The Northfield Historical Society’s 8th annual Cemetery Stories will be held Saturday, Oct. 27, from 3:40-8 p.m. at the historic Northfield Cemetery.

The event features actors portraying five Northfield residents who were buried or soon to be buried at the cemetery. Cost is $4 for adults and $1 for children age 5-13. To reserve a tour time, call NHS at 645-9268.

Northfielders portrayed by costumed actors at this year’s event are: Hiram Scriver, Phoebe Persons, Anna Siverts and the Northfield Cemetery Gravedigger.

When Anna Siverts was 12 years old, she and her family were forced to flee New Ulm during the 1862 US-Dakota War. After the war, she and her family moved to Vang Valley in Goodhue County. In 1866 she moved to Dundas and became the seamstress for the Archibald family. In addition, she was also a witness to the September 7th, 1876 bank raid by the James-Younger Gang.

It is that time of year again, Defeat of Jesse James Days!  I truly believe it is the best time of the year.  So if you are coming to DJJD this year, make sure you stop into NHS to tour the historic bank site.  The admission cost is $4.00 a person and it does NOT require a DJJD button.  In addition, if you are looking to take something home visit our Museum Store for all your DJJD and Northfield related merchandise.

NHS Hours:

Wednesday 9:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Thursday 9:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Friday 9:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.ish.
Sunday 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Here is a slideshow to the over 500 photos taken during the Outlaw Run.  Thank you to Bridgette Hallcock Photography for all these amazing photos! We had 151 paid motorcycles but I heard people count up to 170-200 bikes at any given time.  Thank you all for riding and see you in 2013! Or you can go the picasa web album here.

On August 18, NHS will host the 5th Annual Outlaw Run! You can see all of the event details on the Outlaw Run page here.  Just announced,  riders in the Run will be eligible to win a boat cruise!  Register today!!

We invite you to explore Southern Minnesota like the notorious James-Younger Gang did, but this time, we are riding steel horses, with the fifth annual Outlaw Run.

On September 7, 1876, the Gang, led by Jesse and Frank James and the Younger brothers, attempted a bank raid on the First National Bank of Northfield.  While the raid was in progress, the townspeople rounded up their firearms and fought back.  When the fighting stopped, two Northfielders had been ruthlessly murdered by the Gang, and two of the outlaws lay dead in the streets.  The largest manhunt in U.S. History (at that point) ensued.  The Younger brothers were captured in a slew outside of Madelia, MN, while the Jesse and Frank escaped to meet their fate at a later day.

Saturday, August 18, riders will saddle up on their motorcycles and explore Southern Minnesota like the gang did before the attempted raid.  The event begins with a recreation of the robbery.  Then the riders will follow the trail down the old Dodd Road to Warsaw.  On the way back, we’ll water the horses at Lexington, where we will stop for lunch.  Finally we will case the town of Elko with a trip around the speedway and then return to Northfield for a post-rally party with prizes.

Everyone is welcome to come along.  The cost is just $20.00 per rider, and includes an Outlaw Run t-shirt plus a chance at prizes in our drawing.  All of the funds raised benefit the Northfield Historical Society Youth Programs.

You can sign up on the Outlaw Run webpage here.

This Thursday, July 26 starting at 5:00 p.m. is Wear Purple for Maggie Day, during Crazy Days and Taste of Northfield!

Marilyn Sellars, will sing “One Day at a Time” in honor of her friend Maggie Lee.  In addition, NHS President, Scott Richardson will also lead singing of “The Ballad of Maggie Lee” (to the tune of “Rawhide”) which he composed for Lee’s 90th birthday party at the Grand Event Center last year.

Prairie’s Edge Humane Society is holding “Meows for Maggie” cat adoptions from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on July 26 at the Northfield News building, 115 Fifth Street W. Purple catnip pillows will be given away and purple collars and cat leashes will be sold, with sponsorships of shelter cats available in Maggie’s name.

Vintage Base Ball, This Saturday!

Photo Courtesy Griff Wigley and www.locallygrownnorthfield.org/

NHS will be open our normal hours of July 4th.  9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.  Our research library will however be closed, from July 4-8.  If you have a research request or any question feel free to email us or call us at 507-645-9268.

In addition, the Northfield Silver Stars will play a match versus the St. Croix Base Ball Club at the foot of Old Main on the St. Olaf College Campus at 1:00 p.m. on  July 4th.  St. Croix will be looking to bounce back after a 8-3 loss to the Stars two weekends ago in Scandia.  The base ball game is played with 1860′s rules, which means, no gloves, outs can be registered on a bounce and many other differences from today’s game.  There is no charge or bleacher seating.  Bring your own chair.

Have a good holiday week!

The St. Croix Base Ball Club was not easy to find in Scandia, but the Silver Stars made them pay for the long commute with an 8-3 victory Saturday at the Hay School Museum.

Playing in authentic pasture-like conditions, we grabbed the lead in the fourth stanza with three aces. Rookie Hayes Scriven delivered a timely double that inning, and the enigmatic Ray of Afton,  a game-time pick up, knocked in two runs.He’s now on our Silver Stars Hall of Fame ballot.

Two more in the fifth and another three in the seventh, put the game away. Curtis “Hollywood” Tiano went the distance for the win. Dan “The Hammer” Hagen set a Silver Star putout record as first base tender with more than 10. Others suiting up for the Silver Stars were: Greg Muth, Christian Hakala, Sam Richardson, Bill Johnson, Kevin Hagen and Scott Richardson

St. Croix will be seeking revenge when we next meet Wednesday, July 4, 1 p.m. at St. Olaf College below Old Main.

You can view photos of the game here or on our Facebook page

Last night we hosted our volunteer appreciation.  It was well attended and a good time was had by all.  Congratulations to Debby Larsen and Devyn Gardener on being named Volunteers of the year!

Thank you Jane McWilliams for taking the photos!

In case you missed Ole and Lena Joke Night this past Saturday, here is the entire night!  Please note there is strong language in the video.  You can see photos from the joke night here.

Ole and Lena Joke Night 2012 from Hayes Scriven on Vimeo.

The 2012 Ole and Lena Joke Night was a huge success!  Thank you to The Grand Event Center for hosting us and thank you to everyone that was in attendance.  Also thank you to Ole, Lena, Lena, Tina and even Axel!

Here are some photos of the evening.  I hope to have a video of the program up soon as well.  But for now you can also check out the coverage on Northfield Patch  here, here and even here.

Ole and Lena Joke Night will be this Saturday, April 14.  Because last year was such a success we have moved the event to the Grand Event Center!  Doors open at 6:30 with the Norwegian humor starting at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $10.00 and you can get them at NHS or at the door.  If you have questions feel free to email or call us at 507-645-9268