The History of Rushford Books

Dr. Alden O. Droivold, D.V.M. gave the Rushford Area Historical Society (RAHS) his entire collection of historical records on the history of Rushford and surrounding area. RAHS published them in five volumes, which have been scanned into searchable PDF files.

Open a file to read more about Rushford’s history. Open the file and, depending upon what device and browser you’re using, click on the magnifying glass icon or type CTL F to search for specific people or events. (There are hundreds of pages to search, so it may take a few minutes in each file.)

Vol. I - History of Rushford: The First Decade - Introduction; Research References & Acknowledgements; Ch. I The Upper Fork; Ch. II Preparations for Settlement (removal of the Indians - political organizations); Ch. III Settlement of Rushford (ports of entry & primary trails); Ch. IV Settlers (who they were, why & whence they came); Ch. V Patriots in the Civil War and Sioux Uprising; Ch. VI Stage Coaches, Wayside Taverns & Hotels; Ch. VII The Railroad Arrives; Ch. VIII Westward Migrations from Rushford.

Vol. II, Chapters I-IV - History of Rushford: Railroad Boom Town - Ch. I Rushford Journalism; Ch. II Railroad Boom Town; Ch. III Grocery, Dry Goods, Clothing & Shoe Stores; Ch. IV Shoe & Boot Manufacture & Repair.

Vol. II, Chapters V-XIII - History of Rushford: Railroad Boom Town - Ch. V Butchers & Meat Markets; Ch. VI Cafes & Confectioners; Ch. VII Patent Medicines, Drug Stores & Pharmacists; Ch. VIII Hardware Stores; Ch. IX Jewelry Stores; Ch. X Milliners, Beauticians & Women’s Apparel; Ch. XI Merchant Tailors & Clothiers; Ch. XII Tonsorial Saloons & Barbers; Ch. XIII Funeral Parlors & Furniture Stores.

Vol. III, Chapters I-V - History of Rushford: Whiskey, Wheat and Wagons - Ch. I Saloons, Prohibition & Breweries; Ch. II Livery, Draying, Trucking & Bus Lines; Ch. III Harness & Saddle Shops; Ch. IV Horse Traders & Livestock Dealers; Ch. V Wheat Culture, Flour & Feed Mills

Vol. III, Chapters VI-X - History of Rushford: Whiskey, Wheat and Wagons - Ch. VI Rural Life & Agricultural Development; Ch. VII Agricultural Implement Dealers, Blacksmiths, Wagon & Plow Makers; Ch. VIII Iron Foundries & Machine Shops; Ch. IX Dairy Creameries & City Dairies; Ch. X Rushford Brands (Love-It ice cream, Rushford Pop, Pickle Alley & cigars).

Vol. IV, Chapters I-III - History of Rushford: Industry, Enterprise, Medicine and Law - Ch. I Industry includes woolen mill; knitting mill; marble works; sugar cane; poultry, produce, hide, fur, junk & scrap; florists, landscape & nurseries. Ch. II is about Rushford photographers. Ch. III Building Trades & Crafts includes lumber companies; contractors & carpenters; painters, glaziers & paper hangers; brick manufacture & lime kilns; masons & block manufacture; tinsmiths, plumbers, heating & refrigeration; electricians; natural springs, wells & well drillers.

Vol. IV, Chapters IV-V - History of Rushford: Industry, Enterprise, Medicine and Law - Ch. IV Medicine & Health includes frontier medicine; physicians & surgeons; mid-wifery & nursing; Rushford Community Clinic; dental surgeons; veterinary medicine; veterinary laymen (horse doctors); chiropractic medicine; optometrists; health care facilities. Ch. V covers Rushford law & attorneys.

Vol. VI, 1st half - History of Rushford: A View from Main Street - Life & Leisure: A Walk Down Main Street (streets, sidewalks, hitching posts, watering troughs, lamplighters, acetylene lights, city electric plants, celebrations, parades, political rallies, Guardians of Liberty, Ku Klux Klan, Non-Partisan League, women’s suffrage. Life & Leisure: Entertainment & Motion Pictures; Rushford Bands & Orchestras; Advent of the Radio; Parks & Campsites; Development of Aviation; Advent of the Automobile; Jerry Bunke, Hall of Fame; Ski Club Organized; Ferndale Golf Club. Rushford Law Enforcement & Fire Department.

Vol. VI, 2nd half - History of Rushford: A View from Main Street - Rushford Fire Department (cont’d); Ambulance Service; U.S. Post Office; Weather, Blizzards, Storms & Floods; Trails, Waterways, Bridges, Dikes & Roadways; Major Floods in Rushford; Building Early Roadways; Patriots in Military Service; Boy Scouts; Fur, Fins & Feathers - Habitat; Wildlife Artists (Micah Hanson & Michael Sieve).

A sixth book (Vol. V) is in the works, but no publication date has been announced.