Rogers

Was this charming city of Rogers always a city? Not at all! Rogers started as a cluster of small hamlets nestled in the dense Big Woods. Imagine a landscape thick with towering oak, elm, basswood, ash, and maple trees, interspersed with sprawling marshlands. These hamlets, like Hassan, sprung up to serve the early European settlers who began arriving in 1854. They carved their lives from the wilderness, clearing the woods and transforming the land into farmsteads and fields. Life in Rogers back then revolved around these bustling little hubs. Take Hassan, for instance. Established in 1860 along Territorial Road, it boasted a post office, a school, a town hall, and even St. John’s Episcopal Church, creating a vibrant community spirit. Remnants of that era still stand today, a testament to the city’s humble beginnings. Another key hamlet, Fletcher, originally christened St. Walburga by German settlers, stands as a historical gem. Located at the crossroads of Territorial Road and County Road 116, Fletcher is a living museum of Rogers’ past. It’s considered the most pristine example of a traditional crossroads hamlet in Hennepin County, so much so that it’s been deemed eligible to become a historic district by the Minnesota Historical Society. And speaking of roads, Rogers is home to a rather unique distinction: the highest point in Hennepin County lies along a section of Territorial Road that snakes its way through a series of ridges. This road, authorized in 1855, served as the first reliable route for settlers to connect with the wider world, particularly the bustling markets of Minneapolis. Territorial Road wasn’t just a path; it was a lifeline for the growing community of Rogers, connecting its past to the promise of a thriving future.