Sauk Lake
SAUK CENTER is a city of 3,000, located 117 miles west of St. Paul, in Stearns county. There is perhaps no city in Minnesota more famous by nature than the above mentioned. It is located in the most fertile district of the state and lies at the foot of beautiful Sauk lake, from which it takes its name.
Sauk lake, the foot of which fronts the well kept city park, is ten miles long, and during fishing season is ever a mecca for sportsmen. Black and rock bass, pike, pickerel, whitefish and crappies are caught in abundance. The lake offers an ideal place for boating, and in season suitable boats are always available at very moderate prices.
Fairy lake is but four miles from the city, and, aside from an abundance of the finny tribe, has an ideal beach for bathing, ample shade and a well kept and level road leading from the city. Aside from the picturesque beauty of the lake, there are few, if any, lakes in the state that are supplied with more prolific bass fishing grounds, while from its deeper portions fish of the various larger species are regularly taken.
Birch Lake lies within an hour’s drive from the city, and is becoming widely known as a summer resort. At present there are perhaps thirty pretty cottages located on its shores, and there will be several more erected during the summer of 1904. As are the other lakes tributary to Sauk Center, Birch is justly famed for its fishing grounds.
Cedar lake lies eleven miles north of the city and contains an abundance of black bass. This lake also has good camping grounds and a bathing beach.
Aside from the natural beauties of the city of Sauk Center and tributary territory, the enterprise of its citizens has been such that in the way of permanent improvements it is, size considered, unexcelled. Its schools rank among the best in the state and it boasts a $10,000 library building with books appropriate to such a structure. It has electric light service, sewers and several miles of cement walks. All in all it well represents the progressive and ideal American town. In hotel accommodations it is well supplied and the tourist is treated with every courtesy. The Palmer house, a commodious and modern first class hotel, would be an ornament to any city of much greater population. It affords special rates to tourists and extra special rates for children. The city also contains other hotels to meet the demands of those who seek cheaper accommodations.
The Great Northern and Northern Pacific run through town and give the best of freight and passenger service. The city contains fine schools and churches, flouring mills of 250 barrels capacity, and the Keller Wagon manufacturing company is the largest in the North; the woodworking establishment of James Ingram is the main works of the town. Six acres of public park on the banks of Sauk lake; all of the secret orders are represented; two cigar factories, four large elevators, two creameries.
The schools here rank among the best of the state, and they employ fourteen teachers of the very best in the state.
The Stearns County Agricultural society hold the annual fair here each year, and have one of the best half-mile tracks in the state; also fine buildings adorn the grounds.
Sauk Center has two live and well edited newspapers, the Avalanche and the Herald, and they are a credit to the county and town. F. H. Michelson, a former St. Paul boy, has purchased the Avalanche and is making many friends. The fine business blocks and three banks are a credit to a city of 50,000 people, and the merchants always will give you a hearty welcome at all times.
Stearns County.
The county of Stearns is one of the very best for all kinds of farming, and the surface is generally slightly rolling, not hilly, and well drained, with some timber and abundance of pure water in lakes, streams, springs and wells. The prices for farm lands range from $30 to $40 per acre, depending on soil, improvements and location. Stearns county has excellent schools, churches, roads and bridges, and all the advantages of many older sections. The new settlers from Iowa that have settled in this county, and also from Wisconsin and Illinois, are well pleased with their new location. Their new homes are equally productive with those they left and have cost them half the money. Stearns county has few equals in the state for general farming. It is well stocked with a good grade of dairy cattle, and good creameries are accessible to all.
The Soil.
The soil of Stearns county is divided, possibly 75 per cent being a heavy black loam with a yellow clay subsoil, richly impregnated with the elements that are needed to produce grains and grasses. This is of inexhaustible fertility and the best of wheat crops are still grown on land of this character that has been cultivated every year for forty years. The other 25 per cent is of a sandy loam with mostly sand subsoil. This class of land is found principally along the streams and lakes and where not too high makes excellent meadow and pasture land and produces excellent corn and potatoes. The county is full of lakes and is the sportsman’s paradise, for you can bag plenty of ducks, chickens, quail and partridges in season. The railroads have opened up a very fertile timber and meadow and farming country with a most productive soil equal to the best of Iowa or Illinois, capable of raising immense crops of grains and grasses, and is especially adapted to stock raising and dairying. A country blessed with all the natural advantages for a prosperous home building, a soil that will raise anything, plenty of rainfall, meadows for hay and pasture, timber for fuel, fencing building, and markets; an abundance of wild fruits, fish and game for the table; lakes, rivers and brooks without number; and railroads running by your door, make a home for the wornout as well as starved out Eastern farmer. This article on the county stands good for the other towns in this write-up.
Business Houses.
Following are a few of the prominent business firms of the town:
James Ingram, the mayor of the city, is proprietor of the large wood-working establishment, employing twenty men and running every day in the week but Sundays. Mr. Ingram is one of the rustlers of Sauk Center.
Dr. J. A. Du Bois is the leading physician and surgeon of the town, also surgeon for the Great Northern and Northern Pacific railroads and ex-mayor of the town.
Thomas H. Barrett is proprietor of the Palmer House Buffet and handles the best of wines and liquors.
The Boston store is one of the leading stores of the city. This store is 42x150, two stories and basement, with the largest stock of clothing and dry goods in the city. W. O. P. Hilsdale is the proprietor and also one of the council.
The Ingram Lumber company is the leading lumber yard of the town. This company have their branch yards all over the state. G. C. Ingram, the manager, is one of Sauk Center’s best business men.
Houghton Bros. are one of the leading real estate firms in town and have about 15,000 acres of improved and unimproved land in Pope, Todd and Stearns counties. This firm will answer all inquiries of this country.
J. B. Perkins came here in 1866 and since 1876 has run one of the leading drug stores of the town; also full line of paints and wall paper.
H. F. Alden has for seventeen years run one of the leading jewelry stores and is Sauk Center’s leading optician; also a fine line of silverware and cut glass.
The Bank of Sauk Center is the oldest bank in the city, established in 1880. This bank does a general banking, real estate and insurance business. L. Kells, president; L. M. Kells, cashier, and R. R. Kells, assistant cashier. L. Kells has been school director for thirty years.
W. S. Dean & Co. are dealers in farm machinery, vehicles and twine. This firm has been in business for twenty-three years, and does a very large business.
One of the leading drug firms of the town is Fiesler & NcNeice. This firm has been in business for ten years, and have a very fine line of drugs, wall paper and window shades.
The First National bank was established in 1884, and has a capital of $50,000. This is one of the solid banks of the city. C. M. Sprague, president; W. O. P. Hilsdale, vice president, and F. W. Sprague, cashier.
Oscar Klonne has been in business for seven years and runs one of the leading harness shops in this section. He also has a full line of trunks, grips and blankets.
Philorman Lamb is one of the leading real estate men of this section. He also represents eleven of the old line insurance companies. Mr. Lamb came here in 1886, and can give you a bargain in farm lands or city property.
McGuire & Brecount are one of the leading grocery firms of Sauk Center, and have a fine line of groceries always on hand.
J. A. Johnson is Sauk Center’s leading photographer, and has been in the business for fifteen years, and his work is fine.
M. A. Scherffins is one of the leading jewelers and opticians of the town; also has a full line of musical instruments always on hand, and does a big business.
The Schlensener Hardware company is one of the leading hardware firms in the county; also plumbing and tin shop in connection. They have a building 44x180 feet, two-story, filled with goods.
J. F. Cooper is the leading real estate agent of the town and can sell you good farms in Stearns, Pope and Todd counties very cheap and easy terms.
The Model shoe store of Hansen & Richards is the only exclusive shoe store in the city. They have been established five years. Mr. Richards is one of the recently elected aldermen of the city.
Albert Bucher is a prosperous butcher and shipper of stock with his market on Third street. He has been engaged in the business here for six years.
Phelps & Haddock are known as one of the leading hardware firms of Sauk Center. Besides carrying a very complete line of hardware they do plumbing in all its branches. They have been in business here for two years.
J. G. Schenk is one of the pioneer merchants of the city, having been in business here twenty-one years. He conducts a harness and saddlery establishment, and carries a large and complete stock of goods. He also manufactures farm and driving harness.
G. Hillerud & Co. are dealers in shelf and heavy hardware. They also carry paints, oils, tools, cutlery, coal, lime and building material. This is their ninth year in business in Sauk Center.
Grain, lumber and coal are handled by Lee & Gingery company. They have been doing business here for the past two years and have numerous well-pleased patrons.
S. C. Bjone is among the oldest dealers in general merchandise in town, establishing in business here some fourteen years ago. His fresh-looking and well-selected lines of goods and numerous patrons attest the popularity of his establishment.
L. S. Bishop company, grocers, have been in business here since 1894. They carry all the lines to be found in a well kept grocery, and are fully up to the times in everything. One of their specialties is farm seeds.
S. P. Hansen is one of the city’s popular grocery men. He has been in business here for the past twelve years, and carries a large and well selected stock. He is enterprising and public-spirited in all that concerns the city’s welfare.
The Pioneer meat market of Williams & Starr is the oldest in town. They slaughter and cure all their meats, and do a large and profitable business.
Hanson & Emerson conduct what is known as “The Corner Drug Store,” and carry a complete line of chemicals and drugs. They have been in business here twelve years and enjoy a fine patronage.
The Palmer house is the leading $2 per day house in this section of the state, and is headquarters for the tourist in the fishing season. This house was built three years ago and is furnished in first-class style throughout. R. L. Palmer, the proprietor, is the right man in the right place.
Merchants National Bank of Sauk Center is one of the solid banks of this section. H. Keller, president; M. Hogan, vice president; A. W. Austin, cashier, and L. E. Keller, assistant cashier.
Source:
The Saint Paul Globe
Monday Morning, April 25, 1904
Volume XXVII, Number 116, Page 7