Thomas Rice Stewart came west as an 11-year-old boy with his parents and siblings from Massachusetts to the wilderness of Minnesota in 1853, five years before statehood. The family was one of only a half-dozen to spend the winter of 1853-54 in the new settlement that would become Caledonia. A half-century later, he wrote about those early years. Shortly after their arrival … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past: Hoot ‘n’ Holler, the Big Black Horse amid railroad recollections
“Tell that animal up there to go slow and not run over us!” yelled John Sand up to the conductor in the train that was bearing down on them. The “big black horse” (steam locomotive) endangered their little motor car all the way from Rushford to Houston. “We had that big headlight beaming down on us, and we were going as fast as we could.” Sand, who resided in Houston, long … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past: Real Bread, but Only a Substitute for Coffee
Part two of a series A piece of straw was placed inside the oven to test the temperature. If it burnt to ashes immediately, the oven was too hot and would need to cool for a while. But if the straw became “nice and brown,” the oven was ready for the bread to go in. It was during the 1870s when young Augusta Burow Arnett (1865-1947) saw her grandfather test the temperature of … [Read more...]
Spring Grove Girls Roll to Road Win over Southland, 63-48
Kinley Soiney scored 25 points and secured 9 rebounds as the Spring Grove girls won on the road at Southland, 63-48. It was just one of several noteworthy performances. Siri Konkel directed the attack with 14 points, 6 boards and 5 assists while Emerson Ingvalson posted 12 points, 7 rebounds and a team-best 6 steals. Carlie Halverson grabbed 8 rebounds to go with 5 assists … [Read more...]
Lion Girls Lambaste Lyle/Pacelli; Soiney scores 1,000th point
Kinley Soiney scored her 1,000th career point while pouring in 20 points as Spring Grove pulverized visiting Lyle/Pacelli, 64-18, on Jan. 4. Siri Konkel had 14 points and Kylie Hammel 11. Emerson Ingvalson added 8 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists with no turnovers. With a fifth straight win in the series against L/P, the Lions (9-2, 5-0 SEC) remained unbeaten in league play … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Marriage Meant Instant Live-in In-laws
By Lee Epps Water was quite a problem for her family, according to the childhood memories of Augusta Burow in the 1870s. Her parents collected rainwater off the roof in big barrels except in winter when they melted snow or hauled water from a creek about two and half miles from their farm home on South Ridge in Houston County, Minn. Her father Friedrich Martin Burow was … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past: Cussing Punishable by Fine or Confinement
Gambling, drunkenness, fighting, trespassing, larceny, selling diseased meat and adulterating food or liquor were all prohibited in Brownsville, Houston County. About everything was covered by an ordinance passed in May,1872, “For the Suppression of Vice and Immorality” to prevent and punish crime and benefit trade, commerce and health. A jail was authorized the same … [Read more...]
State-Ranked No. 2 Hayfield Girls Survive Upset Scare from Spring Grove
There were 11 lead changes in a state-ranked girls basketball matchup before No. 2 Hayfield held off visiting No. 18 Spring Grove, 60-52. The Dec. 28 bout was the closest anyone has come thus far against the undefeated Vikings (11-0), who have won the last two section championships. Spring Grove (8-2) led 45-44 before Hayfield sealed the victory with a late 11-point run. … [Read more...]
Kinley Soiney Leads Spring Grove Girls Past Kenyon-Wanamingo
Kinley Soiney poured in 30 points and the state-ranked No. 18 Spring Grove girls were effective in transition during a 60-40 neutral-site win over Kenyon-Wanamingo (3-5). The Dec. 27 decision was part of a holiday schedule at Hayfield. The Lions (8-1) shot a strong 45% from the field, much due to Soiney hitting 11 of 18 shots (61%). Grove did not rely heavily on 3-point … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past: “Let There Be Light” – and the 10 O’clock News
Technology changed life for the residents of Houston, Minn., during the first half of the 20th century (1900s), when according to area historian Ingrid Julsrud, “More has been invented and new things have come into existence… than in many previous centuries together.“ Electricity came late to the village of Houston, maybe conjectured Julsrud due to a lack of labor and/or … [Read more...]