View East From Chestnut Stairway, ca. 1870's
This vantage point is from the Chestnut Street Stairway, taken in the 1870's by John Sinclair. You can see the first bridge in the background along with a lumber mill on the Wisconsin side of the St. Croix River. In the left center, you can see the Brunswick House and the brick building to the left of the stairway. This was before the streetcars first came to Minnesota. Photo courtesy of the Washington County Historical Society and Mr. Brent Peterson, executive director, WCHS.
To view a "Time-Tunnel" photo of this same location from the 1870's to 2016, just Click or Tap the above photo.
Chestnut Street Stairway, before 1890's. John Runk Collection courtesy of the Washington County Historical Society. The vantage point is toward the east.
Similar vantage point to the previous photo. This shows the streetcar tracks and the Brunswick Building. Photo courtesy of the Stillwater Public Library, John Runk Collection.
The year is 1917 and the place is 3rd Street and Chestnut looking northwest toward the church steeples. In the foreground you can see the streetcar tracks. The Presbyterian Church is the nearest steeple, with Trinity Lutheran and the Episcopal church in the background. The Firehouse was just north of the Presbyterian Church. The photo is from the John Runk Collection, courtesy of the Washington County Historical Society.
To take a "Time-Tunnel" trip from 1917 to 2016, just click on the above photo and envision yourself waiting for the streetcar just after the First World War.
This is an animation "Time Tunnel" that goes from 1917 to 2017 at the same location. Some buildings are still standing, while others are gone. The Streetcar was a familiar sight and sound at this location, also gone. In the distance you can see the Trinity Lutheran Church and the Fire Department Building just in front of the church.
3rd and Chestnut Street, 1922
This photo was taken in 1922. The location is 3rd and Chestnut Street, viewing to the southwest. The streetcar tracks are in the foreground. The house is no longer there, replaced by the Armory Building, which was retired in 2017.
To view a "Time-Tunnel" photo of this same location that allows you to travel from 1922 to 2016, just Click or Tap the photo above.
This is the Jassoy Building located on 3rd Street and Chestnut. It was built in 1886. It is a three-story frame red brick veneer with a Queen Anne Style. It has a flat roof and a stone banding between the floors along with bay windows on the second floor. This building still stands today at the base of the Chestnut Street Stairway. The streetcar tracks are visible in the foreground. The date of the photograph is 1918. Photo credit is Mr. John Runk, courtesy of The Stillwater Public Library, John Runk Collection.
The year is 1893 and these are the first electric powered streetcars in Minnesota. The cars are located on 3rd Street and Chestnut,viewing toward the west. This was a busy intersection for the rail line, which involved negotiating a switch to allow the cars to go north/south on 3rd Street or east/west on Chestnut Street. The Stillwater Street Railway Company was short-lived for only a few years until it was revived by the Twin Cities Rapid Transit Company in 1899.
