A past that we honor;
A present that we give meaning;
A future that we build together.
MINNESOTA CITY HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION MEMBER NEWSLETTER – Volume 4, Issue 8: August, 2010
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Mark Your Calendars! August 14: MCHA Bylaws Meeting; 140 Mill Street; 9:00 – 9:30; all welcome August 14: MCHA regular meeting at the Archives; 140 Mill Street; 9:30-11:30 a.m. August 28: MCHA Archives open; 140 Mill Street; September 16: May 21, 2011: Go “Green”! |
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Andrea Church Assists with Genealogy Research at Minnesota City Archives July 24
July 24 open hours at the Minnesota City Historical Association Archives, 140 Mill Street, included technical Archives will be open from 9:30 to 11:30 on August 14 and August 28. All visitors are welcomed. These are good opportunities to visit with persons with similar interests, or to work on research. MCHA now provides wireless connection. |
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First Heritage Quilt Squares Contributed
The first squares have been submitted for the second heritage quilt which will be assembled by the quilters of St. Paul’s parish when enough squares have been received. Readers may submit any square that represents their family—buildings, involvements, people. Squares need not portray residences, or people that are “old.” Embroidery, appliqué, photos are all acceptable reproduction techniques for the squares. Anyone who needs a fabric square may call 689-2440. |
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GBDRF (Garvin Brook Disaster Relief Fund) Plans Fritz Memorial in Minnesota City
Planning is underway for a memorial to honor Jaye Fritz, an original board member of GBDRF, in Minnesota City along Garvin Brook. Jaye died in March of 2009. |
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Winona County Historical Society Opens Laird Norton Addition July 18, 2010
A number of Minnesota City Historical Association members were present on July 18 when the public was welcomed with speeches, tours, refreshments, and entertainment that celebrated the opening of the Winona County Historical Society addition. A number of Minnesota City residents have contributed to the capital campaign for the building construction. Winona Daily News featured a photo of Edwin Maus firing up the calliope, and Marianne Mastenbrook, Museum Archivist, was greeting and assisting persons in the archives area. The new space includes a spacious gift center and display area, and on second floor a large open area, the Wanek room, available to rent for presentations. The new terrace area was immediately being used for observing and listening to the Songs of Hope group, a St. Paul Organization of children from many countries, age 11 to 13, performing music of their countries. Observers were reminded of the many groups involved in the history of Winona and area, mostly Western European, that have now been added to by residents of many countries; their history will be included in the museum. |
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River City Travel Guides Author Visits First Baptist Church and MCHA Archives |
 Gen O’Grady, River Researcher Dean Klinkenberg, and Jean Gardner visit at the Archives on July 23. |
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On July 23, Dean Klinkenberg, a travel writer and photographer from Missouri, met with Jean Gardner and Marv and Gen O’Grady at First Baptist Church and the Archives to talk about town history impacted by the Mississippi River in founding stages and subsequent development. Klinkenberg has authored two travel guides–Lansing to LeClaire and Quad Cities. These can be purchased at LaCrosse Book Stores or at Amazon.com. Klinkenberg is currently writing a third about river/city connections. He suggested the possibility of coming to the historic church for a book signing and speech sometime this fall. Klinkenberg, who has a PhD. in Psychology, has a strong research background. His profile and the discussion of his books can be found on the web—search Dean Klinkenberg or Travel Passages. He has written for Big River, a magazine published in Winona. |
Buried in Oakland -James G. Stewart James “Jim” G. Stewart, who died August 29, 1986, was a well known and recognized resident of Minnesota City, the area, and the state. Jim was born on August 6, 1901 to Gilbert and Janette Turner Stewart in Minnesota City. He married Gertrude Martin in 1926; she died in 1953. The Stewarts farmed in Minnesota City. They were the parents of one daughter, Joan (Lester) Denzer, and three sons, Gilbert, David and James (deceased). David lives on the farm of his parents, and Gilbert lives nearby. Funeral services for James Stewart were at the Hoff Funeral Home in Lewiston, the Rev. Carlton Palenske officiating. Pallbearers were James Kreidermacher, Fred Brust, Milton Weimer, William and Jule Mastenbrook, and Ralph Evanson. Stewart’s notoriety for Minnesota City area persons other than his family and friends derived in part from his political activities. He served for fifteen years on the township board and was once its chairman. The farmland of James Stewart is directly across the highway from the Rollingstone Township Hall. Stewart was in races for county and state offices. Although he was unsuccessful in achieving state offices, he was instrumental in increasing attention to issues for this area. In 1953, according to local papers, twenty eight members of the Winona County Township Officers Association attended the Minneapolis meeting of the state association “which hurled both criticism and compliments at the 1953 session of the Minnesota Legislature.” Among these was James Stewart, Minnesota City, an association director. The group criticized the lack of appointment for a member from the association to the interim road study commission, opposed placing birth and death certificates in charge of the State Department of Health, opposed a sales tax, favored the present rural schools setup, and favored creation of a three man state tax commission, one of which should be a farmer. They also asked for a weed and seed inspector if desired by local governments and asked that the gas taxes be mandatory as opposed to permissive. In 1955 when Winona County’s first Farmers Union local was organized, forty two persons from Rollingstone to Minneiska were involved. James Stewart, Rollingstone, was listed as the vice president. He, along with other officers immediately appointed several people to an action board that would decide local policies; they were assisted with information from the Minnesota Farmers Union. Stewart’s political stance was best summarized in his own words when he ran for the state legislature in 1952: “I am interested in seeing that the taxpayer gets value received for his dollar. I stand for a reduction in taxes, especially in the cost of government. I classify myself a conservative, being a Republican.” (Information from the Winona Daily News and the Winona Republican Herald.) |
Hollyhock Uses Transitioned from Medicinal to Ornamental The subject of poems and photos, and particularly in rural areas, hollyhocks adorn sides of garages, houses, and barns. The name being Middle English (mid 16th century), it denoted the marsh mallow which had medicinal use—hence the name holy (Google Dictionary). According to Wikipedia, remains of hollyhocks were found in a Neanderthal burial site in Shanidar (Iraq). This might date them anywhere from 35 thousand to 120 thousand years ago. |
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July 31 Annual Jilk Family Reunion at Farmer’s Community Park
Descendents of Sophia Kilian and August Jilk Jr. and family and friends held their annual reunion at the Green Lodge in Farmer’s Community Park on July 31, 2010. Participants enjoyed a potluck dinner, a sing-along and recreational events including horseshoe |
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Archival Additions
In addition to the DVDs “In a Flash,” the story of the 2007 flood developed and promoted by GBDRF which have been donated to MCHA for public use, the archives now has an additional “flood film,” called After the Dawn, which focuses on the flood in Rushford. This DVD can also be checked out at the archives. A sign out sheet indicates name of borrower and item borrowed. There is not a set length of time for use—we are small enough to alert people when items are needed by others. We hope to begin a listing of available items soon. Acid free tissue paper has been purchased for storage of fabric items at the Archives. Over a period of time, most tissue paper becomes acidic and brittle . The acidity may transfer to adjacent objects causing these objects to become weaker and possibly discolored; acid free tissue papers are specially processed to remove such contaminants. |
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MCHA Congratulates • Winona County Historical Society on the opening of their new building July 18. The dedication of all persons involved from the conception and completion of this project has been admirable. We are grateful-- • Minnesota City Ball Teams on their several summer tournament wins-- |
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MCHA Thanks
• Andrea Church for technology assistance for the Association • Donna and Betsy Friesen for the archives open hours refreshments |
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Anyone who wishes to be a member of the Association is invited to send $15.00 to MCHA, P.O. Box 21, Minnesota City, MN, 55959. All monies will be used to support Association goals. Separate or additional donations may also be sent to the above address. |