Finstad’s Auto-Marine Shop, ca. 1930s. Used with the permission of Koochiching Historical Society.

George Finstad (foreground) pulling the Eva (background) out of Rainy Lake, ca. 1930s. Used with the permission of Koochiching Historical Society.

George Finstad laying track and building the first carriage for pulling out boats from Rainy Lake at Finstad’s Auto-Marine Shop in Ranier, ca. 1920s. Used with the permission of Koochiching Historical Society.

George Finstad and the Virginia, 1928. Original description: “The water was so low this spring we had a hard time getting some of the boats in. This is Major Roberts' cruiser, the Virginia. The steam alligator is pulling one way and the hoist engine is trying to get the cradle from underneath it away. Notice the cable from the hoist engine and George [Finstad] has just been down to the lake to see if everything is ok. He runs this track every time he pulls out boats." Used with the permission of Koochiching Historical Society.

Exterior of Finstad’s Auto-Marine Shop in Ranier. Rainy Lake is visible in the background. Photograph by Marjorie Savage, September 21, 2017.

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

Three unidentified people in front of the Nerstrand Hotel with American flags on display, ca. 1890. Nerstrand city records, Nerstrand City Hall.

Nerstrand Railway Station (998_b-9, Great Western Railroad), ca. 1935. Used with the permission of Rice County Historical Society.