Editor’s note: In addition to our typical dive into the Prior Lake American’s archives for this week’s news from 60, 40 and 20 years ago, we introduce a new occasional column from longtime resident Kathy Dawson, an avid collector of Prior Lake’s historical documents and photos. Her work will be featured as part of “Prior Lake in the Past” features.
Revisiting history
Prior Lake Creamery was established by Billy Graves around 1910. It was strategically built next to the railroad tracks to facilitate the loading and unloading of supplies and equipment, which were shipped in by rail. Soft coal arrived by the carload to fuel the creamery’s boiler, which provided the hot water necessary for cleaning equipment and empty cans. At the time, Prior Lake had no electricity, so the building was heated using hot water radiators.
Butter was made in a large wooden churn, approximately eight feet in diameter and twelve feet in length. A two-foot-diameter pulley was attached to one end of the churn, which was powered by an engine located in the basement. A 12-inch-wide belt connected the engine to the churn, and the engine, which ran on petroleum fuel, had an exhaust pipe leading outside. Once the butter was churned, it was packed into wooden tubs or paper cartons and then loaded into refrigerated rail cars for shipment.
In the early years, farmers brought cream in five- or eight-gallon cans when they came to town for shopping. A large wooden platform on the south side of the building provided a drop-off point where farmers left their full cans and later returned to pick up the empty ones. The cream was tested, and farmers were paid by check. The business soon flourished, creating jobs and boosting the local economy as farmers spent their earnings in Prior Lake.
Tragedy struck shortly after operations began. One day, while working in the basement, Billy Graves was killed instantly when the engine exploded. A fragment of the broken engine wheel struck him, leading to his untimely death. Following this accident, Billy’s brother, Frank Graves, took over the business. Under his management, the creamery thrived, and additional employees were hired.
By 1914, new trucks equipped with hard rubber tires instead of the air-inflated ones used today were purchased to transport cream from farms to the creamery. Butter was packaged in 25-pound paper cartons and 50-pound wooden tubs before being shipped to the Twin Cities, Chicago, and New York.
At the end of a busy 1933, the creamery suspended operations due to financial difficulties. In 1934, it reopened under the ownership of Fuerstnou and Bullert Creameries, but it closed again in 1935, and its assets were liquidated.
The building remained vacant until 1938, when George Dellwo of Shakopee purchased it from the Prior Lake State Bank. The creamery resumed operations and remained active throughout the 1940s.
Prior Lake American
Published 60 years ago
March 30, 1965
The purchase of the 12-to-14 acres on Fish Point peninsula on Prior Lake was revealed last week by a Richfield businessman, whose plans are for a home development on the site. Whitney Frost of Richfield purchased the property three weeks ago from Earl Maves of Mason City, Iowa, at a price undisclosed. Frost said the Point Resort will be open to the public during this summer but will cease operations as the development progresses. Platting of the property is now underway and will include a central road with lots on each side. Several lots have been sold, with construction to begin in late summer. Construction will begin in the fall.
Andrews Drug of Prior Lake was open for business last Monday after a weekend of moving into a new addition to the store. Work is now underway remodeling the old section. This will more than double the current floor space and give the area a more modern, convenient drug store.
Published 40 years ago
April 1, 1985
Melvin Geister, a local bus driver, was commended by the Prior Lake Schools for his 26 years of service to the district. He submitted his resignation to become effective June 1, but indicated he would be available when needed as a substitute driver for the Prior Lake Bus Operators Association.
One worker was killed and two others injured while working on the construction of the Canterbury Downs horseracing track in Shakopee. The accident occurred when steel beams were being erected on the south side of the grandstand area.
City officials discussed opting out of the Metropolitan Transit Commission and researching the option to join neighboring communities to form its own transportation system. The MTC provided two bus trips per day between Prior Lake and Minneapolis, for which the city paid $110,000 annually for those services.
Published 20 years ago
April 2, 2005
Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools saw big gains on the Basic Skills Test taken for writing, as well as slight improvements in reading and math scores. Almost 98 percent of sophomores at Prior Lake High School passed the writing test this year, up from 92 percent last year. Eighty-one percent of eighth-graders passed the math portion, up two percent from the previous year.
Court challenges in the development of 336 acres associated with the former Jeffers estate located near the intersection of county roads 21 and 42 will delay development of the property.
Following a four-hour discussion, Prior Lake City Council members voted to approve construction of a Kwik Trip gas station in the Wilds North neighborhood.