Marine on St. Croix in Washington County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Minnesota's First Commercial Sawmill
Photographed By Keith L, July 23, 2011
1. Minnesota's First Commercial Sawmill Marker
In the autumn of 1838 two lumbermen from Marine, Illinois, David Hone and Lewis Judd, arrived in the St. Croix River valley, attracted by it's abundant resources of white pine. They selected this site, then known as Fall River, to build a sawmill and named it after their hometown. Lumber was floated down the St. Croix River and then shipped by rail west to the prairies. It was used to build towns and cities, and it enabled settlers who had been living in sod houses to erect wood-frame homes. For more than five decades, St. Croix pine lumber supported the burgeoning economy of Minnesota.
[map] Bird's-eye-view of milling operation, 1888, under the ownership of the Anderson and O'Brien Company.
1 Sawmill 2 Planing mill 3 Lumber piles 4 St. Croix River 5 Blackstone Hotel 6 Marine Lumber Company store 7 Powerhouse 8 Covered mill stream 9 Millpond 10 Judd Street 11 Burkleo/Berkey House 12 Village Hall
Marine Mill
Erected by Minnesota Historical Society.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce.
this page online
Location. 45° 11.839′ N, 92° 46.122′ W. Marker is in Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota, in Washington County. Marker is on Judd Street south of Maple Street, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Marine on Saint Croix MN 55047, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Powerhouse and Kiln (within shouting distance of this marker); Early Settler's Cabin (within shouting distance of this marker); Marine Mill Site (within shouting distance of this marker); The Pineries are Gone (within shouting distance of this marker); Boom, Then Bust (within shouting distance of this marker); Technological Revolution (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Marine (about 400 feet away); Historic Marine on St. Croix (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Marine on St. Croix.
More about this marker. [drawing and map captions]
What the sawmill may have looked like in 1888. David Geister rendering (2000), Minnesota Historical Society
Sanborn Fire Insurance Map. 1888, with an insert from 1898, Minnesota Historical Society
Also see . . .
Photographed By Keith L, July 23, 2011
2. Minnesota's First Commercial Sawmill Marker
1. Minnesota Historical Society. Marine Mill. "Today all that remains are portions of the stone foundations of the once huge sawmill." (Submitted on January 17, 2012.)
2. The City of Marine on St. Croix. (Submitted on January 17, 2012.)
3. Sanborn Maps. Wikipedia entry. (Submitted on January 17, 2012.)
Photographed By Keith L, July 23, 2011
3. Minnesota's First Commercial Sawmill Marker
Photographed By Keith L, July 23, 2011
4. Minnesota's First Commercial Sawmill Marker
Photographed By Keith L, July 23, 2011
5. St. Croix River
[Number 4 on the map]
Photographed By Keith L, July 23, 2011
6. Former Marine Lumber Company Store
Photographed By Keith L, July 23, 2011
7. Judd Street
Photographed By Keith L, July 23, 2011
8. Village Hall
Photographed By Keith L, July 23, 2011
9. Nearby Sign
[photo caption] Minnesota Field Archaeology Act sign, Minnesota Historical Society
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on January 17, 2012, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 643 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on January 17, 2012, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.
