The center figure in the photograph is Henry Ruikka standing in his general store that was located in the Village of Thomson, Minnesota. Located 3.5 miles from the town center of present day Esko, it was much easier to travel by horse-drawn wagon to buy supplies here than to make the arduous, day-long round trip to Duluth. This was one of the first stores in the area, and early Thomson Township and Esko residents traveled to the Village of Thomson by horse and wagon to buy their home and farm supplies. The Village post office was also located in this store. It was reportedly the first Finnish business establishment in Carlton County, having been established in 1891.
Depicted are several men inside the first Co-Op Store in Esko in the early 1930s. The larger man, second from the left, is Jalmer Hannula, and the eighth man from the left is Erick Raisanen. The store, built by the Cloquet Co-Op Store Society on property acquired in 1926, was on the north side of Highway 61 West. Although the framing mentions the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and the Canaletto View in Vence, it was mounted in a frame that had previously housed this Venetian scene, exemplifying the thriftiness of people during the Great Depression of the 1930s.
This photograph shows a man with a horse-drawn wagon in front of the William Rinkel Dry Goods and Groceries Store in St. Peter at 108 South Minnesota Avenue. The caption on the reverse indicates that Chas. H. Clark was going camping at Lake Emily, and that the name of the horse was Prince. Dr. G. F. Merritt's office can be seen at right.
Black and white photograph of a grocerry store, probably in Shakopee. The sign on the building reads, "Groceries & Provisions." Writing on the reverse side indicates it might have been H.H. Strunk, but it does not correspond to other photographs of other properties owned by Strunk.
This photo shows the exterior of Theodore Knoll's general store in St. Peter, which was located on the northeast corner of the intersection of Third street and Park Row. A number of men and women appear in the photo, as does a horse-drawn wagon.
This photograph shows the A. J. Lamberton store in St. Peter on the east side of the 200 block of South Minnesota Avenue. It was one of the businesses in the northern half of the block.
This photo shows the William Rinkel general store in St. Peter. It was located on the west side of the 100 block of South Minnesota Avenue. Several members of the Rinkel family appear in front of the building, including Mrs. Wm. Sr., G. H., W. H., and B. O. (as a small boy).
Exterior view of the Theodore Knoll general store at the northeast corner of the intersection of Park Row and Third street in St. Peter. The building was constructed in 1886, facing Third street.
Exterior view of the dry goods and clothing store in St. Peter that was owned by A. J. Lamberton. It was located on the east side of the 200 block of South Minnesota Avenue.
This photograph shows the dry goods store that was owned by Theodore Knoll in St. Peter. The store was located along Third street at its intersection with Park Row.
Old general store building in downtown Becker; group of five people standing outside on the sidewalk. Information retrieved from list of names on reverse of photograph, from left: Lillian Knutson, Mrs. Calhoun, Inger Knutson, Mr. Calhoun, and K.G. Knutson (1909).
A group is standing in doorway of store, which is in the Schilz building. Left to right: Tommy Traynor (boy), John Drager, Jim Conway (derby hat), Jim Meuwissen, Julia Bailey, Mr. Woodis (salesman), Joe Neubeiser, Bill Bailey, Addie Bailey, Mrs. Mary Kahle, Lizzie Baumann, Mike McCarthy, Casper Verkinnes, Leo Foley (boy), horse and wagon.