March/April - Winona County Historical Society

The Argus
Winona County Historical Society
160 Johnson Street
Winona, MN 55987
Argus
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Non - Profit
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Permit # 87
Winona, MN
55987
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Winona County Historical Society Newsletter
photo by Paul Crosby
Volume 16, No. 2 March/April 2015
Thank you Sons of Norway!
Winona’s population are descendents
from a variety of cultures, mostly Europeans, looking for an opportunity for work
and land. We have been highlighting the
Norwegian culture of Winona County
this winter with the traveling exhibit, New
Land, New Life, which will be up until
March 22. It is here thanks to the Sons of
Norway and more specifically to Susan
Zeller, Dick Dahl, and David Forest.
The Winona chapter of the Sons of
Norway developed sometime during the
1970s. Milton J. Knutson was instrumental
in founding the Winona Sons of Norway
lodge (Nor-Win Lodge 505)
and today the group is still very involved
with local schools (especially around the
holiday season), teaching about Norwegian culture, crafts, music, and food.
The First Scandinavian Evangelical
Lutheran Church was formed by a small
group of Norwegians who met in 1871
to discuss organizing a congregation. In
1872 they acquired property of an old
Methodist church and their first service
was held on November 10, 1872.
The Sons of Norway have monthly public
programs that are held at Central Lutheran Church and you can find a schedule at
winonasonsofnorway.webs.com.
Nisse Story
Norwegian Heart Basket Craft
Norwegian Heart Basket Craft
Exhibit Opening
Making Lefse
Exhibit Opening
Board Members
Peter Walsh, President
Bruce Montplaisir, VP
Tom Bremer, Treasurer
Jonelle Moore, ex officio Secretary
Michelle Alexander, City Council
Sandra Burke
Jerome Christenson
Rick Christenson
Margaret Johnson
Mena Kaehler
Robert Fischer
Mark Metzler
Patrick Marek
Mary Nelson
Mary Polus
Jim Pomeroy
Mike Slaggie
LeRoy Telstad
Cindy Timm
Staff
Mark F. Peterson, Director
507-454-2723 ext. 1
[email protected]
Jennifer Weaver, Asst. Director
507-454-2723 ext. 3
[email protected]
Joyce Betz, Receptionist
507-454-2723 ext. 0
[email protected]
Jodi Brom, Curator
507-454-2723 ext. 4
[email protected]
Walter Bennick, Archivist
507-454-2723 ext. 2
[email protected]
Andy Bloedorn, Archivist
507-454-2723 ext. 2
[email protected]
Todd McAllister, Maintenance
507-454-2723 ext. 0
Ann Kendrick, Membership
[email protected]
Laurie Lucas, Rental Coord.
507-452-6609
[email protected]
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History Never Stops
Membership & Donations
by Mark F. Peterson, Executive Director
Thank You for Your Support!
photo by Kathy Greden
Okay, Mike you were right!
As the Building Committee was planning the
new addition and working with the architect,
Joan Soranno, and her team at HGA, we
talked a lot about our needs for collection
storage space, a larger gift shop, a lobby,
and an expanded meeting room. We also
talked about how there may be others who
would want to also use the space and how
we could even generate some revenue from
those rentals. No one on the Committee
was more adamant about the potential for
the community to use it than Mike Kennedy.
Mike has never been accused of being a shy
wallflower and has told me a couple of times
that I was a “doubting Thomas.” Well, five
years later I have to say that thanks to the
outstanding design and attention to detail
of Joan Soranno, how beautiful the building
turned out, the donors who supported the
project, and perhaps most importantly, Laurie
Lucas our Rental Coordinator, I was, how shall
I put it…WRONG and yes, Mike, you were
RIGHT.
The community certainly has embraced the
new space with numerous weddings in the
lobby, rehearsal dinners in Wanek Hall, end
of life celebrations, business meetings, annual meetings, employee training, dinners,
craft shows, library children’s programs, club
meetings, concerts, birthday parties, and so
much more. Those are just some of the nonHistorical Society uses. The Society uses it for
our programing, classes, board meetings, our
Winona County History Center
annual meeting, committee meetings, and our
open house and volunteer parties (including
the recently refurbished classroom).
Rentals have gone up every year. Last year
alone they increased by 50%. This all was
without any advertising and just word of
mouth!
One of the first calls I received from someone wanting to rent the addition was for a
wedding. I met with the woman and quickly
realized, after hearing about dress colors, I was way out of my element working
with brides -to- be. Laurie Lucas had been
involved with the Building Committee, and
now that the building was done, I figured she
needed something more to do. So I called
her and she worked with the woman and has
been doing all our rental coordination since.
She shows up for all the rentals (even schedules her vacation time around them) to make
sure everything is going well. I can’t tell you
how many compliments I have received from
people about how helpful Laurie was. As I
watch her do all that she does, I can’t help
but think “When she goes- I go” because I
don’t know how we would ever be able to
replace her.
Keep us in mind when you need a beautiful
space for an event. Call Laurie Lucas at 507452-6609. She’s just sitting there waiting for
your call.
WCHS Museums
Business Partner Renewals: Midtown Foods
New Members: Janet Alcamo, Fountain City, WI; Justin & Marie Barrientos; Mary Bearden, Rochester, MN; George Farr,
Maplewood, MN; Bob Fisher; Sue Hovell, Galesville, WI; Tom Overland; Patricia Rogers & Wendy Larson; Jack Rumpel & Paul Hunziker; Teresa Schumaker; Annamary Seltz; Nancy J. Stevens, Rochester, MN; Patrick Stevens, St. Charles, MN; Cindy Theis; Marilyn &
David Weissing, Utica, MN; Windley-Daoust Family
Renewals: Bill & Janet Baker; Bob Bambenek; Daniel & Carol Barr, Fountain City, WI; Kathy Benke; Mark & Angela Bennick;
Linda Berg; Joe & Julie Brosig; Jim Brust; Harry & Kathryn Buck, Rochester, MN; Kate Carlson; Scott M. Clemens, McDonough, GA;
Philip A. Cochran; Jeff & Arlene Compton; Selma & Bill Crozier; Dick Dahl; Helen Davis; Hollis & Lori Donehower, Minnesota City,
MN; Beverly Douglas; Dale & Lynn Engrav; Jean Erpelding; Lyndie L. Fabian; Tim & Susan Flaherty, St. Paul, MN; Lori Fort-Hoerig,
Watertown, WI; Frederick Foss; LaVern Fritz, Minnesota City, MN; Jean Gardner; Kip & Joanne Gilbertson, Dodge, WI; Noel &
Dorothy Goss, Austin, MN; Louise Hanks, Minnesota City, MN; Mary Hassinger; Tony & Jessica Heiden, Rushford, MN; Thysen & Tom
Hetzel, Rollingstone, MN; Ralph & Susan Jobe, Afton, MN; Bruce & Margaret Johnson; Marilyn Johnson, Stockton, MN; Mary S.
Joyce, Brownsville, MN; Jean Kalmes, Rollingstone, MN; Capt. Richard & Debbie Karnath; Walter Kelly; Richard Kingsbury; Jean
Knutzen; Eileen Kosidowski, Minnesota City, MN; Jay Kohner & Emilie Falc; Wayne Kronebusch, Rollingstone, MN; Martha Langowski;
Pam Larson; Robert J. Laudon, St. Charles, MN; Laurie R. Lucas; John & Polly Lyons; David & Ruth Marshall; Ann Merchlewitz; Marge
& Bert Mohs; Al Mueller; Jeanne & Barry Nelson; Maxine & Larry Nelson, Lewiston, MN; Wanda & Ted Olson, Lewiston, MN;
LaVonne & Dick Ozmun; Ann Peterson; Elizabeth Picha; Nancy Piper; Bob & Susan Priem; Allison Quam & Andy Bloedorn; Kathy &
Roger Reitmaier; Lyle Rustad, St. Cloud, MN; Mary M. Sainsbury, Alameda, CA; David & Roseann Shaw; Roger & Karen Skugrud;
Robert & Anne Suchomel; Frank Tainter; Cindy Timm, Utica, MN; Bela Trubacek; Sandra Villard; Howard & Gladys Volkart, Minnesota City, MN; Joni Welda, LaCrescent, MN; Jim & Pat Welch; Richard G. & Nancy Wheeler; Jaci Wil
Donations: Jodi Brom; Harro & Marianne Hohenner; Laurie Lucas; Elaine Lucas-Keck; Anah Munson; Joyce Rocco; In Memory
of Marie Dorsch: Dave & Kathy Christenson; Karl & Gloria Conrad; Mark and Kathie Peterson; In Honor of Audrey Gorny: Sue &
Marty Salseg/Jean & Curt Hoffmaster; Annual Fund Drive: Altura State Bank; Mary Alice & Bob Anderson; Anonymous; Kathy Benke; Lionel & Donna Bening; Thomas & Coleen Bremer; Briggs Outdoors; Harry & Kathryn Buck, in Honor of our Winona Roots; Frank
& Ruth Bures; Brian & Sandra Burke; John Campbell & Colette Hyman; Pauline Christensen; Dr. David A. & Kathleen A. Christenson; Mike & Linda Cichanowski Family Fund of the Winona Community Foundation; Phil & Barb Feiten, in Memory of Jim Erickson;
Marilyn & Tom Ezdon; Stan & Suzanne Ferguson; Tim Flaherty; Arlayne Fremling, in Memory of Calvin Fremling; Jean Galewski;
Dan & Nancy Goltz; Carolyn K. Goplen, in Memory of Dennis Goplen; Cherie Hales; Douglas & Patricia Hubbard, in Memory of
Ralph & Peg Hubbard; Guy F. Hunter, Jr.; Christopher J. Iremonger & Caroline Van Schaik; Jefferson Pub & Grill; Donna Kamann &
Eric Christensen; Wayne & Bonnie Kelly; Margaret Lambert; Langenau Legacy Fund of the Winona Community Foundation; Laurie
Lucas; Rodney & Joyce Lingenfelter; Pat Mason; Scott & Heather McQueen; Jim Miller, in Memory of Marge Miller; Jonelle Moore;
John & Marlene Mulrooney; Dolores Myers, in Memory of Harold Myers; Fred & Nora Lee Naas, in Honor of Laurie Lucas; Lynn
Nankivil & Ken McCullough; Maxine & Larry Nelson; Mark & Kathie Peterson, in Memory of Jim Erickson; Patte Peterson, in Memory
of Judge Duane Peterson; Elizabeth Picha; James Pomeroy; Robert & Susan Priem; Bob & Jean Raz, in Honor of Harry & Katie
Buck; Lawrence & Rill Ann Reuter; Rivers Hotel/Green Mill, in Memory of Reinhard & Barbara Rivers; Betsy Sawyer; Matt Schroeder; Marilyn Schwab; Al Smith; Ellen Smith; Beverly Spande; Ron & Diane Stevens; Mary L. Testor; Cindy Timm; Brian Tomashek;
Scott & Kathy Turner; Janis Vose; Tom Wilmot; Winona Heating & Ventilating Co.; Pamela Wolfmeyer; Peter Woodworth and Joyce
Woodworth Fund within the Winona Community Foundation; Xcel Energy Foundation Matching Program
160 Johnson St., Winona, MN 55987
Open: Weekdays 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sunday 12 - 4 p.m.
Laird Lucas Library & Archives; Open: Weekdays 10 a.m. - 12 & 1 - 5 p.m.
The Willard Bunnell House Off Hwy 61, Homer, MN; Open for Summer Performances, Weekends 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., July 27 through August 2, see page 10.
Rural Heritage Museum Winona County Fairgrounds; Opening Soon!
Trivia Answers 1. Mark Twain; 2. 1967;
3. 1853; 4. Steamboat Days; 5. May 29,
1941 and the steel pieces weighed 19 ½
tons.
Ensure the Future of the Past!
Remember the Winona County
Historical Society in your estate
planning.
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Volunteer Spotlight
Clip and Save Calendar
March
8 Rosemaling Demo with Mary Koehler, 2 p.m.
9 Quilt Guild, 7 p.m.
11 Food For Thought: Iowa Minnesota Border Survey
1852 with “Captain Talcott,”, 12:05 p.m.
12 Civil War Round Table, 7 p.m.
18 Polish Egg Decorating Class, 6 p.m.
24 Annual Meeting of WCHS, 7 p.m.
25 Food For Thought: Book Chat, Montana 1948 by
Larry Watson, 12:05 p.m.
26 Polish Egg Decorating Class, 6 p.m.
31 Exhibit Opening Reception for Marvelous Medical
Instruments, 4 - 6 p.m.
April
1 Food For Thought: Polish Egg Decorating Class,
12:05 p.m. Please see pages 6 and 7 for details.
3 History Center Open, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
5 Closed, Easter Sunday
9 Civil War Round Table, 7 p.m.
13 Quilt Guild, 7 p.m.
15 Food For Thought: History of the Armory Part II with Walt Bennick, 12:05 p.m.
22- 26 Book Sale at History Center
22 Food For Thought: Book Chat, The Monuments
Men by Robert Edsel, 12:05 p.m.
30 Film and Conversation, Attempting the Northwest
Passage with Taff Roberts, 7 p.m.
Bunnell House Summer Performances!
Saturdays and Sundays at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Starting June 27 through August 8
We have joined forces with Theatre du Mississippi to
create a new experience for visitors to the Historic Willard Bunnell House just south of Winona in Homer, Minnesota. Theatre du Mississippi is producing a play titled,
“The Hired Girl Gets Married,” written by Lynn Nankavil.
Visitors will walk through the house while the Bunnells are
helping their hired girl, Rachel Vennon, prepare for her
marriage. We will explore not only a new beginning and
new identity for a young bride, but for all, as pioneers in a
new town.
Upon arrival, visitors will be greeted at the front gate for
ticketing and welcomed into the Bunnell’s home, a carpenter Gothic house that was built about 1849 by Willard
Bunnell, a fur trader and the first permanent white settler
in Winona County. They will witness the events of the special day throughout the house for an hour long experience
that will take them back to 1856.
The Bunnell House Summer Performances will be held
Saturdays and Sundays starting June 27 through August 2.
Tickets are $8 for members or $10 for the public will be
available this summer. Audiences have a limited number
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for each performance so please purchase your tickets in
advance to assure a spot for your desired date and time.
Watch for more information coming soon!
Jane Bremer
Jane is from Winona and feels
lucky to live in such a centered
historically minded community.
She has a daughter and two
granddaughters. She works for
the Winona Dyslexia Group and
has attended Winona State
University. Jane used to also
volunteer at Winona Volunteer Services and has been on the
committee for Walk to End Alzheimers for the past 15 years.
and
Jane volunteers at the tickets and information desk at the
History Center and Museum Shop. So be sure to say “Hi” if you
are visiting while Jane is there. She has been a great addition
to the WCHS volunteers and a wonderful representative for the
WCHS and the Winona Community to visitors.
The Winona County History Center guides are trained
When asked why she volunteers, Jane told us that it is a great to give students a fun and quality learning experience.
way to connect with the community and friends.
Many are retired teachers. Tours and group activities
can be geared toward Minnesota Social Studies Education Standards for grade level. The History Center
sees many area students every year and we encourage teachers and other educators to book their trip in
advance for the best choice of dates and times.
Field Trips to the
History Center
Winona County Trivia
This project is supported
in part by an Arts and
Cultural Heritage grant
from the Minnesota
Legacy Fund.
1. What famous American author visited Winona in
1885? Hint: Much of his writings take place on the Mississippi River.
2. In what year was the current Winona High School
built?
3. The Treaty of Mendota, which opened the Winona
region to white settlement, was signed in what year?
4. During what celebration did The Lady Gay, the only
steam boat with a V-paddle wheel in the US in 1970,
visit Winona?
5. When was the first steel on the Winona Bridge
erected and how much did the pieces weigh?
We also encourage educators of all sorts to schedule
a piece of Learning Luggage for your classroom, nursing home, scout troop, club or group. Topics available
include Pioneer Life, Lumbering, Native Americans,
Farming, The Civil War and The River. An educator
from the Society can present a program, or you are
welcome to share the trunk contents with your students
or group yourself. Easy to use guides and lesson plans
accompany each. The Learning Luggage program is
a free service! Call 507-454-2723 to reserve the
topic(s) that fits your needs.
To Book call 507.454. 2723 ext. 3
or email [email protected]
Answers can be found on page 11
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Biography
by Walter Bennick
William DeWitt Mitchell (1874-1955)
Attorney General of the United States (1929-1933)
William DeWitt Mitchell, the son of William and
Frances (Merritt) Mitchell, was born in Winona on September
9, 1874. His mother was the second wife his father, whose first
wife, Jane Smith, had died in 1867. His father, William Mitchell
Sr., was Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court and has a
law college named after him. Willie grew up in Winona at the
northwest corner of Broadway and Main Streets, was active in
the Presbyterian Church and attended the Winona State Normal
School’s Model School through grade eight.
After completing high school, William was attended
Lawrenceville Academy in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, graduating in 1896. He then went to Yale University where he studied
electrical engineering, but soon became interested in the Law
and transferred to the University of Minnesota. He received his
law degree in 1896 and was admitted to the Minnesota Bar. He
began his practice of law in St. Paul with the firm How, Taylor,
and Mitchell.
On July 2, 1898, William Mitchell volunteered for service with the United States Army as a second lieutenant in Company B of the Fifteenth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. He served
within the State of Minnesota until his discharge on March 27,
1899. Following the war, Mitchell was named adjutant of the
Fourth Regiment of the Minnesota National Guard. After being
discharged, Mitchell returned to the practice of law in St. Paul
and married Gertrude Bancroft, the daughter of Frank and
Caroline (Churchill) Bancroft, on June 27, 1901. The couple had
two sons, William on December 26, 1903 and Bancroft on November 30, 1905.
William Mitchell was active in the bar and involved in
several high profile cases including the murder of Louis Arbogast, a St. Paul butcher, by his wife Nina Arbogast, who was
eventually acquitted of the charges. While practicing law in
St. Paul, Mitchell was the regional counsel for the United States
Railroad Administration in 1919 and the chairman of the Citizen
Charter Committee of St. Paul in 1922. As the counsel for the
railroad administration, he tried many tax cases involving large
sums of money. He was also later serviced with the Minnesota
National Guard as a colonel with the Sixth Infantry Regiment
during World War I.
On January 5, 1925, after nearly 30 year in the
practice of law, Mitchell was appointed by President Calvin
Coolidge to the post of Solicitor General of the United States.
Four year later, he was nominated to the post of Attorney General of the United States by President Herbert Hoover. Mitchell
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was the second Winonan to serve in a presidential cabinet,
the first being William Windom who served as the Secretary
of the Treasury under Presidents Benjamin Harrison and James
A. Garfield. Mitchell came well prepared for his position. He
was described as a “tip-top, trained to the minute lawyer, with
a long legal heritage, smart as a whip, the admiration of the
entire supreme court for the soundness and clarity of his reasoning – he comes to his task, loaded for bear, with the heaviest
ammunition.” It was said of him that he would be the most likely
to talk back to the president.
William Mitchell moved forward with Hoover’s agenda
to enforce the various aspects of Prohibition as defined in the
Volstead Act, which was originally introduced into legislation by
Representative Andrew J. Volstead of Minnesota. Aiding in the
acts enforcement included the construction of several new federal penitentiaries and prisons which Mitchell promoted. Early
in his term, Mitchell incurred the wrath of Senator Thomas D.
Schall of Minnesota who complained that the Attorney General
was out to embarrass him in regard to Schall’s use of the frank,
which is free use of the mail by federal legislatures.
Several times during his tenure Mitchell contemplated
resignation to go into private practice in New York. He felt it
was irksome work trying to enforce the so-called “dry laws” and
petty charges by certain congressmen regarding deals between
the Attorney General and some of the more notorious gangsters.
When the Lindbergh kidnaping case broke in 1931, Mitchell
pledged the government’s full aid and revealed the lack of
jurisdiction the government then had over kidnappers.
Mitchell served out his term of office and in 1934 went
into a private law practice in New York City. In 1939 he headed
the court cases against Germany in the Black Tom and Kingsland sabotage trial. Then, in August of 1942 he was placed
in charge of a grand jury investigation of three Metropolitan
newspapers for publishing confidential information concerning
plans for the Battle of Midway. The grand jury voted against
any indictments of the three newspapers. Then in 1945, William
Mitchell was appointed the chief counsel for the joint congressional committee investigating the Japanese attack on Pearl
Harbor. Mitchell requested that the White House submit letters between Churchill and Roosevelt pertaining to the Atlantic
Charter, specifically looking for letters regarding the possible
involvement of the United States in the war. Public hearing for
the probe was opened late in 1945 by Mitchell placing into
evidence hundreds of intercepted Japanese diplomatic documents that were obtained prior to the bombing at Pearl Harbor.
Mitchell resigned his position near the end of 1945 stating that
the course of the inquiry has prevented the presentation of much
evidence that had been uncovered and available.
William DeWitt Mitchell retired to Syosset, Nassau
County, New York where he died at the age of 80 years after
an illness of several months on August 24, 1955.
On Exhibit
NEW Exhibits at the History Center
New Land, New Life: Norwegian Immigration to Minnesota, 1825-1925
January 10 - March 31
The St. Paul Sons of Norway Synnove Nordkap lodge has researched and developed this 20-panel exhibit highlighting
the history of Norwegian immigration to Minnesota. Winona’s chapter of the Sons of Norway has sponsored the exhibit’s
journey to Winona and we are excited to host this interesting look into the lives and traditions of 19th and early 20th
century Norwegian immigrants. Artifacts from the Winona County Historical Society’s collection along with loaned items
with local stories are featured.
Uh, What’s That?:
Marvelous Medical Instruments
March 30 - June 15
Opening Reception Tuesday, March 31, 5 - 7 p.m.
This new exhibit will showcase our interesting medical collection, which features some
very odd tools and devices that are now very common in their modern-day form. Can
you guess what device was used for what ailment? Learn the history of the medical
field in Winona County, from Watkins’ cure-all liniment to Winona General Hospital to
pioneer doctors and nurses. Join us for a special exhibit opening reception on March 31
from 5 - 7 p.m. Free and open to the public, refreshments will be served.
Exhibit and Opening Reception sponsored by Winona Health.
Hands On History Exhibit Programs: We are excited to announce new exhibit programing that offers an
immersing and fun experience with history. Try out historic crafts, skills and learn more about our past by doing things our ancestors did! Plus some fun thrown in! Activities will be geared for all ages and abilities.
New Land New Life - Rosemaling Demonstration with Mary Koehler,
Plan Your Visit!
Sunday, March 8 at 2 p.m.
History Center Admission:
$5 Adults, $3 Students,
WCHS members free!
Log-on to winonahistory.org
and click MUSEUMS
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Society News
Looking for Latsch
A documentary film is
being produced on the
life and legacy of John
Latsch (pictured), Winona businessman and
philanthropist. If you
have any information,
photos, artifacts, or personal stories or memories, please contact
Mary Farrell at 507-454-1228 or
[email protected]
Bridge Kiosk at the History Center
MNDOT will have an interactive kiosk
in the History Center lobby for community members and visitors to explore
the history of Winona’s bridges,
the new bridge progress, the historic bridge’s restoration, and more.
Updates will be added to view
what is happening now. Through a
touch screen, people will be able to
access the information they want to
know through news articles, images,
video, and computer imaging. The
Book Sale!
Are you finished with those winter reads? Need to make room
for spring cleaning?
We are holding a spring Book
Sale. Please bring in your unwanted books to the History
Center the week of April 12 and
then come find some “new” used
books at the Sale April 22 -26.
All book sales will benefit the
Winona County Historical Society!
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From the Archives
By Walter Bennick
kiosk is scheduled to arrive in mid to
late April. Watch the local media for
more.
Get Your River History Cruise Tickets
Last summer and fall inaugural cruises
sold out. We will be offering programs on
a 90 minute cruise every Thursday starting June 18 through August 27.
WCHS members will get a first chance
at tickets for this season’s River History
Cruises aboard the Cal Fremling. Tickets
will be available to our members starting
at 9 a.m. May 15. Public ticket sales will
open May 20 at 9 a.m. They can be purchased at the History Center or to charge
by phone call 507-454-2723 ext. 0.
Tickets are $15 for members and $20 for
non-members. Package 3 cruises and get
them all for $40 if you are a member or
for $55 for non members. Not a member?
It is easy to join. Call, stop in, or log on.
This year’s tours will include topics about
Native American life along the river,
early landscape artists, river music, and
more. A full schedule of topics will be announced by late April in the local media
and on our website, as well as, in the next
issue of the Argus. Several special cruises
will also be offered other days
to give a tour of the new bridge
construction and other destinations.
Watch for more info!
William Mitchell (pictured far right) purchased Lot 8 of Block 32, at the northwest corner of Broadway and Main Streets, from
William S. Drew and built his first home there. The house was destroyed in the fire of 1862. The following year, Judge Mitchell
purchased adjacent lots 5 and 9 and built the lovely “Queen Anne” style Victorian (pictured far left). Judge Mitchell lived in the
house with his family until he sold the house to the Winona Methodist Episcopal Church on July 23, 1894 for $15,000. Following the
sale, the family moved to St. Paul. In 1895, the turret and other south-facing portions of the house were dismantled to make room
for a new church (pictured center). The church was completed in 1896 and dedicated in April of 1897. The church is built of brick,
20-inches thick, and faced with 6 to eight inch thick stone that was quarried from Bear Creek Valley near Rollingstone. Built in the
Germanic transition between Romanesque and Gothic design, the building cost $100,00 to construct.
Collection Corner
Open House Thanks!
A big thank you to all who
helped at the Open House and
those who attended. We had
over 250 people stop in the History Center February 8!
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Totes, bags, wallets,
hats, and T-shirts!
Featuring vintage postcards from our archives
By Jodi Brom
Beyond knowing what is in the collection, and where items
are located, one of the best things about the inventory
project is getting reacquainted with an old favorite item!
This shawl, which belonged to Frances Prentiss Lucas, has
always been amazing with its vibrant rich shades of pink,
that in some places are a light purple, to the blue that
accents the pink, and the taupe-gray that looks like spun
rope. The floral pattern of roses, buds, quill mums, balloon flower stocks, and aster jump off the shawl. The shawl
is embroidered with the same pattern on both sides. The
ivory cotton fringe goes all the way around, with a knot
border and long tassel fringe.
If you have an item to donate to the Museum and have
questions about what you need to do, please call me at
507- 454-2723 extension 4.
Frances Prentiss Lucas was born August 21, 1894, to
Maude Watson Laird and Samuel Loomis Prentiss. She
married Ward Lucas on October 24, 1917, and they had
four children. Frances founded the Anvil Theater, was a
charter member of the Wenonah chapter of the Daughters
of the American Revolution, a life member of the Winona
County Historical Society, and Winona’s Woman of the
year in 1956. She passed away April 12, 1983, in Winona. The shawl was donated by Mr. and Mrs. John Lucas
in 1999.
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Food For Thought
A Lunchtime Learning Series
The Food For Thought learning series takes place
at the Winona County History Center. Lectures, Films,
and Book Chats begin at 12:05 p.m. and last approximately one hour (unless otherwise noted). Attendees
are welcome to bring their own lunch. A beverage is
served. All are free and open to the public.
Lecture Iowa Minnesota Border Survey 1852 with “Captain
Talcott,” March 11, 12:05 p.m.
Don Borcherding, licensed Professional Engineer and Surveyor in
Minnesota and Iowa, and re-enactor, will portray Captain Talcott reminiscing about the survey he was in charge of in 1852. He
will explain the difficulties in organizing crews, their responsibilities, instruments and methods used in the running of the parallel
of latitude of 43 degrees, 30 minutes north. Original monuments
that still exist on the line will be shown and he will explain the
relative accuracy of the border as it exists today.
Jodi Brom, April 1, 12:05 p.m.
Learn how to make these lovely traditional easter eggs using wax and
a series of dyes. More info on page
7! This special Food For Thought may
be longer than an hour depending on how long it takes to make
your egg. Cost: $10 public, $8 members. Please register in advance. Space is limited.
Lecture A History of Winona’s Armory: Celebrating 100 Years
Part II with Walter Bennick, April 15, 12:05 p.m.
There are so many stories about the old Armory over it’s 100
years, that Walt has divided this program into two parts. In
February he spoke about the military history of the building and
now he will explore ways the Winona community used the building. From car shows to dancing, the fortress was also a place to
gather. Share your memories of the Armory too! The Winona
Armory building is part of the Winona County History Center
and is our largest artifact!
12:05 p.m.
The events of that cataclysmic summer permanently alter
twelve-year-old David’s understanding of his family: his father,
a small-town sheriff; his remarkably strong mother; David’s uncle
Frank, a war hero and respected doctor; and the Haydens’
Sioux housekeeper, Marie Little Soldier, whose revelations turn
the family’s life upside down as she relates how Frank has been
molesting his female Indian patients. As their story unravels
around David, he learns that truth is not what one believes it to
be, that power is abused, and that sometimes one has to choose
between family loyalty and justice.
for Food For Thought Book Chat
The Invention of Wings by Susan Monk Kidd
does not come out in paperback until May
and so will be moved to June.
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Annual Meeting of the Winona County Historical Society
Tuesday, March 24, 7 p.m. at the History Center
“Make History...and Better Tomorrows” will be presented by D. Stephen Elliott, Director/CEO of the Minnesota Historical Society,
following a short business meeting. Refreshments will be served. This is a members only meeting and program. If you are not a
member, its a great time to join! Stop in the History Center, call, or visit us online to enroll.
Exhibit Opening Reception
Tuesday, March 31, 5 - 7 p.m. at the History Center
Winona Health is sponsoring our next exhibit, which opens March 30 and will run until June 15.
Join us for a free opening reception with Winona Health for “Uh, What’s That? Marvelous Medical Instruments.” See page 9 for more!
Polish Egg Decoration Classes
Sign up for one of three sessions at the History Center
We will be offering three of these popular classes this season! We will learn how to decorate
Polish Easter eggs, called Pysanky, using the Batik, or wax resist method. This traditional art of
decorating uses natural dyes and wax to create various patterns and designs on the egg. The
class is about 2-1/2 hours long, and all materials are provided. Classes will be held on March
18 and March 26 starting at 6 p.m., and on April 1 at noon. Classes are limited to 10 participants each, with a minimum age of
eight years. The cost of the class is $8 for WCHS members and $10 for non-members. Call the Historical Society at 507-4542723 ext 0 to register. If you have any questions, please call Jodi Brom at 507-454-2723 ext. 4.
Book Chat Montana 1948 by Larry Watson, March 25,
Upcoming Books - Note Change!
Programs & Events
Class Polish Egg Decorating with
Attempting the Northwest Passage Film and Q & A
Thursday, April 30 , 7 p.m. at the History Center
Book Chat Zeitoun by Dave Eggers, April 22, 12:05 p.m.
Taff Roberts (pictured right) and his team set out from Pond Inlet, Baffin Island in the Canadian Arctic last August to make the hair-raising trip across the treacherous Northwest Passage to Nome, Alaska. The heavy ice prevented them from making the entire journey, and so
for three weeks they navigated their sailing vessel, Catryn, back through the Davis Straight,
down the rugged coast of Baffin Island, and Labrador to Newfoundland. Taff will introduce
the film and take questions afterwords. The film premiered at the Frozen River Film Festival in
February. Free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.
Abdulrahman and Kathy Zeitoun run a house-painting business in New Orleans. In August of 2005, as Hurricane Katrina
approaches, Kathy evacuates with their four young children,
leaving Zeitoun to watch over the business. In the days following the storm he travels the city by canoe, feeding abandoned
animals and helping elderly neighbors. Then, on September 6th,
police officers armed with M-16s arrest Zeitoun in his home. Told
with eloquence and compassion, Zeitoun is a riveting account of
one family’s unthinkable struggle with forces beyond wind and
water.
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