Director's Blog

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.

The Northfield Historical Society Museum Store has many unique items that make great gifts!

• Northfield clothing
• Local Cookbooks
• Books by Northfield authors
• James-Younger Gang kid dusters
• Videos on Northfield history
• And many more!

Stop on by the Museum Store during Winter Walk to take advantage of 50% off selected t-shirts and other items.

NHS memberships make great gifts as well!

The Museum Store is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m Monday through Saturday and 1:00 to 5:30 on Sunday.  We are located on the corner of Division Street and Bridge Square. 

Due to a family emergency the book signing for Electric Theater: The Emergence of Cinema in Northfield, 1896-1917 that was scheduled for tomorrow night’s Winter Walk has been postponed.  However, you will still be able to purchase copies of the book.

The FREE pictures with the James-Younger Gang are still on from 6-9p.m.!

The Northfield Historical Society (NHS) is pleased to announce the publication of the newest book in its Northfield History Series, Electric Theater: The Emergence of Cinema in Northfield, 1896-1917, by former NHS board member and Carleton professor Carol Donelan.

In the modern era of Netflix, YouTube, and iTunes, it's easy to forget the sensation of the original "moving pictures," when films could only be seen for a limited time at a properly-equipped theater and, once seen, could not be downloaded, ordered, or otherwise obtained for private viewing. Films were enjoyed in the moment, perhaps never to be seen again by the eyes that so raptly watched the stories unfold on the theater screen. A movie was not something to be owned and consumed in the privacy of the home; it was a visiting form of community entertainment that was enjoyed, marveled at, and then either remembered or forgotten. This was true of movie-going in Northfield and across the United States.

By welcoming the moving pictures fad in the early days of the technology, Northfielders have seen, participated in, and been affected by the evolution of film and movie theaters since the late 1800s. Donelan takes a close look at questions of ethics, entertainment value, and safety that were raised and solemnly evaluated by local governments (and individual townspeople, including one early Northfielder who suggested that some films shown in Northfield had a "tendency to lead young boys and girls straight to the devil").

Multiple theaters opened and closed in the heart of downtown Northfield, beckoning locals and college students to step inside and experience the wonders of traveling exhibitions, early French films, and Italian super spectacles. At various times, Northfield's streets saw the comings and goings of the Star, the Gem, the Ware, the Lyric, and the Grand theaters as technology continued to expand and new entrepreneurs were caught under the spell of moving pictures. Electric Theater unfurls the history of these theaters and the magic within them, sprinkled with strange and fascinating stories that add special interest to the events of the time (including an unexpected case of anti-Norwegian prejudice).

Please stop by the Northfield Historical Society December 8, 6–9 p.m., during Winter Walk and pick up your copy of the book and have the author sign it. In addition, Susan Hvistendahl, author of the book The Lyceum (the second book in the Northfield History Series) will be on hand to sign copies of her book.

The Northfield Historical Society has on display now, Celebrating 100 years of the St. Olaf Christmas Festival.  If you are in Northfield for the festival this week, stop on down at NHS.  We are located at the corner of  Bridge Square and Division Street. in downtown Northfield.  We are open, Monday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. and Sunday 1:00 – 6:00 p.m.

The exhibit documents the 100 year history of the Christmas Festival through, photographs, video interviews and even a streaming audio recording of the 1951, 1971 and 1991 concert.

For more information contact NHS at 507-645-9268 or just stop by, our address is 408 Division Street, Northfield, MN 55057.

The Northfield Historical Society will be closed on Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 24).  However, we will be open on Friday (Nov. 25) from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.   We will also be open our normal operating hours on Saturday and Sunday.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Sorry for the ads at the start of the video.

Last night nearly 100 people packed the Northfield Historical Society to get their first look at the new exhibit, Celebrating 100 years of the St. Olaf Christmas Festival.  It was a great evening, you have until mid January to view the exhibit, so get down to NHS to take a look.  Thank you to all that came to last nights opening!

Enjoy the slideshow of the exhibit install and the opening.

Our  newest exhibit, 100th Celebration of the St. Olaf Christmas Festival, will showcase the annual St. Olaf College event that through nationwide radio and television broadcasts has grown into one of the most well known and iconic celebrations of Christmas in the nation.

The exhibit, co-sponsored by the St. Olaf Office of Music Organizations, opens Thursday, Nov. 17, at 7 p.m. in the newly renovated museum at 408 Division Street. The opening will include refreshments and a brief program at 7:30 p.m. The exhibit will run through mid-January.

The exhibit will take a comprehensive look at the history of the St. Olaf Christmas Festival as seen through the eyes of Northfield residents, including St. Olaf faculty and staff. Video interviews with locals who were associated in various ways with the festival, some 170 images from the past century, and video and sound recordings will be on display.  Museum visitors will be able to track how the event has changed from its quiet inauguration in 1912 to the first national PBS TV broadcasts in the 1970s to the groundbreaking nationwide live simulcast to movie theaters in 2007. Today the four annual performances by 500 student musicians attract an audience of 12,000.

Learn more about this year’s Christmas Festival and national Dec. 4 simulcast at stolaf.edu.

Give to the Max Day is coming up next week on November 16.  Last year NHS raised more than $5,000 for our Next Level Campaign.  This year our friends at KYMN, The Archer House and Rebound Enterprises are offering a combined $1,000 match again this year.  So, if NHS can raise $1,000 our partners will match that.  This year’s Give to the Max donations will go towards paying off our construction loan.

If you are interested in donating on November 16, there are many ways to do so:

Donate on the GiveMN Northfield Historical Society page

Donate through the Northfield Historical Society website

Or you can use the widget on our front page just below this post on the right side of your screen.

Please note that if you want to donate and have it count towards the match, you have to donate on November 16 and you must do it online.  If you have any questions feel free to call NHS at 507-645-9268.

Last year we raised over $5,000 on Give to the Max Day, lets see if we can surpass that this year!

I am sorry it has taken me so long to do a post on the Cemetery Stories that were last weekend.  It was  great night and thank you to everyone that came out.  We had about 340 people attend.  If you missed it, here is a video of the evening.  I hope to post photos of the event early next week.