Winter 2000

Pioneering

with Grandmother (reprint of winning BECHS essay that appeared in The Free Press in 1934)

Warnke, Roberta

The author recounts stories told to her by her grandmother about herself and her family’s experiences on the Minnesota Valley frontier, creating a vivid picture of pioneer life.

Rath, Voght, Beauford, Tivoli, May, St. Clair, Brown, Mankato, Le Sueur River, Ady, Sioux Massacre Owatonna

Spring 2000

Pierre le Sueur and the Crisis in Franco-Native American Relations 1695-1702

Crogg, Tyler

Crogg states that the article’s purpose “is to place Le Sueur’s expedition within the shifting design of French North American policy.”  The reader learns that he was a trader and military man responsible for maintaining peace between Indian nations, a founding father of the Louisiana colony and he worked at Fort L’Huillier from 1700-1702

Minnesota River, Dakota, Santee Bands, Perrot, Mdewakanton, Tiyoskate, D’Iberville, Louisiana Colony

Summer 2000

Heigh Ho!  Come to the Fair!

Grundmeier, Shirley

Nostalgic look at the oldest county fair in Minnesota (1859) with lots of detail (both amusing and amazing) and its hopes for a long future.

Mankato Free Press, Sailor, Roelofs, Belgard, Blue Earth County Fair, Porter, Garden City, Dakota Conflict, Martin, Seppman Mill, Taylor, Cray, Patterson, Galer, Sibley Park, Minneopa Falls, Goodall, Pay, Ben Pay Hotel, Christian Church, Amboy, Mapleton, Good Thunder, Agricultural Society, Sandon, McCormack, Johnson, Schall, Christianson, Bruntz, Shipstead, Folsome, Little Giant, Knoff, Hubbard, Mill, Olson, 4-H Club, Regan, German Lutheran, Shelby Hustlers, Pope, Nickolson, Ceresco Township, Carstenson, Burley, Thurston, Humphrey, Larson, Bergemann, Poppe, Sohre, Farmfest, Cornish, Faust, Frederick, Schroeder, Thiesse, Fitzloff, Depuydt, Jarvis, Gleason, Blue Ox Jazz Babies, Merely Players, Dakota Dan, Demolition Derby, Mud Boy, Mankato Review, Lake Crystal Union, Vernon Center News, Good Thunder Herald, Mankato Ledger, Griffin

Fall 2000

Mankato High Schools-Part Two

Grundmeier, Shirley

Highlights the parochial and private high schools, both past and present, giving their history, philosophy and advantages.

Grace Christian, Hotten, Workman, Immanuel Lutheran, Gene Schreyer, Bethany Lutheran, Evangelical Lutheran Seminary, McMahon, Fletcher, Highland Park Windmiller, Ylvisaker, Catholic, Good Counsel Academy, School Sisters of Notre Dame, Gerhardinger, Mary Isidore, Loyola, Wilson Campus, S.S. Peter and Paul, Bishop Kelly, Weides, De Smet Hall, Fitzgerald Middle School, Tacheny,

Winter 2001

Mankato High Schools-Part Three

Grundmeier, Shirley

The final installment of the series surveying the town’s secondary schools that focuses on their strengths and differences.

Normal School, Teachers College High, Wilson Campus Schools, Wiecking, Garber, Berg, Glines, Schulze, Coyle, Durenberger, Jensen, Newell, Lund, River Bend Academy, charter school

Spring 2001

Keeping Pace With Progress (Brett’s Department Store)

Kuehl, Rachel

Complete story of the venerable store from its beginnings in 1868 to its demise in the 1990s. A paper written in 1922 details the wonders of Brett’s four floors of fine merchandise and shopper comforts.  The article ends with possible plans for re-use of the building at the present.

Mankato, Empire Store, Presbyterian Church, First National Bank, Brett Family, Awsumb & Associates, Midwest Wireless Center, Weekly Record

Summer 2001

Curling in Blue Earth County

Helen, Matt

Traces the Scottish winter sport of curling, brought to America by immigrants and first played in Minnesota in 1956.  Each year, the fast-growing sport had up to 200 curlers in Mapleton alone.  Ever 10 years, Scottish teams come here to curl.

Mapleton, bonspiel, Maple River Burns Club, Dodds, Ellis, Caledonian Curling Club, Mankato, Beauford, Winnebago, Sterling, Osteboe restaurant, Morrow, Krost, Show, Duncanson, Sharp, Solie, Iron Range

Fall 2001

BECHS Turns 100! (The Blue Earth County Historical Society Reaches the Centennial Mark)

Lundgren, James

Surveys highlights of the Society’s first century, giving valuable information about its mission, activities, and challenges in collecting and sharing the history of Blue Earth County.

Buck, Chapman, Hotaling, Hughes, Mueller, McGraw, Mankato, Blue Earth County, Cray, Seppman Mill, Ott Cabin, Swain, Mankato Normal School, Sibley Park, Hubbard, Gables, Hubbard House, Carriage House, National Register, Warren Street, Newman Center, Heritage Center

Winter 2002

Water Power at Rapidan (reprinted from February 25, 1939 Mankato Free Press)

Extensive history of the Rapidan Dam area, from 1854 to 1939, big in the days of the Winnebago Indians, continuing through flour and grist mills to water power and the present hydroelectric plant.

Rapidan Mill, Northern States Power Company, Rodgers Mill, Willard, Moreland, Winnebago Indian Reservation, Kenworthy, Swan, Mendenhall, Cook, Knutsen, Baker, Pipers, Warnee, Dilley, Widell, Johnson Smithy, Wier, Spencer, Weller, McDonald, Kennedy, Buck, Piper, Shores, Rockwood, Kenworthy Mill, Rapidan Dam

Spring 2002

History of Minneopa Cemetery

Grundmeier, Winston

Traces the history of the oldest existing cemetery in the Mankato area and the early pioneers who settled South Bend Township.  Explores the growth of the cemetery and those who were connected to it over the years.

steamboat Clarion, Humbertsin, Evans, Matthews, Bryant, Mann, Lyon, South Bend, Omaha Railroad, Little, Jones, Crane, Roberts, Strom, Williams, Groth, Daniels, Otto

Summer 2002

Blue Earth County’s First Settlement (reprint of parts of an article by William S. Sargent, Register of Deeds, June 1859)

The Mankato Weekly Record of July 5, 1859, offered this extensive survey of county settlement from 1852-1859.  Many persons and topics of various communities are covered, giving a wealth of information and interest to today’s writers and researchers.

Sargent, Register of Deeds, Johnson, Jackson, Robertson, Leech, Hinckley, Goodrich, Castner, Kennedy, Babcock, Cole, Guenther, Perkins, Rivers,  McKenty, Parson, Lay, Brandson, Willard & Besser, Cummings, Minneopa Falls, West Mankato, Le Hillier, South Bend, Judson, Butternut Valley, Garden City, Watonwan, Vernon, Shelbyville, Mapleton, Mails

Fall 2002

Celebrating Our Past

Burns, Inella

2002 was the year of the Mankato Area Sesquicentennial Celebration, honoring the early settlers, and the vitality of today’s Mankato area with many special events.  Eagle Lake celebrates the 100th anniversary of its incorporation in 2002, and Mapleton, Amboy, and Rapidan will celebrate in 2003 and 2004. 

Sargent, Traverse des Sioux, Johnson, Jackson, Winter Carnival, Marian Anderson Gallery, Transportation Parade, Rib Fest, Davenport, Brunner, Sarff, McGowan, Lovelace, Kading, Riverbend Bells, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, symphony, Heitzig, Katoland Game Show, Hustoles, Zielske, Stenzel, Steiner, Grundmeier, Hadley, Tolzman, Tator Days, Lange, Terrell, Burgess, Briley, Brandt, Hage, McMichael, Olson, Wesley, Wintheiser, Beal, Aldinger, Moreland, Winnebago

Winter 2003

The Winnebago in Blue Earth County

De Mars, Jeanne

Detailed account of the tribe’s tenure in the county from 1855-1863, including its forced relocation to various areas by the U.S. Government.  Continues with troubles dealing with the Winnebago Agency and Congress and the tribe’s final relocation to Nebraska in spite of repealed treaties.

Chief Winneshiek, Dakota conflict, Knights of the Forest, Camp Porter, Shogren, Chief La Sallieur, Hochunk

Spring 2003

My First Dollar

Grundmeier, Winston

The article, based on short features that appeared in the Mankato Free Press in 1934, details how several local business and professional men began their careers.  It also focuses on a few women who achieved local fame in various fields during the first half of the 20th century.

Miller Motors, Malzahn, Hotoling, Blue Earth County Enterprise, Brown, Dobbs, Deike’s Transfer and Storage, Kato Moving and Storage, Osborn, East Mankato school, Union, Immanuel Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Frescholz, Duke’s Addition, Willard and Williams Insurance, Omaha Depot, Hubbard Mill, First Presbyterian Church, Wiedenheft, Good Thunder, Day, Grawlender, R. D. Hubbard

Summer 2003

The Gardens of the Hubbard House and the Carriage House

Herbst, Gordon

Traces the history of the gardens from 1976 to present, emphasizing the role played by the Twilight Garden Club in its care and appearance.  Herbst gives a fine analysis of “not only the how but the why of garden creation,” quoting extensively from recent Horticulture issues.

Hubbard Milling Company, Palmer, R.D. Hubbard, Parks Department

Fall 2003

Who is Albert Schippel?

Smith, Emmet

A brief biography of the architect from the remarkable escape from Indiana at the age of three (in 1862) through his career of designing “half the buildings in Mankato.”  Smith, the great-nephew of Schippel’s niece, based his article on family lore, local interviews, and archival sources, tracing many area buildings from 1890 to 1916.

Eagle Lake, Mankato, Magly, Pass, Oleander, Immanuel Lutheran School, Brandrup, Andrews, German Evangelical Ladies’ Seminary, Bethany College, Paffrath, Schmidt, Kruse, Parsons Street, Gerlach

Winter 2004

Archaeology in Blue Earth County: The Cambria Focus

Scullin, Michael

Sometime between 1000 and 1100 AD a group of people settled along the Minnesota River downstream from present town of Cambria and remained there until about 1300 AD   This article gives an overview of the archaeology research done, in 1974 and 1975, at two sites in the Cambria area which these peoples occupied.

Cambria, Price, Nickerson, Wilford, pottery, Northern Flint corn, Siouan, Dakota, Cahokia

Spring 2004

The Andrews Family Opera Company

Grundmeier, Shirley

Members of the Andrews family began their professional musical careers in 1876 as the Andrews Swiss Bell Ringers and in 1884 became the Andrews Family Opera Company,  The Opera Company continued performing until 1901.  Their travels took them from Philadelphia to Albequerque.  After the grou pdisbanded, some of the family continued their individual professional careers into the 1930s and 40s..

Andrews, Hutchinsons, Poling, Deters, Shoemaker, Johnson, Jones, Manderfel, Ferguson, Neubert, Strohman, Lloyd, Parker, DuBois,

Summer 2004

Early Resorts on Madison Lake

Burns, Inella

Gives the history of several well known resorts in Madison Lake including Point Pleasaant, Prospect Park, Fair Point and Coponaning

Wells, Wright, Baker, Clarke, Barclay, Wise, Patterson, Brett, Sheppard, Patterson,   Austin, Hoehn, Lovelace, Huff's, Christianson, Pay, Hubbard, Searing, Idlewood, Koehler, Young, Taylor, Sugden, Webster, Steele,  Reedfield, Fasnact, Casper, Noah's Ark, Lone Pine Inn

Fall 2004

Mystery of the Yaeger Schoolhouse Ghost

Schrader, Julie

The story of the "ghost" in the Yaeger schoolhouse in 1897.

Hower, Holbert, Just, Miescke, Ballard, Flo, Conklin, Bowen, Miller,

Winter 2005

Lebanese Immigration to Mankato

Grundmeier, E. Winston

The first Lebanese immigrants to the Mankato area arrived in 1890, they continue to arrive to this day.  Like most immigrants they came to escape the  severe economics hardships the encountered in the homeland.  They went on to establish their home and many successful business in the area.

Zahle, Ferzol, Bekaa, Abraham, Farho, Kouri, Coury, Bouklal, George, Ramy, Rahmy, Shama, Izen, Syrian, Saba, Mahkoul Abul Khali, Maca, Mocol, Timcom, Timcomville, Shalhoub, Hulwi, Bohy, Ferris, Meray's, Massad, Abdo

Spring 2005

Century Farms in Blue Earth County

Madsen, Jack

There are 178 Century Farms in Blue Earth County.  This article focuses on the Madsen, Tronvold, Barsch, Strobel and Will farms.  It includes a brief history and photographs of each of these farms.  It also includes a complete listing of all of the families in Blue Earth County whose farms have been designed Century Farms.

Sylvelin Farm, Madsen, Tronvold, Garberg, Batrtsch, Strobel, Will

Summer 2005

Diners and Restaurants to Remember

Wilson, Bernadette

The Blue Earth County Diner’s Club has been visiting restranuts around the county.  The author was given us an overview, some history and pictures of some of the restaurants the club has already visited and includes information on others that they have not yet had a chance to  visit or which no longer exist.

Point Pleasant, Sheppard,Nelson, Hruska, Zotalis, Longbranch, Halverson, Wycoff, Haefner, Wagon Wheel, Uncle Albert's, Anderson, Fromm, Henze, Lyn Del's, Bergy's, Jamison, Thorson, Hollander, Preri Bach, Cambria, Zabel, Crane, Mell-Brandts, Durkee, Candy Kitchen, Rapidan, Uptown Tavern, Cottage Cafe, Thunder Bar

 Fall 2005

 They Asked To Go; the Untold Story of Early Blue Earth County Women Veterans

 Andrews, Melodie

 Blue Earth County women have been serving with the military since the Civil War. During that time many women have served. This article deals with our Civil War veteran as well as some women who served in both the First and Second World Wars.

 Wolf, Wilson, Patch, Cornish, Vogel, Neubert, Civil War, Anzio, nurse, Walter, Reed, Army, Davis

 Winter 2006

 Greek Immigration to Mankato

 Grundmeier, E. Winston

 The immigrants from Greece left a homeland that, thought free of oppression, was hardly wealthy and could not support a large population. The first Greek family arrived here in 1856 but the majority arrived in the early 1900s. While many of these family simply pass through, others made significant contributions to the growth of Mankato over the years.

 Agnew, Apostolis, Oosalis, Kalos, Kapas, Patroklos, Stamos, Zotalis, Canellos, Pafiolis, Scordakis, Olympia Candy, cigar stand, Dovolas, Poulimenos, Marinis, Kamatchus, Pappas

 Spring 2006

 Immigrations Routes and the Journey of R. D. Hubbard

 Zimmer, Beth

 Explains some of the motivators behind New Englanders immigration from the places their ancestors had lived for generations and the migration routes that they took to get to what is now Minnesota. R. D. Hubbard was one of these adventurers who took a zigzag path to arrive in Mankato in 1870.

 Hubbaard, Chase, Ramsey, Cooper, Cook, Winthrop, Erie, TAmbora, Yolo, Sacramento, Humbolt, Fraser, Otsego, Correy

 Summer 2006

 Literary Heritage of Blue Earth County

 Rezmerski, John

 This article deals with literary writers, writings and activities that fit this standard: More or less connected to Blue Earth County.

 Lovelace, KMSU, MSU, Robbins, Good Thunder, Pagel, Wright, Barber, Rasmussen, Coffee Hag, eisteddfod, Eisteddfodau, Cambria, Price, Poets, Chambers, Morgan, Welsh, Kubicek, Miller, Baker, Arnold, Hielscher, Huntzicker, Foster, Deep Valley, Capstone, Heritage, Schrader, Moore, Waterman, Bunkers, Brunet, Callaway, Davis, Haack, Oldknow, Sheffer, Otis, Solensten, Chase

 Fall 2006

 Where Did the River go: A. A. Anderson's Artistic Vision

 Larson, Anna

 An overview of the life and career of A. A. Anderson, a photoengraver and commerical painting whose work tells a story of the people, places and landscape in and around Mankato.

 Odd, Ekkle, Free Press, Searing, Northrup, Hazelnut, hermit, intaglio, Seppman, Hubbard,

 Winter 2007

 Scaling Brick Walls

 Sara Upahdyay

 Details the research process used to solve the mystery of the Sumner Hill wall.

 Snilsberg, WPA, Big Hill, Schrader, Prospect Heights, Lovelace, Center, McLaughlin, Chalgren, Manning, Hall, Edwards, Hogsback, Lewis, Fuller, Caroline, Mary, Valley View, High, Burton, Hill, Carlstrom, Skoog

Spring 2007

Articles of clothing and accessories provide insight into when and where people lived, their occupation, how they spent their leisure time, their social status and what organizations they belonged to. Examples include a wedding cape from 1893, a dance dress from 1925, quilts from the 1890s and 1900s, a shawl worn by a member of the Jewett family in 1865.

Textiles. Kelley. Columbian Exposition. Scherer. Mankato. Minneopa. Hansen. Lake Crystal. Kuebler. New York. Dance instructor. Chicago Musical College. Severson. Jensen. Hardanger. Lampert. Women's Relief Corps. Grand Army of the Republic. Mills. Garden City Township. Inkpatuda. Sioux outbreak. Jewett.

Summer 2007

Account is made of the many mills which have existed in Blue Earth County, the largest of which are described in detail of construction materials, dimensions, period of operation, type of mill (wind, steam and water). and use of the mill (saw, cane and grist).  The fate of all these mills is presented.

Saw. Cane. Grist. Wind. Steam. Water. Seppmann. Schostag. Minneopa. Minnesota Lake. Danville. Amboy. Affolter. Howe. Jamestown. Watonwan. Fremont. Lowell. Tivoli. Champion Mills. Van Brunt Mill. Decoria. Winnebago. Volk. Hoveland. Hodapp. Mankato Township. Maxwell. Gustafson. Sorghum. Sterling Center. Millstone. Flour. Feed. Hubbard. Maple River. St. Clair Roller Mill. Garden City. Quayle. Capwell. Rew. Furman.

Fall 2007

Geologic, cultural and economic history of Indian Creek area. Description of changes in natural features as the process of development affects a wildlife habitat. Flooding effects on land use and the process of land reclamation by dike building.  Preservation of habitat by forming Rasmussen Woods Nature Area and Indian Lake Conservation Area.

Indian Creek. Indian Lake. Rasmussen Nature Center. LeSueur River. Slough. Front Street. Wildlife habitat. Dewy Street. Milwaukee Railroad. Omaha Railroad. Northwestern Railroad. Flooding. Hobo Jungles. Poiplar Street.

Winter 2008

South Bend Township

Jane Engh

History of South Bend community is traced from its origin in 1853, through the arrival of the Welsh settlers, growth to a thriving town which rivalled Mankato, and decline.  Origins of Minneopa Park are traced, as well as its development.

Minneopa Falls. Post Office. Minnesota River bend. D.C. Evans. Clarion. Humbertson. Lyons. Mathews. Richard Davies. H.T. Yeatman. Pioneer. Blue Earth river. Railroad. Crystal Lake. Miner Porter. County fair. Excursion. Grasshoppers. Ezra Gates. WPA.

Spring 2008

Old Photographs and the Secrets They Hold.

Grace Keir

Use of photographs and clothing details to identify persons, their lives and times, during the period 1850 to 1900.  The various types of photographic methods used from 1838 to 1900 are discussed.  Clothing styles are important in dating photographs, especially with women’s and girls’ clothing which changed more than men’s and boys’.

Photograph. Daguerreotype. Frames. Ambrotype. Tintype. Carte de visite. Cabinet card. Clothing. Bustle. Hairstyle. Neckline. Bodice. Leg-o-mutton. Waistcoat. Tailcoat. Cravats. Tuxedo. Frock coat. Moustache. Knickerbocker. Little Lord Fauntleroy.

Summer 2008

Prairie Skyscrapers

Jane Tarjeson

Description is provided on the structure of the wooden grain elevators which once dotted the prairie landscape at towns along the railroads of Blue Earth County.  The process of unloading, shelling and storing corn and small grain at the elevator, as well as shipment by rail from the elevator is explained.  History is related for each elevator in the County as well as the fate of the elevator, often destruction by fire.

Grain elevator. Crib. Railroad. St. Paul & Sioux City Railway. Rapidan. Corn. Grain pits. Hopper. Leg drive. Spout. Head drive. Omaha Road. Hubbard & Palmer. Huntting. Jennison Bros. Cray. Lake Crystal. Explosions. Fire. Houk. Good Thunder. Christensen. Marston. Cargill. Mankato. Milwaukee Railway. Frank Bros. Mapleton. Commander. Vernon Center. Judson. Chicago & Northwestern Railroad.

Fall 2008

Shadows of the Past: Lost Villages of Blue Earth County.

Steven Ulmen

Early settlements, associations of individuals, were formed by families or extended families, colonies from the Old Country, or along railroads and rivers.  Settlement in Blue Earth County began in 1855 and blossomed through the 1860s.  Origins, flourishing and decline to oblivion of a number of such communities is described.

Communities. Edward D. Neill. Colonization. Railroad. Bradley Station. Cray. Omaha Railroad. Fremont. Shelbyville. Stone. Minneopa. Caroline. Ceresco. Pleasant Mound. Medo. Little Cobb. Cream. Volksville. Watonwan City. Blaine. Lowell. Crystal Lake City. Mankato Mineral Springs.