September 2020
Special Collector’s Edition
updated the “self-guided tour” brochure and hope you stop over with this guide and walk the grounds. We are proud of the farm and thankful that we have this precious community resource. Looking forward to seeing you at the farm. Paul Dickson Hill Farm Historical Society
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Normally, at this time of year we publish the Hill Farm News with a focus on our Farm Fest community celebration of Jim Hill’s North Oaks Farm. By now, we all know that will not be happening this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so we thought we would take the opportunity to take you on a guided tour of the farm. We have
CIRCLE PINES, MN
Welcome to James J. Hill's North Oaks Farm
NORTH OAKS NEWS 4779 Bloom Avenue White Bear Lake, MN 55110
Publication of the Hill Farm Historical Society
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Hill Farm News
The farm was nationally known for its experiments in breeding and feeding cattle, hogs, horses and other farm animals, and played a significant role in the westward settlement of the United States. Restoration of the three remaining buildings, which were constructed in 1883-1884, began with the incorporation of the Hill Farm Historical Society in 1989. From then through 2012, the necessary funds were raised and buildings restored to their original status. The focus then changed to developing exhibits to explain the roll the farm played in Hill’s Great Northern Railroad. This self-guided tour will step back in time to tell you about the farm. Start your tour at the four panel display north of the entrance. Orient yourself, noting north (towards the red granary) on the site map. Read about James J. Hill and his North Oaks Farm on the west facing panels; then look at the site map and read about the farm buildings on the east facing panels.
On the National Register of Historic Places
With this background information, you are ready to start the tour per the map below:
North Oaks Farm had over 35 buildings in this area. There’s more to see than meets the eye On the farm, as well as at his Summit Avenue home, Hill was on the cutting edge of technology. In 1880s and 1890s newspaper articles that describe the farm, reference is made to an engine house that sent steam generated power underground to the farm buildings. The horse barn machinery was operated by a long steel shaft extending underground about 110 yards from the blacksmith/ machine shop where the power equipment was located. A sand-filled pit in the floor of the machine shop and another outside of the building appear to be access points for the shaft. Other innovations will be pointed out as you tour the property.
LEFT: Location in 1922 of North Oaks farm buildings in relation to roads and lots in 1994