History

• Belle Plaine is located in Scott County on the banks of the Minnesota River. It is off HIghways 169 and 25.
• Belle Plaine was founded by Minnesota Territorial Judge Andrew G. Chatfield. He selected the townsite in 1853 while traveling horseback from Mendota to Traverse des Sioux to hold court. Judge Chatfield chose to name the townsite Belle Plaine, which is French for “beautiful prairie.”
• Belle Plaine was settled by people of maily German and Irish descent.
• Judge Chatfield left the town of Belle Plaine a legacy of wide, tree-lined streets and abundant, inviting park lands.
• Belle Plaine serves as the southwest gateway to the seven- county Twin Cities metropolitan area.
• Belle Plaine is home to the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration. A rare find in the Minnesota River Valley, the church was built in the prairie gothic style, complete with wooden buttresses. Built in 1868, it was intended for English-speaking persons. However, the area was settled primarily by German and Irish immigrants who brought their own worship practices to the community. Although the church site had a railroad connection with the Twin Cities, was home to the Diocesan Cathedral and Seabury Seminary, and though it survived the halting blows of the Panic of 1857, the Dakota Conflict of 1862, and the Civil War, the Episcopal congregation had built a magnificant edifice for growth which never came.
• The Hooper-Bowler-Hillstrom house in Belle Plaine was built in 1871 by Sandford Hooper, a Belle Plaine businessman. It was bought in 1886 by Samuel Bowler, a founder of the State Bank of Belle Plaine. Mr. Bowler added rooms and a two-story outhouse to accommodate his large family. The Alfred Hillstrom family moved into the house in 1901. They lived there until 1975 when it was purchased by the Belle Plaine Historical Society. The house is open for visitors and tours every Sunday from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and other times by appointment.
• Abigail Square, formerly the Alta Vista Hotel, was built in the Spring of 1857. The three story building included an enclosed courtyard and a stable. The Alta Vista Hotel was a stopping place for the stage and teamsters. The building led a varied life serving everything from a Sister’s School to a cigar factory, to a bar. In 2000, the building underwent a majorrenovation to bring it back to it’s former life, and it currently houses HealthPostures, Inc., a manufacturer of ergonomic chairs. The first floor includes office space.
• Belle Plaine has 2 murals depicting the history of the town. One is located on the west side of Huber Grocery Store, the other is located in the Pavilion Place on Meridian Street.

Businesses

• The Belle Plaine Public School system serves over 15-hundred kids, with more coming every year. They are the Tigers. Belle Plaine also has a pre-k through 8th grade Lutheran school, Trinity Lutheran, and a pre-k through 6th grade Catholic school, Our Lady of the Prairie.
• Belle Plaine is home to a large assisted living facility, Lutheran Home. They have an alzheimers unit as well as apartments and townhomes for seniors.
• The Emma Krumbee’s complex in Belle Plaine is more than just a restaurant. There is also a floral shop and a country store.
• The Belle Plaine Cooperative serves the agricultural needs of farmers from around the area, and also has a country store that has everything from clothing to pet food, and much more.
• Belle Plaine is home to many smaller businesses that are both agriculture and manufacturing-based.

Festivals & Events

• Belle Plaine celebrates the Irish descent of it’s residents every St. Patrick’s Day. The day starts with a special Mass at the Catholic Church, followed by a huge parade, lots of green beer, and plenty of fun.
• Belle Plaine celebrates the German heritage of it’s residents every May with German Day. It features a big parade, drinking and dancing, and wrestling downtown.
• Belle Plaine holds a cookout every summer that serves as a prelude for their summer festival, Bar-Be-Que Days. The cookout takes place in June. Bar-Be-Que Days is 3 days of music, food, fireworks, and beer. It takes place in July. The crowning of Miss Belle Plaine takes place during Bar-Be-Que Days as well.
• Belle Plaine’s annual Business Showcase takes place in April. Numerous businesses from around the area show off their wares during the event, which is held at the Belle Plaine Elementary School.

People

• The City of Belle Plaine has a population of approximately 5,000 people. The Mayor is Timothy Lies.
• The Belle Plaine City Council unanimously selected Tom Stolee to be the city’s new chief of police in 2010. Stolee previously served as St. Peter Police Officer beginning in 1989 and a Belle Plaine Police Officer from 1992 to 2002. He has since worked for the Jordan Police Department. Stolee is a St. Peter native who graduated from MVL and earned his Law Enforcement degree from Alexandria Community College.
• In 2010 several dozen Belle Plaine High School seniors raised money over one weekend for the school’s annual Dollars For Scholars fundraiser. The phone-a-thon helps raise money for Belle Plaine students to obtain post-secondary scholarships. The students raised over $17,600 during the event.
• The City of Belle Plaine continued to see economic expansion in 2010. The city got a new convenience store, as well as a new grocery store. Belle Plaine Mayor Tim Lies says cooperation between local government and these businesses has helped the city grow.
• Belle Plaine High School named it’s Triple-A winners in 2010. Sam Bremseth-Vining and Rachel McDermand were honored for their achievements in Academics, Arts and Athletics. They were chosen by a committee of Belle Plaine High School teachers.
• In 2010 Ryan Dungey of Belle Plaine raced to his first career AMA Supercross class victory at Chase Field in Phoenix. He says it’s a big step in his career. Dungey is a rider for Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki. He says he owes a lot of thanks to all the people supporting him.
• The 2010 Belle Plaine St. Patrick’s Day Grand Marshals were: the Fahey Sisters, Ruth Effertz, Dorothy Bartels, and Theresa Renne.
• The 2010 St. Patrick’s Day celebration included traditional Noon mass at Our Lady of the Prairie catholic Church, followed by the 38th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
• Miss Shamrock for 2010 is Maura Flaherty, the daughter of Jerome and Beth Flaherty.
• The Belle Plaine Chamber of Commerce got a new director in 2010. Carrie Traxler is a 2001 graduate of Shakopee High School. She has a business administration degree from Metropolitan University.
• The oldest living descendent of the founder of Belle Plaine passed away in 2010 at the age of 103. Virginia Irwin Kruger was the great-grandaughter of Belle Plaine Founder Judge Andrew G. Chatfield. She was a member of the Belle Plaine High School Class of 1924, as well as a lifelong member of the Belle Plaine Historical Society and Minnesota Territorial Pioneers. She served as the Honorary Grand Marshall of Belle Plaine’s sesquicentennial parade in 2004 as well. A celebration of her life was held on what would have been her 104th birthday on March 30th.
• Miss Belle Plaine 2011 was Kyeanna Pickar, the daughter of Alan and Tammy Pickar. Belle Plaine First Princess was Molly Wickenhauser, the daughter of Tom and Brenda Wickenhauser; Second Princess was Clarissa Caola, the daughter of Robert and Michelle Caola; and Miss Congeniality was Amy Hankins, the daughter of Lori and Robert Hankins.
• The City of Belle Plaine celebrated St. Patrick’s Day 2011 crowning a new Miss Shamrock. Clair Brazil, the daughter of Patty and Dave Brazil was crowned Miss Shamrock during the festivities downtown.
• The 20th annual Belle Plaine Dollars For Scholars Phone-A-Thon took place in 2011. Dozens of Belle Plaine students called residents of the school district, with 100% of the donations going towards Belle Plaine High School Scholarships.
• Improvements were made to the Belle Plaine Municipal Swimming Pool in 2011 including the replacement of the piping underneath the deck and the cement around the pool.

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