John Runk and Lens Flare Stillwater
This project is dedicated to John Runk for his contribution to Stillwater's Historical Heritage and for the example he set for all of us to preserve a bit of the past.
This is his gift to our community and all who come to visit The St. Croix Valley.
John Runk Portrait 1903. Photo credit, Mr. John Runk, courtesy of Stillwater Public Library, John Runk Collection.
John Runk was a local photographer who took it upon himself to make a photo documentary of Stillwater’s past. What is interesting is that Stillwater’s past is coincident with early photographic technology. He came to Stillwater in 1884. While he was young, he had many experiences while living in Stillwater. He worked on the log drives when Stillwater was the largest producer of pine lumber in the nation. He also worked on other jobs at the Northwest Thresher and local machine shops. He became acquainted with photography early in his life and became quite an accomplished photographer and inventor in this field. Photography was a mixture of art, chemistry and science in these early days after the Civil War.
John Runk Studio above 112 North Main Street. Downstairs, there was a theater as shown in this photo. Photo credit is John Runk, courtesy of the Stillwater Public Library
To go to this same view today, click or tap the photo above.
This is an Animation Time Tunnel between the years 1917 and 2018 at this same location. The historical photo is from the John Runk Collection, courtesy of the Stillwater Public Library.
John Runk Photography Shop located on Chestnut Street, just west of Main Street on the south side of Chestnut Street. Ca. 1930's. John was famous for the "Square Deal". His logo always included the square deal motto. Photo credit, Mr. John Runk, courtesy of Stillwater Public Library.
Click or tap the photo above to view the same location today.
