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Chapter 1

Summers in small midwestern towns are like a three-month family reunion. Everyone is out and about and enjoying the sunshine, blue skies, and company of their neighbors. Many of them are blood related, but no matter, all are family. In 1982, Rockford, Minnesota had a population of roughly 700 residents, whom, for the most part, loved living there.

Bordering the edge of Hennepin and Wright counties about thirty minutes west of Minneapolis, this part of the state was known as the "Big Woods" in the mid 1800's when settlers first appeared in the area. The thick forests of maple, basswood, and elm trees made it difficult to clear the land and there were rumors about Indian attacks and grasshopper invasions which destroyed crops and gardens. Those that survived overcame the early struggles and learned to adapt to the environment. Specifically, the power of the Crow River, that ran right through the settlement. Named by the Ojibwe Indians for the bird they called the "marauder of newly planted corn", the Crow River's North and South forks converged in Rockford. The force of the converging forks propelled the giant wheels for the sawmill, woolen mill, and flour mill that helped the town thrive.

Success of the mills brought the railroad through in 1880. By 1881, Rockford was officially incorporated. Growth was slow to come, however, and Rockford primarily remained a small, rural community. After its first 100 years, half of the residents still relied on farming, mostly dairy and corn, for their livelihood. The names above the store fronts on many of the small businesses still carried the names of previous generations.

The town boasted only one stoplight, found at Highway 55 and Main Street. The highway intersected the town, running East to West, parallel to the railroad tracks. There isn't much to see from the highway as you pass over the Crow River bridge, so Rockford doesn't see a lot of out of towners. People are typically going east into the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, or maybe west to Buffalo, the largest town and County Seat in Wright County. Traffic in town consisted more of pick-ups, kids on bicycles, or pedestrians. The side roads had as many tractors on it as cars or trucks. Life in Rockford was based on routine and that's how everyone that made this town home liked it.

Over time, Rockford added "modern" conveniences like gas stations, a hair salon, a movie rental business and a Red Owl grocery store, but there were plenty of reminders of the past, like Ken's Barber Shop with the barber pole in front, the historic Stork House, Ma's Diner, the Feed Mill, Larson's Lumber and the original single lane bridge over the Crow River that served as the only bridge until the highway came through.

Main Street ran north through the small downtown area, intersecting with the highway on the west side immediately after crossing the river. Traveling north, Larson's Lumber was the first building on your right, taking up a large space with the Crow River running right behind it. After Larson's, Mechanic Street veered to the right, following the contours of the river until it hit a dead-end on the far north side of town. Following Main Street, after the turn off for Mechanic Street, was a small Dental practice and then the Library. On the left side of Main Street, an old house stood on the corner, then the Lutheran Church, followed by City Hall and Ken's Barber Shop. This brought you to the intersection of Main and Bridge Street. From this spot, a left turn would bring you through an older section of town which included a couple of abandoned old houses and narrow gravel alleyways. Straight ahead was the Rogers Middle School. Back on Bridge Street, now traveling east, was the local newspaper office, the diner, and the bar, all on the north side of the street. An empty lot sat to the right. At the end of this block was Mechanic Street, which would its way behind the Dental Practice and empty lot adjacent to the Library. The single lane bridge over the Crow River was right after Mechanic Street. As soon as you crossed the river, the historic Stork House was on the right. The Stork House, a timber framed house completed in 1861 by founders of the settlement that would become Rockford, had become a National Historical Site and was open for tours from Memorial Day through Labor Day.