The following appeared in The Rose History in 1911.
Rock County Village (continued from 02-04-20 edition of the Star Herald)
No sooner was the town-to-be laid out than activity in its promotion became evident. The first to build on the site was A. E. Patterson, who completed a grain warehouse about the first of September, 1885. Ezra Rice put up the second grain house later in the same month, which was opened for business with Thomas Ganfield in charge. The depot was also erected during the fall of 1885, but it was not until October 18, 1886, that the station was formally opened. G. T. Bandy, formerly of Cazenovia, was installed as agent. A number of residences covered the improvements of the latter year. Mr. Bandy became Kanaranzi’s first postmaster, assuming charge at the opening of the office on January 28, 1887. As a result of the heavy wind storm on August 2, 1887, Kanaranzi was for a time with only one grain warehouse, the establishment of E. A. Brown who had succeeded A. E. Patterson, suffering complete destruction. It was immediately rebuilt. In October, 1887, a correspondent boasted for the town two grain buyers, a newly established stock yard and a photographer.
Kanaranzi was without a mercantile establishment for the first three years of existence. The first store was opened by C. Northrup and E. Milne in a building they erected early in October, 1888. Several months later this firm sold to G. T. Bandy, the station agent, who during the season of 1889 also engaged in the lumber business. Mr. Bandy disposed of his interests in 1891 to Elias M. Blakeslee, who in June succeeded him as postmaster.
With the addition of a lumber yard, blacksmith shop and saloon late in the year 1892, Kanaranzi reached the high point in its development. The last two decades have changed but little the appearance of the village, but it has experienced all the healthful tendencies of improvement which a community of its size can exhibit. A substantial $1200 school building was erected in the village in 1899.
The story of the village of Manley will continue in the Feb. 18 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.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.