Harris Brothers Forge and Rolling Mill began in the Irondale area in 1891. This mill turned bundles of scrap iron into large balls which were made into various shapes and forms. Seventy-five company homes were built for workers and their families near the mill. Ruinous fires brought the demise of the iron foundry in 1893.
Mounted cattlemen in front of the opulent Exchange Hotel in 1900. Built to accommodate 159 guests, the hotel, first called the Cattlemen's Hotel, was constructed at a cost of $30,000. This building housed a hotel, dining room, bank, land company, railroad offices, stock commission offices, telegraph office, newspaper presses, barber shop, saloon, and gaming rooms. It eventually became a canning factory and lastly Beisswenger's Hardware. The building was razed in October, 1988.
Peoples Coal and Ice Company had five ice houses on the east side of Long Lake which first served the stockyards industry and later provided a busy commercial ice industry for some 60 years in New Brighton. The ice was stored in well-insulated ice houses and covered with sawdust, which helped to insulate the ice and keep the blocks from sticking together. When needed, the 20 x 32-inch blocks were loaded into railroad cars, which held about 140 blocks per car. Any left-over ice went toward filling many a villager's own icehouse.
New Brighton's Long Lake from the west side of the lake, showing the remains of the stockyards industry, pump house, ice houses, and the stockyards water tower.
The stockyard industry, one of New Brighton's earliest business enterprises, was begun in 1889. The stockyard enterprises consisted of two large packing houses, the Twin City Packing Company and the Minneapolis Stock yards and Packing Company, which were located immediately south of the stockyards. There were facilities for killing rooms, refrigerator capacity, hide rooms, lard rooms, smoke meat rooms, and a sausage preparation room. Numerous slaughter houses, rendering works, and hide houses were located in an area referred to as "Butchers Spur". This photo shows the expanse of the stockyards industry at the turn of the century. On the far right are the five ice houses run by Peoples Coal and Ice Company. Far back on the photo is Long Lake. Front of photo shows the cattle pens.
The first blacksmith shop in New Brighton was built in 1905 and was located next to the Town Hall. The blacksmith shop also had owner lodging above. Later a garage addition was added on to the south side facing the Village Hall. Another addition was added on the north side for an implement store which in time became a grocery and general store. Owner James Treat is standing along the horse in the doorway of the building. His wife, Helga Gunderson Treat, leans out the upstairs window.
The Devine Hotel, also called Brighton Hotel and Long Lake House, in New Brighton was located along Front Street and Sixth Avenue in New Brighton during the stockyards heyday. It was built by William Devine I. There were five hotels in downtown New Brighton, all catering to the stockyard staff and workers. The hotel also contained a saloon. On the far right is the spire of the old Town Hall located on 5th Avenue.
The Transit House Hotel was the first hotel in New Brighton, built by its first mayor, Jack Davies. The hotel was located on Tenth Street and Fifth Avenue. Davis is standing in the doorway. The hotel was built for travelers to the stockyards and packing plants.
MacGillis & Gibbs Company workers with their horses as they transport telephone poles. The company specialized in the treatment, production and distribution of telephone poles beginning in 1919. The company employed many New Brighton men.
Water tower in downtown New Brighton situated on Fifth Avenue. It was built in 1917 by Chicago Bridge and Ironworks. The water tower and pump house were just to the south of the fire station and served the city until 1970.
The stockyard industry was a million dollar operation at the turn of the century. The stockyards, completed in September, 1889, could accommodate 5000 cattle, 10,000 hogs, 20,000 sheep, and 500 horses on its 30 acres. Cattle pens are shown.
The Belt Line Brick Company began about 1910 and operated on a 24 hours-per-day basis employing many New Brighton men. It was located east of present-day Sunnyside School. Its operation slowed up in post-World War II years as the plant became outmoded. It was dismantled in 1962.
The Belt Line Brick Company operated a plant in New Brighton beginning in 1910. They ran the business on a 24 hours-per-day basis. Its operation slowed up in post-World War II years as the plant became outmoded. It was dismantled in 1961. The brick yard employed many New Brighton men.
Horse barn at the stockyard site, with cattle in pens in front. Toward the rear is the opulent Exchange Hotel, a hotel built for the stockyards industry, which later became Beisswenger Hardware.
View of the stockyards shows the five ice houses run by Peoples Coal and Ice Company and cattle in pens. This photo is currently being used in the letterhead and logo for New Brighton's civic event, New Brighton Stockyard Days.
Bell Lumber and Pole Company was formed in 1919 to treat telephone poles and lumber. The pole yards were very important to the employment and economy of New Brighton. All of the heavy work was done by horses and pole yard workers in the early years.
MacGillis & Gibbs Company employees with their horses as they transport telephone poles. The company specialized in the treatment, production and distribution of telephone poles from 1919 and employed many New Brighton men. The firm treated telephone poles and lumber with chemicals to preserve the wood, which ultimately contaminated the soil and made its way into groundwater. In 1984 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declared both MacGillis & Gibbs Company site and an adjacent pole company, Bell Lumber and Pole, as a Superfund site. The cleanup continued until 1993.
Franklin M. Searles, his wife, Sadie, grandson Donald, and son DeWitt, in front of their still-standing home on Fourth Avenue in New Brighton. Searles was a prominent businessman and served on the Town Council for many years. He was known as "Mr. New Brighton" in the 1920s.
Bell Lumber and Pole Company was formed in 1919 to treat telephone poles and lumber. This machine is called a perforator which perforates the lumber and telephone poles to allow the preserving chemicals to penetrate.