Exterior view of the Isaac Staples Sawmill Building at 400 Main Street North in Stillwater, Minnesota. The building is also known as the St. Croix Lumber Mills- Stillwater Manufacturing Company and is on the National Register of Historic Places. This mill was built in 1853 by Seth Sawyer and Alvah Heaton. It was purchased in 1869 by Isaac Staples. He was a powerful lumber baron in the St. Croix River Valley during the logging boom of the late nineteenth century. Staples arrived in Stillwater, from Maine in 1853 as a representative of eastern investors. Hersey, Staples, andCompany became the largest single owners of timberland in the St. Croix valley. Aside from his massive holdings and operations in timber, sawmills, and the St. Croix Boom Company, Staples was also the region's most successful farmer and an important banker.
The east side of Main Street from Nelson Street to Chestnut Street in Stillwater, Minnesota. Pictured are Simonet Furniture and Carpet Company at 301 Main Street South, built in 1904 and Trump's Grill and Bar, built pre-1884.
The Roscoe Hersey home at 414 South Fourth Street is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Eastlake/early Queen Anne style Roscoe Hersey House is an irregular plan 18 room structure made by machine-produced decorative woodwork. Roscoe Hersey played an important role in the early development of Stillwater's lumber and mercantile development. His house reflects the commercial success of the Hersey-Staples partnership, the strong link between the St. Croix Valley and Maine capital and personalities, and the boom years of Stillwater's lumber years. Roscoe Hersey was the eldest son of Samuel F. Hersey, Isaac Staples financial partner. Roscoe Hersey moved to Minnesota in 1867, after serving in the Civil War at the age of 26 to look after his family's business. He took charge of the Lake City branch of the Hersey, Staples and Co. In 1872 he moved to Stillwater and entered the firm of Hersey, Bean and Brown, a land, lumber, merchandise firm. In 1878 he was elected and served one term as a state senator. Hersey built the house in 1879-1880 and occupied it for seven years.
View of 3rd Street South and Myrtle Street West in Stillwater, Minnesota. Historic Hassoy block in background; Steeple Town Commons condominium ( formerly First Presbyterian Church) in foreground. Building constructed in 1851.
Panoramic view of the Stillwater Lift Bridge and downtown in Stillwater Minnesota. The Stillwater Lift Bridge is a vertical-lift bridge crossing the St. Croix River between Stillwater, Minnesota, and Houlton, Wisconsin. It first opened to traffic in 1931.
The north part of downtown Stillwater Minnesota looking north on Main Street. Maple Island Food Products and a 76 gas station are in the foreground of the picture.
The Jassoy building is located at 204 Third Street in Stillwater, Minnesota and was built by Theodore Jassoy in 1886. Jassoy and his son Herman owned and ran one of the finest harness and saddlery shops in Stillwater and in the state. In 1898, this building also housed the Public Reading Room.
The Connolly Shoe Building was built 1905 at 123 Second Street South in Stillwater, Minnesota. In 1905 Mr. Thomas F. Connolly, manager of the Stillwater Territorial Prison shoe shop was recruited to run new enterprise, a shoe factory, to provide last work for the residents of Stillwater.
Historic home at 118 Oak St. W in Stillwater, Minnesota was built between 1860 and 1872. Seth and Elizabeth Sawyer first owned the home (they're not listed on the sign), selling it to Philomena Potts. Owned by lumber merchant Samuel McClure in 1888. And then Reginald ""RA"" Kilty bought the home in the 1920s after emigrating from Ireland. He and his brother ran an oil and coal distribution business in Stillwater called JJ Kilty Company. RA's son, Richard Kilty bought the property.