March 2013 • Volume 18 / Issue 1

Saint Peter to Donate Fire TruckThe City of Saint Peter will soon donate a fire

truck to its Sister City, Petatlán, Mexico. Thetruck, which has served St. Peter since the1970s, will no longer be needed once a newlypurchased truck arrives this spring. Petatlán isa beautiful and welcoming community, butthey lack the resources to provide the level ofservices we enjoy in Nicollet County. Thistruck will fill a big need.

The St. Peter Sister City committee is currentlyraising funds to facilitate transfer of the truckand training to Petatlán. While this isn’t anNCHS project, we support it, and the great workof the Sister City committee. If you’d like to helpout, donate, or join the committee–contact BenLeonard at ben@nchsmn.org.

Treaty Site Exterior Seeks FaceliftThe Treaty Site

opened in 1994.Since then thou-sands of peoplehave strolledthrough its doors,and left with a betterunderstanding andappreciation for ourhistory. Over thattime the building hasweathered snow-storms, 100-degreedays, floods, andeverything inbetween.

Weather, time, and use have all taken their toll on the exterior. Today it’s still ingood shape, but could use some TLC. Sidewalks are cracked, and the prairieplants that once bloomed have faded through neglect. We’ve been working withPaulsen Architects to help us re-envision the entry. We’d like something that isinviting, interpretive, and easy to maintain. We also see the chance to improveenergy efficiency inside through shade and less concrete outside.

Facelift continued on page 8

CONTENTSDirector’s Column 2

Director’s New # 2

Site Info 2

Members 2

Films on Thursdays 3

Cox House Plant Sale 4

Collection Corner 4

Moline Scholarship 4

Need Site Guides 4

Carlin & Programs 4

CommemoratingControversy update 5

New Board Faces 5

Online Presence 5

Donations & Memorials 6

Canoe Programs 6

Northern Slave, Black Dakota 7

Compart Memorial 8

Norseland Fund Donation 8

Book Festival 9

Archive Donations 10

Collection Corner 10

Events Calendar 11

MembersThank you to thefollowing new andrenewing members ofNCHS since the beginning of 2013.

Renewed Business Members:Nicollet Conservation Club

Renewed Patron Members:Mike & Pam BidelmanLarry & Judy BiedermanChris & Jolly CorleyDon & Beverly GustafsonBob SandeenSally Webster

Renewed SustainingMembers:Ellis & Janet JonesLori Lahlum

Renewed Family Members:Paul & Nita AasenFrani & Mark AndersonSteve & Jen BaxaPaul & Connie EckbergCharles & Carol EggertPastor & Teresa FerkenstadJeremy & Michel FreemanLisa Isenberg &

Philip FriedlundStephen & Barbara GramsJohn & Sara McKayThorild & Ardith NelsonDoug & Judy SchultzDiane & James StensonOwen & Evie SwensonBuster & Nina West

Renewed Individual Members:Duane BieberDavid BreitungHelen ChristiansonBonnie CompartElsa CornellMichael FrederickJoyce GillenPaula GoblirschRita Kramer JoergCharles JohnsonKatherine KamakahiDolores LueckMary LongHarriet MasonGayla Lueck MattsonAgnes Stensby

New Family Members:Paul & Gail Lindfors

To view our 2012 AnnualReport online, please usethe following web addresshttp://www.nchsmn.org/about_us.html

Director’s ColumnThe Society seems a

bit like a duck thesedays–quiet on top, butpaddling like madunder the surface.There’s a lot going on.We’ve talked a lot about theimportance of partners and collaboration. You’veseen many examples of that over the past year.

Those partnerships take hours and hours ofpreparation and work. Much of that goes onbehind the scenes. Unfortunately not every ideaor potential project comes to fruition. But thoseconversations, meetings, napkin drawings, andbrainstorming sessions all help create an atmos-phere where some of those projects do work.Some of our 1862 Sesquicentennial conversa-tions started in 2010, but it would have beenimpossible back then to predict the success wecan look back on now.

There are a lot of those kind of conversationshappening these days. I wish I could talk aboutall the possibilities being discussed. It’s reallyexciting stuff. Hopefully in future newsletterswe’ll be doing that. The busy season will startsoon. Of course we hope you’ll come for a pro-gram or a tour soon. We’ve got a great summerahead. But it’s the behind-the-scenes conversa-tions happening now that will drive the Societyforward in the years to come. That’s really excit-ing to think about.

Ben Leonard, Director

Direct(or) LineSociety Director Ben Leonard can be a tricky

guy to get a hold of in the office. It will beeasier now with a new cell phone. Don’t hesitateto call or text 507-340-7463. It’s probably theeasiest way to find him these days. You canalways drop him an e-mail as well.

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Ben Leonard on vacation in the GreatSand Dunes National Park & Preservenear Alamosa, Colorado.

Executive BoardPresident, Tami Skinner, St. PeterVice President, Jeremy Freeman, St. PeterSecretary, Steve Baxa, St. PeterTreasurer, Marie Dranttel, St. PeterHistorian, Alma Forst, St. George

DirectorsSteve Baxa, St. PeterAbbi Carleton, NicolletDr. Chris Corley, North MankatoMatt Horak, NorselandPatti Kelly, NorselandDr. Lori Lahlum, North MankatoEmilie Lokensgard, NorselandPam Morson, LafayetteScott Hermanson, St. PeterBob Schabert, CourtlandSally Webster, Bernadotte

Contact InformationExecutive Director, Ben Leonardben@nchsmn.org / cell: 507-340-7463

Collections Manager, Bob Sandeenbob@nchsmn.org

Office Assistant, Kristina LeClerckristina@nchsmn.org

Museum Store Manager, Ruth Grewe

Cox House Manager, Richard Tostenson

TSHC Museum Assistants, Jessica Becker,Victoria Clark, Joan Jordan,Allen McBride, Loren Sundboom

TSHC Maintenance, Wayne Passon

Harkin Store Site Manager, Ruth Grewe

Harkin Store Asst. Manager, Amber Bentler

Harkin Store Site Guides, Rose Alsleben,Glenn Stryker

Ft. Ridgely Site Manager, Nancy Zempel

Ft. Ridgely Site Guides, Annaliese Endorf,Charlotte Nack, Dorothy Polesky

Treaty Site History Center1851 N. Minnesota AvenueSt. Peter, MN 56082TSHC Phone: (507) 934-2160TSHC Fax: (507) 934-0172Hours: Mo.–Sa. 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Sunday 1–4 p.m.Archives: Tu.–Sa. 10 a.m.–4 p.m.General information via e-mail:

museum@nchsmn.org orresearch@nchsmn.org

Website: www.nchsmn.org

E. St. Julien Cox House500 N. Washington AvenueSt. Peter, MN 56082Cox House Phone: (507) 934-4309The Cox House is available year-round for a variety of special programs,facility rentals, and tours by appointment.Please contact 507-934-2160 for details.

Harkin StoreP.O. Box 112, New Ulm, MN 56082Eight miles northwest of New Ulm,on County Highway 21Harkin Store Phone: (507) 354-8666Hours:May: Sat.–Sun. 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

May 28–Sep. 3 Tu.–Su. 10 a.m.–5 p.m.Sep.–Oct. 14: Sa.–Su. 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Fort Ridgely72404 County Road 30Fairfax, MN 55332Phone: (507) 426-7888 or (507) 934-2160Website: ridgely@nchsmn.orgHours: May 25–Sep. 3

Th. & Su.: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.Tours by appointment: Sept. & Oct.

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We still have some great films left before we take a summer break. Come to theTreaty Site History Center the first Thursday of the month through June.

Thurs., Apr. 4, 7 p.m.: Sweetgrass101 minutes. Not Rated. An unsentimental elegy to the American West,Sweetgrass follows the last modern-day cowboys to lead their flocks ofsheep up into Montana’s breathtaking and often dangerous Absaroka-Beartooth mountains for summer pasture. This astonishingly beautifulyet unsparing film reveals a world in which nature and culture, animalsand humans, vulnerability and violence are all intimately meshed.

Thurs., May 2, 7 p.m.: Brother Towns58 minutes. Not Rated. Brother Towns is a

story of two towns linked by immigration, family, and work. It chroni-cles a story of how and why people migrate across borders, howpeople make and remake their communities when they travel thousands of miles from home, and how people maintain familiesdespite their travel. Because we are all immigrants, this is a universal human story.

Thurs., June 6, 7 p.m.: Garbo the Spy88 minutes. Not Rated. Although he neverfired a single shot, Garbo helped to save thousands of lives, most notablyby misinforming the Germans about the timing and location of theNormandy D-Day invasion of WWII. In this documentary thriller, directorEdmon Roch artfully interweaves propaganda footage, interviews withintelligence experts and key players in Garbo’s life, and clips fromHollywood films to conjure forgotten and living memories, heroes andspies, secrets and lies.

FILMS ON FIRST THURSDAYSFilm Series Continues Through June

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Sat., May 11, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Cox House Plant SaleWe actually had a real winter in Nicollet

County. It’s been a few years. I think it’s safeto say we’re all ready for spring. If you’re not,keep quiet, the rest of us don’t want to hear fromyou. The Cox House Plant Sale has been kickingoff the growing season for years now. This yearwe’re especially excited for the May sale onSaturday, May 11 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The plant sale is a really important fundraiserfor the Society. It significantly supports themaintenance of the house throughout the year.We rely on donated plants and volunteers tomake the sale a success each year.

If you’re a gardener and would like to donateflowers, perennials, annuals, vegetables, or any other plants, please contact us. If you’d like to help us collect, pot, prep, and sell theplants please let us know. Give us a call at 507-934-2160 or e-mail kristina@nchsmn.org.

Site GuidesDo you love Fort Ridgely or Harkin Store?

Have some flexibility and want to earn a littleextra money this summer? NCHS may be look-ing for you. Please contact Ben Leonard via mailor e-mail (ben@nchsmn.org) if you’re interestedin being an interpreter at Harkin or Ridgely thissummer. Please include a letter of interest and aresume or list of experiences.

New ProgramsComing Soon!

The Society has con-tracted with Susie

Carlin to do additionalprograms. Susie hasworked with residents allover through MSU-Mankato and theSt. Peter City Council.She’ll be helping us withthe Cox House PlantSale, and some new pro-grams for Nicollet and

North Mankato. We’re really excited to haveSusie on board!

NCHS to OfferAnnual StudentScholarshipThe Nicollet County Historical

Society is offering the $1,000Ted Moline Scholarship for post-secondary education.Graduating high school seniorsto incoming college seniors are eligible.

Ted Moline was born July 21,1915 in St. Paul and soon afterhis family moved to BaldwinWisconsin. Ted received anamateur radio operator licensein 1934 and was an avid opera-tor the rest of his life. Tedmoved to St. Peter in 1937 towork for the Chicago, St. Paul,Minneapolis, and OmahaRailroad. Ted also served in theUnited States Army. He retiredin 1971 as a Colonel. Tedpassed away in August of 2005.He was an extremely generousman who loved local history.This scholarship honors Ted andhis commitment to our mission.

The scholarship winner willcomplete a 100-hour summerresearch project centered on theLac Qui Parle historic site for anupcoming exhibit. The projectwill be based out of the TreatySite History Center in St. Peter.

The deadline to apply is April 5,2013. Applicants are asked toprovide a resume or descriptionof past experience, and a personal statement, not toexceed 500 words, on why they are interested in theresearch scholarship.

For more information pleasecontact Ben Leonard at 507-934-2160 orben@nchsmn.org.

Susie Carlin visiting St.Peter’s Sister City, Petatlán,Mexico inApril 2012. Carlinand NCHS Director BenLeonard worked hard on the trip, but did get to fish. For the record, Susie’s wasbigger than Ben’s.

NCHS Bits …

Flowers, perennials, annuals,vegetables, or any otherplants are welcome as dona-tion for the plant sale.

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State and Local History (AASLH)national conference in Birmingham,Alabama later this year. The exhibit hasalso been nominated for an AASLHnational award of merit.

In support of that nomination MarkHirsch, historian with the SmithsonianNational Museum of the AmericanIndian, said, “I believe CommemoratingControversy is an extremely well-researched, engaging, and innovativeexhibition that invites visitors to thinkcritically about an important andexceedingly divisive episode inMinnesota history.” We look forward tothe conference, and hope the awardnomination is successful.

The collaborative exhibit cre-ated by Gustavus Adolphus

College students is still travel-ing. Currently copies are ondisplay in Plymouth and BlueEarth County Historical Society.The Mankato exhibit will moveto the Anoka County HistoricalSociety after April 1st. A copyhas returned home to theTreaty Site History Center andwill remain on exhibit.

NCHS director Ben Leonardand Gustavus’s Dr. ElizabethBaer, joined by a student, willpresent a session on the projectat the American Association for

New Board FacesThe Society gained two new

board members after theJanuary Annual Meeting. We arelucky and honored Abbi andMatt agreed to serve.

Abbi Carleton lives near Nicollet.She is married to Daniel and hasfour children. Abbi directs theNicollet Early Childhood Center,and has been there since it firstopened in 2006.

Matt Horak has lived nearNorseland for five years. Hemarried Kathy (Graupman) in2003. They have two sons andanother child on the way. Matthas worked for Wells Fargo for 10 years, most recently inrisk management.

We were sad to lose Patti Kellyand Gary Schmidt. We knowthey are doing well, and likelyenjoying their third Tuesday of every month evenings back. We sincerely appreciatetheir service!

Commemorating Controversy:The Dakota-U.S. War of 1862 Update

Augmenting OurOnline PresenceG reetings friends! My name is Matthew

Windett, and I am happy to be working withthe Nicollet County Historical Society thisSpring. I am a Master’s student inCommunication Studies at Minnesota StateUniversity in Mankato, and during my time sofar I have focused on digital media awarenessfor our nonprofit organization. We have beenworking on a new Facebook page, a Twitteraccount, and other exciting initiatives with theaim of increasing our online presence. I inviteyou to come and follow us! We have sharedlocal, state, and national history throughupdates, photographs, and virtual partneringwith other historical societies to share a com-mon goal. There are always the chance to learnsomething new, and help spread our mission.

As we continue to grow with this technology,there are new explorations and possibilities thatyou can help us with. Thank you for taking anactive interest with us on this new endeavor!Best, Matt.

Follow @nchsmn onTwitter and friendthe Nicollet CountyHistorical Society onFacebook today!

NCHS Bits …

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History Center Events…May 9th at 7 p.m.

Canoeing with the CreeJoin us on May 9th at 7 p.m. at the Treaty Site, when DNR Area Naturalist Scott

Kudelka brings the history of an epic journey to life. Eric Sevareid and WalterPort paddled the entire length of the Minnesota River on the way to Hudson Bay inthe summer of 1930 for a total of 2,250 miles. These two teenagers pushed them-selves and their canoe over sixty portages in fourteen weeks or 98 days arriving atthe York Factory at the end of September. Their story is told in the book Canoeingwith the Cree by Eric Sevareid. This program will focus on what they experiencedon the Minnesota River.

June 20th, July 11th, and August 1st at 5:30 p.m.

Minnesota River PaddleHere is a perfect chance to learn about paddling a canoe and some of the histo-

ry, culture and natural world of the Minnesota River. We’ll be departing fromSeven Mile Creek Park at 5:30 p.m. on June 20th, July 11th, and August 1stand canoeing to St. Peter. Each trip will feature a different river expert.

This opportunity is made possible through the Minnesota DNR and the LegacyAmendment. It’s totally free! All the equipment (canoes, paddles, and life jackets)and an experienced guide are provided.

Space is very limited and pre-registration is required. Please contact BenLeonard at ben@nchsmn.org for registration and other information.

June 30th and July 14th at 2 p.m.

Learn Howto Canoe!Always wanted to get in a canoe but didn’t

have the opportunity? Want your kids tolearn? Whatever the reason, there’s neverbeen a better time to learn how to canoethan now. Join Scott Kudelka, AreaNaturalist for the Department of NaturalResources, at Swan Lake this summer for a free lesson, June 30th and July 14th at 2 p.m.

This opportunity is made possible throughthe Minnesota DNR and the LegacyAmendment. It’s totally free! All the equip-ment (canoes, paddles, and life jackets)and an experienced guide our provided.

Space is very limited and pre-registrationis required. Please contact Ben Leonard at ben@nchsmn.org for registration andother information.

MonetaryDonationsreceived in 2013:Richard BeranMark & Mary DavisFred & Judy HansonMartin & Carol MenkCindy MohrNCHS QuiltersAlta Nelson Memorial FundHerb & Louise PoncinElizabeth RussellArlene Sandeen

Memorialsreceived in 2013:

In Memory ofViolet Bode

Given byGary & Geraldine Schmidt

In Memory ofRichard Compart

Given byBonnie Compart

In Memory ofMalcolm Kerr MacKenzie

Given byChalyce BlandJerold & Joan Lucas

In Memory ofDonald Webster

Given byAnonymous DonorMarjorie HalvorsonFred & Judy HansonHarold & Lorraine Olson

”

“

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History Center Events…

Walt Bachman will present his new book onJoseph Godfrey at the Nicollet County

Health and Human Services building on HowardDrive in North Mankato on Thursday, April 4that 7 p.m. Admission is free.

Born a slave in free territory, Joseph Godfreydied widely reviled for his controversial role inthe U.S.-Dakota War of 1862. Separated fromhis mother at age five when their master soldher, Joseph Godfrey was kept in bondage, serv-ing Minnesota’s fur-trade elite. To escape hismasters’ beatings and abuse, Godfrey soughtrefuge among the Dakota people he’d befriendedas a child slave. Godfrey married a Dakotawoman and was living with his family on theLower Sioux Reservation in 1862. Conscripted tojoin Dakota warriors in the opening days of theU.S.-Dakota War of 1862, he became the first of hundreds of men tried by a military court

when the six-weekwar ended in late September.Commander HenrySibley, who createdthe court, was one of his former mas-ters. Sibley approveddeath sentences for Godfrey and 302 other Dakotasoldiers.

In this riveting, first-ever biography, histo-rian and retired triallawyer Walt Bachmanuntangles the thornyquestions that hauntGodfrey’s story to

this day: How was he enslaved in free territory?Did he murder the frontier settlers for which theDakota dubbed him “Many Kills”? Did he turntraitor on his Dakota kinsmen to save his ownskin? Did his testimony during the post-war trials send 38 Dakota men–including his father-in-law–to the gallows? Why did PresidentAbraham Lincoln remove Godfrey’s name fromthe execution list?

Northern Slave, Black Dakota: The Life and Times of Joseph Godfrey

The Nicollet County Health andHuman Services Building islocated at 2070 Howard DriveW, North Mankato. It’s just eastof the Howard Drive–LookoutDrive intersection. Please con-tact Ben at 934-2160 orben@nchsmn.org for moreinformation.

Walt Bachman was born andraised in Minneapolis and is a1966 Phi Beta Kappa, summacum laude graduate of theUniversity of Minnesota. As aRhodes Scholar, Bachmanreceived an English law degreefrom Oxford University in 1968;he subsequently earned a J.D.from Stanford University. Formore than 20 years, he was atrial lawyer in Minneapolis, pur-suing a widely varying careerthat ranged from practice inlarge and small private lawfirms to criminal prosecutionfor Hennepin County(Minneapolis and suburbs) tothe instigation of disbarmentand other legal ethics proceed-ings. Minnesota readers, in par-ticular, will be familiar with hisfamily: Bachman’s, Inc., nowthe nation’s largest retail florist,was founded by his great-grandfather Henry Bachman,who married Hattie Dietrich, thedaughter of uprising victimErnst Dietrich. (The story ofDietrich’s death is the openingscene in the book.) Bachmanretired from Minnesota to NewYork City, where he lives withhis wife, Elizabeth.

“I cannot overstatethe importantcontribution thatNorthern Slave,Black Dakota makes to ourunderstanding ofrace and class in the key formativeperiod of Minnesotahistory.

“ Throughmeticulous andwide-rangingresearch, Mr.Bachman hasreconstructed thelife of JosephGodfrey, a littleknown slave-turned-Dakota Indian whofought with theDakota in the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862.The result is afascinatingbiography, but it isalso much morethan one man’sstory. Godfrey’sunfixed racialidentity in his youthand the extremevitriolic animus hefaced after 1862vividly illustrate thechanging definitionand perception ofrace in Minnesota in the yearsbetween 1849 (whenMinnesota became aterritory) and theCivil War.…NorthernSlave, Black Dakota,more than any othersingle source I havefound, illuminatesthat process in vividand persuasivedetail.

~ Mary Wingerd, author of North Country: TheMaking of Minnesota

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In Memory of Richard Compart by Ben Leonard

Staff at the Society work really hard. We like to think we do the best job we can.But sometimes we make mistakes. I wanted to take this opportunity to apolo-

gize. I screwed up.

About a year ago Bonnie Compart was thoughtful and generous enough to presentus with memorial donations for her husband. Richard Compart passed away onMarch 16, 2012. Many of you knew him well. He was a wonderful man whopoured his entire life into Nicollet County. We were, and still are, honored andgrateful to receive support in his name.

My record keeping wasn’t what it should be, and I failed to include the memorialsto Richard Compart in the subsequent newsletter. Acknowledging them here does-n’t correct my mistake. But I hope that it helps us avoid a future one. Thank youBonnie for your support and friendship—I am truly sorry.

Dedicated Funds for Future Norseland ProjectThe Norseland Sesquicentennial Committee is transferring their remaining funds

to the Society for a future Norseland project. Two CDs, approximately $12,000will be set aside as a restricted fund. We don’t know what the project will be, but itis certain to have a big impact in Norseland.

“We are really honored the 150th Committee has faith in the Historical Society,”says director Ben Leonard. “We will continue to work with committee members, aswell as Norseland residents to make sure that down the road, when this money isspent, it does the most good and is leveraged the best way.”

Thanks so much to the 50th Committee and the people of Norseland for settingaside these dollars to benefit their community!

Richard Compart

Facelift continued from page 1

We’re excited about the preliminary draw-ings you see here. As with virtually allprojects we do here at NCHS, the visionand creativity is not usually the issue–it’sfunding. This project has a price tag of$63,000. We think it’s important. We willbe working very hard to find ways tomake this project a reality. If you haveany questions, do not hesitate to contact NCHS Director Ben Leonard.

Preparing students for lives of leadership, service,

and lifelong learning since 1862.

www.gustavus.edu

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St. Peter Book FestivalCalling all Authors and Readers, the second annual St. Peter Book

Festival is scheduled for April 6th in the St. Peter Community Center.The Festival is free and features a variety of authors and publishers.

William Kent Krueger, author of the Cork O’Connor mystery series, will introduce his new stand-alone novel, Ordinary Grace as the keynotespeaker at a sold-out brunch in addition to being present during the 1 to 5 p.m. afternoon Book Festival.

About Ordinary Grace [from the publisher Atria Books]:

All the dying that summer began with the death of a child…

New Bremen, Minnesota, 1961. The Twins were playingtheir debut season, ice-cold root beers were selling out atthe soda counter of Halderson’s Drugstore, and Hot Stuffcomic books were a mainstay on every barbershop maga-zine rack. It was a time of innocence and hope for a coun-try with a new, young president. But for thirteen-year-oldFrank Drum it was a grim summer in which death visitedfrequently and assumed many forms. Accident. Nature.Suicide. Murder.

Frank begins the season preoccupied with the concerns ofany teenage boy, but when tragedy unexpectedly strikes hisfamily, which includes his Methodist minister father, his pas-sionate, artistic mother, Juilliard-bound older sister, and wise-beyond-his-years kid brother—he finds himself thrust into anadult world full of secrets, lies, adultery, and betrayal, suddenlycalled upon to demonstrate a maturity and gumption beyond his years.

Join the St. Peter Reads committee in welcoming over Minnesota 40 authors to St. Peter to talk about their most recent works.

New Sweden MutualInsurance Company

Mark Schaefer800-851-7519 toll free 714 3rd St. - Box 338507-232-3696 fax Nicollet, MN507-232-3433 56074

newswe@myclearwave.net

1-888-792-3626

We would also like to say thanks to these business members:

Culligan Mayer

Community Insurance Agency

Dave’s Place

First National Bank

Food ShelfDonationsIn conjunction with MinnesotaFood Share Month, and the

St. Peter Food Co-Op, theTreaty Site History Center isaccepting food and cash dona-tions during March 2013. Allproceeds will benefit the localfood shelf in each community.

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When I tell people Iwork in a museum

they seem genuinelyinterested and askwhat I do there. WhenI tell them I catalogand store items thatare donated to acounty museum, theireyes glaze overbecause I do not workwith something excit-ing like dinosaurbones or sunkentreasure. Instead Iwork with items likemilitary artifacts.

Our collection of mili-tary gear is broad;and each item hasseen its share of wear. The men who ownedthese items were stationed all over the worldand the stories those uniforms or gear can tellus are incredible and each is unique. Thesepieces of history are just as exciting and inter-esting as any dinosaur bone, and for our littlepart of the world, I think they are a much moreimportant part of our history.

One such collection belongs to SFC MarlinPeterson. Peterson served with the ArmyReserve and National Guard between 1971 and2006 and was deployed during OperationDesert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. We have many interesting pieces in this particu-lar collection including combat fatigues, bootsand even eyewear. Thank you SFC Peterson forthis exceptional collection and thank you foryour service.

NCHS Bits…

Shown are several donated pieces of SFCMarlin Peterson’s uniforms currently inour collection.

Artifact &ArchivalDonationsaccepted into our collec-tions since the Dec. 2012Crossing:Patricia Enter: NicolletCounty plat book for 2011.Federated Insurance: AHistory of the FederatedInsurance Companies.Karen Zins: the Swedish ver-sion of the Day andKnappen book about thelife of Governor John A.Johnson; plaque with imageof Old Main at GustavusAdolphus College.George L. Glotzbach: fourreproductions of photo-graphs of members of theKuske family and assortedgenealogical documents.Gary B. Olson: 1919 com-memorative plate from theNew Sweden store markingthe victory in World WarOne; J.C. Penney sign, hatstretcher, and the cash cupand its handle from storeJ.C. Penney store number1356 in St. Peter; brassdoor lock and handle fromthe Johnson & Olson storein New Sweden.Steve Peterson: RIDGLIAN1934–1935 booklet by themembers of Company 2712of the Civilian ConservationCorps at Fort Ridgely.Old Traverse des Sioux byThomas Hughes; “VerseAfter All” booklet by MarySalinda Foster.Marilyn J. Robertz: photo-graph of Ted Knoll and wife(with another couple);assorted paper items.St. Peter Chamber ofCommerce: 2013 Winterfest Medallion.Kenneth Colakovic: GustavusAdolphus College, Kingdomof Identity and GustavusAdolphus College,Celebrating 125 Years.Kandiyohi County HistoricalSociety: Polk City Directoriesfor Mankato and St. Peter:two copies Oct. 2001, twocopies Dec. 2003, and onecopy of the November 2004volume.Blue Earth County HistoricalSociety: research paper byCurtis Hatfield, May 1977:Veith’s Cave and the JesseJames Legend.Rick Kisor: St. Peter HighSchool laboratory notebookof Agnes Holmberg fromher senior year.Elizabeth Koenig: family history: Our Family Historythrough Michael Koenig

March Campaign

Collection Spotlight by Jessica Becker

Event/Program information:Harkin Store: Program Time: 1 to 4 p.m. on Sundays / $5 adults (18–64), $3 seniors (65+) and children 6–17. Free for

children age 5 and under, NCHS and MHS members.

Fort Ridgely: Time: Please check NCHS and MHS websites for program times / Fee: A valid State Park Vehicle Permit isrequired unless otherwise noted below. Fee: $5 adults (18–64), $3 seniors (65+) and children 6–17. Freefor children age 5 and under, NCHS and MHS members. Programs and events are sponsored by NCHS,Friends of Fort Ridgely, GFW Community Education and MNDNR. Continue to watch area papers andNCHS and DNR websites for more information and events to be added in Sept. and Oct. State ParkContact Station: 507-426-7840; Historic Site: 507-426-7888

TSHC: See program times below / Fee: $5 adults, $4 seniors (65+), $3 children 6–17, free for children underage 5, and NCHS members.

Since 1883 Bank with us–

It JustMakesSense.

Nicollet County BankSt. Peter, Minnesota 931-3310 Member FDIC

2013 Calendar of Events:

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Apr. 4 Walt Bachman, Northern Slave, Black Dakota: The Life and Times of Joseph Godfrey, 7 p.m., Nicollet County building on Howard Drive, (see details on page 7) North Mankato

Apr. 4 Documentary Film: Sweetgrass 7 p.m., FREE (see synopsis on page 3) Treaty Site History Center

Apr. 6 St. Peter Reads 2013 Book Festival, 1–5 p.m. (see details on page 9) St. Peter Community Center

May 2 Documentary Film: Brother Towns, 7 p.m., FREE (see synopsis on page 3) Treaty Site History Center

May 9 DNR Area Naturalist Scott Kudelka,Canoeing with the Cree, 7 p.m. (see details on page 6) Treaty Site History Center

May 11 Cox House Plant Sale, 8:30 a.m.–2 p.m. (see story on page 4) E. St. Julien Cox House

June 6 Documentary Film: Garbo the Spy, 7 p.m., FREE (see synopsis on page 3) Treaty Site History Center

June 15 Walt Bachman, Slavery at Fort Ridgely, 11 a.m. & 1 p.m. Fort Ridgely

June 20 Minnesota River Paddle, 5:30 p.m. (see details on page 6) Seven Mile Creek

June 22 John LaBatte discusses the causes for the U.S.-Dakota War and leads a battlefield tour, program 1 p.m., tour 2:30 Fort Ridgely

June 30 Learn to Canoe with Scott Kudelka, 2 p.m. (see details on page 6) Swan Lake

July 11 Minnesota River Paddle, 5:30 p.m. (see details on page 6) Seven Mile Creek

July 14 Learn to Canoe with Scott Kudelka, 2 p.m. (see details on page 6) Swan Lake

July 20 John LaBatte discusses the causes for the U.S.-Dakota War and leads a battlefield tour, program 1 p.m., tour 2:30 Fort Ridgely

Aug. 1 Minnesota River Paddle, 5:30 p.m. (see details on page 6) Seven Mile Creek

Aug. 17 John LaBatte discusses the causes for the U.S.-Dakota War and leads a battlefield tour, program 1 p.m., tour 2:30 Fort Ridgely

Please watch the NCHS website, Facebook & Twitter and MHS website for further events and details for additional programming.

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new exhibits at TSHC maintenance of Cox House staffing at Harkin Store programming at Ft. Ridgelypartnering with

MHS at TdS Townsite