Celebrating a Legacy...

Did you know...

James Bedman was the first blacksmith in Alexandria. In 1876, James Bedman filed for a homestead on Lake Ida, and in 1880 the family opened a Bed & Breakfast, which soon became Bedman's Camp, and eventually Bedman's Resort, one of the oldest resorts in Minnesota under the same family ownership.

J. H. Van Dyke opened the first store. He also served as one of the first county commissioners, held the land office, and served as a justice of the peace.

Charles Cook was the first postmaster and also served as the first probate judge - 1866-1871.

Winona Douglas James was the first child born in the new settlement. She was the daughter of Joseph James, who moved to this area from Philadelphia.

The first jail cost $350 and was only 12x14 feet. It was completed in the fall of 1868. The walls, ceiling and flloors were made of oak timbers, and the walls were 6 inches thick.

Written history shows that Dr. Vivian was the first known physician, practicing here in 1895.  He was followed by Dr. Frank Lewis. 

Alexandria's first hospital, "Dr. Boyd's Hospital," was opened in 1900 at the corner of 9th and Elm. Mrs. Carrie Larson leased the A.W. Peck house and opened the hospital with 6 beds. Dr. Boyd was the resident doctor and the cost to the patient was $10 or $12 a month. 

The second hospital, General Hospital, was opened in November 1900, when Mr. R. R. Evans and his sister-in-law, Minnie Currie of Fergus Falls, rented the old courthouse and fitted it up as a hospital.  This hospital had 11 rooms to accommodate 35 people.  They would take all cases except contagious diseases.

The "traveling tinker" was the name given to itinerant dentists by the settlers at the old Alexandria stockade.  Tooth pulling was the chief remedy for dental ailments.

A.P. Bell was the first village dentist, arriving in 1875.  He bought the corner lot south of the Douglas House and he mounted his office on rollers to roll out in case of fire. 

A & W Root Beer Extract was one of the many wonder cures used in the early 1900's.  You could buy a bottle for 5 cents and it made 5 gallons.  It was found to be highly beneficial as a blood purifier and general stimulant for the system.

Some of the first common anesthetics used were chloroform and ether, alcohol was used as well.

Alexandria's first school nurse was a red cross nurse who arrived in 1920.

A special thank you to our friends at the Douglas County Historical Society for assisting in compiling this trivia!