Nostalgia & History > 5 More Historic Northern Pacific Photographs

Photographs and captions from the Minnesota Historical Society

1. Northern Pacific Railroad bridge across the Red River of the North.

2. Northern Pacific Railway merchant advertivsing handbill, 1883.

3. Residential area on east bank of Mississippi River near Northern Pacific Railroad bridge; Florence Court at right, Minneapolis, 1895.

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4. Welcoming arch to the Villard Party, Northern Pacific railroad celebration, St. Paul.

5. Wreck of the Northern Pacific Railroad bridge across the Mississippi River near Brainerd circa 1880.

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MartyBernard Wrote:
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> 3. Residential area on east bank of Mississippi
> River near Northern Pacific Railroad bridge;
> Florence Court at right, Minneapolis, 1895.

Something wrong with the date, as the four stacks on the horizon belong to the Twin City Rapid Transit powerhouse that was put into operation in 1902 with one brick stack.  This was replaced by two steel stacks in 1910 and two additional steel stacks in 1912 as more boilers were added.  This structure and four stacks are still in operation and a landmark on Minneapolis' skyline, though boilers and 25 cycle generators are upgraded to 60 cy..  My next door neighbor for nigh on 25 years was Supt. at that powerhouse.  Coal fired, it had its own outside 3rd rail railroad to move coal cars around..

Housing on riverflats was called "Bohemian Flats".  Was abolished in 1920's when Corps of Engineers raised river level something near 20 feet.  Now, there's talk of lowering river to original as barges no longer serve Minneapolis.  Wonder if I could buy riverfront land now.

As mentioned in earlier threads about this bend in the river, the NP bridge was relocated about 1,000 feet upstream due to U of M campus improvements.


-LD

And, oh yeah, the Flats were on the west bank.

-LD



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 01/20/22 20:34 by LarryDoyle.

MartyBernard Wrote:
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> Photographs and captions from the Minnesota
> Historical Society
>
> 1. Northern Pacific Railroad bridge across the Red
> River of the North.
>

NP's first crossing of the Red River of the North was made without the benefit of a bridge! Nor of a boat!! They built the track right on the ice of the frozen river, using extra long ties to distribute the weight.

-LD