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Roosevelt History Part 3
“Logging was important to the development of Roosevelt...and of
course, the railroad was essential to getting the logs to their market
quickly.
“In 1901 work was progressing rapidly on the new railway. There was
only one logical place to build a business...near the railway, and
near a siding. The Norquist brothers were preparing to put in a large
sawmill in Roosevelt. They were planning to have it completed by the
spring of 1902.
“The
CNR went through Roosevelt in 1900, though there was not a depot [t]here
at that time. There was a water stop, though, as well as other
supplies needed by the steam engines. A depot building [was] in
Roosevelt by 1903, and a side rail for loading lumber. The sight of
the train chugging along with the back smoke billowing along behind
and the sound of the whistle, long and loud, was the sight and sound
of progress, and everyone rejoiced.
“The
first sawmill was built by the H. Grill family. There was also a
Norquist Sawmill by 1902. J.H. Newton was advertising jobs: ‘choppers
and wood handlers at Hyland’s camp near Roosevelt, $26 per month and
board.
‘In the
peak years of 1905-1930, the little settlement was alive with wagons
or sleds hauling lumber to the nearest sawmill (or rail yard)...often
only a few miles from the camp. In 1920, Weatherby and Eklund bought
$125,000 worth of ties and six other companies were buying comparable
amounts.’
“J.H.
Newton’s sleds…carried ten cords of wood, which equaled 30,000 feet of
lumber. By 1903, he was bringing them into Roosevelt daily… It was
already time for another siding, and the depot was barely completed.
Later that winter, people in Roosevelt were upset about the lack of
rail service. There were just not enough cars coming through to keep
up with the lumber that was coming out. Mr. Newton was said to have
"nearly 1,000,000 feet of lumber at his plant and in his yard awaiting
shipment."
“By 1906,
Roosevelt had grown in great bounds. Lumber was plentiful; there were
many buyers, and plenty of workers in...the logging camps. Large
quantities of finished lumber had been shipped out for a few years
already, and the market in Roosevelt was recognized and appreciated.
“The town
had three general stores: Mansfield & Co., Norquist & Cones, and
Chaplins. There were three churches: Lutheran, Catholic and
Presbyterian. [Roosevelt] had two hotels, and Chapin's Restaurant, a
saloon, a library (with 400 volumes, some of which had been donated by
Teddy Roosevelt), a busy school, a livery and feed stable, a billiard
hall. There was also three sawmills (employing over 60 men), a
blacksmith shop, a shoe maker, a barber shop, a dancing hall, a
newspaper, a railroad depot with a station agent, a doctor, 2
justices, 2 real estate agents, a town clerk and a notary public.
The dance
hall, which was about 28 x 60, also doubled as a roller rink. Where
many would strap their roller skates on to their shoes and get some
healthy exercise...there was plenty of exercise to be had...but it was
not all such fun exercise.
Land
averaged about $1.35 per acre, according to a survey. It was projected
that the land value would rise to $8.00 per acre once the true value
of the acre was recognized. Roosevelt was already a thriving busy
little town. Through the years, Roosevelt went through a cycle: in the
summers, Roosevelt was a quieter town. The loggers who did not work in
the local mills, went back to their homesteads, or worked in mills in
other towns. Some helped in the North Dakota harvest fields. Overall,
much of the population was elsewhere during the summer months. Once
hard frost came, however, Roosevelt once again boomed, as logging
swung into its routine...cutting logs, hauling them into Roosevelt,
many would be in the rail yard awaiting shipment, and some would be
cut in the local mills.” (Roosevelt, Minnesota 1906-2006;
Roosevelt Centennial book committee)
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