Third of a three-part series “He formed everything from door hinges to implements required to clear the land, plow, seed and cultivate the fields and fashion the tools used during the harvest.” Houston County researcher Josephine Hefte thus characterized Thomas Abbotts, originally from England, who arrived in Caledonia in 1856, establishing a blacksmith shop, and later a … [Read more...]

Second of a series Shipping “King Wheat” to market was the primary reason railroad service into the interior of the new state of Minnesota was so critical during the 1860s. Since the late 1850s, wheat had been the major cash crop in an agrarian economy. Ironically, wheat production began to wane by the late 1870s when railroad service finally reached the Houston County seat … [Read more...]

Houston and Fillmore Counties were thriving in the mid-to-late 1800s, greatly due to the transformation of transportation by the railroad – except for the two county seats, Caledonia and Preston. The early Minnesota railroads, built between 1862 and 1870, began in the eastern counties and generally expanded westward as did the settlements. These lines reached from the … [Read more...]

Second of a two-part series He was a farmer, school custodian and school bus driver, but driving had nothing to do with the 40 passenger school bus (minus its roof) ending up in his living room or what had been his living room only moments before. It was 8:50 p.m. soon after nightfall. Farming a half-mile west of Houston, Aldis Gordon was back at his two-and-a-half-story … [Read more...]

Head to Houston (Minnesota, that is) was the reply when Mr. and Mrs. Jack and Lyla Simonson reached out to the A&W restaurant corporation for a franchise opportunity somewhere in Minnesota. Living in Washington state, the couple wanted to move back to Minnesota for health and family reasons. Having previously resided in western Minnesota, they moved to Houston in … [Read more...]

It probably wouldn’t happen in the 21st century, with GPS and cell phones. But it was common for motorists to stop and ask for directions during the 20th century – but usually not by someone driving two secret service agents – and the president of the United States! On September 12, 1938, about three weeks before his 75th birthday, Fred. C. Sandte, clad in his farm-work … [Read more...]

Did a United States president ever visit Houston County? The answer depends on the interpretation of the word “president.” Ulysses S. Grant visited Houston County several times, but it was before he led the Union Army to victory in the American Civil War (1861-1865) and go on to become the 18th president, elected both in 1868 and 1872. It is thought no sitting president ever … [Read more...]

Part two of a two-part series He was quickly recognizable by his “burly mustache that turned to a ruggedly silver color as he aged.” But his nickname was “Shakes,” reflecting his medical condition which caused tremors in his arm and hand. He did not mind, since the moniker provided not only notoriety but likely, also popularity for his business, the South Ridge Country Store, … [Read more...]