19.5 Knife River

Copper prospectors first settled here in 1854. It has a number of businesses with fishing a prime industry; its post office began as Mellie in 1899, changing to Knife River in 1903. In 1898 Knife River became a logging center when the Alger-Smith Logging Co. made it the terminus of the Duluth & Northern Minnesota Railway, which extended 100 miles northeast into Lake and Cook counties. The railroad was used to bring logs to Knife River, where a dock was built so lumber could be shipped on pulpwood steamers to eastern markets. Duluth & Northern Minnesota steam locomotive No. 14 has been preserved and is on display at the Lake Superior Railroad Museum in Duluth. In its heyday during the early years of the 20th century, Alger-Smith was the largest employer in the city of Duluth with its two sawmills. When Alger-Smith sold out in 1919, the town of Knife River began to decline, which was acclerated by the Great Depression of the 1930s. The former DM&IR Knife River depot can be seen off the left, or west side of the train. Immediately after passing the depot, trains cross a bridge over the Knife River, which offers an excellent view of the lake off the right, or east side of the train.