{"id":1001,"date":"2018-04-23T02:15:29","date_gmt":"2018-04-23T02:15:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/biglakemnhistory.org\/option1\/?p=1001"},"modified":"2025-08-26T02:13:45","modified_gmt":"2025-08-26T02:13:45","slug":"big-lake-treasurers-book","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/biglakemnhistory.org\/option1\/2018\/04\/23\/big-lake-treasurers-book\/","title":{"rendered":"Big Lake Treasurer’s Book"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n
\"\"<\/a> \"\"<\/a> \"\"<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
As a lover of Big Lake History,\u00a0\u00a0it\u2019s a wondrous feeling to hold a hundred and nineteen-year-old object documenting the city’s history in my very own two hands.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Chuck Heitz contacted me last Christmas to ask if I would like an old Big Lake City Treasurer\u2019s book he was given years ago. I don\u2019t think I could get up to his and Shirlee\u2019s real estate office in town fast enough!<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
The first entry in the book was January 23rd, 1899 and the last was in 1930. Over the last month or so, I have read all the handwritten pages looking for nuggets of historical gold to share with all of you.\u00a0\u00a0To be honest, I found some interesting things but it was mostly a tedious read.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
As treasurer\u2019s log, the book\u2019s entries chronicle the city\u2019s housekeeping and maintenance needs such as tax levies for the municipality\/village which went for sidewalks, street lights, dog permits, pool table licenses, hiring a constable (N.D. Brown) for the July 4th picnic and paying the town band ($2.00 in 1912).<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
According to the Big Lake History Book<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
1845 The white settlers first settled here<\/div>\n
1849 Brown\u2019s hotel was opened and became the first county seat in a town then called Humbolt<\/div>\n
1857 Big Lake Township was organized and included both Becker and Orrock.<\/div>\n
A village within the township was plotted as Liberty but \u201cnever rose above the cognomen of a paper town\u201d according to \u201cThe History of the Upper Mississippi Valley, by Reverand Edward D. Neil 1881<\/div>\n
1865 Census shows 13 families<\/div>\n
1866 the train tracks brought the first trains<\/div>\n
1884 the Union church was built<\/div>\n
and \u201c Big Lake was content to remain plain\u2026Big Lake \u2026.until 1898 at which time it was incorporated into a village.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
The first page are the meetings of the first meeting dated:<\/div>\n
\n
    \n
  • \n
    voted to adopt rules and\u00a0regulators of\u00a0\u201cparliamentary\u00a0procedure\u201d<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
  • \n
    approve Frank White to draft village ordinances<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
  • \n
    approve the village recorder to buy books to log expenses<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
  • \n
    noted the town\u00a0treasury to be started with $200<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
  • \n
    hire N.D. Brown as constable<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
  • \n
    and hire C.V. Snyder to act as judge<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
    <\/div>\n
    Fascinating! \u00a0I have made\u00a0notes on the contents of the book and will post more soon.<\/div>\n
    Needless to say the Treasurer\u2019s book is\u00a0quite the treasure trove of day to day city business.<\/div>\n
    <\/div>\n
    Note: the book contains what is now considered the city council meetings from 1899 – 1930. \u00a0So if anyone is looking for the names of prominent citizens during that era, their names are in here><\/div>\n
    <\/div>\n
    1899<\/div>\n
    \n
      \n
    • \n
      April – John Khart(?) was granted a meat wagon license<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
    • \n
      Approved opening up the street by Isaac Morris to cross the railroad (Eagle Lake?)<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
    • \n
      Dr. WE Dubose was elected\u00a0heath officer<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
      <\/div>\n
      1900<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
      \n
        \n
      • \n
        Adopted a village seal<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
        <\/div>\n
        1903<\/div>\n
        \n
          \n
        • \n
          Voted to put a stop to the\u00a0\u201crubbish nuisance\u201d at the head of Big Lake. \u00a0Don\u2019t know what that<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
          <\/div>\n
          1909<\/div>\n
          \n
            \n
          • \n
            Approved tax\u00a0levies of $350 for the properties in the village for the running of the village<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
            <\/div>\n
            1910<\/div>\n
            \n
              \n
            • \n
              Approved the building of a cement fire hall<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
              <\/div>\n<\/div>\n
              1911<\/div>\n
              \n
                \n
              • \n
                May – Special election to determine the sentiment of the village in regard to whether there should be a pool and billiard hall in the village or not.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
              • \n
                Feb 16 –\u00a0Voted to pay for a city sidewalk in front of the church<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
                \n
                  \n
                • \n
                  Discussed Jail, weight masters (apparently there were weight stations for wagons entering town), and re-roofing the fire hall<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
                  <\/div>\n
                  1912<\/div>\n
                  \n
                    \n
                  • \n
                    April – Concrete side walk built between A.J. Johnson and Corner of August Peterson\u2019s drug store<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
                  • \n
                    April – Purchased speed limit signs (8 miles per hour), street lights<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
                  • \n
                    May 12th –\u00a0purchased a constable star, 2 revolvers, two clubs & a pair of handcuffs to be used for the June picnic<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
                  • \n
                    June 1912 –\u00a0Paid the street band $2.00<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
                  • \n
                    Oct 1912 –\u00a0Voted to stop build out of road to ice house<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
                  • \n
                    Nov 1912 –\u00a0Permission to build an ice slide was granted tobuild a building behind the fire hall<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
                    <\/div>\n
                    1914<\/div>\n
                    \n
                      \n
                    • \n
                      Big Lake Ice Co. permission to build a tunnel under the road<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
                      <\/div>\n
                      1914<\/div>\n
                      \n
                        \n
                      • \n
                        Wave (newspaper) printing paid by treasurer<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
                      • \n
                        5.00 tax on livery and hacks picking folks up at the train depot<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
                      • \n
                        April property cleanup<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
                      • \n
                        Discussed a warning bell at railroad crossing<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
                        <\/div>\n
                        1915<\/div>\n
                        \n
                          \n
                        • \n
                          Paid constable to patrol 1 day July 4th picnic<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
                        • \n
                          August 30th, 1915 –\u00a0removed hand chemical fire extinguishers from homes around the city<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
                        • \n
                          Discussions addressing the speed of the trains<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
                          <\/div>\n
                          1916<\/div>\n
                          \n
                            \n
                          • \n
                            Roadwork approved to Cedar Lake Ice house<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
                          • \n
                            April 1916 –\u00a0Contracted with Monticello Electric for street lights<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
                          • \n
                            June 12 1916 –\u00a0Bought two acres for Big Lake Cemetary<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
                            <\/div>\n
                            1917<\/div>\n
                            \n
                              \n
                            • \n
                              Paid Aaron Brown for Nursing Mrs. Withers<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
                            • \n
                              July 1917-\u00a0Farmer\u2019s State bank was approved to put pillars on the sidewalk (these are actually now on the back door of the telephone company offices).<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
                              <\/div>\n
                              1918<\/div>\n
                              \n
                                \n
                              • \n
                                City morning the death of Albert Varley<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
                                <\/div>\n
                                1919<\/div>\n
                                \n
                                  \n
                                • \n
                                  Clarence Carpenter paid for funeral<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
                                • \n
                                  Feb – paid for lunches for tramps<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
                                • \n
                                  May 5th – Road approved \u00a0(mentions School and Pavillion)<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
                                  <\/div>\n
                                  1921<\/div>\n
                                  \n
                                    \n
                                  • \n
                                    Chief of Police recommended buying a motorcycle<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
                                  • \n
                                    Sept – voted to take out the hitching posts<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
                                  • \n
                                    Standard oil was given approval to put in a filling station<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
                                    <\/div>\n
                                    1922<\/div>\n
                                    \n
                                      \n
                                    • \n
                                      Garage was allowed to put in drains as long as it doesn\u2019t interfere with the sidewalks<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
                                    • \n
                                      Bob Garver was approved to open a pool hall<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
                                    • \n
                                      D.F. Woodward was approved to be the first motorcycle officer – but he had to furnish his own motorcycle but the city would furnish a Cold 45 – his compensation was $30 per week as long as there were fines paid.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
                                    • \n
                                      Lots of house fumigations paid for<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
                                      <\/div>\n
                                      1923<\/div>\n
                                      \n
                                        \n
                                      • \n
                                        January – Cecil Eddy gets to her a nigh person at the lockup to watch persons in the case of fire and look after them until their case was called.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
                                      • \n
                                        John Kurrasch approved to operate a pool hall<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
                                      • \n
                                        Discussed complaints about bus drivers behavior as they come into town – mostly where they stop<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
                                      • \n
                                        Voted to pave mainstreet (Hwy 10 was paved in 1920)<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
                                      • \n
                                        A bid was sent out fo 20 Tungsten lights<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
                                      • \n
                                        Mrs. Johnson (85 yrs) was considered to belong to the\u00a0township and a village charge<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
                                      • \n
                                        The Big Lake Park Association was charged $25 for dance licenses<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
                                      • \n
                                        Big Lake and Becker bands consolidated and alternated weeks playing concerts in each city<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
                                      • \n
                                        \u201cParties owning slot machines in Big Lake Village must ceae the practice of\u00a0buying back mints which have been received from the machines.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
                                      • \n
                                        Oct. 18, voted to put in a village water system<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
                                        <\/div>\n
                                        1924<\/div>\n
                                        \n
                                          \n
                                        • \n
                                          Council heard complaints about undesirable\u2019s renting cottages and ended up issuing a caution to owners to take more caution.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
                                        • \n
                                          Sept. 1924 –\u00a0Approved $2,500 for fire equipment – bill came to $3,650 for a Waterous Fire Engie<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
                                        • \n
                                          Nov 24, 1924 City funds moved to Citizen\u2019s state bank<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
                                        • \n
                                          March 26 Cecil Eddy hired as fire chief for $100 per year<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
                                        • \n
                                          A city dump was established<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                                          <\/div>\n<\/div>\n
                                          1926<\/div>\n
                                          \n
                                            \n
                                          • \n
                                            Northern States Power won a bid to\u00a0provide electricity to the city for the next 25 years.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                                            <\/div>\n<\/div>\n
                                            1927<\/div>\n
                                            \n
                                              \n
                                            • \n
                                              Notice\u00a0sent that dogs running loose without a license tag within one week will be shot!<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                                              <\/div>\n<\/div>\n
                                              1929<\/div>\n
                                              \n
                                                \n
                                              • \n
                                                Voted to discontinue a license requirement for eating establishments<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                                                <\/div>\n<\/div>\n
                                                1930<\/div>\n
                                                \n
                                                  \n
                                                • \n
                                                  A building was built to store tools in at the\u00a0Cemetery.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                                                  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n
                                                  The last entry in the book as Nov. 3rd, 1930.<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                                                  As a lover of Big Lake History,\u00a0\u00a0it\u2019s a wondrous feeling to hold a hundred and nineteen-year-old object documenting the city’s history in my very own two hands. Chuck Heitz contacted me last Christmas to ask if I would like an old Big Lake City Treasurer\u2019s book he was given years ago. I don\u2019t think I […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":1003,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1001","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-city"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/biglakemnhistory.org\/option1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1001","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/biglakemnhistory.org\/option1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/biglakemnhistory.org\/option1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biglakemnhistory.org\/option1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biglakemnhistory.org\/option1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1001"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/biglakemnhistory.org\/option1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1001\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1006,"href":"https:\/\/biglakemnhistory.org\/option1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1001\/revisions\/1006"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biglakemnhistory.org\/option1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1003"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/biglakemnhistory.org\/option1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1001"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biglakemnhistory.org\/option1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1001"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biglakemnhistory.org\/option1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1001"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}