Historic U.S. 61: Manning Avenue, Cottage Grove
Manning Avenue
Located In: City of Cottage Grove and Denmark Township, Washington County.
Bypassed: 1927
Length: 0.95 miles
Also Marked As:
1921-1927
1934-Present (Manning Ave only)
A section of Manning Avenue was once part of a right-angle jog on the original road used by U.S. 61 between St. Paul and Hastings.
Construction
The road to Hastings through Cottage Grove was still gravel when it was first marked as U.S. 61 in 1926. Right-of-way maps show it as the "St. Paul - Hastings Wagon Road".
Bypass History
The first paved highway through Cottage Grove was completed in 1927. It was designed to bypass the right-angle turn at Manning Avenue. The jog was originally left intact as a local road.
Current Status
The east/west portion of the jog was eventually abandoned and lost to time. The north/south section on Manning Avenue, however, was added to the trunk highway system in 1934 as the south end of State Highway 95. Records show that Manning Avenue was first paved in 1947. The intersection with U.S. 61, originally at a very shallow angle, was rebuilt into a curve towards a right-angle intersection at an unknown date.
Photo Tour
Looking north from 120th Street towards the junction with Highway 95. The
empty space between the highway and the used car was once occupied by the south end of Manning Avenue, which continued north into the grove of trees ahead.
Looking back to the south on Manning Avenue/Hwy. 95 on the other side of the
grove of trees. The road once continued straight ahead instead of curving
to the right.
Looking north on Manning Ave/Hwy. 95.
Another view to the north on Manning Ave/Hwy. 95. U.S. 61 once made a hard turn to the west (left) just before the entrance to the church. The
old road has been destroyed by recultivation.
Looking west from the end of the driveway at the church visible in the previous
photo. There is little to no sign of the east/west portion of the jog.
