Despite the threat of stormy weather, Brainerd History Week continued Tuesday with another walking history tour of downtown Brainerd.
About 20-25 people joined local amateur historian Carl Faust on the tour, which featured history on many buildings in downtown Brainerd.
Faust helped develop the tour in 2008. Thanks to a grant from the Legacy Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, spiral-bound books detailing the historical spots in the tour were created in 2011. About 20 of the books are available for checkout from the Brainerd Public Library.
"It was started in 2008 by a group of history nuts," Faust said.
The tour books feature photos of historic downtown Brainerd, so participants can compare the historic photos to how downtown Brainerd looks in the present.
The old post office building, at the southeast corner of Sixth and Maple streets, lasted from 1910-1960. The current Short Elliott Hendrickson building opposite Sixth Street from the location features design elements from the old post office building.
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The Fred Drexler Blacksmith Shop sat where the U.S. Bank building now sits on the corner of Sixth and Maple streets. A plaque marks the spot where Drexler would make rare, famous ice fishing spears in the wintertime, Faust said.
The Lakeland Building, built in 1913 as Brainerd Model Laundry, now houses the Last Turn Saloon. Faust was allowed to turn the back room of the establishment into an impressive historic display. Photos line the walls of the room, taking viewers on a timeline of Brainerd history. The old boiler sits in a sub-basement of the building, he said, which is where the ghost stories were generated.
"I don't know if there's ghosts," Faust said. "But if it brings people to downtown Brainerd, there's ghosts there."
North of Thrifty White Pharmacy on Eighth Street was the Sleeper Opera House, which was built in 1882 and burned down a short time later in 1898. It sat 1,000 people, Faust said, an impressive amount for that time in the city's history.
The Iron Exchange Hotel, which existed from 1911-1971, sat on the northwest corner of Laurel and Sixth streets, where the Brainerd City Hall parking lot now is. The Elks Hotel, across Sixth Street, was built in 1926 and still stands today.
Down the block from the Elks Hotel sits the Parker Building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. Its first use was as Citizens State Bank, a name still visible on the building's facade.
Throughout the tour, Faust made a point of pointing out the different types and colors of bricks used for buildings. Some of the buildings still feature the original brick, he said, while others have had the brick covered with stucco. The area saw a cycle of modernization when old brick facades were covered up, he said, only to see the historic brick look come back into style.
The Northern Pacific railroad depot on Front Street, built in 1904, is probably the only building in Brainerd still being used for its original purpose, Faust said. Many buildings in the city were built by Northern Pacific, he said, and in a lot of ways built the town.
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History Week events continue
Events are set for the rest of the week to celebrate Brainerd's history.
Wednesday
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., there will be an open house at the Brainerd National Guard Armory featuring military history displays. Walt Straka, the last survivor of the Bataan Death March, will be in the regimental room from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
At 4 p.m., the Elk's Lodge will host a Flag Day ceremony at the Crow Wing County All Veterans Memorial at the Crow Wing County Courthouse. A social hour at the Elk's Lodge will follow.
At 7 p.m., there will be a downtown Brainerd history walk. The event will take place rain or shine. The roughly 1.4-mile route has no stairs or steep grades.
Thursday
From 1-5 p.m., there will be tours of Northern Pacific Center tours, leaving every half-hour from the Clock Tower building. Following the tours, participants can stop by the Roundhouse Brewery or the NP Event Space.
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From 5-8 p.m., a flotilla of canoes and kayaks will float down the Mississippi River from a landing near Evergreen Cemetery to Kiwanis Park. Local rental companies will provide canoes and kayaks at a cost of $20 per person.
Friday
From 2-4:30 p.m., there will be a centennial celebration at the Crow Wing County Historical Society to celebrate the museum's 100th anniversary. At 2:30 p.m., the museum building will be rededicated.
Saturday
At 10 a.m., there will be a plaque dedication ceremony at Shipman Auto Parts, 1711 SE 13th St., in honor of the historic Rosko Field airfield in southeast Brainerd.
