Carlton County Historical Society

historical society

Carlton County Historical Society

allowed for the rapid growth of the timber industries and agriculture which form the base of the economic life of the area. The railroads have been largely replaced by a road system which includes a section of US I-35 which cuts across the county north and south.

The early building of the village that became Cloquet started in the form of several little settlements clustered around three early sawmills. These settlements were referred to locally as ³Shaw Town,² ³Nelson Town,² and later ³Johnson Town.² More properly the whole settlement took its name from the most notable landmark in the region, Knife Falls, where the water flowed over sharp slate rocks that cut the moccasins of the voyagers.

The frontier site was platted in 1883, and in the following year, the three settlements were incorporated into the village of Cloquet. In 1904, Cloquet became a city with a mayor and common council form of government. The first mayor was Stokes Wilson. Many of the workers in the early industries and farming were immigrants from over a dozen European countries and Canada which, when mixed with the strong native culture, provided the rich cultural heritage still enjoyed by succeeding generations.

With the sawmills, paper company, and railroads in operation by the turn of the 20th century, Cloquet grew quickly. By 1890 the population was 2,530 and within two decades it had grown to 7,031. Hotels, boarding houses, stores, saloons, and specialty shops sprung up. The city enjoyed a lively social and cultural life. Early celebrations were marked by parades and sporting events‹including log rolling, baseball, and other activities in Pinehurst Park. Much of the early social life of the city centered around the churches and various ethnic organizations, but there were theaters, the Nelson Opera House, a YMCA, and a city band. The city library was formed in 1896.

No account of the history of Carlton County would be complete without mention of the devastating forest fires which occurred on October 12, 1918, and destroyed six towns and villages including Moose Lake and Cloquet. Over 550 people lost their lives in the fires. The City of Cloquet was almost completely burned only to rise again from the ashes in a changed, and in many ways, stronger community. Rebuilding took the courage and perseverance of the people of the county who reestablished the agricultural and industrial base of the county¹s economy.

The Cloquet Historic Sign and Outdoor Mural Projects of 2004 celebrate the history of the city with illustrated markers at a number of landmarks that are on the National Register of Historic Places and with colorful murals depicting historical scenes.

The Carlton County Historical Society has collected and preserved the history of Carlton County since 1949. The Society operates a museum and research facility in the Carlton County History and Heritage Center at 406 Cloquet Avenue. For more information about the Society, call 218/879-1938, e-mail cchs@cpinternet.com, or visit the web site.

406 Cloquet Avenue
218-879-1938 or Visit the website!

A Short History of Carlton County and the City of Cloquet

The St. Louis River has played an important role in the history of the City of Cloquet and Carlton County. The St. Louis and other county rivers were important waterways for early native people (first the Dakota and later the Ojibwe) and supported a whole industry during the time of the fur trade beginning in the mid 1700s. Later the rivers served as the lifelines of the lumber industry which began in the county in the 1870s. The City of Cloquet grew on the banks of the St. Louis and the river continues to be a centerpiece for recreation, as well as vitally important to the city’s industry.

White settlement of the county began after the Ojibwe ceded the land of the area in the Treaty of 1854. Construction was begun on the Military Road which eventually connected Point Douglas, Minnesota (near St. Paul) with Superior, Wisconsin. The road passed through Carlton County and provided for mail delivery and passenger service. The coming of railroads to the county after 1870

Carlton County Housing List

Updated 3/20/2025

( * )-( Does not accept Section 8 – Housing Choice Vouchers / Bridges Certificates )

Name Address Contact/Phone Number Type Units

12^th Street Apartments 1205 Cloquet Ave #9 Randy & Robin Flynn Apartments 7

Cloquet, MN 55720 218-390-2073

Robin_Flynn@hotmail.com

14^th Street Apartments 201014^th St. Julie Giossi Apartments 18

Cloquet, MN 55720 612-861-8523

jgiossi@metesbounds.com

14^th St. Borrower II 2020 14^th St. Julie Giossi Apartments 22

Cloquet, MN 55720 612-861-8523

jgiossi@metesbounds.com

14^th Street Apts. III 2030 14^th St. Bachand Group Apartments 36

Cloquet, MN 55720 715-394-4667

Info@BachandGroup.com

218 Chestnut Ave. Apts. 218 Chestnut Ave. Dean & Apartments 5

Carlton, MN 55718 218-384-4743

Allford Investments 1458 Kodiak Dr. Stephen Habbegger Apartments 4

Apartments Carlton, MN 55718 218-310-2388

Aspen Arms (HRA) 950 14^th St. Sally P. Apartments 74

(Public Housing) * Cloquet, MN 55720 218-879-3353

(Income Restricted) Sally@CloquetCarltonHRA.org

TBH Property LLC 850 Spring Lake Road Travis Berg Apartments 8

Cloquet, MN 55720 715-394-4667

TravisBerg2003@gmail.com

Birch Grove 45542 4556, 4558,4560 Rick Krueger Apartments 5

4562 Kasper Road 218-349-2146

Moose Lake, MN 55767 rkrueger70@gmail.com

Carlton Lofts 509 Carlton Ave. Jennifer DammerApartments57

Cloquet, MN 55720 612-475-4154

jennifer.dammer@roerscompanies.com

Cloquet Cliffs, LLC 17 8th Street Roger Bruhn Apartments 9

Cloquet, MN 55720 918-894-3487

Roger.a.bruhn@gmail.com

Evelyn Street Apartments 2 Evelyn Street Gregg Perich Apartments 22

Esko, MN 55733 218-522-1360

PerichGregg@gmail.com

Fireside Property 330 13^th Street Chris Bennett Duplex

Management, LLC Cloquet, MN 55720 218-349-9925

FiresidePropertyManagement@gmail.com

Hammerlund 9 Canosia Road Arlene Hammerlund Apartments 8

Properties Esko, MN 55733 218-393-2838

Hammerlund 34 E. Hwy. 61 Arlene Hammond Apartments 5

Properties Esko, MN 55733 218-393-2838

Hansmeyer Properties Cloquet Area Gene Hansmeyer

218-940-3767

Hillside Manor West 708 4^th St. Brian Rosera Apartments 40

Moose Lake, MN 55767 218-380-2407

Hillside Terrace 7, 8, 20, 21, 32, & 38 Mick Geary Mobile Homes 6

Hillside Terrance 651-426-0803

Moose Lake, MN 55767

Kuklis Properties 903 26^th St. Jerry Kuklis House

Cloquet, MN 55720

Kettle River Apartments 3979 Main St. Croix Management Apartments 8

(Section 515 – Kettle River, MN 55757 651-465-6841

Rural Development) * frontdesk@croixmanagement.com

(Income Restricted)

Lakeshore Manor 900 Lakeshore Drive Lakeshore Manor CoApartments24

Moose Lake, MN 55767 218-878-0703

Vittoria_Johnson@hotmail.com

Larson Commons 810 Cloquet Ave. Monroe GroupApartments85

(Section 8) * Cloquet, MN 55720 218-879-3759

(Income Restricted) monroegroup.com/property/larson-commons/

Laurel St. Apartments 634 Laurel St. Mortin Management Apartments

Cloquet, MN 55720 Toni Johnson

Tonijohnson16@msn.com

Linder Properties * 102 10^th St. Tony Linder Apartments 6

Cloquet, MN 55720 218-879-5000

Office@erosion-control-specialists.com

M & K Carlson 45 6^th St. Marlin Carlson Four Plex 4

Holding LLC Cloquet, MN 55720 218-348-9781

408 6^th St Marlin Carlson Duplex 2

Cloquet, MN 55720 218-348-9781

Maplewood Apartments 1326/1330 – 18^th St. Van Binsbergen &Apartments 24

(Section 515 – Cloquet, MN 55720 Associates

Rural Development) * 800-728-7911

(Income Restricted) Rentals@vanbllc.com

Maplewood Court II 1318 18^th Street D.W. Jones Management Apartments 22

(Section 502 – Cloquet, MN 55720 218-326-5314

Rural Development) * JaredH@DWJonesManagement.com

(Income Restricted)

McDowell-Nemmers 1514 16^th St. Neil &Karen Nemmers Apartments 4

Cloquet, MN 55720

McDowell-Nemmers 1516 16^th St. Neil &Karen Nemmers Apartments 4

Cloquet, MN 55720

404 25^th St. Neil &Karen Nemmers Apartments 4

Cloquet, MN 55720

1503 Tall Pine Lane Neil &Karen Nemmers Apartments 4

Cloquet, MN 55720

Smith Brothers Properties 106 Ave. C Boyd Smith Apartments 2

Cloquet, MN 55720 218-590-2756

SmithCompany@mail.com

116 Ave. C Boyd SmithApartments3

Cloquet, MN 55720 218-590-2756

SmithCompany@mail.com

603 North Road Boyd SmithApartments12

Cloquet, MN 55720 218-590-2756

SmithCompany@mail.com

2300 Lincoln Ave. Boyd Smith Apartments

Cloquet, MN 55720 218-590-2756

SmithCompany@mail.com

North Ridge Apartments 10 Sunnyside Lane Dave Pritchett Apartments

Cloquet, MN 218-879-3363

Oakwood Estates 910 South Oak St. D.W.Jones ManagementApartments30

Cloquet, MN 55720 Kylie – 218-366-6703

KylieL@DWJonesManagement.com

Park Ave Manor 701 Park Ave. Neil & Karen Nemmers Apartments 12

Cloquet, MN 55720 218-879-8920

Park Avenue Properties 34, 36, 38 5^th St. Park Avenue Properties Apartments 9

33 6^th St. 218-461-0073

Cloquet, MN 55720 parkavenueproperties40@gmail.com

Park Side Apartments 3720 Front St. Croix Management Apartments 25

(Section 515 – Barnum, MN 55707 651-465-6841

Rural Development) * frontdesk@croixmanagement.com

(Income Restricted)

Pinehurst Chateau I,II,III 820, 830, 840 Wesley Vork Apartments 12

Spring Lake Drive 218-590-6994

Cloquet, MN 55720 Sandy Terwey

218-391-6220

Ramsey Properties 1713 Cloquet Ave. Cody Ramsey Duplex 2

1715 Cloquet Ave. (218) 428-8361

Rent Money, LLC 404 4^th St. Chris Manor Apartments 3

Moose Lake, MN 55767 950-220-5544

312 Douglas St. Chris Manor 2 bedroom house

Moose Lake, MN 950-220-5544 efficiency apartment

Reynolds Properties 910 & 910 ½ Prospect Ave. Sandra Reynolds Duplex 4

Cloquet, MN 55720 218-391-9689

sanknrey@live.com

Ronald Miller Properties 210 2^nd St. Ronald Miller Rentals Apartments 5

Carlton, MN 55718 Kim Hale 218-390-9757

Superagentkim52@yahoo.com

CloquetHousing@yahoo.com

Ronald Miller Properties 409 Arch St. Ronald Miller Rentals 5-plex 5

Cloquet, MN 55720 Kim Hale 218-390-9757

CloquetHousing@yahoo.com

Superagentkim52@yahoo.com

1410 Ave. C Ronald Miller Rentals House 1