Surging water in the Mississippi River, with buildings, smokestacks and the Phoenix Mill in the background. Contributed by Richard Uriah Jones, Macalester College Class of 1901, and Macalester Head of Chemistry Department 1903-1941, and Dean of the College, 1917-1936.
A Grist Mill once stood where the present city of Anoka is currently located. This was on the east bank of the Rum River on the north side of the Main Street bridge.
Built prior to 1868 by Reid & Essler, it was first used as a saw mill. In 1870 it was purchased by Essler, Ahrens & Berndgren and tt was then made into a grist mill. Steam was put in to use as an emergency in case the creek got to low. Photo crica 1940 before the mill was destroyed.
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.
Exterior view of the Hastings Malting Company in Hastings, Minnesota. The Hastings spiral bridge over the Mississippi River can be seen in the foreground.