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.
This plat book was drawn from actual surveys and county records and includes Olmsted County, the individual townships, cities, towns, a patron's directory and a table of distances for the county. Township maps show the property owners, location of roads, railroad tracks, schools, rivers, farm houses, cemeteries and mills.
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.