The following appeared in The Rose History in 1911.
Rock County Village continued from 9-10-20 edition of the Star Herald.
Beaver Creek
For a few months the youthful village was the terminus of the railroad and it at once came into prominence as one of the most lively communities in this part of the state. Being the end of the railroad, it became the distributing point for the frontier towns of eastern Dakota, and the business transacted by the pioneer firms was marvelous. Its trade territory extended so far north as Flandreau; west, halfway to Sioux Falls, and south for many miles. With the extension of the railroad westward in the summer of 1878 the village was shorn of some of its former activity, and the business houses that had been established temporarily were removed. Thereafter it settled down to normal conditions, and, although there were a few new business enterprises launched in the next few years, the town continued to be a prosperous one, drawing trade from a very rich and rapidly developing territory, almost illimitable to the north and south. The census of 1880 gave the village a population of thirty-seven.
A directory of the business enterprises of the village in the summer of 1881 shows only the following: Harrison White, general merchant and grain dealer; Cox & Knudtson, general merchandise (established in June, 1881); Berry & White, drug store; Dr. W. T. Berry, physician; J. O. Tyler, proprietor of a cheese factory, landlord of the Beaver Creek hotel and postmaster. From this directory it will be noted that there had been a falling off in the business houses of the town from the first year of its existence. But in 1882 began a more prosperous era, which extended over a period of several years and in which Beaver Creek advanced to a point never before attained.
Among the new enterprises started in 1882 were a harness shop by John Obele, a hardware store by J. O. Brictson, a grocery store by B. F. Roderick & Co., and a drug store by J. M. Park. A directory of March, 1883, furnishes this list: A. G. Seney, general merchandise; K. N. Knudtson, dry goods and groceries; Harrison White, lumber, fuel, grain and livestock; J. O. Brictson, hardware; J. M. Park, drug store; A. Obele, hotel; John B. Obele, harness shop; Kiffe & Obele, blacksmith and wagon shop; Mrs. J. O. Tyler, millinery store.
The year 1883 was a very prosperous one and many new buildings were put up, including three store buildings, a warehouse and several residences. The Herald at the close of the year of a visit:
A visit to Beaver Creek, after an absence of a year, will discover to the visitor numerous changes and improvements. Indeed, he will find that the town has nearly doubled in size, and that its importance as a business point has materially increased. . . . There is no mistaking the fact that Beaver Creek is enjoying a very substantial “boom” and that its prospects are brighter than ever before in its history. As a matter of fact, there is no town of its size that receives more grain and stock, and no town of its size that does, in a general way, a larger business.
The activity continued during 1884 and almost took the nature of a boom. New buildings went up all over the town and several new business houses were established. Rock county in general was enjoying prosperous times and good crops, and Beaver Creek kept pace with the general advance.7 At this time five warehouses were required to take care of the grain that poured in.
7“Beaver Creek, in respect to general improvements and the erection of new buildings, is coming rapidly to the front. The growth of the town during the past year has been considerably greater than that of the previous year and it enters upon the present season with increased vitality and enterprise. There is no reason apparent why Beaver Creek should not become a town of no inconsiderable importance.”—Rock County Herald, September 19, 1884.
The story of the village of Beaver Creek will continue in the Sept. 24 edition of the Star Herald.
Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, 312 E. Main Street, Luverne, MN 56156.
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