THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Dates its beginning from a society formed by Rev. James Harrington in 1850. It was organized regularly in 1853 by Rev. T. M. Fullerton. The first house of worship was a small frame on Myrtle street, between Second and Third streets. It was enlarged and improved in 1862. The present edifice on Third street near Myrtle, with the parsonage adjoining, cost about $4,200. The church has a membership of two hundred.

ST. MICHAEL'S (CATHOLIC) CHURCH

Was organized in 1853, the first services being held by Rev. Father Peyragrosse, a missionary. The first edifice was built on Fourth and Mulberry streets, and Rev. Father Fisher was the first clergyman in charge. The building was enlarged and improved in 1857. The present commodious edifice was commenced in 1872 and dedicated in 1875. The church property, including the school parish buildings and cemetery of twelve acres in South Stillwater, is worth $130,000. There are now two resident clergymen, Revs. Murphy and Gaughan.

ST. MARY'S (CATHOLIC) CHURCH,

Rev. P. Alphonse Krusle, pastor, was organized in 1865, and owns a church building on Fifth street, near Pine, valued at $25,000. The total value of church and parish buildings, and of the six lots on which they are located, amounts to $55,000.

THE UNIVERSALIST CHURCH

Society was incorporated June 6, 1868, and the first preaching was by Rev. E. A. Hodsdon, of St. Anthony. The edifice is on Third street South; cost about $15,000.

SWEDISH LUTHERAN.

The society was organized in 1871; the church building was erected in 1882-83, at a cost of $15,000. The pastor is Rev. A. F. Tornell.

THE FIRST GERMAN LUTHERAN

Church was organized in 1871. The church building and parsonage are on Third street, near Olive, and are valued at $4,500. The pastor is Rev.

J. J. Weiss.

THE NORWEGIAN LUTHERAN

Society uses the German Lutheran church buildings, corner of Olive and Fourth streets.

THE GERMAN METHODIST

Congregation worships in a frame building, corner of Linden and Everett streets.

THE SALEM GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH

Was formed by the withdrawal of a part of the members of the First German Lutheran church for separate worship. The Swedish church and school, on the corner of Olive and Fourth streets, were purchased for $2,150. To this a parsonage was added at a cost of $2,150. Rev. L. F.

Frey is the pastor.

THE DANISH LUTHERAN CHURCH

Has a cosy frame edifice on Laurel, between Williams and Owen, but is not holding services at present. The edifice cost $7,000 and the membership is one hundred and fifty.

SWEDISH CONGREGATIONAL.

The Swedish Congregational church occupies a frame building on Fourth street, between Hickory and Elm streets, which cost $2,000 and has sixty members.

THE ST. JOSEPH'S (CATHOLIC) CHURCH

Was organized by the present pastor, Rev. Father E. Roe, in 1882, with seventeen members, which has since been increased to eighty families.

A frame edifice was erected in 1884, with a seating capacity of four hundred, costing about $8,000, corner of Olive and Greely streets. The church property consists of the edifice and the priest's house, and cost $11,000.

THE SWEDISH METHODIST CHURCH

Was organized in 1880 by Rev. C. S. Carlander. The church building is located on Myrtle and Fourth streets, and cost $2,000.

THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN a.s.sOCIATION

Has a membership of seventy-five and a frame building erected in 1872 at a cost of $1,200.

PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

The court house and other public buildings of the city are creditable specimens of architecture, rooms convenient and well adapted to the purposes of their construction. The present court house building is the third erected. Its cost, including that of the jail buildings, the wall around them and other improvements, has been something over $75,000. The city hall, at the corner of Myrtle and Third streets, is a substantial and convenient building. It contains also room for the city officers. The public school buildings have kept pace with the growth of the city. In the summer of 1887 the city erected a high school building at a cost of $60,000. The engine house is a good building, centrally located. An elegant union depot was built in 1887, of brown stone from the Apostle islands, at a cost of $30,000.

THE OPERA HOUSE.--The opera house occupies the site of the old Lake House, on Main street between Nelson and Chestnut streets. It was commenced in 1880 and finished in 1881, under the supervision of L.

W. Eldred, architect. Its size is 90120 feet, ground plan, and four stories in height, or seventy-one feet from lower floor to cornice.

The style of architecture is a blending of the Queen Anne, Victoria and Gothic. The entrance to the upper part of the building is by a stairway twelve feet wide, in a lofty, ornamental turret. The auditorium is 64120 feet, and beautifully and elaborately finished and furnished, and is capable of seating over 1,200 persons. It is well lighted, being supplied with 130 gas jets, warmed by steam, and well ventilated. The stage is 3964 feet, complete in all its appointments, and supplied with all the necessary stage scenery, wings, border bridge, balcony, interior and other decorations. The ceiling of the auditorium is superbly frescoed and the cornice is adorned with medallions of Shakespeare, Haydn, Schiller, Goethe, d.i.c.kens, Handel, Scott, Longfellow, Mozart, Tennyson, and Beethoven.

The parts of the building not occupied for stage purposes are appropriated to halls, offices and stores.

SOCIETIES AND a.s.sOCIATIONS.

I. O. O. F.--Lodge No. 1, organized June, 1849; Stillwater Lodge, No.

51, organized January, 1876.

Masonic.--St. John's Lodge No. 1, organized 1849; Washington, Royal Arch Chapter, No. 17, organized March, 1868; Bayard Commandery, K. T., No. 11, organized March, 1878.

Knights of Pythias.--Stillwater Lodge, No. 7, organized November, 1872.

A. O. U. W.--St. Croix Lodge, No. 11, organized July, 1876.

Sons of Herman.--Stillwater Lodge, No. 3, organized January, 1876; Concordia Lodge, No. 19, organized January, 1881.

Temperance Societies.--I. O. G. T. Lodge of Stillwater, organized in 1859; L'Etoile du Nord Lodge, No. 57, organized May, 1866; Temple of Honor, No. 10, organized September, 1876; Father Matthew Temperance Society, organized November, 1872.

Miscellaneous.--St. Ann's Society, organized November, 1866; St.