October 2020
Century Farms
PAGE 3
Le Center farm, site of old one-room schoolhouse By CARSON HUGHES carson.hughes@apgsomn.com LE CENTER— Turn off a country road south of Le Center, and you may find yourself looking out at the peaceful scene of a wide green pasture and a large cottonwood tree. The land would appear practically untouched if not for the barn and a three-bedroom house that stands tucked away from the open field. It’s all the evidence that remains of a small, but bustling farm that carried the pattering footsteps of school age children and the pounding hooves of
is now one of 172 farms in Le Sueur County to be honored as a Century Farm. The farm dates back to 1920, when it was purchased by Michelle’s grandfather Wencel James Macho and his wife Thackla Mary Macho from Thomas and Mary Dewire, and Frederich and Nellie Mall. Michelle said she didn’t know much about what the farm was like under the ownership of her grandfather, mostly that they took care of the land and readied it for the day when her
‘My early memories are that my dad had dairy cows and the creamery truck would come every day to pick up the milk cans. When the weather was warm and the milk needed to stay cool, we would fill a stock tank with water and use that to keep the cans cool.’ — Michelle Dahn horses and cattle. The 60-acre farm south of Le Center has had many identities over its long life: dairy farm, school, garden and even a bee farm, but one thing that has remained consistent over the years is the family that owns it. The farm currently belongs to Michelle (Macho) Dahn and Leroy G. Dahn after being passed down through three generations in the Macho family. The farm turned 100 this year and
This three bedroom farmhouse is where Michelle (Macho) Dahn grew up with her mother and father Bessie and Bernard Macho. The home has experienced new additions since it was first built including a bathroom and a living room and even survived a fire. (Carson Hughes/southernminn.com) room school houses that dotted the it would be Bernard’s home until his county before schools consolidated death in 1985. into larger buildings in the mid 20th Continued on page 15 century. The building closed its doors on 1957, but it would later see some use on the Macho farm as a grain storage unit Real challenges require real solutions. Bernard would tell his children about until the building was removed how the older boys would play a trick entirely. to extend recess. While the teacher was busy, one of the older boys would The family farm would change climb into the bell tower and tie rope hands from father to son in into a knot. Once the teacher tried to 1940. Wencel sold the farm to Contact your local ag ring the bell to call the kids back in- Bernard and his wife Bessie drainage and survey team at: side with a ring of the bell, it wouldn’t Macho for just $1 shortly after Sleepy Eye (507) 794-5541 they married. The site was the make a sound. Willmar (320) 231-3956 perfect place for the newlyweds District 108 was one of many one- to begin raising their family and Bolton-Menk.com
land, but lived on a neighboring farm with their son Bernard Macho. Bernard attended the one-room schoolhouse through the eighth grade. Though the classes were short on stufather would take control of the land. dents, they weren’t short on mischief. But the farm did have one unique feature while under Wencel and Thackla’s ownership: its very own school district. At the time the Machos bought the property, part of the land was leased out to Independent School District 108, which operated a one-room schoolhouse on the property. Wencel and Thackla maintained the
Macho farm
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