Brent Peterson: A Bird's Eye View of Stillwater in the 1870s

Maps can bring out a lot about a certain community. They can show a person how to get from one point to another, and they also show landmarks and points of interest to visitors.

However, back in the 1870s, there were maps made called "Bird's Eye Views" or "Panoramic Views," and they not only showed the streets, but also houses, business blocks, church buildings, railroads and steamers.

In Stillwater, there were two "Bird's Eye Views" made. The first was in 1870, while Stillwater was just in its beginnings as a lumber boomtown. The next was nine years later, when Stillwater was on the brink of becoming a major industrial city.

The same artist, Prof. Albert Ruger of Chicago, drew both of the views of Stillwater. Ruger seemed to be the master of the "Bird's Eye Views" because he produced more than 250 urban views over twenty-five years.

In 1869-70, he produced 32 drawings, including the one in Stillwater and one of Hudson, Wis. In 1878-79, Ruger produced 10 views, including Stillwater.

In both cases, Ruger would go through the city making sketches. His agent, T.M. Fowler, would then go throughout the city trying to sell the map. A certain number of subscribers, somewhere between 75 and 250, had to be obtained before the map would be printed. A few months later, the completed lithograph would be delivered to the subscribers with a press release in the newspaper announcing the delivery and that there were a few extra copies that would be for sale at the time.

The 1870 map of Stillwater shows much of what no longer exists. The original is shown on the west side of Fourth Street between Mulberry and Linden Streets. Also, the "new" Central School is shown kitty corner of the "new" at South Third and Pine Streets. These two buildings not only are shown on the map, but also a close up drawing of each appear in either corner of the map. In the lower center of the 1870 map is a drawing of the "Schulenburg's Mill and Addition." This is one of the earliest known sketches of the area that we know today as "Dutchtown."

The 1870 map also shows the railroad, which didn't come to Stillwater until 1871. The sketch of the prison, on the north end of Main Street, is the earliest known rendition of the prison site.

Stillwater grew with leaps and bounds during the 1870s. The next map, done in 1879, shows a bigger and more expanded Stillwater.

The first bridge at Stillwater is now shown, and the swing portion is open with a steamer going through. , which was not on the 1870 map, is now shown sitting magnetically about his mill on North Main Street. The Courthouse and Central school still sit at Third and Pine Streets, but now St. Michael's Church is at its present location. The downtown district is very full, with such buildings as the Joseph Wolf Brewery, the Sawyer House, the Minnesota House, Orff's Livery Stable, among others.

These "Bird's Eye View" maps provide wonderful views of how the city has changed and, in some cases, stayed the same over the years.

The 1870 and 1879 "Bird's Eye View" maps are available for purchase at the Warden's House Museum.

Brent Peterson is the Executive Director for the Washington County Historical Society.