Congressional Act H. R. 13502, dated January 8, 1929 authorizing the State of Minnesota and the State of Wisconsin to construct, maintain and operate a free highway bridge across the Saint Croix river at or near Stillwater, Minnesota.
Van House recalls businesses in Kelliher, Cann and Whitting, Beltrami Timber Company, toting freight from Solway to Red Lake, homestead rush after reservation opening, Bob Nevins, and many various lumber companies and their camps in the Kelliher area; Joe Jerome's post office at Battle River; when he homesteaded; the locations of Craig's Hotel, Linnon's saloon, and other saloons and businesses in Kelliher; a flowing well near Foy; and the steamboat Dahlburg, on which he ran the engine for three years. The woman speaking in the interview is probably is his wife, Catherine Van House. This record contains parts of multiple interviews. Please refer to the transcripts for help understanding these.
The recording is a multi-part interview with Sam Dolgaard, early resident of Saum area. Dolgaard talks about the location of Saum, the Matsons donating land for a school; Matson's sawmill; the election of 1903; the names of various Saum residents; whether Foy had a Post office; and starting a post office at Saum; scouting out his land prior to homesteading; arriving at Battle River, where Joe Jerome had a store and post office; his work contracting with logging companies; switching to work in scaling; building the Battle River dam; where he got materials to build his house; working for the Thief River Falls Lumber Company; wildfires; his recollection of J. J. Upsahl; timber moving from Funkley to Kelliher by railroad; the cedar business; how Kelliher got its name; early residents of Woodrow and Battle townships; what the area looked like when he arrived; getting merchandise from Golden and Thompson in Blackduck; what livestock they brought to Saum; and early schools. This record contains parts of multiple interviews. Please refer to the transcripts for help understanding these.
Letter dated January 9, 1925 from Stillwater City Attorney Edwin D. Buffington to Hon. George Sullivan regarding correspondence to and from Wisconsin Highway Commission regarding interstate bridge.
Letter dated January 20, 1911 from E. J. Miller, Minnesota Highway Department to Stillwater City Engineer J. Abercrombie regarding the life expectancy, suggested method of repars and posted speed and wieght limits of the existing Stillwater pontoon bridge
Letter dated February 17, 1925 from M. W. Torkelson, Wisconsin Highway Commission to Stillwater City Attorney Edwin D. Buffington regarding pending Wisconsin legislation pertaining to the interstate bridge.
Letter dated January 27, 1925 from M. W. Torkelson, Wisconsin Highway Commission to Stillwater City Attorney Edwin D. Buffington regarding resolution to be introduced to Wisconsin Senate and Assembly regarding the construction, re-construction, repair, maintenance and operation of inter-state bridges.
Letter dated January 21, 1925 from M. W. Torkelson, Wisconsin Highway Comission to Stillwater City Attorney Edwin D. Buffington regarding bill to construct, re-construct, repair, maintain and operate inter-state bridges and question regarding purchase of existing toll bridges.
Letter dated January 8, 1925 from MN State Senator George M. Sullivan to Stillwater City Attorney Edwin D. Buffington announcing his intention to introduce a joint resolution between Minnesota, North and South Dakota and Wisconsin on the subject of interstate bridges.
Letter dated September 29, 1924 from Minnesota Commissioner of Highways C. M. Babcock to Mayor Coffeen requesting formal resolution from Stillwater City Council regarding maintenance of bridge.
Letter dated July 23, 1924 from Minnesota Commissioner of Highways C. M. Babcock to Mayor R. J. Coffeen declaring that no action taken on permanent designation of route to include interstate bridge.
Letter dated October 23, 1924 from Minnesota Highway Department to J. T. Donaghey, Acting Highway Commissioner, Wisconsin Highway Commission advising the Wisconsin Highway Department to take over that portion of the bridge located in Wisconsin.
Letter dated May 21, 1925 from M. W. Torkelson, Wisconsin Highway Commission to Stillwater City Attorney Edwin D. Buffington reporting the proposed legislation recommended by the Wisconsin Highway Department had passed.
Letter dated February 28, 1925 from M. W. Torkelsom, Wisconsin Highway Commission to Stillwater City Attorney Edwin D. Buffington regarding report of the conference on interstate bridges on the legislation in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Letter dated January 9, 1925 from Sillwater City Attorney Edwin D. Buffington to Wisconsin Highway Commission regarding errors mad by the Maintenance engineer about the length of the bridge and the percent of bridge located within Minnesota boundary.
Letter dated March 27, 1928 from Stillwater City Attorney Edwin D. Buffington to Senator Henrik Shipstead, asking for federal aid in building the interstate bridge at Stillwater.
Letter dated May 7, 1928 from Stillwater City Attorney Edwin D. Buffington to Senator Henrik Shipstead, asking for his help in passing an amendment with regards to making federal funds available to municipalities with population over 2500 persons.
Letter dated December 27, 1924 from Stillwater City Attorney Edwin D. Buffington to Wisconsin Highway Commission asking describing the interstate bridge at Stillwater and wondering whether the state of Wisconsin is authorized to take over the portion of the bridge lying within the State of Wisconsin.
Letter dated October 2, 1924 from Stillwater Mayor R. J. Coffeen to C. M. Babcock, Commissioner of Highways regarding a special meeting and resolution passed regarding maintenance and ownership of the Stillwater portion of the bridge.
Letter dated April 5, 1928 from Thomas Mac Donald, Chief of Bureau of Public Roads to Senator Henrik Shipstead clarifying federal aid available for bridges, and questioning the eligibility of federal aid for the interstate bridge because of the portion of the bridge within the Stillwater city limits.
Letter dated March 27, 1925 from W. F. Rosenwald, Minnesota Highway Department Maintenance Engineer toStillwater Mayor R. J. Coffeen including Order No. 4476 to extend temporary location of Trunk Highway No. 45 along the inter-state bridge to the Wisconsin state line.
Letter dated March 12, 1925 from W. J. Madden, Stillwater Association of Public and Business Affairs to Asa G. Briggs, St. Paul Association of Public and Business Affairs suggesting that the City of St. Paul should share in the expense of a new bridge at Stillwater since many of the people crossing the bridge are travelling to and from St. Paul.
State of Minnesota Bill No. 1136 dated March 26, 1925 introduced by Senator Sullivan for an act relating to bridges across boundary waters between Minnesota and adjoining states.
