A Little History

Image of early settlers in a wooden horse drawn wagon

Life was difficult in the early years. For a fee of $18, a settler received 160 acres on the western frontier thanks to the Homestead Act of January 1, 1863. By 1900, settlers were arriving to Tower from the Duluth-Superior area, traveling over Lake Vermilion by barge or steam-boat in summer and horse teams in winter, to homestead in the Buyck area. They brought with them their family, animals, and all their earthly belongings to start a new life.
Excerpt from: Portage Township: Better Known as Buyck, The First 100 Years.

So this is how it started. In the late 1800's several settlers’ cabins were in the area. Jackson's Hotel was on the south side of the beautiful Vermilion River. In the early 1900's, Charles Buyck moved his family from Superior, Wisconsin to that spot and built. Life was difficult in the early years.

They joined the loggers, timber cruisers, government surveyors, and prospectors looking for gold. They farmed and proved up their homestead claim which required a five year commitment to receive their title from the government. Besides farming, they often found jobs in logging, county road building, or started a business to provide food and lodging for the travelers and livery stables or blacksmith shops for their horses. No schools were yet open and church services were held in different homes.

On the 1900 Census, the families living in Buyck were:
* Polydorip Aubin with his wife Clara and sons Fredric and James
* Daniel McInnis with his daughter Annie and son Thomas
* Henry Leigh with daughters Jane and Minnie
* Samuel Nordin with his wife Anna, son William and daughter Ethel
* Customs Officer Floyd Townsend with his wife Ettie and sons, Harry, Leon and Charles.

Some of the single people were William Orr, John King, a hotel keeper by occupation, Arthur Kitto, a grocery salesman by occupation, and the enumerator for the 1990 Census in the Buyck area, Hans Peterson, Oscar Hanson, John Swallen, Peter Anderson (who homesteaded and then sold to Joseph and Catherine Mankus) and Josie Lombarri who was a hotel keeper. They were survivors. By the 1905 Census, Polydorip Aubin, John Swallen, Peter Anderson, Oscar Hanson, John King and Customes Office Lloyd Townsend with his son Harry still remained. They were joined by many new settlers.

The new families living in the area then were:
* Julian and Amelia Block with son Julian Jr.
* Ole and Lina Hanson with children Martin, Annie, Robert and Arthur
* Peter and Antonia Gruska with children Henry, Lou, Mary, Annie, and James
* Ole and Rachel Kjostad with two children, and the Buyck family
* Charles and Clarisse (DeVoss) Buyck came with children Emily, Charles, Frank and Peter. Charles DeVoss, Clarisse Buyck's father, also lived in the area.

Some of the other single settlers were Ceasar Coppens and his brother Dominic, John Branvold, Christ Christofferson, and Alois Claus.


The First Schools

Image of first school built in 1906

After the 1905 Census was taken, many families began to arrive and there was a need for schools. Five acres of land was donated by Mr. Julian Block for the first school house. This photo is the first one-room school house built in 1906 and the teacher's name was Mr. James Giblin. Soon after, three more one-room school houses were built.

Image of school house built in 1925

September of 1925 saw the completion of a three room school house with a "Teacherage" in the upper level. This school house included a library, kitchen, toilets, hot and cold water, and modern heating. It was located roughly one half mile west of DeCaigny place. This school offered grades one through ten.


Building Roads

Image of building a road in the early 1900's

In 1908 it was unanimously decided by the Board of Supervisors of the Town of Buyck to establish a poll tax and a land tax in order to build and maintain the public highways and cartways.


Bridges over the Vermilion

Image of first pile bridge over the Vermilion River built in 1891

The first pile bridge over the Vermilion river built in 1891.
The picture of the pile bridge built in 1891 came from the Minnesota Historical Society. The bridge crossed the Vermilion River near Jackson's Half-Way House and was a stage coach route in 1901. Portage Township records indicate the bridge was torn down in the spring of 1911 and replaced by a timber and pile bridge soon after. Prior to this first bridge, travelers wanting to cross the river had to do so by raft.
Photo taken in 1901.

Image of the second bridge over the Vermilion River built in

The second bridge, built in 1911.

Image of the third bridge over the Vermilion River built in

The third bridge over the Vermilion River built in 1920. This bridge was made of steel.
In 1962, the first concrete bridge was built and spanned some 212 feet across the river.


The First Churches

St. Joseph's Church

By 1906 the community had grown to eight families. For a time, Mass was held only once a year and usually in the school house or someone's private home. In 1912 however, the first real church was built and services were officiated by Father Olsiewski.

By 1957 the church had grown to twenty four families and it was decided that a new building was in order. In October of 1957, a dedication ceremony was held and Father Volk celebrated Mass.

Image of a wolf
Image of Contact Information

Follow Us