1. Franklin Steele claimed a half-mile of east-bank riverfront, controlling half of the water power of St Anthony Falls; adjacent property was claimed by Pierre Bottineau, a Metis, of French-Canadian, Ojibwe, and Dakota descent.
12 Facts About Franklin Steele
1. 2.
On May 18,1848, President Polk approved the claims made in St Anthony, and Franklin Steele was able to build his dam on the east side of the river above the falls, blocking the east channel.
3.
Franklin Steele dispatched logging crews to the Crow Wing River in December 1847 to supply pine for his sawmill, and by September1,1848, sawing commenced using two up-down saws.
4.
Franklin Steele was able to sell the lumber readily, supplying construction projects in the booming town.
5.
Franklin Steele had hired Ard Godfrey to help build and run the first commercial sawmill at the falls.
6.
Godfrey built the first home in St Anthony, Franklin Steele had the town platted in 1849, and it incorporated in 1855.
7.
Franklin Steele created the StAnthony Falls Water Power Company in 1856 with three New York financiers.
8.
Franklin Steele struggled for several years, due to poor relations with the financiers, a depression, and the Civil War.
9.
Franklin Steele formed the Mississippi Bridge Company to build a 620-foot -long, 17-foot wide suspension bridge, linking Minneapolis to Nicollet Island and hired Thomas Griffith to design it.
10.
Franklin Steele had previously built a shorter bridge to cross the channel from Nicollet Island to StAnthony; together these created the first permanent bridge to span the Mississippi at any point along its length.
11.
Franklin Steele ultimately became prosperous from lumber sales, the development of a suspension bridge, and various land deals.
12.
Franklin Steele donated four acres, located in St Anthony, to the newly-created institution.