Grantsburg
Wisconsin
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Village Of Grantsburg
The Village of Grantsburg got its start when Canute Anderson appeared on the scene, spending his first winter near the St. Croix River north of the present village in 1852-1853. From 1865 to 1875 Burnett County was all one township with a governing body appointed by Governor J.T. Lewis. Grantsburg was selected as the county seat by the state legislature and was named after General Ulysses S. Grant’s victory at Vicksburg. County functions were carried out in the schoolhouse. The application to incorporate the Village of Grantsburg was in 1886. The census showed a population of 311 persons in the 1203 acres.
Canute Anderson was responsible for getting Grantsburg on the map. He built a mill on the river, constructed a nice hotel and a store. By 1875 Grantsburg had three stores, a good hotel, two sawmills, one shingle mill, a grist mill, two blacksmith shops, a saloon, a Methodist church, a Lutheran church and a school. A large celebration was held in 1884 when the railroad line from Rush City, Minnesota was completed. The entire countryside was saddened when Canute Anderson was killed in a farm haying accident in 1893.
The Dr. Fremstad family was early pioneers in the village. They were a very accomplished musical family as well as medically proficient. Dr. Fremstad took charge of countless patients in the diphtheria epidemic, conducted Swedish singing classes and sang at tent meetings and socials held at the rink. Mrs. Fremsted was a graduated midwife who attended call here at all hours. Their daughter Olive traveled the world as an operatic prima Dona. She sang with the great Caruso and at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.
The last spike for the railroad was driven in 1884. Power came to town in 1901 when the Grantsburg Power and Light Company was organized. Telephone and Telegraph also came in at that time.
Big Gust Anderson resided in Grantsburg for about 25 years before he died in 1926. He was an outstanding character of human stature. The 7 1/2 foot giant became well known as the village Marshall and old lamp lighter. A wooden statue of "Big Gust", carved by Alf Olson, is located in front of the Community Center building at 416 South Pine Street. Stop to see the statue of "Big Gust" and listen to him tell his story.
Canute Anderson was responsible for getting Grantsburg on the map. He built a mill on the river, constructed a nice hotel and a store. By 1875 Grantsburg had three stores, a good hotel, two sawmills, one shingle mill, a grist mill, two blacksmith shops, a saloon, a Methodist church, a Lutheran church and a school. A large celebration was held in 1884 when the railroad line from Rush City, Minnesota was completed. The entire countryside was saddened when Canute Anderson was killed in a farm haying accident in 1893.
The Dr. Fremstad family was early pioneers in the village. They were a very accomplished musical family as well as medically proficient. Dr. Fremstad took charge of countless patients in the diphtheria epidemic, conducted Swedish singing classes and sang at tent meetings and socials held at the rink. Mrs. Fremsted was a graduated midwife who attended call here at all hours. Their daughter Olive traveled the world as an operatic prima Dona. She sang with the great Caruso and at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.
The last spike for the railroad was driven in 1884. Power came to town in 1901 when the Grantsburg Power and Light Company was organized. Telephone and Telegraph also came in at that time.
Big Gust Anderson resided in Grantsburg for about 25 years before he died in 1926. He was an outstanding character of human stature. The 7 1/2 foot giant became well known as the village Marshall and old lamp lighter. A wooden statue of "Big Gust", carved by Alf Olson, is located in front of the Community Center building at 416 South Pine Street. Stop to see the statue of "Big Gust" and listen to him tell his story.