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The photograph shows Bemidji Fire Department No. 1 standing on a winter street, its front wheels fitted with wooden skis. Two men sit high in the cab, bundled against the cold. The machine looks ready for work, but getting to this moment took nearly a year of debate, testing, and careful decision-making. Bemidji did not rush into motorized firefighting. A City Divided In April 1914, the Bemidji City Council openly disagreed about whether the city should even advertise for bid

George Miller - Potato King. He is holding a large basket of potatoes. Photograph by N.L. Hakkerup This studio portrait of George H. Miller of Grant Valley shows a farmer confident in the work he did best. Dressed in his good suit and holding a full basket of potatoes, he represents a period when potato farming was central to daily life in southern Beltrami County. Potatoes weren’t just a side dish; they were an essential measure of a farmer’s skill, and local growers paid cl