Waverly City

Waverly City

The village was formerly called Waverly Station to distinguish it from Old Waverly, a pioneer village which in the early days flourished about a mile away. Waverly Station was laid out by the railroad company on their land in the southwest quarter of section 33, at about the time that regular trains eommenced operating in this locality in 1869. A railroad station was erected that year, and a grain house the next. The first store was opened by T. R. Barrett, who operated it for a few years, and then changed it to a hotel under the name of the Keystone House. The next store was that of George Doerfler, removed from Old Waverly, Thomas Clarke also opened a store. Patrick Fallihee opened a store in the spring of 1870. In 1879 he erected a large two-story building with a hall on the upper floor, and his store at that time beeame one of the largest and finest then in the county, In 1871, William Quinn & Co. opened a general store, but soon changed it to an agricultural implement supply house. In 1873, J. K. Cullen came from Watertown and opened a general store. John Giblin and others followed. The Waverly House was erected as a dwelling by <A. Kommers in 1874 and was sold to H. C. Morneau who enlarged it and established the hotel.

From such beginnings the present village has grown. The business center is constructed largely of brick buildings, the city hall is a large and imposing structure of brick, and the Catholie church, Catholic school and public school standing in a row present a notable group of buildings and add materially to the appearance of the village. The city hall was built in 1893, and the public school house in 1905.

The village is on the Great Northern, thirty-eight miles from Minneapolis. It has the Catholic church mentioned above, a Presbyterian church, two banks, a flour mill, a creamery, a hotel and three grain elevators.

Lights are supplied by the Electric Light & Power Co., of St. Cloud. A public system supplies good water, and the park provides ample breathing space for recreation and sports. St. Mary's cemetery is a beautiful spot of repose, and well in keeping with the traditions of the church which maintains it. The Commercial Club is doing good work with R. H. Jewett as president and James P. McDonnell as secretary. Ample fire proteetion is furnished, a well equipped fire department being in eharge of Chief Joseph Lyndon.

The people are believers in the ''get together'' spirit, and the fraternal principle has been well ineuleated. Among the lodges represented here may be mentioned the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Order of Foresters, the Modern Woodmen of

America, the Modern Brotherhood of America, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Royal Neighbors of America, the D. of H. and others, in addition to the church organizations which are mentioned elsewhere.

Of its school, the people of Waverly are especially proud. It is a brick structure, two stories high, with basement, and is in charge of four teachers. In addition to a complete course, the school teaches manual training and musie.

Waverly Station was incorporated as a village in 1881. The first officers were: William Quinn, president; J, K. Cullen, L. V. Kyte and D. W. Flannigan, trustees; C. H. Cullen, recorder; C. H. Cullen, justice of the peace; D. W. Flannigan, constable,

A special election called by the trustees of the village of Waverly for the purpose of ascertaining by ballot whether the village of Waverly should continue as then incorporated under a special act of the legislature or become reincorporated under the General Statute of Minnesota, was held on Monday, March 16, 1885, Due notice of said election having been given and the object of said election having been fully set forth in notices, polls opened at 10 a. m. and closed at £ p.m. Number of votes polled, 41; for reincorporation, +1; against, pone. The village of Waverly was therefore declared reincorporated under the General Statutes of Minnesota and same recorded in the village records. By order of the village council. H. Ch. Mornean, president; J. K. Cullen, Jolin Giblin, P. E. Barrett, trustees. Attest, George Straub, village recorder."'

Charles L. Flannigan was born in Syracuse, N. Y., November 18, 1848, and came with his parents to Minnesota in 1860. He was graduated from the Medical Department of the State University of New York, in 1871; and in 1878 settled in Waverly, Wright county, where he practiced medicine and owned a drug store.

David Mignault graduated from the Medical Department of the University at Victoria, Canada, in 1872, filed his license from the Minnesota State Board with the elerk of court of Wright county, August 23, 1884,

John V. O'Connor was licensed by the State Board of Minnesota, April 11, 1895. He practiced in Waverly about four years and then moved to St. Paul.

Miscellaneous

(Note - The publishers are indebted to Dr. E. P. Hawkins, M. D., president of the Wright County Medical Society, for information furnished in connection with this article.)