Part one Even before the Civil War began, some in Houston County were organizing for combat. In February of 1861, while many were still pursuing a peaceful solution, Caledonia’s Col. Sam McPhail, a Mexican War veteran, sought to form a regiment. Having lived in the South, he “appreciated the temper of the fire-eaters and knew that if resisted, they would fight.” Fifteen … [Read more...]

In movies, books and even in real life, opposites attract.  You understand the science behind magnets, right?  Enough said.  My question is does this attraction of opposites last when the novelty wears off?  This is the true story of two ordinary high school students growing up in tiny towns in the Midwest.  Let’s call them J. and K.  They are both juniors in high school and … [Read more...]

I’ll admit it, I’ve never milked almonds. I’ve never milked soybeans, rice, oats, hemp, flax, coconuts or cashews either. Apparently, milk comes from everything but milkweed. “Were you born in a barn?” I’m often asked when failing to close a door. I hadn’t been, but I took field trips to the dairy barn each day. It was a nice place to visit but I didn’t want to live there. … [Read more...]

“We had one tin wash dish and one clean towel each week,” recalled 87-year-old Bridgette M. (O’Brien) Hennessy while reflecting on more than four decades of teaching (about 1908 to 1956) at Vinegar Hill School between Money Creek and Rushford before retiring at age 70. “The water was carried from a neighbor’s house, and we all drank from the same dipper. There was never an … [Read more...]

By Charlene Corson Selbee The interview started on an upbeat note when rural Harmony resident Lindsay Barnes emphatically stated that she loves to work out. Ten years ago, when 34 years old, Barnes started running. It was not long before she realized that living in Southeast Minnesota meant that she needed to find an activity that would give her a good workout in the … [Read more...]

By Rev. Deanna Woodward Maple Leaf Parish Fountain, Cherry Grove and Spring Valley Faith United Methodist Churches One of the things we ministers do is to provide spiritual support for people at crisis times in their lives.  And so we witness human pain and problems, but we also have the privilege of witnessing incredible examples of faith, love, patience and … [Read more...]

Sometimes I get so hungry I could almost eat my cooking. I make excellent toast, but I can’t explain my technique well enough to teach a class on toast making. I reckon it’s a gift. I’m a wizard at reheating food in a microwave. I’m lucky to have lived under the spell of two talented cooks (wife and mother). They make cooking as easy as shooting fish in a barrel, but I’ve … [Read more...]