in front of the Northwestern Meat Market (also known as Grimm's Meat Market). Meat carcasses are hung from side walls.
Teams of horses with wagons wait for a delivery load at the Dodge Lumber and & Fuel Company loading facility. The business, originally known as W. H. Dodge, General Dealer in Lumber, was started in 1869 by W. H. Dodge. His son, Elam Dodge, joined the firm in 1907 and the name was changed to Dodge Lumber and Fuel.
Two men are standing on top of coal loaded onto a sled pulled by a team of two horses. One man is holding a scoop shovel. The Chicago Great Western Railroad tracks are visible on the right.
Two men are sitting at a table drinking beer while another man stands by the counter at the Monogram bar. Charlie Kruesel was the proprietor of the saloon located at 214 South Broadway.
Spectators watch the Fourth of July celebration from the street and from the balcony on the Central Fire Station. Rochester Fire Department motorized equipment is displayed along with horse drawn fire equipment. By 1918, the fire department had become completely mechanized. This was the last public showing of the fire horses. The Tollefson Furniture and Undertaking store is visible on the right.
A group of men are posed by a caravan of loaded wagons in front of the Hayes Lucas Lumber Company in Stewartville. The wagons are loaded with cement, blocks and building materials for the Urban barn and are being pulled by a tractor. Otto Urban is on the wagon behind the tractor. Frank Urban is on the tractor.
Construction of the Lake Zumbro Hydroelectric Power Plant dam began in this area of the Zumbro River in 1917. The structure was designed by noted hydroelectric engineer, Hugh Lincoln Cooper. The dam, completed in 1919, is owned by Rochester Public Utilities.
The construction of the Lake Zumbro Hydroelectric Power Plant dam began in 1917. The structure was designed by noted hydroelectric engineer, Hugh Lincoln Cooper. The dam, completed in 1919, is owned by Rochester Public Utilities. The railroad tracks were used to help move the large rocks and other materials.
The construction of the Lake Zumbro Hydroelectric Power Plant dam began in 1917. The structure was designed by noted hydroelectric engineer, Hugh Lincoln Cooper. The dam, completed in 1919, is owned by Rochester Public Utilities. Some of the forms for the dam structure are visible in the foreground.
The construction of the Lake Zumbro Hydroelectric Power Plant dam began in 1917. The structure was designed by noted hydroelectric engineer, Hugh Lincoln Cooper. The dam, completed in 1919, is owned by Rochester Public Utilities. The spillway is taking shape in the foreground.
The construction of the Lake Zumbro Hydroelectric Power Plant dam began in 1917. The structure was designed by noted hydroelectric engineer, Hugh Lincoln Cooper. The dam, completed in 1919, is owned by Rochester Public Utilities. Two men can be seen in the center left viewing the construction site.
The construction of the Lake Zumbro Hydroelectric Power Plant dam began in 1917. The structure was designed by noted hydroelectric engineer, Hugh Lincoln Cooper. The dam, completed in 1919, is owned by Rochester Public Utilities. Men are working in the excavation area for the east abutment of the dam.
The construction of the Lake Zumbro Hydroelectric Power Plant dam began in 1917. The structure was designed by noted hydroelectric engineer, Hugh Lincoln Cooper. The dam, completed in 1919, is owned by Rochester Public Utilities. Looking west along the toe of the dam, section ten is in the foreground and the site of the power house is in the background.