Page 654. Winona. An incorporated city of 12,000 inhabitants, the third in importance in Minnesota, is situated on the west bank of the Mis-
Page 655. sissippi river, at its confluence with the Chippewa river on the east, and Zumbro river on the west, from whence communication is maintained with all points on the Mississippi river. Located near the center of the eastern border of Winona county, of which it is the seat. It is also a local railroad point, being a station of the following railroads; The W. & St. P., C. M. & St. P., the Madison and Winona division of the C. & N. W., and the G. B. & M. In 1852 it was first surveyed and platted out as a town site, and its advance to its present size has been accelerated by the rapid settlement of the prolific region around it, of which it is the receiving and distributing point. It possesses other elements of growth, however, than those contingent upon the development of the outlying country. It is the most favorable and important point for the manufacture of lumber from the logs supplied at the mouth of Chippewa river, two of the largest saw mills of the northwest being situated there, as well as a number of smaller lumber and planing mills. The manufacturing of fine carriages, buggies and farm wagons, and of agricultural machinery, is also extensively engaged in, while some of the most famous flouring mills of the State, driven by steam as well as water power are located here and in the immediate vicinity. The shipments of wheat increased from 130,000 bushels in 1859 to the enormous amount of 5,811,893 bushels in 1873.
The shipments have been larger since then, but these are the latest obtainable figures. There are in the city two foundries and machine shops, besides the general repair shops of the W. & St. P. Ry Co., three National and two private banks, five newspapers, the Republican, daily and weekly, the Adder (German) weekly, the Herald, weekly, the Parish Messenger (Episcopal) monthly, and a small weekly advertising sheet, the Novelty Press. Winona is a center of culture and refinement, being the seat of the first of three Normal schools, built and maintained by the State. Its object is the systematic and thorough training of teachers for the public schools of the State. It occupies a magnificent structure, erected at a cost of $145,000, a cut of which is shown on the opposite page, ample in size and complete in arrangement. Has a library of 400 volumes, a large collection of physical apparatus, an adequate chemical laboratory, a museum of natural history, an art gallery, and employs a faculty numbering ten persons. Tuition is free to both sexes. The graded school system of the city is fostered with the most jealous care. The high school structure cost $55,000, and two primary school buildings $25,000 each. The three buildings have a seating capacity of 1,794 pupils, and are supplied with all modern improvement in heating, ventilation and furniture. Thirty-three teachers are employed in these schools. The high school has a fine philosophical and chemical
Page 656. apparatus, and a good reference library. The Catholics and Lutherans maintain several denominational schools. It contains also a preparatory medical school. Winona has fourteen regularly organized churches, the denominations being Presbyterians, Methodists, Congregationalists, Episcopalians, Baptist and Catholics; also a public library of 3,000 volumes. The following benevolent societies have lodges here: The Masons, who have a lodge, chapter and commandery; Odd Fellows, two lodges and one encampment of Odd Fellows, and the Druids, who have a grove (German), and a lund (Scandinavian), there is also a lodge of United Workmen, a Father Mathew society, a Temple of Honor, and a division of Sons of Temperance, and a council of the Sovereigns of Industry. Like all well appointed cities Winona has city water works, and an efficient fire department, and is illuminated with gas. The real and personal property, as valued for tax purposes, amounts to $4,505,838. The rate of taxation is less than one-fifth of one per cent. The total debt of the city is about $220,000. (Minnesota State Gazetteer and Business Directory, 1878-9, Volume 1, R. L. Polk & Co., and A. C. Danser, Detroit, Michigan)
Winona, the Beautiful "Gateway City" of Minnesota. Large Manufacturing Interests are Causing Steady Growth. New Enterprises Have Appreciated the Facilities Offered at Winona – Excellent Shipping Accomodations – The County Seat of Winona County and a Word as to Its History. Among the many gems which adorn Minnesota’s diadem of beautiful towns and cities, Winona, "Gateway City" of the state, is among the most beautiful and prosperous. Nestled, like a jewel in its case, between the towering bluffs of Wisconsin, across the Mississippi, and the gently rising hills which lie back of the city, Winona – erstwhile yclept "Wapasha," in the language of the Dacotahs, and "Prairie aux Aile" (Wing prairie) in the Canadian vernacular of the early explorers – offers a restful picture of peace and beauty to the visitor not easily forgotten, and the subtle charm of semi-mystery which hangs over the sad romance of Wee-no-nah, the beauteous Indiam maiden from whom the city takes its name, seems more potent when one has visited the scene of "Lover’s Leap" than ever before.
The legend connected with the fate of Wee-no-nah is a sad one. It is related that she loved and was beloved by a young warrior, but when her lover sought to buy her as a wife, according to the customs of their race the father of the girl refused to listen. He had himself picked out a husband for his Wee-no-nah, and would have none other for son-in-law. Rather than submit to the forced marriage, Wee-no-nah, seizing a favorable moment, when none were near to prevent, leaped from the immense rock now pointed out as "Lover’s Leap," and with the name of her sweetheart ringing from her lips, sank into the raging waters of the Mississip. In contrast to the turbulent rushing of the "Fathers of Waters" on his way to the ocean is the quiet repose of Lake Winona, which lies to the south of the city at the foot of the densely wooded hills, above which old Sugar Loaf raises his lofty head full 600 feet. The view from the hilltop drive is surpassingly fine. In the city proper boulevarded streets, flanked on either side by beautiful shade trees and well kept lawns, have rendered possible the making of a "city beautiful," and this surely has been done to a very large extent. What, some fifty years ago, was a vast treeless plateau, is now a waving grove of verdure, for scarce is there a home in the city which is not surrounded by flowers, while the municipal authorities have seen to it that the parks and public grounds are well provided with the same beauty makers.
The Park System. The park system of the city is noted the country over, and represents an outlay of $106,000. In each of the four wards of the city is a little park – 300 feet square – laid out with neatly graveled walks, broad lawns and well kept flower beds. In addition to these is the levee, or "Water Front park." This "strip o’ nature" embraces some seven and one-half acres of ground, and is an attractive piece of landscape gardening, laid right at the water’s edge. In the Central park there has recently been installed a beautiful fountain surmounted by a cleverly conceived bronze statue of the Indian maiden "Wee-no-nah." The fountain was a gift to the city from Mr. W. J. Landon, and bears the inscription in addition to the title, "In Memory of Ida cone Landon." It was erected by Mr. Landon as a memorial to his wife. Quite recently a large plat of ground overlooking Lake Winona has been purchased by the park board, who plan the laying out of an extensive park and drive.
First Settlers. While the first habitation on the site of what is now Winona was erected by the Rev. R. D. Stevens in 1836, it was not until 1851 that any direct attempt at a permanent settlement was made. In that year Capt. Orrin Smith, of the Galena & St. Paul Packet company, foreseeing the possibilities of the location, took up a section of land which is now the business district. His mate, Irwin H. Johnson (upon whom he depended to hold the claim in his absence), put up a "squatter’s" shack on the section, as he also did upon an adjoining section (now lower-town), which he took up in his own name. Settlers came quite rapidly, but it was not until 1857 that the village was incorporated, with M. Wheeler Sergeant as the first mayor. Since that time there have been nine incumbents of the position, the present mayor being L. L. Brown (Democrat), who was elected for the two-year term provided by the town’s charter, defeating his Republican opponent, Mr. E. R. Tarbell, a former mayor, by a narrow majority, but slightly in excess of fifty votes. Mr. Brown is a successful attorney, who has resided in Winona nearly all his life. He was born but a few miles from the city proper, and received his education and bringing up in Winona.
A Prosperous City. The history of the city, from the erection of the first "frame" dwelling house by J. S. Denman at what is now the corner of Lafayette and Second streets, to the present day, has been one of a steady growth and prosperity, with hardly a setback of importance. The first railroad connection in the West was made on Dec. 9, 1862, when the Winona & St. Peter road was completed from Winona to Stockton, a distance of eleven miles – this being the first railway constructed in Minnesota west of the Mississippi. The first direct railway connection with Chicago was made in 1864. At present there are five railway line(s) which enter the city, viz.: The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, Chicago Great Western, Green Bay & Western and the Chicago Northwestern. The latter road has within a short time increased the size and usefulness of its Winona shops, and it is planned to make them second only in size to the main shops of the railroad at Chicago.
Has Many Interests. Situate(d) in the heart of an exceptionally productive agricultural district, Winona is not only rich in the wealth of the products marketed there, but has important manufacturing interests as well, the lines represented embracing extensive lumber and flour mills, wagon factories, carriage works and cooper shops, packing houses, foundries, fibre works, brick yards, boot and shoe manufactories, harness works, and others of which detailed mention is impossible here. Surrounded as it is by any number of small villages and towns, its jobbing interests are not inconsiderable, and the deposits of the banks, of which there are five, as shown last year, $5,000,000, indicates that there must be wealth in the community. These figures are for deposits alone, the loans and discounts for the same period figuring $4,500,000 – substantial evidences of general prosperity, it would seem. With the excellent locations which can be offered factories there, together with the possibilities along the line of economical operation, there is small doubt that these interests will be largely increased within the near future. The almost inexhaustible supplies in the way of hard wood and pine for lumber which lie at the city’s very door almost, seemingly guarantee the continuation for many years of the lumber interests, and the refuse from the mills offers a cheap solution of the fuel question for factories.
Population, 22,000. Conservatively figured, it is estimated that there are in Winona some 22,000 inhabitants. Considering this population, it is rather more than a surprise to find the exceptional retail business that exists, and to note the extensive and comprehensive establishments which are open for the accommodation of the public. There is small need for trips to larger cities in making a season’s purchase, for the latest and best of designs and styles in almost every line of trade are to be found on the shelves and tables of the up-to-date merchants of the city. As evidence of the city’s substantial growth, it may be noted that within the past two years, sixteen new manufacturing enterprises with an aggregate capital of over $3,000,000 have located there. The location of the new industries there, however, is hardly to be wondered at, considering the excellence of the facilities offered at that point. The aggregate capital invested in Winona manufacturing enterprises is now in excess of $19,000,000.
The School System. With a keen foresight and true wisdom, the people of Winona have provided liberally for the education of their young, the public school system including seven grammar schools and a high school, the total value of school properties footing up $430,000. Of this sum, a valuation of $80,000 is placed on the high school building and grounds. Beside the public schools, there are located at Winona a number of parochial schools and private schools, as well as the First state normal school, a handsome brick structure situated in the midst of beautiful and extensive grounds. The building and grounds are valued at something over $150,000. The attendance last year at the normal school was slightly in excess of 500, that of the public schools 3,000, and at the parochial and private schools possibly half as many more. A complete and up-to-date business college adds the practical training desired for the city’s young. One of the slightly places of the city is the young ladies’ seminary, a boarding school conducted by the Sisters of St. Francis. The citizens of Winona take special pride in this institution, which with its handsome grounds and substantial building, is well worth the seeing. The school comprises an elementary and an academic department, a conservatory of music, an art department and a department of expression.
In the academic department classical, scientific, English and commercial courses are offered. The conservatory of music has extensive and thorough courses in instrumental and vocal music. The art department gives instruction in drawing, painting and china decorating. The department of expression embraces courses in elocution and physical culture. The seminary possesses a fine gymnasium, equipped with the most approved apparatus and baths. Courses in various lines of domestic science are also given. The faculty is large and efficient, and the attendance is drawn from the best classes of the Northwest. As an adjunct to her schools the city boasts a handsome free public library, donated by Mr. W. H. Laird, one of the city’s public spirited residents. The building was erected at a cost of some $50,000, and with its books and furnishings, is carried on the city’s balance sheet at half as much more. Winona is headquarters for the National Educational association, its secretary, Prof. Irwin Shepard, former president of the state normal school, residing there. The city boasts two daily papers, the Evening Republican and Herold and the Winona Independent, the former a Republican paper, and the latter an independent of Democratic tendencies. Of church organizations there are four and twenty, with nearly as many substantial houses of worship.
Public Improvements. The most notable of the public buildings are the court house, a fine gray stone structure with brown sandstone trimmings, completed at a cost of $125,000, and the building which serves the government as postoffice and court house. The latter edifice cost $180,000. It is made of white Winona limestone with Bedford trimmings, and is surely a beautiful building. Probably also worthy of special mention is the General hospital, a handsome building well equipped for the useful position it fills. In keeping with the modern progressiveness displayed in other matters, the streets in the business district are paved with brick and are well lighted, electricity being used in the down town districts, and gas in the residence portions. There are four miles of brick paving, which cost $125,000, eighteen of sewerage system, placed at an expense of $170,000, and a waterworks system (supplied largely from artesian wells) which is valued at $350,000. A paid fire department of thirty-one members, with four companies, under the direction of Chief Wise Norton, and an efficient and well managed police department under Chief L. Schoenig, afford the city protection. Several bridges span the Mississippi at this point, the most notable of them being the new high bridge, a steel wagon bridge, costing $100,000 to erect, and its approaches probably $25,000 more. An electric street railway system covers the town. The company operates on single tracks, of which there are about five miles at present.
Postoffice Business Grows. The postoffice business at the Winona office increased over fifty per cent from 1898 to 1903, this exclusive of the money order department, the gross receipts for 1902 being in round numbers $45,000, while for the same period the money order business aggregated $316,270. The office is a government depository for postmasters’ funds. The principal municipal officers are: Mayor, L. L. Brown; recorder, Paul Kemp; treasurer, E. J. Fockens; attorney, W. A. Finkelnburg; engineer, G. P. Coleman; health officer, Dr. E. D. Keyes; municipal judge, W. J. Smith; special judge, S. H. Somsen, and assessor, H. W. Posz. The board of aldermen, consisting of two from each of the four wards and one at large, is made up as follows: President, Jas. K. Simpson; vice president, M. Libera; aldermen, A. B. Heim, Henry Hess, Jacob Michalowski, Wm. Miller, Wm. H. Reuss, J. T. Rowan and L. C. Tarcas. The city covers an area of about eighteen square miles, and there are in the neighborhood of 5,000 dwelling houses in it. A Board of Trade, composed of leading business men of Winona, assists in the promotion of the city’s interests, and the secretary of that body is always glad to furnish any desired information. It is one of the semi-tragic incidents of the city’s history that Mr. Wm. Ashley Jones, editor of the Argus, the first paper published at Winona, and the man responsible for the Americanized spelling of the Indian name, is now an inmate of the Home of the Little Sisters of the Poor in St. Paul, although years ago he was a wealthy and influential citizens of Winona. (The Saint Paul Globe, Sunday Morning, September 27, 1903, Volume XXVI, Number 270, Page 20)