Hear the amazing story of Colton Witte and Sean Bloomfield’s paddleup the Minnesota River, down the Red River of the North, across the

massive Lake Winnipeg and ending after a total of 49 days at the YorkFactory on the Hudson Bay. The two teenagers started out at theirhometown Chaska and paddled for an incredible 2,250 miles.

Sunday March 29th, 1 p.m. / Treaty Site History CenterSean and Colton will talk about a journey few people would ever dreamof doing through images and personal observations. The idea came tothem after reading about Eric Sevareid and Walter Port’s 1930 canoetrip from Fort Snelling to the Hudson Bay in the book Canoeing withthe Cree. For Sevareid and Port, it took 98 days.

The two teenagers started out on April 28th as snowflakes fell from thedark sky and they paddled back into winter by the time they made it tothe York Factory on June 15th. On the way they battled a floodingMinnesota River, ate moldy pizza, and suffered through extreme weather conditions. They learned quickly to take people’s advice onwhat they might see upstream with a grain of salt.

Witte and Bloomfield continued on page 5

March 2009 • Volume 14 / Issue 1

Chaska to York Factory in Forty-Nine Days

Charitable giving workshopspotlights smart ways to shareWe all have time, talents and treasures

(assets) that can be a powerful gift to organ-izations that we care about. A free educationalworkshop, Charitable Giving: How to Make aDifference by Giving Back, will cover a varietyof ways you can share and make an impact.

In this workshop developed by ThriventFinancial for Lutherans, you’ll learn about every-thing from volunteer opportunities to financialtools that may actually increase your givingcapabilities. You’ll also find out how you canleave a charitable legacy that will continue toprovide help far into the future.

The workshop will be presented by FinancialRepresentatives Jonathan Kraatz and Brian EJones, CFP®.

When: Thursday, March 26 at 6:30 p.m.Where: Treaty Site History Center

Sign up today!

Sign up on the registrationform at the Treaty Site HistoryCenter or contact the NicolletCounty Historical Society at507-934-2160 or e-mailben@nchsmn.org to reserveyour spot today.While various product solutions may be suggested assolutions for your needs, no products will be sold atthis educational event. Registered representative forsecurities offered through Thrivent InvestmentManagement Inc., 625 Fourth Ave. S., Minneapolis,MN 55415-1665, 800-THRIVENT (800-847-4836), awholly owned subsidiary of Thrivent Financial forLutherans. Member FINRA and SIPC.

Thrivent Financial and its representatives andemployees cannot provide legal, accounting or taxadvice or services. Work with your Thrivent Financialrepresentative in collaboration with your attorneyand/or tax professional for complete details.

CONTENTS

Director’s Report 2

Site Info 2

Memorials 2

Ridgely Report 3

Moline Scholarship 4

Legacy Amendment 5

Active Archives 6

Dakota HistoryRoundtable 7

Members 7

Median Project 8

Spring Fling at Co-op 9

New Board Members 10

Plant Sale 10

Norseland Invitation 10

Events Calendar 11

Membership Form 12

Memorialsreceived since the lastnewsletter:

In Memory ofIrene Bell

Given byMarilyn & Bill Robertz

In Memory ofDon Burch

Given byCarol & Martin MenkMarilyn & Bill RobertzEd & Bev Wetherill

In Memory ofDave Bussman

Given byMarilyn & Bill Robertz

In Memory ofBeulah Martens

Given byCarol Jackson

In Memory ofGene Nelson

Given byMarilyn & Bill Robertz

In Memory ofBill Pell

Given byCarol & Martin Menk

In Memory ofEvelyn Ricci

Given byDolores HolteenJudy Scholl

In Memory ofCarol Tostenson

Given byRichard & DwightTostenson

the CROSSINGis a publication of theNicollet CountyHistorical Society.Subscription is free with a Societymembership.

Contributors forthis issue:Jessica BrockbergRuth GreweEileen HolzBen LeonardJenniver LuhmannBob SandeenNancy Zempel

Director’s ColumnI can’t turn on the news or the

internet without hearing aboutcurrent economic crisis. We allknow times are tough right now.I have many friends, as I’m suremany of you do, who are out ofwork. In troubled times peopleoften look to history for guid-ance and perspective. It’s some-what amusing that we seem tobe getting neither from the media. The GreatDepression is a popular starting point for newsreports these days. Some even suggest our current economic malaise is worse than that ofeighty years ago. For a little context I turned tothe Library of Congress. They provide a historylesson for those of us born after the GreatDepression:

The Great Depression began in 1929 when, in aperiod of ten weeks, stocks on the New YorkStock Exchange lost 50 percent of their value. Asstocks continued to fall during the early 1930s,businesses failed, and unemployment rose dra-matically. By 1932, one of every four workers wasunemployed. Banks failed and life savings werelost, leaving many Americans destitute. With nojob and no savings, thousands of Americans losttheir homes. The poor congregated in cardboardshacks in so-called Hoovervilles on the edges ofcities across the nation; hundreds of thousands ofthe unemployed roamed the country on foot andin boxcars in futile search of jobs. Although fewstarved, hunger and malnutrition affected many.

In a country with abundant resources, the largestforce of skilled labor, and the most productiveindustry in the world, many found it hard tounderstand why the depression had occurred and why it could not be resolved. Moreover, it was difficult for many to understand why peopleshould go hungry in a country possessing hugefood surpluses. Blaming Wall Street speculators,bankers, and the Hoover administration, the rum-blings of discontent grew mightily in the early1930s. By 1932, hunger marches and small riotswere common throughout the nation.

However, not all citizens were caught up in thesocial eruptions. Many were too downtrodden orbusy surviving day to day to get involved in pub-lic displays of discontent. Instead, they placed

Director’s Message continued on page 4

Executive BoardPresident, Gary Schmidt, MankatoVice President, Julie Gilbert, St. PeterSecretary, Jeremy Freeman, St. PeterTreasurer, Herb Poncin, NicolletHistorian, Evie Swenson, Nicollet

DirectorsSteve Baxa, St. PeterDr. Chris Corley, North MankatoArden DeBoer, LafayetteDr. Lori Lahlum, North MankatoEmilie Lokensgard, NorselandThorild Nelson, NicolletDr. Sujay Rao, St. PeterTami Skinner, St. PeterDiane Stenson, St. PeterSally Webster, Bernadotte

Contact InformationExecutive Director, Ben Leonardben@nchsmn.org

Collections Manager, Bob Sandeenbob@nchsmn.org

Office Manager, Jessica Brockbergjessica@nchsmn.org

Museum Store Manager, Ruth Grewe

Cox House Manager, vacant

Harkin Store Site Manager, Ruth Grewe

Harkin Store Asst. Site Mgr., Ross Gersten

Harkin Store Site Guide, Ann Koch

TSHC Museum Assistants, Allen McBride,Hannah Skinner

TSHC Maintenance, Wayne Passon

Ft. Ridgely Site Manager, Nancy Zempel

Ft. Ridgely Site Guides, Dorothy Polesky,

John Taylor and Char Nack

Treaty Site History Center1851 N. Minnesota AvenueSt. Peter, MN 56082TSHC Phone: (507) 934-2160TSHC Fax: (507) 934-0172Hours: Tues.–Sat. 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Sunday 1–4 p.m.Archives: Tues.–Sat. 10 a.m.–4 p.m.General information via e-mail:

museum@nchsmn.org orresearch@nchsmn.org

Website: www.nchsmn.org

E. St. Julien Cox House500 N. Washington AvenueSt. Peter, MN 56082Cox House Phone: (507) 934-4309Hours: June, July, August

Thurs.–Sat. 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Harkin StoreP.O. Box 112, New Ulm, MN 56082Eight miles northwest of New Ulm,on County Highway 21Harkin Store Phone: (507) 354-8666Hours: June, July, and August

Tues.–Sun. 10 a.m.–5 p.m.September through October 15Fri.–Sun. 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Fort Ridgely72404 County Road 30Fairfax, Minn. 55332Fort Ridgely Phone: (507) 426-7888Website: ridgely@nchsmn.orgHours: Memorial Day–Labor Day

Fri.–Sun.: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.September–October 15Sat. & Sun.: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

2 the CROSSING

Ben Leonard

the CROSSING 3

Soon we will bepreparing the exhibitsfor the 2009 season.Plan on scheduling avisit.

The 5th Minnesotafrom Albert Lea, our Saturday andSunday June 27 and28 program.

Roger Breckenridge will presenta program on Sunday at 1:30p.m. Roger is a Civil War histo-rian and will present hisresearch about local men whofought in the Civil War. He willshare family histories and alsowhere the veterans have beenlaid to rest.

More programs are beingplanned for the upcoming sea-son. Keep checking the NCHSwebsite for updates. See you atFort Ridgely.

W ith snow still on the ground it is hard toimagine that in less than two months the

grass will be green and the Fort Ridgely HistoricSite will be busy with school groups. Manyschools are return visitors and will set their Mayvisit a year in advance. It is always great to hearthe laughter and chatter of children at the site.

Our first program of the season will be on June 7,which is the State Park Open House Sunday. Nofee will be charged to enter any of the states 67parks. Ron Bolduan will be at the commissarywith his program—Macro World: Little CrittersAre Wildlife Too. Ron’s pictures are alwaysgreat and he will share his knowledge of wildlife in the MinnesotaRiver valley. Check out his website atwww.experiencenature.com.There will be no charge forthe program or to enter theexhibit room.

The Civil War MilitaryWeekend will be held onSaturday, June 27 andSunday, June 28. The 5thMinnesota from Albert Leaalong with the LivingHistory group will becamped at the fort grounds.Ongoing military and dailymid-19th century demon-strations will start at 1 p.m. each day.Learn how the U.S. Army trained men forbattle and how the women worked eachday to make a home for their families.

On Saturday the Minnesota Kite Societywill have a kite flying demonstration onthe parade grounds. This will be the thirdtime the Society has been to the site.Come and see the fantastic huge kitescatch the breezes from the prairie.

Ridgely Report by Nancy Zempel, site manager

1700 3rd AvenueMankato, MN 56001(507) 388-1004

4 the CROSSING

Ted Moline

We can learnfrom historyhow past generationsthought andacted, how theyresponded tothe demands oftheir time andhow theysolved theirproblems. Wecan learn byanalogy, not byexample, for ourcircumstanceswill always bedifferent thantheirs were. The main thinghistory canteach us is thathuman actionshave conse-quences andthat certainchoices, oncemade, cannotbe undone.They foreclosethe possibility of making otherchoices andthus they determine future events.

~ Gerda Lerner

work. Projects should involveprimary source research andadd to the historical record.Projects that simply restate historical facts in book reportfashion will not be very successful. We would like tosee real historical exploration,understanding, and an excite-ment in conveying that to others. We would encouragestudents and/or educators tocontact the Society before proj-ects begin to avoid confusion.

Projects will be judged by anexpert panel at a public recep-tion, held Thursday, May 21st,6:30 p.m. at the Treaty SiteHistory Center. Students will beasked to attend and presenttheir projects. Final copies ofeach project will be preservedin the NCHS collections.

For more information pleasecontact Ben Leonard at 507-934-2160 or ben@nchsmn.org.

The Nicollet County Historical Society is offer-ing the $1,000 Ted Moline Scholarship for

post-secondary education to 2009 graduatingHigh School seniors residing in Nicollet County.The scholarship will be awarded to the studentwho demonstrates the greatest contribution tothe discovery, preservation, and/or dissemina-tion of county history.

Ted Moline was born July 21, 1915 in St. Pauland soon after his family moved to Baldwin,Wisconsin. Ted received an amateur radio oper-ator license in 1934 and was an avid operatorthe rest of his life. Moving to St. Peter in 1937to work for the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis,and Omaha Railroad, he also served in theUnited States Army, retiring in 1971 as aColonel. Ted passed away in August of 2005.He was an extremely generous man who lovedlocal history. This scholarship honors Ted andhis commitment to our mission.

Students wishing to compete for this year’sscholarship must create a significant projectthat contributes to the preservation and/orunderstanding of Nicollet County history. Thiscould include an oral history project, exhibit,documentary film, research paper, play, or other

Ted Moline Scholarship Offer

Director’s Message continued from page 2

their hope and trust in the federal government,especially after the election of Franklin D.Roosevelt to the presidency in 1932.

The New Deal, as the first two terms of FranklinDelano Roosevelt’s presidency were called,became a time of hope and optimism. Althoughthe economic depression continued throughoutthe New Deal era, the darkest hours of despairseemed to have passed. In part, this was theresult of FDR himself. In his first inauguraladdress, FDR asserted his “firm belief that theonly thing we have to fear is fear itself—name-less, unreasoning, unjustified terror.” As FDR provided leadership, most Americans placedgreat confidence in him. However, the end to the Great Depression did not about until 1941with America’s entry into World War II.

Ben Leonard, Director

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Witte and Bloomfieldcontinued from page 1

Some of the trip’s high pointsincluded receiving the key tothe city from Redwood Falls’mayor, the kindness ofstrangers who not only provid-ed encouragement but alsofood. One person hung alantern to help guide themaround the Minnesota Fallsdam. After breaking thecanoe’s yolk, they got a ride toGranite falls from the Chairmanof the Upper Sioux IndianReservation.

There were some challengingmoments on the trip too. Likethe time they were forced toput up their tent along the sideof the railroad track because itoffered the only dry ground. Inthe middle of the night a coupleof trains came roaring by asColton and Sean struggled tohold down their tent. They alsoswamped their canoe oncewhile going over a lowheaddam on the Red River.

One of the more interesting sit-uations happened near the endof their trip when a can of bearspray accidentally exploded intheir packs and covered every-thing they owned includingsleeping bags, food, and theircooking utensils. From thatpoint on every time they madepancakes for breakfast it hadthis distinctive pepper sprayflavoring. They had broughtalong the spray to protect

themselves from polar bears.Fortunately, thepolar bears were still out on the ice.

For more infor-mation on theVoyage down the MinnesotaRiver presenta-tion please con-tact Jessica at507-934-2160.

Legacy AmendmentIn November 2008, Minnesota voters passed

Minnesota Legacy Act, which providesenhanced funding, through a statewide 3/8 ofone percent sales tax, for a variety of funds,including an Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund(19.75% of the overall collected funds). The Actstates that the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund“may be spent only for arts, arts education, andarts access and to preserve Minnesota’s historyand cultural heritage.”

In December 2008 and January 2009 four pub-lic meetings were hosted by the MinnesotaHistory Coalition, six statewide organizationsrepresenting the interests of the public historycommunity. The meetings demonstrated a needfor operational funds along with bricks-and-mortar projects for county and local historicalsocieties. The groups that called the meetingswere asked to carry it forward, on behalf of theirconstituents and members. NCHS Director BenLeonard was asked to be a part of that decision-making process.

The Minnesota History Coalition recommendsthat 50 percent of the Arts & Cultural Fund bededicated in statute to statewide history funds.Within that 50 percent:

• 45% of the statewide history funds for HistoryPrograms and Projects that are of a statewidesignificance and are a state responsibility.

• 30% of the statewide history funds for HistoryPrograms and Projects operated or conductedthrough County or other HistoricalOrganizations to be distributed through acompetitive grant program.

• 25% for History Programs and Projects thatare operated by partnerships of organizationsin order to encourage collaboration toimprove capacity and expertise.

It is believed that the Minnesota HistoricalSociety should serve as the state entity thatadministers these funds.

We at NCHS are hopeful that this amendmentand the money generated will make a real dif-ference to local organizations like ours. If theserecommendations become a reality it will meanapproximately $7.5 million dollars annually tocounty and local museums. This money is nec-essary for general operating and project supportso that we can increase the capacity of institu-tions like ours to preserve and interpret ourshared heritage.

the CROSSING 5

New programs and projects

Support of organizations

Maintenance of properties

Restoration of historic jewels

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6 the CROSSING

New projects are underway in the archives. We finished scanning the confirmation photos

from Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church inNicollet. Previously, we scanned photos fromBernadotte and the two churches in Norseland.We still expect to add additional photos fromTrinity in Nicollet that show the church interiorand exterior, and photos of various activities orspecial events. These types of photos wereincluded when we digitized photos from theother three churches.

We are especially happy to be able to announcethat we are in the process of organizing a largecollection of newspaper clippings that have beenbrought to us over a long period of time by suchpeople as Bernice Breitung and Eunice Holz. Ittakes a great deal of time to cut up newspapersand to organize clippings in such a way as tomake them easily accessible to the public. Wewish to thank Bernice and Eunice and otherswho have brought us important articles fromarea newspapers! They are greatly appreciated!Also, thanks to the hard work of Marty and CarolSterner (Carol is originally from Nicollet County)we now have many of the clippings ready to beused. Photocopies of marriages and obituarieshave been placed in sheet protectors in three-ring binders. The copies have been arranged bythe first letter of the surname. This is still a workin progress, but a large amount of information isnow available to researchers. An index has notyet been prepared, but one will be made as soonas possible. These items are mainly from recent

years. They will supplement thematerial that can be found inthe surname folders in the filecabinets in the archives.

Additional images will beappearing on the “MinnesotaReflections” website later thisyear. The selected items arenow being digitized at theUniversity of Minnesota. Inaddition to more photographsfrom the Nicollet CountyHistorical Society’s collection,four Nicollet County atlases orplat books will be added. Therewill be two from 1885, onefrom 1913, and one from 1927. These will be in additionto the 1899 plat book that has already been added to thewebsite.

A photo album and a variety of single photos from the St.Peter State Hospital are also inthe process of being digitized at the University. Those imageswill later be added to the“Minnesota Reflections” websiteas part of the St. Peter RegionalTreatment Center collection.

Active Archives by Bob Sandeen, Collections Manager

T he Treaty site gift shop has put in somenew childrens books by Thornton W.

Burgess. The books are about animals in humansituations. It is avery good series forany age child. Thereare many uniqueitems at the shop foryoung people tolearn and explore.

For adults, we alsohave the new booksTrails of Tears,Minnesota's DakotaIndian Excile Begins

and In Cod We Trust by EricDregni, the dog says how byKevin Kling.

If you have a book club orschool that wants to orderbooks, we have many sourcesthat we have access to, so wecould be contacted for orderingthem for your group.

Come and visit the new dis-plays at the site and our giftshop, I think that you will bevery pleased at the “new look.”

Museum Store Musings by Ruth Grewe, manager

Dakota HistoryRoundtable DiscussionJoin the Society on Thursday, April 16th, 6:30 p.m., at the

Treaty Site History Center for a roundtable discussionrevolving around the Treaty Site’s new exhibit, the Treaty of1851, Dakota War, and their lasting consequences. Expertsincluding Dr. Bill Lass and others will speak and answer ques-tions. Audience participation is encouraged.

The Treaty of Traverse des Sioux was signed on July 23, 1851near the present day Treaty Site History Center in St. Peterbetween the Sisseton and Wahpeton Dakota and the UnitedStates Government. Signed by U.S. representatives Luke Leaand Alexander Ramsey and 35 Dakota delegates, the Treaty ofTraverse des Sioux and, a month later, the Treaty at Mendota,ceded Dakota Lands from present day Moorhead to Winona,south to the Iowa border.

The Dakota sold 35 million acres for $1,665,000 in cash andannuities in the Treaty of Traverse des Sioux. The Dakota werepaid less than 8 cents per acre. The government then sold thesame land to white settlers for $1.25 an acre. Of the$1,665,000, $275,000 was kept to pay debts with traders andto relocate the Dakota to reservation lands they retained in thetreaties. Another $30,000 was set aside for reservationimprovements. The remaining $1,360,000 was put in trust bythe U.S. Government, with only the interest, 5 percent over 50years, to be paid.

The Dakota never received the full amount agreed upon in thetreaty. Many Dakota were angered and betrayed. Mazasha,whose village was located at Traverse des Sioux, spoke in1852, “You can take the money back. We sold our land to you,and you promised to pay us. If you don’t give us the money, Iwill be glad, and all our people will be glad, for we will haveour land back.”

The summer of 1851, 7,000 Dakota move to Upper and LowerSioux reservations. However, the U.S. Senate ratified theTreaty after it was signed and abolished the reservations.Millard Fillmore, president from 1850–1853, agreed to let theDakota live there until the land was needed by whites.Stripped of the land and most of the money guaranteed by the

Treaty, many Dakota wholived along the MinnesotaRiver became discontented.For a few that anger anddistrust boiled over in 1862 and caused theDakota Conflict.

Renewed Sustaining

Members:Julie & Chris GilbertMarshall PetersonSt. Peter Chamber

of CommerceRoland & Edi Thorstensson

Renewed Patron Members:Larry & Judy BiedermanVerlin CarlsonMarie DranttelBernhard & Marilyn ErlingNicollet Chamber

of CommerceMr. & Mrs. Stanley PalmerSujay RaoRiverside Dental CareBob SandeenMarty & Carol SternerLoren SundboomStephen & Barbara

WilkinsonNew Individual Members:

Lori Ann LahlumNew Family Members:

Steve & Jen BaxaJohn IversonMr. & Mrs. Wayne Palmer

Renewed Business Members.Goodrich Construction

$500 BusinessCulligan Mayer

$200 BusinessNew Sweden Mutual

$200 BusinessNicollet County Bank

$200 BusinessRenewed IndividualMembers:

Verda BeattyMyrna BennettCarolyn BrethorstEric CarlsonHelen ChristiansonOpal DewanzMichael FrederickColleen FreitagPaula GoblirschWilliam HarveyConrad IrrgangRenee JacksonMarolyn KleinertMary KlinglerDonna KowalRuth LarsonMary LongDolores LueckJoy LutziJanet PrehnDorothy SchultzKaren SmithersAgnes StensbyNeil StevermerBernadine ThompsonSally WebsterGertrude Wright

Renewed Family Members:Frani & Mark AndersonEric AnnexstadBruce & Deb BeattyBernard & Pam BidelmanRichard & Bonnie CompartChris & Patty ConlinArden & Marilyn DeBoerPeter & Phyllis DisherGarfield & Marjorie

EckbergBrand FrentzDon & Beverly GustafsonStanley & Marjorie

HalvorsonEllis & Janet JonesArdis & Earl LundJohn & Sara McKayRoger & Barb NelsonThorild & Ardith NelsonJanet & Byron NordstromDoug & ReVae NygardEarl & Marjorie RennekeGordon & Jackie RodningKen & Patsy RossowSue & Lee SchottDouglas & Judy SchultzJames & Diane StensonHerman & Nel SwansonHoward & Jane SwensonOwen & Evie SwensonBradford and Jane

ThompsonBuster & Nina WestLarry & Joan Zambino

the CROSSING 7

MembersThanks to the following new and renewing members of NCHS since our last newsletter.

A Fur-Trader in the Council TepeeEngraving by Victor Bernstromafter an original sketch by FredericRemington (1861–1909)The image was printed in Harper’sNew Monthly Magazine, Feb. 1892From the collection of the Minnesota Historical Society

8 the CROSSING

June 1st the Minnesota Department ofTransportation in collaboration with theCity of St. Peter will begin making substantial changes to Minnesota Avenuein St. Peter between Union Avenue andHighway 22 South. The project will addmedians, crosswalks, and a resurfacedroadway. Construction is expected to lastthrough Thanksgiving. For fun, we thoughtwe’d pull out some old photos to showchanges to the road over the last 140 years– as well as what the anticipated changeswill look like.

U.S. 169/Minnesota Avenue Median Project

First row left: approximately 1870

First row right: 1905

Second row: 1939

Third row left: 1944

Third row right: 1965

Fourth row: proposed median with limestone

planter wall between Nassau and

Park Row.

Fifth row: proposed bump-out and median

treatment for Minnesota Avenue

in downtown St. Peter.

the CROSSING 9

scrimp on fun. An outing toHarkin and then on to FortRidgely is an exciting way tospend a Saturday–and it won’tbreak the bank.

Spring is right around the corner and theHarkin Store opens for the season on May

2nd. Visitors will see a lot of new amenities atthis old favorite. A new sturdy set of stairs greetmost visitors, but the site also boasts upgradedhandicapped parking beside the house. The newpaint job might look like a bold departure. It’sactually more historically accurate than the veryfaded familiar red and green. A new handicaplift replaces the old ramp and leaves a lot moreroom for visitors. The new grassy program areawill surely be a great spot to sit and enjoy sunnyday concerts. Check the NCHS events calendarfor all the stuff going on at Harkin this summer.Many of you might be staying closer to homethis summer. That doesn’t mean you have to

Harkin Happenings

Saturday, April 25 – All day

Spring Fling &Meet Your Farmers Day!Join the St. Peter Food Co-op for a celebration

of all things SPRING! We are proud to be host-ing Meet Your Farmers Day in conjunction withour Spring Fling event this year! Many of ourlocal farmers and producers will be on-site sampling their products, chatting about theirgrowing practices, answering your questions,and promoting the benefits of buying locallyproduced foods. There will be live music by RonArsenault and Brendan Larson throughout theday. Kids will enjoy planting seeds they can takehome with them, as well as a coloring contest.This event is free, open to the public, and willbe held rain or shine! The perfect follow-up tothe Earth Day Celebration at the Treaty SiteHistory Center on Wednesday, April 22! ContactJennifer Luhmann at the St. Peter Food Co-op with questions (507.934.4880 or marketing@stpeterfood.coop).

NCHS especially thanks the St. Peter United Wayfor 2008 general operating support.

Preparing students for lives of leadership, service,

and lifelong learning since 1862.

www.gustavus.edu

The Country StoreShe goes into a country store And stands rooted to the floor When she was a child. She stares at all the wondrous things With a nickels worth of dreams And a smile. Glass jars filled with Mary Janes, candy Canes Bon-Bons, Bubble Gum Mint Patties, Sugar Daddys Candy bars, Chocolate Stars Milky-Ways, Pay Days Kit Kats, and Cracker Jacks. Now a woman of great wealth She owns a chain of stores herself But it’s not the same… For none has thrilled her more Than the little country store Down the lane.

~ by Judy C Meeker

10 the CROSSING

THIS IS A SPECIAL INVITATION TO: THE Friends of Norseland Community from:

NORSELAND PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION (NPA) ORGANIZATIONAL MEETINGPlease join us on Sunday, March 22, 2009

7:00 p.m. at Scandian Grove Lutheran Church

*Reflection/update of 6-21-08 event*Ideas for a community event or project for 2009

*Remarks-David Grabitske, Head of Outreach Services, Minnesota Historical Society

*Decision on moving forward

Come and join your neighbors for conversation and light refreshments. Working together we can help Norseland stay the strong, viable community we love.

Questions: Call Judy Hanson at 246-5388

*Explanation of Norseland Preservation Association (a 501c3 corporation) Presentation/changes - adoption of bylaws Election of seven board members

Fred Struck, Garfield Eckberg, Myrna Schoeb, Evie Swenson, and Judy Hanson

What will happen at the meeting?

Dr. Lori Lahlum

Steve Baxa

Cox HouseAnnual Plant SaleT he Cox House annual Heritage

Plant Sale will be held from8:30 to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 16, at the E. St. Julien CoxHouse, 500 North Washington,St. Peter.

Old fashioned perennials, bulbs,herbs, rhubarb, raspberry plantsand small shrubs will be for sale.There will also be master garden-ers at the Cox House to answerquestions about gardening.Money raised from the sale willsupport the E. St. Julien CoxHouse and the gardens. If yourgreen thumb is itching to get outside, you may be willing todonate plants or bulbs to thesale. We rely on donations fromthoughtful gardeners like you tomake the sale go. For moreinformation contact BarbOlmanson, 934-2828, or Bev Wetherill, 934-4417.

Meet Your New BoardMembersA native of North Dakota, Lori

Lahlum moved to North Mankatoin 2005. She is Assistant Professor ofHistory at Minnesota State University,Mankato, where she teaches courses inthe American West and environmentalhistory. Her research to date hasfocused on Norwegian Americanwomen on the northern prairies andplains, which includes Minnesota.

Having recently moved to St. Peter, Steve Baxa “is excited to have the opportunity to be involved in the com-munity. I currently teach U.S. Historyat Mankato East High School. Life athome with my wife Jennifer is occu-pied by spending time with our twoboys, fixing our 109-year-old house,and gardening.”

the CROSSING 11

Event/Program information:Harkin Store: Time: 1 to 4 p.m. / Fee: $3 adults, $2 seniors and children 6–17. Free for children age 5 and

under and MHS members.

Fort Ridgely: Time: Programs start at noon each day / Fee: A State Park Vehicle Permit is required unlessotherwise noted below.

TSHC & Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. unless noted below / Fee: $4 adults, $1 children 6–16, $10 family max. Cox House: Free for children age 5 and under, NCHS and MHS members.

through April Giving Vision and Voice to the Minnesota River Valley TSHC Exhibit RoomPhoto Exhibit

March 26 Charitable Giving: 6:30 pm. How to Make a Difference by Giving Back Treaty Site History Center

Sponsored by Thrivent Financial and NCHS. FREE

March 29 Chaska to York Factory in 49 Days Treaty Site History Center6:30 pm. See story on page 1 of this newsletter.

April 16 Treaty of 1851 Round Table Treaty Site History Center6:30 p.m. Join a panel of experts including Dr. Bill Lass, Dr. Lori Lahlum, and others to

discuss the Treaty of 1851, Dakota War, the mass execution in Mankato, and lasting implications of this chapter of Minnesota River Valley history.$3 for adults, $1 ages 6–16.

April 22 Earth Day Celebration: Raptor Center of Minnesota Treaty Site History CenterLearn about birds, conservation, and the environment by meeting live Minnesota raptors. Don’t miss your chance to get up close with a bald eagle!1–4 p.m. NCHS, and children under age 12 admitted free, $4 for adults.

May 3 Opening Weekend Harkin StoreOpening weekend with music and “Egg Coffee and Newton”

May 10 Aprons, Aprons Everywhere Harkin StoreThe ladies of the prairie had one most important piece of clothing that they used for everything. Come and see some of the old styles of apron, we will have many aprons through the years on display.

May 16 Cox House Plant Sale E. St. Julien Cox House8:30 a.m. See details of this annual Cox House fundraising event on page 10 of this newsletter.to 2 p.m. Plant donations taken: contact Barb Olmanson, 934-2828 or Bev Wetherill, 934-4417.

May 17 Heirloom Gardening Harkin StoreHeirloom gardener, Brian Vessar, will be bringing information and displays of heirloom garden products.

May 21 Ted Moline Scholarship Reception Treaty Site History CenterSee details for this event on page 4 of this newsletter.

May 24 Memorial Day Harkin StoreFolk music by Bob Bovee and Gail Heil

May 31 Wildlife Hunting Adventure Harkin StoreFowl Stories–The Adventure of Waterfowlers on Swan Lake, A Prairie Jewel with Pell Johnson

June 7 Macro World-Little Critters are Wildlife too! Fort RidgelyThis walk through forest and field with photographer Ron Bolduan, using a macro (close up) lens may open your eyes to a world of beauty and intrigue often passed by.

June 7 4-H and Dairy Day Harkin StoreWest Newton 4-H displays and Dairy Day treats of products to sample

June 13 Family Nature Hike Treaty Site History CenterChildren ages 2 to 9 with parents

June 14 Lafayette 1860’s Baseball Game TBA

June 14 Honoring Flags Harkin StoreInformation about the history of our flags up to 1870s

June 21 Woodcarving and Drawing Harkin StoreArea woodcarvers and artists are invited to show their crafts

June 27 & 28 Civil War Military Encampment Fort Ridgely

June 28 Afternoon of Leisure Harkin StoreLadies arts & crafts

2009 Calendar of Events:

1851 N. Minnesota Avenue • St. Peter, MN 56082

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■■ Individual $ 30■■ Family $ 45■■ Sustaining $ 75■■ Patron $ 100■■ Supporter $ 200■■ Benefactor $ 500■■ Life Member $ 1,000

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Your membership dollars at work…

new exhibits at TSHC painting of Cox House staffing at Harkin Store programming at Ft. Ridgelypartnering with

MHS at TdS Townsite