Opened in 1882 by the Minnesota Mining Company, Breitung pit was part of the first iron ore mine on the Vermillion Range. Ore from this pit made up the first commercial shipment of Minnesota Iron Ore out of the Agate Bay ore docks, Two Harbors, Minnesota July 31, 1884.
The Nelson Store was located on First Avenue, where the present day American Legion now stands. The N.C. Nelson General Store was the first store in Agate Bay, Minnesota, now known as Two Harbors.
A photograph of eight Lumberjacks from a lumber camp including Nels Johnson, the camp operator on the right, the camp cook, Jonas Peter Nelson and his son Gene Nelson and Arthur Deunewith holding the horse.
A view to the south along Minnesota Avenue in St. Peter. A flag flies from the Nicollet Hotel at the intersection with Park Row at right. An encampment of G. A. R. veterans was being held in the city.
Image taken from bay showing the wooden footings for the first ore dock in Agate Bay. Wooden planks are lined up along the bank, Agate Bay House is the large building in the center of the image. Construction of the ore docks began in 1883.
Image of a group of men standing outside of the Agate Bay House. Painted sign underneath the decorative peak on the covered porch. This was utilized as a boarding house for railroad workers. Also pictured is an intersection of a wooden sidewalk, one of the first built in Two Harbors, Minnesota. Managers are Brown, Butler, and Blake standing on the right side of the covered porch.
Ice harvesting at Agate Bay. Bays in Lake Superior regularly froze in the cold winter months. Jacob Rafin Senior is seated on the sled. Town of Two Harbors in the background.
Image of a steam powered shovel sitting on a railroad track. Land is barren, multiple tracks cross the landscape. Town of Virginia extends beyond the boundaries of the mine, separated by a fence. Note the rows of iron ore cars in the background. Oliver Mining Company owned this mine.
Image of a group of men and children standing on a wooden sidewalk outside of the Iron Port Printing Shop. Second floor contains apartments for the proprietor and his family. The Iron Port was the official paper of Two Harbors and Lake County. Founded by James Coggswell, the newspaper was first published July 11th, 1890.
Image shows the Ella G. Stone, predecessor to the Edna G. tugboat pulling a whaleback vessel into the ore docks at Agate Bay. Note the hatches are open on the whaleback.
Image of a group of men posing for a photograph next to a hoist and derrick system. Man standing on deck tips a steel bucket into a large pile of iron ore. Identified as hoist at Shaft Number 3 at the Cincinnati Mine, first hoist on the Mesabi Range. Mine was owned by the Standard Ore Company of Duluth. Photograph shows the first bucked of ore hoisted from the site.
Interior view of Schreiner Brothers & Moulton Company (1888-1923) interior view. Image of three men standing near a china display. An array of gas light fixtures hang from the ceiling of the store. A piano is covered in the foreground. Wooden railings frame an opening in the floor that looks down on the first level of the store. Store proprietors were E.H. Schreiner and W.N Moulton.
Interior view of Schreiner Brothers & Moulton Company (1888-1923). Image of seven men and four women standing around display cases full of merchandise. Handkerchiefs and other accessories are displayed in glass cases while skirts, scarves, and textiles are displayed along the walls and wooden shelving units holding boxed goods. Gas lights hang from the ceiling, lighting the room. Store proprietors were E.H. Schreiner and W.N Moulton.
Set of 3 delivery wagons loading in front of J. Schriener and Company General Store (1888-1919). Called the Big Store as all merchandise was purchased in carload lots. Operated by John Schreiner and E.H. Schreiner. The business later evolved into Schreiner Brothers and Molton.
Image shows Main Street looking east. Water tower is in backround. The Power plant in the background was razed in 2013. In front of power plant is Rech & Yackley Monument Works.