Freeborn County, Minnesota - Chapter 22: Early Albert Lea, 1911

Chapter 22: Early Albert Lea

Picturesque Location - Ruble and Merry Arrive in 1855 - Colby and Lilly Settle in the Township - Merry Sells to Thorne and Wedge - Settlers of 1856 - Principal Arrivals of 1857 - Platting the Village - Early Business Interests - Albert Lea in 1858 - Hotels.

For centuries the present site of Albert Lea lay untouched by the work of man. No more beautiful landscape could be found than that seen by the first pioneers of this vicinity, standing on the high plateau where the postoffice is now located and look¬ ing southeast at the distant view of Lake Albert Lea. Her green sloping shores, studded with scattering burr oak trees, her waters sparkling and deep, her coastline well defined and free from marsh or weeds, all combined to make a scene of surpassing love¬ liness. Where the Rock Island station is now located the Avater was deep and clear as crystal. Fountain lake, it is true, was marshy and unsightly. But it was hid from view by a skirt of large timber, extending from Bridge street to Park avenue west, and covering all the Ballard's point north of Mariners' lane. Where Spring Lake park is now located was a picturesque sheet of water on whose bosom were found many wild ducks. To the south, distant hills were covered with scattering burr oak trees, lending pleasing variety to the rolling landscape and giving promise of the fruitfulness which would follow the effort of the husbandman.

The nearly three-score years which have passed since then have wrought an almost unbelievable change. The plateau is now the site of the thriving city, with its busy paved streets, its prosperous mercantile and business houses, its successful fac¬ tories, and its beautiful residences surrounded with velvet lawns. Lake Albert Lea is now unsightly, partly filled up and with marshy shores unpleasing to the eye. Fountain lake is a pretty sheet of water, circled by a well-kept boulevard and skirted with comfortable residences, well-trimmed lawns, grassy slopes and scattering timber. In the distance well-tilled farms, sub¬ stantial country homes and productive pastures have taken the place of burr oak and wild grass, and excellent thoroughfares and modern railways ramify the landscape in every direction.

southeast corner of Washington and Water streets. He had previously, however, been here earlier in the year and camped several days. Merry was a native of New York state and he and another man left that state under a cloud, it being alleged that they had borrowed $10,000 which they had failed to repay. In 1853 Merry came west and settled at the present site of Merry's Ford in Iowa, on the Cedar, three miles below the Iowa state line. In 1854 he lost all that he possessed. Accordingly in the spring of 1855 he started out with his wife and four children, Edward, John, Nettie and Petty, ranging from twelve to five years, to seek a home further to the westward. He had two covered wagons, household equipment and a herd of loose cattle. Arriving at the beautiful prairie now occupied by Albert Lea he camped for several days and then continued westward, visit¬ ing the vicinity of Winnebago City and other places. Finding nothing to suit him he came back to Albert Lea, June 1, 1855, and became its first settler.

Merry pre-empted a quarter section on the west side of what is now Broadway, described as follows : The southeast quarter of the northeast quarter; the east half of the southeast quarter, and the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter, all in section 8. Merry sold one forty to Thomas Thorne and three forties to Lucius P. Wedge. He reserved for himself small pieces of land, including the site of his home. In 1858 he moved to the north bank of Walnut lake, Faribault county, five miles southwest of Wells, where he erected a large farmhouse which he conducted as a country hotel. Later he moved to a point twenty-five miles above Bismarck on the Missouri river in North Dakota. He died some thirty years ago.

While Merry was the first settler on the present site of Albert Lea, he was an impediment to progress. He was coarse and uncouth and far from desirable as a town proprietor. The great¬ est blessing which Albert Lea has ever had was the sale of the major portion of the Merry claim to Lucius P. Wedge. Mr. Wedge was a man of attractive personality, culture, refinement and much business ability, and though he died early, his owner¬ ship of a part of the original town plat was a most important influence in making Albert Lea the city it is today. This pur¬ chase brought here his brother-in-law, Austin D. Clark ; his widow, Mary Felicia Clark Wedge, who afterwards married Augustus Armstrong; his niece, Margaret Wedge, who married William Morin; his nephew, Dr. A. C. Wedge, his young son, Clarence Wedge, and several others. All of these had an important part in molding the life of the community. The residence of L. P. Wedge here was very short. He spent the winter of 1856-57 at Merry's and then went back to Wisconsin. After a search for

The second comer to Albert Lea was George S. Ruble. Ruble was a resident of Beloit, Wis. lie came to Freeborn county in July, 1855, and looking over the slough that is now Fountain lake, decided that the lower end was a suitable location for a dam and mill. In examining the country further, he concluded that possibly the outlet of Albert Lea lake in section 25 was a better site. LyBrand and Thompson had started the village of St. Nicholas in section 26, a mile west of this latter site, and doubtless Mr. Ruble's sound business sense convinced him that the concentration of efforts at one point, with a mill nearby, would be better than attempting to start a diversity of townsites. Accordingly he proposed to LyBrand and Thompson that he go into partnership with them and be given half the townsite of St. Nicholas in return for building a mill and booming the village for county seat honors. On this proposition hung the future of Albert Lea. Had it been accepted the site of the pres¬ ent city would doubtless still be a stretch of farming and graz¬ ing lands. But LyBrand and Thompson shortsightedly rejected the proposition and Ruble decided to establish a village of his own. Accordingly he came to Albert Lea and during the au¬ tumn brought his wife and son*, Charles Newton Ruble, here, building his cabin at 522 Bridge street. This cabin was a double log house, eighteen by eighteen and fourteen by eighteen feet. Ruble made preparations for building a dam and the next year erected a mill.

Ruble's claim lay on the east side of Broadway and was described as follows: The southeast quarter of the northwest quarter ; the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter, and the west half of the southwest quarter, all in section 9. In 1856 he platted land on the east side of Broadway, the plat being sur¬ veyed by Charles C. Colby. Later he platted a tract east of the present city.

AN' it L Ruble as workmen came Saxon C. Roberts, Joseph NN illford, who was afterwards frozen to death in Martin county ; Charles F. Warren, H. V. Henderson, A. Ableman, J. Adrian, L. C. Roberts, John B. Lenox, John Ryan, Louis Osgood, Edward Murphy, Arthur Boulton, Edward Henderson and David Irons. The payroll of these men commenced on November 2, 1855. Of these but two remained in the county after the Civil War. Ryan lived a number of years in Nunda township and then moved to the southern part of Steele county, where he died. Murphy acquired considerable land east of the city and remained in this vicinity until his death a few vears ago.

township in 1855. Early in the spring of that year a party of eastern people left Wisconsin, where they had stopped for a time, and headed toward southern Minnesota. The party con¬ sisted of Bethuel Lilly and wife, John Colby and wife and the seven Colby children, six daughters and one son. They arrived at Caledonia, Houston county, this state, May 18, 1855, and there part of the little colony decided to remain, while the balance should push on further west in search of homes. Accordingly C. C. Colby and Sarah Jane Colby, afterward Mrs. Orville Kenfield, now deceased, and Mr. and Mrs. Bethuel Lilly came to Freeborn county and settled in section 6, Albert Lea township. In the fall C. C. Colby went back to Caledonia and brought here two of his sisters, Mary A., now Mrs. Daniel Hurd, and Mar¬ garet Ellen, now Mrs. Isaac Botsford. The next year the parents came and with them four more daughters, Emily, now Mrs. An¬ thony Huyck ; Elizabeth, now Mrs. 0. F. Peck ; Clara, now Mrs. Leander J. Thomas, and Maria, now Mrs. Hanibal Bickford, deceased.

The spring of 1856 opened with but five houses at of near what is now Albert Lea city. The locations of Ruble, Merry, Colby and LyBrand and Thompson have been mentioned. A man named Wilder had a cabin on section 12, Pickerel Lake township, two miles west of the city. This man Wilder left hurriedly in the spring of 1856, selling his claim to John Ruble. Wilder had been selling whisky to the Indians and learned that the govern¬ ment officials were on his trail, hence his hasty leavetaking.

In the spring of 1856 came William Morin, Julius Clark. Will¬ iam Kellar, J. D. Dudley, J. C. Baer, John Ruble, David Stilson, A. W. White, Daniel Hurd, Hanibal Bickford and Benjamin Frost. Peter Clausen, Bradford Blackmer and the Hoopes, fa¬ ther and son (Moses and George P), came some time during the year. In the fall came Capt. Thomas Thorne, Isaac W. McReynolds and Lucius P. Wedge. Probably there were others, more or less transient, whose names are not recalled. All of these mentioned were not actually within the township, but as the vil¬ lage was their business and social center they were regarded as Albert Lea people.

Julius Clark was the first merchant in Albert Lea. The early fifties found him engaged in the mercantile business in Ohio. Adversity staring him in the face in the fall of 1855, he quietly boxed a portion of his goods and shipped them to the Ohio river, thence down that river and up the Mississippi to Brownsville, Minn., in the southeastern corner of the state: In March. 1856, he arrived in the prospective village of Albert Lea. Ruble per- suacled him that this was the proper place for his activities and presented him with two lots. In May notice was received that the goods had arrived at Brownsville. Clark had no money and William Morin, Gvorge S. Ruble and William Kellar advanced him the wherewithal to pay the freight and bring the goods here. When t lie goods arrived no building had been erected and they were unloaded on the open prairie in front of 119 East Clark street. A "bee" was at once gotten up and the entire popula¬ tion loaned a hand in erecting a small log hut at that location. It is from this man that the street takes its name. Mr. Clark lived in the store and kept house for himself. He remained here about two years and then closed out and went back to Ohio. It is worthy of note that the first purchase made at the store was that of a door latch by William Kellar, this latch being still preserved in the family.

Bradford Blackmer came in 1856 and purchased the Stilson claim west of the city. He boarded with Clark and stayed but a short time. He visited the county later, but never again located here.

William Kellar took up land in the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 17. He boarded at Merry's for a while and then built a cabin for himself. In September he went back to Wisconsin and brought his family here. This family arrived September 27, 1856, and consisted of a wife and three sons, Curtis B., William G. and Martin V., aged respectively ten, eight and six years.

J. 1). Dudley came from Ohio and took a claim in section 17. In July he went back and got his family, consisting of a wife and one girl, two years old. For a time they lived in the cov¬ ered wagon in which they came and spent the first winter at the cabin of J. C. Baer. His son, Frank C. Dudley, born October 8, 1856. was the first white child born in the township. Mr. Dudlev moved to the citv of Albert Lea many vears ago and died some time since.

J. ('. Baer settled in section 17. In 1859 he moved to Colo¬ rado, but eame back in 1864 and enlisted in Company C, First Minnesota Heavy Artillery. In 1865 he was married at La- porte, Ind.. to a Miss Ward, a resident of Freeborn county. Later he again moved to Colorado, had three children and there lost his wife. In 1891 he came back to Albert Lea and in-Mav, 1892, died at the Minnesota Soldiers' Home in Minneapolis.

David Stilson. an American, with a large family located on section 8, Albert Lea township, in the spring of 1856, but sold his claim to the Blackmer family in October of the same year and in the spring of 1857 removed to the banks of the Blue Earth

John Ruble, was a member of the farming community which formed about the village of Albert Lea. His claim, however, was over the line in section 12, Pickerel Lake, where he bought out one Wilder, and there spent the remainder of his days.

Hannibal Bickford, who had previously been elsewhere in the county, located in section 36, in the township of Manchester. His was the first marriage in the county. He lived in the county many years, then went to Tacoma, Wash.

Daniel Hurd came in the early season of 1856 and located east of Hatch bridge, directly north of the city, in section 5. The place is now known as the AYasliington Lee farm. Hurd was at that time unmarried. He filed on his land and boarded at Merry's. On January 13, 1857, he was married and erected at 121 East Clark street, the first house which was built in the platted portion of the city. He has a widow and two sons, George and Frank, still living in Albert Lea.

Benjamin Frost and large family settled in section 19, Ban¬ croft township. He lived here several years after the war, and then went to Missouri. The family consisted of four sons, Gard¬ ner, Malilon L., Jacob C., and Benjamin Jr., and three daughters, Mary, Ellen and Flora.

Peter Clausen took a claim in the southwest quarter of section 5, Albert Lea township. His family remained many years. It has been said that Clausen came as early as 1855 and that his father-in-law, Even Evenson Keale (Quale) came at the same time.

Capt. Thomas Thorne located with his family near the present site of the Episcopal church on Park avenue. He left about 1858. He purchased forty acres from Merry and was one of the original town proprietors.

Isaac AY. McReynolds had served in the Black Hawk AYar and participated in the battle of Bad Axe. He arrived here October 4, 1856, and lived a year with AYilliam Kellar. He took up a claim in section 7, one mile west of the courthouse and built a house and broke the land. In 1857 he brought his family here and remained here until his death at a very old age. He farmed, preached and officiated at funerals. He Avas often

The opening of the year of 1857 found but six buildings in the village. The Ruble house was at 522 Bridge street, and his mill was at the foot of Fountain lake. The Thorne house was on Park avenue, between Grove and Fountain streets. An empty build¬ ing, erected as a store, but later used as a schoolhouse was on the southeast corner of the present postoffice block; Clark's store was at 119 East Clark street, and Merry's house was at the southeast corner of Washington and Water streets. The winter had been the most severe ever known in Minnesota. After a snowfall of four feet came a drizzling sleet followed by a sharp freeze, thus forming a heavy crust. The settlers suffered the discomforts of the cold weather, but there was not that distress¬ ing lack of provisions which was felt the following winter.

In 1857, the arrivals in Albert Lea village were as follows: Samuel Eaton and wife ; A. P. Swineford and N. T. Grey, single ; D. Cheney Brock Woodruff, wife, and fifteen-year-old son ; William Grey, single; James Kenyon and family; Dr. A. C. AYedge, single: John G. Godlev, single; Fritz Ewald, Truman Robinson and family ; Isaac* Botsford, single ; D. G. Parker, single ; A. B. AYebber, single ; Ruben AYilliams and family, Timothy Sheehan, single ; Austin D. Clark, single ; C. N. Norton and family ; J. W. Brownsell and family; R. J. Horning, single; H. T. Smith, single : S* C. Sears, single; J. France, single; John Q. Fitzgerald; David Crowfoot and family; a number of men who worked for Ruble and various transients, including Newcomer and Barnes who planned to open a store.

Among those who came to the township in 1857, were: Dr. Franklin Blackmer and family; Father Isaac W. McRenolds family; J. B. Clifton and family; Andrew and Thomas AYilson with mother and a number of brothers and sisters; John and Jerry Calahan and the wife of the former; John Murtaugli and family; Ole Stugo and family; B. J. House and son; Leander Cooley and family; Chauncey Cooley and family; George AY. AA^ebster and family; John Y. Edleman; William H. Hoag and family, and possibly others.

Albert Lea in 1858. When the first term of public school closed in Albert Lea in March, 1858, there were but nineteen buildings of any importance iu the village. Capt. Thomas Thorne had a house about where the Episcopal church is now located. A small brick house, built by John Y. Edleman had been erected on the southwest corner of Clark and St. Mary's street. S. C. Sears had started a house, which was later torn down, on the east side of St. Mary's street between Clark and Water streets. Kenyon's hotel, built by George P. Hoopes, in 1857, stood on the southwest, corner of Clark and Washington streets. Lorenzo Merry's residence was on the southeast corner of Washington and Water streets. Five buildings stood on the west side of Broadway. John AY. Brownsill's house, which in after years was known as the Eaton house, was on the southwest corner of Broadway and Water streets. The office of Dr. A. C. Wedge, which was also occupied by William Morin was on the west side of Broadway, between Clark and William streets. North of it was a small building used as an office by Augustus Armstrong. The AYebber house was on the northwest corner of Broadway and Main ; and north of it was a house erected by H. D. Brown. On the east side of Broadway, a short distance north of AYilliam street was a building in which William L. Gray kept a saloon. On the north side of Clark street, a short distance east of Broadway, stood the first frame house in the village, built by Daniel Hurd in 1857. This building was long known as the Stacy house. YYest of this was Clark's log store. The postoffice, kept by Samuel Eaton, was on the west side of Newton street, between Clark and AYilliam. Alf. P. Swineford's house was on the northwest corner of Elizabeth and Clark street. The old log store, in wdiich Austin Clark kept school, was on the northwest corner of AYilliam and Elizabeth street. North of this was the printing office of the "Southern Minnesota Star." Ruble's house and mill were on the east side of Bridge street.

Platting The Village

Platting the village. The land comprising the principal parts of the city of Albert Lea was pre-empted in 1856 by Lorenzo Merry and George S. Ruble. Merry pre-empted the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter : the east half of the southeast quarter; and the nortlrwest quarter of the southeast quarter: all in section 8. Part of this lay in Fountain lake. Ruble pre¬ empted the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter; the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter; and the west half of the southwest quarter, all in section 9. August 13, 1856, Merry sold the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter to Captv Thomas A. Thorne for $200.00, and these three, Ruble, Merry and Thorne platted the town of Albert Lea.

Each proprietor donated a square for public use. The present courthouse square was donated by Ruble, and the present public square, by Merry. Thorne donated the third block west of Broadway, north of College street and south of Spring lake for college purposes. This latter block not being used for the purpose for which it was intended reverted to Thorne's successor. This block is now the middle of block 4, the Danish Lutheran church being near its southwest corner.

The plat was surveyed by C. C. Colby. It was filed with the register of deeds of Dodge county, October 29, 1856. It is inter¬ esting to note that in one of the acknowledgments of the filing of the original plat appear the words ''Village of Lake Albert Lea," but aside from this the town has borne its present name from the very beginning. The plat was filed with the register of deeds of Freeborn county, February 24, 1859. In the meantime, February 3, 1857, Merry transferred to Lucius P. Wedge for $2,500, the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter ; the north¬ west quarter of the southeast quarter; and the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter, all in section 8 ; reserving for himself the east halves of blocks 8 and 6 and also lots 13 and 16 in block 3, which on January 6, 1857, had been deeded to Dexter and Ripley.

Dr. A. C. Wedge came here as the representative of Lucius P. Wedge, but after the death of the latter, Austin D. Clark was his administrator. Thorne disposed of his interests to V illiam Morin. Owing to a stretching of the chain when the original survey was made, various complications ultimately arose, and in 1868, and again in 1873 certain acts of the legislature legalized the plat of the city and also dealt with the vacating of several small tracts. Since the recording of the original plat many additions, sub-divisions and out-lots have been platted.

An interesting incident in the platting of Albert'Lea was the attempt of George S. Ruble to found another townsite east of what is now Albert Lea, part of it being in the lake. Ruble gained the ear of Judge William H. Welch, who under the townsite law entered what he called the townsite of Albert Lea lv ing largely in the northeast quarter of section 9. Ruble and a man named Thomas J. Smith, of Red Wing, advertised this plat widely as Albert Lea, county seat of Freeborn county. Some lots were sold, the plat was finally vacated and the tracts became what until a very recent date, has been the Ruble farm.

Early Business Interests

The first mercantile establishment of any kind in Albert Lea was the store of Julius Clark, from whom ( lark street is named. As before related, he brought a stock of goods from Ohio, and the pioneers assisted in erecting a log building at 119 East ( lark street. In this building the store was opened late in June, 18o6, and in it also Clark, who was a bachelor, made his home. Mr. Clark conducted the store until 1858. The building was vacant for some time, but stood for many years. Ole Tang conducted a shoe shop there later. Lorenzo Merry being postmaster, ap¬ pointed Squire Clark his assistant, and for a time the postoffice was kept in his store.

Late in 1856 a small building was erected on the southeast - corner of the postoffice block for mercantile purposes and some shelving was put in by Newcomer & Barnes, but no goods were sold here. The first school in Albert Lea was held in this building.

The first blacksmith shop in the city of Albert Lea was opened in the spring of 1857 by David Crowfoot at 425 Bridge street. He began work under a large oak tree, but in a few weeks built a small shop. In the fall of the year he moved his shop to his claim, three miles east of the city. The next blacksmith was Anson Hanff, who had a shop on Newton street, just north of the present postoffice, from 1858 until after the war.

Joseph France came here some time in 1857 and opened a gun¬ smith shop on a small scale, probably in his home. Later he operated a tinshop. His first advertisement as a gunsmith ap¬ pears in the "Southern Minnesota Star," January 14, 1858.

Samuel Eaton and Brock Woodruff, his brother-in-law, came to Albert Lea in 1857 and moved into Daniel Hurd's house at 121 East Clark street, where they sold general merchandise. Woodruff and Eaton dissolved partnership in January, 1858, and Brock Woodruff and Alfred P. Swineford continued the business.

A brickyard was opened in 1857 by G. W. Watrous, who for a short time had S. C. Sears for a partner. This yard was located about half a mile below Luther Academy on the Glenville road. They made brick for three buildings; one of them is still standing at the southeast corner of Broadway and Clark street; one is now torn down, which was located on the east side of St. Mary's street, about half way between Water and Clark streets, and one stands at 301 West Clark street.

The first drug store was opened by Dr. A. C. Wedge in 1857 at 140 South Broadway. This building was also used as an office by William Morin. The building lias been moved and is still standing on the west side of South Pearl street near the track.

Albert Lea's first attorney, Augustus Armstrong, erected a small building just north of Dr. Wedge's drug store, and opened a general law office. Alfred B. Webber also practiced law in 1857.

Alfred P. Swineford and N. T. Gray came in March, 1857, moved their equipment into a building erected by George S. Ruble at 124 Elizabeth street, and on July 11, 1857, issued the first number of the "Southern Minnesota Star."

Gray in 1857. lie closed out his business in 1861. The second saloon, located a few doors south of ( lark street on the "west side of Broadway, was owned by Francis Hall and was opened in 1860 by Charles Kittleson. After he enlisted, various men were hired to conduct the place.

Col. Samuel Eaton opened a shoe shop in 1857 at his home on the west side of Newton street, between Clark and William, lie also kept the postoffice in this place during the war. A few trinkets were kept for sale here. Walter Thompson was an as¬ sistant in this shop during the war.

The first wagon shop was built on the site of the present government post office in 1858. John TV . Brownsill, the builder, continued the business until 1869.

A store was opened by Monson, Pierce & Ferris in a build¬ ing at the northeast corner of Main and Broadway some time in the vear 1858. They remained in business here for a year, after which the store became vacant. During that vacancy the trial of Henry Kreigler for murder of Nelson Boughton was started and the term of court was held in this room, a change of venue being taken to Steele county. The last occupant of the build¬ ing was Andrew Palmer, Jr., who after conducting the store for a while, opened a butter and renovating establishment here. A brick block now occupies the site.

A general store was opened by Francis Hall on the north side of Clark street, a few doors west of Broadway, in the fall of 1858. It was erected by A. C. Wedge and William Morin. In 1860 Mr. Hall erected the brick .building which still stands at the southeast corner of Clark street and Broadway. This left the Clark street store vacant and John L. Dimock put in a small stock of goods. After a few months the store again became vacant and remained so until George "W hitman put in a general stock of groceries and dry goods about 1862. He remained in business until after the war. Later the building was used for various purposes and was finally torn down in 1906. Francis Hall in 1860 moved his goods from the store on the north side of Clark street to the building he erected that year on the southeast corner of Clark street and Broadway. He conducted this store for many years. He sold out to Capt. A. W. White, who con¬ ducted a grocery store there. The first banking business in the city was started in this building under Mr. Hall's charge. There have been various occupants of the place, W. A. Irvin now using it as a successful cigar store and Jacob Petersen as a barber shop. The historic "Standard" occupies the rooms overhead, which were originally used by Francis Flail as a residence some seven years until he erected what is now the Hotel Freeborn.

The newspapers of the period mention the names of sev¬ eral other firms, but none of them seem to have actually located here. Aside from the shingle machine of H. T. Smith, several machines of this nature, more or less successful, were operated in connection with the Ruble mill. The early hotels and the Ruble mill are mentioned elsewhere, thus completing the list of the industries represented in Albert Lea previous to 1859,' to¬ gether with some of their immediate successors.

The Ruble Mill. George S. Ruble came to Albert Lea in 1855 and made plans for the building of a mill at the foot of what is now Fountain lake. The acreage now covered by that lake was then a marsh and wiregrass slough. Ruble built a dam on the ice, expecting that when the ice melted the dam would drop into place. This was not a success, however, as the logs drifted away. The dam was finally built at its present location in the spring of 1856 and the sawmill started in October at 502 Bridge street. Late jn 1857 a corn cracker was put in and was operated by S. B. Sherwood. In 1859 a flour mill was added. In 1861 the waste¬ way washed out and the mill was damaged beyond repair. From 1861 to 1868 Fountain lake remained a swamp filled with wild rice, sometimes growing to a height of eight feet. In 1867 Fran¬ cis Hall repaired the dam, thus forming the present lake. He erected a flouring mill at the main outlet, and after conducting it for a time rented it to H. M. Avery. It ceased to be used for flouring purposes in 1886. For a few years thereafter it was used as a feedmill and then moved away.

Albert Lea Hotels

Lorenzo Merry, who arrived in Albert Lea in 1855, kept a boarding house in 1856 and a part of 1857, and several of the first settlers stayed there preparing for permanent settlement be¬ fore bringing their families here. In 1857 he erected a board reading, "Strangers' Home," this being undoubtedly the first hotel sign erected in Freeborn county. George S. Ruble, who came the same year, boarded the men who came to work for him and also entertained casual visitors and travelers. Aside from this it should be remembered that old-fashioned hospitality was practiced by all the first settlers, and travelers were always welcome to share in the already crowded cabins and the scanty fare.

at 201 West Clark street during the summer of 1857. The house was rented to James Kenyon and opened by him in the late summer of 1857. The house was two stories high about thirty by sixty. The lumber was sawed at George Ruble's sawmill and the building was constructed barn fashion, with the boards run¬ ning up and down. On the lower floor were the office, the kitchen, the dining room and a small baggage room. The upper floor was devoted to sleeping rooms. Mr. Kenyon closed his house in 1858 and went to Mitchell, Iowa. The house was used as a resi¬ dence until 1870 and was later torn down.

Webber House. This was the second hotel in Albert Lea and stood on the northwest corner of Broadway and Main streets. It was opened November 24, 1857, but was not entirely completed at that time. A. B. Webber conducted the place for himself a while. In 1858 he rented it to Charles Jones, and in 1859 to Brock Woodruff. In 1860 it was purchased by James Robson. Mr. Robson was sheriff of the county and it was in the attic that Henry Kreigler was confined for a time, and from here he was led to execution in 1861. The house passed through various hands afterward, until Walter J. Martin took hold of it. When he started farming the house was left vacant and was never thereafter used as a hotel. H. D. Brown was the owner for many years. For a time a part of it was used as a butcher shop. Then it remained vacant for several years. The Nelson Bros, later erected their present store there.

Around this house clusters much of the early history of Albert Lea. The house was two stories high, well built, and substantial looking, a credit to the town in those days. On the Broadway side was a large stoop, with a veranda overhead. Off from this opened the bar room, soealled, and the ladies' parlor. Back of these on Main street was the dining room, and back of the dining room, also on Main street, but not extending the full width of the house was the kitchen. In the upper story were the sleeping rooms, and the historic ball room was over the kitchen and a part of the dining room. The stairs to the upper story lead from the hall which separated the bar room from the ladies' parlor. In the ladies' parlor school was kept by Adrian K. Norton in the winter of 1859-60. In the ballroom the first Masonic initiation was held, and the Masons met there for some time. The first war meeting in the county was held here, presided over by Judge E. C. Stacy, a noted Democrat. The first term of court was held here, presided over by Judge N. M. Donaldson. A dona¬ tion to Elder Philo Camfield, of the Congregational church was one of the early social events in the house, and here, too, was held the funeral of W. K. Boyles, who was killed August 14, 1858, his being t he second death, and first public funeral in the village. Shows and concerts were also given in the ball room, and in the fall of 1864 a portrait gallery was opened there by C. G. Edwards. It was destroyed by fire, Jnne 24, 1887. Dr. A. C. Wedge says: "The first important social event I can remember was the ball given in honor of the opening of this hotel. This building was far from, being finished when this party was given, but the ballroom was ready and enough more of the house to furnish fair accommodation for the guests. I remember while making plans to attend this party, it struck me all of a sudden that I should have a lady partner. As a matter of fact, being a bashful and verdant youth, I had never up to this time managed to muster up enough courage to invite a young lady to be my partner at any kind of social gathering. But it had to be done, as I was expected to do my part in this affair. (I will say right here in parenthesis, that my being compelled to find a partner for this opening party was something of an epoch in my own history, as the lady who kindly accepted my blundering invitation has ever been faithful since that time; and she yet remains my 'best girl.') I cannot tell you much about the party, though my impression was that it was a swell affair. Everybody was there. Delegates were present from Austin, Northwood, Geneva, Itasca and Shell Rock. The house full to overflowing, the music wTas good, and the midnight supper excellent. Soon after the event the building was finished, and during the re¬ mainder of the winter, social gatherings were frequent and enjoyable - in fact I may say that for several years after this, Albert Lea was quite a social center, because of its roominess and quite good hotel accommodations. But it was not the social gatherings that made the Webber House historical. The histor¬ ical ballroom was not altogether used for music and dancing. Religious services were quite frequently held here. The ven¬ erable Rev. Samuel Lowry, a Presbyterian clergyman of the old school, preached quite frequently in this hall. He was a good old man and we all went to hear him. He was faithful and earnest and his gracious words were for the betterment of our young community. A number of other ministers held services in this hall. Among them I remember the Rev. Cook, then of Austin. The next summer after the Webber House was com¬ pleted, political meetings were held in this hall. I remember quite well of hearing Governor Ramsey, William Windom and Ignatius Donnelly from a platform in this hall - speakers, who, when living, did credit to any platform in any city. Also later James Cavanugh, Amos Cogswell and John L. Gillman were heard from the same platform. During the presidential cam¬ paign of 1859, Gen. C. C. Andrews and the late Governor Miller held a joint political discussion in this same old hall. It was there that I had the honor of being initiated into the mystery of Free Masonry, and I well remember with what ability and dignity the worshipful master, Capt. A. W. White, presided at that time. Here were held all the social gatherings of the order for a year or two. His Honor, the late Judge Donaldson, presided here a* judge of the District Court, the bench being literally at the west end of the small old hall. Here Kreigler was confined after his conviction and from here he was taken to the place of execution about where the Milwaukee railroad crosses Broadway. This old ballroom was often the place of the meetings of political nominating committees. The late Hon. George M atson received his second nomination for the state senate here. His first was in mv office before the hotel was built. The Hon. Aug. Armstrong received his first nomination here for state legislature. After the firing on Fort Sumter and the war was on the old Webber house was the storm center of Freeborn county. Here was heard the fife and drum and the patriotic speech making. War meetings were frequent. How well I remember the earnest and burning words of the late Judge E. C. Stacy as he urged the young men to shoulder the musket and go forth to fight for home and country. It was here that most of the recruiting was done for our first company for the war (Co. F. 4th Minnesota A ol. Inf.), commanded by Capt. A. W. White.

Western Home. This hotel opened in Albert Lea was the Western Home, located on the southeast corner of William and Newton streets. The building was erected as a dwelling on the southwest corner of William and C lark streets, by Ole I. kllingson and therein was kept for a time the county treasurer's office. In 1864 it was moved by Frank Hall to the southeast corner of William and Newton streets. It was remodeled, some additions built and used as a private residence for renting purposes. About 1871 it was opened by Charles Robinson as a hotel and named the Western Home. He conducted it for a few years and it was after¬ ward again converted into a tenement.

Gilbert House. This building was erected by Morin, Anderson and others in 1868 and was conducted as a cheese factory. S. S. Sutton came into possession of the property and converted it into a hotel known as the Lake house. After a while it was sold to Warren Gilbert, who owned it for many years. The lessees were Gardner & Hunter, and after a while Mr. Hunter conducted it alone. During this time it was changed to the Gardner house and later to its present name. John B. Foote conducted it for many years. The present proprietor and owner is C. M. Overly. The location is at the southwest corner of College and Washing¬ ton streets. The place is well conducted and enjoys an excel¬ lent reputation. Since its original opening it has been much en- larged. It is worthy of note that the name of the Lake house was derived from the fact that an arm of Spring lake reached to the rear of the house, and in the early days sail boats were enabled to land at its very doors.

Hall House. The Hall house, which is the present Freeborn hotel, was erected about 1867 by Frank Hall as a residence and was regarded as a mansion in those days. Some years later Mr. Hall employed a man named Foster to open the place as a hotel, but Mr. Hall soon assumed the management himself and con¬ ducted the place until the middle eighties. It has passed through various hands and is now owned by the Hall House Company and managed by F. A. Snow. From the time of the opening of the hotel by Mr. Hall it enjoyed an excellent reputation and was for many years considered one of the finest hotels in southern Minne¬ sota, contributing not a little to Albert Lea's prosperity and importance.

known as the National house, had its beginning with a saloon conducted by Daniel Heising. Andrew Rolfson opened it as a hotel about 1875 and conducted it for some vears. Its best known proprietor wras H. A. Crandall, who took hold of the place in the fall of 1882. It has passed through various hands, has been gutted by fire, several times remodeled and additions made and is still run as a boarding house and hotel. Its loca¬ tion is at 223 East Clark street. The property is now owned by Yegger Gulbrandson.

Winslow House. This hotel is located in the Minneapolis & St. Louis station, which company owns it, and was completed after that road was put through in 1878. A Mr. Bunker con¬ ducted it for some time and then sold to Frank Hall, who was the landlord for many years. It is a two-story brick building and enjoys considerable patronage. After passing through vari¬ ous hands it is now conducted as a hotel and eating house by W. T. Springer.

The La Crosse house was built and opened in 1877 by L. Oentrich at 137 West Clark street. It is still conducted as a small hotel and boarding house by his widow.

The City hotel was located on Clark street, east of William street, opposite the National house. It was started by William Fenliolt, as a saloon, a few years after the war and by him changed to a hotel, with a feed barn in connection. He con¬ ducted it for many years and later sold it to Thomas Porter. Still later it ceased to be a hotel.

Hotel Freeborn. This is the leading American hotel in Albert Lea and is the old Flail house, with additions and improvements. It is conducted by F. A. Snow. The hotel is a beautiful building, surrounded by a wide lawn, plentifully set with trees. The manager and employes are courteous and obliging, the cuisine is excellent, and the rooms comfortable both summer and winter. The place is filled to its utmost capacity throughout the year.

Newton House. This is a pleasant brick building at the south¬ west corner of Main and Newton streets and was erected in the early nineties on the site of the first Catholic church. Under the management of W. T. Springer it attained considerable im¬ portance. It has had various proprietors and enjoys some pat¬ ronage. It is owned by Bennett Asleon.

The Hanson house is a successful European hotel at 326 South Broadway. It is principally a rooming house and its rooms are in much demand. Albert Lea house is at 323 South Ermina street, and the Metropolitan house at 123 West Clark street.

Hotel Albert. This hotel is conducted on the European plan, Charles Jorgensen being the manager. The structure is of ma¬ roon brick, with the interior finished in brick and marble. It occupies the northeast corner of Broadway and College street and was erected at a cost of $65,000 by Charles Jorgensen, AY. A. Morin and C. A. Ransom. Work commenced May 5, 1899. and the formal opening was held May 4. 1900.