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