A FIXTURE NEAR THE RAPIDAN DAM since 1910, The Dam Store is no more. On Friday, crews demolished the historic eatery along the Blue Earth River in southern Minnesota.
Its collapse into the water seemed inevitable after the flooded river carved a path around the west side of the dam, eroding the land, taking down trees, buildings and an electrical substation. The Dam Store appeared next in line.
Officials considered their options, including consulting a professional about moving the store, according to media reports. When that was deemed unsafe, the decision was made to demolish the building. If the river claimed the store, that would add more debris to float downstream, creating additional hazards and safety risks.
Before demolition, the Hruska family, which has owned The Dam Store for some 50 years, and friends removed items from the long-time business. The store opened in 1910 to serve workers constructing the Rapidan Dam.
The loss of The Dam Store is a major loss not only to the Hruska family and locals, but also to the region and to Minnesota. It’s more than a place to grab a burger and a slice of homemade pie. It’s an icon, a destination, one of those genuine slice of Americana spots that stands out for its quaintness, friendliness, uniqueness and great food. Did I mention the pies?
The Hruska family has already stated this is not the end of The Dam Store. I believe them. For now, though, they have much to deal with emotionally and otherwise. The family home, near the store, fell into the river earlier this week. It’s a lot. But the community has rallied to support them financially via donations through GoFundMe and an account at MinnStar banks in Mankato and Lake Crystal. I expect the outpouring of support for this family to continue.
TO READ about my visit to The Dam Store in 2010, click here for a post published on June 26.
© Copyright 2024 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
oh, no! I am so sorry to read this and knew that it was a very high possibility in light of the situation. I am glad they chose to be proactive, even though it must have been heart-wrenching. they have had to endure so much in a short amount of time and have so much to feel and process. all you have said about them, leads to be believe they are a very strong and resilient family and they will rise again, and it will not be easy, but I know that the embrace of the community and beyond, will help them to deal with all of this.
Well said. I have no doubt the family will reopen The Dam Store and that they will continue to be supported on their journey.
Oh so sad! We have been there a few years ago.
I’m glad you were able to go to The Dam Store.
😢
Sorry, I have been gone for over a week. Floods are terrible events. I have lived through 3 100-Year Floods myself (and I am not yet 100!). The loss of this story is tragic to say the least. At the end of the block down from my grandmother’s house was a local grocery store she frequented 2 or 3 times weekly. A well known grocery store chain started buying up all the real estate on the west side of that city block to put up a “super” grocery store in an Urban Renewal. What is left there today is nothing but an eyesore. I can stand on what used to be my grandmothers front lawn and look North and west and NOTHING has changed for for the emptiness under my feet! I can recall visiting neighbors in these houses still standing from the time I was a babe in arms. The Vang Store outside of Dennison still stands and I have ancestors who worked in that store. Today it is a private residence. I complemented the then owner on keeping that building standing.
Gunny, can you give me specifics on the location of the former Vang Store? Next time I’m in the Dennison area, I’d like to look for it.
I’m sorry you’ve been through three 100-year floods. What does that even mean, “100-year-floods” because they seem to come more often than every 100 years???
These 100 year floods are estimated by those who track them. I lived in New Mexico and was going to Carlsbad, NM to attend a drill (I was a Navy Reservist – dressed in the Navy summer whites). The rains caught us when the weather got even worse. The place was surreal. We ended up staying in the local fire station for the night. A drive that took a little over and hour to go from where I lived to Carlsbad turned into a 3 day jaunt trying to get back home. Driving through flooding flat lands was surreal because it was like driving through a Salvadore Dahli picture with the ground covered by water mirroring the skies and anything taller that the water was deep. Next story is dumb and dumber. (next response).
I can visualize that drive, Gunny. BTW, I read your store directions. Thank you.
Sailor you ask by a guy who passes himself off as a Gunny (Marine – don’t you know?) That transition is a whole book in itself.
So living in California, the San Luis River runs from East to west. One year we had torrential rains. next to the river was a road way going along the river before it turned hard left (South) and then later on turned right headed for the ocean. The city eventually had to build a bridge further downstream from the first bend in the road. They had some great drawings for a bridge that could withstand a raging water rush if need be. Usually there wasn’t much water in the river. Barely a trickle. So they built a cheap version of a bridge to handle traffic. About 2 or 3 years later, the rains filled that river with a lot of water higher up stream and they waters hist that first bend with such a force that the side road way was washed out, and the first house in the development where I lived, suffered catastrophic damage. The sand on concrete culverts paved over with asphalt was but a memory. So city applied for a grant from the Feds using the original blue prints for the good bridge. However, when it came up for voting to approved the construction, the question arouse about how often 100 floods happened. This is where dumb took over. City council voted to replace bridge as it was originally installed, gravel and sand over concrete culverts. topped with asphalt. Mother Nature took revenge on that decision a few years later washing the new structure almost to the ocean. City could not ask for new funds from the feds because they had squandered the funds and had replaced old with same type of structure. What happened next was a political move and they tried their best to impact only the military on their way to work, during working hours – then quickly moving to toll collection 24/7 – for one way traffic headed towards the base. After several years of this, it was found by the public that the tolls were only to be collected while the cost of the new bridge was repaid. It was a year or tow after that and once the public found out, the toll was finally rescinded.
Quite a story, Gunny.
This is so sad, the family has lost so much. Thanks for including the gofundme link. I was talking about the flooding in our state with a family friend, when an older male relative interrupted us and told us ‘the only place it floods around here is Grand Forks”‘. He went on and on with his theory that it doesn’t flood anywhere else in Minnesota… We didn’t know how to respond, so we sat silent and let him go on…. Some people can’t see things right in front of their eyes. And to suggest the truth is somehow disrespectful. 😑
Oh, my, YES, it floods in many places besides Grand Forks. I can’t imagine how anyone can think this way. A rather uninformed person…
What a sad day, Audrey. I am sorry for this tremendous loss. The flooding so powerful. Hope the family can rebuild.
I believe the Hruska family will rebuild, reopen and continue serving pies, burgers and love in southern Minnesota.
Oh I hope it’s possible for them.
From all media reports, the family is determined to reopen. 🙂
That’ is really too bad. I saw something about this on the news this past week as well. it is difficult when Mother Nature has unexpected plans. I am so sorry.
Yes, it is sad. And, yes, this story made national news.
I saw this on the news – so sad – sending prayers to the family as well as their community (((((((loveandhugs))))))))
We feel your Florida love, hugs and prayers. Thank you!