MOWER HISTORY SCRIBE Mower County Historical Society Newsletter Spring 2013 Lunchbox History Series 2013 Lunchbox History Expanded for 2013 Series Lineup The Lunchbox History Series is gearing up for its 3rd season. With the success of 4th Thursday of each month the summertime history programs, the historical society has expanded the series at 12 PM from 3 months to 6 months! In this edition of the Mower History Scribe, get a April 25 - David Lanegran glimpse at a preview of each program. “Minnesota on the Map” May 23 - Polly Jelinek David Lanegran - Minnesota on the Map “History of the Country School” To coincide with the Minnesota on the Map traveling exhibit, on view at the June 27 - Frank Bridges historical society until May 17, we have invited the author and geographer David “History of Early Theatre in Austin” Lanegran to be our April speaker. Lanegran’s book was the basis for the exhibit. July 25 - Arthur Louis Finnell He offers a journey through 500 years of Minnesota mapping. Discover stories of “War of 1812 Veterans in Minnesota” French missionaries and powerful railroads, of imaginary rivers and disappearing August 22 - David Kenney towns, and find out how maps helped shape the real Minnesota we live in today. “Minnesota Goes to War” September 26 - Charity Lifka Polly Jelinek - History of the Country School “Hormel During World War II” Local historian and former teacher Polly Jelinek will entertain everyone with her stories from the one room schoolhouse days. Jelinek began her teaching career (Continued on page 5) In This Issue Annual Donation Appeal Set for April to July p.2 There’s A New Game in Town p. 6 The Collections Care Corner p.8 Meadowfest 2013 p.10 Renew your Membership! p.12 Visitors enjoy viewing the Uncle Sam’s New Deal traveling exhibit at the Austin Public Library during the Grand Opening Reception. Mower County Historical Society Board of Directors Garry Ellingson, President Glenn Medgaarden, Vice President Pat Kitchings, Secretary Diana Witt, Treasurer Jeff Austin Miguel Garate Don Konken Jackie Holst Terry Donovan The Dad & Me Class visited the historical society in January. They toured the Herald J. Williams Indian Building and played in the archaeology dig. Royce Helmbrecht Jim Grunewald Ardis Jensen Annual Donation Appeal Set Board meetings this quarter will for April to July be on April 24, May 22, and June 26. All meetings begin at The Mower County Historical Society is the only organization within Mower County that has the responsibility of preserving the county’s history. This responsibility 7 PM unless otherwise noted. factors into everything we do from research to collections to programming. Your historical society does its best to efficiently perform this duty with the resources we have available. However, this responsibility does come at a cost. Mower County In the middle of April, the historical society will embark on an Annual Donation Historical Society Appeal to help bring in funds to keep preserving the history of Mower County. Staff These donations will help us to continue our operations and provide services to visitors and the general public. The service we provide is critical and part of the Dustin Heckman, core values established by our Territorial Legislature in 1849 when they created Executive Director the Minnesota Historical Society, which later led to the founding of county and [email protected] town historical societies. Since our state’s beginning, the value of preserving our history has been important to citizens. This was again reiterated when voters Sue Doocy, passed a constitutional amendment called the Legacy Amendment to provide Research & Archives Manager more funding to clean water, land, the arts, and cultural heritage. [email protected] How would your life be different without an understanding of history? Where Jaimie Timm, Curator would you go to learn about Mower County’s history if the historical society no collections longer existed? @mowercountyhistory.org When you receive the appeal later this month, please consider making a donation John Morgan, to help us preserve the history of Mower County. Talk to friends, family, and Museum Assistant from neighbors about why you support our organization and ask them to also Experience Works contribute. Help us to allow others to keep digging history in Mower County! 2 Mower History Scribe Upcoming Events Through May 17 Minnesota on the Map Traveling Exhibit April 10 3 PM The New Deal in Mower County at Mower County Senior Center April 11 6 PM Members of the Austin Area Amateur Radio Club have helped us to clean the Communications How to Use Ancestry.com Building in preparation for tour season. Our annual Clean Up Day is the largest effort each year to spruce up the historical society’s fairgrounds site. With 16 buildings, there is always plenty of April 25 12 PM work to be done! Lunchbox History Series: David Lanegran at the Hormel Historic Home Annual Clean Up Day Set for April 27 9 AM April 27 Clean-up Day On Saturday, April 27, volunteers and staff will put in a little sweat equity to make sure the Fairgrounds site is looking its best for the upcoming tour season. Each May 23 12 PM year, the historical society sets aside a Saturday in the spring to make the site look welcoming to visitors and get a lot of work done. Tasks include cleaning the Lunchbox History Series: buildings, working on landscaping, and other odd projects needing to be worked Polly Jelinek on. June 27 12 PM If you are able to spare some time on that day to assist us, please let us know how you’d be willing to help. Contact the historical society at (507) 437-6082 to Lunchbox History Series: get more information. Frank Bridges June 29 10 AM to 2 PM GAR Hall Open House in Grand Meadow June 29 6 PM Vintage Base Ball game: History Center of Olmsted County Roosters and Grand Meadow Nine @MowerCoHistory June 30 12 to 3 PM Use #dighistory to tell us how you dig GAR Hall Open House history! Spring 2013 3 Thank you to those members who renewed their membership and welcome to our new members! Lavonne Griffin Terry & Sue Doocy Dustin & Lynn Heckman Ryan & Jaimie Timm Doris Rice Harold & Kathy Paine Barbara Lewis Tony Bennett Ramona Swenson Betty O’Brien Jim & Milly Burroughs Garry & Sharon Ellingson Pat Kitchings Greg & Meghan Lamp Volunteers serve an important purpose during the Mower County Fair. They watch over Ruth Collette buildings and assist with parking to make sure all visitors have a good experience. Ronald & Margaret Seath Del Staples Sheldon & Ruth Lukes Cynthia Scott Frank & Judy Gerlach Consider Volunteering in 2013 Ken & Opal Heydt Shirley Watt Each year the historical society puts out a call for volunteers to help out with David Madison various tasks. During the spring, summer, and fall, we have a great need for James Huntting volunteers to provide much needed assistance. We have many dedicated Ben & Arlene Bednar Raymond & Carol Opsahl volunteers but we are always looking for new faces to lend a hand. If you have Bruce & Reilly Loeschen some time that you would like to help us out, please fill out the form below and Larry & Cindy Bellrichard Elaine Mentel send it back to us or feel free to stop by the office to see how you can help. Scott & Erin Felten Thomas & Kathleen Hart Kenny’s Oak Grill DeWayne Haberman Sign me up to volunteer! Charlotte Winslow Dorothy Schulz Name: ___________________________________________________________ John & Virginia Locher Ben Roser Address: _________________________________________________________ Leon & Phyllis Jacobson Craig & Nancy Welken HyVee Phone: ___________________________________________________________ Jon Bera Super Fresh Produce Best time of day to reach (circle one): Daytime Evenings Any time Weis Landscaping & Design JJ’s Pickup Band Virginia Bissen ____ Tour guide (school tours begin in May) Kermeth Northwick Beverly Smith ____ Lawn Mowing & Trimming Dr. Inman & Lois Hesla Richard & Kay Smaby Wallace & Helen Malchow ____ Building Maintenance (painting, repairs, cleaning, etc.) Charlotte Braaten Kathleen Stanton Austin CVB ____ Research Brian McAlister Joyce Halver ____ Collections & Exhibits Janice Harvey Bill Schlichting Austin Area Retired Educators ____ Programming & Event Setup Association Becky Croft ____ Fair Week (August 6 to 11) & Exhibit Monitor (July 27 to September 27) Dick & Anne Waldman (Continued on page 9) ____ Baker for Fall Harvest & Christmas in the County 4 Mower History Scribe Profile of a History Digger Name: Dustin Heckman Age: 28 Where do you live: Blooming Prairie How long have you been a resident of Mower County?: Worked in the county since 2008 Favorite history topics or eras: Colonial American history (1600 to 1775), Revolutionary American history Area residents have enjoyed attending the Lunchbox History Series the past two years. (1775 to 1785), Beginning of the United Join us from April to September on the 4th Thursday of the month at 12 PM for this year’s States (1785 to 1820), English history series. (Roman rule to 1880s), Russia under Peter the Great (1682 to 1725), Refor- (Continued from page 1) 2013 Lunchbox History Series Preview mation history in Europe (16th & 17th Century), Industrial and Progressive in a country school. She will share her experiences and stories from that era. American history (1870s to 1920s) What got you interested in history?: Frank Bridges - A History of Early Austin Theatre I’ve always liked history but my great grandfather used to tell me stories Frank Bridges is no stranger to the world of theatre. The former Director of about England and our family over Theatre for Austin Community College (now Riverland Community College) will be there. giving a history of the early days of theatre in Austin. How do you dig history?: My favorite way to dig history is by reading history Arthur Louis Finnell - War of 1812 Veterans in Minnesota books and watching history shows/ documentaries.