Elk River Historical Society

05/21/2026

Agenda for meeting scheduled for June 3, 2026

05/01/2026

12/15/2025

Blessed Trinity Catholic Church –

Reverend John E. Foley, pastor of the Catholic churches in Potlatch, Bovill and Elk River was successful in securing funds for a new church to be constructed in Elk River. People and businesses of Elk River were tasked to raise $1000 of the $4000 approximate cost, not including furnishings, with the remaining $3000 coming from the Society. The statuary and furnishings of the present church were used as they were all in good condition.

Munn Brothers, Potlatch contractors, began construction of Blessed Trinity Catholic Church in Oct 1928. The main auditorium of the church was approximately 40’ long, 20’ wide and 12 feet high from floor to highest point of ceiling. Seats were about 8’ long and allowed for a 4’ aisle providing ample seating for 100 people. There was no choir loft as the present one has and the alter floor was about 3’ less than the present church. The new church was of frame construction with beaver board and celotex interior. The roof was not as high as the present building and the belfry was placed atop the front of the building with a small porch at the entrance. The chimney was cement and built outside the building and was built from the ground. It was free of the building in a way that settling will not crack or affect it in any way. There was no basement, and the foundation was of cement blocks and wood timbers. The building faced north and set a little to the front of the center of the lot, located on the corner of First and Taft streets. Ample room was left at the rear to place an additional room when necessary. The shed for fuel and miscellaneous material was on the extreme southwest corner. The driveway was to the extreme west side of the block. There are four windows on each side of the building.

In 1930 an addition was built onto Blessed Trinity Catholic church providing a sleeping room, bath, sacristy and storeroom. Gust Golla and Father Kunkel worked on the addition. Father Kunkel and C.M. Friend painted the exterior of the church and kalsomined the interior. The interior is cream colored while the exterior is white. Completion of the addition added considerably more room to the main auditorium, allowing for more seating.

When the mill closed down in 1933, the town nearly did too. Company houses were moved out on skids, and in 1935, the Blessed Trinity Catholic church, which had been built only a few years before, was moved by truck to Bovill to serve a more populous congregation which had lost their church to fire. It became St Joseph’s Catholic Church upon its move to Bovill.

This building, which originated in Elk River, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. The church closed in 1993 after the resident priest retired. The town obtained possession of the church and turned it into the town library and a small museum, which is still in operation today.

12/08/2025

St Elizabeth Catholic Church-

Plans for construction of a Catholic Church in Elk River began in the fall of 1913. Cost of the church was set at $2500 with work set to commence the following spring. In March of 1914, Rev Father Pecoul of Moscow visited Elk River to make arrangements for construction to begin as soon as weather permits. In the meantime, services continued to be held at the Odd Fellows Hall.

Bishop Glorieux arrived in Elk River In July 1915 to dedicate St Elizabeth Catholic Church. It was a major event among the Catholics living in the village. In his address at the dedication ceremony, he thanked those who aided in the er****on of the church, especially the Potlatch company, which furnished the site and almost all the material. Services would be held monthly until there was an increase in the congregation.

In September 1924, Rev. L.J. Mertz proposed moving the church from its present location near the top of 2nd Street, to some place in the lower part of town. “The present location is not satisfactory or ever has been to the members of the church because of the hill that must be traversed before reaching it. The hazard of moving the edifice without doing too much damage is a precarious job, but contractors insist that it can be done.”

However, in March of 1928 it was decided that the church building would be nearly impossible to move because of its deteriorating condition. It was too costly for moving the structure so a decision was made to sell the church and two lots. Henry Ulinder purchased the church property, located on the corner of Pine and 2nd Streets, in 1930 for $300. After tearing the building down, he planned to construct a home on the property.

Looking north, the photo was taken from the school during a May Day celebration. The church can be seen at the top of 2nd Street.

12/01/2025

Text from Elk River Sentinel – May 10, 1912

“Lumber Company Will Give Employees Land for Family Gardens”

There is every prospect now that the sunny slopes around Elk River will become beautiful with flowers and green with succulent vegetables this season. Everything in garden truck needed for the family table will be brought to perfection by the long, bright summer days and the rich soil of this little hill-encircled basin. This will be brought about by permission granted this week by the Potlatch Lumber company to every employee who so desires to use, free of a charge, all of the cleared land surrounding the town that he needs for his own use. General Manager Deary decided during his visit here this week that, as many of the men had sufficient time or had families who could attend to gardens, they might as well get some benefit from the unoccupied land.

There is to be no restriction whatever upon the privilege granted except that no tents or shacks be put up on the truck patches. Each man who selects a piece of ground must mark it plainly and notify the company’s office so that it can be set aside for him and disputes be prevented. It is not the intention to give ground to marked gardens, and few men are likely to try to handle much space, so a large number of small patches is likely to be the rule and this characteristic will increase from year to year.

The lots in town are 50 by 150 feet and give ample room for small home gardens, and city water will be available for irrigation before the coming of the dry season. But some of the lots are not available for various reasons, so the outside patch is likely to meet with general favor. Irrigation is not necessary anyway.

As the soil of this region is heavy, with a clay subsoil, would be gardeners will find it advisable to spade in thoroughly as much coarse manure as can be got. This will open and lighten the soil, make it warmer and quicken the growth of everything planted.”

11/24/2025

Skiing down N 2nd Street from just below the first Catholic church in Elk River was a popular winter activity. Photo taken prior to St Elizabeth Catholic church being dismantled circa 1930. Newspaper clippings are from Elk River News in Jan/Feb 1929.

11/17/2025

The following was taken from the Elk River Sentinel dated July 14, 1911

“MILWAUKEE RAILWAY COMPANY IS HAVING THE STRUCTURE PUT UP”

“Work on the excavation of the new hospital to be erected at this place was completed Wednesday and work on the foundation started. The structure will be a 26x48 frame building, plastered inside. It will be four stories high. Lee Denevan has the contract for the er****on of the building and he will have the work rushed to speedy completion.

The foundation for the structure will be of concrete. The site of the structure is on a hill on the east side of town. The building will be located beautifully. When completed all modern conveniences for a hospital will be installed.

The company is maintaining a hospital in this place at present, but the quarters are found to be inadequate. Dr. E.W. Horswill is the resident physician and has charge of the hospital.”

11/10/2025

Newspaper clipping from the John Anderson scrapbook.

11/03/2025

Housing bundles offered for sale in Elk River during summer of 1915.

11/01/2025

Great conversation and new friends made at the Dessert and Memories event. During one memory shared we learned about the school's KERB radio station. Can you guess what the call letters represent? Thanks to all who joined us!

10/27/2025

Elk River Sentinel Tidbits for October 27, 1911

“The power and light department of Potlatch Lumber company will furnish to each family an electric iron for trial for two weeks. If not satisfied return it and there will be no charge. The cost of electric irons are $4.50 each and they are a great convenience in every home. Apply at the main office of the Potlatch Lumber company.”

“The health officer and the town marshal were on a tour of inspection over premises as to their sanitary condition. They report that they found many places in filthy condition and will take proper steps to have the places cleaned.”

“The headquarters of the Potlatch Timber Protective association have been moved from the buildings in town to new buildings just completed near town at the Fox camp.”

“The installation of the arc lamps for street lighting in town has been completed and the streets were lighted for the first time yesterday evening. Tea lamps were installed. The lights give a metropolitan appearance to the town.”

“We rent sewing machines by the day, week or month at a moderate rate. C.G. Morris & Son’ hardware and furniture”

“For shoes, for in the woods and the school or any other purpose, go to Grant & Giles.”

“Catholic services will be held in Loudon’s hall on Sunday, October 29. Mass and sermon at 9 o’clock by Rev Father Pecoul of Moscow. On this occasion steps will be taken to organize the catholic congregation in Elk River and it is proposed to have a church building erected in the town.”

“It begins to look as though work on the new schoolhouse for the Elk River district will be delayed until next spring and the present term of school will have to be completed in the old school building. If such should be the case, the trustees should take steps at once and make proper provisions for putting the present building in a more sanitary condition and supply more room by enlarging the building.”