Cross River Heritage Center facts for kids
The Cross River Heritage Center viewed from the northwest
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| Established | 2002 |
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| Location | 7932 West Highway 61, Schroeder, Minnesota |
The Cross River Heritage Center is a museum in Schroeder, Minnesota, United States. It's run by the Schroeder Area Historical Society. This center collects and shares the history of the local area. It also covers the wider North Shore of Lake Superior. The museum opened in 2002. It is located in a special building from 1929. This building was once known as the Stickney Inn and Store. You can find it on Highway 61, near the Cross River.
Contents
Discovering the Stickney Inn and Store
How the Inn Began
In 1921, a man named Horace T. Stickney bought some land in Schroeder. This land was once part of a logging camp. Horace thought the area looked a bit sad because of all the past logging. He built his first store there in 1922. Sadly, that store burned down because of a stove problem.
Building a New and Better Inn
After the fire, Horace got help from local artists and an architect. They built a new, stronger building. It had a unique style with wood beams on the outside. On June 6, 1929, the Cook County News Herald reported on the new Stickney Inn. It had bedrooms, a big dining room, and a store. The first floor had a grocery, kitchen, post office, and a living room with a big stone fireplace. Upstairs, there were seven rooms for tourists. It was one of the first buildings in Schroeder with indoor bathrooms!
Growing into a Resort
Soon, people wanted to rent cabins. In 1930, Horace built a small log cabin overlooking the Cross River. After he built a second cabin, a Minnesota travel guide called the place "Stickney's Resort." By 1936, Horace had built eight cabins. They all had great views of the river and Lake Superior.
A Place for Workers and Travelers
The inn also served as a winter home for the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). These were workers who arrived in 1933. The CCC was a government program that helped people find jobs during tough economic times. They built many things, like telephone lines, roads, and bridges. A new bridge over the Cross River was built in 1932.
The Stickney Store and Cabins became a popular spot on Highway 61. A bus company even had a stop there in the 1940s and 1950s.
Fun at the Inn
The Stickneys didn't plan many activities. Tourists enjoyed hiking, trout fishing, and playing horseshoes. The inn had a living room with a piano. People would gather there for singing and dancing. A writer named Florence Page Jacques visited in 1942. She was impressed by the modern bathrooms and how warm the building was.
Passing It On
In 1955, Horace and Nell Stickney sold the inn to Horace's nephew, Harry Stickney Lamb. Harry and his wife, Doris Mae, moved to Schroeder. After Harry became the local postmaster, they renamed the inn Lamb's Resort.
In the early 1950s, a mining company started building a facility nearby. Harry Lamb made a deal to supply them with groceries.
In 1965, Harry's son, Horace "Skip" Lamb, took over the resort with his wife, Linda. Later, in 1976, the Lambs sold the inn building. They moved the post office to a different spot. The new owners, Bill and Gloria Jordon, renamed the inn the Cross River General Store.
The Cross River Heritage Center Today
In 1998, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) bought the inn building. They needed the land for highway and bridge repairs. But the Schroeder Area Historical Society had a great idea! They convinced MnDOT to give the building to Schroeder Township.
With money raised and help from many volunteers, the Historical Society fixed up the building. In 2002, it opened as the Cross River Heritage Center. Now, it's a museum where everyone can learn about the area's rich history!
See also
