Eden's Prairie 1893

The panic of 1893 hurt the United States deeply.  Throughout the 1880s in a quest for dominance and acquisition, railroad conglomerates overextended themselves, and on February 23, 1893, the Philadelphia Reading Railroad declared banruptcy.  It was the first domino in the economic downturn that spelled disaster for millions of Americans.  As things got worse, people began to pull their money out of banks to avoid losing it.  The US didn't have enough gold backing the dollar, and European investors began claiming their invested gold.  With gold reserves dangerously low and banks unable to repay investors, many Americans abandoned their way of life and moved west.  For Eden's Prairie, this meant a boom in new farms and new residents from the east.

New farms near the Wolfhausen brewery

Although it was much more popular to move to San Francisco or other places along the West coast, the new residents were hard working and could bare to see themselves living in the slums of San Fran.

Max Tucker liked working with hoes

The infamous Archer Farm

Wheat don't fear the reaper

Despite the new residents, Eden's Prairie grew very little during the Panic.  Opening a new business was nearly impossible, and many, especially banks, went out of business altogether.

For Phineas Miller, the town's most successful businessman, the Panic brought mixed blessings.  He had been a banker in Baltimore before moving to Eden's Prairie, and lost his entire business to the Panic.  However, because he had diversified and opened Miller's Mill, he didn't lose his entire fortune.

Miller's Mill, still alive and cutting

Not only was he still wealthy after losing his bank, but due to the new residents moving to the west, he still had demand for lumber from his mill.

Barns were like old fashioned parking lots for horses

In the years since he opened the mill a small gathering of homes had popped up next to it for the mill's employees.  Residents referred to the cluster of houses as Milldale.

Milldale 1894

Milldale and Miller's Mill

Miller had also built a large home near the site of the Battle of Eagle Creek.  The house was large to accomodate important visitors, as well as Miller's peculiar fondness for indoor archery.

It was also large enough for his two sons, Michael and Kenneth, who had finished college and were out of jobs.  They decided to freeload-- er...move back home to help run the mill and manage the house.  Phineas put them to work in the cow pasture to break their east coast snobbery.

Not so pretty now, are ya college-boy?

Mooooooo!  Translation:  I have to Poooooo!

Phineas succeeded in breaking their spirits, and the boys were soon among the town's most beloved citizens.  They were both incredibly smart, and consulted with Mayor Murray about their plans for improving and modernizing the town.

Hopefully they showered first

Murray made them chief advisors, furthering the town's good will toward them and their father's pride.  The were best friends...but Mayor Murray was getting very old, and would be gone soon.  His absence would have horriffic consequences....

Here is a reference map to the places I've made so far.