White Pine Inn, ca. 1947, now the Bayport Public Library (Photo courtesty of Wash. Cty Historical Society)

Initially, Bayport was a major player in the nation's lumber industry. As early as 1852 the Socrates Nelson & Loomis lumber mill was here. In the late 1800s and early 1900s Bayport had five lumber mills and two box companies. The South Stillwater Agricultural Works arrived in 1877 and built threshing machines. In 1903 the Rueben Even Works was producing horse drawn carriages on North Sixth Street -- curses to that Henry Ford.

Also forming in 1903 was the St. Croix Ice Company, soon to be joined by the Sutton and Bayport Ice Companies. The latter operated until 1964 as the supplier of most of the ice to cool the meat from the South St. Paul packing plants.

The printing industry also has long roots in Bayport. In 1905 the Ray Andrews Printing Company began operation at 4th Avenaue and 2nd Street followed by Osterlind Printing during WWI and Bayport Printing in 1923; the latter is still going strong.

Some of the major businesses that once called Bayport home include: the Boatyard, which built steamboats from 1877-1890, including several famous vessels; South Stillwater Soap & Rendering Co.; Cutler & Cogswell Foundry; Van Ornum Machine ship; Ideal Metallic Packing Co.; Ideal Brass Manufacturing Co.; Bayport Wood Products Co.; and Two Grist Mills on Perro Creek.

Of course, we should not forget that in 1903 a certain window manufacturer started operation in Hudson, WI. The Andersen Corporation moved to Bayport in 1911. Most of the heavy machinery was moved across the river in the winter on an ice road -- maybe things haven't changed that much after all.

Over the years our industries have been complimented by a strong retail base as well. In the early years Fifth Avenue and Sixth Street was a popular gathering spot where candy, confections, soft drinks and beer were sold and on Sasturday nights big dances were held on the second floor. That area today is home to a pair of apartment buildings. Also on 5th Avenue were a blacksmith shop, grocery and drug stores, garage, bowling alley, shoe repair, barbershop, theater, bakery and more. At the end of town a fine bakery stood where the post office is today as well as a meat market, grocery stores, roller skating rink, Casperson's Garage and Barker's Playhouse Theater. From July 1889 to August 1932 the streetcar rolled through Bayport carrying people to and from Stillwater and the Twin Cities.