Buildings and improvements in 1884The following was an article printed on May 16, 1884, in the Rock County Herald: Evidences of Luverne’s healthy growth and steady improvement — new buildings under way and others projectedLuverne is not going wild over its brilliant prospects, and displays nothing of the feverish, unhealthy excitement, the fictitious show and unnatural inflation of values so common in western towns in similar proximity to an era of rapid development and assured prosperity. On the contrary, it accepts the good fortune that has befallen it and the wealth of bright prospects which the immediate future has in store for the place with characteristic good sense, and is laying well and solidly the foundation for its prospective prosperity. Property is increasing in value rapidly, to be sure, but real estate in the town is still low and in most instances likely to double in value before the end of the present season. Improvements of every description are noticeable in all parts of the village. New sidewalks, new crossings, improvements in the business streets, new dwellings, new additions to buildings, and numerous "betterments" of a miscellaneous character, greet the eye on every hand. As yet, building operations have but scarcely begun, but a considerable number of structures are in course of construction and numerous others are contemplated. Of those who have buildings under way or just completed, the following may be noted: P.E. Brown, new residence, 22x28, two stories, with Mansard roof, etc., corner of Kniss Avenue and Main Street; John Huntington, new residence, 20x26 with an addition 12x14, two stories, on Maple Street; Dr. Beaubien, two story residence 20x26 on Freeman Avenue; S.S. Walters, new residence 18x24 with an addition, on the west end of Main Street; Ezra Rice, a fine new two story residence on the corner of Estey and Bishop Streets; Dr. Kilgore new two story residence 16x22 with an L 16x16 and one story addition 10x22, on the corner of Kniss Avenue and Dodge Street; A.A. Noble, new residence, 20x20, two stories, on Dodge Street; Herren & Wadleigh, new residence, 24x24, southwest of depot; Herren & Wadleigh, new lumber shed, 20x60; F.S. Gibson, addition to store building, 24x48, two stories; Douglass & Whalen, addition to livery stable, 24x40; Thomas Barck, new residence in northeast part of town, 16x24; P.N. Gillham, new two story residence, 16x20 with a wing of same size, and a one story addition, corner of Freeman Avenue and Lincoln Street. New residences are about to be built by W.H. Halbert, Ed. McKenzie, Geo. Soutar and others, but operations are not as yet begun. Numerous improvements in the way of additions to residences are being made but space will not permit us to mention them in detail. These building operations are but the beginning of what promises to be an exceptionally active season, and before the season is over we shall doubtless be able to present an improvement record that very few towns in the west can surpass.Donations to the Rock County Historical Endowment Fund can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, P.O. Box 741, Luverne, MN 56156.Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.
