August 2001, Vol. XXIX, No. 6
INSIDE page 3 Depot museum opens page 6 State grants-in-aid awarded Published by the Minnesota Historical Society page 8 for county and local historical societies and heritage preservation commissions Grant deadlines
Outside the fence
by Mary Warner Museum Manager, Morrison County Historical Society We’re breaking loose.We’re outside the fence – thinking outside the fence, that is. And like some errant cow that can’t stand the confines of her pen, Upper Midwest Conservation Association photos Conservation Upper Midwest Commerce, a 20-inch-by-50-inch painting by Axel Edward Soderberg, has been restored and we refuse to go back in. reinstalled in the Lake County Courthouse. Take our museum planning process.Whenever we sit down together for a planning session, Restoration project rescues staff members compose a list of goals.Then we put the list away. long-forgotten courthouse gems Six months or a year later, we look at the list to see how we’ve Paintings depict Lake County heritage done. Invariably,we discover that most of the goals have been met. Some might say this planning hen renovation of the Lake longtime county auditor asked,“What process is unconventional but it County Courthouse began in 1999, about the other paintings that used to works for us. noW one knew quite what to do with hang here?” Recently – after celebrating a large painting titled Law and Justice More sleuthing uncovered the full the 25th anniversary of our that hung on a wall to be torn down. story. Back in 1905 the county board Charles A.Weyerhaeuser And for a while, no one seemed commissioned the artworks and other Memorial Museum and looking to care. decorative painting for the courtrooms ahead to the 65th anniversary But one staff member persisted. and corridors of its new courthouse. In of the Morrison County Wilma Clark, clerk for the Lake addition to Law and Justice, three Historical Society – we went County Board of Commissioners, large paintings were installed in 1906 through our goal-listing persuaded the board to let art in the commissioners’ boardroom. process again.This time we conservators from the Upper Midwest Titled Commerce, Forestry and focused on new ways to Conservation Association (UMCA) Mining, they depicted activities that accomplish our mission of take a look at the painting. Her even today sustain the local economy. collecting, preserving and persistence paid off. Months later, All were painted by Axel Edward interpreting our county with a grant from the Minnesota Soderberg, a Swedish immigrant artist history. Thanks to our Historical Society, the painting was trained in Stockholm and Paris, whose members and donors, we’re restored and hung in the county’s works hung in public buildings doing a fine job of collecting new Law Enforcement Center. throughout the American West. Imagine Clark’s surprise when, Outside continued on page 2 just as that project got underway, the Restoration project continued on page 2 Restoration project continued from page 1
Clark found the paintings in storage, where they had lain forgotten for decades after sustaining water damage from a burst pipe. Spurred by the success of the first restoration project, she applied for another grant Axel Soderberg from the Society to specialized in wall have the paintings murals depicting mythological and restored. historical subjects. The Minneapolis- Forestry and based UMCA again Mining, paintings he created for the did the restoration Lake County work. Each painting Courthouse, was cleaned, then illustrate aspects of humidified and the county’s history. “relaxed” under blotters and weights to eliminate puckers. Areas with flaked “In a small county like ours, there work, they’re excited about what or missing paint were repaired and the isn’t much extra money for projects we’ve accomplished. Everyone has canvases lined with fabric. Finally the like this,”explained Clark,“so we become more aware of the paintings, once mounted directly onto couldn’t have done it without the importance of preserving this piece the wall, were bonded to boards and grant.We matched it with donations of Lake County history for the framed for rehanging. In May from the community and funds from enjoyment of future generations.” Soderberg’s artworks resumed their the county. rightful place in the courthouse “When we began this project, For more information about the project, boardroom, itself restored and now there were some people who call Wilma Clark at 218-834-8320 or e-mail climate-controlled to ensure the questioned its value,”she noted.“But [email protected]. paintings’ preservation. now that they can see the completed
Outside continued from page 1
Morrison County history. And our issue.] Now we’re launching a series this Literary Fund will be used to curator of collections sees to it that of booklets on a variety of topics that produce the history books. our preservation activities are running together will paint a full picture of So now you know what we’re smoothly. It’s that third part of our our county’s past.The first will be a thinking. But don’t be surprised if you mission – educating the public about reprint of Nathan Richardson’s 1876 hear, down the road, that we’ve their history – where we’re thinking history of Morrison County, which ran tackled some new challenge.You outside the fence. as a newspaper serial in 1880 but never know when we may bolt again In fact, we’re leaping outside the never appeared in book form. It’s in another unexpected direction, like fence with our new plan for one of the earliest accounts of our that stealth cow escaping her pen. producing history publications. Our local history. first title was Little Falls on the Big To assist us in our literary A longer version of this article appeared in River, a local history curriculum for endeavors, an endowment has been the Winter 2001 issue of the Morrison elementary school students. [See the created with a donation in memory of County Historical Society newsletter. Edited with permission. Preservation Planner, Spring 2001 Carl A.Weyerhaeuser. Income from
2 Minnesota History Interpreter AROUND THE STATE Home at last Beltrami County society opens new depot museum Beltrami County Historical Society n April, after years of planning, the Beltrami County Historical Society movedI from its longtime quarters on the county fairgrounds to its new home in Bemidji’s Great Northern Depot. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the restored 1913 depot now will be known as the Beltrami County History Center. Bemidji’s historic Great Northern Depot, The center’s inaugural exhibit, pictured above before its renovation, is “Pathways through History,”tells the now home to the Beltrami County Historical Society. The former waiting story of Beltrami County’s rich rooms (left) house three galleries of heritage, from its geography and exhibits featuring a video history of the exploration to its logging industry and community, a scale-model railroad and the society’s collection of Indian artifacts. the legendary Paul Bunyan. Featured is the society’s John G. Morrison Jr. Indian Collection of beaded moccasins and other clothing, tools and membership has grown, tourist traffic here. I invite everyone to come and ceremonial items, largely from the Red is up, and for the first time we’re see for themselves.”For a preview of Lake Band of Ojibwe. generating income from admissions the BCHS and its collections, check “So many people donated time and our new gift shop. As James J. Hill out the society’s new web site, and money to make this a reality,”said noted when he visited the depot in www.paulbunyan.net/users/depot/ BCHS director Wanda Hoyum.“Our 1913, we have great community spirit index.html.
Play ball! Vintage Saint Croix team defends championship ht yD .Rambow C. Photo by D. he showdown is set for Aug. 18. Sure to please both That’s when the Saint Croix Base Ball sports fans and history TClub takes to the field in Rochester to buffs, this educational defend its title as Minnesota Vintage program of the Washington Base Ball Champions. Be on hand as County Historical Society Skinny, Stretch, Deano and Devil Dog brings back to life the area’s step up to the plate to face their 1860s ball club.A member of opponents.Will it be the Twin Cities’ the nationwide Vintage Base Ball Quicksteps? Rochester’s Roosters? Association, the Saint Croix club plays Winona’s Lumber Barons? by the 1860 “New York rules,”which You may not recognize the names allow the umpire to consult the fans, or Members of the present-day Saint Croix Base Ball Club, dressed in their period or the rules of the game. But if “cranks,”when making a call. For costumes, pose for an ambrotype tempers flare, you can count on the current club news and a schedule of photograph, a five-second exposure umpires to impose a hefty fine – games, see the team’s web site at taken with a mid-19th-century camera. 25 cents for each infraction. http://wchsmn.org/stcroixbbc.
August 2001 3 AROUND THE STATE Museum Hennepin History
Exhibits focus on recent history
t’s not about immigrants and early document community life in the settlers this summer at three new millennium. Photographs in historicalI societies that looked to the more than a dozen categories, from more recent past for exhibit ideas. everyday scenes to local landmarks • In the 1980s, Minneapolis rocked. to community events, have been Site of a thriving independent music solicited for the exhibit “Life in scene, the city was fertile ground Small Town, USA.” As they are for a group of musicians creating a submitted throughout the year, rich and diverse body of work photos will be added to the exhibit. outside the mainstream.Visitors to a For details on this history-in-the- new exhibit,“Unsatisfied,”at the making project, call 218-389-6090 or Hennepin History Museum will 218-372-4282. learn how bands such as Hüsker • To put this summer’s stormy Dü, the Funseekers and the weather in perspective, visit “When Replacments nurtured one another Weather Goes Bad,”an exhibit at the as they redefined notions of musical Clay County Museum in Moorhead’s This exhibit on music in the 1980s at the Hennepin History Museum is drawing a success. For exhibit hours call Hjemkomst Center. From a 1957 “30-something” crowd. 612-870-1329 or see tornado to the record snows and www.hhmuseum.org. floods of 1997, the exhibit looks at is a local WDAY-TV documentary of • With future generations in mind, the weather extremes that too often the 1957 tornado, playing on a 1952 Moose Lake Area Historical Society seem to be the norm in the Red Motorola television set. For more called on local citizens to help River Valley. Featured in the exhibit information call 218-299-5520.
For the tourist trade Eveleth, Brown County projects promote heritage tourism
In Eveleth this and interpretation program, designed Also with tourists in mind, the summer, tourists to increase awareness of Eveleth’s Brown County Historical Society has and residents historic resources. prepared a list of 98 historic alike can be seen It seems to be working.The buildings, monuments and markers with brochures in Heritage Committee has garnered representing every city and town in hand as they set recognition in the city’s the county.Wildlife areas and camping out on self-guided comprehensive plan as a vital partner grounds are listed as well. Eventually, walking tours of in Eveleth’s future development. the “Tour Brown County” material will the city’s historic Featured on the tour are a dozen be available on the society’s new web houses and historic properties, from the stylish site, http://BrownCountyHistory immigrant halls. homes of “captains,”or supervisors, of MNUSA. org, with links to other travel Initiated by the the mining companies to meeting and tourism sites in the county. For Heritage halls where Finnish, Italian, Swedish more information call BCHS director Committee of and Slovenian miners socialized. For a Bob Burgess at 507-233-2616 or e-mail Eveleth’s copy of the brochure,“Captain’s [email protected]. Chamber of Homes and Immigrant Halls,”call the Commerce, the brochure project is Eveleth Chamber of Commerce, part of the city’s historic preservation 218-744-1940.
4 Minnesota History Interpreter AROUND THE STATE
Student interns tackle research topics large and small
istorical societies across Carlton County Historical Society Minnesota have students to thank for Htaking on research that augments staff projects.The information they generate will add immeasurably to knowledge of society collections and county histories.The students benefit, too, as they gain on-the-job experience in the work of the state’s historical organizations. This summer the Carlton County Historical Society welcomes intern Joe Malkovich, a Cloquet native and history major at Gustavus Adolphus College. He will work on collecting and compiling information, photos and oral histories on the county’s rural schools.The material will eventually find its way into an exhibit on rural education in Carlton County. Part of Students watched as Carlton School burned in 1914. To prepare for a future exhibit, the Partners Internship Program the Carlton County Historical Society is gathering photographs and oral histories on funded by the Otto Bremer rural education in the county. Foundation, Malkovich’s internship was made possible by a grant from the student Mike Olson. As part of their commemorating the Cottonwood Higher Education Consortium for social studies curriculum, seniors County society’s 100th anniversary. Urban Affairs. For details call Carlton study career opportunities and fulfill The exhibit will debut at the county County society director Marlene a service learning requirement by fair this month. For more information Wisuri, 218-879-1938. working at a profession of their call Cottonwood County society From January to June the choosing. Olson chose the historical director Linda Fransen, 507-831-1134. Cottonwood County Historical Society society, where he spent his time Last year students from Concordia hosted Windom Area High School doing research for an exhibit College in Moorhead arrived at the Clay County Historical Society ready to dig in.They had come from the college’s Scandinavian studies class to study, in depth, artifacts in the St. Louis County society adds sixth affiliate society’s collection. One class member, an exchange student from he St. Louis County Historical these 1900-era historic resources, Norway, chose tines – round or oval Society welcomes its sixth affiliate, volunteers conduct driving and wooden boxes used to store TSisu Heritage Inc., of Embarrass.A walking tours of the sites. For household items. His research collaboration between the township information write Paul Knutti, P.O. culminated in a small exhibit at the and a private, nonprofit organization, Box 127, Embarrass, MN 55732. Hjemkomst Center, where a copy of Sisu Heritage has gained national and Sisu Heritage joins SLCHS affiliates his report is on file in the county international recognition for its efforts the Minnesota Museum of Mining in society’s archives. to preserve the region’s National Chisholm and local historical societies Register properties crafted by Finnish in Ely-Winton,Tower-Soudan, Hibbing immigrants.To introduce the public to and the Virginia area.
August 2001 5 BULLETIN BOARD
State grants-in-aid awarded
wenty-four applicants received Historical Society, $3,000, microfilm • Pine County: Audubon Center of more than $96,000 in state grants-in- reader/printer. the North Woods, $6,000, lodge roof Taid during the Minnesota Historical • Fillmore County: Fillmore County restoration,Arnold Schwyzer Summer Society’s fiscal year 2001 winter Historical Society, $1,566, microfilm House and Farmstead. grants cycle. Grants were awarded in acquisition. • Pipestone County: Historic the categories of historic properties, • Freeborn County: Freeborn Pipestone Inc., $6,000, restoration, artifact collections, interpretive County Historical Society, $7,500, Brown Hospital, Pipestone programs, museum environments, fire/burglar alarm system Commercial Historic District. microfilm copies and technology. In replacement. • Pipestone County: Pipestone addition, two communities received • Hennepin County: American County Historical Society, $2,809, oral federal Heritage Preservation Fund Swedish Institute, $3,500, microfilm history project on World War II (HPF) monies for historic structures reader/printer. veterans. reports. • Kandiyohi County: Kandiyohi • Redwood County: Laura Ingalls County Historical Society, $7,500, Wilder Museum and Tourist Center, • Blue Earth County: Blue Earth HVAC upgrade for archives. $1,945, collections documentation County Historical Society, $1,700, • Meeker County: Ness Church system upgrade. reorganization of hat collection. Preservation Foundation, $5,830, • Renville County: Renville County • Clay County: City of Moorhead, restoration of church interior. Historical Society, $1,803, artifact $2,500, Red River Valley exhibit • Morrison County: Morrison collections storage. planning. County Historical Society, $3,196, • Renville County: Sacred Heart • Clay County: Clay County newspaper microfilm project. Area Historical Society, $2,186, Historical Society, $708, microfilm • Olmsted County: Olmsted County PastPerfect collections catalog. purchase. Historical Society, $7,500 (HPF), • Sibley County: Sibley County • Crow Wing County: Lake Hubert historic structures report, George Historical Society, $7,500, repointing, Conservation Association, $6,000, Stoppel Farmstead. August F.Poehler House. restoration of Minnesota and • Otter Tail County: City of Perham, • Steele County: Minnesota State International Railroad Freight House $2,580 (HPF), historic structures Public School Orphanage Museum, and Shelter Shed. report, Episcopal Church of the $6,530, documentary on Minnesota • Douglas County: Douglas County Redeemer. State Public School for Dependent and Neglected Children. • Stevens County: Stevens County Genealogical Society, $1,740, county newspaper microfilms. • Swift County: Swift County Historical Society, $675, Swift County records collecting project.
Minnesota Historical Society • Washington County: Washington County Historical Society, $6,604, artifact storage. • Watonwan County: St. James Opera House Restoration Project Inc., $5,830, restoration, opera house entrance façade. • Winona County: Winona County Historical Society, $3,500, digital
The Olmsted County Historical Society will use its grant-funded historic structures report microfilm reader/printer. to guide restoration of the 1860s George Stoppel Farmstead near Rochester.
6 Minnesota History Interpreter BULLETIN BOARD
In search of murals Researcher asks for help in locating new and historic artworks Minnesota Historical Society urals across Minnesota.That’s the research topic of Thomas O’Sullivan, Mformer curator of the Minnesota Historical Society’s art collection. For years during his travels around the state, O’Sullivan collected photographs, documents and other information about mural paintings in Minnesota’s post offices, schools, courthouses and city halls. Now a research grant from the Minnesota Historical Society Publications and Research department will enable him to continue his search. He invites Interpreter readers to share with him information on murals past and present, surviving or lost. He is particularly interested in documenting murals in the archival collections of historical organizations. Artist Andre Boratko painted murals for this community building in Milaca in 1938 under “Many of the state’s better-known the auspices of the Federal Art Project. examples were created under the WPA in the 1930s and 1940s,”said anniversaries with outdoor murals on community, contact O’Sullivan by mail O’Sullivan.“The 1970s marked a Main Street businesses, grain elevators at 967 Nevada Ave.W., St. Paul MN resurgence of mural art when the and other highly visible locations. I 55117, or by e-mail at nation celebrated its bicentennial. hope to track them all down.” [email protected]. Since then, many Minnesota If you have information about communities have observed murals in your collection or your Workshop helps museums respond to disasters
he first 48 hours after disaster Scheduled for Aug. 23-24 at the Participation is limited to 20 strikes are critical.That’s when key Minnesota History Center in St. Paul, people.The registration fee of $200 Tdecisions must be made about health the workshop follows a curriculum for the two-day workshop includes and safety, disaster response and devised by the Foundation for the lunches and materials. For more materials recovery.To help museums American Institute of Conservation. information or to register, call Melinda prepare for catastrophe, the Upper Sessions cover all aspects of disaster Markell, UMCA Field Services Midwest Conservation Association response, from assembling a disaster Coordinator, at 612-870-3128, fax 612- (UMCA) and the Minnesota Historical response team and establishing a 870-3118, or e-mail [email protected]. Society’s Conservation Department cache of emergency equipment to This program is made possible by a have developed a two-day workshop, documenting recovery efforts and grant from the National Endowment “Disaster Response:The Critical First addressing psychological effects of for the Humanities. 48 Hours.” the disaster.
August 2001 7 BULLETIN BOARD
Historic Preservation Conference Grant deadlines
Fall cycle: State grants-in-aid, promises to draw a crowd capital grants Aug. 3: Pre-application due. Minnesota Historical Society here’s still time to sign up for the Sept. 7: Grant application due. 22nd Annual Statewide Historic Oct. 11: Grants Review Committee TPreservation Conference, to be held meets. Sept. 20-21 in the historic resort community of Glenwood. Sponsored Winter cycle: State grants-in-aid, by the State Historic Preservation Certified Local Government grants Office, the event will be hosted by Jan. 18, 2002: Pre-application due. the City of Glenwood and the Pope Feb. 22: Grant application due. County Historical Society. April 4: Grants Review Committee meets. Local tours, a banquet and an Conference participants will tour the State evening of jazz at the historic Fish Hatchery (pictured here in 1953) and other local sites. Application forms and the State Grants- Lakeside Ballroom top two days of in-Aid Manual are available online at lectures and working sessions on the owner, school facilities manager or www.mnhs.org/about/grants/ themes of Minnesota’s historic citizen advocate, you won’t want to stgrants.html. For more information community schools and the state’s miss it. So take a moment to send in about the Society’s grants programs, contact grants assistant David tourism and recreation industries. your reservation. Phone 651-296-5434 Grabitske by phone at 651-297-4416 or If you’re a historian, architect, or see the Minnesota Historical e-mail at [email protected]. planner, public official, property Society’s web site at www.mnhs.org/events/index.html.
Minnesota History Interpreter is published nine times a year by the Historic Preservation, Field Services and Non-Profit Grants Department of the Minnesota Organization Historical Society. U.S. Postage PAID Readers are invited to submit information for St. Paul, MN publication. To be considered, items must Permit No. 854 reach the editor by the first of the month, 345 Kellogg Boulevard West two months before publication. Send to Interpreter Editor, Minnesota Historical Saint Paul, Minnesota 55102-1906 Society, 345 Kellogg Blvd. W., St. Paul, MN 55102-1906. Address service requested
Material from this issue may be reprinted with the following credit line: Reprinted with permission from Minnesota History Interpreter, August 2001, Vol. XXIX, No. 6, published by the Minnesota Historical Society. Do not reprint material taken from another source without permission.
On request, this publication is available in alternative formats: audiotape, large print or computer disk.
For address corrections e-mail [email protected] or call 651-296- 5434. For other matters call Tim Glines at 651- 296-5460 or e-mail [email protected].
Britta Bloomberg, Head, Historic Preservation, Field Services and Grants Department Tim Glines, Manager, Outreach Services Mary Ann Nord, Editor Kate Raver, Layout www.mnhs.org