By Joanne Hall, Preston Historical Society The Preston Republican article of July 24, 1958, carried the headline “County Seat Was Coveted Prize in 1850’s”. Minnesota was still a territory in the years 1851 to 1856 so government supervision came from St. Paul. The boundaries of early Fillmore County included parts of what are now Houston, Winona and Olmsted counties. … [Read more...]
Experiencing God Through Community and Nature
By Pastor Nissa Peterson Chatfield and Root Prairie Lutheran Churches One of the great joys of being a pastor during the summer is participating in trips with our young people. I want to share a particularly meaningful story from a trip a few years ago. On the second to last night of our mission trip to the Duluth, Minn., area, our group joined for supper with two other … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past – New Families, New Homes for “Take-In” Kids
“Well, we were all in the same boat,” was a common reply when asked about living in Houston County’s Winnebago Creek Valley during the Great Depression of the 1930s. “There was no one nearby with which to compare their circumstances. We had plenty (of) food to eat, and the rest didn’t matter.” Unlike city dwellers, mostly self-sufficient farm folks did not need to earn money to … [Read more...]
Be Careful What You Practice
Mr. Google says it takes an average of 66 days to form a new habit, but I reckon’ he ain’t never seen nothin’ stick faster than a cowboy drawl, if’n you practice frum sun up to sun down fer just a few days! Google oughta been warnin’ me to mind what I’m practicin’ – ‘cause once it sets in, it’ll stick like a tick on a hound dog! How’s this ol’ cowboy twang sittin’ with ya? … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions – God is Our Salvation
Rev. Peter J. Haugen St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church Even we Christians often fall into the trap of believing that suffering is a sign that God is punishing us. We do not understand that God reveals Himself, reveals His love in suffering, that He uses suffering to purge us, to purify us, to draw us to Himself. We Christians do not seek suffering, but we do interpret … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past – The First Worship Service and the Most Famous Person to Live and Die in Houston County
Part five of a five-part series The Swedes who settled the area still known as Swede Bottom, were the first and probably the only group of Swedish Baptists to leave their homeland solely for religious freedom. In 1853, they were led to North America by F. O. Nilsson, who in September 1848, had organized the first Baptist congregation, the first successful “free church” in … [Read more...]
Thyme & Again – Big Truth and Jambalaya
By Angela Denstad Time and again the old quip about law and sausages resurfaces: To paraphrase, if you’re fond of either, it’s best not to inquire about how they’re made. But as we prepare for the annual celebration of American independence during a legislative session like no other, it’s hard not to hold big, beautiful brats – or bills – top of mind. If you’re feeling … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions – Jesus is the Light of the World
By Pastor Mark Woodward Maple Leaf Parish of the UMC Cherry Grove, Fountain, Preston, and Spring Valley: Faith Churches (and Lenora) On October 2, 2024, my beloved wife, best friend and partner in ministry passed away from an undiagnosed heart condition. I was shocked and devastated by her passing. Pastor Deanna Woodward was truly a ray of sunshine and light in my life … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past – Ben’s Mother Had Been Baptized
Part four of a series Indians, in the 1850s, did not live around the village of Houston but were downstream toward the Mississippi, noted Ben Benson. “They often came up the Root River in their canoes on hunting trips.” As a senior citizen, Benson wrote about his childhood as one of the earliest white settlers in Swede Bottom. Although for completely different reasons, all … [Read more...]
Three Experienced Piano Movers Who Aren’t for Hire at Any Price
It was a lovely day. The birds were singing. They were singing, “Ya got trouble, folks! Right here in River City. Trouble with a capital “T” and that rhymes with “P” and that stands for piano!” That’s right, there was a storm looming on the horizon. We’d bought a house that came equipped with a piano. The piano had been placed in the basement, and the rest of the house … [Read more...]