“Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God’s children.” I grew up in the 1960s inspired by these words from the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. Yet, I am heartsick that today, over 50 years later, racial injustice continues to be a stain on our national character and a strain on our national unity. Recent tragedies have highlighted how far we have yet to travel … [Read more...]
Historic Memories of Fillmore County More information regarding… Aaron L. Sleyster’s poem, “The Canton Mystery”
As most of my readers already probably know, one of my biggest passions is researching the history of all of the small towns that make up our beautiful Fillmore County, Minn.! And then having … [Read more...]
It drowned out the sounds of many clarinets
“You live in the middle of nowhere.” The visitor who said that was from a big city. That caused me to reply in the traditional way, “Not really, but I can see nowhere from here.” I live not far from St. Aidan Catholic Cemetery. It’s near Bath, Minn., which falls in the category of a ghost town. The population is zero, but has 100% response to the Census. I visit there … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past: Big Spring, Black Maria, Great Depression led to valley becoming state park
In the 1890s, Farmer Oseth made a daily trek from his homeplace down into the valley with a yoke and pails of milk and cream to the what became known as the Big Spring, where his wooden tank was used as a cooling system. Others, who came by horse-drawn vehicles down a rocky road, began using the tank to cool their butter, melons and beverages. The water of Big Spring maintains … [Read more...]
Agriculture literacy in our communities
By Maddie Smith National FFA Officer Candidate Think about the last time you filled up at the pump. What fuel did you use? Why? Thinkabout the labels on the food you buy. What do they mean? Think about the news stories you hear. What do we do to keep our water clean and the environment healthy? How do trade agreements impact our communities? Why do we see healthy livestock … [Read more...]
Rummaging around the last place I’d look
I rummaged around. It’s life on the planet Batt. I wasn’t chewing on life’s gristle or on a quest. I wasn’t looking for the truth. I wasn’t looking for answers. I wasn’t looking for Judge Crater, Amelia Earhart, Jimmy Hoffa or Waldo. I began my search as men typically do by saying, “Who stole my thingamajig?” Thingamajig could be replaced with whatnot, oojamaflip, whatsit, … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past: One small town, three bank heists, two criminal cases solved
Wearing masks in a bank may be common, even required, during a pandemic. Bank tellers may not be alarmed by mask-wearers on Halloween, but on October 31, 1986, at Eitzen State Bank, a rubber mask and a sawed-off shotgun had nothing to do with a holiday. Bank robbers have three times targeted that site. There was limited success during a 1964 burglary, but swift justice … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past: Houston County bank robbery merits stay in state penitentiary
It was 1903, just two years after construction of the new bank building. While walking to work on the morning of October 17, Olaf Narveson noticed something amiss at the bank in Spring Grove. He summoned bank president Nels Onsgard, who discovered the vault had been blown open with nitroglycerin. An overcoat had been used to muffle the sound of the explosion. High overnight … [Read more...]
A little of this, A little of that
Patience is not in the American psyche. We believe in independence and instant gratification. That’s why we invented the credit card. We can buy whatever we want when we want it. Usually we want it today or tomorrow. You don’t have to save up money to buy something; just use your plastic card! What a life. As long as you have money or a credit card, you can buy it … [Read more...]
He’s still using rabbit ears
Once upon a time, long before “The Andy Griffith Show” went into reruns, there was an eastern cottontail with a dream. He had a name, but it’s nigh impossible for a mere human to pronounce a rabbit’s name, so I’ll call him the rabbit. Yes, the rabbit was a dreamer. But that’s like saying Fred Astaire was a good dancer or Babe Ruth could hit a home run. As he nibbled on some … [Read more...]