September 2019
PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 9
CIRCLE PINES, MN
Farm Fest - Silent Auction Sunday, Sept. 8, 3-7pm
NORTH OAKS NEWS 4779 Bloom Avenue White Bear Lake, MN 55110
Publication of the Hill Farm Historical Society
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
Hill Farm News NEW
Meet the Raptors The University of Minnesota Raptor Center will have raptors at the farm and experts available to introduce them and answer your questions from 3:30 to 5:30 at Farm Fest
FUN for the whole family!
This is only part of the menu.
Enjoy fresh fruit, veggies & more from the Farmers Market.
Yes, there is beer in a keg and wine in a glass!
Oh, how the kids love the petting zoo!
Silent Auction
Items and Opportunities found only at a Hill Farm Historical Society auction READY FOR BIDDING & MORE TO COME
Bidding closes at 6 p.m. Items may be paid for by cash, check, credit card or PayPal Items should be picked up by 7 p.m.
MEMORABLE
An evening for 16 people at Hill house on Summit Avenue. Hearty hors d’oeuvres, wine and tour HISTORICAL GIFT CERTIFICATES
Abbott Paint Chuck & Don’s Pet Gift Baskets County Cycles bike tune up Davanni’s gift basket Hummingbird Floral Kelsey’s Wild Bird Store Kowalski’s Food Market Lifetime Fitness Maplewood Toyota Mr. Carwash North Oaks Garden Club Sale Photoshoot with Julie Oliver
Pondering the auction items.
Fun games and bouncy inflatables.
BOOKS
“Glacier Park” coffee table book with paintings by John Fery
“The Dutiful Son, Louis W. Hill”
FOOD
by Biloine Young with Eileen McCormack
AMENITIES
North Oaks Golf Club Anniversary Book “Harriman vs Hill” by Larry Haeg
“Highways of Progress” Commodore Restaurant with night by James J. Hill at Hotel 340 “Three Bold Ventures: the History French Meadow Bakery of North Oaks” by Joan Brainard & Jersey Mike’s Richard Leonard Lucy’s Burgers “James J. Hill and the Opening Mansetti’s Pizza of the Northwest” by Albro Martin “James. J. Hill, a Great Life in Brief” Pizzeria Pezzo by Stewart Holbrook Porterhouse Restaurant “James J. Hill Empire Builder” Suishin Restaurant by Michael Malone Tria Restaurant “Celebrations to Remember” WA Frost with night at Hotel 340 Bonnie Blodgett garden presentation and signed book Giant Mat Piano Design class at Lexington Floral Gift basket from MN Zoo Original Great Northern china cup Handmade Berry Colander Handmade Infinity Cowl Handmade Quilt Several varieties of fine wines Marble cheese board made from dairy building marble tile
Milk a cow. You can make butter, too.
1892 framed map of North Oaks Farm Framed color copy of oil painting of James Hill North Oaks house & greenhouse Framed copy of 1884 oil painting of Dairy building Framed 1949 North Oaks concept map
“The Legacy Project” by the Grotto Foundation
TICKETS
Guthrie Theatre Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Minnesota History Theatre North Oaks Golf Club Schubert Club St. Paul Chamber Orchestra Valley Fair White Bear Center for the Arts Wild Mountain Other Sports Tickets
The ponies are waiting for you.
Meet the HFHS Board of Directors
Front: Ann Haase (Secy.), Dorothy Hoem (Treas.), Lydia Brown, Jayne & Chuck May. Back: Walter Krebsbach, Mike Vinyon, Paul Dickson (Pres.), Denise Fleming (VP), Joan Brainard
Judy Ohannesian, Ken Klein, Barbara Kirkpatrick, Tami McNeil (Membership).
A 23-member volunteer working board dedicated to preserving and telling the story of James J. Hill’s North Oaks Farm Jake Popp, Eileen McCormack (Historian), Bill Ecklund (Legal)
Not shown: Mary Nussbaum, Peter Dahlberg and Sara Maude Lydiatt-Vanier
Julie and David Oliver, Fidias Fors
Thank you members and contributors who supported HFHS in 2019 *Life Members
Marc & Valerie Adam* Kenneth & Janet Adams James & Sharon Allen* Donald & Jean Alsop Caroline Amplatz* Kim & Gloria Anderson* Marc & Susan Asch Tom and Kerry Atkinson* Mark & Patricia Azman Thomas & Ann Bagnoli* Roger & Carolen Bailey Faith Basten Charles & Jean Bauer John & Margaret Beahrs* Leo Beauregard Thomas & Judith Beniak Pete & Wendy Benson* Ray & Carol Bergeson Tom Tjernlund & Robin Boche Gregory & Sarah Booth Benson & Joan Brainard* John Brainard Rawley & Ginny Brodeen Mark & Lydia Brown Conrad & Faye Buhr Bruce Carlson* Norris & Lesley Carnes Mary Delaney & Wayne Carter Richard & Carol Caruthers* Romelle Castle Cherokee State Bank* John & Lynne Clayton Charlie & Elizabeth Cliffe* Peter & Nancy Cole* Roger & Judith Colton* Peter & Jenean Cordon Donald & Sandra Craighead Michael & Pamela Crandall* Dianne Nilsen & Gordy Curphy Earl & Kathleen Currie* Annuradh Tummala & Peter Dahlberg* Paul & Lori Delahunt Paul & Connie Dickson
Charlton Dietz* Kathleen Diffley* John & Emily Douglas Joan Duddington* Dennis & Debra Duffy Rich & Lisa Dujmovic James & Jayne Early William & Kareen Ecklund Mark & Mari Ekblad Donald & Nancy Engle* Jean Engle James & Elizabeth Ericksen Ronald & Marcia Everson Eric Felhaber* Mrs. Richard Felhaber* Gerald & Rebecca Fisher Joe & Denise Fleming* Tom & Carmen Foley* Steven & Judith Forshay Philip & Caroline Fortmeyer Richard Cisek & Kay Fredericks* William & Bonita Frels* Sam Fudenberg Russell & Kylee Funk Lee & Kathryn Gatrell* Paul & Catherine Gatto Robert & Rosemary Geist Donald & June Gibbons Mark & Diane Gorder John & Mary Buerkle Grant Jacqueline Grove* Mary Swanson & Darrel Gubrud Benjamin & Kimberly Gulli* Philip & Carolyn Gustafson* Ashley & Ann Haase Richard & Sarah Haber* Al and Nancy Hans JoAnn Hanson Scott & Joan Henderson George & Susan Henly Timothy & Colleen Herold Allan & Lois Hietala* Peter & Rebecca Hilger
Louis Fors Hill* Rick & Melanie Hjelm David & Debra Hjortland Jonathan & Kathleen Hoistad* Ann Colombo & Mark Houge* Jeffrey & Janette Howe* Carol Beatty & Jim Huhn Gerald & Julia Hupperts John & Barbara Huston Harry & Marian Johnson* Jerome & Inge Johnson William & Susan Jolitz Mark & Evelyn Jorgensen* William & Janet Jungbauer Shaun & Michelle Kennedy Craig & Barbara Kirkpatrick* Teresa Quinn & Ken Klein Sanjay & Sonia Kohli Brad Koons Richard & Christine Kowalski Gary & Karen Krebsbach Andrina Hougham & Walter Krebsbach* Carl & Janet Kuhrmeyer* Delano & Emily Kulenkamp Donald & Sue Kvam David & Carol Lakatua* Marijane Tessman & Michael Larson* James & Linda Lee William & Sherri Long Jason & Kirsten Long Marty & Denise Long* Gary & Mary Lunstad* Michael Mackner Albert & Nancy Maiers John & Louise Marta* Chuck & Jayne May Roy & Dorothy Mayeske* David & Pamela McCarthy* Eileen McCormack Robert McCoy Sean & Gina McDermott* Pat & Sandra McKasy Nancy McNee
To the left:
See the blacksmith at work in the Blacksmith Shop To the right:
One of many exhibits in the Machine Shop
Bruce & Tami McNeil Michels Construction Janet Karvonen & Alan Montgomery Richard & Janet Moses* Natalis Counseling Gretchen Needham Gregg & Colleen Nelson Raleigh & Barbara Nelson Kyler & Gail Nelson Dave & Sara Niccum Donald & Gerda Nightingale North Oaks Company North Oaks Garden Club North Oaks Village Center Gary & Mary Nussbaum* Norman & Margaret Nystrom Gerald & Sheila O’Brien Stephen & Beverly Ogren* Douglas Tiffany & Judy Ohannesian* David & Julie Oliver Walter & Carrie Olson Bruce & Patricia Orud Charles & Victoria Osborne Gary & Karin Ostrand Tris Klohn & Tucker Patty Thomas & Janet Payne Ben & Layna Peltier Brian & Katy Petersen Mark & Mary Peterson Perry & Rachel Pickerign Thomas & Bette Plumb Jacob & Melissa Popp Steve & Kathy Porter Press Publication Tim Quinn Brian & Joyce Yoshimura Rank George & Joy Rathmann* Bill & Joan Reichwald Patricia Reioux* Ron & Debbie Resch Martha Rice Kara Ries Jim DeMay & Channing Riggs
Joseph Braun & Ann Rinehart* Jerry & Joanne Robertson* Keith & Catherine Ross Gabriel & Katie Routh Kevin & Leela Scattum* Sarah Asch & Evan Schnell Robert & Patricia Schubert Cass & Bonnie Selden* Dennis & Barbara Senneseth* John Shelendich John Shinar Robert Smith Leo & Christine Stern Michael & Amy Murphy Sullivan Loren & Sally Swanson* Norman & Marie Sweeny Gregory & Jeanette Swenson Edwin & Diana Taylor* Robert & Kathleen Tipler* John & Marie Tobin* Peter & Katherine Tomsich Tradition Capitol Bank Robert & Cindy Turkington William & Karen Veeneman Sarah Vessey Michael & Laurie Vinyon* Joe & Katie Wahlberg Curtis & Sharon Wall James & Susan Wandell Jean Wardin* Thomas & Judy Ware Thomas & Jane Watson* Bob Sheets & Mary West* White Bear Superstore David & Suzanne White* Philip & Christina White* Roger & Farron Winges* Tim & Krista Wolter Joann Youngstrom Sandra Smith & Jeff Zinn
Videos with sound tell the story of restored farm machines.
The Whiteknuckles Bluegrass band.
North Oaks Farm’s role in the success of the Great Northern Railway North Oaks Farm supported development of the 1,690 mile long Great Northern Railroad from St. Paul westward across the states of Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho and Oregon with completion at Everett, Washington, in 1893. Hill’s “great adventure” in the transportation business began in 1856 when he worked as a shipping clerk in the office of a Mississippi River steamboat company. In 1865, Hill entered the transportation business on his own account. A number of successful ventures lead to the acquisition with two partners in 1879 of the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway Company. In 1881, the Manitoba Company operated 695 miles of track from St. Paul westward to Devils Lake, North Dakota. In 1889, the Great Northern Railway Company was created with the acquisition of several railroads including those that Hill was involved in. James J. Hill reasoned a railroad would not succeed unless the residents in its territory prospered. People were needed to live and work on the land near the railroad and to use the railroad to receive supplies and to send their agricultural products to market. Hill made an offer to the thousands of European immigrants and their families who were arriving on the East coast. Induced by promises of farmland at little or no cost, Hill paid the train fare for hundreds of these immigrant families to come to the upper Midwest and northern plains and settle along the Great Northern Railway. Colonization progressed and traffic grew. In 1883, Hill purchased 3,000 acres of land for $50,000 in northern Ramsey County. In the next seven years the farm was expanded to 5,000 acres including the island in Pleasant Lake. Twenty miles of four-board capped fence marked the property. Hill supported the immigrant farmers. At North Oaks, experiments were undertaken with the breeding and feeding of cattle in an effort to find dual-purpose cattle that would supply both marketable beef and milk and could withstand the rigors of the climate in Minnesota and westward. He advised the farmers to feed root crops to increase the cattle’s marketable weight. Thoroughbred cattle were imported from England and Scotland. Hill paid $5,000 for Berkeley Duke of Oxford, a shorthorn bull. It is estimated that in the first three years at North Oaks, he purchased 800 thoroughbred bulls at a cost of $250,000.
It took 14 years to complete the Great Northern Railroad to the West coast.
Immigrants on their way to new homes. Fearing adverse weather conditions or a downturn in the economy, Hill warned the immigrant farmers that they should diversify and raise livestock, and not depend on wheat as their sole source of income. Anticipating the settlers would need assistance in acquiring stock, Hill distributed, at no cost, 900 bulls to farmers along the railroad with provision that all farmers in the area could use the bulls as sires to upgrade their herd. Hogs were later added to the distribution program. The “Good Seed Special”, one of the Great Northern “schools on wheels”, traveled the railroad and attracted hundreds of farmers to exhibits and lectures by professors and agricultural experts. North Oaks Farm was not just another farm! It supported the thousands of farmers and
their families who emigrated from Europe and settled the land along a railroad whose owners’ aspirations were to build a railroad halfway across the United States in order to open up vast lands for settlement. North Oaks Farm’s support of the Great Northern Railway helped create a highly successful venture. By Joan Brainard, HFHS Board Member
Join the Hill Farm Historical Society Annual Family Member $35 Life Member $1000 Name Address City, State, Zip Send to: 100 Village Center Drive - Suite 240 North Oaks, MN 55127