Volume 52, Issue 3 September 2015

Volume 52, Issue 3 September 2015

Kandi Express Newsletter of the Kandiyohi County Historical Society

-Keeping Your Heritage Alive-

Serving the

Communities:

Atwater

Blomkest

Hawick

Kandiyohi

Lake Lillian

New London

Pennock

Prinsburg

Raymond

Regal

Roseland

Spicer

Sunburg

Svea

Willmar

Kandiyohi County

Historical Society

610 NE Hwy 71

Willmar, MN 56201

Telephone: 320/235-1881

Fax: 320/235-1881

E-Mail: [email protected]

Website: www.kandiyohicountyhistory.com

Board of Directors

2014-2015

President - Dennis Peterson

Vice President – Diane Shuck

Secretary – Marilyn Johnson

Treasurer – Sam Modderman

Board of Directors –

Connie Wanner

Audrey Thompson

Louise Thoma

Darlene Schroeder

Richard Falk

Jerry Johnson

Gregory Harp

Honorary – Rollie Nissen

S t a f f

Executive Director - Jill Wohnoutka

Resident Caretaker – Andrea Maertens

Maintenance - Joel Bruse

Collections Assistant – Robert Larson

Kandi Express

A Quarterly Newsletter of the Kandiyohi County Historical Society. September 2015, Vol. 52, Issue 3. Non-profit postage paid at

Willmar, MN. Reprints with permission, please. Membership in the Kandiyohi County Historical Society carries with it a subscription

to the Kandi Express. Stories about local history can be submitted to Jill Wohnoutka-

editor, KCHS.

Discovering, Preserving,

and Sharing the Story of

Kandiyohi County and Its People.

Kandi Express, September 2015 —Page 2

Volunteers

Archives/Office: Molly Larson, Mari-

lyn Johnson, Julie Neubauer, Bonnie

Hoogeveen, Donna McClouth, Jan

Helin

Building/Painting/Thursday Crew: Elroy Gast, Dale Johnson, Jerry John-

son, Don Niece, Loren Luschen, Rollie

Boll, Gayle Larson, Harley Aalfs, Lar-

ry Scholla, John Davis, Allan Simon

and Loretta Fenske.

Landscaping: Linda and Gayle Lar-

son, Marilyn Johnson

In-Kind Donations

Kandiyohi Co. Community Service –

Grounds Work/Snow Removal

Barb Youngberg —Digital Transfer

Service

Railroad Display—Tim Larson, Phil

Anderson

Kandiyohi County

Historical Society’s

Wish List

8 1/2” x 11” white office copy

paper

Stamps –regular and post card

Archival Supplies-for details

contact us at 235-1881.

Newsletter Email List Please let us know if you would

like to receive your newsletter over

email by sending your request to

[email protected]. Remember if

you want to be included on our

email list for upcoming news and

programs, please let us know.

Volunteers Needed

The Kandiyohi County Historical Society is looking for volunteers! We

have a few staff changes in the last months and we need your help!

Transcription: A person to help with a different projects transcrib-

ing old documents.

Landscaping/Grounds: A person or persons who enjoy gardening

and would like to help maintain the existing landscaping and help

plan additional projects.

Albert Sperry Family/House Research: A person to research the

Albert Sperry Family and house history leading up to the 125 anni-

versary of the Sperry House in 2018.

Special Donations: General Contributions:

For Operating Support

Katie Ross

Harlow & Marlene Anderson

Susan DeGennaro

Beckie Johnson

LaVerne Johnson

Mona Nelson Fund

Ron & Dee Erpelding

Jack Husinga

Memorials In Memory of John Helin

Bruce Bjornberg

Joan Dirnberger

Dale & Yvonne Engel

Earl Habben

Caryl & Donald Haug

John Helin Family

Daniel Johnson

Marvin & Luella Johnson

Ruth Johnson

William & Marcia Keister

Linda Klinghagen

Philip & Barbara Lindblad

Delight Meyers

Yvonne Natvig

Roger & Mary Person

Grayson & Karen Swalin

Daniel & Louise Swenson

Terrance & Delphia Swenson

Robert & Carol Wegner

Judith Workman Segel

In Memory of Ivan Kvam

The Family of Ivan Kvam

Loren & Smitty Luschen

Kevin & Joan Quinn

In Memory of Judy Nephew

Gayle & Linda Larson

In Memory of Robert Fransen

Harley & Evelyn Aalfs

In Memory of Herb Amundson


In Memory of Joe Freese


In Memory of Owen Larson

Dale & Judy Johnson

In Memory of Clair Merten

Dale & Judy Johnson

Steve & Jennifer Molenaar

Harlow & Marlene Anderson

Steve & LeAnnIsaacson

Dr. & Mrs. John Meinert

Individual: Karen Smith

Allen County Public Library

Dawn Witt

Judy Augustson Heath

Jill Beatty

Marie Janssen

Kay Hempel

Robert Feichtinger

Pat Plooster

Steve Ellingboe

LaVerne Johnson

Marcella Demgen

John Mogren

Melodee Dorn

Susan DeGennaro

Karen Nelson Kitt

Carolyn Sowinski

R. L. & Mary Ann Powers

Gertrude Blue

Loren Knott

Bud Johnson

Jack Huisinga

Donn Winckler

William Dowdell

Virginia Ansorge

Floyd Perleberg

Howard McAdams

Melville Linn

Odell Jacobson

Margherita Larmon

Elgin Skluzacek

Rev. Dennis Gray

Nancy Salmi

Diane Ahlquist

New and Renewal

Members:

Supporter: Sam & Barbara Modderman

Wallace Gustafson

Lyle & Sandra Simenson

Dr. Roger & Kay Strand

Yvonne Natvig

Gayle & Linda Larson

Joane Johnson

Richard Falk

Friend: Ken & Alix Behm

Bob & Donna Haines

Ann Hendershott & Dennis Schaefbauer

Loretta Fenske

Paul Jensen

Rick & Darla Fagerlie

Dean & Diane Shuck

Todd & Carole Heimdahl

Robert & Pauline Halvorson

Family: Carol Nielsen

Carolyn Swanson

Ron & Ione Andreen

Marlin & Corrine Henjum

Mark & Linda Fernelius

Alan & Mary Quale

Chuck & Nancy Gustafson

Monroe & Irene Wallin

Ralph & Judy Anderson

Darrel & Jeanette Larson

Paul & Jane Hedin

Gordon & Betty Behm

Willard & Elaine Nelson

Barbara & Lowell Tornquist

Ron & Mary Ryks

Lowell & Barb Torkelson

William Reed

Donald & Jean Holmgren

Loren & Judy Schultz

Milton Huff

Doug & Jan Green

Scott Kaercher

Ron & Dee Erpelding

Jan Smith

Wayne Emberland

Larry & Judy Lindor


Thank you ~ Your gifts help preserve our heritage for future generations!


Upcoming Events at KCHS 2015

2nd Minnesota Battery

Light Artillery

Civil War Encampment Saturday, September 26

9am-5pm Gun Drill Times: 10am, 11:30am,

2pm & 4pm

Join the Kandiyohi County Historical Society on Saturday, September 26 for a Civil

War Encampment from 9am-5pm. The 2nd Minnesota Battery Light Artillery of Red Wing,

MN will be visiting the Historical Society grounds. The battery will set up camp to learn about

Minnesota soldiers and their life in the Civil War.

We will have demonstrations, food and fun! The 2nd MN Battery Light Artillery will

have different stations for the public to see. They will include the cannon, small arms and a

ladies area the will feature the Soldiers' Aid Society. The Gun Drill will be held at 10am,

11:30pm, 2pm and 4pm. The Second Minnesota Battery Re-enactors are a nonprofit organiza-

tion dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of Civil War history by living it. The unit

was reactivated in 1985 and has continued to present an accurate and interesting history of the

Second Minnesota Battery and Civil War history to hundreds of thousands of people.

We will have all the buildings at the museum open that day for tours. This event is free

to the public! This event is sponsored by the Kandiyohi Power Charitable Trust. We thank

them for the generosity.

Sperry House Dinner

Friday, October 30

Try for a chance to win an elegant dinner for two at the Sperry House, with Walleye and

Bison catered by the 19th Avenue Grill & Lounge. Tickets are on sale at the Kandiyohi County

Historical Society for a suggested donation of $5.00 per ticket, with the proceeds used for re-

storing the Victorian Sperry House. The storage room is complete! Thanks to your generous

donations, the store room at the Sperry House is now in use. The drawing will be held at the

KCHS Annual meeting on October 22nd in the KCHS Community Room. Tickets will be avail-

able through October 22nd.

Stop by the KCHS Museum to buy your tickets or call for more information, (320) 235-1881.


You and your family are invited to the

Kandiyohi County Historical Society’s

119th Annual Meeting & Program

Thursday, October 22

5:30pm-8:00pm

KCHS Community Room

Featuring

Willmar Downtown Transitions By Shawn Mueske & Sam Nelson

A chicken supper will be served starting at 5:30 pm. The cost of the meal is $11

per person. Following the meal, the annual meeting will be conducted. After the short

annual meeting, Shawn Mueske and Sam Nelson will present on Willmar Downtown

Transitions. In 2014, the Kandiyohi County Historical Society was awarded a grant to

conduct seven oral histories of residents and business owners from downtown Willmar

from the last 75 years.

The Sperry House Raffle will be drawn on this night. So try for a chance to win an

elegant dinner for two at the Sperry House on October 30, 2015, with Walleye and Bison

catered by the 19th Avenue Grill & Lounge. Tickets are on sale at the Kandiyohi County

Historical Society for a suggested donation of $5.00 per ticket, with the proceeds used for

restoring the Victorian Sperry House. Tickets will be available through October 22nd.

Please RSVP by Friday, October 16th! Please call 235-1881 or email us at

[email protected] to reserve your spot! Prepayment is required. Our address is KCHS,

610 NE Hwy 71, Willmar, MN 56201.

We hope to see you there!


Willmar and the Great Northern: An Historical Overview By Stuart Holmquist This article was first published as a Great Northern Railway Historical Society Reference Sheet #230, June 1995. The pho-

tos included are part of the Kandiyohi County Historical Society’s collection.

Continued from June Newsletter….

The Eating House

As part of the railroad’s overall passenger train service, a total of 30 eating houses were con-

structed during the early years of the 1900s, and four lunchrooms were installed in selected depots.

These facilities were intended to serve the traveling public rather than the townspeople. They were

spaced along the rail route to provide a place to eat for those passengers traveling on trains without din-

ing car service, or those who were changing trains and had a layover.

The Great Northern owned the buildings and provided the interior equipment. All were operated

under contract and controlled by the railroad’s Operations Department. In Willmar, the eating house, or

“Beanery” as most local citizens called it, was constructed in 1904, and it was designed to match the

existing passenger depot in appearance. Located just west of the depot, it served meals for the traveling

public for almost three decades.

The first operator, under contract, was the C.H. Shiver News Co. of St. Paul. In addition to

news service, this firm sold sandwiches and lunch boxes to passengers boarding trains without dining

cars departing Minneapolis. As movement toward railroad control of this service increased, the Great

Northern canceled the agreement in 1914 and the contact was transferred to local individuals. Rent was

paid to the railroad for the building and equipment. Both the heating plant and electrical service were

provided by the railroad as part of the rental agreement.

During the time the building was used as an eating house, a total of seven trains daily stopped in

Willmar. Although train numbers and arrival times varied, the basic schedule of trains operated in 1928

shows the service provided at this facility. As can be seen, trains 13/14 and 31/32 stopped at Willmar

for longer periods of time, mainly to allow time for transferring head end business (mail, express, and

“less-than-carload” (LCL freight). Railroad

documentation showed a substantial number

of passengers traveled through or detrained

at Willmar, creating potential for business.

Passengers traveling to and from Minneap-

olis or Fargo could travel on trains 13/14 to

connect with Watertown, South Dakota (via

Benson), so potential for restaurant service

remained high.

With the effects of increasing auto-

mobile travel and the decline of passenger

train travel, use of the eating house at

Willmar declined until it was closed and

converted into an express building in 1933.

Operation of the express business came un-

der the control of the Railway Express

Agency which leased the building from the

Great Northern. The building remained in


service as an express office until it closed and was removed with depot construction in 1948.

Freight and Express Buildings

The freight depot was constructed in 1899 to serve the growing freight business which could not

be handled by the passenger service. The wood frame building, 25’ x 80’, although moved once, re-

mained in service for 77 years before it was retired and sold. In 1901, the building was moved back

from the mainline track and a 10’ x 320’ transfer platform was built, with a 820’ team track installed for

handling less-than-car-load shipments. Little alteration to the facility occurred until the platform was

shortened in 1966, reflecting the decline in the “LCL” freight. All use of the facility was terminated in

the early 1970s.

Great Northern records reflect a proposal in 1902 to construct a massive 40’ x 200’ brick building of

similar design to large freight depots in other markets similar in size to Willmar. No evidence exists as

to why the building was never built, but the original wooden building outlasted the business of “LCL”

freight and the Railway Express Agency.

In 1906, responding to Willmar’s rapidly increasing express business, the Great Northern relocated a

12’ x 34’ portable wood frame

building from Marshall, Minneso-

ta. Placing it on a site just eat of

the depot, it was set back from the

track closer to Pacific Avenue. In

1913, the building was extended

15’ to accommodate additional

business activity. The building

was retired and removed in 1933

when the express office was

moved to the former eating house

just west of the passenger station.

It should be noted that other eat-

ing houses succumbed to the same

fate in the early 1930s.

The Division Office Building

With increased business in the later years of the 1800s the Great Northern reorganized the rail-

road’s operating division. Official organization of the Willmar Division was in 1898, with the first

headquarters being in located in the small second story office space in the Willmar depot. An extended

office force was added in Willmar, thus creating a need for a larger office building. In 1905, a one story

24’ x 126’ frame building was constructed about one block east of the new roundhouse. Continual rea-

lignment of personnel created the need to enlarge the building twice in 1927 with additions of 51 feet

and then another 45 feet, and again in 1938 with an additional 16 feet in length added onto the 24 foot

wide structure. Thus modified, the building served until 1948 when the divisional office moved to the

new depot. The old building was converted into a carpenter’s shop and so remained until it was eventu-

ally dismantled in 1958.

Conclusion in December newsletter...

Willmar Railroad Park with eating house in foreground.


West Central Area Baseball Hall of Fame

The Kandiyohi County Historical Society partnered with the Willmar Stingers to begin a West Central

Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014. The Historical Society strives to “discover, preserve, and share” our local herit-

age and hopes that the West Central Baseball Hall of Fame will be a lasting part of those efforts. The West Cen-

tral Baseball Hall of Fame will cover a 45-mile radius of Willmar which will include communities such as Glen-

wood, Montevideo, Redwood Falls and Dassel-Cokato. In order to be considered for the West Central Baseball

Hall of Fame, nominees must fall within the 45-mile radius of Willmar and be featured in one of the following

categories:

Professional Player or manager who resided in West Central Minnesota and went on to success in high

levels of professional baseball as a player, coach, or manager.

Amateur An amateur player, coach, or manager who was successful as a player in youth, high school,

and/or adult amateur baseball.

Community Involvement A longtime resident of West Central Minnesota who has achieved great success as a supporter

of base ball and has made significant contributions to baseball.

The Historical Society will begin accepting nominations immediately to be reviewed by the selection

committee. If you wish to submit a nomination, a form has been created along with a map of the 45 mile radius

to submit potential candidates to the Historical Society. The form can be found on the Kandiyohi County His-

torical Society website, www.kandiyohicountyhistory.com or can be obtained by calling Jill Wohnoutka at the

Historical Society at 320-235-1881. The 2016 inductions to the West Central Baseball Hall of Fame will be

held on to-be determined date in January or February in conjunction with the Stingers Winter Barbeque event.

Nominations must be submitted to the Historical Society by Friday, October 23, 2015

in order to be considered for the 2016 class.

New Displays in Main Gallery

The Kandiyohi County Historical Society has been working hard on a new railroad

exhibit in the main gallery. We are in the final stage of installation and this display will

open on Engine #2523 Day, October 10. This display will include a model railroad table

generously put together by Pastor Tim Larson and Phil Anderson, both of Willmar. We

appreciate their time and talent to make this display even better.

The West Central Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2015 display is in place. We

thank the family members of our inductees for loaning us items and photographs to put

into the display.

Be sure to stop by and check out the changes we have made!!!


Our Sympathy To Family and Friends-

John E. Helin, 73, KCHS member since 2000, passed away on May 4th, 2015. He is survived

by his wife, Janet, two daughters and five grandchildren.

Janice Sanderson Bergquist, 99, KCHS lifetime member since 1970, passed away on May

22, 2015. She is survived by twin daughters, two grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Patrick “Pat” Maiers, 74, KCHS member since 1998, passed away on June 2, 2015. He is

survived by wife, Judy, three children, and six grandchildren.

Ivan Kvam, 92, KCHS member since 1997, passed away on July 11, 2015. He is survived by

five children, four grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Betty Martin Larson, 69, KCHS member since 2013, passed away on July 25, 2015. She is

survived by husband, Myron, two children, and three grandchildren.

Beulah “Toots” Smith Lundberg, 90, KCHS member since 2003, passed away on July 27,

2015. She is survived by her husband, Burt, four children, nine grandchildren and ten great-

grandchildren.

Joseph Freese, 87, KCHS member since 2001, passed away on August 11, 2015. He is sur-

vived by wife, Dorothy, two children, and six grandchildren.

From the Director’s Desk~ Many of our visitors have been noticing changes at the Museum. Our wonderful Thursday Crew

has been working hard this summer on a big projects. That project was replacing almost all the windows

in the depot and putting up new siding. The new windows and siding look great! The windows are

more energy efficient so that will help with our energy costs. THANK YOU THURSDAY CREW!!!

Our technology upgrade is complete! As a part of this upgrade, our membership database soft-

ware was upgraded two steps. In the transfer of data, our membership files did not transfer 100% accu-

rately. When I find an error, I make the changes. Please bear with me as I try to get it up to date. If you

notice anything, please let me know so I can make the information as current as possible. Please email

me at [email protected] or call me at 320-235-1881.

Since the last newsletter, KCHS has received three grants!!!! The first one is from the Southwest

Minnesota Arts Council. The grant is to work with photographer, Gregory Harp, to take pictures of

some of the churches in Kandiyohi County. The final product will be a art exhibit done in May and June

of 2016 in our community room. Another product of this grant will be the photographs that will be add-

ed to our archives. We want to capture the present congregations so we can preserve them for the future.

The second grant is a Minnesota Historical and Cultural Grant to hire a professional conservator to do an

assessment on the Engine #2523. The conservator will give KCHS a report on the condition of the en-

gine and will include a short and long term preservation plan for the engine. The third grant is another

Minnesota Historical and Cultural Grant to hire a consultant to do historic research on World War I to be

used in a traveling exhibit for the West Central Minnesota Historical Association. The West Central

Minnesota Historical Association is a collaboration of 10 counties in west central Minnesota that works

together to promote the history of this area.

Lastly, we now have our new t-shirts available in our gift shop!!! Please stop by and check them

out. We have two styles for adults and a new style for kids!! Also, please feel free to stop by and chat

any time, the coffee is always on!!!

Jill Wohnoutka-Director


New Land New Life By Richard Engan

Continued from June newsletter….

In the early 1850's Great Britain opened up

Canada to non-British ships. At this time steam ships

were beginning to be used in Germany, France and

Great Britain. As steam ships were coming into use

the old sailing ships were being sold for low prices.

With the constitution of 1814 Norwegians felt free to

plan their own future. This allowed Norwegians to get

into the merchant shipping industry. This marks the

time that Norway became a great shipping nation. They

could buy a sailing ship and get a contract to haul lum-

ber from Quebec to England. They then booked emi-

grants from Norway for the crossing to Canada. In

Norway before they loaded the passengers they would

build bunks for all the passengers. The passengers

were required to bring the food that they would need

for the trip. They needed to plan for two months at

least. The ship provided a limited amount of drinking

water and a stove with firewood for all to use. The

condition of the trip depended greatly on the character

of the ship captain. In 1866 the Norwegian parliament

passed a rule that emigrant ships needed to post a bond

before leaving Norway to cover complaints from pas-

sengers until they had reached their destination.

In about 1870 the travel by steam ship replaced the

sailboats. From Norway they would sail down the

coast to Germany, Great Britain, or France. where they

would transfer to steam ships. The most common desti-

nation then was New York although Boston, Philadel-

phia, or Baltimore and other cities were also destina-

tions. The most common route was to Hull, England

and then by train to Liverpool where they boarded the

steam ships for North America.

The ticket from Norway to America often included

passage to the city or state of destination. From Que-

bec this was often by a series of boats up the St Law-

rence river to Lake Ontario and then by Lake boat

across the Great Lakes to Milwaukee or Chicago. Lat-

er sometimes they world transfer to train at Detroit. In

1854 the railroad from Chicago to Rock Island, Illinois

on the Mississippi began service. From there they

would take a river boat up to Minnesota. In 1857 the

railroad from Milwaukee to Prairie de Chine, Wiscon-

sin was operational and in 1858 the railroad from Mil-

waukee to La Cross, Wisconsin was operating. The

first railroad in Minnesota was from St Paul to St An-

thony/Minneapolis in 1862.

In America the immigrants identified with where they

came from. They were Americans second. Many were

dreaming of returning to their home land.. My great

grandfather was the oldest son. He would have inherit-

ed the right to rent the family farm. He was planning

on returning to Norway. The trip over was so hard and

he was so sea sick that he never wanted to make the

trip again. The immigrants came with home spun

clothes. They adapted to the commercial clothes of

America early. Norwegian was the family language

in the home for over 40 years. They did not switch to

English until my father started first grade. They then

wanted their children to adapt to the new language

more easily.

The Scandinavian immigrants that settled in this area

often were successful in obtaining their own land.

That gave them a greater independence in the relations

with their neighbors from different countries. The

Turners who settled and founded New Ulm left Cincin-

nati and Chicago. They were largely craft people that

were trying to practice their craft in a town setting.

They had experienced discrimination from people that

had been here longer. They were looking for the op-

portunity to form a new community where everyone

was considered equal. As time went on they each be-

came Americans first and Norwegian, Danes or Ger-

mans second. They each went on to make large contri-

butions to our society and country.

The Willmar area immigrants today are very much like

our ancestors and other groups of immigrants. They

are looking for opportunities for a better life for their

children. They will take hard working jobs at low pay

that other people do not want to do. One of the most

unique characteristics of the United States is the ability

to welcome immigrants from all over the world and

integrating them into our society.


On the web at www.nllha.org or www.facebook.com/nllha.org

News from the Norway Lake Lutheran Historical Association

Fall Activities at the Old Log Church

Summer's over! Our 9 Saturday evening Vespers services and the big annual celebration are now in the rear view mirror, so to speak. The final fall events consist of:

Lefse Day, 1 to 3 PM October 10th at the Knudson Cabin Advent Service at the Old Log Church at 2 PM on November 29th.

The cabin is in the grove of trees about ¼ mile NE of the OLC. Progress in one of NLLHA's new projects.

The list of charter members of the East Norway Lake and the West Norway Lake churches, totaling 157, was distributed to NLLHA members in our July mailing. The mailing asked for volunteers to help collect information on the charter members and their spouses. Five persons have responded with offers of help.

One person has already gone through much of the web internet compilation called Nordmenn i Minnesota i USA i 1880-teljinga (Norwegians in Minnesota in USA in the1880 census) and has found some 62 listings that appear to match up with names on the list. This was not an easy task, as the spellings sometimes differ. For the matches that were found, we have learned the first name of the spouse, and the age and country/state of birth of both. (So far, nearly all were born in Norway; a few were born Sweden or Wisconsin.) The age information will be very useful when we get to looking up records in Norway.

Another source of information is that wonderful old booklet, Festskrift, authored in 1916 by a pair of area pastors. This book is in Norwegian and is hard to read. Fortunately, a scholar named Debbie Boe has translated key sentences (those giving names and dates) and posted them on the internet. We have started matching these to the list of 157, and it looks like there may be about 100 matches. The information extracted by Debbie Boe usually gives the spouse's full name, as well as when and from where they emigrated.

The plan – the hope – is to work up a 1-page mini-biography on each charter member and spouse. We realize that this may take a few years.

Norway Lake Lutheran

Historical Association

6338 County Road 40 NW

New London, MN 56273

Earl O. Knutson, President

Ed Huseby, Vice President

Eloise Nelson, Treasurer

Marlin Henjum, Secretary

Earl O. Knutson

722 Second Street SW

Willmar, MN 56201

320-222-1613

[email protected]

Rural School Districts of

Kandiyohi County

Lake Elizabeth Township

School Districts

Written by Marilyn Johnson

District 38(777) Commissioners of Kandiyohi County, on Sept 4, 1866, granted a petition by G. Dahl and others to establish a new school district out of Sections 31 to 36, inclusive, Gennessee, and Sections 1 to 24, inclu-sive, Lake Elizabeth. The district was established as District No. 2 but on Feb 11, 1871, the number was changed to 38. The district was formally organized in 1870. Among the primary movers for organi-zation were G. A. Glader, Nels Rosenquist, Olaf Swedlund, John Johnson, and Wm. Johnson. The first teacher was Miss Hannah Johnson. School was held at different homes in the district, sometimes in the granary or up in the loft or garret of the house, changing about from place to place for each term. Miss Johnson would sometimes take the students out under the shade of trees or hold school in a wagon box when the garret, the granary, or wherever they were gathered, became too op-pressive during hot summer days. The second teacher was Miss Lutina Lindquist. The first school house was made from logs cut from trees on the big island in Lake Elizabeth. In December 1974, during a Christmas celebration at the school, the ceiling caught fire from the old cook stove. The damage was repaired and school held in this log structure until 1885. This log structure was 14x20 feet and was eight feet high. In 1885 a new 24x28x12 foot structure was erected at a cost of $600. The schoolhouse sat on two acres of land. The apparatus included a large globe, a chandelier with four lamps, physiological charts, maps, dictionary, etc. The free text book system was adopted in 1896. In 1900 a library was purchased. Enrollment in 1873 included Alexander Forsberg, Nels Olson, George H. Skeate, John Dahline, Oscar Dahline, Peter Osberg, Andrew Rosenquist, Nels Peterson, John Malmberg, Olaf Oredson, August Swedlund, Andrew Johnson, Jonas Johnson, Andrew Forsberg, G. Hanson, Josephine Johnson, Nelly Olson, Nelly Skeate, Mary Dahline, Wealthy Church, Melvina Church, Alice Peterson, Mary Swedlund, Anna Forsberg.

In 1931 the schoolhouse burned down and a new one was built in 1932, at a cost of $2,400. The interior was damaged by fire in 1952 so classes were held at the Geo. Winberg farmhouse. The schoolhouse was later modernized with a central heating system and other utilities.


Macht Accounting Larry Macht, Owner

Accounting and Tax Preparation

www.machtaccounting.com

203 5th St, P.O. Box 353,

Raymond, MN 56282 320-967-4439

[email protected]

Residential ● Commercial ●Roll-Off Construction Boxes Serving Willmar and all of Kandiyohi County

Good Neighbors You’ve Come to Trust 235-7630 ● www.wcsanitation.com


Teachers from 1905 through the school year 1969/70 were Millie Carlson, Nellie E. Rosenquist, Horace E. Reese, Pearl Malmberg, Mabel V. Anderson, Minnie O. Erickson, Lulu R. Leslie, Gunhild Peterson, A. R. Thompson, Ellen M. Ander-son, Lillian Boom, Hazel Peterson, Florence Boom, Saidee Pearson, Marjorie Sutcliffe, Ivel Clough, Esther Hubbartt, Em-ma S. Johnson, Anna M. Johnson, Dorothy Diffendorf, Anna B. Olson, Margaret Swenson, Lucille Johnson, Althea Brusven, Manford Hewitt, Ruth Cowing, Esther Edwall, Leona Blahoski, June Johnson, Edna Shosten, Elinor Pagel, Luel-la Fredrick, Mrs. William Kiecker, Mrs. Kermit Johnson, Mrs. Albert Nelson, Mrs. Jack Stice, Mrs. Elder Madsen. This schoolhouse was located in the SW corner of the SE¼ of Section 9, on the North side of 90th Ave SE.

DISTRICT 75 (800) A petition was presented to the county commissioners on July 28, 1879 asking for the formation of a new school district from the following territory: Sections 1, 2, 11, 12, and 14, Lake Elizabeth; Section 36 and E½ of Section 35, Gennessee. The petition was granted August 13, 1879 and District No. 75 was established. The district was organized that same month and the following were elected: August Broman, director; Louis S. Moline, treasurer; Gustaf Hedner, clerk. Miss Anna Johnson taught the first term of school in the spring of 1882. She taught a three month term in the Norwegian Methodist Church. In 1883 an 18x22 x12 foot schoolhouse was built at a cost of about $400. In 1888 an 8x16 entry was added, and in 1892 a12 foot addition was added to the west end of the building. Enrollment in 1882 included Selma C. Lund, Betsey Lindblom, Anna C. Lindblom, Samuel Johnson, Sophia Johnson, Charley E. Lund, Albertina Molin, Gustaf Molin, Frank D. Molin, August Broman, Oscar Broman, Sarah Nelson, Theo-dore Nelson, Lena Johnson, Alida Wieberg, Lars Fredrick Larson, Efry Larson, Enie Danielson, Minnie Danielson. Teachers from 1905 through the school year 1969/70 were Christina Erickson, Gunhild Peterson, Anna C. Peterson, Amanda Synnerholm, Olga Haroldson, Grace V. Dahl, Anna Aune, Florence Freelander, Eva Clough, Mrs. H. L. Nordin, Anna Olson, Mrs. Joe Goeddertz, Oril V. Danielson, Myrtle M. Carlson, Stella Carlson, Myrtle Grendahl, Ethel Nelson, Helen Hendrickson, Mildred Duffy, Mildred J. Nelson, Josie Knudsen, Mrs. C. A. Halverson, Doris Mae Stark, Mrs. Edith Westre, Arlene Johnson, Margaret Miller, Mrs. Elden Palmer, Jr, Annie Hawes, Mrs. Alpha Vennerstrom, Mrs. Ben Mar-shall, Mrs. Evelyn Anderson, Mrs. John Phillips. This schoolhouse was located in the NE corner of the SE¼ of Section 2, on the west side of County Road 2.

DISTRICT 79 (804)

On July 23, 1883 District 79 was established and covered the following territory: Sections 6, 7 and 18, W½ of Sections 5 and 8, Lake Elizabeth; and Sections 12 and 13, and E½ of Sections 1, 11, and 14 of Fahlun. The district was organized at a meeting on Sept 1, 1883, and the following elected as officers: C. P. Quist, clerk; Frank Fornell, director; and G. J. Boom, treasurer.

The site chosen for the schoolhouse was the SW corner of NW¼ of NW¼, Section 7, Lake Elizabeth. The 18x24x10 foot schoolhouse was built and the first term of school began on April 8, 1884, with Melvina Peterson as the teacher.

Harvey Anderson

& Johnson

FUNERAL HOMES

& West Central Cremation Service

Chappell Central, Inc. 2101 Gorton Ave NW

PO Box 916 Willmar, MN 56201

(320) 235-2151

www.chappellcentral.com


An 16x20 addition was built in 1894 at a cost of $225. Further improvements were made in 1898 at a cost of $250. Enrollment in 1884 included Edith Quist, Hurby Quist, Earnest Quist, Kate Olson, Han-nah Olson, Christina Olson, Charles Peterson, Annie Peterson, Frank Eastlund, Christina Engstrom, Henry Forsberg, Hilda Sjarstrom, Manda Sjarstrom, Betsy Norine, Axel Lind-holm, Sarah Engstrom, Augusta Sjarstrom, Willie Carlson, Erick Eastlund, Emma Olson, Willie Peterson. Teachers during the years 1905 to 1963 included Edith E. Quist, Edna M. Cassidy, Lucile A. Cashman, Mary A. Lipsit, Ellen S. Skutle, Mabel E. Johnson, Julia M. Johnson, Victoria Peterson, Josephine W. Peterson, Emma Carlson Myrtle Johnson, Mabel Johnson, Ruby Melin, Ruth Harrison, Edna Shosten, Ethel Newman, Esther Pederson, Clara Hallbom, Anna C. Lindquist, Regina Donnay, Myrtle Kleberg, Hilda Hoekstra, Dorothy Gabriel, Bernice Flygare, Kenneth Elling, Iona Nelson, Eleanore Norine, Mrs. Lowell Ekbom, Mrs. Wilbur Peters, Ruth Steinhilber, Leone Brown, Lorraine Linden, Mrs. Lillian Danielson, Philles Whitcomb, Mrs. John Phillips, Mrs. Chester Nelson, Marcella Verhey, Mrs. Phyllis Madsen, Anita Sauck, Mrs. Glenn Lemmonds, Mrs. Carol Lehnhoff. This schoolhouse was located in Section 7 in the corner where 120th St SE meets 75th Ave SE. This district consolidated with the Atwater School in 1962/63, after 80 years of existence. The building was purchased and torn down. The swings went to Atwater.

DISTRICT 96 (811)

A petition dated Feb 22, 1894 asked that a new school district be established for the area covering the S½ of Section 22; E½ and SW¼ of Section 28; E½ of NW¼, N½ of SW¼, Section 34; all of Sections 24, 25, 26, 27, 35 and 36; Lake Elizabeth Township. The petition was granted on Jan 10, 1895 and District No. 96 was established. It was determined at a special meeting held May 1,1895 to issue bonds for $400 to be used to build a schoolhouse. The building was improved in 1903 in order to meet the requirements of rural schools receiving the special state aid. The fol-lowing teachers taught during the first years of the district: Sarah Nelson, summer and fall, 1895; N. J. Swanson, spring, 1896; H. Bornstedt, fall and winter, 1896; Rosa H. Bomstad, spring 1897. Enrollment in 1897 included Thea Johnson, Bessie Olson, Rhoda Ekbom, Emma Johnson, Alwin Westlund, Esther Peter-son, Earnest Linden, Hilda Peterson, Reuben Ekbom, Hattie Campbell, Eddie Linden, Hans Johnson, Elmer G. Wallin, Abel Ekblom, Pearl Westlund, Annie Peterson, Anton Johnson, Hattie C. Wallin, Robert Westlund, Eddie Carlson, Nels Peterson, George Johnson, Mabel Lindstrom, Annie Rowland, Mamie Rowland, Morene Westlund, Levi Ekbom, Esther Campbell, Louis Larson, Christian Larson, Willie Larson, Frans Lindstrom, Clara Waters, Edith Lindfors, Enoch Walters, Joseph Walters, Hans Waters, Henry Waters, Willie Peterson, Willie Waters, Hilma Peterson, Emma Berg, Alric Young-berg, Herman Peterson, Victor Peterson. This school was known as the Prairie School. A new schoolhouse was built in 1938 by the NYA at a cost of $4,104. Plumbing and lavatories were installed in 1948 and a furnace in 1951. New desks were purchased in 1962. This school-house was located in the SE corner of the NW¼ of Section 26, on the north side of 127th Ave SE.

Custom Cabinets ● CNC Router Services Granite, Silestone, Cambria, Corian Countertops

HEIDA’S WOODWORKS 308 Spicer Avenue ● P.O. Box 13

Raymond, MN 56282 [email protected]

BRAD HEIDA BRANDON HEIDA Ph. (320) 967-4848 MICHAEL HEIDA FAX (320) 967-4373


Kandiyohi County Historical Society would like to thank local

businesses for their continued support of the preservation and

sharing of Kandiyohi County history!

320-235-1322

OPEN DAILY ~ 10AM-5PM

Primitives, Ceramics, Glassware, China, Silver, Books,

Furniture, Vintage and Collectible Jewelry

Check out the Online Store at www.longlakeantiques.com

Closed Mondays & National Holidays

~ Largest One Owner Shop in Minnesota ~

320-235-3494 Commercial & Residential Construction

[email protected]

436 Litchfield Ave SW - PO Box 1037 - Willmar, MN 56201

Phone: 320-235-2212 - Website: www.corneil-elkjer.com

Insurance Since 1942

S P I C E R

Bell Tower Antiques

4th of July Flea Market

Glassware * Toys

Furniture *Collectibles

Fishing Lures* Decoys

We Buy & Sell

Hours: Mon.-Sat.

10-5

Sun. Noon-5 Hwy 23 in Spicer

(2 blocks north of Dairy Queen)

320-796-5515

Daily Breakfast,

Lunch & Dinner

Specials

Located in

Downtown Spicer

Hours:

Sunday: 6am-1:30pm

Mon-Tues:6am-2pm

Wed-Sat: 6am-8pm

Non-Profit Organization

U.S. Postage Paid

Willmar, MN

Permit No. 667

Kandiyohi County Historical Society

610 NE Hwy 71

Willmar, MN 56201

KCHS Membership HEADQUARTERS: 610 NE Hwy 71, Willmar MN 56201

Phone: (320) 235-1881 E-Mail: [email protected] Office and Museum Hours: 9-4 Weekdays

MEMBERSHIP FORM - Send to Kandiyohi County Historical Society, 610 NE Hwy 71, Willmar, MN 56201

INDIVIDUAL - $15 FAMILY - $25 FRIEND—$50 SUPPORTER—$100

PROFESSIONAL/BUSINESS - $100 PATRON—$250 BENEFACTOR - $500

Membership Category_________________________ Amount Enclosed________________

Name(s)___________________________________________________________________________________

Address_______________________________________________________ Phone______________________________

__________________________________________________________ e-mail_________________________________

Thank you for joining our venture, “discovering, preserving, and sharing” the story of Kandiyohi County and Minnesota.

MEMBER CONTRIBUTION FORM - Send to KCHS, 610 NE Hwy 71, Willmar MN 56201

As a lifetime or long-term member of the Kandiyohi County Historical Society, I appreciate the membership benefits I’ve

(we’ve) received through the years, and the enclosed donation is an expression of my appreciation.

Name(s)_______________________________________________ Amount Enclosed________________

Address______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________ Phone_________________________

Comments____________________________________________________________________________

Date post:	06-Jan-2022
Category:	Documents
Upload:	others
View:	0 times
Download:	0 times

Volume 52, Issue 3 September 2015

Documents