In a 1949 appearance before the Kimball P.T.A., Mr. Granville Smith, then president of the Stearns County Historical Society, called for some information about the Halfway House on old Highway 15, opposite school 37 and the “Blue Moon” where the county road crosses to Pleasant Lake. The upshot of this request has been a couple of greatly appreciated letters from Mr. James Knower of Kimball, the last driver on the stage coach line that linked St. Cloud with points south. Excerpts may be of particular interest to present-day postal employees. “The house you referred to is the original Halfway House. It got its name from being the half-way stopping place between Maine Prairie and St. Cloud for refreshments and drinks. It was managed by a Mr. Krear and served as a country store for the neighboring farmers. “In my stage coach days, we always stopped there to water our horses. My operation of the stage between Fair Haven and St. Cloud was approximately between the years 1900 and 1903 when the stage was discontinued due to the establishment of Rural Free Delivery of mail. “Contracts for carrying the mail on the stage route were let out on bids for a four-year period. My contract called for $550 per year for carrying the mail and free transportation for postal inspectors if and when required. “The contract also provided that the driver was entitled to the right-of-way on the road over other traffic, a provision which we never attempted to enforce, as we felt that we might need the assistance of other travelers at times, as much as they might need ours. “The contract called for the stage to leave the Fair Haven post office at 6:00 a.m. and to return at 6:00 p.m. each of the six days a week, and no holidays recognized. Intermediate stops were made at the post office in Kimball, Maine Prairie and Luxemburg. It was up to the postmasters to have the mail ready for dispatch as we were required to wait no longer than six minutes from time of arrival at the various offices. Bond was set and supplied in the amount of $3,000 and, while we were supposed to carry a gun to protect the mail, this provision was never enforced. “Six horses were used in operating the stage, starting with a fresh team at Fair Haven in the morning. A change of teams was made at Maine Prairie. Then the return trip was started from St. Cloud with a fresh team, and another change was made at Maine Prairie, the trip being finished with the same team used in starting the trip in the morning. “In addition to carrying the mail, passengers were also carried. The fare charged was $1 from either Fair Haven or Kimball to St. Cloud, a fare of 75? from Maine Prairie, and 50? from Luxemburg, and approportionate charges between any of these intermediate points. The stage could carry nine riders besides the driver, and an extra charge of 25? was made to carry a trunk. “In addition to mail and passengers, I also made a charge of 10? for errands carried out in St. Cloud. Frequently I paid taxes for others and brought varied items of merchandise as requested. “The postmaster at Fair Haven during my stage driving days was Bert Baldwin; at Kimball, Eliel Peck; at Maine Prairie, D.B. Stanley; at Luxemburg, Mr. Kasinski, the latter name approximate. At St. Cloud the postmaster was Harvey Weyre. When I started the route, the St. Cloud post office was on Fifth Avenue South, but during my term it was removed to its present location on Eighth and St. Germain. “The stage did considerable passenger business for people who came by Soo Line train both from the east and west to Kimball, and then were enabled to get across to St. Cloud to travel in the opposite direction from St. Cloud to points south. Numerous Normal School students were passengers. “I was born and raised on a farm one mile north of Maine Prairie Corners. My parents located on that farm in about 1866 or 1867, and I was born in 1876. As a boy, I can remember the remnants of an old cellar or pit which I was told marked the spot of the Maine Prairie Fort, but I have no recollection of the fort itself.” Sincerely yours, James Knower oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Another early history of Kimball states that on Feb. 15, 1904, the Rural Free Delivery was inaugurated from the Kimball post office with three routes. Mr. O.F. Hewitt was carrier on route number 1, Mr. Guy Moss on number 2, and Mr. J.B. Vincent on number 3. Wages were $50 per month. Throughout our history, we’ve watched the stories unfold, and this week’s is another all-time favorite from our very first history columns in the year 2000. Thoughtful reflections “A picture’s worth a thousand words” became the theme for our history exhibit featuring more than 150 pictures and stories, all in one place: Historic City Hall during the Kimball Days festival. We focused on your pioneer photographs, re-creating them on complimentary CDs. The awesome power of one plus one plus one more willing volunteer and generous sponsor made the 2004 exhibit and supper-in-the-park the best yet. Five hundred or more of you sampled both these events with us. We are so proud of our town and everyone in it. Thanks for your participation. We’d love to have you as a member. Congratulations to our door prize winners: Marguerite Laabs (patchwork quilt), Ken Laabs (collector coin), Erin Hewitt (crystal jelly jar), Glenda Betts (crystal diamond bowl), Bev Fischer, Jenny Beehler, Donna Van Vleet and Colleen Mackereth (handmade doilies), Debbie Van Vleet and Sharon Marquardt (vintage stationery). Mabel Linn and Audrey White won the “old/ unique” hat contest. For more information about the Kimball Area Historical Society, write us at P.O. Box 100, Kimball MN 55353, or call (320) 398-5743 or 398-5250. Cherishing our past, embracing our future.
