Brainerd

The Washington Street depot, on Feb 15, was opened so grandly,

to new facilities on Eighth and Front streets. It was built by St. Paul contractors, contractors, McMannus and Turnowski, the depot was a two story classic structure with third floor space in six dormers. Platforms allowed the flow of passengers at each end of the building. Outside the depot was brick and West Bedford cut stone. Inside the depot was trimmed in oak and wainscoted with Ludowski Imperial French tile. The depot cost $100,000 when it was constructed in 1919 and 1920. It was the headquarters for the Minnesota and International Falls Railway, a subsidiary of Northern Pacific. Those offices closed in 1933. Other internal depot space was leased to federal government offices, such as the Farm Security Administration.

1858	MY HOME TOWN Brainerd Paper Mill
	1903	Brainerd became connected to the Northwest Paper Co.'s holdings when a ground wood mill was established along the Mississippi River and northeast of the original city plat.
	1906	My Grandfather Joe Leja, then about 21 years of age, was working for the Duluth Street Railway left Duluth to go out West with his best friend, Casper Marchel. They got as far as Brainerd and they went to work for the NP railroad shops
	1910	Joe married Mary Ann Guzek Jul 18 at St. Isador's, Sturgon Lake, they met in Duluth. He bought a house at 421 No. 10th St on the North Side of Brainerd. They had four children.
	1911	My Father's brother George Joseph Leja was born Apr 17, in Brainerd. My Mother's sister Grace Marcella Ramsey was born Jun 02, at Sylvan in Cass Country, to Charles and Alta (Hines) Ramsey.
	1912	My Grandfather, Joe Leja starting building a model train the scale is 1 inch to a foot. He started with the caboose and ended with the locomotor. The train was not finished when he died. You can also go to Joe's Train to see more.
	1913	Brainerd Plat Map of Brainerd has shaded blocks which show types of development in the area that hugs the river bluffs and provides a large park just a short walk from the downtown district. My Father's brother William John Leja was born Jan 07, in Brainerd.
	1915	My Father Henry James Leja was born Dec 28, in Brainerd.
	1917	My Father's sister Pawline Teresa Leja was born Jan 31, in Brainerd.
	1918	My Mother, Helene Winifred Ramsey was born Jul 15, at Sylvan in Cass Country.
	1919	The famous all concrete water tower at the intersection of Highways 210 and 371 was built. It was used for water in Brainerd until 1960. It held 300,000 gallons of unfluoridated water. The tower is 129 feet tall.
	1920	My Grandfather went into civil court on Feb 14, and had his and his family's name changed from Leja to Lake. See the Crow Wing Court County Document. The Washington Street depot, on Feb 15, was opened so grandly, to new facilities on Eighth and Front streets. It was built by St. Paul contractors, contractors, McMannus and Turnowski, the depot was a two story classic structure with third floor space in six dormers. Platforms allowed the flow of passengers at each end of the building. Outside the depot was brick and West Bedford cut stone. Inside the depot was trimmed in oak and wainscoted with Ludowski Imperial French tile. The depot cost $100,000 when it was constructed in 1919 and 1920. It was the headquarters for the Minnesota and International Falls Railway, a subsidiary of Northern Pacific. Those offices closed in 1933. Other internal depot space was leased to federal government offices, such as the Farm Security Administration.
	1921	My Mother's Sister Amy Irene Ramsey was born Aug 19, in Sylvan Township, Cass County.
	1922	Lots of snow
	1922	Nationally, an estimated 400,000 railroad shopmen walked off their jobs. In St. Paul, it was noted a number of women made poor strikers, staying on the job as car cleaners, window washers and oilers. As the eight-month strike wore on in Brainerd, street brawls between strikers and so-called scabs or strike-breakers were reported. Jobless families left town. Fred Eckholm, president of the machinists's union at the Brainerd NP shops at the time of the strike, said it was based on planned two cent payroll cut. Eckholm, who said the strike was never settled, stated the railroad company plan to reduce salaries from 72 cents per hour to 70 cents. And My Eckholm said many union men were told they would never hold railroad jobs again.
	1933	Just out of high school my father was working for Mr. Wheeler at his Kingwood Texaco Station, at Kingwood and 10th St No, that was where my mother and father meed.
	1936	On Dec 23, My Mother and Father were Married.
	1937	June 1, I was born in Brainerd. My father, then worked in west Brainerd for Mr Wheeler, at the Wheeler Inn in the service station, we lived in a house on the hill behind the Inn.
	1938	My brother Joseph Clarence was born Jun 13, and died in Nov 23 from phenomena. Page updated 15 March 2020

MY HOME TOWN