Quarry Happenings

  1893: Bank of Sandstone closed temporarily due to heavy withdrawals, reopened in a few weeks; Catholic Church bought old school building; Explosion of can of black powder injured four men during Fourth of July celebration; Panic of 1893 caused financial disaster for Ring and Tobin, creditors closed quarry. 1894:Fire destroyed Sandstone, Hinckley, Mission Creek, Miller, Partridge Pokegama and 600 hundred square acres of forest, over 60 Sandstone residents die; Governor's Fire Relief Commission agents disappeared food, materials and money for survival and rebuilding; James J Hill decided to move Eastern Railway division point from Hinckley to Sandstone; James J Hill built Sandstone Commercial building on corner of Main Street and Fourth Street (still in use today); Minnesota Trust Company opened quarry on limited basis. 1885:Minnesota Sandstone Company organized to reopen quarry; Episcopal Memorial and Presbyterian Churches built on Commercial Avenue; population grew to 1058 (300 i

1889: Village of Sandstone incorporated; Eastern Railway of Minnesota completed, connecting Sandstone with the Twin Cities and Twin Ports; Mathew Bullis be came Eastern Railway depot agent;   Hinckley General Hospital opened Sandstone Branch; Sons of Temperance had 19 members; Enough "clear as crystal" ice taken out of Kettle River to last all summer; George Meader made trip to Hinckley on government road in record time of 50 minutes; Presbyterian Church built; Water reservoir completed . 1890: Ring and Tobin quarry employed 120 men; Micheal Ring elected Village council president; 19 business buildings on Merchants Hill; 21 students in school; Eastern Railway completed depot near St Paul and Duluth Railroad Crossing. 1891:Bank of Sandstone sold about three steamship tickets a day to residents to Bring foreign relatives to Sandstone; 63 students enrolled in school; Area forest fire burned for four days until it rained; Eileen Crowley, principal of Sandstone Public School died

  The early derricks in the quarry were made of wood and run by horse and steam power.  American Hoist and Derrick Co. of St Paul built and installed many of the approximately 100-foot derricks.  A few of the later derricks installed were steel.  Each mast had about eight guy wires running in all directions secured in the rock to anchor and stabilize it.  Some guys wires were anchored on the other side of the river.  The hinged beams attached to the masts that lifted and guided the mill blocks were called booms. The sandstone History Center began a project to restore and preserve the last guy derrick mast in Robinson Park during Sandstone's Centennial Year.

Just a reminder that we have an event at the Sandstone Library on August 3rd @ 10AM.  Please come join us  

 The Kettle River Railroad Bridge was built by Eastern Railway in 1888

  Sandstone Hotel, built in 1887, was the center of early Sandstone's social life.  From 1886-1894 Sandstone's business district was located in "Old Town" in the area of the Sandstone area Hospital and Nursing Home approximately bordered by Minnesota Avenue, Grant Avenue, First Street and Court Avenue. 

  Walter J Keith was born on August 17,1867 in Minneapolis Minnesota.  Walter was the son to Dr. Goarge Hacket Keith and Henrietta Pearson Jewett.  Walter had three siblings, Maybel Cahill Keith, Max Leroy Keith and Goarge Herbert Keith Sr.  Walter's education took place in the public schools of Minneapolis.  He began an active career as the Minneapolis post office clerk, later becoming the United States Customs inspector, department entered in 1889.  Walter was the president of Keith's co. Architects.  He was also the president and co-owner of the Plaza in Minneapolis which was established in 1903.  Walter was the founder of Keith's Magazine on Home Building.  And was also the author of the Historic Architecture for Home Builder.                                          A little bit about what Walter did Keith's Magazine on Home Builder was very popular for the American Craftsman Design era, it was published from the centered through the 1930s.  Keith's was an auth

The Sandstone School, built with local sandstone in 1901, (above) was struck by lightning on September 20, 1909 (below) and completely gutted by fire.

  PETERSON-SANDWICK'S Store, which occupied the northwest corner of Fourth Street Court Avenue for 87 years, was built by Peter Peterson in 1896. Pedestrians crossed the rough primitive streets on the plank crosswalks to avoid mud or dust.

  THE REINHOLDSON SALOON, on the corner of Main Street and Third street, was well stocked with liquor and provided plenty of spittoons for its tobacco-chewing patrons.   This building was home to Maggie's Colonial Cafe in its later years.

  THE NEW DAM, built in 1905, is still called the new dam to distinguish it from the old dam located upstream.  The dam provided power for Sandstone and surrounding area for almost 60 years.  In the early years, it was the sole source of Sandstone 's electrical power.

  THE SWITCH ENGINES of the Quarry pulled cars loaded with huge sandstone blocks to the sawmill or paving cutters.  The switch engine also hauled sandstone blocks for building, paving blocks, slabs and crushed to the Minnesota Eastern Railway Tracks to be shipped.  The men are Fritz Gabrielson, Charels Gustafson (who was my great great grandpa) and Hudson. IN THE SAWMILL, sandstone blocks were cut for sidewalk slabs and building blocks.

  The model 1070 was ionic of Keith's Architecture.  Keith's Co. offered two-story and half story plans.  But Walter used the photograph of a smaller home through.  The pictured above is of the two-story plan.  There are windows in the bed chambers of the second floor.  This version came to Walter's portfolio of practical homes from the 1920s.  This plan was very similar to the Sears Roebucks floor model No. 124 home kit, which was sold in 1911-1918.  Sears bought popular architect plans of the day, but so far, they found no documenting or relationship evidence between the firms.

  Sandstone Junction was located at the junction of Pine County Highway 61 and County Road 27.  The junction was located at the four-mile marker. Kettle River Railroad connected to St. Paul and Duluth Railroad,  this train was called OLD SKALLY.  The Kettle River Railroad carried quarried sandstone, passengers and supplies to and from the quarry and the settlement that later became the Village Of Sandstone.

  Thomas Dodson:1565-1590 James Dodson:1585 Deceased WIFE  Elizabeth Rice:1585-1622: Daughter- Sara Dodson:1606-1648 John Everden:1610-1660 WIFE Sara Dodson:1606-1648 Daughter-Honorable Anthony Everden:1624-1687 Richard Bryante:1590-Deceased WIFE Elizabeth Allen 1580-Deceased-Daughter Sara Bryante:1621-1648 Honorable Anthony Everden:1624-1687 Marriage 1642 Sara Bryante:1621--1648 Daughter Elizabeth Everden:1643-1698 Samual Hartwell II:1666-1744 MARRIAGE1692-Abigail Stearns:1670-1709 CHILDREN: Samual Nathen Hartwell III:1693-1760, Abigail Hartwell:1695-1727, Joseph Hartwell:1698-1786, Mary Todd Hartwell:1700-1776, Isaac Hartwell:1703-1786, Ephraim Hartwell Sr:1707-1793, Lydia Hartwell:1709-1739 John Feild II:1644-1698 Marriage 1670 Susanna Adams:1643-1698: CHILDREN-John Feild III:1671-1757, Elizabeth Feild:1673-1727, Richard Feild Sr:1677-1725, Lydia Hanna Feild:1679-1743, Daniel Feild:1681-1746, Ruth Feild:1683-1723, Hanna Feild:1685-1746 Daniel Waldo:1657-1737 WIFE Susanna Adams:1660-

  Walter J Keith was born on August 17,1867 in Minneapolis Minnesota.  His father Dr. Goarge Hacket Keith who was 42 and his mother Hanrietta Pearson Jewett was 24.  Walter married Nella Yerxa on June 4,1888 in Hennepin Minnesota.  Walter and Nella were proud parents to Chester woodfor Keith, Roland Jewett Keith, Evelyn Jewett Keith and Priscilla Keith.  They lived in Pasadana Los Angeles, California in 1930.  Walter then died in Los Angeles on April 5th,1951 at Glendale Los Angeles, California. This is still a workin progress.  But this is what I've found so far.  Much more could be added to it.  I'm trying to make it so all event's go in order.   Please leave comments if you have any questions regarding the HISTORY CENTER OR PROJECTS.  I'm happy to answer them.

I have been working on researching this architect Walter J Keith for the past month I would say.  I have been getting lots of information.  And have found a family tree, date of births and death dates.  I'm hoping to find a living relative.  But not a whole lot of luck with that.  However, I have been able to find a biography of Walter which is pretty interesting.  I've also been working on rewriting his house plans he wrote.  It's been a challenge figuring out what some of the pages say.  The first page of the plans look like they have been burned and water damaged.  I'll be sharing the biography and more updates soon.  So stay tuned!

HISTORY CENTER HOURS- FRIDAY AND SATURDAY 10-1 LOCATION-SANDSTONE  Please stop in and sign our visitor book and take a look around at our displays.  Lots of history    

Saturday, August 10th TOUR: JIM LARSON HOST  There will be one combined tour including Sandstone City Historic places AND Robinson Quarry Park. This tour will include some walking in the park. TRANSPORTATION: Will be at the Alley between the History Center and Kettle River Grafix  Time: 2:00 Cost: = $5 REQUIRED: PRE-REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT at the History Center. LIMITED SEATING.  

  Friday, August 9th CHALK SIDEWALK DRAWING EVENT:  3:30-5:00pm; All participants welcome. Sidewalk to the south side of the History Center.  Registration required at History Center site to get Chalk, "Space", and received a coupon when the drawing is completed. Participants receive, Upon completion of Their drawing, A coupon for a 1 free scoop of ice cream.  This coupon must be redeemed during Quarry Days at the Dairy Assn. truck. Theme: "Chris " Food Center 50th Anniversary. ART DEMONSTRATION: 4:30- 5:30, History Center; Adnan Shati , Local Artist , Will demonstrate his art.  He will choose the art medium.

Chester Gustafson special event presentation 1/2 AROUND THE HORN  Saturday August 3rd, 10:00 am Location: Library on Main Street Sponsored by the Sandstone History Center Historic and updated photos and information regarding the "other (west) side of tracks". POSSIBLE USE OF FOLLOWING FACTS Chester will provide info about: Historic Sandstone> Traffic Light Gasoline Tanks Chicken Factory Additional Forgotten History