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2017-2018 Board Members

President Doug Boese President Elect Tom Leimer Treasurer Gregory R. Hird Secretary Vacant

Mark Bilderback Jesse Buhl Jeanette Caban Daniel Dogo-Esekie Matt Flynn Jennifer Janvrin Teresa McCormack Bernard Nigon Nels Pierson Christine Rule Kirk Schumacher Paul Wilson Renee Ziemer Staff Members Executive Director Patricia Carlson

Mathew Hanke Ryan Harren Erica LeClaire Krista Lewis Aleta Maccini Kristine Malone Scott Marshall Dan Nowakowski Aaron Saterdalen

Women Warriors on the Home Front By Sean Kettelkamp

The Great War, or World War I, was a turning point that brought about a definitive break with the past. The war was a watershed event in world history, one that involved nearly every nation. Once America declared war on Germany on April 6, 1917, troops were mobilized to be sent to the front lines in Europe, and women came together and mobilized on the home front. Societal rules in the early twentieth century had been clear-cut; men went to work while women stayed home, women did not have the right to vote, and were very much dependent on men. However, these male conceived rules would be debunked. The stage was set during World War I for women to make a difference in the war, and little could women understand what the war would mean to them, and how it would change them. Before the war there were few careers that were viewed as acceptable for women. Nurses, teachers, or even beauticians, or “beauty operators” as they were called, topped the short list of acceptable careers. Women also found jobs in manufacturing, retail, and other service industries. In the pre-war times, it was strictly understood though, that younger women could work until they married. Older women whose children were grown took jobs to fill time, but it was assumed that they were working with their husband’s approval. When President Woodrow Wilson asked Congress to declare war against Germany, he said, “The world must be made safe for democracy,” and called on all Americans to become “citizen soldiers.” Author Rae Katherine Eighmey wrote in her book, Food Will Win the War; Minnesota Crops, Cooks, and Conversation During World War I, that the president made it clear that, “...without abundant food alike for armies and peoples now at war, the whole great enterprise upon which we have embarked will break down and fail.” In her book Mobilizing Minerva, Kimberly

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1195 West Circle Drive SW Rochester, MN 55902

www.olmstedhistory.com 507-282-9447

The Scribe Fall 2017

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My sister and I were musing the other day about the things our mother never told us about the family. Truth is, Mom is not a big talker. And now that she is in memory care, the chance is negligible if we will find the answers to our adult questions. Documents can tell us what happened, but without letters or family stories we will not know the ‘why’s’ of the events. Each of you can be more forward looking than my sister and me. The History Center is building an archive of oral histories from residents of the county. You can work with our staff to record your story. If you wonder what it’s all about, we have a pamphlet that explains it all. If you want to know more about how to put your story together, we will have a 4-session workshop starting in October. Whether you tell a story and

keep it close, or share your memories for the archives or your grandchildren, for History’s sake, just do it! Thank you all for your support and fell free to stop in and say ‘hey’.

Pat Carlson, Executive Director

From The Director’s Desk

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” – George Santayana. The Ku Klux Klan was formed after the Civil War, but only lasted for several years. It was not until 1915, that the KKK became widespread. Its belief of white supremacy never quite died but has risen again in certain skin head groups. Anarchy – the idea of a leaderless society – held sway in Europe in the late 1800s, too. Its sometimes violent efforts toward its goals found some

popularity in the United States through about 1920. The Antifa groups espouse the same ideas and methods to achieve their aim

as the old anarchists.

We find ourselves now in this country again facing the same violent, ugly ideas and violence espoused by these contrary splinter groups. Ignoring or destroying evidence of the past will not reverse the ideas these groups support. We at the History Center stand firm in the belief we must remember and learn from the past to make this world a better place.

From the Board President

Doug Boese Board President

A huge ‘thank you’ from all the staff and Board to the volunteers who help us every day. Every part of HCOC

operations benefits from volunteer involvement. In 2016, volunteers documented over 5000 hours! We

couldn’t do it without you.

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Jensen wrote that across the nation the question was being asked as to what kind of girls were going to be part of the war effort. Jensen included an article from the Literary Digest that had quoted a story from the St. Louis Dispatch, which discussed the “type of women” in service to their country and asked, “What manner of women are these?” A common vision appeared during the war as Susan R. Grayzel noted in her book Women in the First World War, the “feminine and heroic munitions worker: costumed in workmanlike clothes. . .women who went to work in factories quite literally providing hands that armed the men of the war zones, and became powerful and important figures in wartime propaganda.” Though women could not be drafted into battle, Eighmey wrote, “Much of the success of the food conservation efforts rested directly in the hands of homemakers.”

Future president Herbert Hoover and his wife Lou were living in London when the war broke out in August 1914. When German troops invaded Belgium and blocked access to food and other necessities, Hoover formed the Commission for the Relief of Belgium. Minnesota farmers and flour millers backed Hoover to help send food to starving Belgians. His efforts were so successful, that when America entered the war in April 1917, President Wilson asked Hoover to head the United States Food Administration. The US Food Administration under Hoover’s guidance began initiatives that affected all American homes, but relied on America’s voluntary spirit; with his direction rationing never happened. He explained the Food Administration’s goals as: better food transport, curbing waste in the manufacturing process, and stabilizing prices. To accomplish these goals, Hoover encouraged use of local foodstuffs to avoid unnecessary transportation of goods, use of perishable foods to save

staples, eliminating waste, conservation of wheat, meats, fats and sugars, and increasing the use of milk and milk products. The institution of meatless days, wheatless days, and sometimes sweetless days were put in place to conserve food. Pledge cards were mailed out, in hopes that the signer might feel a moral obligation to conserve food. Canning advice was published in the newspapers and became the most popular way for women make a contribution in food conservation, and to sustain food over the winter. To spread the food conservation word, posters were hung in schools, libraries, and other public venues to give advice for reducing waste. With food tips such as “Buy it with thought, Cook it with care, Use what is left. . . [and] Don’t waste it” people of all ages were reminded that their sacrifice could save a soldier’s life. Not everyone was thrilled with the new food restrictions. In 1918 a humorous poem was widely circulated across the country. It spoke to the sacrifices that people were asked to make in their everyday lives.

Hoover’s Goin’ to Get You! The great old Hoover Pledge has come to our house to stay; To frown on breakfast bacon down, and take our steak away; It cans our morning waffles, and our sausage, too, it seems, And dilates on the succulence of corn, and spuds, and beans, So skimp the sugar in your cake and leave the butter out!

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Or Hoover’s goin’ to get you if you Don’t Watch Out! O, gone now are the good old days of hotcakes, thickly spread; And meatless, wheatless, sweetless days are reigning in their stead; And gone the days of fat rib roasts, and two-inch thick T-Bone steaks, And doughnuts plump and golden brown, the kind that mother makes And when it comes to pies and cake, just learn to cut it out. Or Hoover’s goin’ to get you if you Don’t Watch Out! So spread your buckwheats sparingly, and peel your taters thin; And tighten up your belt a notch, and don’t forget to grin. And, if, sometimes, your whole soul yearns for shortcake high and wide, And biscuits drenched with honey, and chicken, butter fried, Remember then that Kaiser Bill is short on sauerkraut. And Hoover’s goin’ to get him if we’ll All Help Out! German Kaiser Wilhelm, often referred to, as “Kaiser Bill” was the subject of a photoplay called “’Kaiser---the Beast of Berlin’ A Photoplay to make your blood boil! You’ll wish you were in the trenches making the world safe for democracy!” The Kaiser was transformed into a figure of hatred around the world, and this type of wartime propaganda helped keep emotions high. In Rochester, “Kaiser---the Beast of Berlin” played at the brand new Lawler Theatre on First Avenue with seats priced at ten and twenty cents. The new feature film “To Hell with the Kaiser” played at the Empress Theatre on South Broadway with record-breaking attendance of 1,000 patrons.

The efforts of Olmsted County’s women were not limited to food conservation, they supported the war effort in many other ways. Rochester’s National Guard Armory was barely two years old in 1917 and during the war, the Armory was a hive of activity for everything from National Guard drills to bond drives. Jessie Predmore was appointed chair of Olmsted County Finance and asked to sell Liberty Loan Bonds. Even though the organization and effort was led entirely by women, in these days before women could vote, a man was always listed as the chairman

and in this case it was Mr. J.A. Melone. In the first three minutes of the first sale more than $36,000 in bonds was sold. The sale was said to be enthusiastic, and afterward everyone marched to the grounds of the Central School where a bonfire was lit, and the crowd sang, “Keep the Home Fires Burning.” Through the efforts of Olmsted County women, over one million dollars was raised in Liberty Loan Bonds. Many events of a patriotic nature, dances, or meetings concerning the proposed building of the new dam that would create Lake Zumbro, all took place at the armory in 1917-1918. The second floor of the Rochester Public Library was taken over by the Red Cross. The Rochester Daily Bulletin wrote that Edith Mayo, Mrs. Henderson, Mrs. New, Mrs. Granger, Daisy Plummer, Mrs. Robinson, and Mrs. Mussey went to Chicago to learn about and to organize the Rochester Red Cross. Women’s committees were set up to administer the production of such things as surgical dressings, hospital garments, refugee garments, comfort kits, and other supplies. Even

Rochester Armory

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sundry tasks such as knitting socks and other items were successful, as every women’s club, lodge, and church society communicated with one another to produce good results. Dr. Effie Jones, the field director for the National Women’s Suffrage Association, under the direction of Carrie Chapman Catt, who organized the association into Red Cross units, came to Rochester on May 9, 1917, to give a talk at the Universalist Church on “War Work and Women’s Political Responsibility.” The day after

her speech, the Rochester Daily Bulletin reported that the speaker said, “White delicate hands this summer will be a crime for women, and callouses will be beauty spots.” Jones who had also made other speeches around southern Minnesota asserted that “there are no slackers in the ranks of the weaker sex,’ and noted that women had a “psychological attitude for industry that was as important as the mobilization of the men to do the fighting.” Women from Rochester also made contributions to Base Hospital 26 in France as nurses and clerical staff. Nora Guthrey, originally from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was a former teacher who worked for the Mayo Clinic. She was recruited for the Base Hospital in Europe, and assigned clerical and laboratory duties, and other tasks when needed. In 1919 she returned to the United States and became Dr. William J. Mayo’s secretary, and wrote histories of early doctors in southern Minnesota. Nora Guthrey also served two terms as president of the Olmsted County Historical Society. Like their sisters across America, the women of Olmsted County responded to the country’s wartime needs, and answered President Wilson’s call to action. At home, in the workforce, and as part of organizations they solved many of the country’s wartime challenges. Homemakers fought against waste and endured numerous food shortages. Women also banded together to lead, at least in actuality, if not in name, volunteer organizations like the Red Cross and many of the Liberty Loan drives. After the war, women returned to honing the bonds of home and family, but were progressive with their energy and new insights. Their roles in the world had, in their view, expanded. Women’s efforts during the war had given them a claim on post-war equality. By the summer of 1919, Congress passed the Nineteenth Amendment, prohibiting citizens from being denied the right to vote based on sex, and submitted it to the states for ratification. The amendment was ratified on August 20, 1920. This opened up a new world for women in many different careers, including politics. Women had taken control of their destiny, and after the war it was not unusual to see women in the workplace. The women who supported the war effort through their leadership, dedication, and resourcefulness, provided examples to live by even in the twenty-first century.

Rochester Public Library

Nora Guthrey

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Educational Programming By Aaron Saterdalen, Education & Program Coordinator

Every October, the History Center of Olmsted County holds its annual Harvest Moon Fall Festival to celebrate the changing of the season. Join the History Center on Thursday, October 19 from 1-4 p.m. for a scarecrow decorating contest, pumpkin painting, tours of the Dee Cabin and schoolhouse, apple pressing, rope and broom making, and hayrides. The Prairie Climbing Wall and Impact Entertainment are returning for a 2nd year for the second year. Come out to the History Center of Olmsted County during our family friendly fall festival. The 4th annual Adult Scavenger Hunt will be held on Saturday, October 28 from 1-4 p.m. Teams of 4 people will follow clues across Rochester while discovering local food, drink, and history! Afterward, join your competitors for an awards ceremony at the History Center. Prizes will be awarded to the first three teams to finish! Teams will start from the History Center, chasing leads to bars, and area attractions. Pre-registration is required and can be emailed, faxed, or mailed to the History Center. Adult volunteers are needed to help at the Scavenger Hunt to hand out packets at local bars/restaurants. Contact Aaron at programs@olmstedhistory.com for more information. Don’t miss our fall Princess Café lectures! In October Princess Café presents Andrew Chafoulias, and his program, “History of family and Philanthropic involvement in Rochester, MN.” November will have Jane Bisel and Nicole Pierson presenting, “The Adolph Biermann House: Past and Present.” The last Princess Café of 2017 will have Chuck Potter presenting “The Mayo Foundation House: Inside the home of Dr. William Mayo.” The 2018 Princess Café schedule is being worked on and will come out later in 2017.

Mark your calendars now for Winterfest on Saturday, February 3, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to help celebrate the Minnesota winters. There will be sauerkraut making, corn shelling, apple pressing, sleigh rides, a coloring station, vintage toys, and much more. The History Center’s exhibit hall will be open to see the World War I exhibit on display. The cost of the event is $5 per child; parents are free. The proceeds from Winterfest benefit the education & programs at the History Center of Olmsted County. Sleigh Rides will also be available on the same day starting at the Ralph Stoppel Farmstead!

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Special Events By Aleta Macccini, Event Planner

Our second annual event, Beer… and the Rest is History is coming up on Saturday September 30th from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Join us in a celebration of our favorite beverage... beer. We are excited to once again welcome Minnesota Beer Historian Doug Hoverson, as he discusses the history of brewing in Minnesota. Local breweries will also be joining us and pouring craft ales and lagers. Thank you to Grand Rounds Brew Pub, Kinney Creek Brewing, and LTS Brewery for your participation and support! This event will feature live music from local band Light45 and trolley tours from Rochester Trolley & Tour Co. - Bring your brew along for the ride! Ticket includes beer tasting, food, trolley rides, live music, and admission to the lectures. Advance Tickets: $20; At the Door: $25; Designated Driver Tickets: $10. Tickets can be purchased through Eventzilla; the ticket purchase link is on both the History Center website and Facebook page.

Meet the Author: Dr. P. S. Duffy Award-winning local author, Dr. P. S. Duffy, writer of the highly acclaimed, historical fiction World War I novel, The Cartography of No Man’s Land, will present at the History Center on Thursday, November 16, from 6-8 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. and Dr. Duffy presents at 7 p.m. Refreshments will be served after the program. Come have a lively discussion on reflections and the impact of the First World War, the “war to end all wars.”

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A Visit to the Research Center By Krista Lewis, Archivist One of the handiest resources in the Research Center is our collection of Rochester city directories. Know the name of a business or person, but not quite sure where they were located or lived? Just crack open a directory. Interested in knowing what used to reside at a certain address or on a particular block? Chances are a directory can answer that, too. The directories offer much more than directional information, though. In most instances, you’ll find information about different civil organizations and lists of schools, hospitals, hotels, churches, newspapers, and clubs, among other things. You may even find statistical information about the city and county’s population. Plus, they’re chock full of advertising. The directories in the Research Center start around 1900 and go to 2004, and there are a few older ones stored in the Archives.

Fun Fact: Researchers will notice that the earlier directories use street names that are unfamiliar to us now, and that’s because it wasn’t until around 1918 that our current street names were established.

In Memory of . . . Mary Jane Schmidtt

In every organization, key members and volunteers hold the history and carry the flag. At the History Center, that was Mary Jane Schmitt. Sadly, she passed away on August 13 after a long battle with cancer. Twenty years ago she conceived the idea of antique baseball here and became the organizer, planner and cheerleader for the Roosters ball team. She was hands-on, from sewing the uniforms to ordering the baseballs and staffing the snack stand. She scheduled the games, planned the community engagements like Rochesterfest parade and took photos. She found sponsors, advertisers and other ways to finance the ball team. With the Roosters as with her other community interests, she put her whole heart into the venture. She

will be sorely missed by the team and the whole of the History Center. Would that each of us had her persistence, clarity of purpose and concern.

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Alcohol and Prohibition in Olmsted County by Krista Lewis Olmsted County’s beer industry goes back to its earliest settlers. In the mid-1850s, Adam Drescher started a brewery that became better known as the Schuster Brewery after Henry Schuster took over the business. It had competitors over the years, but by 1900, it was the only brewery in Rochester. By 1922, it went out of business. Only recently have breweries made much of a comeback in Rochester. The source of this brewing dry-spell was the Eighteenth Amendment, which prohibited the production, transport, and sale of alcohol. When it went into effect on January 16, 1920, it marked the beginning of a nearly 14-year period commonly referred to as Prohibition. On that day, while the national report in the Daily Post and Record spoke of agents deployed to enforce the law, the local report said, “While great cities of the country might have put on farewell parties for John Barleycorn last night, Rochester paid little heed to the final dissolution.” The loss of liquor was lamented less than the fact that “Many of the old-time remarks of the vernacular will cease.” Stories about “drys” and “wets” – those for and against the amendment – continued to appear regularly in the paper. Ultimately, Prohibition proved unsustainable and resulted in unforeseen consequences, like the rise of gangster violence. Prohibition finally ended on December 5, 1933, when Utah became the 36th state to ratify the Twenty-First Amendment. The day before, a Rochester Post Bulletin headline read: “Approach of Wet Era With Repeal of Prohibition Causes No Excitement Here”, arguably because liquor wouldn’t actually be available until Minnesota could enact liquor control legislation. “Rochester’s thirsty citizens”, however, could go to Wisconsin if they pleased. Liquor’s return to our area received as little fanfare as its exit. The paper continued to report on the effects of the repeal, including stories of raucous celebrations elsewhere in the country. The main concern, however, surrounded control of the substance with regulations, taxes, and legitimate manufacturing. Though overall reportedly of little concern to the average Olmsted County citizen, Prohibition still left a lasting impact on one of its founding industries.

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The historic Mayowood Mansion is open for tours Saturdays and Sundays as well as Wednesdays and Thursdays. Tickets can be purchased at the History Center or at Mayowood 20 minutes before the start of the tour. Please see our website for tour times and days when Mayowood will be closed to the public. Tours are $17 for adults and $5 for children 2-12 and last approximately 50 minutes. Regular tours run through October 26, 2017.

HCOC is currently seeking volunteers to be part of our Christmas at Mayowood Tours as “Trailers.” Trailers assist the guides in keeping the tour together and are a second pair of eyes for the guide. This is a great way to learn about the mansion and the Mayo family. Volunteer hours are available when the house is open. Please contact HCOC at 507-282-9447 or visit the history center for volunteer application and more information.

A Visit to Mayowood

When Dr. Charlie built Mayowood, he wanted a place to leave the stress and work from Mayo Clinic behind. While just a couple of miles from town, coming out to Mayowood is like taking a trip to the country. Join us for A Mayo Family Christmas at the Mayowood Mansion this holiday season! Christmas tours at Mayowood will begin on Saturday, November 11th and run until Sunday, December 17th. The Mansion will be open Tuesday through Sunday weekly for tours during this period. Enjoy the historic mansion tour with a holiday twist. Each room is decorated by volunteers and will relate to the way the Mayo family might have celebrated during the holiday season. The tour starts at the History Center followed by a trolley ride to Mayowood and a guided tour of the Mansion.

Meet our new Visitor Services Representative Mathew Hanke

I am so excited to be joining the History Center of Olmsted County as the Visitor Services Representative! With an extensive background in customer service and with the recent completion of my B.A. in History, I have been fortunate to be able to make a lifelong dream of working in public history come true. Some of my favorite topics in history include the founding of the Nation, the Civil War, and historical mysteries and conspiracies. I am new to the area so I look forward to the excitement that comes along with learning about the history of a new place, especially a place that has such a rich and interesting history. I also look forward to meeting and talking with members and History Center guests to learn more and find out what aspects of history they find interesting and enjoyable. When I am not at the History Center you will find me spending time with my wife and son as well as hiking, camping, and watching college football.

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Improving Collections Care at the HCOC By Dan Nowakowski, Curators of Collections and Exhibits This summer, the History Center of Olmsted County had two interns Stephen and North who helped with projects in the Archives and Collections. We began the summer by reorganizing our artwork before improving the way they are stored. Each shelf had dividers added to provide support for the art. Not only does this provide better care of the art, it also allows us to use the shelf space more efficiently. We also improved the hanging storage for our uniforms. Our previous storage method had wasted space, so we eliminated this by raising the rod and adding a second rack, so we now have space for longer uniforms, and two sections for shorter jackets. In addition to the new hanging rack, two steel shelves were added to hold artifacts related to the uniforms, such as helmets. The help provided by Stephen and North was invaluable for these two projects.

Before finishing their internships, Stephen and North were given the chance to create their own exhibits. Stephen decided to do an exhibit on the Roaring Twenties and North’s covered the History of Rochester Public Schools. Their exhibits are currently on display, so come in and see all the hard work put into them!

Curiosities from the Collection In the collection at the History Center of Olmsted County, we have a variety of artwork featured in exhibits and at the Mayowood Mansion. One piece on display at Mayowood is “Annunciation” painted by Miguel Cabrera (1695-1768).

Miguel Cabrera became a favorite painter for the Archbishop of the Catholic Church in Mexico, who commissioned many of his works. He was born in Oaxaca de Juárez, Mexico, and became recognized as the greatest painter in Mexico during his life. His most famous works are the portrait of poet Sor Juana and his three replicas of “Our Lady of Guadalupe.” The “Annunciation” depicts a scene between the Archangel Gabriel and the Virgin Mary. Gabriel is announcing to Mary that she has conceived Jesus by Immaculate Conception. In Gabriel’s hand is a white lily to symbolize the Holy Trinity.

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Olmsted County Historical Society 1195 West Circle Drive SW Rochester, MN 55902

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HCOC Programs and Events Calendar September: 17 - Block Party “Fare Historia” fundraiser at Pasquale’s Neighborhood Pizzeria, Noon to 6 p.m. 23 - MHRT/HCOC Farm Auction, Ralph Stoppel Farm, 9:30 a.m. 30 - Great Pet Adoption, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 30 - Beer… And the Rest is History, 4-8 p.m. October: 7 - An Occasional Market 11 - Princess Café Lecture Series: Andy Chafoulias “History of Family and Philanthropic involvement in Rochester, MN” 9 a.m. 19 - Harvest Moon Fall Festival, 1-4 p.m. 26 - Last day of regular Mayowood Mansion Tours 28 - Adult Scavenger Hunt, 1-4 p.m.

November: 8 - Princess Café Lecture Series: Jane Bisel and Nicole Pierson, “The Adolph Biermann House: Past and Present” 9 a.m. 11 - Christmas at Mayowood Tours begin 16 - An evening with the author: Meet P.S. Duffy, author of The Cartographer of No-Man’s Land 6-8 p.m. 18 - HCOC Volunteer Event, 5-8 p.m. December: 9 - Mayowood Holiday Dinner Event, 5:30-8:30 13 - Princess Café Lecture Series: Chuck Potter “The

Mayo Foundation House: Inside the home of Dr.

William Mayo” 9 a.m.

17 - Last day of Christmas at Mayowood Tours

For a complete list of upcoming events and more information, visit our website at

www.olmstedhistory.com