building community: homesteads, roads and resorts (306-star01-08)

8/14/2019 Building Community: Homesteads, Roads and Resorts (306-star01-08)

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Minnesotas Lake Superior Coastal Program

Building Community: Homesteads, Roads andResorts

Barbara J. Livdahl, Project ManagerAugust 31, 2008

Project No. 306-STAR01-08Contract No. B 12703


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FINAL REPORTIntroduction:

The exhibit Building Community: Homesteads, Roads, and Resorts created bythis project, shows and tells the story of the Schroeder Area from about 1915 to 1950. Itis the second component of the exhibit of Schroeder Area history. Many of the artifactson exhibit tell the story of the Stickney/Lamb Store and Post Office, which was thecommunity center of the period. The Schroeder Area Historical Society operates in theremodeled Stickney/Lamb/Jordan store* building. The exhibit answers the most askedquestion: What was this building originally? Visitors see the impact that living on the

coast of Lake Superior, on the banks of the Cross River, and adjacent to the SuperiorNational Forest had on the lives of early Schroeder Area residentsWork Completed:

The completed exhibit includes 17 exhibit boards that tell the story of thehomesteads, roads, and resorts of the period, as well as, the story of theStickney/Lamb/Jordan store. Among the artifacts are Horace Stickneys roll top desk,Nell Stickneys trunk, a pot-bellied stove and barber chair from the early store, a tableand tea cart used in the dining room, an ice box from an early resort, and the safe fromand the Gunderson store. Photos are placed in the windows of the French doors and entrydoor of the Stickney Store that are on exhibit.The process: Volunteers researched photos, oral histories, and other documents. Theywrote the text, gathered the photos for each exhibit board, placed them in digital files andsent them to the designer. The designer designed the boards and then fixed/repaired thephotos and prepared a digital file of each board, which was then sent to the printer.

The designer designed the exhibit space and provided drawings of the space and

of the stands for the artifacts. The designer helped in the installation of the project, andmade changes to the original plans at that time.Volunteers built and painted the stands, cleaned and repaired artifacts, and helped


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Appendix d: Letters of Donation and Appraisal*Bill and Gloria Jordan operated the Cross River General Store in the Stickney/Lambstore building from 1976-1998. The Stickney Store exhibit boards tell the history of the

Stickney/Lamb/Jordan store up to its present use by the Schroeder Area Historical

Society.


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Appendix aPhotos of Exhibit and Exhibit Boards


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Mapping Schroeder Area History: More than 150 Years

Building Community: Homesteads, Roads and Resorts 1915 - 1950

This exhibit tells the story of life inthe Schroeder area from about 1915to 1950 and how the early residentsbuilt a strong and neighborlycommunity. I t describes homesteadlife. the construction of bridges andhighway 1 I 61. and the building of


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They Came to Claim 160 Acres...Homesleaders came to d:um ]60 ,,\crcS of free land and eSli.\blish homesteads ,Other people came to log. or trap. or {anD,

Norwegian fishermen


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1915 - A New Metal Truss BridgeIn about 19'5 d hddgt, ,,':.n;. blll}t a . C r " O ~ 5 th erlw:r m l h l . . pr : s ~ t H locati oJl. It lCpl.;Jt:t.'d I.ht old \ I o ' o o d ToVt.n B r i d g ~ at 'h e mouth o(Ihl ' Cross. R".'t:T A note on d po:!otGlTdp U luring t h i ~ hrtdgl' SiolyS 1h.J.! -IVJO ml 'nargued labout Ihe wooden bridgel. Jnd onel); t h ~ m burm'd It d()lJ,'u.'Thi' stc-e l bridge ..... ; a ~ one: u( s ~ ~ vprefJ.brtciJled b)' th e t"oh:y OYOlhcnComUlUClio!l Co of Sl l'liul. SC".Ill by bargt'10 u n J o ~ d i n g \OC31i(m s t'loS:C' to where the)'WE'n: to be ust:d. tbt..:.11 {lued fogcth('r like ilbfg pU:l:tIe- at tht! S t 's.

1925 - Building the New Highway

rw ...............* " , . S I M o . - ~ J a t ' . . . . " . . . ~ ........._....-""-

Cars Precede the HighwayCr3IDC ilnd S c h ~ ( ) ( ' d c r ( l w n ! o . had sp("ntQunc " lOI o( U 1 0 n ( ~ y lind ri ln (' building aDd~ n H l ng JO


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Building Community:Homesteads, Roads, and Reso r.ifs &Resorts 1915 - 1950

The New Highway Brought Workers and TouristsWorkers conl.ing up 10 build the fll!:\\ ' h,gbway nnd brldgcs: nccd "d c < , : s to stay and cal. Ken Bonin said this \4'.. ,. ho\.,. Fr('d ancl E.lin

Gunderson got into f h ~ Cab1" bustne:s;s; . A worKer who was building: the nC\l' CrOis River bridge asked to Hve ond board at Gunderson' , Then

another ask.ed. so lotted built th e first cab iJl . tht ! f ) anotber, and ..Gundersoos \1.',0. born .

A physician in Mln.ne ApoU enc ouraged his pa tienti with hay fm 'c l' to COOle to th e NOJ"l h Sh oTe to get relie f. \\ ford ~ t . 1 .md lhe: area l>ccam.e known as " haven for h,ay fever sufferers Jim'I' \'cck rcm

reml!mbcrs WOmiln who boarded with hi$ mother Dcouple of months a year beci\use she had terrible hay {ever. His lnoilicr ran Dlrch Bench

Cabins: in Thomas villc- , Like Ihe other Tas g\ "'den cr Ol nd

Tl\clI' on e. room ( o ~ cabin wi th front porch WilScons tde-red quite grand cahin al the t ime.The Coyel's' Cilbln \\," ,IS a p a ' O e l i : r sfructure . Th e childrenon tbe sc bi,)ol bu s in Ihe e T ' n O o n wert: sU rt}riSl'd to se c ;)

Resorts Sprang Up in Schroeder TownshipAj one dml' l.ht're ....'cr 11 resort.s along the lake in S hroederTownship and 5 inla nd_ F i s h ! r m ~ : 1 buill

rnany o( the first cabins in the 1920's ilnd 30's

GundersonCabins

Smith Cabins

Ara and Ell" Snmh had Ihe Pioneer Re ort . mor.communly kno\ll] o ) ~ Smilh's Cabin,.. down onBaroga Ro.,\. Ellis Smllh kepI a boa. lied up nearIhe bnttge in Cross RiVf!T He 'use rl it 10 tak ethe guests In hiS' cab ln!i ou t on Ihe lake once while

Hazel and Joe Pecor buillan d t a.n Sta r of t h ~ NOMhlIesorl ln 1940 Pecores soldIho Slar or lb. Norlh 10Hanict Ru t dnd MtlncAIlrellb Marle campaigned:hc \Var Department Bond (or a vehtcle for the rc on iormany monlhs. Allhough som. resorts losed during WWII .H ~ r r 1 and kep i Slar of the North open Gue IS ..-ere.dVlSNI 10 I)ring .helr rood rallon books .. lih .hem Tbtir 1946Droch",. advised guo" hal Ihelt main lodge had been:1esfroye ri by ti re. They were nevel' able to lcpli.1c:e l!.LoIa___- - ~ -l . ~ --u : = - ~ " t " j , : ' = - ; f . # . ~ ~ E - ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ =-...-i i r ~

: : ~ = ~ ~ i ? 0 : . ~ ~ ~ . . ; . . : : . : : - i E ' : . . ~ " " ; . 'C::1~ . : : ; - : ; , : = = :

~ f ~ i ..:::..._-_ ...._..- . - ~ : . : : . : : : - . ! : ~ ~ ~ E - T ~ = : . ~ ~ ~ f l a ~ . l t ~ : g: . ? : : . . ~ : . ~ . : . . : . . : ; . s

they wt.re there, The trips i l t W ~ 1 ) ' 5 Incluot!d a hare:lun ch or brcdkJas t. wh ich hI!' cooked htm!i-e.lf.

Palnlf'f reca lls tha t ElHs would com e to thec . ~ 1 n and say, -ThIs is Ibe day 10 go Iisbll1g: They

Cliff Cove Resort
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--- -------Business Activity Centers Around the New Bridge

In 1915 . 5 t ~ 1 bridge wu buill:;u 1M 1..., . ._ olthe ~ High ,61 bnda'" Thil; bridat ~ 1 K f t I a .....oe.. b r I d ~ thaI had lIftn M ~ r 'h ' lake. lIora Stldml:ybll il t hi s ftnl ~ I o r e ,,"tbe . " . , . Id" of tllrrinoT In 1922 ..d We . Smith built the CToas River hll . l lo\el On tho:

"as! oltbt nft'l" In about \925..._--_..The Smith HoteVCross River Falls Inn Smith's Garage

ElIl$ Smith bul l ] 111$ t \q \ woodenp r ~ e across the , ""ee' from the_d .The . " , Ie "]&11_.,;lepanmem ....1d hl$ pra ,e WU;0 0 d .. . to tl>e hlgh"""y; so hellIoved II aCJl)S$ t h ~ ow.d. thenIt down an d buill a ne w brick

lar...... Ell. . Smith could II:r an)'lhiD&- H. . . . . . .Dpt'rt mechnk: an d ..IOOCtrlND. He borlh

~ n , . . . , . t o r that pr'O\'Ided ele-ctrkil:1lo!boo h O l ~ .I l I U ~ e . th e Stickn..,. Ilore. Gunderson "" b:ns,

Star of th .. Nortb lloon. an d Fnnk and Alice__ Warn ........m___ cabin.-_ .._

I. Cross RI...,. I..... Baker added a mo ...... Gunderson's Store and Cabins

] wa s c\owod aDd llIeIIlmlslllllCl nc:tiMd e>tf1ll1931 SUer

I t .. .ed the hole] from \he Smith", an d ""namedthUte. an d roI]" ...skan.., rink in about 1939. Fred. an d KIln Gunderson operated "


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1888 Redmyer Post Office OpensTh e firsl POSI office o p ~ n " d in

Marth of 1SS8 ncar the mouth of . .the Cross River. It wa s located in - ., ........../It.-..-- th e Redmyer 's bomestea.d. The area

W'1c5 nrlmed Redmycr and Mr. . , ~ ~.: :Hedley Re dmycr s-erved as the

POSlmaster.

1891 Post office moves to LutsenThe US Postal Depa.rtm en t decided one post office in the

area was adequate. so UICY m ( ) v ~ d th e Rcdmycr Post Office(0 Lutsen. MN tu D ( ~ c c m b e r of 1891.

1897 Post Office Back to RedmyerThe Post Office moved back to Rearny" r Ap ril 16. 1897 an d

opened in S c h r o e d ~ t Lumber Co. I:IeadquarrcTs, Mr. Al exandtrDolan,


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1920'sMoving to Schroeder!

- ", ' ' j- - : ... . -.. ' . . .. . _..;: c' .... . .. -:-.. ..:;-; _! ... ...,. .......U ' _ _ ,f . ' .,.,;-" . -. .... . ..

IIHorace Sfi rkn ey fo llowed his'h eart- to Schroeder wiler., Nellie

Fl'ad enburg Gtm! ' 10 liv e With hTparents On Iheir h omestead onth e Cramer Ro ad an d to te-iu:h

...............lnnc:t'

,_J._ .. .

.... ..-: . .-. . h o o l . J-Ioracc bough! land fromnenr}' Redmye r. th e first white . - . . , f o I I t . c . - ..'/ .:_.... ..... .. _ .. ~ J . ~ ' 4 . . 1 ' _ ~ o J .. j 'senle... and po s t master of the: .. '. . ~ : : toWD of Redmye r. On lhis landrr ;i : .. .. ...-:.- "", ' - '. . .. , .- . .".........


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Lamb's store addition - phase 2Phds" 2 i n v ~ l v c d second store addition in 1965. It

included a walk-in mea. lockc!". additionillrefrigeration and space to Serve t.he ore c:;aniers wh h

groceries .Uk e otber 'resort kids ' growing up In family

businesses; Ott the Nonhshore. the 3 Lamb childrenwere actively involved with numerous jobs including

:;;torc derk. cabin cleaning, cabin repiiirs andmaintr:nance. hauling garbage. pumping gas.. mowing

th e laWD-". filling marine supply grocery orders. andemptying the Quaners (rom .h e Laundromat!

Serving the Thriving Community of Schroeder and Taconite Harbor 1954 Lamb's first winter in Schroeder!

In 1954. Horace Slickn.-ys nephew HarryLamb and his wife Doris purcbase Ihe SIOrCand resort. They moved tbeir faDlily of 3children SlcIp. Kathleen. and Colle


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1965-1976 Store and Resort Sold 1976-1998 Cross River General Store.Aller graduating from UMD in 1965, Harry and Doris's son Horace (Slop) LalDb, hi s In 1976 Bm an d Gloria Jordan purchased Ihe store and moved Iheir tamily intowife Linda and family returned to Schroeder to live and work, They purchased Ihe

slore an d FeSOn and moved inlo the Iivin& Quaners in lhe rear of Ihe building. Thiswould be tbe 3rd generation 10 live an d work in the SlickneylLamb's slore. Completed

at that rime was Ihe linal additlon to Ihe 5\ore wilh new, larger walk in cooler, selfservice meat counler. post office, laundromat an d girl shop.

Ihe building. The named changed to Cro. . River General Store. Smaller shipswere replaced by larger ships whicb meant fewer vessels al Taconite Harbor.

Bill eventuallY Slopped seUing groceries to Ihe ore slUps and df'Veloped ahomemade saw.age business and liquor store. His unique sausages lVl're

served at outdoor socia. functions.

Marine Supply Business IncreasesWhen T a c o n i l ~ Harbor was operating at full peak, Ihe Lamb Siore .ul'plied the many Ore


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Northland HardwareJoe Perore bull! Northland Hardwart in 1939 or

1940. Hit.el ran il while he w a' in the S ...beesin WWII. When he returned from the war he

e n l a ~ f ' d the store an d began building (orEdmund Lundic. Joe ha d bencb I . ElM Olsonbench 2. 3nd Ken Bonin Benel. 3 TI.ey builtmany cabins that Affbitcct Edmund Lundic

de signed.Bob & Shirley Bierbaum purcha sed Northland

Jla,'dwar fwm Joe & tiazeJ P core in 1958.Til y ,o ld .",crything from faucet< and w.sJ,.rs

to toys m c 1 pots . Dob repaired cha insaw s: and opened and dosed cabins. Shirley

chee rfully helped cu.'lOmeTS and o rderedwhatever O n eeded. SevE-ral owners fo.llowedBob & Shirley. Savcra l owners and

becam e known a5 th e Cross RivN C.afe.Th e March17 ,2002, fire th at con ..Ulned It de s lroyed alllucl! -Iov d gathering spot in Schroede r .........c_

S l t q o " , , "


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doctwlsI! fro", lap left...


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APPENDIXbArtifact Stand Designs


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r 18 1/2" >+- - ---32"- - - -,I

I. . - . - - - - 34__ ___ / '20 .S

_3- 36"- - _ _

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r---- '"' -- - ~ i - ___ _ __

3 L - ____________________

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411 . II ----wider than chair____t/er than chair


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APPENDIXcExhibit Design


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APPENDIX dLetters ofDonation and Appraisal


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Mr. and Mrs. H.A. LambP.O Box415Schroeder, MN 55613-0415

Suzan From - AdministratorSchroeder Area Historical SocietyPOBox 337Schroeder, MN 55613-0415

June 16, 2008

Dear Suzan,This letter is to inform the Society that Skip and I are donating several items to theSchroeder Area Historical for use in the "Building Community" exhibit.\. Horace Stickney'S circa 1920's oak roll top desk. It stood in the Stickney storefrom 1929-1954.

2. Square table. This table was used in the Stickney store dining room to servemeals to customers and cabin guests staying at Stickney's.3. Potbellied stove. This stove was used as part if the heating system during


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Fredas AntiquesSchroeder, Minnesota218 663-0013

Linda Lamb35 Birchwood LaneSchroeder, Minnesota 55613January 27 , 2008Dear Linda,I have taken some time to research the values of your antique desk and table. Using mylibrary of price guides and reviewing comparable sale information on the auctionwebsites E-Bay and Craigslist, I think the current market value would be around $2,000total. I have documentation to support this value, should you care to review it.The oak roll top desk is large, in good condition, has nice metal detailing and the originalkey. A fair price range is between $1 ,500 and $2,500. The square hardwood table isbetween $200 and $400. Both items have good provenance.These values represent my professional opinion, not an appraisal. This information does


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BUilding CommunUy: Hume-sh,.ld$, RO.1Chi , .lnd Rl''lorb (915 11)50

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building community: homesteads, roads and resorts (306-star01-08)

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