Ada Sheldon, on a Mound Prairie farm in Houston County, kept a large garden and raised chickens, geese, ducks and canaries as well as children, one of whom was son Sumner (born 1910), who would become a prominent area historian and columnist. “To be sure that she had enough to do, Mama kept about sixty swarms of bees,” quipped Sumner. His mother, while an accomplished … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past – A Bear, a Bridegroom and a Bigamous Barber
Part two of a two-part series Popular Caledonia tonsorial artist (barber) James Hall was arrested for bigamy by a detective from La Crosse. The November 28, 1888 Caledonia Journal headline read, “TOO MUCHLY MARRIED.” On June 29, somewhere near La Crosse, Hall had married Sarah Carrigan from the town of Winnebago, Houston County. The newspaper knew not the whereabouts of the … [Read more...]
Eight are All-State Shooters; Repeat Crowns for ‘Canes, Cougars
Both Mabel-Canton and Houston claimed conference championships during the 2026 spring high school trap season. Rushford-Peterson, Kingsland and LeRoy-Ostrander were runners-up in their respective clay target conferences while Spring Grove had a third-place campaign. It was a third straight league title for Hurricanes. The Cougars have won two straight and four of their last … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past They Thought They Were as Good-Looking as Those Other Fellows
According to fifth-century Irish folklore, women were allowed to propose marriage to men every four years on Leap Day (February 29). Some 14 centuries later, leap year frivolity, socializing and romantic role reversal was alive in the United States, including Houston County, Minnesota. The leap year of 1888 was only days away when the last issue in 1887 of the Caledonia Journal … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past – The Evening “Big Irv” Saved the Basket Social
Part two, Basket Socials During the previous column, Houston County historian Sumner Sheldon described early 1900s basket socials - opportunities (or socially-accepted excuses) for rural folks to socialize as well as raise funds for the host school or church. But one such event was likely the longest lasting and surely the most memorable because it so drastically differed from … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past – A-Tisket A-Tasket, Bidding on a Basket
In what he termed those “dreary days before automobiles,” Houston County historian Sumner Sheldon noted that residents, who even though were “starved for entertainment, amusement and companionship,” desired a reason to party. It was not thought proper to “hold a jollification just for the fun of it.” One excuse for organizing a social gathering was the long-popular, … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past The 1850s, Territorial Days on Portland Prairie
Part two, Portland Prairie, 1850s After Minnesota was organized as a territory in 1849, pioneer settlers arrived in numbers sufficient enough that statehood came nine years later - in 1858. Wisconsin had become a state after 12 years as a territory, Iowa after eight years. Minnesota Territory extended west to the Missouri River, which now crosses both central North Dakota and … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past 1854, Her First Week in Minnesota Territory
It has a name and people live there, but it its not on a map. It was an agricultural community, not a village, which from the early days of settlement became known as Portland Prairie. If you visit historic Portland Prairie Church, you are on a short span of pavement named Portland Prairie Road, part of the dividing line between Wilmington Township and Winnebago Township. The … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past – No Shame in Wearing Mended Clothes
One night each year, four young sisters on a Houston County farm helped round up roosters. Twenty roosters perished so that that the girls had $20 to buy school clothes on what was known as Dollar Day Sales each autumn at stores in La Crosse, Wis. A blouse cost 50 cents, wash dresses $1 each. Underwear were four for $1. One sister, Anita Lee (Hartmann) Palmquist, would much … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past – Boy Versus Bird: Patient Pursuit of Stealthy Hens
Part two of a two-part series It was not necessarily how well you could hide but more how motionless you could be. That was the operating conclusion of an accomplished turkey tracker, Sumner Sheldon (born 1910), who even as a Houston County schoolboy possessed the patience to pursue turkey hens to their hidden nests. During egg-laying season, his after-school quest was to … [Read more...]