By Bretta Grabau FCHS Assistant Director and Collections Managery One of the most exciting parts of working at a museum is unraveling the mysteries of an artifact or collection of artifacts. In May 2022, I had the privilege to delve into the story of a man named Gibson O’Dell. Many items came in from his in-law, Lois Peterson of Lanesboro as a gift from the Lanesboro History … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Mons Fladager- Painter, Emtrepreneur, Father of Spring Grove
Part two of a series “No one man can be given more credit for the development of the city of Spring Grove than Mons Fladager,” wrote area historian Jane Briggs Palen, who noted that there were only two inhabitants in Spring Grove – Robert McCormick and William Hinckley – when Fladager arrived in 1859. He operated a store in a log hut, that with help from two sons and … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past: Settled First by Yankees, Mostly by Norwegians
Spring Grove, the first Norwegian settlement in Minnesota, is still known for its Norwegian heritage. But the non-Norwegian name was given to the village by Pennsylvania printer James Smith, who in 1852 was Spring Grove’s first settler. His 1853 store was the first business. Smith would also be the first Justice of the Peace and postmaster. Before the influx of Norwegian … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past: “Mucking Out” Greatly Appreciated by the Cows
Housecleaning appeared more appreciated by the livestock than by the humans. Some older cows jumped and pranced when they were returned to stalls that had just been cleaned. “Envision these animals sticking their noses in the fresh straw and with udders waving, leaping from ecstasy,” recalled Warren Lange in 2015 about cleaning the barn as a boy on a Houston County farm in the … [Read more...]
SEMAC Awards Grants
On October 17, 2023, the Board of Directors of the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council (SEMAC) awarded $50,000 in general operating support grants to ten arts organizations. SEMAC is the State Arts Board-designated granting authority for local/regional arts producing and sponsoring organizations and disburses funds allocated for this purpose by the Minnesota State … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past With Awe and Reverence, Remembering Captain McIntire
He visited classes at Houston School to talk about the Battle of Gettysburg. He was knowledgeable because he had been there, in uniform, as a combatant. Born in Dedham, Mass., in 1838, Samuel Bates McIntire (sometimes spelled McIntyre) moved as a young man with his parents, Edmund and Sarah McIntire, to Minnesota territory in the early- to mid-1850s. First settling in Yucatan … [Read more...]
Culture and Community: The Irreplaceable Volunteer
I sat down with Sheila Craig at her kitchen table in rural Preston, Minn. Her husband Norm sat in another room, while I conducted the interview. Norm and Sheila, who have been married since 1969, raised two sons, Andy, 45, and Lee, 41. Norm, who is from Everly, Iowa, met Sheila at Iowa State University. Here’s what I learned... Hailing from Decorah, Iowa, Sheila … [Read more...]
Farm Family: A Family Affair
November’s farm family interview included not only mom and dad, Ryan and Molly Kappers, but their four young children, Haiden, Emily, Olivia and Avery, who range in age from 3 to 10. At the beginning of the interview, the kids were hesitant to talk, but as the interview progressed, they eagerly answered questions and shared their stories. Once outside, the kids became excited … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past: Lonely and Secluded, but Crowded and Cramped
The wayside tavern/hotel was so small, it was nicknamed the “Seven by Nine.” It was often so crowded that the innkeeper and his wife slept in their chairs while renting out their own bed. About six miles west of Brownsville, on the old Brownsville-to-Caledonia portion of the Territorial Road in Union Township, Houston County, it was a welcome stopover in the 1850s for weary … [Read more...]
Won’t You Wear Purple on October 19?
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. On Thursday, October 19, everyone is encouraged to wear purple to show their support and to increase awareness of domestic violence. This year’s theme is “Everyone Knows Someone.” Statistics show that one in four women and one in seven men will become a victim of some sort of domestic violence in their lifetime, … [Read more...]
10 Hot Air Balloons Will Take to the Sky Over Caledonia
By Charlene Corson Selbee The Caledonia Balloon Rally was started in 1990 and is the only balloon rally south of Rochester, Minn., and has become an annual event. This year, the rally is scheduled for October 20-22. The 10 hot air balloons are coming from Minnesota, the surrounding states of Wisconsin and Iowa, and one is coming from South Dakota. They will lift off from … [Read more...]
Uffda Fest is Back
The community of Spring Grove, Minn., has come together to resurrect the town’s former festival, Uffda Fest. The fall festival celebrates the town’s Norwegian heritage and promotes the town’s vibrant downtown. The festival takes place October 6-8. Trivia question. What does uffda mean? The word uffda as defined by Wikipedia is “of Norwegian origin, the phrase was brought by … [Read more...]
Culture and Community: Where People Discover God’s Country
For anyone who has ever travelled from Chatfield to Fountain on Highway 52, they’ve observed “God’s Country.” They’ve seen it spray painted bold and black on a 70-year-old steel farm building full of round hay bales. Tom, who grew up in Rochester, Minn., discovered God’s Country when he was just a kid. He recalls when he was about nine years old, he would ride a Jefferson … [Read more...]
Streams, Bluffs, Snow and Parched Corn
There were 17 committees that worked in preparation for a three-day Houston County diamond anniversary (75 years) homecoming celebration in 1929. The Historical Booklet Committee produced a 48-page publication that included the information recounted here. Previously, there had been far more extensive county histories published in 1882 and 1919. The land that became Houston … [Read more...]
Fall Colors Come Alive in Bluff Country
Fall colors are beginning to bloom in Bluff Country. A wide palette of yellows, oranges, golds, browns, reds, and greens draw residents and visitors alike, to experience Bluff Country. Whether taking photos, visiting apple orchards, buying colorful mums, enjoying corn mazes with your children, picking out the perfect pumpkin to grace your home, visiting a local farmers … [Read more...]
