The following appeared in The Rose History in 1911.
Rock County Village of continued from 6-11-20 edition of the Star Herald.
The growth of Hills during 1892 was substantial and its permanency was assured. It distanced some of the neighboring villages and boasted a larger growth than its rivals.9 Among the new enterprises of the year were the town’s first hotel by T. O. Strandness, a bank under the management of J. R. Wright, a harness shop by H. Julson and a pool hall by H. O. Rue. The building improvements amounted to over $17,000 and were as follows:
A. T. Sexe, store building — $4000; Sandbo Brothers & Skattum, drug store and harness shop — $3000; A. T. Sexe, residence — $2000; J. Helgeson, residence —$1500; H. Nerison, residence — $1500; T. O. Strandness, hotel — $1200; Olaf Skyberg, residence — $1000; P. H. Bly, residence — $1000; O. Rue, residence — $800; Iver Heyme, residence — $600; M. Olson, residence — $300; W. P. King, photograph gallery — $200; Total — $17,000.
Despite the fact that there had been so much activity during the first few years of existence, when the Hills Crescent was founded in August, 1893, it is learned that the total population of the village was not over forty. There was some advancement during the first half of the year 1893, and the report of the railroad business at the station for the year indicated a healthy business. Three hundred twenty-seven carloads of grain and forty-three of stock were shipped from the station; there were received twenty-one carloads of lumber, forty-four of coal, thirty of merchandise, two of salt and thirty-two of miscellaneous goods. The panic of 1893 and the few years succeeding hard times had a depressing effect on the little village and not much progress was made until the late nineties.
An item of the greatest importance in the history of Hills was the establishment of the station on the Illinois Central road. Ever since the founding of the town its citizens had endeavored to bring about this much desired action, but the Illinois Central interests had been more interested in their town of Bruce and had steadfastly refused to entertain the idea. The people of Hills raised $400 by subscription to donate toward the building of a depot and during the winter of 1893-94 the station was established and the depot built, resulting, practically, in giving the town a new railroad. The occasion was duly celebrated in a jollification held on the evening of January 3, 1894.
9“Hills, in its march of progress, is crushing the hopes and aspirations of some older towns, passing on over the dead and buried remains of the neighboring villages. It is the eternal law of life and growth. Something must die that other things may live. There is a ‘survival of the fittest.’ “-Correspondent, September, 1892.
The story of the village of Hills will continue in the June 25 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.