Thomas and Kari Veblen in Nerstrand, ca. 1870.

Aerial view of the Coal Creek Station, 2019.

A drum puller and reels of cable being strung for the Cooperative Power Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota/United Power Association, Elk River, Minnesota high-voltage power-line construction through Grant County, Minnesota, 1976–1978.

A crane helicopter lining up a power-line tower’s top portion with its base during construction of a high-voltage power line through Grant County, Minnesota, 1976-1978.

Workers finish connecting the upper and lower portions of a high-voltage power-line tower in Grant County, Minnesota, 1976–1978.

Peaceful March For Justice flyer, undated. The march was organized to protest the construction of power lines in rural Minnesota in the late 1970s or early 1980s. Used with the permission of Pope County Historical Society.

Power line over Minnesota farmland, undated. Minnesota Powerline Oral History Project (OH 25). Oral History Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul.

Anti-power-line button made by Continental Press Inc. of St. Cloud, ca. 1975–1987.

Map of Nerstrand, 1900. From the 1900 Rice County plat book.

Plat map of Rice County showing the location of Nerstrand, 1900. From the 1900 Rice County plat book.