Cities and Towns

Oliver Iron Mining Company Clubhouse being moved, Hibbing

Moving the Oliver Mining Company Clubhouse. This structure was so large that it had to be cut into two pieces to make the move.

Moving old Village Market to Bennett Park, Hibbing.

Moving the old village market

Residence of Frank Dear being moved, Hibbing

Frank Dear's residence being moved

Moving church from Townsite Forty to Park Addition, Hibbing.

Moving a church

Moving house with Capstan and team, Hibbing.

A house being moved

Colonial Hotel being moved to new site, Hibbing

One of the largest moves, the Colonial Hotel. Note the steam crawler directly in front of the hotel.

The Relocation of Hibbing, 1919-1921

From 1919-1921, the people of Hibbing moved nearly two hundred structures, including several large buildings, two miles south to make way for a growing open pit mine. The Oliver Mining Company wanted the valuable iron ore underneath North Hibbing, and the company funded the use of horses, logs, farm tractors, a steam crawler (a tractor primarily used in the logging industry), steel cables, and human power to relocate the town.