Back to Normal Hours!
After being closed for about a week, we are back to our normal business hours.
A big thank you to Rod and his crew from Buff and Coat for donating this rework of our floors!
Thank you!
NHS Closed January 19-22
We will be closed January 19-22. We are having our floors worked on. Thank you for our patience. If you have questions feel free to call 507-645-9268.
Book Signing and Presentation, January 15
Susan Hvistendahl will do a book signing and presentation of her new book, Historic Happenings, at the Northfield Historical Society, 408 Division Street, on Thursday, January 15, starting at 6:30 pm. The book includes stories about the people, businesses and events that have made Northfield the special place it is today. These selected columns were originally published in The Entertainment Guide, which partnered with the Northfield Historical Society to publish the book in December.
There are inspiring stories of early merchant Hiram Scriver and John North, who founded the town in 1855 and soon established the Lyceum as a library, reading room and place for settlers to debate issues of the day. North’s ties to Abraham Lincoln are given, along with how North’s temperance policies led to an ax-wielding episode in 1858.
Tales of the Archer House (which opened in 1877), the 1899 openings of both the Ware Auditorium (now the Grand Event Center) and the Odd Fellows building (at the site of Three Links today) are included. The beloved popcorn wagon, established by Vera Johansen, has been a familiar sight on Bridge Square since 1979. Other events covered in the book are the speech General Dwight David Eisenhower gave to 10,000 at Laird Stadium in 1952 just before he was elected President, the tragic day in 1915 when lions attacked their trainer during a carnival, the 1997 Northfield Raiders’ state football championship and, of course, the infamous day of “Robbery & Murder!” on Sept. 7, 1876, when the James-Younger gang tried to rob First National Bank but met its match.
Above all, Hvistendahl commemorates the people of Northfield: Northfield News writer and editor Maggie Lee, town icons Sid and Dan Freeman, performers Marilyn Sellars and Johnny Western, Laura Baker with her school for people with developmental disabilities, Northfield High choral director Yosh Murakami, Wayne Eddy of KYMN, and Celtic music wizard Laura MacKenzie. And three residents who were the Jeopardy! answer to the question, “Who are Northfield’s Quiz Show Aces?”—Hillemann, Crippen and Soule.
The program on Jan. 15 will feature ballads written in honor of Maggie Lee and Wayne Eddy, led by lyricist Scott Richardson, with Randall Ferguson on guitar. The talents of Laura MacKenzie will also be showcased, with a special song for the late Dan Freeman. Refreshments will be provided.
Holiday Hours Part 2
NHS will have the following holiday hours.
Happy New Year!
December 31, 10:00 a.m. – Noon
January 1, CLOSED
January 2, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
January 3, 10:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m.
January 4, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Holiday Hours
NHS will have the following holiday hours:
December 24, 10:00 -12:00
December 25, CLOSED
December 26, 10:00-1:30
December 27, CLOSED
December 28 1:00-5:00
Winter Walk
Anybody can get their picture taken with Santa, but at NHS you can get your picture taken with the James-Younger Gang! Get your photo taken with the James-Younger Gang during Winter Walk, December 11 from 6-9 p.m. NHS will also be premiering Historic Happenings a book by Susan Hvistendahl. It is a compilation of selected “Historic Happenings” columns which were originally published in The Entertainment Guide between 2007-2013.
There will also be many great sales on items in the Museum Store. Make sure you stop on down and say hi!
Historic Happenings Book Published
“Historic Happenings,” a book by Susan Hvistendahl, has been published this month through a partnership of The Entertainment Guide and Northfield Historical Society Press. It is a compilation of selected “Historic Happenings” columns which were originally published in The Entertainment Guide between 2007-2013. Other volumes will follow, including historic happenings at St. Olaf and Carleton Colleges.
The newly published book includes stories about the people, businesses and events that have made Northfield the unique place that it is today, dating back to John North, who founded the town in 1855. The book contains stories of North’s establishing a Lyceum where settlers sought “intellectual improvement” in debates on issues of the day and North’s ties to Abraham Lincoln. Also noted is an episode when “Ax-Wielding Settlers” promoted temperance in Northfield in 1858 and the inspiring life of Hiram Scriver, early merchant.
Also part of the fabric of the town’s history are the Archer House (which opened in 1877) and the Ware auditorium (now the Grand Event Center) and the Odd Fellows building (at the site of Three Links today) which both opened in 1899. The beloved popcorn wagon, established by Vera Johansen, has been a familiar sight on Bridge Square since 1979. Other events covered in the book are the speech General Dwight David Eisenhower gave to 10,000 at Laird Stadium in 1952 just before he was elected President, the tragic day in 1915 when lions attacked their trainer during a 1915 carnival, the 1997 Northfield Raiders’ state football championship and, of course, the infamous day of “Robbery & Murder!” on Sept. 7, 1876, when the James-Younger gang tried to rob First National Bank but met their match.
And, above all, there are stories of the amazing people of Northfield, past and present, featured in this book: Northfield News writer Maggie Lee, town icons Sid and Dan Freeman, performers Marilyn Sellars and Johnny Western, Laura Baker with her school for people with developmental disabilities, Northfield High choral director Yosh Murakami, Wayne Eddy of KYMN, Celtic music wizard Laura MacKenzie. And three residents who were the Jeopardy! answer to the question, “Who are Northfield’s Quiz Show Aces?”—Hillemann, Crippen and Soule.
The book will premier at Winter Walk Thursday Dec. 11, Hvistendahl will be signing copies of the book during between 6-8 p.m. at the Northfield Historical Society, 408 Division Street. There will also be a book presentation and book signing at the Northfield Historical Society on Thursday, Jan. 15, starting at 6:30 p.m.
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