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1889: Elevator, roller mill lost in first fire at Beaver Creek

Subhead
Bits By Betty
Lead Summary
By
Betty Mann, president, Rock County Historical Society

The following appeared in The Rose History in 1911.
 
Rock County Village continued from 10-1-20 edition of the Star Herald.
 
Beaver Creek
         The first fire occurred April 9, 1889, when the roller mill, an elevator and several sheds, in addition to several thousand bushels of grain, were entirely destroyed by the “lurid leveler.” The destruction of the town was threatened, but by hand work the flames were confined to the structures mentioned. The loss was $25,000. Following the fire came agitation for installing a system of waterworks, but at an election to vote bonds for the purpose on September 5, the proposition was defeated by five votes out of a total of forty-three.
         The next conflagration came early on the morning of December 3, 1889, when seven business houses on the north side of Main street with their contents were consumed. The fire is supposed to have been of incendiary origin and was started in a vacant store building owned by J. O. Tyler. Although the alarm was sounded at once, the people were not able to stay the progress of the flames with the force pump and the one line of one-inch hose, which constituted the town’s fire fighting apparatus. The total loss was placed at $9000, covered by only $3500 insurance. The losses were as follows: Harrison White, store building, machine shed and outbuildings, $4000; E. C. Conant, damage to general merchandise stock in Colonel White’s building, $1000; L. S. Welker, meat market building, $400; E. A. Baker, fixtures and meat stock; $200; J. O. Tyler, vacant store building, $1200; T.O. Meyers, vacant store building, $500; Nels Clemetson, hotel building, $1000; Thomas Evans, saloon building, $600.
         The burned district was not rebuilt; the new town of Hills, six miles south, cut off a valuable part of its trade territory; the promoters of the town of Manley, only three and one-half miles away, were boldly planning the removal of the unfortunate town to their site; local jealousy divided the town into factions in considering matters of public benefit20—and Beaver Creek came upon evil days. Dwellings became tenantless and some were moved away; store buildings became vacant and dilapidated, and the business interests in the town were threatened.
         The census of 1890 gave Beaver Creek a population of 232 people. In the spring of the next year the business portion of the town consisted of a hotel, lumber yard, cheese factory and creamery, three general stores, a bank, three warehouses, wagon shop, two blacksmith shops, drug store, two saloons, hardware store, harness shop, shoe repairing shop, livery stable, barber shop and meat market.
         Not until 1898 did Beaver Creek show signs of gaining its former prestige. Then came the turning of the tide. It had weathered the days of adversity and was once more gaining ground, starting out on a new era of growth and development which has not since been checked. A directory in the fall of 1898 listed the following business firms: F. E. Welker, Dunbar Brothers and G. F. Chisholm, general merchandise stores; Sage Brothers, hardware store; Dr. W. T. Berry, drug store; John B. Obele, harness shop; William McCurdy, meat market; Tuthill Lumber company, E. C. Brooks, manager; Lukensmeyer & Hettinger, blacksmith and wagon shop; F. E. Henton, blacksmith shop; Colonel Harrison White, implements, A. E. Jordahl, manager; Henry Olson, shoemaker; William J. Weston, saloon; St. John Brothers, grain, M. C. Reeder, manager; Hubbard & Palmer, grain, George Dunbar, manager; Peavey Elevator company, grain, Sol. Sage, manager; E. C. Pluedeman, depot agent.
         The population of Beaver Creek in 1900 was 186, and this was increased to 202 in 1905. The 1910 census showed a population of 195.  Within the last decade many public and private improvements have been made. The village has broad streets, lined with shade trees, and cement walks. It has church buildings and one of the finest school houses in the county. It has mercantile establishments that would be a credit to a town many times its size.
                  20“Just so long as every enterprise or scheme for the improvement of Beaver Creek is made subservient to personal preferment, just so long will Beaver Creek retain its present high rank among the few imbecile towns of the state. It is high time that the spirit of jealousy is subdued and everyone join in a united effort to boom the town. In fact, it is imperatively necessary in the present case, and unless a policy different from that heretofore pursued is adopted, little good will be derived from the enterprise, however promising the outlook. Lay aside all matters of pique and work for Beaver Creek”—Beaver Creek News-Letter, December, 1889.
 
         The story of the village of Beaver Creek will continue in the Oct. 15 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.

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