The old shack...

The woods behind Jay's old house have been destroyed to make way for condo's. That's his shed on the edge of the property line. The serenity of the back yard will certainly be lost and replaced by noise and lights. The beauty of the drive into downtown Cannon Falls diminished as well. What once was wild and natural woods - replaced with structured landscaping. Nothing much to distinguish us from the suburbs (which I admit I detest...) I wonder why someone would choose to move all the way out to a small town, only to purchase a condo in a confined area on a busy street? I don't get it. (pictures taken 8-11-05)




At a glance: Cannon Falls
BY MOLLY MILLETT
Pioneer Press
posted on Sat, Jul. 30, 2005

Thirty-four miles isn't as far away as it used to be.

That's the distance between Cannon Falls and St. Paul. It's 44 miles in the opposite direction from Cannon Falls to Rochester, so this scenic river town along U.S. 52 is attractive to commuters from both cities, especially as a halfway point for professional couples who work in each city.

As development pushes farther out into the outlying metro, communities like Cannon Falls are getting another look by Twin Cities developers as well as people looking for a small-town lifestyle within reach of a metro area.

Recently, Cannon Falls had requests by developers totaling 1,000 proposed housing units. To catch its breath, the city has placed a temporary moratorium on future housing projects so it can thoughtfully prepare and plan for the growth.

"We wanted to look at our ordinances and zoning, so it's not just pockets of development all over, without any rhyme or reason," says Mayor Lynne Berg. "Our goal is to maintain Cannon Falls' hometown feel and small-town community, to make sure the growth fits that vision."
It's easy to see why people are attracted to Cannon Falls. It has a charming downtown, antique shops, the Cannon Valley Trail, a new winery, three area golf courses and popular campgrounds.

CANNON FALLS
Population (2003 estimate): 3,877
Location: Goodhue County at the junction of the Big and Little Cannon Rivers.
Ambience: A small, picturesque river town at the midpoint between St. Paul and Rochester.
Known for: The Cannon Valley Trail and a hotspot for antiquing.
Nature highlight: The Cannon Valley Trail is 19.7 miles long, a former rail line, connecting Cannon Falls, Welch and Red Wing. Known for its spectacular scenery, including the Cannon River, cliffs and wetlands.
Recreation highlights: Canoeing, tubing or kayaking on the gently flowing Cannon River. Outfitters offer full service equipment rentals; many are also drawn to the area at Cannon Golf Club, a scenic, 18-hole championship course; Gopher Hills Golf Course; a scenic, championship 18-hole, par 72 course, plus a family-oriented executive 9-hole, par 30; Summit Golf Course, an 18-hole championship course, 9-hold par and driving range, ranked as "Best New Affordable Golf Course" in 2002 by Golf Digest; Cannon Falls Campground, near the Cannon Valley Trail; Lake Byllesby Regional Park Campground.
Bed and breakfast: Quill & Quilt Bed and Breakfast, an 1897 Colonial Revival home with Victorian elegance offering guest suites with private baths, four with whirlpools, three with fireplaces.
Real-estate snapshot: A home built in 1881, featuring modern updates, priced at $229,000. With 2,479 square feet, it has four bedrooms, three baths, central air, detached two-car garage, hardwood floors, porch, main-floor laundry, updated kitchen, whirlpool corner tub.
Landmark: Col. William Colvill Statue and Monument, at the Cannon Falls Cemetery, where Colvill and his wife, Elizabeth, are buried. Colvill led the first Minnesota Volunteers to victory at the Battle of Gettysburg, a turning point of the Civil War. In 1928, President Calvin Coolidge traveled to Cannon Falls for the dedication of this memorial.
Shopping: Includes Hi-Quality Bakery and Coffee Shop, a regional draw known for its specialty breads, and the historic Scofield Drug & Gift, which dates back to 1879. There are also many antique shops, include the Country Side Antique Mall. New to the city is the Cannon River Winery, downtown, offering wine tastings as well as guided tours of the winery and walking tours of the nearby vineyard. For more information, including a virtual tour, visit http://www.cannonriverwinery.com/.
Area shopping: For bigger shopping trips, residents head to Northfield, Red Wing, Hastings, the Twin Cities or Rochester.
You gotta see: The city's historic downtown, which has many buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is full of unique shops, the winery and restaurants.
Community celebration: Cannon Crusin' Days, Aug. 5-7
Major employers: Include Midwest of Cannon Falls (designer and distributor of holiday decorations, ornaments, collectibles and giftware) and the Cannon Falls school district.
Median age: 36.9
Racial breakdown: White, 98.2 percent; Hispanic or Latino, 1.1 percent; Asian, 0.7 percent; American Indian, 0.3 percent; African-American, 0.2 percent; two or more races, 0.3 percent
Owner occupied housing: 73.9 percent
Percentage of population over age 25 with a bachelor's degree: 14.3 percent (compared to national average of 24.4 percent).
Mean travel time to work: 20.2 minutes
Web site: www.cannonfalls .org