Second of a two-part series For tribal elders, this migration was unpleasant but nothing new. More than a century later, local historian Percival Narveson termed “this uneasy procession” to be “the most colorful and spectacular sight ever witnessed” in what became western Houston County. In the summer of 1848, about 2,500 Winnebago (Ho-Chunk) Indians, 90 soldiers, about … [Read more...]
The power of an internship
It’s a common story: schools close down, office employees work from home, and internships are canceled. Last spring, most plans went out the window. As a college student, I was preparing to intern either at an orphanage in Mexico or with a policy group in Washington D.C. The last thing that I expected to spend my summer doing was live in a trailer and work on a potato farm in … [Read more...]
Matt and Brenda Stier: Sharing life — and the gift of music — together
Steve and Eydie. Sonny and Cher. Johnny and June. Let’s add John and Yoko, too. Who are these people and what do they have in common? Depending on your birthday and generation, you recognize them as married couples who became well-known for singing together. If you’re from Spring Valley, Harmony, Lanesboro, Preston, St. Charles, or Chatfield, anywhere in southeast Minnesota, … [Read more...]
Historic memories of Fillmore County A few more pictures from the Drury family photo album
Last week you met six of the eight children born to Joseph H. and Sadie (McNulty) Drury. However, I explained that the old photograph didn’t include three of the children - Pearl, Robert, and Donald. I searched our family photo albums and came up short finding any pictures of the three of them when they were children. But I did find three very nice pictures of them, as … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Many walked from Winona into Iowa through Spring Grove and Houston
First of a two-part series Hundreds of years before paved roadways, there was an extraordinary prehistoric trail near present-day Spring Grove and Houston. Before statehood, Spring Grove Township named one early road Indian Trail Road, which is now part of Houston County Highway 8 where it meets Highway 44. “While most Indian trails were only narrow footpaths through the … [Read more...]
It’s fall when even my feet smell like pumpkin spice
Fall is when we give serious thought to winter. Winter is when we begin looking forward to spring. When does fall begin? Is it the astronomical date of the autumnal equinox on September 22, the meteorological date of September 1 or Labor Day? No matter, it’s when winter looms. Winter is imminent for a long time. Sarah Morgan Bryan Piatt wrote this, which is only slightly … [Read more...]
Valerie (Earley) Luhman: Fillmore County roots, agricultural success
National FFA Officer Candidate Deep roots and strong wings: being equipped with these two things can take you anywhere. There’s one Fillmore County native who exemplifies this philosophy. Valerie Luhman (maiden name Earley) has used her roots in Fillmore County to soar to new heights as an agricultural entrepreneur. Valerien Luhman, daughter of James and Rachel Earley, has … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past 1936 “cream can” caper increases Eitzen bank heist total
Yikes! – yes, another one. I thought my August 3 column covered all of the bank thefts in Eitzen (1964, 1986, 1991). But alert readers with good memories have since pointed out that I was at least one heist short of a quartet. Lifetime Houston County resident Glenn Buxengard recalled the “cream can crime” – but was not sure of the exact year. Carol Ann Burtness, the … [Read more...]
I stole a car that wouldn’t start
You picked up the phone and you hoped for the best. That’s how it was before everything went to voicemail. I’d returned to the big city after a daring rescue mission to free food from my parents’ pantry. I’d opened my apartment door to a ringing telephone. It was a friend who was working out of town. We played basketball together. He said he thought he’d left the keys in his … [Read more...]
Historic memories of Fillmore County There were eight children born to Joseph H. and Sadie (McNulty) Drury
Last week we discussed the early days and history of the iconic furniture store in Fountain, Minn., Drury’s. Drury’s website www.drurysfurniture.com is excellent and includes the early history of the store as well as 11 awesome photographs! When you visit the website you will notice a charming, small picture of five young children. Reuben Drury, the founder of Drury’s, was … [Read more...]