Part seven of a series It was “a different approach to torture,” putting the harness on a horse named Lady. It was “a dance to Lady’s tune.” Her front feet were some of the most active I have ever seen,” wrote Warren Lange in the published memories of his boyhood on a 1930s farm on South Ridge in Mound Prairie Township, Houston County. Lange described Lady as highly … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Wearing bells in Houston, stuck in muck in Caledonia
They wore “beautiful brass bells, that made the prettiest musical sounds,” according to Houston, Minn., historian Ingrid Julsrud, referring to dray horses. A dray was a wagon and team of horses that unloaded freight and merchandise at the train depot for delivery to downtown merchants. Baggage might be taken to hotels. Railroads reached southeast Minnesota during the 1860s and … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Not showing off – just hanging on!
Part five of a series Sisters Barbara and Juliet Lee, on horseback, rampaged through downtown Spring Grove. Onlookers on that mid-1920s Sunday afternoon thought the teenage girls were showing off. After all, they were the daughters of renown horsemen Knute Lee. But recalling that speedy spectacle years later, Juliet told her son Mark that the girls were just holding on as best … [Read more...]
Cub Scout Pack 53 food shelf donation drive a success
Cub Scout Pack 53 of the Rushford Peterson area recently held a food shelf donation drive, and is thankful for the generous donations to the Rushford Food Shelf. Pack 53 is also appreciative of the many area businesses that hosted donation cups to raise money. This donation drive raised $1,166.32 for the food shelf. … [Read more...]
21st Annual Bluff Country Studio Art Tour – where art is made!
From April 22-24, 2022, artists in SE Minnesota’s Bluff Country will open the doors to their creative spaces for a behind-the-scenes studio view not usually offered to the general public. During this annual self-guided event, these accomplished artists will be displaying their work, demonstrating their processes and selling pottery, paintings, turned wood items, jewelry, fiber … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Horses traveled on trains, Knute’s big dream of a big barn
Part four of a series and the second concerning Knute Lee Mustangs moving from Montana to southeast Minnesota? Some took the train. Two Spring Grove men traveled by train to the “wild west” state of Montana where it was still possible to catch wild horses. Knute Lee and John Kjome purchased recently-domesticated (broken) mares and broncos and brought them back by rail to … [Read more...]
Beatty Darr achieves Eagle Scout
Beatty Darr of Troop 53, Rushford-Peterson area, has achieved the highest rank available of Eagle Scout. The celebration for this prestigious award was held on Sunday, March 20 at the American Legion in Rushford. Scoutmaster Thomas Butterfield presided over the ceremony. Beatty’s Eagle project was adding concrete and pavers to the flag pole at Oakwood (Sherwood) Cemetery in … [Read more...]
International Owl Center auctions owl art by Ukrainian children
Karla Bloem, executive director of the International Owl Center at Houston, was flabbergasted as she watched the ending of the recent online auction of 59 pieces of owl art created by Ukrainian children. “It was like high drama and every time I refreshed the total would go up thousands of dollars!” Bloem exclaimed. Bloem would have been happy to raise $6,000; at the end of the … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past If you had horses and a wagon and were willing to work…
Part 3 of a series Everyone owned them; many bought and sold them. Some bred them, but few caught and “broke” them. But Knute Lee did it all and even sang to horses. He was an extraordinary horseman of Houston County during the first two decades of the 1900s. Previous generations of the Lee family had immigrated from Norway to Black Hammer Township, where the family name … [Read more...]
Convergence CiderWorks A celebration of local
By Tanya O’Connor Convergence CiderWorks is a great spot for “a date night in tennis shoes,” says co-founder Natalie Naber. But there’s more. Naber’s quick to add that Decorah’s growing cider house also serves as a stop while biking, a family getaway, somewhere for “noshing on good eats” or looking for live music. It is, she says, about “just enjoying each other’s … [Read more...]