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Note: popeCo.history.com/images/Builders.pdf Builders of Pope Co. STARBUCK - Curving westward from Pope Co.'s splendid new court house is a fine highway, which brings you after a nine mile drive along the shores of beautiful Lake Minnewaska, to Starbuck, the Co.'s second largest center of population. This village of 780 people was laid out in 1882 on land belonging to James Polar and Andrew Holte. Equal amounts were platted from each homestead, the division line being the present north and south Main street. Starbuck bears the name of a former official of the Northern Pacific Railway which had been completed through Pope Co. in 1881. From its inception, the village supported by a fine tributary agricultural territory, prospered. Soon a post office was established, stores were opened and the school and churches were organized. Among the pioneer business men were Mons Fuhr, Martin Ness, Nels Wollan, Aage Peterson, Peter Engebretson and Ole Ronning. These, with many others of equal courage and sterling worth, laid the foundations of the present community. With civic pride we point out our fine newly-improved school building with its splendid auditorium for community use, the churches, with their various musical and philanthropical organizations, the modern, well equipped hospital, with its associate medical and dental clinics; all of which minister in a satisfying manner to the intellectual, religious and physical requirements of our citizens. Our more material needs are supplied by the usual quota of home-owned and managed business places, among which are two banks, several general stores, restaurants, and a variety of shops, and a number of constructive, repair and amusements places. Several garages and filling stations serve the motoring public. The marketing requirements of the farmers are met by the elevators, produce stations, feed mill, and a profitable creamery. The telephone, electric, and sewage systems are adequate and up-to-date. Early settlers who are still residents of the village are Axel Englund, Alfred Nordstrom, Mr. and Mrs. Gottfred Nordstrom, Mr. and Mrs. B. H. Holte and Mrs. Anna Gorder. Michael Hatling, an early pioneer of Ben Wade Township, and the oldest resident of Pope Co., also resides in Starbuck. He is now 98 years of age. The first building to be erected in Starbuck was a boarding house built for the purpose of caring for the railroad construction crew. It was built by Anton Holten and Andrew Wollan in 1882 on the corner now occupied by the Wollan Garage. The first school house was located where the Ford Garage now stands. It was erected in 1882. The first schoolmaster was Michael Ramstad, now a resident of Benson. He had a mixed school of old and young, many of the pupils being Scandinavians living on nearby farms who attended school for the purpose of learning the English language. Among the pupils were Ole Overstad, B. H. Holte. Axel and Ludwig Anderson. Fron Church was the first church to be built in Starbuck. It was erected in 1888. The first pastor was H. O. Koefod. The Village's first store was owned by Mons Fuhr and Martin Ness.
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