The

Back Roads Bus Tour!We are excited to offer a long overdue bus tour of Winona County. On Saturday, August 13, we will leave from the His-tory Center lot at 8 a.m. to explore the back roads of Winona County with many amazing stops and behind the scenes looks at what makes Winona County so unique.

The tour’s first stop will be the Wiscoy Valley Community Land Cooperative where a group of 21 adults and one pre-teen share 358 acres of land and practice organic land management. The land coop was established in 1975 and families live in their own homes and make their own choices for education, diet, in-come, etc., but the community also shares outbuildings, a swimming pool or pond, a stage/auditorium, fire pit, playground, a gym and sports area.

Next the bus will travel to Ridgeway School which was District 78, a rural school near the village of Ridgeway start-ed in 1913. The school today was built in 1965 after 80 rural schools collaborated to build a 4 classroom school. The Wi-nona Public Schools absorbed the school in 1970. In 2001 it was proposed to close the school and so they applied for

charter status soon after. It became the third charter school in Winona County.

Then we travel to the Pickwick Mill. The mill was built from 1856 to 1858 by Thomas Grant and Wilson Davis and is one of the oldest water powered gristmills found in southeast Minnesota. The mill was constructed as a sawmill, and later converted to a flour gristmill, on the banks of Big Trout Creek located in Pickwick, Minnesota. The mill ran 24 hours a day during the Civil War and produced 100 barrels daily for the Union Army. After the war, the mill became a flour-milling center for most of southern Minnesota and portions of Iowa and Wisconsin. The six story building was severely damaged in 1907 when a tornado took off the roof and top storage room. The mill was then retrofitted with a flat plank roof. The mill has been restored to a gable roof that is reminiscent of the original design. Today the mill is administered as a historic site by Pickwick Mill Inc., a privately funded, non-profit organization.

After the mill we head to Cedar Valley Lutheran Church which had its beginnings in 1870 when Rev. Kristian Magellsen would travel to Cedar Valley for services in the school about twelve times a year.

The church was built in 1873. From the Church we will get a wagon ride over to the nearby Briggs Farm for an outdoor brick oven pizza lunch. You can see little touches of the history of Briggs Farm just about anywhere you look, from the wood-peg construction of the old granary to the antique wood stove in the farm house kitchen. Dating to the mid-1800s, Briggs Farm is a world away from the electronic crush of the 21st century. Today it is a B&B.

Then we head to Homer to see the School which was built of brick in 1906 and is now home to the Homer Town Hall. We will also tour the Homer Church, founded in 1858. Willard and Matilda Bunnell were the first members. The church build-ing was constructed in 1891 and services were held wherever they could before then. A fire destroyed the church in 1901 but the pulpit and pulpit chairs were saved and the church today is what was rebuilt. We then head down the road to Riverside, the summer home of the You-mans, a lumber baron family of Winona. Built by Harry Youmans from 1910-11, the home has a sweeping panorama of the river. Built for his son, Addison and his wife Sadie Dixon Youmans, it was home to three generation of the family. Today the owners are Bob Ries and Craig Bratsch, who purchased it in 2009. Then, we return to the History Center lot by 3:30 p.m. See page 7 for more. w

The ArgusWinona County Historical Society160 Johnson StreetWinona, MN 55987

Address Service Requested

Non - ProfitU.S. Postage

PAIDPermit # 87Winona, MN

55987 Argus Winona County Historical Society NewsletterVolume 17, No. 4 July/August 2016

photo by Paul Crosby

Board MembersMary Nelson, President

Robert Fischer, VPTom Bremer, Treasurer

Jonelle Moore, ex officio Secretary Michelle Alexander, City Council

Judy BodwaySandra Burke

Jerome ChristensonMarianne Hohenner

Sue HovellMargaret Johnson

Ken LindamannPatrick MarekJanis MartinBlake PickartMary Polus

Jim PomeroyPat Rogers

LeRoy Telstad

StaffMark F. Peterson, Exec. Director

507-454-2723 ext. 1director@winonahistory.org

Jennifer Weaver, Asst. Director507-454-2723 ext. 3

assistdir@winonahistory.org

Bette Jean Cichoski, Visitor Service & Shop Manager

507-454-2723 ext. 0desk@winonahistory.org

Andy Bloedorn, Archivist & Curator of Collections

507-454-2723 ext. 4curator@winonahistory.orgarchives@winonahistory.org

Walter Bennick, Archivist507-454-2723 ext. 2

archives@winonahistory.org

Ann Kendrick, Membershipmembership@winonahistory.org

Laurie Lucas, Rental Coordinator507-452-6609

rentals@winonahistory.org

Vickie Hokenstad, Maintenance507-454-2723 ext. 0

History Never Stops by Mark F. Peterson, Executive Director

I’ve always been proud of the Historical So-ciety and it’s no secret that I think we are one of the best around. Recently several things happened that reminded me just how special we really are.

About two weeks ago a visit was arranged by a couple of people involved with the Fair-field (IA) Carnegie Museum. They read about us when an article about our collection inven-tory project appeared in the Winona Daily News a year ago and was then picked up by the Associated Press. They wanted to meet with Curator Andy Bloedorn and myself to learn as much as they could about collection management, fundraising, boards and much more. During the several hours we spent with them it was apparent that we are doing so much and doing it so well. They appreciated the opportunity to learn from us and I think (they said it too) that they were inspired to go back and make their museum better.

Another thing that reminded me about how special the Society is was the effort on the part of staff and volunteers to pull off a full summer of river tour programs, Bunnell House plays, a Chocolate, Shakespeare & Champagne event, a major furniture exhibit and opening, planning for the county fair, numerous special events at the History Cen-ter, grant submittals, the sale of the Arches property and more all in just the last few of weeks. This took a great deal of time and energy on the part of our staff and volun-teers. I was very impressed with the effort

and want to say a special thanks to everyone who was involved.

I often say good boards perpetuate good boards and bad boards perpetuate bad boards. Having a good board is essen-tial to the health of any organization. We have always had a good board. I’m always impressed by the diversity of opinions, the careful and conscientious attention to issues, the participation and the support given by our board members. They have always been there to help solve problems and lend their support in so many ways.

In closing, I want to mention the sale of the Arches Museum property. It has been on the market for three years and a buyer was found and the closing is scheduled for July 13th. It is on a contract for deed (four years) which is not how we intended to sell the property but it was the best offer we have had. While it doesn’t give us the cash we had hoped for to construct a new building imme-diately at the county fair we are hopeful we will be able to do so much sooner than later. I want to especially thank Michelle Alexan-der and Jonelle Moore for their efforts and donation of their time to sell this property. It is very much appreciated. w

Winona County History Center160 Johnson St., Winona, MN 55987Open: 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 Weekends June 18 - August 14 for Noon, 2 and 4 p.m. performances, PLUS July 4!Rural Heritage Museum Winona County Fairgrounds; Open July 6 - 10 for the Fair.

Membership & Donations Thank You for Your Support!

Business Partner Renewals: Brown’s Creative Picture Framing; Hawkins, Ash, CPAs; Schneider Heating & Air Condi-tioning; Winona Daily News

New Members: Carolyn & John Collins; Duane & Sonja Cook, Rushford, MN; Mary Ann & Tom Dyer; Dr. Kay Ferguson, Omaha, NE; Formgraphics; Wen-yu Vicky Haines; Mary Jo & Robert Keiper, Fountain City, WI; Margaret Klein, Keno-sha, WI; Stacy McNally; Gloria McVay; National Chemicals, Inc.; Nancy Newhall; Scott & Kelley Olson; Muriel E. Scott; Deborah Von Arx; Dawn Webster, Minnesota City, MN

Renewals: Richard Adank; Tom & Barb Ames, Rochester, MN; Eileen E. Amundson; David & Muriel Arnold; Steve & Nancy Bachler; Dick & Sharon Behnke; Lionel & Donna Bening, Plano, TX; Joyce & Ray Bisco; Margaret Boland; Katie & David Borkowski; John Borman, Minneapolis, MN; Thomas & Coleen Bremer; Clayton P. Brown, Wilmington, IL; Judith Brugger; Brad & Alicia Bullard; Dr. Chris & Kathleen Carroll; Linda & Bob Clay; Larry Clingman; Steve & Peg Daley, Lewiston, MN; Emilio & Monica DeGrazia; Bob Doerer; Jean Engler; Shelby Faustino; Dr. Joseph & Mary Foegen; Jeff Franko; Rick & Gayle Garrity; Richard Gehlhaart; Mr. David Girod; Gayle B. Goetzman & Ben Stolpa; Ms. Norma Grausnick; Joan Greshik, Cochrane, WI; Gail Griffin; Jerry & Corrine Grochowski; Philip & Jeanne Handke; Alice Han-non; Bruce & Jan Harem; Jerry & Noreen Hennessy; Rod J. Henry; Bob & Sue Hoodecheck; Lawrence & Jeanette Indra; Howard & Alice Keller, Fort Myers, FL; Chuck & Diane Kernler; Lawrence W. Kieffer, Cedar Falls, IA; Barbara Klein-schmidt; Steven & Susan Kowalsky; Nicole LaChapelle, Lewiston, MN; Patricia Laska, Wabasha, MN; Stanley Ledebuhr; John Lelwica, Lindstrom, MN; Robert L. Lovas, Sr., Cochrane, WI; Marian A. Mason; Pat Mason; Carole Matejka; Elmer & Louise Mattila; Charles & Betty Meyer; James A. & Marleen Miller; Jim Miller; Sharon Miller, Minnesota City, MN; Betty M. Monroe; Bruce & Mary Beth Montplaisir, Altura, MN; Pat & Jay Mutter; Fred W. & Nora Lee Naas; Mary Nathe; Gaye Nepper; Deborah Niebuhr; Gerald & Barbara Okland, Thief River Falls, MN; Jeanne, Marilyn & Marite Olm-stead; LaVerne & Joliene Olson; Lyelle & Mary Frances Palmer; Dave & Kathy Palmquist; Robert G. Pavek ;Patte Peter-son; James Pomeroy; Taff Roberts & Anne Plummer; Dr. Curt Rohrer, Wabasha, MN; Steve & Margaret Schild; Betty Jane Schneider; Jim & Jane Schneider; Steve Schuh; Ron & Diane Stevens; Carole A. Stever; Constance Strand, Fountain City, WI; Geraldine Taylor; Al & Bonnie Thurley; Isabelle Timm, Utica, MN; Byrle Tschumper; Paul Tushner; Jerry & Sandi Van Hoof; Van Schaik-Iremonger Family, LaCrescent, MN; Kay Vanderzee, Dakota, MN; Matt & Lyla Vetter; Marilyn & David Weissing, Utica, MN; Nancy Vaillancourt, Owaatonna, MN; Kelly Welti; Sherri & Nathan Wendland; Robert & Ruth Wer-ner; Geraldine S. Williams; Tom & Chris Wilmot; Pete & Joyce Woodworth

Donations: Erica Ueland; Richard W. Burmeister; Scott & Kelley Olson; Winona Daily News; In Memory of Beryl Ar-nold: Ruth Erickson; Walter & Virginia Bennick; Gerry & Nancy Polson; In Memory of Tom Schoen: Phil & Barb Feiten; In Memory of Ernestine Henry: Rod J. Henry; In Memory of Margaret Gunther: Anne E. McQuinn.

Trivia Answers: 1. WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service); 2. Cancer Crusade for the American Cancer Soci-ety; 3. Train; 4. World War One; 5. They successfully fought a forest fire.

Ensure the Future of the Past!Remember the Winona County Historical Society in your estate planning.

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WCHS Museums

photo by Kathy Greden

Jessica Trampf

Jessica is from Berlin, Wisconsin (near Oshkosh, WI) and is the Summer Sites Manager Intern for WCHS this year. She is helping with scheduling volunteers for the

Bunnell House plays, handling the logistics for the History on the River Cruises, managing the Rural Heritage Museum at the Winona County Fair, and will work on miscellaneous archival and curatorial projects throughout the summer.

Jessica graduated with a Bachelor’s of Art in Public His-tory with an emphasis in American History and a minor in Anthropology from University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire in May 2016. This fall she will be pursuing a Master’s in Stu-

dent Affairs Administration at the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse and will be an Academic Advisor in the Psy-chology department. This summer she also is working at the Bob Welch Aquatic Center in Winona where she is a Guest Services Attendant. In her free time Jessica likes knitting, crocheting, arts & crafts, running, and yoga.

Jessica loves quotes and this is one of her favorites, “When the path reveals itself, follow it.” – Cheryl Strayed from the book Wild and she added, “I’m very excited for my sum-mer at WCHS! I’m glad I am able to utilize my skills in a helpful way while gaining more experience in a field that I love!” w

Clip and Save CalendarJuly 4 History Center Closed; Bunnell House Open! 8 Civil War Round Table, 7 p.m. 9 Bunnell House Excursion, 3 p.m. Ticketed. 11 Quilt Guild, 7 p.m.11 -12 Pioneer School, 9 a.m. - 3 pm, Ticketed. 13 Food For Thought: Why Quality and Creativity Matter with Jamie Schell 12:05 p.m.23 GRSF Symposium: Georama and the Mississippi River 11 a.m. Ticketed. 26 - 27 Pioneer School, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Ticketed. 27 Food For Thought: Book Chat Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer, 12:05 p.m.28 - 29 Archives Closed, staff will be at a conference

August 3 Food For Thought: Great Native American Leaders with Michael J. Maher, 12:05 p.m. 5 The Art of Fine Furniture Closes 6 Bunnell House Excursion, 3 p.m. Ticketed. 8 Quilt Guild, 7 p.m. 11 Civil War Round Table, 7 p.m. 12 Preserved in Paint Exhibit Opening 4 - 6 p.m.13 Winona County Back Roads Bus Tour, Ticketed. 14 Last day of Bunnell House performances!17 Food For Thought: The History of Woodlawn Cemetery with Walt Bennick, 12:05 p.m. 24 Food For Thought: Book Chat, The Boys in the Boat, by Daniel James Brown 12:05 p.m.

See page 3 for the History on the River Program Schedule!

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Winona County Trivia1. Emmy Lou Jackson was the first Winona woman to enlist in what World War Two division of the U.S. Navy that consisted entirely of women?

2. Winona was the first to report its success of raising $1,854 in the first week of what kind of crusade in 1951?

3. Winona resident, Mrs. Alvin Beeman was stuck on what mode of transportation for three days during the snow storm of 1966?

4. Winona resident, Myrtle Grace Towner was the first nurse from Winona to go into active war service for what war?

5. What did the Winona CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) camp fight on the East Burns Valley Farm in November 1939 armed with shovels, backpack pumps and brooms?

Answers can be found on page 11.

Meet Summer Staff

History on the RiverPrograms aboard the Cal Fremling, 2016 Schedule + Family Programs!Tickets are on sale and going fast for the popular History on the River program cruises aboard the Cal Fremling floating classroom. All History on the River cruises are 90 minutes long and include light refreshments and a program. Tickets are $20/$25 or get 3 for $55/$70. Call 507.454.2723 to charge by phone for will call.

History On the River Programs:

July 7 – A Fast Forward History of the River at Winona with Walt Bennick, 7 p.m.14 – Tales from the Last River Rat with Kenny Salwey, 7 p.m. SOLD OUT21 – John Latsch: The Man Who Believed in a Refuge with Ranger Ed Lagace & Mary Farrell, 7 p.m. 28 – Dakota Life Along the River with Colette Hyman, 7 p.m.August 4 - River Memories with Capt. Richard Karnath, 7 p.m.

11 - Universe Above, River Below with Jennifer Anderson, 7:30 p.m., Bring your Binoculars!18 - Jazz on the Riverboats with Les Fields and the Turkey River All-Stars, 6:30 p.m. 25 - History of the Refuge with Ranger Ed Lagace, 6:30 p.m.

September 1 – Memories of the Army Corps of Engineers with Dennis Decker, 6 p.m. 8 – The Winona Bridges with Terry Ward, 6 p.m.15 - Dakota Life Along the River with Colette Hyman, 5:30 p.m.22 - Pre-History of Trempealeau Mt. & the Upper Mississippi with John Carrier, Park Naturalist, Perrot State Park, 5:30 p.m.29 - Migration on the Refuge with Ranger Ed Lagace, 5:30 p.m.

Also check out our kid friendly Family History on the River programs on the third Saturdays during summer leaving at 10:30 a.m. Tickets are $15/20 for chil-dren and $10/15 for adults, adult must accompany children.

July 16 - I Spy…Refuge Birds and Animals! with Ranger Ed, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Refuge. Learn to spot and name Refuge birds and animals.

August 20 - Something Buggy Goin’ On! with Ranger Ed. Explore the world of invertebrates.

Bunnell House ExcursionsTickets $70 members/$75 public (per excursion)

Arrive at the Bunnell House the way visitors would have in the early pioneer days of Winona County, via the river! We will board the Cal Fremling at 3 p.m. for a ride to Homer Landing to be picked up by the Trester Trolley to the Bunnell House to see a performance and then back to the landing for a cruise back to the levee by 6 p.m. Hors d’oeuvres served along with a visit with Playwright, Lynn Nankivil and Director of the play you’ll see, Judy Myers, The Adventures of Lafayette Bunnell or Paul Sannrud, The Hired Girl Gets Married! (Regular tickets will not be sold for these performances.)

f

Almost Full!

Biography by Walter Bennick

William Eugene Stumpf, 1936-2006Industrial Designer

Born to William and Anna (Kinzler) Stumpf on March 1, 1936 in St. Louis, Missouri, Bill, his mother and brother, Marvin, moved to Winona after his father died in 1949. At the time, Bill’s grand-father, the Rev. Albert Kinzler, was a minister at Grace Presby-terian Church. After settling in Winona, Anna Stumpf purchased a home on West Sanborn Street and went to work as a nurse at the Winona General Hospital.

Bill attended the Winona Public Schools and graduated from the Winona High School with the class of 1954. While in high school, Bill played tennis and was the art editor for the “Radio-graph,” the high school’s annual and the “Hi-News,” the school’s bi-monthly newspaper. As the annual’s art editor, Bill designed the school’s mascot, “Winnie Winhawk” which was featured in the 1954 year book.

Following high school, Bill was offered a scholarship to Hamline University, in which he lasted three days, before transferring to the Chicago Institute of Art. After two years in Chicago, he transferred to the University of Illinois in Champagne where he continued his studies in art. On September 7, 1957, Bill was married to Sharon Rose Ford, the daughter of James and Esther (Carlson) Ford. Following graduation from the university, Bill moved his family, included twin sons, to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where he had employment. While in Pittsburgh, Bill won in a completion sponsored by the American Society of Industrial De-signers. While living in Pittsburgh, Bill and Sharon had two more children born to them.

Around 1964, Bill and his family moved to Excelsior, Minnesota and later to Madison, Wisconsin where he was a professor of Environmental Design at the University of Wisconsin. In 1969, while at the University of Wisconsin, bill became involved in the urban renewal project going on in Winona. Bill, a design con-sultant for several companies, including Peter Muller-Monk and Associates, the Franklin division of the Studebaker Corporation and the Herman Miller Research Corporation, spoke to groups in Winona about its richness in historical architecture and how Wi-nona was an “oasis in an otherwise disintegrating national en-vironment.” As a guest speaker at a luncheon of the AAUW, Bill discussed “Winona, Alternatives for the Future” and suggested the Winona should create an action mechanism that would guide community planning and development for the next fifty years.

Bill and his family returned to Winona around 1970 and they moved into a renovated barn where he had a shop for his staff to work and a kitchen for his wife’s gourmet cooking school. However, Bill and his family left their “dream home” in the mid-1980 after two of their sons died in auto accidents along the road to their home. Bill and his wife first moved to the Min-neapolis where Bill had moved his operations to the warehouse district because rising success demanded more of his time.

In the mid-1960s, Bill developed an interest in ergonomics, a study of the amount of energy people us in the daily work. Us-ing time lapse photography, Bill demonstrated how sitting is bad for the body. Bill then set about to design an office chair that was based on ergonomics, which he presented to Herman Miller, a national furniture company. The design was not used but the company offered Bill a vice-president’s position in research. After three years of testing, and as people became more inter-ested in their health, the company offered their Ergon Chair for sale. The chairs were designed to support the lower back, not constrict the veins in the thighs, and to allow the legs to move from side-to-side.

Bill continued to improve his chair design and in 1984, he and Don Chadwick, a California designer, came up with the “Equa,” again produced by Herman Miller. Its appeal lies in a rein-forced fiberglass shell that allows a cut-out single-piece frame that is both flexible and sturdy. It allows the worker to lean back without worrying about ending up on the floor. The evolution of this chair won both Stumpf and Chadwick numerous accolades, including an exhibition at the Walker Art Center in 1984 en-titled “A Serious Chair.”

Bill and Sharon eventually settled in Stockholm, Wisconsin and Bill would commute to his office to Minneapolis. Bill died in Rochester, Minnesota on August 30, 2006 from complication stemming from abdominal surgery; he was seventy years old. He was survived by his wife, Sharon, and two children, Jon and Carol and five grandchildren, and preceded in death by his sons, David, Karl and Erich. w

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On Exhibit NEW Exhibits at the History Center

In the Slaggie Family LobbyArt of Fine Furniture 2016 June 18 – August 5 (extended a week!) The most popular exhibit WCHS has had, this 4th annual show explores the importance of quality and creativity in the objects of everyday life. Sixteen studio furniture makers have pieces in the exhibit and admission is free to the exhibit and related activities thanks to SEMAC and Winona National Bank. Learn more at www.theartoffinefurnture.com.

Preserved in Paint: Winona County Art History Collection August 12 - October 30From portraits to landscapes, some of our art pieces in the collection have been part of other exhibits, but many have not been on exhibit for a very long time, if at all. This exhibition will highlight the best of our art collection that will take us back in time to visualize Winona County years ago. Opening Reception August 12, 4 - 6 p.m.

Memories of Vietnam November 9, 2016 - February 26, 2017This exhibit will will feature artifacts and stories from local veterans and will explore the impact the Vietnam War had on Winona County even from over 8000 miles away. We are looking for Vietnam Veterans and families/friends to share memories and loan or donate artifacts for this exhibit. If you are interested please contact Bruce Reed 507-458-7353 or Associate Professor at WSU, Tomas Tolvaisas 507-961-0287 or email TTolvaisas@winona.edu. There are three things that exhibit planners are hoping to get from local Vietnam War vets for the exhibit: 1) at the very least: name, military branch, military rank, and years of service in Vietnam, for the purpose of honoring them by including this information in a listing in the exhibit; 2) brief stories about their service in the war; and 3) their personal, war-related artifacts that they may be interested in donating or loaning for the exhibit.

All the stories and artifacts gathered may not be used for the exhibit, but will be used for documentation of this era through expansion of the historic record for Winona County, and all will be housed for future research and saved in the WCHS archives.

Plan Your Visit!History Center Admission: $5 Adults, $3 Students, WCHS members free!

Log-on to winonahistory.org and click MUSEUMS

A Closer Look Case...

This fall we will have a small exhibit showcasing presidents who visited Winona over the decades.

JULY 13 PROGRAM“Why Quality and Creativity Matter” with Jamie Schell 12:05 p.m.

This exhibit is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the South-eastern Minnesota Arts Council thanks to a legislative appropria-tion from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

JULY 15 - 17 WORKSHOP “Create a Longboard Skate Board”Register Online (sponsored by Certainly Wood, Inc.)

From the Archives By Walter Bennick

Society NewsChocolate Shakespeare and Champagne Thank you! It was a wonderful, fun, and success-ful CSC 2016 on June 11 (pictures to the right). From the photo booth to the bubbly everyone had a great time. Thank you so much to the CSC commit-tee and its chair Sandra Burke, Wino-na National Bank for their sponsorship, our friends at GRSF for giving us a delightful peek into season 13, Dante DeGrazia for his piano talents, and to all the generous donors for the choco-late, champagne, coffee and other refreshments provided at the event. THANK YOU!

WCHS and TdM Going to AMM /MAMThe Association of Midwest Museums and the Minnesota Association of Mu-seums are holding a joint conference this July in Minneapolis. The Society and Theatre du Mississippi will be presenting a session at this conference about the new experience being of-fer at the Bunnell House. The topic fits perfectly with the focus of the conference, “Innovation: Become the Unexpected.” Playwright Lynn Nan-kivil, actor Ken McCullough, stage manager Jessica Clarke, and WCHS assistant director, Jennifer Weaver will share this new and innovative way the Bunnell House is being interpreted with fellow museum colleagues. Other staff from the Society will be attend-ing the conference as well thanks to a scholarship grant through the Minne-sota Legacy Funds.

Gainey School RestorationThanks to a Winona Foundation grant the Gainey School at the Rural Heri-tage Museum on the Winona County Fairgrounds had the windows put back

in working order. The chimney was also restored on the log cabin and the cabin’s floor will be replaced.

American Indian Bust Carvings on DisplayMichael Maher carved over a dozen busts of American Indian leaders after being inspired by learning about their lives and their culture and trials as they tried to preserve their land and way of life from the ever increasing numbers of white settlers wanting their lands. The busts will be on display in the American Indian exhibit at the History Center July 15 - August 15.

Big Thank you for a Great Exhibit Opening!Over 100...we lost count, attended the always popular Art of Fine Furniture opening reception June 18. Thank you to exhibit curator, Jamie Schell; the artists who brought their work for the show; Winona National Bank for their sponsorship; SEMAC and the Minne-sota Legacy Fund; Bluff Country Co - op; Jefferson Pub and Grill; and the River Arts Alliance in partnering with a Schmooze event during the opening. Thank you also to everyone for at-tending and supporting this amazing

exhibit for four years now! Be sure to visit before August 5 to view the fan-tastic craftsmanship and artistry in the Slaggie Family Lobby of the History Center. Here are a couple photos...

The house at 276 West Fifth St. was purchased by John Wil-liam Lucas not long after the Hayes-Lucas Lumber Company was incorporated in November of 1899. The property was originally owned by William S. Drew, a real estate agent, city assessor, and one-time state senator. The two-story brick Italianate at the northeast corner of 5th and Huff was professionally pho-tographed by Winona’s Priewert Studio in the 1930s, and the WCHS Archives is lucky enough to have this collection of twenty or so photographs. They show an interior with impressively high ceilings, intricate woodwork, multiple fireplaces with brick or marble surrounds, statue alcoves, and a number of other fea-tures that made this home architecturally notable. In the 1950s, the Lucas Family donated the property to Winona State Univer-sity for use as a dormitory. The house was then donated to the American Red Cross, and served as their local headquarters for many years. Before the family left the house, however, they took with them an impressive memento… the front doors. The doors were passed down among family members and were last used by Rebecca Lucas Ueland on her house in North Mankato.

The almost 8’ tall walnut doors are stained a rich brown, and each has a long vertical inset panel that starts near the top of the door and ends around the placement of the door knob and strike plate. High relief carvings found in these insets include a decorative fruit and scroll motif. Another small inset panel located near the bottom of the door contains a simple geomet-ric pattern. The original brass hardware and the house number “276” are still intact, and a metal plate attached to one of the doors reads “These doors from the home of Mr. J.W. Lucas / Have been loaned by Ruth Lucas”.

These doors were generously donated and delivered to us by Erica Ueland of San Diego, California. w

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Collection Corner By Andy Bloedorn

Bill Stumpf designed the Winona Public School’s mascot, Winnie the Winhawk, later to be renamed, Herky. The Winnie Winhawk illustration was taken from page 19 of the 1954 Radiograph, the Winona Senior High School Yearbook. Several other illustrations of Winnie can also found in that yearbook. w

The Drew/Lucas House with the doors and a detail of one of the front doors.

Upcoming Booksfor the Food For Thought Book Chat

September - Dead Wake by Erik Larson

Food For ThoughtA Lunchtime Learning Series

Lecture Why Quality and Creativity Matter with Jamie Schell, July 13, 12:05 p.m. Jamie Schell, studio furniture makers and artist, will discuss the significance of a well crafted, artful, aesthetically pleasing piece of furniture. He will talk about why he believes these pieces will maintain generational value, what this approach means to the environment, and what is means to society.

Book Chat Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer, July 27 , 12:05 p.m.In April 1992 a young man from a well-to-do family hitchhiked to Alaska and walked alone into the wilderness north of Mt. McKinley. His name was Christopher Johnson McCandless. He had given $25,000 in savings to charity, abandoned his car and most of his possessions, burned all the cash in his wallet, and in-vented a new life for himself. Four months later, his decomposed body was found by a moose hunter. How McCandless came to die is the unforgettable story of Into the Wild. (description from amazon.com)

Lecture Great Native American Leaders with Michael J. Maher, August 3, 12:05 p.m. Michael Maher will talk about the great American Indian lead-ers of this region and will highlight the lives of those in our area of what is now called Minnesota and how learning about these men inspired him in creating his woodcarvings.

Lecture The History of Woodlawn Cemetery with Walt Ben-nick, August 17, 12:05 p.m. Winona’s oldest nondenominational cemetery is now home to many of the amazing people of Winona’s past. Learn more

about Woodlawn itself and its 150 + year history.

Book Chat The Boys in the Boat, by Daniel James Brown, August 24, 12:05 p.m.Out of the depths of the Depression comes an irresistible story about beating the odds and finding hope in the most desperate of times—the improbable, intimate account of how nine work-ing-class boys from the American West showed the world at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin what true grit really meant. (descrip-tion from Amazon.com)

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 approxi-mately 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.

Workshops & EventsRural Heritage at the Winona County Fair July 6 - 10 at the Winona County Fairgrounds in Saint CharlesVarious activities will be offered at the Rural Heritage Museum during the Winona County Fair and the historic buildings will be open for exploration. The Museum area will be open 4 - 7 p.m. Wednesday, 1 - 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Sat-urday and Sunday. Old Time Country School activities will be going on from 1 - 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday.

Pioneer School2-Day sessions are offered July 12 - 13 (almost full!) and July 26 - 27, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. each dayStudents will step back into the pioneer days of early Winona County through lessons, games, projects, and more during Pioneer School. Held at the Little Red Schoolhouse (Gainey School) on the Winona County Fairgrounds in Saint Charles. Best for students ages 7 - 12. Licensed teacher, Marjie VanCleave with assistance from Winona State University Elementary Education majors will lead students through a fun and educational experience. Period costumes are pro-vided, but students are welcome to wear their own. All supplies are provided. Bring your own lunch, but note just like in pioneer times there will be no refrigeration. Restrooms are avail-able on the fairgrounds. Cost is $40 for members and $45 for the public. Space is limited so please register soon to get in (the July 12 - 13 session is almost full)! Call 507-454-2723 or stop in the History Center.

GRSF Symposium: Georama and The Mississippi River Saturday, July 23, 11 a.m. at the History CenterDive into the world of the Mississippi River during the time of John Banvard, and learn more about what the entrepreneurial spirit was doing to change technology and art up not only in Winona, MN but up and down the River. The Great River Shakespeare Fes-tival (GRSF) Front Porch Events offer opportunities to more deeply explore the themes and ideas that begin in the theater. Tickets are needed for Front Porch Events, unless noted. The Symposiums are presented in partnership by Winona State University and the Great River Shakespeare Festival. COST: $15 (TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE @ grsf.org)

Winona County Back Roads Bus Tour Saturday, August 13 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Join us on a back roads adventure as we take a trip through the hidden gems of Winona County! Tickets are $55 for members and $60 for the public. Sign up by calling 507-454-2723 or stopping in the History Center. We will depart the History Center parking lot at 8 a.m. and will travel to the southwestern part of the county. Stops on the tour are: The Wiscoy Valley Community Land Cooperative made up of 21 adults and 1 pre-teen living on 358 acres who share the land in common, but housing, incomes, diet, schooling, etc. are each individual’s choice. 85 acres of the land is native prairie, 5 acres is perennial fruits, with the rest woodlands, and is managed organically. Then, we will stop at Ridgeway School, Pickwick Mill, Cedar Valley Church, with a wagon ride to the Briggs Farm for a stone fire pizza lunch, then on to Homer to visit the Church, School/Town Hall and then to the grand Youman’s summer home, Riverside. We will return to the History Center parking lot at approximately 3:30 p.m. If the first bus fills and enough are on the waiting list we will have a second bus run the tour an hour later that day, starting at 9 a.m. and returning about 4:30 p.m. This tour is not handicapped accessible and attendees should expect stairs and some walking on uneven ground. See the cover for more about the stops!

Check out page 9 for The Art of Fine Furniture Workshop July 15 -17!

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Performance ScheduleLafayette: Saturdays and Sundays June 18 - July 24Shows at Noon , 2 and 4 p.m.PLUS July 4 !

Hired Girl: Saturdays and Sundays, July 30 - Aug 14Shows at Noon, 2 and 4 p.m.

Tickets $15 Public/$12 WCHS membersAvailable in advance at the Winona County History Center or charge by phone 507.454.2723 for will call tickets.

Winona County Historical Society

Bunnell HouseSummer Performances

with Theatre du Mississippi

Experience the past through theater, with two plays at the historic Bunnell House for the summer of 2016, “The Adventures of of Lafayette Bunnell” and “The Hired Girl Gets Married.”

Bus

Winona CountyTour