On This Date in Minnesota History: October 21

October 21, 1915 – Hibbing, “the poor little rich village,” is bidding farewell to its 48 saloons today. This morning at 8 o’clock, federal authorities clamped down the lid called for in the Indian treaty of 1855, thus adding to Hibbing’s troubles occasioned by controversies with the mining companies over municipal income. There are fully 300 person in Hibbing engaged in the liquor traffic who will lose their jobs as a result.

Chisholm, Floodwood and Kewatin, other mining villages on the Mesaba range, are preparing for the same farewell. Nearly 100 saloons will be closed, making close to 300 under the treaty lid.

H. A. Larson of Denver, J. B. Brandt and D. H. Ellis of Minneapolis, special agents of the Indian Bureau, notified the saloonkeepers of Hibbing it was time to close their doors for good. Some of the saloons in Hibbing have never been closed, temperance workers say. They say that the saloons have been kept open Sundays and all night.

The Indian treaty does not cover the rest of the Mesaba range. Virginia, Eveleth, Biwabik, Aurora, Gilbert and many other range towns are beyond its limits.


The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Hibbing Saloons Out, Indian Law Invoked. Federal authorities Clamp Down Lid on Forty-six Dram-shops. More Towns to Follow. Three hundred Persons in Hibbing Alone Put Out of Employment.”; October 21, 1915; p. 1.

Photo taken by Pamela J. Erickson. Released into the public domain Feb. 7, 2015,
as long as acknowledgement included.  

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