| Like with many other towns in the area, frontier | | | | injuring many people. Dr. William Worrall Mayo was |
| life and westward expansion of the country | | | | a key player in rebuilding Rochester, knowing that |
| brought settlers to Rochester 154 years ago. | | | | people would leave if they were not well-cared |
| Among those settlers was a man named George | | | | for. Dr. Mayo and his sons, along with the help of |
| Head; a baker from Waukesha, Wisconsin. Head is | | | | Mother Alfred Moes and this Sisters of St. Francis, |
| typically considered the founder of Rochester | | | | set up a system to care for those injured during |
| since he built the first permanent home in the | | | | the crisis. As the town was beginning to recover, |
| area, but others were here first. The land that | | | | Mother Alfred Moes proposed building a hospital to |
| Head wanted was previously claimed by Edward | | | | the Mayos. Although not enthusiastic at first, the |
| S. Smith. As Head tried to take over, Smith | | | | hospital was eventually started. The first seeds of |
| confronted him with a gun, but a deal was made | | | | the Mayo Clinic were planted as St. Mary's Hospital |
| as Head offered a large sum of money instead. | | | | was created. In 1901, Dr. Henry Plummer joined |
| Head and his family arrived in the area in the late | | | | the practice at St. Mary's, bringing many |
| summer of 1854 and built a home on the Zumbro | | | | advancements in technology and patient care. This |
| River. Some rapids on the river reminded him of | | | | team soon formed the organization known as the |
| falls on a river from his childhood in Rochester, | | | | Mayo Clinic. Parts of this history still remain in |
| New York, so he named the new settlement | | | | Rochester today. Dr. Charlie Mayo's home, |
| Rochester. Also in 1854, the first street, which is | | | | Mayowood, and Dr. Plummers' home, the Plummer |
| now Broadway, was opened. A log was dragged | | | | House, are available for special events and tours. |
| through the underbrush by a team of oxen to | | | | Dr. Will Mayo's mansion is home to the Mayo |
| create a path, followed by Henrietta Head on a | | | | Foundation. As the quality of care at the Mayo |
| horse to make it official. George Head built | | | | Clinic spread throughout the region, more people |
| another log cabin along the Zumbro that would | | | | came to Rochester and the town continued to |
| evolve into Rochester's first first hotel over the | | | | grow. An airport was opened in 1928, offering its |
| next few years. It became a popular housing spot | | | | services mostly to patients and visiting doctors. In |
| for settlers passing through. Many settlers came | | | | 1956, IBM chose Rochester as its building site, |
| to stay, as the city was located along the | | | | creating a huge housing boom, drawing in many |
| Dubuque Trail, a 272-mile stagecoach route from | | | | more people. In 1978, another natural disaster |
| St. Paul to Dubuque, Iowa. When the railroad | | | | struck when a downpour caused massive flooding |
| arrived in 1864, the town grew even more. | | | | in the city, killing five people and requiring the |
| Farmers could now transport crops of corn, | | | | evacuation of 5,000. Since then, flood control has |
| potatoes, and wheat to other parts of the | | | | always been an important factor in any land |
| country much easier. With the increase in | | | | developments. No serious flooding has occurred |
| population, other business started opening as well. | | | | since the flood control projects were started. The |
| Wool mills, broom factories, cheese factories, | | | | 1980s brought the Centerplace Galleria to |
| bakeries, and buggy wagon repair shops were | | | | downtown Rochester, along with a number of |
| some of the businesses that could be found. As | | | | other renovations. There is no doubt that |
| Rochester was growing into a substantial city, | | | | Rochester will continue to grow and thrive in the |
| elsewhere in the country the American Civil War | | | | future. If there is one thing that Rochester's |
| was raging on. Nothing unique to Rochester | | | | history can teach, it is that devastation is not the |
| occurred as a result of the war, except that the | | | | end. The tornado of 1883 was one of the most |
| city received Dr. William Worrall Mayo as a medical | | | | destructive events in Rochester's past, but it lead |
| examiner of Civil War recruits. He had arrived in | | | | to the formation of an institution that saves |
| 1863, and built up a practice throughout the entire | | | | thousands of lives every year. |
| southern portion of the state of Minnesota during | | | | Rochester411 provides information about the city |
| and after the war. He had two sons, William and | | | | of Rochester Minnesota, including hotels and |
| Charlie, who would accompany him on medical | | | | motels in Rochester MN, restaurants and fine |
| calls when they were old enough. They eventually | | | | dining guides, movie theaters and live theatre, real |
| became doctors as well, and used their skills to | | | | estate agents, lawyers and attorneys, and a |
| the fullest. On August 21st, 1883, a tornado | | | | complete business directory. |
| swept through the north side of town, killing and | | | | |