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Marion, Susan and David Hvistendahl, three long-time supporters of Northfield Historical Society, will be the honorary chairs at the society’s annual meeting Saturday evening, March 17, at Carleton College’s Great Hall.

Marion retired to Northfield in 1990 with her husband, Jake, following rich and varied college teaching careers. She volunteered in the Museum Store and brought local historical figure Ann North to life as part of her Women in History presentations. Marion has also teamed with Brad Ness to present Ole and Lena Night, an NHS benefit.

Susan, a St. Olaf College graduate, has done extensive historical research since moving to Northfield in 2004. She chaired NHS’s Oral History Committee, edited a publication written by Alvin Houston on Lewiston, a local ghost town, and, in 2010, published a book on the Lyceum Building, the second publication of the NHS History Series. Susan is a regular contributor on local history to the Northfield Entertainment Guide.

David Hvistendahl, also a St. Olaf College graduate, has provided legal counsel to NHS since the early 1980s. He has served on the board of directors and as president. His Dr.Visty medicine man show was a fixture for many years during Defeat of Jesse James Days. David also appeared as one of the bank tellers in in the early video re-creations of the infamous James-Younger Bank Raid.

The annual meeting is free to all members of NHS. will begin with a social hour from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., a short business meeting and then food and social time.

The event is sponsored by Community Resource Bank and Carleton College. For more information, contact Hayes Scriven at 507-645-9268.

Civil War enthusiast and amateur historian Jim Stark will discuss the origins of the American Civil War in his presentation, “Why the Civil War was Fought: The Antebellum Period,” Thursday, Feb. 16, at 6 p.m. at the newly renovated Northfield Historical Society. The event, sponsored by KYMN Radio and the Northfield News, is the first of a series of discussions about the Civil War during the war’s ongoing sesquicentennial.

After reading extensively about Civil War battles and leaders, Stark, a former president of the Northfield and Rice County historical societies, says he wanted to learn more about the causes of the war. “How could a nation that fought for its freedom, and whose people spoke the same language and worshipped the same god find itself wanting to separate in the middle of the 19th century?” he asks.

Stark traces the roots of the Civil War to the 1787 Constitutional Convention where, as one delegate noted, “Slavery sat under the table like a giant snake coiled up ready to strike at any moment.” Stark will discuss how during the next 73 years “we would see one nation become two, with separate economies and dissimilar workforces. This created mistrust and suspicions that began to initiate a divide of political parties, religious institutions, and societies in general.”

Program starts at 6:00 p.m. on February 16.

This past Saturday we hosted the second annual Winter Scream Ice Cream Social.  Many people came out and told Winter “We are not gonna take it anymore!”  Thank you our sponsors, Econo Foods, the Reub N Stein, Hogan Brothers, KYMN Radio and the Northfield News!

Check out the videos from the Northfield News and Northfield Patch . Photos from Northfield Patch.

NHS Photos by Jane McWilliams, Scott Richardson and Hayes Scriven

Northfield Patch Video

Northfield native Don Peterson will share recollections of growing up in the 1930s and ‘40s and his experiences serving in the Korean War Thursday, Jan. 19, 6 p.m. at the Northfield Historical Society, 408 Division.

Peterson’s talk will be accompanied by a book signing of “Dear Folks,” a self-published work based on letters he wrote home during his tour of duty in Korea and Japan.

“Don offers a unique and extremely personal perspective on the Korean conflict and the times that surrounded it,” says Hayes Scriven, executive director of Northfield Historical Society. “Fortunately, his mother saved all of his hand-written letters from overseas. We are grateful Don has decided to share them with us.”

Peterson graduated from St. Olaf College in 1950 and was drafted into the Army that fall. Trained in teletype, he was attached to the 13th Signal Company of the 1st Cavalry Division in April of 1952. He served in Seoul, Korea for the rest of that year.

He spent 29 years in the aerial photography business, six in printing and several more in the corporate award and recognition business. He is now retired and lives in Minneapolis.

Peterson’s talk is free and open to the public. His books will be available for purchase.

If you have questions, contact Hayes Scriven at 507-645-9268.

NHS will be open on December 24 for all your holiday shopping needs or if you just need to see the St. Olaf Christmas Festival exhibit one more time!  We will be closed on Dec. 25 but open again on Dec. 26.  We will be open December 31 but closed on January 1 and 2.  As of January 2, NHS will be closed on Mondays until Spring.

Dates:
December 24, open
December 25, closed
December 26, open
December 31, open
January 1, closed
January 2, closed

By the way you can still get 50% of selected store merchandise!

 

Winter Scream II is coming soon to a square near you, and there are several ways you can participate.

Winter Scream is the Northfield Historical Society’s annual declaration of independence from winter’s grip. This year’s event, the second annual, will be Saturday, Jan. 14, from noon to 2 p.m. on Bridge Square.

Besides the traditional communal sing and ice cream social, NHS has expanded its Winter Scream menu with a chili option from the Reub-N-Stein, and a coloring contest for the kids. It also is inviting people to submit lyrics for the Winter Scream anthem, sung to the tune of the Twisted Sisters’ “We’re Not Gonna Take It.”

Copies of the Winter Scream snow man can be picked up for the coloring contest at the Northfield Historical Society, 408 Division, and the Children’s Desk at the Northfield Public Library or downloaded from the NHS website: www.northfieldhistory.org. Winners will be named in three divisions: 2-4 years old, 5 to 7 years old and 8 to 10 years old. Entries must be returned to the NHS Museum Store by Tuesday, Jan. 10.

Lyrics for the Winter Scream anthem must be submitted to NHS by Friday, Jan. 6, either on hard copy or by e-mailing to: scriven@northfieldhistory.org. NHS judges and the director of Northfield’s “Most Dangerous Choir” will pick the winning entries, which will be used in the 2012 Winter Scream. Here is a sample of lyrics used last year:

“We’ve got no friends in Phoenix

We’ve blown through all our Kleenex

We’re not going to take it, any more.”

“We’ve braved the snow and ice

We’ve shivered more than twice

We’re not going to take it, anymore.”

For more information, contact Hayes Scriven at 507-645-9268 or e-mail at scriven@Northfieldhistory.org.

2010 Winter Scream Photos and Video

Northfield Patch video

Locally Grown’s Photo Album

We are excited to present "Hmong Textiles: A Culture on Cloth." Graciously loaned to NHS by long-time Northfield residents Elvin and Corrine Heiberg, the exhibit tells the story behind traditional Hmong needlecraft. A Spotlight on Collections program, it is included in the admission to the bank raid exhibit.

Spotlight on Collections features collections from Northfield residents, as well as our archives. If you have a collection you would like to share with your neighbors and visitors to the museum, we encourage you to contact Bob Davies, Exhibits Committee at 645-2989, or Hayes Scriven, NHS Executive Director at 645-9268.

About six months ago, Tim Freeland came to me with an idea which was based on the Dear Photograph site, which superimposes old photos over current times, with the old photo held up in reference and the hand seen in the final product.  He showed me a submission of his which was one of the first to be posted to their site.  The basic idea behind the project is that you take a historical photograph and overlay it on a present day view.  It was a great idea so Tim and I decided to create a video utilizing various historical photos framed over modern day Northfield .  With some artistic direction from Adam Gurno we came up with this.  We hope you enjoy!

Pictured Left to Right: Jason Markkula of Bank Beer Co., NHS Vice President Christian Hakala, and NHS Executive Director Hayes Scriven

This is history turned upside down, the James-Youngers actually donating money to Northfield.

It came in the form of a $1,400 check delivered by Jason Markkula of Bank Beer Company. He is the brew master who developed the James-Younger 1876 Rye Ale last summer for a Northfield Historical Society (NHS) fundraiser. It was unveiled at Defeat of Jesse James Days and received good reviews.

The money is a donation based on Markkula brewing and distributing, with the help of College City Beverage, some 200 cases and 16 kegs of the specialty rye ale. “This turned out to be a great fundraiser for Northfield Historical Society,” said Hayes Scriven, executive director of NHS. “It injected a new wrinkle into the celebration, generated some great publicity and brought a return to the historical society.” Markkula is a fundraiser at heart. Beer is his medium. His company, Bank Beer, has helped Pheasants Forever build wildlife areas through a similar project. Since 2003, they have purchased 3,000 acres. “Sometimes companies plan on giving back to the community once they have turned a profit,” Markkula said. “We just make it a higher priority.”

The James-Younger 1876 was a new recipe that utilized malted rye and chocolate rye. It featured a floral citrus finish complemented by the spiciness of the rye.  Plans call for Bank Beer and NHS to bring a second series of James-Younger rye ale to the market next summer. In addition, Markkula is developing a “barrel-aged stout” that will be unveiled next August. Scriven said the beer is another vehicle to introduce people to the dramatic 1876 James-Younger Raid on Northfield’s First National Bank and other chapters of Northfield’s history.  Markkula also brews Rooster Lager and Walleye Chop, which are available in liquor stores locally.

Thanks to Bridgette Hallcock for all of her great work as the official committee photographer!

2011 Thurs Townie Night. . . . → Read More: 2011 Photos Are Up! – Find Yourself

Please view the official press release regarding a Spanish Interpretations of the Raid Re-enactments.

Click Here to View the . . . → Read More: Press Release Regarding a Spanish Interpretation for the Raid Re-enactments

If they had security cameras on the bank in 1876, this is what it may have looked like.

. . . → Read More: Surveillance Video Feed of Bank Raid (put to music)

Well, here it is.  7500 photos run together into a three minute rolling movie of the 2011 festival.  I . . . → Read More: 2011 Defeat of Jesse James Days Full Time Lapse Movie

. . . → Read More: Photos from the JLH Graveside Memorial and Banquet Service 09/07/11

Townie-Night is tomorrow (Thursday) and you’ll want to check out our new event.  The James Gang Mounted Shooting demonstration . . . → Read More: James Gang Mounted Shooting Demo Reel

Todd and Kathy Fredrickson

This shoe has been found by Todd and Kathy Fredrickson just after 7am this . . . → Read More: hh2 Found! Full Clue Explanation

These photos are of the original Defeat Day in 1948 when it all began.  Scan through these timeless photos . . . → Read More: 1948 Committee and Gang Photos. Which do you identify with?

Hello everyone. Surprise, surprise, the hunting ain’t over yet. There’s another horseshoe out there and the purse is even . . . → Read More: Surprise Horseshoe Hunt 2 (hh2) Launched! Clue #1 $1600 in Prizes!

2011 DJJD Parade Line-up

Download PDF HERE

Line Up Number

Unit Name

1

Northfield Police Department

. . . → Read More: 2011 Grand Parade Line-up Available Here