KNOX CREEK HERITAGE CENTER -"A Clearing in the Woods"
The Heritage Trail
The first few segments of the Heritage Trail are now open for hiking and exploring in summer and skiing and snowshoeing in winter. Just follow the "orange ribbon road." The private landowners who own the property comprising the Trail have generously granted their permission for the establishment of this Trail. Your cooperation is appreciated in refraining from littering, vandalizing or smoking while on the Trail so others may equally enjoy it. Motorized vehicles are prohibited. Binoculars are recommended so that you may view our history and nature even more up close and personal. The following numbered paragraphs correspond to the map.
I. The Trail begins just east of the Center and runs through the mostly balsam fir TIMBERLAND CHRISTMAS TREES of Thomas and Jean Kriedeman. There are some white pine trees on the northern end. The land was originally cleared for dairy farming. With the decrease in dairy farming it became more profitable to plant cropland to Christmas trees. Depending upon the season you may observe Tom and Jean shearing, planting, fertilizing or harvesting the trees. They will be happy to answer your questions about Christmas tree culture.
2. At the northern point of the Trail is BRANTWOOD BISON, the buffalo farm of Danny and David Kivela. The boulders in the pasture have been setting there for 15,000 years ever since the last glacier melted leaving them there. There are many vantage points from which to observe the buffalo and take photographs. Beware of the high voltage live wire fence surrounding the buffalo.
3. The Trail runs east through the second growth MIXED HARDWOOD FOREST of the Knox Creek Farm of William Hoffman, a portion of which was donated to create the Heritage Center. The hardwood trees grew after the white pine trees were harvested. A great variety of mosses, lichens and fungi can be found in the forest. Foxfire, an eerie phosphorescent light (as of decaying wood) can sometimes be seen at night. There is a natural resting spot in a grove of red pine trees.
4. The Trail runs into the railroad bed known as the KNOX BRANCH or KNOX SPUR. The Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railway Company (Soo Line) constructed the railroad from Brantwood to Knox Mills in 1890, a distance of approximately 4.89 miles, to move the forest products to market. In 1931 the rails were removed and the Knox Mills lumbering days were over.
5. To the east lies the KUUSISTO HOMESTEAD. Kuusi is Finnish for "fir tree." Matt Kuusisto was instrumental in establishing the nearby cemetery that was named after him. He had asked a young man named Charles Hendrickson to help him clear the land for the cemetery. Hendrickson asked why he should help when he was SO young and would not die for many years. He was later stabbed to death and was the first person buried in the cemetery. The cemetery was later renamed St. Mary's.
Kuusisto sold his property to Nestor Keto who later built a small frame house west of the cemetery. The KETO HOUSE has been moved to the Center and currently houses the logging camp display.
The homestead area was known as MOUNT MARlAH because of its high elevation. A great, spreading maple tree can be found at the top of the hill. During the winter of 1912-13 a Soo Line locomotive took four flat cars and left them at Mount Mariah for a contractor. The logging contractor loaded one car when suddenly the load of logs got away and started rolling down the hill toward Brantwood. By thrusting sticks under the wheels as he ran along, the depot agent was able to stop the car only a few feet from the switch at Brantwood.
Under the maple tree are the remains of the homestead--a rock foundation for a building and a caved in well. This is another natural resting area.
6. On the eastern edge of the Trail lies the ST. MARY'S CEMETERY that was established in 1898. The stones and markers show mostly old Finnish names such as Haapakoski, Nuutinen, Raasakka and Rajala.
After exploring the cemetery the Trail resumes at the southwest corner. You may exit the Trail at this point and return to the Center via West Central Avenue.
7. The Trail runs through the SPRUCE SWAMP (the politically correct term is wetland) of Ralph Holbrook. In the spring, pink lady's slipper orchids, bog laurel and rosemary, blue flag (wild blue iris), and Labrador Tea may be found blooming there.
At the end of the swamp you may exit the Trail and return to the Center via Pine Lane and West Knox Road.
8. To the west is the BEEF CATTLE FARM of Donald Hoffman. Corresponding to the decrease in full time dairy farming was the increase in part time beef cattle farming which took less work and allowed the farmer to have a more substantial full time job off the farm. The cattle are a Hereford/Simmental cross.
The Trail intersects the Price County Snowmobile Trail. The 500 miles of groomed trails are open from December 1st to April 1st.
The Trail is not officially open beyond this point. Progress is being made on additional segments of the Trail that will be opened as soon as possible. Plans are to build a shelter at the end of the Trail on the TOWN OF KNOX CEMETERY.
9. The Trail now follows the MILITARY TRAIL across the properties of De Laverne Richardson and Marcella Braski. It was built in 1858 from Superior to Green Bay to be used by the cavalry to protect the settlers from the Indians. The Indians were found to be friendly so the Trail was used by the settlers.
10. The 100 year old WHlTE PINE STUMPS on the property of Marcella Braski are inhabited by wood spirits.
11. The site of the HlLLSIDE SCHOOL on the property of Arthur Keskinen. The Hillside School was named for its location on a hillside. School District #4 in the Town of Knox was organized in 1904 and in 1905 one acre of land was purchased for $5 to be used as the school site.
12. THE MENHIR STONE OF BRANTWOOD at Knox Creek Farm. The local Reiki therapist who can see auras has verified an aura around the stone that is a focus of energy. Acting as a cosmic lens, the Menhir emits energy from the earth and pulls energy down from the universe. The energy flow attracts animals to the stone. Many local Finnish people have seen apparitions of St. Urho, the patron saint of Finnish immigrants, on the stone.
13. From Cherry Avenue, the Trail runs an additional two miles south through the properties of Steven Maki, Danny Ulrich, Shirley Heyden, Dennis Swenson, Terrence Lammi, William and Robin Severson, and Arthur Hartmann, to the ghost town of KNOX MILLS. Knox Mills was a busy lumber town at the turn of the century. It had a school, post office, boarding and company houses, and a general store for the employees of the mills. In 1926 a cheese factory was built, marking the transition from a logging to a dairying community. The dairy industry followed the logging industry into history.
14. A cemetery was purchased by the Town of Knox in 1914 from the Norwegian Lutheran Church for people who were not affiliated with any church. This has become known as the TOWN OF KNOX CEMETERY
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