Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/299

 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY 239 • dent, F. G. Marvin; vice president, A. J. Rockne; cashier, E. E. Weiss; assistants, A. E. Mosher and C. Marvin. The Zumbrota House was built in October, 1856, consisting at that time of only a small wing. It was erected and kept by Ezra Wilder. The hotel building was then 20x60, two stories. Mr. Wilder sold the place to G. R. Slosson, who in turn sold it to Fred George in 1872. In the spring of 1872, Mr. George built, a two- story front, 20x70. The present proprietor is E. Molke. The Midland House was built in June, 1877, by George W. Cunningham. The main building was 22x40, two stories, with wing, 18x60. Mr. Cunningham kept the house until March 1, 1878, when he leased it to J. R. Clark. This hotel is now known as the New Hotel and is conducted by J. Schmidt, having recent- ly been renovated and improved. The Forest Mills were put up by William S. Wells and H. H. Palmer in 1867-68. This was the only market which the farmers in the vicinity had in the early days except Red Wing, and con- sequently the mill did a flourishing business for many years. Activity at this point consisted of a cooper shop, a flour mill and stores, and the settlement at one time bid fair to efface Zum- brota. Old settlers tell of often going there to unload their grain and being obliged to take their turn in a line of teams over a mile long. The railroads at Zumbrota and Mazeppa, however, brought the business to those places and the mill was idle for a number of years. Five years ago it was purchased by Theo. Stecher, who has greatly improved the mill and practically re- built a new dam. and now operates it as a grist mill. The Zumbrota Creamery was erected by the Crescenl Cream- ery Company, of St. Paul, during the fall of 1884, who operated it about eighteen years. The building was erected by C. E. Mar- vin and E. A. Cammack, W. H, Squire being superintendent of the construction. The company's first manager was R. Londick, and he was succeeded by F. W. Stary. The latter was head man at the place for sixteen years. About nine years ago the Crescent people sold out to R. O. Lund, who continued the business about five years, when he sold to E. G. Hammer, who took possession October 1, 1906. E. A. Mann hauled the first can of cream to the creamery during the fall of 1884. On June 13, 1907, the old creamery was destroyed by fire and before the ashes were cold a new modern building was in course of erection and was com- pleted and installed with machinery and running in a little over a month. The new building and machinery is estimated a1 ^7.000. The yearly output of the creamery is about 100.000 pounds, and it receives cream for a radius of sixty miles around this territory. The Van Duzen Elevator was the first elevator to be erected