COUNTRY
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 2019
Serving Marine on St. Croix, Scandia, May Township
VOL. 35 NO. 51 www.countrymessenger.com $.75
STALEMATE ON LAND PURCHASE: Marine City Council. PAGE 6
Gammelgården dusts off little seen relics New exhibit opens May 3 CONTRIBUTED GAMMELGÅRDEN MUSEUM
“The attic:” a place where items are stored/stashed because they are important, valuable or sentimental and MIGHT be useful later. We all have them and use them, sometimes multiples, as sheds, barns or rental storage spaces. The Gammelgården attic houses a wide variety of items that are relevant to telling the story of Swedish immigration and settlement. Often these valuable items are too fragile, too small, or too difficult to display in our historic buildings, so they stay “in the attic.” This year many will be
on display in the Passage Room of the Välkommen Hus where they can be enjoyed, help tell story of immigration and settlement and the donor families recognized for their gifts. “We are dusting off objects that have been in storage, putting them on display – and telling their stories,” said Sarah Porubcansky, the museum’s communications director. “And, we hope, encouraging you to think about your stories.” There is Swedish immigrant farmer Albert Swenson’s account book, which covers half a century from 1864-1914. The fact that it was in Swedish in the 19th century and English starting in the year 1900 tells its own story – of learning the language and assimilating.
Or Olaf Olin’s gold handled engraved walking stick and pocket watch. He arrived in Scandia in the early 1850s with his wife. In Sweden they were tenants on farms, he couldn’t read or write. By 1860 he was able to donate 10% of his land (40 acres) to the local Elim Church. Wedding dresses from the mid-1800s tell the story of women’s fashion. A doll buggy tells the story of how children played were similar to today’s children. “Crochet needles have been too small to display and immigration documents and land patents have been too fragile,” Porubcansky said, “but we’ve dusted them off and are displaying them this year in our exhibit, SEE GAMMELGÅRDEN, PAGE 2
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The Gammelgården attic houses a variety of valuable items too fragile, too small, or too difficult to display in our historic buildings. This year many will be on display in the Passage Room of the Välkommen Hus.
May Township treasurer retires BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@COUNTRYMESSENGER.COM
Years before she would become May Township’s treasurer, back when the town hall sat near East Boot Lake, election day often turned into a late night for Cheryl Bennett. “I remember counting paper ballots until 3 or 4 in the morning,” she said. It turned out to be just an introduction to the township’s inner workings. Bennett “I think that’s how I got into the whole process,” Bennett reflected. “Laurel Coleman was the clerk then and she was looking for election judges. … That was a long time ago.” In 1987, as the March election approached, SEE TREASURER, PAGE 2
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Dan Chouinard will host a sing-along of river and earth themed songs at the Marine Village Hall, April 26.
Celebrate Earth Day with Dan Chouinard Envision Earth Day 2020 CONTRIBUTED NORTH WOODS AND WATERS
On April 26, Dan Chouinard will host a rollicking sing-along of favorite river and earth songs at the historic Marine Village Hall in Marine on St. Croix. Chouinard is well known as a pianist and accordionist, a mentor for a who’s who of Twin Cities performers, an enabler of community sing-alongs and a writer of hit shows for public
radio, concert hall and theatrical stage. Having grown up in Lindstrom, Chouinard has a deep commitment to the St. Croix Valley. Event organizers from North Woods and Waters of the St. Croix Heritage Area, the St. Croix River Association and Marine Library Association hope the celebration leaves the audience uplifted and even more in love with Planet Earth. Looking ahead: 50th Earth Day Earlier that day, from 3 to 5
NEWS 651-433-3845 editor@countrymessenger.com
p.m., people throughout the watershed are invited to gather at the Marine Village Hall to discuss the opportunities that the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day (2020) presents. Senator Gaylord Nelson, Father of Earth Day, was born and raised in Clear Lake, Wisconsin, within the St. Croix Watershed. On April 26 this year, people throughout the watershed are invited to gather at the Marine Village Hall in Marine on St.
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SEE EARTH DAY, PAGE 2
PUBLIC NOTICES 651-433-3845 editor@countrymessenger.com
County will waive fees for well testing in response to flooding In response to spring flooding, Washington County will temporarily waive water testing fees for coliform bacteria for residents who may have flooded wells during the duration of the emergency declaration for flood response. The County Board approved the waiver April 9. Homeowners who are SUBSCRIPTIONS 651-433-3845 office@osceolasun.com
concerned about coliform bacteria reaching their well water because of saturated soils may have their water tested by the county. For more information, see the county website at www.co.washington. mn.us and put well “water tests” in the search bar to find more information.
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