History Notes - Waseca County Historical Society

From the Board President
Jim Tippy
Recession Creates Critical
Planning and Priorities
Waseca County Historical Society
History Notes
Volume 31, Issue 2 www.historical.waseca.mn.us May 2009
What else is new for non-profits?
At this writing WCHS is on precarious ground, i.e., operating
with more unknowns that we have in previous years. Within
days or hours we will know what our governor will do to balance
the state budget. He has said he will cut LGA-Local Government
Aid, which means counties and cities will lose significant
funding from the state. Cuts to LGA will mean cuts to projects
and services here in Waseca County and the City of Waseca.
One of the organizations cut could be the Waseca County
Historical Society Museum and Research Library. With potential
cuts looming, you should understand
WCHS priorities:
Our number one priority will always be
the care of the WCHS Collection. What is
that exactly? It is all the artifacts, photographs,
papers, documents, maps, files, microfilm
and records of and about the history
of Waseca County--its towns and townships,
its farms and businesses, its schools, organizations,
churches, and families. Maintaining
the Collection means keeping it all housed
archivally in acid-free boxes or files, and kept from humidity,
soil/dust, extreme temperature, sunlight, and insects. And to
keep this treasure of Waseca County history IN WASECA
COUNTY! If WCHS should cease to exist, it would be obligated
to turn the Collection over to the Minnesota History Center;
and there is no guarantee that they would keep and maintain
it all. They could choose to maintain only what they would
deem important to their state collection.
Some people believe that the Minnesota Historical Society
sends local historical societies like WCHS money, as if it was a
“branch” location of MHS. This is a myth and is certainly not
true. It is the reverse--WCHS pays MHS annually to be an organizational
member. This membership entitles WCHS to
member rates to workshops, and access to MHS staff/museum
standards expertise. Any other money WCHS might receive
from MHS would be through their Capital Grants program or
their Grants-in-Aid program—for very specific projects. There
is no grant line at MHS for operational funding. And it
takes time to gather the information, define the projects, line up
matching money or inkind to write a grant request—with absolutely
no guarantee of a return on that time spent.
IMPORTANT: WCHS and all local history organizations
(one in every county and many cities of Minnesota) exist by
way of local funding only—including fundraising, memberships,
donations, fees, and local government support via county
commissions, city councils, and township boards. The proportions
and amounts of those funding resources vary a great deal
with each local history organization. WCHS is fortunate to have
several endowment funds providing interest annually, but the
recession has adversely affected those principal balances and
2010 is expected to show significantly less interest. WCHS
receives its largest amount of funding from the Waseca County
Board of Commissioners.
Our second priority is to maintain WCHS’s Bailey-Lewer
Research Library and the searchable website. This is keeping
the history of Waseca County accessible and maintaining
the records and files, archives, books, microfilm and the machines
and computers to index and access
all this information. The website must be
updated and monitored constantly. The
equipment including servers, modems, backup
drives and then the software must be
checked and upgraded about every two years.
Community programming and exhibits
are third in priority. How are we to communicate
with the Waseca County community
and those all over the world who want
this resource and contact with home, their
roots, their ancestors without our programs, outreach and
website?
Staffing is our final priority, for now the most flexible part
of the budget. But rather than scaling back, WCHS should be
increasing hours and staffing to expand programs, plan exhibits,
keep the website upgraded and updated, facilitate the research
and organize and supervise volunteers. It all goes hand-in-hand.
IMPORTANT: Right now, WCHS staffing is the best bargain
for your support dollar. Every staff person is paid by the
hour. There are no benefits—no healthcare or any other form
of insurance, no overtime rate, no other perks except flexibility
with hours. All 6 employees work part-time. Staff in place
means volunteers are recruited to assist. It means the collection
is growing and being processed. The website is updated; records
are indexed; researchers are assisted; exhibits and events
are planned; and grants are written. Volunteers from an active
membership is vital. Read more about the importance of
WCHS membership as community support on page 5.

History Notes is a publication of the Waseca County
Historical Society ©2009
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 314, Waseca, MN 56093
Street Address: 315 Second Avenue N.E.
Phone: 507-835-7700, Fax: 507-835-7811
www.historical.waseca.mn.us
WCHS 2009 Board of Directors:
Jim Tippy: President
Jim King: Vice-President
Boyd Abbe: Secretary
Tom Piche: Treasurer
Rev. Charles Espe
Henry Lewer
Jean Lundquist
Neta Oelke
Scott Roemhildt
Jerry Rutledge
Rod Searle
Don Wynnemer
Don Zwach
Jim Peterson, County Commission
Al Rose, City Council
Staff:
Joan Mooney, Co-Director/Programs & Research
program@historical.waseca.mn.us
Sheila Morris, Co-Director/Development & Exhibits
photo@historical.waseca.mn.us
Pauline Fenelon, Artifacts/Library
collection@historical.waseca.mn.us
Vanessa Zimprich, Artifacts/Website
artifact@historical.waseca.mn.us
Linda Taylor, Researcher
research@historical.waseca.mn.us
Nancy Nelson-Deppe, Bookkeeper
account@historical.waseca.mn.us
WCHS HOURS:
Museum, Research Library &Gift Shop
Closed Mondays
Open Tuesdays-Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturdays by appointment only, call (507) 835-7700
Photos: WCHS participation in the Waseca Area Foundation’s Philanthropy Fair in February.
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Event Calendar
Guess who’s on Twitter and Facebook?
www.twitter.com/wasecahistory
www.facebook.com
(search: Waseca County Historical Society)
Another way to check for event updates!
May 13—WCHS Board of Directors meeting, 6 p.m.
May 18—Minnesota Legislature regular session ends
May 25—Memorial Day observance
May 28—Writer, Susan Price Davis, “Northern Treasure-The
History of the Minnesota Arboretum.” Last year the book didn’t
get printed until the week after our scheduled date to have
Susan speak. This year she’s back to present those beautiful
photographs of the Arboretum!
June 10—WCHS Board of Directors meeting
June 11—Bus trip to Minnesota History Center to see “Greatest
Generation” exhibit, co-sponsored by First National Bank’s
Life Perks Club. (See article back page)
June 14—Hay Daze Parade, Janesville
June 18—Government Appreciation Day, 5-6:30 p.m.,
at the Museum
July 4—Lakefest at Clear Lake Park, Waseca Lakes Association
Fun Run, Chamber Fireworks over Clear Lake, Farm/City
Days Parade in New Richland
July 5—Chautauqua at Historic Maplewood Park
July 8—WCHS Board of Directors meeting
July 15-19—Waseca County Free Fair: Waseca County Agricultural
Society (County Fair) 130th Anniversary; Waseca
County Farm Bureau’s 90th Anniversary
August 2—Waseca Garden Club Tour starts at the Bailey-
Lewer House corner, and Opening of Stitchers in Time Quilt
Club exhibit, “Garden of Quilts” at the museum.
August 12—WCHS Board of Directors meeting

Waseca Historic Preservation Commission
May is Historic Preservation Month
T he City of Waseca Historic
Preservation Commission
(HPC) was established several years
ago. The Commission is composed of
seven (7) members, five (5) at-large
members, one (1) nominated by the
Waseca County Historical Society,
and one (1) nominated by the City
Planning Commission. The mission of
the HPC is to engage in a comprehensive
program of historic preservation,
promote the historical resources of the
City, and designate heritage preservation
sites.
Current Historic Preservation Commission
Members are: Les Tlougan,
Chair; Robin Terrell, Pat Pearson,
Justine Meyer, Jean Byron, Joan Mooney
(replacing Don Wynnemer), and John Pribble.
Under the leadership of Les Tlougan the Commission has
worked hard to establish a Historic Preservation District . Establishing
a district makes it possible to receive Certified Local
Government (CLG) status. What does this mean for Waseca?
CLG status makes the city of Waseca eligible for special grants
and technical assistance from the State Historic Preservation
Office to assist them in carrying out preservation activities at
the local level.
The next challenge for the HPC is conducting the Historic
Properties Survey. This survey is designed to identify and
evaluate properties in an area to determine if they may be of
Chautauqua—July 5
lanning is underway for this year’s Chautauqua at Historic
P Maplewood Park on Sunday, July 5. Returning as our
feature musical group, the House of Mercy Band. New this
year, the Heart of the Beast Puppet Theater Group from the
Twin Cities arts community. Our local talent will be back—
Zack, the Magician, storyteller and naturalist Al Batt, historic
characters—Asa Mercer and others, fiddler Al Miller; and
Shape-Note Singers. The concessions will include plenty of
food and refreshments. The Kid’s Craft Tent will have new
projects to make and take. And I wonder if “Unzie” will be
there? The tent goes up on the fourth of July weekend—stay
for Chautauqua on July 5! Remember, as in the 1880s, “only
5¢—children and servants FREE”—It’s the best bargain of the
summer! (Donations will be welcome —We will need your
support to keep the Society going!). To volunteer, call 507-
835-7700
This program is made possible with grants from the E.F. Johnson Foundation,
and from the Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council with funds appropriated by
the Minnesota State Legislature.
Shorty’s (Young’s) Café 1937—Where was this?
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historic, architectural, archeological or cultural significance.
Easier said than done! Under consideration are 43 properties.
This month HPC recognizes the preservation efforts by
home and building owners with our annual Community Preservation
Awards to 1) P.J.’s Tavern at 108 S. State St., owned by
Bill Katz; the Driessen/Moonan residence at 610 N. State St.,
owned by Gene & Kate Driessen; and St. Paul’s Lutheran
Church at 314 N.E. 4th. These owners have demonstrated great
care to the historical architecture of their building or residence.
P.J.’s Tavern nears completion of the interior renovation, and
work will begin this summer on the exterior..

First Stories
By Joan Mooney / This article appeared in the Waseca County News Heritage Edition , March 2009.
This is the first story my grandmother
ever told me.
My grandmother came to America in 1909.
Her father came before her in 1907. She
boarded a ship at six years of age along
with her mother, Helena and two sisters,
Antonette, age four, and Stephanie, age
eight. They entered this country at Ellis
Island along with thousands of immigrant families.
This is the second story
she told me every time she
offered me a banana.
She and her sister, Stephanie or
Stell as we came to know her,
were exploring the ship one day.
As they reached the upper level
of the ship they came upon a
person of color eating a banana.
Now consider that these two
little girls had never seen dark
skin before, nor had they ever
seen a banana! In their innocent
minds, they thought the little
boy had black skin because he
had been burned in fire. They
were terrified and ran for their lives. They thought they had seen
the devil and he had offered them poison fruit.
The third story was about the gypsies
and my great-great grandmother.
The stories from the “Old Country” were my favorites. The
gypsies were wandering groups that were considered pillagers
in those days. Farmers were afraid they would steal their chickens
and even their children. When the gypsies were coming
children and chickens were herded into the cellar to hide. One
day the gypsies came. My great-great grandmother rounded up
the children and chickens and escaped to the cellar. They could
hear the gypsies above them. A gypsy baby was crying and crying.
My great-great grandmother knew there was something
wrong with the child. She came up out of the cellar and said to
the mother “give me the baby”. She laid the baby down and
massaged the baby’s back. She could feel the misalignment of
the tiny discs in the spine. My great-great grandmother was
thought to be a “healer”. She gently worked the tiny discs back
into place. The child stopped crying immediately. The gypsy
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mother was forever grateful. The family no longer had to hide
from the gypsies.
There was the story of how Stell was cured of rickets by
burying her legs in the warm sand by the river. The further
back my grandmother went into “Old Country” tales, the fuzzier
the line became between reality and what could be considered
folklore. There was one about a face that appeared in the
fire and a big burst of wind that blew the door open and stirred
the dirt floor into a cyclone.
More stories came while we walked in the woods and pastures
while mushroom picking in early fall. Did you know that
fairies dance on moss carpets at
night? The best mushrooms can
be found by trees in grazed pastures?
Don’t wear your red kerchiefs
while hunting for mushrooms
or you will be chased by
the bull. The stories remain with
us as long as they are told. I was
dismayed to learn that many of
my cousins have sketchy recollections
or don’t remember these
stories at all. My grandmother’s
last brother died last year. The
first generation in America has
passed. None of us speak the
native language, although we do
receive letters from the “Old
Country” and family has visited
Poland and the village from which we came, we’ve lost our
interpreters.
As the second generation makes their way to the top of the
family tree, I realize now is the time to ask the questions and
listen to their stories. I have learned about WWII through the
eyes of a wounded soldier. As my father ages the stories have
less glory and more heartache. My mother has lost most of her
sight but still enjoys the sound of the birds, her books, and family
as we come and go. I am so lucky to still have my parents to
bother with my questions. I appreciate the stories I have been
told. I have already told the tales to my nieces and nephews and
countless others. I think it’s time to write them down as well.
The Waseca County Historical Society needs your stories.
We need “gatherers” to capture our parents’ generation.
These stories define who we are and where we came from. How
we live and exist, events that happen, people and businesses
that come and go all become our history.
James E.Child covered the first fifty years of Waseca
County history, 1854-1904, in his book. All the stories that
have happened since need to be collected. Write it down and
bring it in. It’s time.

WCHS Launches 2009 Membership Drive with “Unzie”!
here is a very interesting portrait in the WCHS image col-
T lection—of a man named Unzie. He was an Australian
albino aborigine who traveled the world during the late 19 th
century. We believe he may have come to Waseca during that
era as a performer with
Waseca County history—it’s unexpected.
the Barnum & Bailey
Circus and appeared at
our own Chautauqua at
Maplewood Park during the 1890s. He was considered a very
handsome man--very well dressed sporting his bushy-white hair
and mustache. He lectured about his life and origins in Australia
and enjoyed travel.
The Waseca County Historical Society is using the artful
image of Unzie on its posters promoting WCHS membership
hoping to catch the attention and curiosity of the community!
WCHS’s searchable website:
www.historical.waseca.mn.us was launched in 2000, and has
grown to include 15,000 scanned photographs, 37,000 artifacts,
and more than 250,000 indexed records. Did you know that this
website is accessible at the Waseca-LeSueur County Library
and at all county school libraries? Did you know that WCHS’s
Bailey-Lewer Research Library (across 4 th St. from the museum)
is one of only two non-church sites in Minnesota that can
access all the family research recorded by the Church of the
Latter Day Saints?
WCHS is the keeper of our local history and needs to be
supported by the community.
This is true of all local historical museums and libraries.
Many people think that the WCHS staff are employees of the
County. This is not true. Waseca County does provide the largest
proportion of WCHS’s total funding. There are six WCHS
employees who work part-time with no benefits.
Many people think that WCHS is a “branch” of the
Minnesota Historical Society. This is also not true. Recent
news of MHS cut-backs due to the recession and likely legislative
cuts have prompted questions about WCHS funding. “Does
MHS fund you?” No, WCHS pays MHS an annual institutional
membership. The only funding WCHS might get from MHS is
through grant-writing which is approved for special projects
only and must compete with all the other 87 local historical
society requests. MHS offers no funding for operations. There
are lots of potential funders via corporate and private foundations,
but again, for special projects only. They don’t fund operations.
Community support is extremely important. Foundations
and other funders want to see success. They want their
funding to be effective and efficient! They feel that funding
operations is the responsibility of its community. In that way
they partner or collaborate. That is why community support in
the form of city, township, and county appropriations, membership
dues, direct donations, volunteerism, and letters of support
is so important. It keeps the doors open, the heating/cooling/
lights on, equipment maintained and a staff in place. And all of
that leverages the important grant support for programming,
communication with members and residents—and the interpretation,
events, exhibits, and collaborations with other community
organizations.
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The WCHS Board of Directors, led by President Jim
Tippy, invites the Waseca County community to support their
Museum & Research Library with membership and donations.
Join online for as little as $25 for an Individual One-Year Membership,
or stop by the museum, 315 Second Ave. N.E., Waseca—open
Tues-Fri, 9-5. Call 507-835-7700 for more information.
Go online: www.historical.waseca.mn.us—you can
join or renew online using Paypal or your credit card.
OR, just send your check indicating your preferred
membership level and we’ll send you your password
for website access. See Membership Insert.

Thanks to Volunteers
We want to thank the following individuals and
organizations for recent assistance. These are generous,
wonderful people!
To Waseca Junior High Principal, Bill Bunkers, and Tech
Specialist, Cari Priebe—for setting up an internet connection
for WCHS at the Philanthropy Fair, so we could demonstrate
our searchable website for our booth visitors!
To Darv Tollefson and his STS crew—for heavy lifting and
moving artifacts at the museum.
To LDS Elders—for weekly assistance where needed. They
are our most consistent helpers!
To YSL Students from Waseca High School—for weekly
assistance where needed.
To Don Wynnemer—for making more display panels and platforms,
and so much more! (We don’t have room to list all the
things that Don helps us with.)
To George Kastelle—for making a new key box.
To Donna Fostveit and friends—for making beautiful gift and
greeting cards for our Retro Shop.
To Liz Corchran—for generous donation toward our new
front doors.
To the Waseca County Fair Board—for offering to paint
Hodgson Hall.
To Charlie’s Hardware—for donating the paint
for Hodgson Hall!
To Dorothy Moriarty—for extremely generous donation to the
Frank & Barbara Goodspeed Foundation Fund.
To Greg Easton—for inviting us to speak at Waseca Rotary
Club last Thursday.
To the Waseca Farm Bureau 90th Anniversary Committee—for
hard work, successful grant requests and faithful meetings!
We’re still at it.
To the Wilton, Alton, Otisco, Woodville, Byron and Blooming
Grove Township Boards for important donations this
Spring 2009.
To Rod & Ruth Searle—for faithful weekly volunteer service
with the collection.
To Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council—for grants toward
Chautauqua and Spring Luncheon Series.
To Janesville Community Chest for donation.
To our bookkeeper Nancy Nelson-Deppe—for long hours on
prepping the Form 990, with our accountant, Michael Kubat.
To Pearl Hoversten—for assistance with Luncheon set-ups.
To all Hartley Elementary second-graders and their teachers—for
coming to our May Day Dance!
Congratulations to former WCHS Board Member and
Treasurer, Dan Swenson—for being accepted at Mankato
State University Graduate School! Way to go, Dan!
If you have the time and skills to assist staff, please contact
Sheila or Joan at 835-7700. Just an hour or two when you have
time will help so much. This year we will need more regular
volunteers to assist staff.
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St. Mary Church Window is restored
Earlier this month the beautiful St. Mary Church stained glass
window was returned to WCHS restored and sturdy for another
100 years. We are grateful to the many donations received,
which came from former Waseca County residents and descendents
of Waseca County residents who have ties to the old
church.
The restoration was Phase One. Now we will move on to
Phase Two, the installation. Our plan is to install the window in
the alcove overlooking the main exhibit space of the museum.
We are planning to attach white clapboard siding to the back
wall of the alcove to simulate the original church structure. The
window will be braced, rear-lit and displayed on a permanent
basis. There will be times when we will be able to screen that
space to integrate it with current exhibits. But most of the time
the window will be safe and visible to all of our visitors.
We don’t have a completed estimate for the cost of Phase
Two, but we know that our Building Committee “guys” are
working on it and will be donating their time and labor to the
project. We will continue to accept donations for this project for
the materials that will be necessary. If you are interested in
donating to this project, call Sheila at 507-835-7700.
New Front Doors
for the Museum Building
Because of the generosity of another WCHS member, Liz
Corchran, we will be able to install new, energy-efficient, secure
double doors and transom. We are so grateful to Mrs.
Corchran and we remember her husband Jim Corchran with this
donation.
Needs and Projects:
USED BOOKS: We need more used books for
our Used Book Sale fundraiser at Hodgson Hall during
the County Fair; also, we need volunteers to sort and display
books for the sale.
HERTER PINK 1960s STOVE: Need to be re-wired.
1950s WALDORF CAFÉ JUKEBOX: Needs new
switch. It plays 45s!
1920s SOCK KNITTING MACHINE: Needs fixing,
we have a manual for it.
Next December 2009—
Christmas Night
at the Museum:
A Doll House Walk!
This will be our holiday exhibit opening
on December 5 & 6, 2009. If you have a doll house that you
would like to decorate for our holiday exhibit, let us know, 507-
835-7700. There will be an organizing meeting in July.

The Waseca County Historical Society appreciates your support!
New Members
& Renewals
Norman & Vivian Bohmbach
Janet Welch
Trevor & Amanda Kanewischer
Judy Krautbauer
Fred Eichorst
Robert & Marlene Roesler
Ron & Pat Purcell
Joanne Hintz
Boyd & Pat Abbe
Dorothy Gigeay
Karen Buschow
Carollea Gilomen
Adam Moudry
Neta Oelke
Randi Abbe
Danielle Abbe
Noah Abbe
Ken Schmitt
Bonnie Kastner
Julie Anderson
James & Edy Barber
Myra Battenfeld
Donna Bergerson
Joette Breck
Jean Byron
Paul Byron
Kari B. Fisher
Barbara Gauger
Carol Ford
Jane R. Guggisberg
Harold C. Habein, Jr.
Jan & Paul Hunter
Lois Katz
James Kinkade
Merila Kramer
Lorraine Miller
Joan Mooney
Lori Pommerenke
Bonnie Proechel
Neil Roesler
Thomas L. Ryan
Anne Sandbeck
Martin Smith
Dennis Wolff
John & Marilyn Teskey
Dianne Walther
Norma Witt
Carol Wobschall
Marilyn Wilkus
Stella Yamazaki
Randy Zimmerman
Allen Co. Public Library
Darcy Barnes
Joseph Callahan
Patrick Castor
Diane Craig
Millicent Adams Dosh
Chris Duggan
Cynthia Eisenmeyer
Rosalie Grams
Mary Harper
Benjamin Imker
Ron Joyce
Nancy Kahnke
Joseph McHugo
Ken Samudio
Laurie Velett
Helen Turnquist
Church of the Latter Day Saints
Lifetime Members
Mary Allen
Brown Printing
Wayne “Bumps” Brown
Gladys Brynildson
Gus Cooper
Liz Corchran
Robert M. Dahl
Leo J. & Shirley Fette
First National Bank
Francis M. Fitzsimmons
Donna Fostveit
Sigri Hecht
Margaret Hodgson Horner
Ronald J. Johnson
Richard Markus
Dorothy Moriarty
W. H. Rethwill, Jr.
Jerry & Linda Rutledge
Rod & Ruth Searle
Betty & Bob Sheeran
Mel Strand
Virginia M. Swenson
Jim & Moira Tippy
Bruce & Lorraine Wick
New Lifetime
Member: Neta Oelke
Donations
As of May 18
Unrestricted Donations
Waseca Rotary Club’s
Service Above Self Award
Stipend: In honor of Dr.
Wes Rethwill
Brown Printing: In honor of
David Wabner’s retirement
ExxonMobil Matching
Volunteer Program: In
honor of volunteer hours
by Don Wynnemer
New Richland Historical
Society
Dr. Wes Rethwill
Jim Tippy
Carol M. Wright
Gwen Buscho
Janesville Community Chest
Unrestricted Memorials
In memory of Esther
Eustice: Audrey Iverson
In memory of Edith Kinder:
Dan & Sue McRaith
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Donna Fostveit
Jeanette Rosenthal
In memory of Gene Bauman:
Donna Fostveit
In memory of Elaine Swenson:
Pauline Fenelon
Dan Swenson
Larry Swenson
Donna Fostveit
Jeanette Rosenthal
In memory of Henry & Mary
(Maloney) Smith and James H.
and Susan Smith Flood:
Doug & Mary Carlson
Joyce Beaumont
Ann Flood Tandberg
Sue Ann Glissendorf
In memory of William & Elmira
Byron:
Mayone & Paul Byron
Helen Curran
In memory of Norman and Ardis
Christianson:
Joanne Hintz
In memory of Norma Nelson:
Carol & Ron Nelson
Pearl Hoversten
Donna Fostveit
In memory of Herman Guse:
Donna Fostveit
In memory of Vernon Quiney:
Donna Fostveit
In memory of Helen
Lewer: Friends & family
In memory of Carol Wright
Arnold:
Mark & Diane Arnold
Myrna Wright
J.M. Kilde
Kathy Rosenthal
Restricted Memorials
For new museum building front
doors: Liz Corchran, In memory
of Jim Corcoran
For the Frank and Barbara
Goodspeed Foundation Fund:
Dorothy Moriarty
St. Mary’s Stained Window
Restoration Project:
George & Jean McCarthy
M. Joan Byrne
Mariana Byrne Hill
Mayone & Paul Byron
Helen Curran
Beverly Conway
Doug & Mary Carlson,
Joyce A. Beaumont
Ann Flood Tandberg,
Sue Ann Glissendorf,
150th Campaign
Pledges Paid
Joe & Marge Britton
McRaith Funeral Home
Carol Wobschall
Dave Dunn
Darlene Lynch
Connors Plumbing
Roundbank
Dan Forrest
Jackie Ross
Patricia Wuger
Helen Wendland
Clear Lake Press
United Prairie Bank
Robert Hunter
Neil & Sharon Fruechte
Waseca County News
Byron Township Board
Kiesler’s Campground
John Byron
Appropriations
Received
Blooming Grove Township
Alton Township
Otisco Township
Wilton Township
Woodville Township
Byron Township
Waseca Area Foundation Funds:
There are 7 funds in the Waseca Area
Foundation that benefit the Waseca
County Historical Society.
The first endowment fund established for
WCHS was the Edgar F. and Ethel
Johnson Fund. The WCHS Endowment
Fund was started by our Board of
Directors and then Executive Director,
Margaret Sinn, with a substantial anonymous
donation. The Phil Allen Fund
was established by his family and friends
to specifically benefit the Bailey-Lewer
Research Library. The Frank and Barbara
Goodspeed Memorial Fund was
started by their niece, Dorothy Moriarty.
Our most generous fund came from
Jerry and Linda Rutledge in 2006. And
in 2008 they created a Charitable Remainder
Trust in the amount of $500,000
which will eventually benefit WCHS. At
the end of 2008 we created the WCHS
Lifetime Endowment Fund. The Wes
and Carol Rethwill History Fund was
started as a donation to the 150th campaign
by Dr. Wes Rethwill. We are so
grateful to all of these individuals for the
kind of support that will last forever!

Waseca County Historical Society
P.O. Box 314, Waseca, MN 56093
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
CHAUTAUQUA-JULY 5, 2009
10-4, MAPLEWOOD PARK
“Just 5¢—Children and Servants FREE!”
Put it on your summer calendar!
Leave from Faith United 8 Church parking lot
NON-PROFIT
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
WASECA, MN
56093
PERMIT 41
Membership Renewal Date
Presented by First National Bank’s LifePerks & Waseca County Historical Society
A BUS TOUR & EXHIBIT TO THE MINNESOTA HISTORY CENTER IN ST.
PAUL—
THE GREATEST
GENERATION:
THE DEPRESSION, THE WAR, THE BOOM
THURSDAY, JUNE 11
Reserve by May 28, call Carol, 835-9104 or Sheila 835-7700
LOAD 8:45 am / LEAVE 9:00 am / COST $30