November-December 2000, Vol. XXVIII, No. 11

INSIDE page 2 Community partnerships page 4 Map project mushrooms Published by the Historical Society page 6 for county and local historical societies and heritage preservation commissions Managing your collections Winona County Historical Society When opportunity knocks Winona County Courthouse fights for survival

ust after 3 a.m. on a Sunday in the building’s interior. A floor was added, September, the ceiling fell in on a courtrooms divided and offices squeezed Jcourtroom at the historic Winona County into every nook and cranny. Later Courthouse, shearing off several fire construction of a courthouse annex sprinklers. Before firefighters could turn nearby and the purchase of a downtown off the water, more than 4,000 gallons mall building attempted to solve the had poured down through four floors of county government’s growing space needs. the five-story structure, soaking county Today the historic courthouse once records and the building’s interior. The again faces an uncertain future. We asked disaster set off a storm of controversy in Mark Peterson, executive director of the the community over what should be done Winona County Historical Society, for his views on the community’s struggle to with the damaged building. Despite its imposing presence, the 1888 One of the first Minnesota properties determine the building’s fate. Winona County Courthouse faces an listed on the National Register of Historic uncertain future after flooding damaged How did the Winona County Places (in 1970), the 1888 Romanesque the interior. courthouse had weathered earlier threats Q.Historical Society get involved? to its preservation. In the 1960s a failed Peterson: After the flood, county preservation and other conservation campaign to replace the old courthouse commissioners came to us for names of work. They also hired an architect to resulted in a voter referendum to remodel state experts to advise on paper begin exploring the cost of a new government center. Right away people became concerned about what would happen to the historic courthouse if the Field Services in transition county abandoned it. Because the by Britta L. Bloomberg, Head, Winona County Historical Society had Historic Preservation, Field Services and Grants Department, Minnesota Historical Society been involved in earlier community This is a unique time in the history of the Field Services program at the Society. In preservation issues, people called us to September we bade farewell to David Nystuen, long-time field services coordinator, as ask what could be done to save he began retirement. Judging by the phone calls and letters I’ve received since then, the building. there’s considerable interest in the program’s future. Local opinions were so divided that I want to assure readers that the Society is committed to continuing a strong field the commissioners decided to form an services program in the years ahead that will serve Minnesota’s historical organizations. options committee to recommend a Today the organizations you represent are more than 500 strong and diverse in size, course of action. I was asked to serve on focus and reach. You are all crucial partners in advancing the cause of history statewide. the committee, along with two judges, In preparing for this transition to the next generation of field services one commissioner, the sheriff, assistant programming, I asked two questions. First, how do we best build on the strong county attorney, county assessor, county foundation that has been laid? Second, where is growth or a new vision needed to lead facilities director and county the way in the new century? administrator. Field Services continued on page 3 Winona County continued on page 7 AROUND THE STATE Building community support Partnerships pay off in unexpected ways

hether you’re planning programs, means going to a few more meetings. But Natural Resources, Minnesota- raising funds or cataloging your it also means having access to many more Wisconsin Boundary Area Commission Wcollections, it may pay to take on a partner. resources – from volunteers to new and Upland Restoration Alliance. As historical societies around the state audiences to financial support. It’s Chisago County Historical Society, have discovered, partnering with local definitely worth the extra time!” 651-257-5310. organizations can reap big rewards. Here are just some of the many ways Partnerships help build audiences by in which Minnesota’s county and local ”Working with partners means bringing your group to the attention of historical organizations have teamed with going to a few more meetings. But new segments of the community. partners to preserve and interpret the it also means having access to Partnerships can broaden your funding history of their communities. Give them a many more resources – from base by tapping new sources of revenue or call to learn the secrets to their successes. volunteers to new audiences to by demonstrating community support when applying for a grant. And Program collaborations financial support.” partnerships work to strengthen your Chisago County: Perusing publicity Sherry Stirling, executive director position as a community leader and about fall programs of the Chisago Chisago County Historical Society indispensable resource. County Historical Society and its many Few groups rival the Chisago County partners serves as a good introduction to Scott County: For two years the Historical Society when it comes to the area’s business, civic and cultural Scott County Historical Society and the cultivating community partners. Says communities. A sampling: county office of the University of executive director Sherry Stirling, • Almelund’s Apple Festival, co-sponsored Minnesota Extension Service have joined “Working with partner organizations by the CCHS with Friends of Amador forces to sponsor a self-guided, city- Heritage Center, Almelund Lion’s country tour. A joint committee selects Scott County Historical Society Club and S & C Bank, among the sites – this year a century farm, a local others. orchard and a geological site with spiritual • Cultural Heritage Program significance to the Dakota – then the Series, held this fall at Wild River property owners and event organizers plan State Park, partially funded by the programming at each stop on the tour. East Central Regional Arts “We like to get other members of the Council and co-sponsored with community involved,” says SCHS Friends of , director John Gutteter, who this year Minnesota State Park Interpretive arranged for representatives of Shakopee’s Services, St. Croix Valley Heritage Mdewakanton Sioux Community to talk Coalition and two nearby with visitors at Boiling Springs on Eagle townships. Creek, a site managed by the Minnesota • Women in History Celebration, Department of Natural Resources. The funded by the Minnesota event is promoted by the local media and Humanities Commission and co- in the county’s newsletter, mailed to all sponsored with Working Women residents. The only cost to the historical Young visitors take in the sites at Casey Together, a local business and society: fliers with a map of the tour, sent Acres, a 260-acre dairy farm – one of professional women’s group. home with 15,000 Scott County the stops on Scott County’s City to • Natural Heritage Workshop on native Country Tour. elementary school students. Scott County landscapes past and present, co- Historical Society, 612-445-0378. sponsored with the Department of

2 Minnesota History Interpreter AROUND THE STATE

Field Services continued from page 1 To grapple with these questions, Society staff met in September with representatives from eight of Minnesota’s historical organizations. Chisago County Historical Society Chisago County Historical The planning group identified numerous accomplishments that we will continue to build on: • increased professionalism • improved museum facilities and collections care Fund-raising partnerships In 1999 students from Chisago Lakes High • creative programming Carlton County: For its annual fall School’s landscape design and horticulture classes designed a new sidewalk for the • heightened awareness of the value of kickoff event and fund raiser, the Carlton Chisago County History Center in local history County Historical Society enlisted a local Lindstrom. Teacher Jeff Lindeman (left) • increased funding business, the Aid Association for supervised the installation. This year students designed and planted a perennial There is good reason to celebrate Lutherans, to match all funds raised at garden on the museum grounds. gains already made. At the same time, the county society’s swing dance, dinner our work is cut out for us. Among and silent auction. Monies will be used future issues we all must take into to upgrade the air conditioning and store. During the retail giant’s book fair, customers turning in a special coupon consideration in planning: electrical systems at the Carlton County • changing community demographics History and Heritage Center. Carlton with their purchase could designate the historical society as the recipient of a • new technologies County Historical Society, 218-879-1938. • a need to reach new audiences Edina: When Edina residents do percentage of the sale. No Barnes & Noble store in your community? Try through relevant programming their grocery shopping at the local Jerry’s • the challenge of increasing funding Foods store, they send their receipts to selling the idea to a local merchant. Clay County Historical Society, 218-299-5520. amidst competing priorities the Edina Historical Society, one of The opportunity to build on a several community organizations to Technology partners strong foundation while setting which the store donates funds. For every Cook County: When the Cook strategic direction for the future doesn’t dollar on receipts redeemed, the stores County Historical Society acquired a come along very often in the life of an contributes half a penny. “It may not large collection of photographs from a organization. Field Services will sound like much,” says one museum local resident, it faced a daunting task: continue to reside in the Society’s volunteer, “but it adds up fast.” Edina how to identify 30 years of pictures Historic Preservation, Field Services Historical Society, 612-928-4577. chronicling community life. To enlist the and Grants Department. Within the Kanabec County: The Kanabec aid of county residents, the CCHS turned department, we will strive to strengthen History Center began a new tradition to Cook County’s Internet service the infrastructure that supports our this summer with its first annual garden provider, Boreal Access. Boreal scans field services through better internal tour, a fund raiser sponsored jointly with several of the photographs at a time, puts coordination with the Grants Office the Mora Town and Country Garden them on its homepage and asks users for and other outreach activities. As this Club. During the day-long event, the help. All identifying information newsletter goes to press, we are well county historical society welcomed more submitted by the public goes directly to into the process of recruiting a new than 125 tour takers for a luncheon at the historical society for photo field services manager; if all goes as the History Center, a first visit there for documentation. Thanks to today’s planned, that person will be on board some of the garden enthusiasts. widespread Internet access, even Cook in January. The new field services Kanabec County Historical Society, County natives who no longer live in the manager will play an important role in 320-679-1665. area can participate. To check it out, look continuing to shape a vision for the Clay County: For three hours on a for “Who-What-Where” on Boreal’s future of this program. Your input is Sunday afternoon in October, the Clay homepage, www.boreal.org. Cook County always welcome. County Historical Society reaped part of Historical Society, 218-387-9131. the profits from a local Barnes & Noble

November-December, 2000 3 AROUND THE STATE

Putting Yellow Medicine County on the map

Advocate Tribune

t began as a simple David Morano (left), associate professor at idea: lay sidewalks Minnesota State University, Mankato, talks Ibetween the buildings at with Gene Oftedahl, one of 25 Yellow Minnesota’s Machinery Medicine County residents featured in Museum in Hanley Falls Morano’s photography exhibit, Listening to Each Other. to save visitors a trek through wet grass. It ended with the whole of Yellow Medicine County David Morano, associate professor of art at carved in granite. Minnesota State University, Mankato. The project grew in Morano spent last summer the course of raising funds. “David interviewing and photographing county Nystuen [recently retired Minnesota A granite map of Yellow Medicine County, residents, choosing the stories of 25 people Historical Society field services set in the sidewalk at Minnesota’s for the exhibit. He selected Yellow Machinery Museum in Hanley Falls, gives Medicine County for his documentary coordinator] suggested we sell bricks for visitors a bird’s-eye view of the county. the sidewalk. Then someone proposed project at the suggestion of Nystuen, who making a map of the whole county and told him, “There are good people there, they’re interested in history and they’ve getting contributions from every city and grand proportions, stretching 25 feet long had some rough times.” township pictured,” explained museum and 5 feet wide. Set into the ground in Says Morano, “I was drawn to all director Mavis Gustafson. front of the museum and bordered by those things.” He traveled the county with stone benches, it mirrors the long, narrow Gustafson along to make introductions. shape of Yellow Medicine County. “The people responded to us, and their With community support and Museum board member Tim Velde stories were wonderful.” local materials, Minnesota’s took the project under his wing, After the exhibition at Minnesota’s Machinery Museum dedicates arranging for a local company, Echo Machinery Museum, the show will travel new county landmark. Granite Works, to fabricate the township to other cities in the county, thanks to a blocks that made up the giant map. The grant from the Southwest Minnesota Arts company partially donated its services. and Humanities Council. “The people Eventually, much more than present- Local quartzite from Jasper was used for talked about their roots, about education, day cities were depicted. Using a county the benches. Many individuals and civic about young people leaving their centennial history book as a resource, the organizations contributed funds to make communities,” says Morano. “I think project team decided to include all the ambitious project possible. townsites – some long since vanished and visitors to the exhibit will hear themselves some platted but never settled – that Exhibit features county residents when they read the stories.” once had post offices. They also included Dedication of the one-of-a-kind map all country school districts from days in September coincided with the opening gone by. To accommodate all the of a photo exhibit at the museum. Titled locations to be marked, the map took on Listening to Each Other, it’s the work of

4 Minnesota History Interpreter AROUND THE STATE ltobell Imagery LLC

A quartet of new venues adds to Minnesota’s museum mix

wo took shape in bricks and mortar. St. Benedict’s Monastery in St. One you can visit only on the Internet. Joseph recently celebrated the opening TAnd one is still just a gleam in the eye. of the Art and Heritage Place, Whatever the form of these four new dedicated to preserving the cultural venues, each is a notable addition to heritage of the Benedictine sisters. The Ruth Nierengarten, OSB, director of the Minnesota’s museum community. Benedictines, who settled in central Haehn Museum at St. Benedict’s September marked the grand opening Minnesota in 1857, have a history rich in Monastery in St. Joseph, displays hand- of the Anishinaabe Cultural Arts Center embroidered ecclesiastical vestments the arts. Exhibits at the center’s Haehn stored at the museum. and Gallery in Detroit Lakes. Part Museum feature some of the monastery’s community center, part American Indian 4,000 artifacts, including its distinctive St. Louis County. The site will serve as an arts gallery, the new facility is a place for collection of needlework, one of the interactive museum, allowing visitors to the Anishinabe to experience and share many art forms practiced by the sisters. enter their own military stories for review their culture. Among the many programs At artisan studios nearby, women artists and eventual inclusion in the database. and services offered are language classes, from central Minnesota – potters, Eventually the database will be expanded drum and dance instruction and painters, weavers, papermakers, to include veterans of other wars from displays of artwork by local artists. For photographers – can rent space to create St. Louis, Lake, Cook and Carlton information on these and other events their work. And in the center’s Whitby counties. Veteran’s Memorial Hall will and activities, call the center at Gallery, periodic art shows showcase the reopen in 2001. Meanwhile, take a virtual 218-846-9463 or 1-800-890-9399. work of the sisters and other artists. tour at www.vets-hall.org. For information on Last year a highway construction museum hours project through tiny Schroeder in Cook and exhibits, call County gave the Schroeder Area 320-363-7100. Historical Society a golden opportunity. iane Towalski D When Veterans’ In the way of progress stood the Cross Memorial Hall in River General Store, a local landmark Duluth shut down at dating to the 1920s, when resort owner summer’s end to make Horace Stickney built it to replace an way for Depot earlier store lost to fire. Because highway renovation, the routing could not accommodate adequate exhibits didn’t parking for the store, the Minnesota disappear from view. Department of Transportation bought it They just moved to and transferred the title to Schroeder cyberspace. Coming Township. The township in turn granted soon will be a new the area historical society a 99-year lease Fiber artist Margaret VanKempen, OSB, electronic version of the museum, thanks to operate the Stickney/Cross River Store works at St. Benedict’s artisan studios, to a joint project of the St. Louis County brushing dyes on silk panels for a wall as a museum and heritage center. hanging at a Fargo, N.D., church. Historical Society and Barr Engineering Renovation and restoration are underway; Company. Barr, a Twin Cities-based firm watch for the grand opening in June with offices in Duluth, will develop a 2001 during the annual John Schroeder web site that features the biographies of Days celebration. 4,000 World War II veterans from

November-December, 2000 5 RESOURCES Collections management workshops to set standards for smaller museums

eed advice on managing your Eight workshops are scheduled to run will be available in the future. museum’s archives and artifacts? Help is from April 2001 to September 2002. Two The Minnesota Alliance of Local Non the way, thanks to a major grant all-day sessions will be conducted in a History Museums was founded in 1991 awarded to the Minnesota Alliance of traditional face-to-face conference setting; to foster collaboration among Minnesota’s Local History Museums. The $80,000 they are planned for October 2001 in the local history organizations. The group’s grant from the Institute of Museums and Twin Cities metropolitan area and Collections Initiative drew praise from the Library Services (IMLS) will fund the September 2002 in Fergus Falls. Six half- IMLS, a federal agency that fosters development of a resource manual and day workshops will use the state’s innovation and leadership in the nation’s series of workshops on collections teleconferencing system, enabling museums and libraries. Said one grant management for Minnesota’s small and museum staff and volunteers who cannot reviewer, “This project will serve as a mid-sized museums. attend in person to tune in via video feed model for other states to follow, with the The Collections Resource Manual at any of the following locations: Bemidji, ambitious but attainable goal of raising will define a set of professional standards Crookston, Duluth, Morris, Rochester, St. nationwide standards” for collections that can be adapted by museums diverse Paul or Windom. Promotional materials management. in size, budget, staffing and access to with registration information will be For more information call the grant technology. Topics include collections mailed later this fall. co-coordinators, Susan Garwood-DeLong documentation, the processing of new Augmenting the manual and at 507-645-7797 or Nicole Murray at accessions and basic legal issues for workshops will be the alliance’s web site, 952-496-2247. Project updates will be museums. Workshops, to be led by www.cokato.mn.us/alliance, where posted on the alliance’s web site. museum professionals from a variety of workshop participants and their art, history and science museums both colleagues can continue a statewide large and small, will provide training on dialogue on collections management the standards outlined in the manual. issues. Videotapes of the workshops also Digital camcorder serves many uses New book celebrates Embracing the digital age, the Clay County Historical Society recently purchased a digital video camcorder that already is Norwegian holiday traditions much in demand. Foremost among its many uses is documentation of the county Lutefisk. Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, society’s educational programs. VHS Julebukking. recounts stories of Christmas customs on copies of taped lectures and Marzipan both sides of the ocean, from their origins demonstrations will be distributed to local libraries for public viewing. pigs. Those centuries ago to their practice today. are just some Recipes and photographs illustrate the The camcorder also will be used to copy the CCHS’s growing 8mm film collection of the many traditions that still keep and to shoot video for in-house video Norwegian Norwegians and Norwegian Americans productions that can be edited on traditions connected to one another. computer. In addition, the digital described by Cost: $34.95. Cloth, 304 pp., equipment can take still photos for author 40 illustrations. ISBN 0-87351-389-4. publication in the organization’s newsletter. Kathleen To order by phone, call toll-free Financed with donations from the Clay Stokker in 1-800-647-7827; in Minneapolis/St. Paul County Blandin Alumni and several county Keeping Christmas: Yuletide Traditions in call 651-297-3243. Or fax orders to society members, the $700 camcorder will Norway and the New Land, new from the quickly earn its keep. For more information 651-297-1345. Order on the web at about this project and for specifics on the Minnesota Historical Society Press. www.mnhs.org/mhspress. equipment purchased, call CCHS archivist Stokker, a professor of Norwegian at Mark Peihl at 218-299-5520 or e-mail mpeihl @Juno.com.

6 Minnesota History Interpreter BULLETIN BOARD

History project grants from the Minnesota Humanities Commission Spring field workshops set mong the dozens of programs and • Mesabi Range Community and Mark your calendars now for the projects funded each year by grants from Technical College, Eveleth, for “A Sense spring round of field workshops, Athe Minnesota Humanities Commission of Place: Writers’ Perspectives on the open to staff, board members and are many with a history focus. This fall Iron Range,” a project featuring Iron volunteers of all county, local and special-interest historical societies. Range authors. grants ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 Watch for details about these were awarded to: • Olmsted County Historical Society, sessions in the January-February • Beltrami County Historical Society, Rochester, for research and fabrication issue of the Interpreter. Bemidji, for “Pathways through of an exhibit, “St. Mary’s Hospital: March 30 Hutchinson, History,” a media installation in their Early Patient Care.” McLeod County new building. • Sibley Historic Site, Mendota, for April 20 Albert Lea, • Mankato Mdewakanton Association, lectures on Dakota history and culture. Freeborn County Mankato, for “Healing History’s For details about MHC grants and May 4 Duluth, Wounds,” programs on Dakota history programs, call 651-774-0105 or visit the St. Louis County and culture for adults and children. MHC web site at www.thinkmhc.org.

Winona County Courthouse continued from page 1

What challenges and opportunities What steps are being taken to find lead role in preservation issues even when Q.did this disaster present? a solution? the issue may be unpopular with local Everyone saw this as an opportunity Q.We invited state historical architect officials or business owners. The Winona but they had very different, often Charles Nelson to the first meeting of the County Historical Society has been in the conflicting agendas in mind. Those who options committee. He suggested a reuse middle of several preservation want to consolidate county services see study to explore the building’s potential controversies and I think the positions an opportunity for a new government for preservation. We put together a team we’ve taken have, in the long run, proven center. The courts want to stay in the old that, after an intensive one-day study, sound. Our members who are concerned courthouse, but with expanded space. proposed a plan to the county about historic preservation have come to The sheriff’s department is looking for commissioners: use the historic expect us to be advocates for them. Too ways to improve security – and for a courthouse for all court-related activities, many county and local societies don’t get garage to store emergency vehicles. expand the annex to accommodate involved. They think of themselves as Preservationists would like to remodel additional offices and explore a “county custodians of their community’s historic the interior again, this time in a campus” design with the courthouse as resources, rather than advocates. manner more sensitive to the building’s the centerpiece. A situation like this one with the original design. The future of the courthouse is still Winona County Courthouse calls for a Unlike 30 years ago, nearly everyone very much up in the air. But the process coordinated effort, not just on the local says they want to save the old building. has been a fair one. It remains to be seen level but between the community and the But if the county moves out, what other how long people will wait for a decision State Historic Preservation Office. SHPO use could the building serve? Neither the before they start calling for the building staff were able to respond to many county nor taxpayers can afford to heat to come down. inaccurate assumptions people had about and cool such a huge empty building for what can and can’t be done with National long. Many people suggested giving it to What have you learned about the Register properties. They were very helpful. the county historical society. But Q.role county historical societies can At least one unexpected benefit has without considerable additional funding, and should play in preservation emerged from all the controversy. In the how could we afford to take care of a issues affecting their communities? past two months we’ve welcomed through five-story, 40,000-square-foot stone I believe that county historical our doors many county officials who have courthouse? societies have a responsibility to play a never been in our museum before.

November-December, 2000 7 BULLETIN BOARD

Deadlines for winter Greetings from the editor

Grants-in-aid t’s good to be back. I look forward three double issues – January-February, to working once again with old friends June-July and November-December. lanning to apply for a state from my previous stint as Interpreter Keep that in mind when submitting grant-in-aid this winter? You may first Ieditor (1993–1996). And I know I’ll time-sensitive news for those months. Pneed to submit a pre-application. be making many new friends as I pore If you have any questions or They’re required for some categories of over my mail for news of your projects concerns, call or e-mail me at the project and strongly recommended for and activities. numbers below. And keep those story all projects. Deadlines: My first job is to get the newsletter ideas coming! Grant pre-application due: back on a regular-as-clockwork Mary Ann Nord, Interpreter editor Jan. 26, 2001 publication schedule. To ensure that Grant application due: the Interpreter reaches you by the first March 2, 2001 of the month, we need to back up our Curator wanted Application forms and the State submission deadline for newsletter The Dakota County Historical Society seeks a half-time curator to organize Grants-in-Aid Manual are available items. To be considered, items must online at www.mnhs.org/about/grants/ and exhibit its collections. Preferred reach me by the first of the month, candidates will have experience in stgrants.html. For more information two months before publication. For designing displays and using database about the program, contact grants example, the deadline for the March software. Submit a resume by Jan. 26, assistant David Grabitske by phone at issue is Jan. 1. 2001, to DCHS, 130 Third Ave. N., 651-297-4416 or e-mail Remember: our new publication South St. Paul, MN 55075. For more [email protected]. information call 651-451-6260 or schedule of nine issues a year includes e-mail [email protected].

Minnesota History Interpreter is published nine times a year by the Historic Preservation, Field Services and Grants Non-Profit Department of the Minnesota Historical Organization Society, and distributed to Minnesota’s U.S. Postage county and local historical societies and PAID heritage preservation commissions. St. Paul, MN Permit No. 854 Readers are invited to submit information for 345 Kellogg Boulevard publication. To be considered, items must Saint Paul, Minnesota 55102-1906 reach the editor by the first of the month, two months before publication (example: deadline for March issue is Jan. 1). Send to Interpreter Editor, Minnesota Historical Society, 345 Kellogg Blvd. W., St. Paul, MN 55102-1906. Phone: 612-729-4729; e-mail [email protected].

Material from this issue may be reprinted with the following credit line: Reprinted with permission from Minnesota History Interpreter, November-December 2000, Vol. XXVIII, No. 11, published by the Minnesota Historical Society. Do not reprint material taken from another source without permission from that source.

On request, this publication is available in alternative formats: audiotape, large print or computer disk.

Britta Bloomberg, Head, Historic Preservation, Field Services and Grants Department Mary Ann Nord, Editor Kim Brink Smith, Layout