This is an original plat of Olmsted County with many handwritten notes and drawings showing early Minnesota settlers, farmers and other town landscape features. This map is the earliest documentation we have found in our collection of the farms, towns, and topography of Olmsted County, Minnesota.
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.
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.
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.
The Northrop School was leveled by the 1883 tornado. This school served students of the Third Ward. The tornado struck Rochester in the early evening of Aug. 21, 1883.
The Chicago & North Western Railroad yards received severe damage from the 1883 tornado. Box cars, buildings and stock pens were destroyed. The tornado struck Rochester in the early evening of Aug. 21, 1883.
The T. P. Hall Buggy Works lost part of the roof and the side of the building in the 1883 tornado. Carriages and wagons are visible as well as the remains of an freight elevator structure. The business was located on the corner of College Street and Main Street. The tornado struck Rochester in the early evening of Aug. 21, 1883.
The tin from the roof of the Heaney Block was rolled up and dropped on the street by the force of the tornado. Just to the left (south) is the Cook House, built in 1869. The Heaney Block was built by Daniel Heaney in 1866. It was in this building, on the 3rd floor, where Dr. William W. Mayo set up temporary hospital for the care of those injured in the tornado. The tornado struck Rochester in the early evening of Aug. 21, 1883.
The object in the foreground is a roll of tin that was torn off the Heaney Building by the 1883 tornado. The Heaney Block is on the right, with the Cook House across the street (to the left of Heaney Block). On the 3rd floor of Heaney Hall, Dr. William Worrall Mayo set up a temporary hospital for the care of those injured in the tornado. The tornado struck Rochester in the early evening of Aug. 21, 1883.
This view of North Rochester shows the most heavily settled section of the city. Very few houses are still standing after the 1883 tornado. This photo was taken from Cole's Mill. The tornado struck Rochester in the early evening of Aug. 21, 1883.
This photo was taken from Cole's Mill and shows the extensive property damage from the 1883 tornado. The tornado struck Rochester in the early evening of Aug. 21, 1883.
The mill race is filled with debris and an overturned railroad car. The damaged Cole's Mill is in the background. A horse and buggy stand near the mill. John M. Cole, the proprietor of the mill was found dead in the street between the mill and his residence. He had apparently left the mill to go home when he was killed by the storm. The tornado struck Rochester in the early evening of Aug. 21, 1883.
One building in this scene of a section of Broadway is still standing. All other buildings have been destroyed by the 1883 tornado. The wooden walkway is also damaged in several sections. The tornado struck Rochester in the early evening of Aug. 21, 1883.
Most of the houses have been destroyed in this view of a street in Rochester after the tornado of 1883. The buildings left standing are all heavily damaged. The tornado struck Rochester in the early evening of Aug. 21, 1883.
Only a few houses remain standing after the 1883 tornado. This is the view from Cole's Mill showing the residential section of Rochester. The tornado struck Rochester in the early evening of Aug. 21, 1883.
Vedder's Farm Machinery Depot was the largest in Southeastern Minnesota. It was built in 1879 and located on the corner of 5th and Broadway. About 75 feet of his store was destroyed. Albert D. Vedder and his wife were in the cellar and saved from death by heavy timbers that lodged above them and kept the ruined masonry from crushing them. The tornado struck Rochester in the early evening of Aug. 21, 1883.
The force of the winds from the 1883 tornado blew the railroad bridge into the Zumbro River. The tornado struck Rochester in the early evening of Aug. 21, 1883.
This photo shows debris caught in trees, trees with no leaves and piles of rubble everywhere. The tornado struck Rochester in the early evening of Aug. 21, 1883.
This large building was completely destroyed by the 1883 tornado. Roof timbers are broken and laying on a pile of loose bricks. The caption reads ""Machine Shop"". The tornado struck Rochester in the early evening of Aug. 21, 1883.
The west end of Cole's Mill was blown in, the roof blown off, the corner of a wall torn out, the machinery damaged and the cooper shop destroyed. Eight box cars were overturned and two carloads of flour were in the mill race. John M. Cole, the proprietor of the mill was found dead in the street between the mill and his residence. He had apparently left the mill to go home when he was killed by the storm. In the foreground is the leveled home of Paul Thompson, who worked for the mill and occupied a home rented from the mill. The stove is all that is recognizable of any of the house furnishings. The tornado struck Rochester in the early evening of Aug. 21, 1883.
This photo was taken in North Rochester near the Cook and Proud residences. People are looking through piles of rubble. A dead horse is in the foreground, possibly impaled with a tree or branch. The tornado struck Rochester in the early evening of Aug. 21, 1883.
Two women are walking among the debris, another woman is sitting down. The trees have lost their leaves in the storm. Very little is recognizable among the piles of rubble except a chair and a wagon wheel. The tornado struck Rochester in the early evening of Aug. 21, 1883.
Part of the destroyed residential section is shown in this photo taken after the 1883 tornado. Several homes are badly damaged and many are completely destroyed. The tornado struck Rochester in the early evening of Aug. 21, 1883.
Several people are viewing the damage from the 1883 tornado. A man is standing next to a piece of furniture and a boy is sitting with a large toy horse. Among the debris on the ground is a stove, windows and an umbrella. The inscription on the photo is: ""Cascade Park, 20 houses destroyed, 8 persons killed near here."" The tornado struck Rochester in the early evening of Aug. 21, 1883.
A group of spectators at the entrance to the Zumbro Hotel watch four men in a car at the curb. A jug, spare tire and sign reading ""New York to Rochester"" hang on the side of the car.
Mrs. Alexander Ross (M. J. Ross) wrote this undated letter from Kingston to her cousin. She mentions her family and their health. The top portion of this letter is missing.
Members of a threshing crew are posed in front of and on a steam tractor and thresher. The tractor and thresher have large metal wheels. There is a large pile of chaff in the background.
Several people are posed on a tractor and thresher with other people driving teams pulling wagons. A barn and a large pile of chaff are in the background.
Alexander Ramsey wrote this letter from Saint Paul. He discusses the rules and judgment that affect the appointedment of officers to new and existing regiments.
Under the Act of April 16, 1917, the State of Minnesota created a commission to ensure public safety of all Minnesotans, their property and the nation in the event of war. This pamphlet documents the creation and execution of this law, and lists the members of the committees created and their purposes.
The Zumbro River flooded a residential section of the city in this photo taken from the brewery. The area in the background would later become Soldiers Field Park. After several days of drenching rains along the Zumbro River basin, the river overflowed its banks in Rochester early on the morning of early on June 26, 1908. The river rose at a rapid rate (four feet in 20 minutes) and did extensive damage to the business and residential sections of the city.
A boy on a donkey is posed in front of the I.O.O.F. (Odd Fellows) baseball team. Spectators are sitting in the grandstand in the background. The Odd Fellows won the game with the K.P. (Knights of Pythias).
Judge C. E. Callaghan's home at the corner of College Street (4th Street SE) and Dubuque Street (3rd Avenue) is surrounded by the flooded Zumbro River. The smokestack from the water works can be seen in the distance. After several days of drenching rains along the Zumbro River basin, the river overflowed its banks in Rochester early on the morning of early on June 26, 1908. The river rose at a rapid rate (four feet in 20 minutes) and did extensive damage to the business and residential sections of the city.
Spectators are walking along the Chicago Great Western Railroad bridge assessing the damage from the flood waters. Much of the ground supporting the tracks has been washed away. The Zumbro River overflowed its banks in Rochester early on the morning of June 26, 1908.
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.
The first vote recorded in Olmsted County was taken on October 13, 1857. The ballots were tallied and the totals were recorded by J. N. McLane, Clerk of the County Commissioners, on November 2, 1857. Voters cast ballots to determine if the proposed constitution would be accepted and for the offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Congressmen, Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, State Auditor, State Treasurer, Attorney General, Clerk of the Supreme Court, Judge of the 3rd Judicial District, Attorney, Representatives, Senators, Clerk of District Court and Judge of Probate.
Ticket number 1008 admitted one person to Soldiers Field in Rochester, Minnesota to view the preparations and balloon flight of Dr. Jean Piccard. Originally scheduled for sometime in June, the flight was delayed until July 17 - 18, 1937 when optimum weather conditions permitted a safe flight. Dr. Jean Piccard was a University of Minnesota physicist and aeronautical engineer who believed it was possible to ascend into the stratosphere using many small cluster balloons rather than one large balloon. The experimental flight was sponsored by the Rochester Kiwanis Club and supported by local residents and students.
People are pictured walking through the landscaped gardens, flower beds and walkways of the Rochester State Hospital. The hospital, also known as the Second Hospital for the Insane, opened in 1879. Farm fields are visible in the background.
Varnum Hadley wrote this letter to inform Martha Dieter of the fate of her husband. Jacob Dieter was last seen about twenty miles from the railroad. A list of all the wounded and missing from Company F is included.
This volume tells the story of Base Hospital 26, which was formed at the University of Minneota and organized by Dr. Sam Robinson, chest surgeion on the Mayo Clinic staff. The dates of operation for the Base Hospital 26 were Dec. 15, 1917, to May 3, 1919. It was mobilized and trained in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and arrived in Fort McPherson, Georgia, on Dec. 31, 1917. Major Arthur A. Law of Minneapolis was the director. The unit trained with other units in Georgia and by March 1918 the personnel had increased to a number sufficient for a 1,000-bed hospital. Base Hospital 26 staff were the first to arrive at the Hospital Center in Allerey, France, where they began to set up hospital services to aid the soldiers in World War I. The Rochester men enlisted in that city and were sworn in by Dr. Robinson, recruiting officer and organizer.
This letter is undated and unsigned, but probably was written by Rhoda George after the death of her husband, James. She writes about finances, funeral expenses and important papers. There are problems with the probate proceedings bacause of the strange wording in the will. She has almost no money left and can not access her husband's money. Ned will take his bar examination on April third. Her widow's pension application has been filled out and is expected to be mailed the next day.
The letter starts with a short note to Helen from Clinton Cilley. Rhoda George wrote this letter from Lebanon Junction, Kentucky. She describes her new lodgings and their Christmas dinner. She mentions details of their life in Kentucky.
Rhoda George wrote this letter from Lebanon, Kentucky. She mentions that she has not seen her husband since January first and expresses concern over the fate of her husband. She predicts that more soldiers will die from disease caused by the climate than will die by shooting. Many soldiers from Minnesota are in the hospital in Lebanon with various illnesses including measles and mumps. Lodgings are described as well as life in Lebanon with her son, Ned.
Rhoda George wrote this letter from Lebanon, Kentucky. She mentions that she has not seen her husband since January first and expresses concern over the fate of her husband. She predicts that more soldiers will die from disease caused by the climate than will die by shooting. Many soldiers from Minnesota are in the hospital in Lebanon with various illnesses including measles and mumps. Lodgings are described as well as life in Lebanon with her son, Ned.
This letter is unsigned, but appears to be in Rhoda George's handwriting. She writes about the weather in Lebanon, Kentucky, and describes the unhealthy climate and sickness among the men. There are several men from around Wasioja that were in the local hospital. She expresses concern over the upcoming battles.