Defeat of Jesse James Days 2019

Defeat of JesseNorthfield, James MN Days September 4-8 Northfield News

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NORTHFIELD NEWS DJJD

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Join us the Weekend After Labor Day

September 4-8, 2019

Events subject to change without notification

Living History!

Great Entertainment! • Fun for the Whole Family!

Defeat of Jesse James Days Committee, Inc.

DJJD.org

Raider Derby • Raid Re-Enactments • Music & Entertainment Center (Great Bands) • P.R.C.A. Professional Rodeo • Sunday’s Grand Parade • DJJD Bike Tour • Classic Car Show • Arts&CraftsFairs•KiddieParade•BINGOontheSquare•GreatFood•AntiqueTractorandTruckPull• Pedal Tractor Pull • Carnival • Northfield Historical Society Bank Site and Museum • 5K Run & Non-competitive Walk • Thursday Night Thunder • Information Booth on Bridge Square

djjd.org

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

NORTHFIELD NEWS DJJD

PAGE 3

Dokmo honored with 2019 Joseph Lee Heywood Distinguished Service award

By SAM WILMES swilmes@northfieldnews.com

For 35 years, Northfielder Clancy Dokmo has worked to make the community better through his ownership of the Dokmo dealership and by donating to the causes he cares about.

His service is being recognized this year in receiving the Joseph Lee Heywood Distinguished Service award, given to one person who has long served the community and contributed to the Defeat of Jesse James Day celebration. The award is named for Heywood, the First National Bank cashier who was killed during the 1876 James-Younger Gang robbery, giving his life rather than see the bandits make off with the money.

“It’s kind of the ultimate honor in community service and dedication to the event,” Dokmo said.

Dokmo has promoted the DJJD event, contributed vehicles to the celebration and been a substantial contributor to the event’s rodeo for more than 30 years. He takes 40 to 50 employees annually to dinner before the Friday night rodeo, and then they watch the event together.

worked for St. Paul- and Worthington-based automobile dealerships before purchasing Dokmo from Jim Dunphy and moving to Northfield in 1984.

Thirty-five years later, Dokmo is in the process of selling the business at the age of 69 and expects to finish the sale in October.

He views community service as intrinsic to living in a city.

He compared doing so to serving in the military to serve a home country. Dokmo’s favorite part of volunteering is the core tenant of Clancy Dokmo has given his time and money to the city of Northfield selflessness: knowing that he did during his 35 years in the community. He is being honored this year as something good for someone else. the recipient of the 2019 Joseph Lee Heywood Distinguished Service “I believe that community award. (Sam Wilmes/Northfield News) service is part of the responsibility of every citizen that lives here,” he In receiving the award, Dok- my community and I like to see it said. “We owe something, especialmo joins the list of people who thrive and be successful.” ly if you have a business.” have been given the Joseph Lee Dokmo’s community involveDokmo and his wife, Connie, Heywood Award. ment also includes donations for “It’s an honor,” he said of re- baseball and softball fields and the ceiving the award. “It’s also been downtown VFW memorial, Nature a pleasure for me to do the things Conservancy, Ducks Unlimited, Continued on page 4 that I’ve done for the city of North- Wildlife Federation and University field. I didn’t do it for an award. I of Minnesota veterinary hospital. did it because I love living here He is a member of the Sertoma and the community’s been good Club of Northfield. to me. I’ve dedicated a lot over the A White Bear Lake native, years, contributions, money, time, Dokmo attended school in Mineffort, to various events here. It’s neapolis, attending Ripon College important to me. It’s nice to be in Wisconsin and the University recognized, but I didn’t do it for of Minnesota before graduating recognition. I did it because I like from Hamline University. He then

DOKMO

PAST WINNERS

Winners of the annual Joseph Lee Heywood Distinguished Service Award: 1983: Al Quie 1984: Robert Shumway 1985: Bernie Hughes 1986: Curt Oleson 1987: Karl Rolvaag 1988: Paul Johnson 1989: John Machacek 1990: Wayne Eddy 1991: Ken Grism 1992: Don McRae 1993: Jean & Orv Perman 1994: Dan Freeman 1995: Sanford “Sam” Haugen 1996: Dorothy Schilling 1997: Shirley Nelson 1998: Don Lindberg 1999: Mary Lou Street 2000: Jerry Skluzacek 2001: Jim Sawyer

2002: Marv Grundhoefer 2003: Will Brosz 2004: Orin DeLong 2005: Gene Finger 2006: Don Pavek 2007: Chip DeMann 2008: Scott Richardson 2009: Maggie Lee 2010: Will Healy 2011: Brett Reese 2012: Molly Woehrlin 2013: Emily Schmitz 2014: Bob Will 2015: Bill Cowles 2016: Nola Matheson 2017: Greg Langer 2018: Noel and Lois Stratmoen 2019: Clancy Dokmo

Celebrating 141 YEARS

of service to Northfield!

Defeat of Jesse James Days

A special project of the Northfield News

115 W. Fifth Street, Northfield, MN 55057 • 507-645-5615

Publisher: Chad Hjellming • Advertising Sales: Jay Petsche

The Northfield News Defeat of Jesse James Days 2019, is distributed to subscribers and readers of the Northfield News at no additional charge. All rights reserved. Copyright 2019. All advertising contained herein is the responsibility of the advertisers. Please patronize and thank the advertisers for helping to make this special section possible.

JESSE WASN’T WELCOME HERE, BUT YOU ARE! I’d love to help you call Northfield YOUR home.

Buying or selling, call me today and let’s saddle up!

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PAGE 4

NORTHFIELD NEWS DJJD

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Maggie remembers very first festival

By MAGGIE LEE

Most of you aren’t old enough or you haven’t lived here that long, but I can remember the very first Jesse James Day (“Defeat of ” was added later) 61 years ago.

What’s more, I was already writing for the Northfield News.

There was just one re-enactment that year. It was held close to the right place. There were still stores with plate glass show windows on the Division Street side of the Scriver Building so the reenactment was held at the corner of the building where the Historical Society’s gift shop is now located.

That was the only part of the building’s main floor that hadn’t been radically changed at a time when the building was being “modernized.” That part would have been changed too if many Northfielders had not pleaded with the building owner to leave the corner intact.

During the next few Jesse James Days, the reenactment was moved to the right place in the building with a sign reading “Bank” fas-

tened to the store’s awning. Even after the Historical Society owned the building, most of the Division Street side of the building was not returned to its original look. I happened to be walking along Division when a car crashed into the side of the Scriver Building. A woman who was just learning to drive took off from her diagonal parking place at high speed and caused quite a bit of damage to her boyfriend’s car and the building. I was shocked and didn’t right then realize that the insurance money would make it possible for the society to turn yet another portion of the building to its original look. Well, to get back to 1948, Division Street was much more highly decorated than it is today. There was bunting on all the lamp posts and over the street.

Almost every store window had a collection of antiques in it, either pertaining to the business or just miscellaneous things. Northfielders came down town to look it all over.

Jesse James Day was in the middle of the Fall Festival. The first

REMEMBERING MAGGIE

Longtime Northfield News reporter, columnist and editor Maggie Lee, who died in July 2013, remains a beloved figure in her hometown. Not only did she serve the community throughout her 68 years at the News, her fingerprints are all over the town she loved.

Maggie was among a group of Northfielders who helped found the Northfield Historical Society. She pushed for the redevelopment of historic downtown buildings and envisioned the city’s Riverwalk, putting a focus on the iconic Cannon River.

Throughout her years at the News, Maggie wrote thousands of stories and columns highlighting her hometown, its history and the people who contributed to its story. day of the celebration, a tall, good looking man carrying a suitcase came striding into the News office.

For some reason I got up to wait on him and he asked me why the town was all gussied up. “Jesse James Day,” I said. Klunk, he dropped the heavy suitcase on the floor. “Well, what do you know about that,” he said. “Here I’ve been chasing the Jesse James story around the country for the past month and here I walk right into his big day.”

Photo courtesy of Northfield Historical Society

Edina Realty of Northfield is proud to be a DJJD Rodeo Sponsor!

First 400 kids with a ticket get a free cowboy hat.

-WANTED-

Minutes later he was in the room where the bound files of the newspaper were kept, digging out facts for the book he was about to write. He was Homer Croy, who wrote books and scripts for movies, best known for movies starring Will Rogers or Claudette Colbert, who you are likely too young to remember. But because his home was in Missouri, not far from where Jesse James had lived, he enjoyed telling tales about Jesse to entertain anyone with whom he might be visiting. So one day when he was lunching with representatives of his book publishers, Duell, Sloan and Pierce of New York City, he told some of the anecdotes. Lo and behold, the next day he had a telephone call from the publishing house asking him to write a book about Jesse James. He didn’t really want the assignment, but they talked him into it. And he traveled around to visit with people who’d had some kind of experience with Jesse. He was the first person that I know of to ever visit Northfield to find out the facts about our bank raid. We were constantly irked by mistakes in books, articles, movies

DOKMO Jenifer Dvorak (Manager) 507-837-9023

Jeff Anderson 612-281-2244

Linne Jensen 612-309-2174

Pat Johnson 507-271-1656

Brenda Fischer 507-301-8294

Al and Sonja Freeland 507-202-2378 952-486-1451

Sid and Martha Kasper 612-483-1323

Bob Stangler 507-581-9373

Tim Freeland 507-581-5038

Millie Harbaugh 952-210-6157

Leigh Jefferies 612-290-1430

Jesse Steed 507-301-6785

Mike Yerxa 612-910-1909

Mike Zenner 507-210-2107

1281 Bollenbacher Dr., Northfield, MN 55057 northfield.edinarealty.com

507.645.4491

Continued from page 3 have been married for 36 years and have two children, Christopher, 46, a Florida-based health care industry worker, and Alesha, 40, who works for U.S. Bancorp in the Twin Cities.

Although he spends winters in Florida, Dokmo plans to remain in Northfield and views it as a unique community. To him, what

Maggie Lee

1921— 2013 and television shows that referred fall. He noted that many residents to the 1876 bank raid. The next of our town wanted no part in such year after he was here, Croy’s book, a celebration. They wanted North“Jesse James Was My Neighbor,” field to be known only for music was published. I ought to men- and fine arts. As I think about it tion that when I was a kid here now, it was the Junior Chamber of in Northfield, I had never heard Commerce that got up that 1948 of the bank raid. When I reached celebration and those of several high school and classes taught by subsequent years. Many of the JayVincent Hunt, I heard about it and cees were about my age and would Hunt expressed his disgust with the likely have sat in Hunt’s classes. So town for not celebrating the event. maybe we have him to thank for He pointed out that Northfield was our very successful Defeat of Jesse the first town that had fought the James Days! gang, in fact had caused its down-

separates Northfield is its people, their commitment to service and the number of good influences.

“I came here for a business opportunity in 1984 and I was blessed and fortunate to find that I moved to one of the nicest, best communities probably in the state of Minnesota,” he said. “I did that by accident, but by luck I was here.

I’ve been fortunate to say that I’ve had my business career and pretty much my life, raised my children in one of the finer communities in

the state of Minnesota, without a doubt.”

DJJD volunteer Arlen Malecha, who is leading the Heywood Banquet this year, said Dokmo “has been a strong advocate for many organizations in town through his dealership,” including his support for organizations such as Pheasants Forever and Ducks Unlimited and with donations, sponsorships and test-drive fundraisers.

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

NORTHFIELD NEWS DJJD

PAGE 5

2019 Defeat of Jesse James Days Schedule Sept. 4-8 Wednesday, Sept. 4

p.m., Cannon River Walkway

Joseph Lee Heywood Graveside Memorial Service, noon, Northfield Cemetery, South Division Street across from the high school.

Joseph Lee Heywood Distinguished Service Award Banquet, 6:30 p.m., Northfield Ballroom on Highway 3 North. Doors open at 5 p.m.

Carnival, 11 a.m., Highway 3 and Defeat of Jesse James Days run/ Fifth Street walk (15K/5K) for Northfield Shares, Grand Event Center, 316 Bingo on Bridge Square, noon- Washington St. Registration is midnight from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m., and the run/walk begins at 8 a.m.

Cornhole tournament, noon, Entertainment Center. Teams must Antique tractor and truck pull pre-register through djjd.org. The registration, 9 a.m., the pull 9 number of teams is limited. a.m., at Jesse James Arena.

Thursday, Sept. 5

The Border Hookups, 7 to 9 p.m.

The weather was ideal for the 2018 iteration of Defeat of Jesse James Days. Here, attendees make their way about Bridge Square, which was Baby station, noon to 8 p.m., 706 littered with food stands, beer and music during the celebration. (Anne S. Division St. Kopas/Northfield News)

The Farmer’s Daughters, 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Sunday, Sept. 8

4 p.m., Central Park, Fourth and Winona streets Carnival, noon to 6 p.m., Highway 3 and Fifth Street.

Bingo on Bridge Square, noon to 8 p.m.

Entertainment Center, noon to 6 p.m., Fifth and Water streets. A valid identification is required. A special appearance after the Grand VFW breakfast, 7:30 a.m. to 11 Parade by the Minnesota Pipes & a.m., children under 10 are $4 and Drums is planned. adults are $8.

Grand Parade, 2 p.m., Division Baby station, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., 706 Street. Rescue squad duck race 15 minutes after the parade at the S. Division St. Fourth Street bridge. Five dollar Northfield Arts Guild Riverfront tickets available at the Bingo stand.

Arts Festival, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., First place prize is $1,000, the second-place winner is awarded $300, Cannon River Walkway and the third-place finisher wins Ambassador VIP Reception, 10 $150. a.m., Northfield Middle School

P.R.C.A. Professional Rodeo, 2 p.m., Jesse James Arena, Highway 3 South. Free cowboy hats will be provided to the first 400 paid children from Edina Realty. General admission presale tickets are $18 for adults and $10 for children ages 3 to 10. Children under 2 are free. Tickets are available at Dokmo, Family Fare Supermarket and Rotary market bazaar, 10 a.m. to Ziggy’s. Same-day tickets are available on rodeo grounds two hours Uncle Chunk, 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 Raider Derby, registration begins before the performance.

Giddy-up horse races. Registraa.m. at 7:30 a.m. and the race begins at tion is at 5 p.m. at Premier Bank, 9 a.m., soapbox car racing. At the DJJD beard contest, 6 p.m. Dion the intersection of Fifth Street Carnival, 5 p.m., Highway 3 and intersection of Third and Orchard vision Street (following the final and Washington.

Fifth Street streets (Longfellow School). bank raid re-enactment.) There is Entertainment Center “Townie Friday, Sept. 6 Saturday, Sept. 7 Night,” 5 p.m. to midnight, Fifth and Water Street. Valid identificaAmbassador/James Gang school 38th annual Jesse James Bike tions are required. visits, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Tour, Northfield Middle School.

Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., Beer pouring competition, past Baby station, noon to 8 p.m., 706 and the race begins at 9 a.m. InDJJD general chairpersons versus S. Division St. terested participants can regispast DJJD ambassadors. ter online or the same day. More Entertainment Center, 4 p.m. to 1 information is available at www.

Mark Ross & the Three-Nineteen, a.m., Fifth and Water streets.

JesseJamesBikeTour.org.

8 p.m. to midnight

Carnival, 5 p.m. at the intersection Bingo on Bridge Square, 6 p.m. to of Highway Three and Fifth Street. midnight Wrist Band Night is from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Ticket sale locations are “The Great Northfield Robbery: available at www.djjd.org.

A Love Story,” 7:30 p.m. Northfield Arts Guild Theater. Tickets Pedal tractor pull, 5:30 p.m. beare $14 for adults and $12 for setween Fourth and Fifth streets on niors and students.

Division

a $15 entry fee that includes an ofBaby station, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., 706 ficial button and shirt. Details are S. Division St. available at djjd.org.

P.R.C.A. Professional Rodeo, 8 Bingo on Bridge Square, 6 p.m. p.m., First Responders Night, Jesse until midnight James Arena, Highway 3 South.

Fire hats from Frandsen Bank are Thursday Night Thunder Diviprovided. General admission presion, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. between sale tickets are $18 for adults and Fifth and Sixth streets. Attendees $10 for children ages 3 to 10. Chilwill meet local motorsport racing dren under 2 are free. Tickets are teams, and family fun with autoavailable at Dokmo, Family Fare graphs and games will be available.

Supermarket and Ziggy’s. Sameday tickets are available on rodeo “The Great Northfield Robbery: grounds two hours before the perA Love Story,” 7:30 p.m. at Northformance. The beer garden will be field Arts Guild Theater. Tickets open before and after the rodeo. are $14 adults and $12 for seniors Valid identifications are required. and students.

Rotary market bazaar, 9 a.m. to 5 P.R.C.A. Professional Rodeo, 8 p.m., Central Park, Fourth and Wi- p.m., Jesse James Arena, Highway nona streets.

3 South. “Give cancer the boot” night fundraiser for Northfield Kiddie parade, 9:30 a.m., Sixth Hospital’s Breast Care and Infusion and Division streets Centers. General admission presale tickets are $18 for adults and Vintage baseball (1870 rules), $10 for children ages 3 to 10. Chilnoon, Northfield Silver Stars vs. St. dren under 2 are free. Tickets are Croix Base Ball Club, Sibley soccer available at Dokmo, Family Fare fields Supermarket and Ziggy’s. Sameday tickets are available on rodeo Northfield craft raid, 10 a.m. to 4 grounds two hours before the perp.m., Northfield Ice Arena formance.

Defeat of Jesse James Days car show, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Riverside Park. Admission is $2. Children 15 and under are free with a paid adult.

Northfield Arts Guild Riverfront Fine Arts Festival, 10 a.m. to 5

“The Great Northfield Robbery: A Love Story,” 7:30 p.m. Northfield Arts Guild Theater. Tickets are $14 for adults and $12 for seniors/students.

Northfield’s Hometown Bakery Since 1949

• De-feet of Jesse James Donuts • Cowboy Sweet Bread • Chuckwagon Bread • Cowboy Bars • Sheriff Badge Cookies • Jesse James Gang Boot Cookies Tues.-Fri 6 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Saturday 6 a.m. - 4 p.m.

410 Division St. 507-645-8392

PAGE 6

NORTHFIELD NEWS DJJD

Hey kids, color this picture!

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

NORTHFIELD NEWS DJJD

PAGE 7

The Millersburg Swedes and t e rt fiel ba r bbery

By B. WAYNE QUIST Special to the News This story is from the old church records of the 1877 Christdala Swedish Church near Millersburg, ten miles west of Northfield.

A bronze marker at the church tells the story of what happened to Nicolaus Gustafson in Northfield on Sept. 7, 1876; and outside the 1881 Millersburg Schoolhouse Museum, a permanent historical marker tells the story of the Millersburg Swedes and the Northfield Bank robbery.

The first Swedish settlers arrived in Rice County and settled near Millersburg, north of Faribault and west of Northfield, in 1870.

Their names were Youngquist, Johnson, Olson, Swanson, Gustafson. For them, the abundance of America was, in their words, “God’s plan for humanity.” They were poor people like every generation of immigrants and they routinely bartered in Northfield, trading their farm produce for precious tools and winter clothing.

Immigrant life was not easy and there were many burdens to bear: they had to clear trees and stumps, break sod and plant crops, build houses and barns by hand.

And there were hardships from disease, the grasshopper plague of the 1870s and a persistent economic depression that started in 1873.

By 1876 there were 13 Swedish families living in the Millersburg area. In July of that year Peter Gustafson was joined by his brother Nicolaus and nephew Ernst Gustafson, both recently arrived from Sweden. Today more than two dozen Gustafson descendants live in the nearby Rice County community.

On Sept. 6, 1876, the night before the Northfield bank robbery, two groups of people near Millersburg made critical decisions with grave consequences for each party. One party consisted

(Photo courtesy of B. Wayne Quist)

of four heavily armed criminals led by Cole Younger. They spent the night at the Cushman Hotel in Millersburg after buying whiskey at the Millersburg Store. The old Cushman Hotel still stands along the old Dodd Road.

The other party consisted of five members of the Swedish community. They met at Peter Youngquist’s farm and prepared to go into Northfield the next morning, Sept. 7, using Youngquist’s mule team and lumber wagon to carry their farm produce into town and barter for much-needed winter items.

On the morning of Sep. 7, the four armed men left Millersburg and headed east on the Dundas road to link up along the Cannon River near Dundas with four other members of their infamous Missouri terrorist gang arriving from Red Wing. At the same time, Peter Youngquist harnessed his mules and headed for Northfield with four of his Swedish neighbors, also on the Dundas road. One of the Swedes in the Youngquist party was 30 years old and had just arrived from Sweden. He spoke no English; his name was Nicolaus Gustafson.

The Swedes arrived in Northfield shortly after noon and set up their lumber wagon near 5th Street and Division to sell their farm produce. Soon there were gunshots

and Gustafson ran to the corner of 5th and Division to see what was happening.

Near the 5th Street steps leading to the basement of Bierman’s Mortuary was another Swede named John Olson who later built the Christdala Swedish Church.

Olson was an eyewitness at the scene and later testified in a deposition about what happened to Nicolaus Gustafson in Northfield that day and the chaos he witnessed on the street.

John Olson stated that Cole Younger was riding around the intersection, shooting wildly and demanding people get off the street.

Olson saida Gustafson did not understand English and was shot in the head by a bullet fired by Cole Younger. Gustafson died four days later, Monday, Sept. 11, 1876. He was buried in the Northfield Cemetery in an unmarked grave, for the Swedes had no cemetery of their own at the time.

After the shooting the Swedes rode back to Millersburg in their lumber wagon and met at Peter Youngquist’s home. That evening they determined to build a church and establish a cemetery.

Youngquist donated land adjacent to his house overlooking Circle Lake and the Swedes hired John Olson to build Christdala the following year.

Today the church is on the

National Register of Historic Places and there is a permanent bronze marker in front of the church dedicated to the memory of Nicolaus Gustafson. Another historic marker is at the Millersburg Schoolhouse.

But that’s not the end of the story. When Cole Younger and his two brothers were captured near Madelia and pled guilty to murder, the Faribault prosecutor had initially thought Gustafson was a Norwegian because he had been taken to the Norwegian Hotel after he was shot, and a Norwegian Lutheran minister presided at his funeral. Because Nicolaus Gustafson’s grave was unmarked its location became forgotten and for over a century most people believed he was a Norwegian.

The story ends happily in 1994 when we identified his Northfield grave. We found two letters pinned to Gustafson’s death certificate at the Rice County Court House — the prosecutor in Faribault asked the mayor of Northfield for the name of the “Norwegian”

(Photo courtesy of B. Wayne Quist)

who was shot during the bank robbery. The mayor of Northfield responded: “…the Norwegian was a Swede named N. Gustafson, buried in Lot #1, Northfield Cemetery.”

The rest is history. The people of Northfield and Dundas corrected the historical record and erected a permanent marker at the Gustafson grave-site in Northfield where each September Nicolaus

Gustafson and the Northfield heroes are memorialized. And each year in the fall there is an Open House non-denominational service at the old Christdala Church in tribute to the early Swedish immigrant pioneers who left their indelible mark in Rice County — this year it is at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 16.

PAGE 8

NORTHFIELD NEWS DJJD

Wednesday, September 5, 4, 2018 2019

THE PLAYERS

A 7-MINUTE GUN FIGHT It lasted just seven minutes, but the brief and deadly gun battle outside First National Bank in Northfield had a resounding effect on a young community, and became an indelible part of local history. What happened on Sept. 7, 1876, and who was involved?

THE GANG JESSE JAMES — Jesse later became the face and leader of the gang, but at the time of the raid, he answered to his older brother and Cole J. James Younger. Jesse would survive until his assassination in 1882.

FRANK JAMES — Along with Cole Younger, Frank James served as a part of Quantrill’s Confederate raiders during the Civil War. Older than F. James Jesse, Frank led the gang along with Cole Younger.

THOMAS “COLE” YOUNGER — The oldest of the brothers, Cole was one of the two leaders of the gang. He and Frank completed much of the gang’s strategic planning.

T. Younger

JAMES YOUNGER — Captured by the Union Army while riding with Quantrill’s raiders during the Civil War, James was kept in poor condition in a Union prison. He was the middle brother in the Younger family.

IN THE STREET A.R. MANNING — A hardware merchant, A.R. Manning moved to Northfield in 1856 and was a volunteer with the fire department.

the wrong time.

J.S. ALLEN — Allen was a prominent businessman in Northfield and the owner of a hardware store in downtown Northfield.

Manning

Northfield News reenactment file photo

BOB YOUNGER — Possibly the youngest member of the gang, Bob Younger’s age prevented him from serving during the Civil War.

NICOLAS GUSTAFSON — A Scandinavian immigrant, Gustafson had the misfortune of being in the wrong place at

H.M. WHEELER — A medical student back in Northfield visiting his father’s drug store, Wheeler was caught up in the gun battle.

B. Younger

CLELL MILLER — The son of a respectable family, Clell was temporarily buried in Northfield after his death in the raid, until medical students exhumed his body.

CHARLIE PITTS — Charlie concealed his real name, Samuel Wells, during his criminal career. He was a family man, with a wife and young child at the time of the raid.

BILL CHADWELL — Chadwell was also married with a child. His connection to a St. Paul family may have factored in on the gang’s decision to conduct a raid in Minnesota.

Northfield News reenactment file photo

BANK EMPLOYEES JOSEPH LEE HEYWOOD — Described as quiet and cultured, Heywood was the acting cashier on the day the James-Younger gang assaulted the bank. He was shot and killed by Frank James.

Coast, A.E. Bunker had worked at First National Bank for three years at the time of the raid.

Heywood

A.E. BUNKER — Educated in Minnesota, but born on the East

F.J. WILCOX — The only bank employee Bunker uninjured after the robbery, Wilcox’s testimony about the violence inside the bank would later help convict several of the gang members.

Wednesday, September 5, 4, 2018 2019

NORTHFIELD NEWS DJJD

PAGE 9

THE SHOOTOUT A. Just after 2 p.m. on Sept. 7, 1876, Charlie

Pitts, Bob Younger and Frank James cross what was then known as the Mill Square (now Bridge Square) and dismount in front of First National

Bank. Around the same time, Cole Younger and Clell Miller ride up Division Street from the south. Tasked with securing the gang’s primary escape route, Jesse James, Bill Chadwell and Jim

Younger hang back at the Iron Bridge over the Cannon River.

B. Pitts, Bob Younger and Frank James enter the

IRO

NB

C. Cole Younger and Miller, hearing the cry, begin shooting to clear the street near the bank. Almost immediately, they mortally wound Nicholas Gustafson. The three men stationed near the bridge ride into Bridge Square, attempting to scare residents off the streets.

RID

GE

A Tay lor

MILL SQUARE

ill

Smoke House

Hiram Scriver Dry Goods Lee & Hitchcock General Store

Manning Hardware

Harde W. Ho.

J.S. Allen Hardware

Shed

Jewelry

F Tschann Mead Co.

E G

Dry Goods Milliner

JESSE && SONS JESSEJAMES AMES SONS

D

Shed

1st N. Bank

C B

Theo Miller Undertaker Whittier & Butch

Jewelry

Blacksmith

BANK RAID REENACTMENTS Here are the dates and times of the 2018 Bank Raid Reenactments: • 6 p.m. Friday (Sept. 7) • 7 p.m. Friday (Sept. 7) • 11 a.m. Saturday (Sept. 8) • 3 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 8) • 5 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 8) • 11 a.m. Sunday (Sept. 9) • 12:30 p.m. Sunday (Sept. 9)

Bjoraker Bro. General Store Knut Thorson

H

Dunn & Riddell Hardware Henderson Furniture Store Ho.

Shed

Store Ho.

Eldred Confectionary

O.T. McLaughry Books & Organs

D. Hearing the gunfire and shouting outside, the robbers inside the bank step up their efforts, but are stopped cold by Heywood and the others, who refuse to open the safe. The situation begins to unravel when Bunker escapes through a back door. On his way out, he is shot in the right shoulder by Pitts. Their desperation rising, the robbers decide to make a quick exit. Just before leaving, Frank James fatally shoots Heywood.

E. Across the street, H.M. Wheeler takes up a position in an upper-story window of the Dampier House Hotel and begins pouring fire into the robbers with an old army carbine. Allen, who made it back to his store, begins arming residents with rifles.

C.W. Gress & Son Shoe Hunt & Jones Grocery Wheeler & Blackman Drug

Lockwood Dry Goods & Opera House

Harold Thorson General Store

Tin Smith

Dampier House Hotel

Skinner & Drew General Store

Wm. Koons Notions

A.P. Merris Grocery & Crockery

Meat Agricult Img

Dry

Northfield Library

Cus tom M

bank. Inside are bank employees A.E. Bunker, Joseph Lee Heywood and F.J. Wilcox. The robbers quickly subdue Heywood and the others. Outside, Northfielder J.S. Allen attempts to follow the gang members into the bank. He is barred by Miller. Realizing what’s happening, he flees down the street, yelling “Get your guns, boys, they’re robbing the bank!”

F. Another hardware merchant, A.R. Manning, takes up a gun and runs to the corner of Division Street and Bridge Square. His first shot kills a horse. Taking aim with his second shot, he wounds Cole Younger. The third shot Manning fires instantly kills Chadwell.

G. At the same time, Wheeler begins fire from the hotel window. The first shot misses but the secondflies true, hitting and killing Miller. The whole gang, now outside, begins to mount their horses, except Bob Younger, who exchanges gunfire with Manning. During the firefight, Wheeler shoots Bob Younger in the elbow.

H. With the rest of the gang either dead or now on horseback, Bob Younger jumps astride a horse also ridden by Cole Younger. Defeated, the robbers flee south down Division Street. Four of the six are captured or killed near Madelia on Sept. 21. The James brothers successfully retreat to Missouri.

Photos courtesy of Rice County and Northfield Historical Societies, National Archives. Map from the book, “Faithful Unto Death,” by John Koblas.

PAGE 10

NORTHFIELD NEWS DJJD

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Have a safe and fun time at DJJD! Thank you to our local advertisers. Stop by soon and see them.

Carnival at Defeat of Jesse James Days, 2018. (Northfield News)

Carnival at Defeat of Jesse James Days, 2018. (Northfield News)

Beard contest at Defeat of Jesse James Days, 2018. (Northfield News)

Boot race at the rodeo, Defeat of Jesse James Days, 2018. (Northfield News)

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Trick rider at the Defeat of Jesse James Days rodeo, 2018. (Northfield News)

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Grand Parade from Defeat of Jesse James Days, 2018. (Northfield News)

Bank raid reenactment from Defeat of Jesse James Days, 2018.

(Northfield News)

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

NORTHFIELD NEWS DJJD

PAGE 11

DJJD celebration a true community event

One hundred and forty-three years ago, the infamous JamesYounger Gang attempted to rob the First National Bank of Northfield. The robbery was unsuccessful thanks to the Northfield citizens who came to the defense of the funds in the bank leaving two robbers dead in the street and two more badly injured. What followed was the largest manhunt in Minnesota history leading to the demise of the James-Younger Gang. Each year on the weekend after Labor Day, Northfield comes together again to celebrate the Defeat of Jesse James Days. The events are many, with something for every age and interest, and we hope you will join in the fun!

Starting with the Joseph Lee Heywood graveside memorial service at noon on Wednesday, this solemn event is the official kickoff to the festival. If you’ve never attended this event, we highly recommend you do as it is a great reminder of what happened that fateful day and why we hold this

celebration each year. We take this time to remember Heywood, the acting bank teller, who died because he refused to open the bank vault. There were many heroes that day, and we celebrate those ordinary townspeople who came together with extraordinary courage. That evening we will honor Clancy Dokmo at the Joseph Lee Heywood Vesledahl Distinguished Service Award Banquet where each year we recognize a Northfield citizen who exemplifies a dedication to public service and the betterment of our community.

The weekend continues with

eight bank raid re-enactments, bands and beverages at the Entertainment Center, food booths, carnival, bingo, pedal tractor pull and a display of local motorsport racing teams.

There are three PRCA rodeo performances, soapbox car racing, bike ride, car show, 15K/5K run/walk, antique tractor and truck pull, bouncy horse race, kiddie parade, cornhole tournament, golf tour nament and the annual horseshoe hunt.

There’s also the Northfield Arts Guild theater performances, vintage baseball, craft show, market bazaar, fine arts fair, beard contest, rescue squad duck race, museum

tours, and the celebration concludes with the Grand Parade on Sunday!

The Defeat of Jesse James Days (DJJD) committee is responsible for the organizing and the financial needs required to produce the annual festival. The DJJD committee is a non-profit organization who depends on individual and business donations. Several events require an official Defeat of Jesse James Days button along with a fee for entry. The button proceeds help the DJJD committee pay for expenses such as the many toilets, trash pickup, insurance requirements, licenses, sound systems, bands, parade entertainment and advertising, just to name a few.

At its core, DJJD is all about honoring the townspeople that were involved in defending the First National Bank of Northfield from the James-Younger Gang. At its heart, DJJD is a “community” celebration in every sense of the word. Many local non-profit organizations are recruited each year

Bank raid reenactment from Defeat of Jesse James Days, 2018. (Northfield News)

by the DJJD committee to provide services throughout the celebration. Last year, the DJJD committee donated nearly $40,000 directly to charities in the local community who provided services during the celebration. That does not include the more than $150,000 that charities made on their own using the DJJD celebration as a fundraiser.

Without the DJJD celebration, these fundraising opportunities would not be available to local non-profit groups and organizations that depend on the funds raised each year during the festival which are ultimately funneled back into the community in many ways.

The economic benefits to the local business community are many.

Over 150,000 people will travel to Northfield over the five-day festival, staying at local hotels, frequenting local bars and restaurants

and shopping in local businesses.

No part of this celebration would be possible without the efforts of hundreds of volunteers who work and plan year-round to produce not only the largest allvolunteer run community festival in the state of Minnesota but also the third largest community festival in the State. This is truly a community effort with folks working together from all aspects of Northfield.

On behalf of the Defeat of Jesse James Days Committee, we hope that you, your family and friends will find time to enjoy the many events during the five-day celebration and perhaps even receive a little local history lesson along the way! For a full schedule of events, visit our website, djjd.org.

PAGE 12

NORTHFIELD NEWS DJJD

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Celebrating the Defeat of

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