Elsie’s in Caledonia Each week, I deliver newspapers to La Crescent, Hokah and Brownsville, and I am often fortunate enough to have a passenger to chat with along the way. This past week, our son Landon joined me for the countryside tour of Houston County, delivering fresh copies of the Visit Bluff Country Magazine and Fillmore County Journal. It gives us time to talk … [Read more...]
A Goodly Heritage
Thankful for once a year jobs Today I sat in my centenarian farm kitchen cutting fresh broccoli we harvested from our garden. As I worked I could hear the echoes and the low drone of my husband’s tractor. Finishing my job of blanching the green delicacy and packaging it, I sauntered outdoors to the corn cribs where the action was taking place. A corn crib is a structure … [Read more...]
I felt as lucky as Kentucky on a fair day
It was time for me to get my fairs in order. Don’t follow the masses. Sometimes the “m” is silent. That was the advice I was given years back without asking for it. I ignored it and followed the masses to a county fair. Fairgrounds aren’t mediocre coffee. There is something for everyone unless you are someone for whom nothing is good enough. You can find complete gutter … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Wowed with words, dazzled with descriptions in 1903
Was it really considered a compliment to be compared to Poland China hogs? It was unexplained why Caledonia “rooters” were so enthused about a contest between Spring Grove and Houston. However, more than a century ago, Houston County writers were able to describe an ordinary local event with enough embellishment of the English language, exaggeration and humor to hopefully … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions – The dog days of summer
By Pastor Bridget Sheely Racine/Sumner Center UMC, Stewartville UMC Children’s Ministry Coordinator Well folks, here we are, sandwiched between the freshness of spring and the glory of the harvest. Widely known as the dog days of summer. Why is that? Well, one theory that dates back to the Greek and Roman times is that in these hot, humid and dry days of August it is … [Read more...]
The first motorcycle in the township
We learn to live in a new way each new day. I’m part of the generation that’s afraid of quicksand. I’ve never seen quicksand, but I witnessed its treachery in plenty of old black and white movies. It was a standard trope in the old action films featuring jungles. I watched the enemies of Tarzan, dastardly fellows, fall prey to quicksand. It made a good story. I love it … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past His horse wore snowshoes; hundreds of deer couldn’t move
Norwegian emigration, part 9 “The new generation lacks both the knowledge and imagination to grasp the actual conditions of life as it was lived by the pioneers,” wrote Hjalmar Holand in 1920 about Norwegian pioneers in southeast Minnesota. Hard work was a given, but these pioneers were at the mercy of weather, insects and specifically for that era – epidemics. Chinch … [Read more...]
I’ve drawn a line in the sandwich
I was careful to look one way before crossing the road. I pulled the Sunday newspaper from our rural mailbox. It was about my size, but I lugged it to my father who read the comics to me. The funny papers were a wonderland of color and wit. My father added sound effects. He brought “Dennis the Menace,” “Marmaduke,” “Peanuts,” “Beetle Bailey,” “Henry,” “Ferd’nand,” “Mark Trail” … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotion Take courage, weary soul
Rev. Peter J. Haugen St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church One stanza of that beautiful hymn “Rise! To Arms! With Prayer Employ You” has been running through my mind for months: “Cast afar this world’s vain pleasure / And boldly strive for heav’nly treasure. / Be steadfast in the Saviour’s might. / Trust the Lord, who stands beside you, / For Jesus from all harm will hide … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past: Beware of death, Judgement Day, the devil and loan sharks
Norwegian emigration, part 7 When immigrants from Norway finally reached southeastern Minnesota, there was plenty of farm land available. According to the Distribution-Preemption Act of 1841, a squatter could live on 160 acres of federal government land and then pay the minimum price of $1.25 an acre ($39 value in 2021) when the land was officially opened for settlement. One … [Read more...]