Last week we looked at the early establishment of Old Greenbush in be beginning of the Greenbush centennial book. The information was written/or put together by Eunice Korczak. This week we will examine some other eras she wrote about concerning the changes that took place due to the arrival of the railroad.
“By the early 1900s, Greenbush was an established, thriving, and growing little community.
The arrival of the railroad caused quite a stir. James J. Hill revealed his plans to build a Great Northern rail line from the south to connect with the Canadian line to Warroad. The little settlement at Old Greenbush eagerly awaited the arrival of the rail line, which in those days brought not only freight, but also some hope of prosperity. Disappointingly, the anticipated railroad stopped about three miles west of the community. Undaunted by this bad luck, the tough, clever Greenbush pioneers decided if the railroad wouldn’t come to them, they would go to it. So in the fall of 1904, they up and moved the town-buildings and all!
“The New Greenbush town site was purchased from Ole O. Hereim for who Hereim Township is named. All of the Old Greenbush buildings moved to New Greenbush and continued to operate as they had in the old town…The Hildahl building was on the road fro three weeks before reaching New Greenbush. Pulled along over rolling logs, it was towed using horses and block and tackle. Being dependent upon neither electricity or plumbing, he remained open for business during the move. Reportedly, he lost not one day of business during the move! One of several legends attached to Hildahl’s name says he simply attached a hitching to the building for customers’ horses. While the customers shopped. Their horses followed the moving store! Other stories indicated that customers who dallied while shopping were obliged to walk a distance back to their horses.
“Since the rail lines bypassed the neighboring town of Pelan, their hopes of becoming a metropolis of the North were dashed. Pelan businesses began moving to more lucrative locations. Many moved to Greenbush and helped the new town grow.
“On January 6, 1905 the first city meeting was held under an incorporated Greenbush. In May of 1905, when the incorporated village was …less than six months old, the Roseau County Times reported that ‘sidewalks were built and fire protection provided.’ The article went on to say that the new creamery was about completed, a water tower was erected at the cost of $5,000, the new Kukowski block was built and ‘all branches of business were well-represented.” The city businesses at that time included: five general merchandise stores, three banks, four hotels, three livery and feed stables, three elevators, a weekly newspaper, a real estate office, two blacksmiths, two lumber yards, two millinery shops, a meat market, a barber, a harness shop, and six saloons. In addition, professional services were offered by Drs. Young and Hubbard and Attorney M. J. Hegland. All this at the age of less than six months!” Greenbush, MN 1905-2005, pg 4and 5.
We will continue with stories about Greenbush and the history of the people who have helped it thrive through the years during the next few weeks.
