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                 Gilbert Lodge Blog
         The life and times of Mark and Paula Persons
Saturday, September 15, 2012:  Mark was off to the old Burlington Northern Railroad Shops in Brainerd to learn about railroading.

It all started with the railroad facilities in 1870.  A brewery was built in 1872, a sawmill in 1874, brickyards in 1878, and the Gull River Lumber Company started operations in 1879.  A rich history of growth.

 

Former railroad employees and hundreds of general public showed up to learn the rich history about railroads and the tie-in with Brainerd.  As it turns out, Brainerd started as a railroad station and was named in 1870 by then Northern Pacific Railroad President John Gregory Smith after his wife, Ann Eliza Brainerd Smith.  The rest is history. 

Even the original brass whistle, signaling shift changes, was blown that day.

Brainerd and the surrounding area were fortunate to have the railroad shops as a major employer for 100 years. 

Quote of the day:  We can all learn from history every day.   Mark    < Back to previous story Ahead to next story >

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page last edited 09/22/2012