Spring - Waseca County Historical Society

History Notes
Volume 27, Issue 2
Waseca County Historical Society
Spring 2006
P.O.Box 314, Waseca MN 56093
From the
Desk of
Margaret
Sinn
Mar
S
ummer is fast
approaching. It
doesn’t seem like we
had much spring. I
really do love tulips, so I
would be quite happy if they
were around for a month or so
longer.
This is going to be one
of those “What can you do for the Society” columns. I think I
am entitled to one a year. Sometimes I likely take it to
extremes. However, we really need volunteers for the
Chautauqua at Maplewood Park this
year. We are making it bigger and
better! If you can volunteer to help set
up on June 30, it would be a huge
help. Chautauqua is to be held on
Saturday, July 1 this year. If you are
unable to help, could your son or
grandson give us a hand for a couple
hours. We will be expanding to two
tents, plus many more activities on the
grounds and on the woodland trails. If
you can give us some of your time--
please, please, please!
If you have the use of a pickup
truck, you are doubly valuable to us.
We also need people to help sell
popcorn and
pop, and we are
trying to add ice cream bars to that lineup.
If you have an extra small table and
two chairs for our kitchen at the Bailey/
Lewer Research Center, we would
appreciate that also—maybe you might see one at a garage
sale
As you may or may not know, we are in the middle of
some major projects at the museum. It is an exciting time and
one where we really could use some help. The Youth Service
Leadership group from the high school helps us during the
school year, and recently, they helped move large artifacts
and tore down several wood patricians for us downstairs.
These young people are, however, not available in the
summer months. If you can help us move things or have some
carpentry skills, we would love the help. We have some wall
damage in the basement that could use attention. Don
Wynnemer, WCHS Board President, of course, is working as
www.historical.waseca.mn.us
CHAUTAUQUA AT MAPLEWOOD
July 1, 2006—10 am - 4 pm
hard as he can, but
quite frankly, he can’t
do everything. The
research center porches
need painting badly.
Esther Eustice, Brian
Boyce and Doug
Fairbanks will be with
us this summer. Esther
Don Wynnemer
is helping with the
archives, Bryan will be
working with the map collection, and Doug will do data
entry--indexing. Dan Swenson,
continues to trouble-shoot problems
and needs for us. Over the years and
more recently, he has helped
immensely with the initial sorting that
must be done when evaluating an
archival collection. He currently
serves as WCHS Board Treasurer.
Our map collection is not accessible to
anyone at this time for research, and it
is a wonderful collection. The same
goes for the archives. Many of our
treasures are hidden from the people
that should have access to them.
PLEASE consider asking, “What you
can do for
the
museum,
instead of “What the museum can
do for you” this year. I knew that
quote would get you! Any
amount of time will be
appreciated.
Last, but not least, if you
have extra used books to donate
to the WCHS Book Sale during
(507) 835-7700
George Kastelle
the Waseca County Fair, we would really appreciate it. Call
the museum at 835-7700, 8-5 weekdays to arrange a drop-off
at Hodgson Hall. Tell your friends and neighbors, please.
Every cent we can raise will go toward the new Waseca
County Timeline display. —Margaret Sinn

History Notes is a publication of the Waseca County
Historical Society ©2006 , P. O. Box 314,
Waseca, MN 56093, (507) 835-7700
Check out our searchable website:
www.historical.waseca.mn.us
You must now be a member in order to view search results,
including photographs. You can join online using your credit
card by clicking on “Membership” and entering prompted
information.
WCHS Board of Directors:
Don Wynnemer, President
Dennis Kuefner, Vice-President
Rod Searle, Secretary
Dan Swenson, Treasurer
Henry Lewer
Rev. Charles Espee
Jean Lundquist
Jim King
Gwen Buschow
Don Zwach
Jim Tippy
Jerry Rutledge
Al Ruhland, County Commissioner
Al Rose, City Council
Staff:
Margaret Sinn, Director
director@historical.waseca.mn.us
Joan Mooney, Programs
program@historical.waseca.mn.us
Sheila Morris, Photo Archives
photo@historical.waseca.mn.us
Pauline Fenelon, Artifacts/Library
collection@historical.waseca.mn.us
Vanessa Zimprich, Artifacts
artifact@historical.waseca.mn.us
Teri Pribble, Bookkeeping
Museum Hours:
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Bailey-Lewer Research Center Hours:
Tuesday-Friday, 8 a.m.-12 & 1-5 p.m.
or by appointment
Chautauqua 2006
Volunteers Needed
• Poster distribution
• Table hauling
• Set-up, Friday June 30, and take-down
July 1, after 4 p.m.
• Parking
• Site maintenance
• Arts and crafts tent
• Popcorn and rootbeer stands
WCHS appreciates any amount of time anyone can
spend helping with Chautauqua 2006. The date of
the event is Saturday, July 1 from 10:00 a.m.-4:00
p.m. There is much to do before the actual event.
Please call us for more information or to sign up,
835-7700.
MEMORIALS & CONTRIBUTIONS
Tax-deductible contributions to benefit the
Waseca County Historical Society can be made
to the following funds:
The Frank and Barbara Goodspeed
Memorial Fund
Waseca County Historical Society
Endowment Fund
The Edgar F. and Ethel Johnson Fund
The Phil Allen Fund
Individual Memorials
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Funds are managed by the Minnesota
Foundation. Your donation remains intact—only
a percentage of the interest is available to
WCHS annually.

The Waseca County Historical Society presents:
CHAUTAUQUA
Saturday, JULY 1
Historic Maplewood Park
LOCATED on the east side Clear Lake at
Hwy 14 across from Kiesler’s Campground.
Park FREE and ride the tram up the hill!
Musician/Composer PETER OSTROUSHKO & Producer POLLY FRY
of “Minnesota: A History of the Land”
Gospel Singing, Naturalist Al Batt, Historical Players, Johnny Appleseed,
Sacred Harp Singing in the Woods, Art Tent for the Kids,
Hot Dogs, Popcorn & Root Beer!
Admission: 5¢ Children and Servants FREE !
The 2006 Chautauqua is sponsored by the Waseca County Historical Society
With donations from Associated Lumber, Culligan Water and Waseca Music. This program is made
possible by grants provided Nor-Am Minnegasco and by the Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council
with funds appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature.
5¢
3
10 am. to 4:00 pm.
WASECA, MN

Peter Oustroushko
will perform at our Chautauqua at 3:00 p.m. Be
sure to come and enjoy this wonderful concert!
Peter Oustroushko is a gifted
musician and composer who
created the soundtrack for the
acclaimed documentary series,
Minnesota: A History of the
Land. The producer, researcher
and writer of the series, Polly
Fry, said in her presentation
recently at our May 25
Luncheon, that the addition of
Oustroushko’s music to the
documentary immediately lifted
it to it’s award-winning level,
as he won an award for the
soundtrack. Minnesota: A History of the Land was broadcast
on Channel 2 in the Fall of 2005 over several evenings, as the
total series has four hour-long episodes. However, it covers
the evolution of the land we call Minnesota from pre-history
through the prairie lands, Big Woods, Native American
cultures, agricultural technologies to the present. We arrive at
a place in time trying to decide what lands to save, what to
replenish, how to educate,
what to legislate—very
complex issues. But
through the images,
information and narratives
of Minnesota: A History of
the Land, we are brought
together in a common love
and respect for our land—
Minnesota.
Growing up in the
Ukrainian community of NE Minneapolis, Peter heard
mandolin, balalaika and bandura tunes played by his father
and decided to play the fiddle and mandolin. He has made his
mark as a session player, headliner and composer. His first
recording session was an uncredited mandolin set on Bob
Dylan's Blood on the Tracks. He has worked with Robin and
Linda Williams, Chet Atkins, Emmylou Harris, Willie
Nelson, John Hartford and Taj Mahal, and others. Peter has
spent more than 25 years as a frequent performer on A Prairie
Home Companion. He’s appeared on Austin City Limits, Late
Night with David Letterman. His works have been performed
by the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Minnesota Sinfonia,
the Rochester Symphony Orchestra, the Des Moines
Symphony and the Kremlin Chamber Orchestra, among
others. Twin Cities Public Television commissioned Peter to
provide music for their nationally distributed programs, The
Dakota Conflict and Grant Wood's America. Ken Burns used
music from Heart of the Heartland for his PBS documentary
Lewis & Clarke, and Peter's haunting arrangement of "Sweet
Betsy from Pike" was underscore for Burns' Mark Twain.
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Maplewood Park on a Saturday morning learning about the
cultural history with WCHS Program Coordinator, Joan
Mooney. Visitors learned of the Maplewood Hotel that
attracted visitors from all over the midwest between 1883 and
1899. Summer cottages dotted the landscape for a time, owned
by Waseca families to escape the hot summers “in town”. The
Chautauquas toured putting up their tents and bringing
lecturers, musicians, singers, educators, and entertainers to
Waseca’s historic Maplewood Park.

The
Smithsonian Comes
to Waseca . . . Again!
We are proud to announce the coming of the
second Smithsonian Museum On Mainstreet
(MOM) exhibition, Key Ingredients: America By
Food to WCHS in January 2007. This traveling
exhibition is made possible by a partnership between
the Smithsonian Institute and the Minnesota
Humanities Commission. Without the Minnesota
Humanities partnership the exhibitions would not come
to Minnesota. The first MOM exhibit that came to us
was Barn Again: Celebrating An American Icon, in
2004. The opportunity to host these exhibitions is
indeed a privilege. We were the first in the state of
Minnesota to receive Barn Again and because of the
wonderful public response and involvement, we have
Waseca’s Birds Eye Canning
factory in 1948.
Family Treasures Day was a program prepared by
the Minnesota History Center’s Bob Herskovitz.
Joan Mooney and Vanessa Zimprich brought the
program to Waseca Central Intermediate School.
The students brought their own family treasures
from home and learned how to take care of them for
the future.
5
Curator’s Corner
By Pauline Fenelon and Teri Pribble
become an example for other sites to follow. In
recognition we were selected for the second show.
Planning for the exhibition is underway. A
committee is assembling to help with the production.
We would like to include teachers, business people,
food enthusiasts, writers, artists, etc. to come on board
with ideas and input in planning programs for the
exhibit. For example, did you know Waseca is known
as the Cool Whip capital of the world Just imagine
what we can do with that! This is a great opportunity to
gather, share and explore the history of food in Waseca
and surrounding communities.
The kick-off event for Key Ingredients will be the first
Spring Luncheon Lecture, featuring Ann Burckhardt on
March 23. The Key Ingredients website,
www.keyingredients.org will give you more
information about the exhibit, as well as a place (The
American Cookbook Project) to submit an old family
or favorite recipe.

What’s Happening at WCHS
The Spring Luncheon Lecture Series began on
Thursday, March 23. Our first speaker was
author Ann Burckhardt. Ann is a well known
food journalist throughout Minnesota. Ann
talked about her most recent book, A Cook’s
Tour of Minnesota, as well as Minnesota food
history, ethnic origins, legends and lore.
(Left) Ann Burkhardt and (right) Carol Wobschall, one of our
many wonderful guests.
Author Robert Alexander returned to WCHS
for the second luncheon of the season.
Alexander has received much
attention in the literary
world with his novel, The
Kitchen Boy. His new book,
Rasputin’s Daughter, was
released in January.
Our last lecture of the series
was held on Thursday, May 25
with Producer, Writer and
Researcher—Polly Fry. Polly is one of five
producers of the documentary series
Minnesota: A History of the Land. This
wonderful series demonstrates how man has
interacted and
influenced the
landscape of
Minnesota from the
glacial period to the
present. This
important series
explores the
photo by Richard Hamilton Smith
relationship and
outcome of man’s
interaction with the land upon which we live.
Many communities are stepping up and
implementing smart growth planning to
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protect,
preserve,
repair and
restore
our

May Day
at the Museum . . .
brought the Waseca Charter
School kindergarteners and
Hartley second-graders to visit!
The students learned about the
annual May 1 festival traditions.
First they learned how to dance
around a ribbon-festooned May
pole. Then they each created a
May Day basket filled with
hand-made flowers and some
candies added. Next, they had to
decide who they would give
their baskets to!
Join the family of members
who support the Waseca County Historical Society!
You know us—we maintain and preserve our rich Waseca County history and bring it alive to educate. Admission to the
museum’s exhibits and many programs are still FREE, but access to the research pages of our website requires
membership. Choose from a variety of membership levels. We are also trying to build our Endowment Fund, please
consider our WCHS $1,000 Benefactors Membership, which is 100% tax-deductible, and will go into the WCHS
Endowment Fund—interest only goes toward WCHS operations. Join, upgrade or renew your membership now!
You can join or renew ONLINE! Visit our website: www.historical.waseca.mn.us
You must have an email address to apply online.
All WCHS members receive these benefits:
-Quarterly newsletter, History Notes
-FREE access to Research Center—Non-members pay $5 per day.
-FREE access to search website collections
-FREE exhibits, education and cultural programs
-10% Museum Gift Shop discount
-Being an advocate of Waseca County history!
INDIVIDUAL $20 (one year) or $35 (two years)
FAMILY $30 (one year) or $55 (two years)
BUSINESS OR ORGANIZATION $200, Include FREE copy
of James Child’s History of Waseca County
BENEFACTOR $1,000 (lifetime) Includes FREE copy of
James Child’s History of Waseca County, increased 25%
Museum Gift Shop discount, 100% tax-deductible.
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WASECA COUNTY
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
P.O. BOX 314
WASECA MN. 56093
NON-PROFIT
U.S. POSTAGE PD.
WASECA MN.56093
PERMIT # 41
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
Membership renewal date
CHAUTAUQUA, JULY 1
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Bring a nickel!
Memorials
Jeannette Krause, Erv Wille, Tup Normann, Harlan Powell, Larraine Johnson, Audrey Knutson, Bernadine Lee
Helen Boumeister
Life Members
Bumps Brown, Betty Sheeran,
Gladys Brynildson, Dorothy Moriarty, Gus Cooper, Liz Corchran.