Construction of the Lake Zumbro Hydroelectric Power Plant dam began in this area of the Zumbro River in 1917. The structure was designed by noted hydroelectric engineer, Hugh Lincoln Cooper. The dam, completed in 1919, is owned by Rochester Public Utilities.
The Zumbro Flour Mill was owned by John M. Cole. This mechanical drawing provides a cross section of the mill and includes details on the water wheel, separator, cockle machine, bran duster, purifier, wheat bins, stock hopper, flour bins, grading wheels and receiving elevator and other machinery.
This winter scene shows a man, riding in a sleigh pulled by a horse, on the street in front of the W. H. . Dodge lumber yard. The business was started in 1869 by W. H. Dodge. His son, Elam Dodge, joined the firm in 1907 and the name was changed to Dodge Lumber and Fuel.
Several Rochester landmarks are pictured in this early street scene. Some of the buildings visible are: Olmsted County Court House, Episcopal Church, Presbyterian Church, Congregational Church, Old Central School and the Universalist Church.
Laundry supplies and wicker baskets are arranged around the interior of the Rochester Steam Laundry. The business was located at 107 South Main (First Avenue SW).
A piano, still in the shipping crate, sits on the sidewalk outside the Wagoner Music Company. The piano was manufactured at the Vose Piano Factory. The music store was located at 101 - 105 South Main (First Avenue SW). To the left of the music store at 107 South Main (First Avenue SW) is Rochester Steam Laundry.
Several people are working at looms inside the Rochester Rug Factory. Different types of looms and other rug making equipment are arranged around the room. A stove is located in the center of the space.
Third Street SW is shown, looking north. City Hall (built in 1884) is partially visible on the left. The uniformed firemen are standing in front of the Rochester Fire Department, left to right: William (Billy) Murray, William J. Hall, Bill Cudmore, Charles Zimmerman, William Boylhart, Henry (Stoney) Jacobs, John Hohler, Jack McHugh and driver Jack Ryan. Richard Ryan rented his team to the Fire Department. The horses pictured are the first team used by Fire Department. Previous to the horses, hand carts were pulled by volunteer firemen. The Rochester Electric Light Plant (built in 1893) was located between City Hall and the Fire Department.
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.
A small group of people are standing in front of the Pierce House (built in 1877) with a carriage and team of horses in the street. The hotel was located at 215 South Main Street (now First Avenue SW). Over the years the name of the hotel changed several times: 1884 Commercial House, 1893 Grand Union Hotel, 1895 Rochester Hotel,1920 Olmsted Hospital, 1922 Rochester Hotel, 1923 Rochester's Nurses Home, 1928 Maxwell House (Hall) and 1968 Maxwell Guest House.
Wooden furniture, upholstered furniture, rugs and wall decorations line the walls of the interior of the P. F. Johnson Furniture and Undertaking Store. Wooden chairs are hanging from the ceiling. The store was located on the southwest corner of Broadway and College Street (Fourth Street SW).
Barbers stand next to their barber chairs in Oesterreich Billiards, Bowling Alley and Barber Shop. Billiard tables are visible on the far right. The barbers are (left to right): Louie Bauman, Bill Sykes, Slim Garlets, Earl Ellison and Fred Oesterreich. The business was located at 9 South Broadway.
A group of Oakwood Cemetery workers are posed with garden tools, lawn mower, wheel barrow, sod cutter. The second man from the left is Andrew Holm, superintendent of the cemetery.
A small group of people are posed in front of the Northwestern Meat Market (also known as Grimm's Meat Market). Meat carcasses are hung from side walls.
Two men are sitting at a table drinking beer while another man stands by the counter at the Monogram bar. Charlie Kruesel was the proprietor of the saloon located at 214 South Broadway.
The dam, mill and cooper shop are located at the joining of the South Middle Branch and the North Middle Branch of the Zumbro River. This was the second mill, built after the first mill was destroyed by a fire in 1879. The mill was built by A. D. Allis.
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.
Maude Elliott is wearing a costume representing the Olmsted County Democrat at the Merchants Carnival. This newspaper was published by Elliott and Son. Her dress is decorated with various paper items.
Hitching posts line the street in front of a row of businesses in Dover, Minn. The businesses on the west side of Main Street are: Cady's Hardware (brick building with outside stairway), established by Clarence and Walter Cady in 1891; L. A. Groby (grocery); Post Office; Robinson's Meat Market; Modern Woodmen Hall.
A horse and buggy wait outside the grocery store on Main Street in Dover, Minnesota. The businesses are, left to right: coal sheds (low building on left side of street), unknown business, Dover Independent (newspaper), First State Bank, Charles Bush Dry Goods, grocery and drug store owned by J. G. Bush, barber shop, restaurant.