Hill Farm News — 2017

September 2017

PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 9

CIRCLE PINES, MN

Farm Fest - Silent Auction Sunday, Sept. 10 - 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

Winning selfies will be published in North Oaks News!

Judging will be based on the most original selfie and the selfie with the most recognizable faces. Include an historic site building.

SEE A DRONE TAKING PHOTOS INCLUDING YOU

ENTER A SELFIE CONTEST

Fun for the family Photos show it all Directions to North Oaks Farm From Highway 96, drive north past the Gatehouse to four stop signs.

Continue north on West Pleasant Lake Road going past the west Recreation sports fields (green) to Red Barn Road, the first road on the right.

A red barn can be seen straight ahead.

HIGHWAY 96 BEER FROM A KEG, WINE IN A CUP

FARMERS MARKET

FOOD FROM THE GRILL & MUCH MORE

PETTING ZOO AND PONY RIDES

Silent Auction

Items and Opportunities found only at a Hill Farm Historical Society auction An evening at the Hill House in St. Paul Hearty hors d’oeuvres, wine and tour

Rounds of golf

Sports tickets

At prestigious courses

College & professional games

Tickets St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Guthrie Theatre, Valley Fair, Minnesota History Theatre and more

Gift Certificates W.A. Frost, Sushin, Hotel 340, University Club, Kowalski’s, Hummingbird Floral, Outing Lodge, County Cycles, Maplewood Toyota, Abbott Paint, Jersey Mike’s and more!

Food and wine baskets for special occasions Framed North Oaks historical maps and paintings copy of 1892 map of North Oaks Farm 1950 concept map of North Oaks future copy of 1885 oil painting of the Dairy building copy of 1886 oil painting of James J. Hill’s home & greenhouse

NOTE the Silent Auction closes at 6:30p.m.

HAPPY, SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS

VISIT THE BLACKSMITH

SILENT AUCTION

SEE PHOTOS OF THE HILL HOMES IN NORTH OAKS

GAMES AND INFLATABLES

Meet the HFHS Board of Directors

a 21 member volunteer working board dedicated to preserving and telling the story of James J. Hill’s farm

Front: Ann Haase (Secretary), Dorothy Hoem (Treasurer), Lydia Brown, Jayne & Chuck May. Back: Walter Krebsbach, Mike Vinyon, Paul Dickson (President), Denise Fleming and Joan Brainard

From Left: Judy Ohannesian, Ken Klein, Barbara Kirkpatrick and Tami McNeil.

Not present: Bill Ecklund, Mary Nussbaum, Eileen McCormack, Sara Maud Lydiatt-Vanier, Jake Popp and Peter Dahlberg

Thank you members and contributors who supported the Hill Farm Historical Society in 2017 Life Members who made a contribution in 2017 *Family members who made an additional contribution in 2017 Ken & Jan Adams James & Sharon Allen Donald Alsop* Caroline Amplatz* Kim & Gloria Anderson Marc & Susan Asch Thomas & Sharon Auth Tom & Kerry Atkinson Mark & Patty Azman Thomas & Ann Bagnoli Roger & Carolen Bailey* Bank of America (Steven Porter)* Faith Basten* Charles & Jean Bauer John & Margaret Beahrs Leo Beauregard* Thomas & Judith Beniak* Pete & Wendy Benson Ray & Carol Bergeson* Bryce & Pamela Beverlin Gregory & Sarah Booth Joan Brainard* John Brainard Conrad & Faye Buhr Bob & Lynn Butler Nikki Butler Bruce Carlson* Richard & Carol Caruthers Donald Chapman John & Lynne Clayton Charles & Elizabeth Cliffe Roger & Judith Colton Peter & Jenean Cordon Bronwen Cound & William Brody Donald & Sandra Craighead* Michael & Pamela Crandall Gordon Curphy & Dianne Nilsen* Earl & Kathleen Currie*

Peter Dahlberg & Anuradha Tummala Christopher DeLaForest James & Channing Riggs DeMay* Paul & Connie Dickson* Charlton Dietz Thomas & Kathleen Diffley* John & Emily Douglass* Dennis & Debra Duffy James & Jayne Early William & Kareen Ecklund Mark & Mari Ekblad Richard & Gwen Elias James & Elizabeth Ericksen* Ron & Marcia Everson Joe & Denise Fleming Tom & Carmen Foley Frederick & Dorothy Forro Steve & Judith Forshay Philip & Caroline Fortmeyer* Richard Cisek & Kay Fredericks Bob Freed & Miriam Zachary* William & Bonita Frels Lee & Kathryn Gatrell Donald Gibbons* Mark & Diane Gorder John Grant & Mary Buerkle-Grant Jacqueline Grove Benjamin & Kimberly Gulli Ashley & Ann Haase* Norman & Evangeline Hagfors Mark & Kathryn Haidet Alan & Nancy Hans JoAnn Hanson Lauren Haugen (Health Sources) Dean Hedstrom & Sandra Jacobson Timothy & Colleen Herold* Allan & Lois Hietala Louis Fors Hill*

COTTON CANDY

Jerry & Mary Ann Hinderman June Hochbrunn Bruce & Dorothy Hoem* Jonathan & Kathleen Hoistad Jeffrey & Janette Howe James Huhn & Carol Beatty Dennis & Judy Hull Philip Jemielita & Kim Severson Harry & Marian Johnson Jerome & Inge Johnson* William & Marilyn Jolitz Mark & Evelyn Jorgensen Shaun & Michelle Kennedy* Craig & Barbara Kirkpatrick Kenneth Klein & Teresa Quinn John Knoedler & Maureen Kane* Rick & Christine Kowalski* Walter Krebsbach & Andrina Hougham Carl & Janet Kuhrmeyer Paul & Ursula Kuhrmeyer David & Carol Lakatua Chris & Jenny Landon James & Linda Lee Matti & Ritva Liiste Jean Ljungkull* Gary & Mary Lunstad Albert & Nancy Maiers John & Louise Marta Chuck & Jayne May Roy & Dorothy Mayeske Eileen McCormack David & Pamela McCarthy Robert McCoy Sean & Gina McDermott Malcolm McDonald* Tom & Jean McGough* Harry G. McNeely* Bruce & Tami McNeil

Margaret Meyers Richard & Janet Moses Barbara Nelson Gregg & Colleen Nelson* Kyler & Gail Nelson Richard & Nancy Nicholson Donald & Gerda Nightingale* David & Sheryll Norback* North Oaks Garden Club Gary & Mary Nussbaum Norman & Margaret Nystrom Stephen & Beverly Ogren Judy Ohannesian & Doug Tiffany* Bruce & Patricia Orud* Charles & Victoria Osborne* Gary & Karin Ostrand Willard & Missy Patty Gary & Jannette Paulu* Thomas & Janet Payne* Benjamin & Layna Peltier Brian & Katherine Petersen Donald & Judith Peterson Dwight & Marge Peterson Mark & Mary Peterson* Perry & Rachael Pickerign Tom & Bette Plumb Steven & Kathleen Porter* Press Publications (Carter & Amy Johnson) Robert & Maureen Proebstle Brian & Joyce Yoshimura Rank Bill & Joan Reichwald Patricia Reioux Ron & Debbie Resch* Joseph Braun & Ann Rinehart Kevin & Leela Scattum James & Mary Schacker * Evan & Sarah Asch Schnell

Robert & Patricia Schubert Cass & Bonnie Selden Dennis & Barbara Senneseth Patricia Sheehan & Susan Olive John Shinar Donald & Elaine Skaar Bob Smith Douglas & Mary Smith Thomas & Patricia Stuart Mike & Amy Murphy Sullivan* Loren & Sally Swanson Traditions Capital Bank, (Cathy Haukedahl)* Gregory & Jeanette Swenson* Edwin & Diana Taylor Robert & Kathleen Tipler John & Marie Tobin Michael & Doreen Trucano Bob & Cindy Turkington* Denny & Karen Vaughn* Michael & Laurie Vinyon Curtis & Sharon Wall Arsenia Walters Jean Wardin Thomas & Jane Watson Gary & Lilian Weisbrod Roxanne Wheeler David & Suzanne White Phil & Christy White* Robert & Dorothy Williams Roger & Farron Winges James & Karen Winey Dave Christianson & Kate Winsor Ken & Nina Wise* Timothy & Krista Wolter* JoAnn Youngstrom

WHITEKNUCKLES BLUE GRASS BAND

The Mystery of the Granary Root Cellar In 2006, removal of the inside boards covering the rock foundation revealed f lagstone in what appears to be door and window openings in the foundation walls. These f lagstone filled openings are strong evidence that the cellar was a pre-existing stone structure.

There are two 3’x6’ window openings and one 3’x3’ opening on the south and north sides and two 3’x6’ window openings and two 5’x7’ door openings on the east side. There are no f lagstone filled doors or window openings on the west side. Wood window frames are still evident in many of the stone filled openings. The interior 11 foot wide brick walled room inside the current entrance would have been added at the time the granary was built.

The root cellar will be open during Farm Fest September 10 from 4 to 5 p.m.

Access to the root cellar is on the east side of the granary

Wood boards lined the stone foundation

Window and door openings on east wall

How and Why the Hill Farm Historical Society was organized The Hill Farm Historical Society was organized as a 501c3 non-profit organization in 1989. The North Oaks Company gave the HFHS the deeds for 5.6 acres of land and the three remaining buildings: the dairy, granary, (red barn) and blacksmith/machine shop on James J. Hill’s North Oaks Farm. The property and buildings were subsequently accepted on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 1991, community residents contributed $150,000 for the restoration of the exteriors of the buildings. This was completed in 2007. Interior restoration of the blacksmith shop with a forge and blacksmith tools, restoration of the dairy’s marble floors and the grimy walls to their original yellow and white was completed in 2009.

The Felhaber Memorial enabled HFHS to fence the area, plant a prairie on the west side of the property, and add a formal garden south of the dairy.

With the building exteriors and grounds in presentable condition, HFHS turned to telling the story of the North Oaks Farm. Each year since 2010 exhibits have been added. In the Machine shop there is a scale model of the 35 buildings that were on the present farm site, an 1892 map of the 3,000 acre farm, photos of the Hill family homes and an exhibit detailing information on the 1,900 animals on the farm in 1900. An original railroad engine bell symbolizes how the North Oaks Farm supported immigrant farmers who settled along Hill’s Great Northern railroad.

The Dairy features an innovative cooling system, a newly found process of butter making using a DeLaval separator and ice harvesting

on Pleasant Lake. Wheel making is presented in a fully operational blacksmith shop. Restored farm machines and equipment and large murals of farm operations are in the Granary (red barn).

When James J. Hill bought the 3,000 acres that is now North Oaks from Charles D. Gilfillan in 1883, the water rights on the lakes in North Oaks were preserved in perpetuity for Gilfillan’s St. Paul Water Company. Today, thousands of people in St. Paul and 11 suburbs have drinking water due to Gilfillan’s foresight.

Construction was immediately started on over 35 buildings on North Oaks Farm. Hill imported pedigreed cattle from England and Scotland in an effort to breed a dual purpose cow, one that would supply both marketable beef and milk. He paid $5,000 for Berkeley, Duke of Oxford, a shorthorn bull. In comparison, he paid $50,000 for the 3,000 acres purchased from Gilfillan.

In the late 1880’s, Hill was actively involved in the construction of a railroad which became known as the Great Northern from St. Paul to the West coast. There were very few inhabitants along the railroad’s route. With thousands of European immigrants arriving on the East coast, Hill offered to pay their train fare to come west and settle along the railroad. Hill’s benevolence did not stop. Concerned with the success of the new farmers, he sent at no cost, bulls bred at the North Oaks Farm to the immigrant farmers with the provision the bulls must be available to all farmers to upgrade their stock. Hill’s theory was prosperous farmers using the railroad would lead to a successful railroad. And it did.

Hill died in 1916. Mary, his wife, gave the farm

to Louis, their second son, prior to her passing in 1921. Louis, a gentlemen farmer, directed the farm operation some of which was benevolent in nature.

He supported the Volunteers of America summer camp for Mothers and children on the southwest shore of Lake Gilfillan, and in the drought years, he offered the use of his fields to neighboring farmers. A large home on the south side of Pleasant Lake provided his family of four children, Louis Jr., Cortlandt, Jerome and Maudie, all the pleasures of the farm.

When Louis passed away in 1948, a letter suggesting the possibility of developing the farm for residential use was found in his desk. This letter inspired discussion by Louis’ four children, that in 1950, resulted in the incorporation of the North Oaks Company to develop a model residential community with a range of housing types and an emphasis on the preservation of the natural environment. Louis W. Hill, Jr. became the leader of the company and personally participated in the layout of the residential lots.

Visit our website at hillfarmhistoricalsociety.com

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