July 2022
FREE Your Summer Guide to Southwest Minnesota!
See Page 6 for a look at this year’s Wilder Pageant. Tracy Area Headlight Herald file photos
The Wilder Pageant returns to the banks of Plum Creek for its 45th year!
Published by Above the Fold Publishing LLC • 207 4th Street • Tracy, MN 56175 • (507) 629-4300 • www.swmnsailor.com
2 – SOUTHWEST SAILOR, JULY 2022
Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum & Information Center
330 8th Street Walnut Grove, MN Open April – October 888-528-7298 507-859-2358 www.walnutgrove.org
Dedicated to working to preserve the history of Laura Ingalls Wilder and the community of Walnut Grove.
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FAMILY FESTIVAL Saturdays, July 9, 16, 23 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Walnut Grove City Park Family Activities, Entertainment, Craft Vendors, Food
LAURA-NELLIE LOOK-A-LIKE CONTEST
INGALLS DUGOUT SITE Actual location of dugout on Plum Creek Homesteaded by Charles Ingalls in 1874 1.5 miles north of Walnut Grove on County Road 5
6DWXUGD\V -XO\ DW :* &LW\ 3DUN 1:30 p.m. Registration, 3:00 p.m. Contest One contest for Laura, one for Nellie, for girls ages 8-12.
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2022 Laura Ingalls Wilder Outdoor Theater July 8-9, 15-16, 22-23
VIP Tickets $25 Reserved Tickets $20 (Numbered Chairs)
General Admission $18 (Bring own chair or blanket. Age 5 and under free in general admission)
‘Fragments of a Dream’
Celebrating 45 Years! Wilder Pageant Cast Reunion July 9
For tickets visit walnutgrove.org g
7:00 p.m. Gates Open 7:30 p.m. Pageant Singers 8:30 p.m. Performance
or call (888) 859-3102
Walnut Grove is located on U.S. Highway 14 in Southwest Minnesota. ne esota. ota ta. ta a. FOR TICKETS SCAN ME
Made possible in part with funding from The Robert and Helen Remick Charitable Foundation
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through grants from the Southwest Minnesota Arts Council and the Minnesota State Arts Board thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
SOUTHWEST SAILOR, JULY 2022 – 3
F
CURRIE IS READY TO CELEBRATE EW PEOPLE, IF ANY, WHO CALL CURRIE HOME CARE AS DEEPLY
ABOUT THE TOWN’S HISTORY AS ROMANE DOLD. And soon, the Currie historian, who fondly remembers Currie’s 100th and 125th anniversaries, is looking forward to his third milestone celebration with great anticipation — Currie’s 150th means a lot to me. It’s great that
anniversary celebration. “I certainly won’t see the 175th — I hope they have one,” Dold said with a BY PER PETERSON tracy area headlight herald
Currie is still active in that way and wants to remember its history.” Dold has published two books on
laugh. “It
Currie — an original titled “Now
just means
and Then,” and an update of the
a lot to me. Currie is having the
original called “Now and Then
Boosters
same problems as many rural towns,
Again.” He truly appreciates the fact
— continue to put on
but to have a committee like we
that people like those involved with
annual Fourth of July celebrations,
have that really seems to want to put
the committee to which he referred
including this year’s which will be
on a good celebration … that just
— the Currie Town & Country
bigger and better than ever. “Many times we look at the younger generation as maybe not caring so much
about history, and historically, that’s true,” he said. “When I was their age, I didn’t care that much about history, either. As you get older, the past means more to you.”
150 continued on page 4
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SOME OF THE ORGANIZERS AND PLANNERS for Currie’s upcoming 150th anniversary celebration are Romane Dold, Kari Torkelson, Ed Sweetman and Shari Thomas. Photo / Per Peterson
Serving All Your Insurance Needs /LIH +HDOWK 03&, &RPPHUFLDO $XWR )DUP &URS +DLO +RPH 2ZQHUV 7,500 Free Circulation Published by Above the Fold Publishing, LLC 207 4th Street, Tracy, MN 56175 (507) 629-4300 • FAX (507) 629-4301 www.swmnsailor.com tara@headlightherald.com per@headlightherald.com
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150: Big party coming to Currie Continued from page 3
Dold, who will turn 82 this fall, will be in charge of one of the more special events during Currie’s big weekend, which goes from July 1-4. He will be giving a History of Currie Guided Tour through Currie’s main street, an event in which he will share his vast knowledge of the city’s history with all who want to learn more about the city’s past. “I guess I’m sort of humbled,” he said. “Louise Gervais was really instrumental in keeping things going here; she’s gone now, but many of the things that she did are still with us. End-O-Line is a perfect example, because without her, it just wouldn’t have happened. Somebody has to take up that mantle, I guess. I hope there’s someone coming behind me that’s got the fortitude to keep going with history.” Dold said it’s important that small towns like Currie not only recognize their history, but embrace it as well. He said without that history, celebrations like the one coming up would be almost meaningless. “If nobody knew anything about what happened in Currie 50 or 100 years ago, let alone 150, who would even care to get together and celebrate?” Dold said. “But a lot of the people who moved away still have that connection to where they grew up. They may not come back every year, but they will this summer.” The Currie Town & Country Booster Club was formed in June 1974 with 28 members and has since grown to almost 300 people. Its mission is to support and promote Currie, and much of that revolves around the Fourth of July weekend. The weekend celebration back in the early days began with a band and dance. “Our first dances were total failures,” Currie Town & Country Booster Club board member Ed Sweetman said. “We didn’t get good bands. All of a sudden we decided to spend some money and get a good band. It’s unbelievable now. The picnics were always good.” Joanne Carter started the first membership drive and is still deeply involved in annual celebrations. Planning for the annual 4th of July event is nearly a year-long process and this year, even more preparations have gone into it. “It’s very extensive,” said committee member Kari Torkelson. “We went from a three-day celebration to a four-day.” “I would say it’s double the work,” said Sweetman, who gave most of the credit to people like board members Torkelson and Shari Thomas, among many others. “We started talking about the 150th about two years ago,” Thomas said. “We knew we had to start planning more events; there is a lot of planning that goes into it.” Currie’s annual celebration hasn’t come without speed bumps. In 2018, the street dance had to be cancelled because of flooding, and a couple years later, the group had to made the difficult decision to cancel because of the pandemic. A couple years ago, the duck race was affected because of unusually-low water levels in the Des Moines River.
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THE ANNUAL DUCK RACES are one of the more popular events during Currie’s 4th of July celebration. The races will be part of Currie’s four-day extravaganza this year, as the city is celebrating its sesquicentennial. Tracy Area Headlight Herald file photo
“With COVID, we were kind of at a standstill — what are we gonna do?” Thomas said. “It kind of stopped us in our tracks. We knew we had our 150th coming up, then COVID hit … nobody knew which direction that was gonna go. We’ve run into some challenges, but we always seem to pull off a good show.” ••• Of course, the 4th of July weekend has always been a reason to celebrate in a huge way in Currie. For decades, the city has thrown multi-day parties that include a picnic, sand volleyball tournaments and the always-popular duck race in the Des Moines River. All those tried and true events will be part of this year’s celebration, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The festivities begin on July 1 with a BBQ rib cook-off, Hammerschlagen (a nailpounding German game that dates to the 1940s) and axe throwing at Rooster’s. On Saturday, things start early with a 5K run at Lake Shetek State Park and vendor/ flea market in downtown Currie. The history walk starting at the Des Moines River bridge will begin at 10 a.m. followed by the Currie Town & Country Tug of War at City Park at 1 p.m. — an event that carries with it its own piece of Currie history. After that, it’s the kids’ turn to have some fun. At 3 p.m., there will be a Little Scrapper Pedal Pull, a petting zoo and face painting. There will also be an ice cream truck in town and horseshoes at the City Park. A movie in the park, which will include past parades and Miss Tootsie contests, as well as the movie “The Sandlot,” will start at 5 p.m. “Saturday is kind of dedicated to the kids,” Torkelson said. Sunday starts with a 10:30 Mass at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, and the big sesquicentennial parade, which has attracted a lot of attention from Currie and towns from miles around and will include descendants of Neil Currie, begins at 1 p.m. Then it’s over to End-O-Line Railroad Park (which this summer is celebrating its 50th anniversary) for a 2 p.m. car show. Sunday is capped off by a 9 p.m. street dance featuring IV Play (sober rides within a 15-mile radius of Currie will also be available). The Currie American Legion will also have a burger stand up and running Sunday. There will also be food trucks onsite on Saturday and Sunday. The 4th will bear a strong resemblance to Independence Day parties of the past, starting with the sand volleyball tournament at 9 a.m. The Currie Town & Country Boosters’ picnic and membership drive begins at 11 a.m. at the City Park, and there will be bounce houses and a dunk tank as well at the park. The bean bag tournament starts at 1 p.m., followed by the Duck Race at 2 p.m. The weekend concludes, as usual, with a massive fireworks display at dusk. “Bigger and better than ever,” Sweetman proclaimed. “We pumped a lot of money into this. It’s gonna be big.” Currie Town & Country has invested more into this year’s fireworks display than
150 continued on page 5
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150: Big party coming to Currie Continued from page 4
The Neil Currie home on East 1st St. Photos courtesy Romane Dold
The old Currie Mill
The Currie Railroad Yard
Neil Currie’s store on the corner of 1st and Mill.
in any past year, including an update of the equipment the Currie Fire Department uses for the show. “I think we have a nice flow going through the weekend … and just end up with a bang on Monday,” Thomas said. Members of the Currie Town & Country Boosters expressed their gratitude for all the work the Currie Fire Department puts into the annual festival. The fire department not only runs the fireworks show, but also helps with setup and tear-down at various events. “They are a Godsend,” Sweetman said. “The whole community pulls together,” added Thomas. They also recognized Sweetman Sand & Gravel, Schmitz Grain, Currie State Bank, Dave LeClaire, Peschges Tree Service and others. “Every business in town is participating one way or another,” Thomas said. “We have a lot of people who just step up and volunteer. We could not do it without the volunteers — we have the same volunteers year after year that still want to help.” “If you don’t ask certain people, they get mad at you!” Sweetman said. ••• The oldest settlement in Murray County, Currie was founded in 1871 by Scotsman Archibald Currie and his son, Neil, according to Dold’s book. At the time, the area was known as the Village of Shetek. The Curries had emigrated
to Canada, then south across the Great Lakes area into Minnesota. The two selected sites for a dam, a mill and a store. They erected the frame for the mill before going to Winona County until 1872. Currie’s first Presbyterian church, a 24’x-40’ structure, was built in 1872. According to Dold’s book, “The gristmill in Currie had a major influence on the history of the county because it caused the base of Lake Shetek to become the economic hub of the region. In June of 1872, the county seat was placed at Currie Mills.” The first store in Currie — an 18’x26’ building — was located on the south side of the river, a short distance from the mill. Archibald brought groceries in from Tracy, which was home to the closest railroad. The village was platted and renamed Currie in 1873. Neil Currie established the Murray County Bank in his store in 1874, and sensing a need for freight service, he and others persuaded railroad officials to establish a station about 2 miles west of the Summit Station Post Office, which was located west of Walnut Grove. Currie erected a warehouse on that location, which was used as a depot. The village that grew around it was named Shetek Bend, or Shetek Station, in honor of those who requested it. That station later became the town of Tracy in 1876.
THIS YEAR’S 150TH CELEBRATION IN CURRIE has an entire day dedicated to kids. That will be Saturday, July 2, when kids can enjoy a pedal pull, petting zoo, face painting, an ice cream truck and a movie in the park. Of course, the Currie Town & Country membership drive picnic always offers plenty of things for the kiddos to do as well, including a bean bag tournament, which can be enjoyed by young and old alike. Tracy Area Headlight Herald file photo
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6 – SOUTHWEST SAILOR, JULY 2022
‘Fragments of a Dream’ turns 45
BY PER PETERSON tracy area headlight herald
I
t’s soon that time of year again, when thousands of people from around the country — and some from other countries — descend on Walnut Grove for the annual Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant known by all as “Fragments of a Dream.” “We’re ahead of last year’s ticket sales, which is good,” said Bill Richards, who has been with the pageant since 1978. “And people, more and more over the years, wait until the last minute, for a number of reasons, such as weather.” This year’s pageant dates are July 8-9, July 15-16 and July 22-23. There
will be a special Pageant Alumni Celebration on July 9 to recognize 45 years of the pageant. Also, the second-annual Loose Gravel Music Festival will be on July 29-30 at the Wilder Pageant amphitheater. The event, looked at as a kind of extension of the pageant, will feature eight bands. Nate Boots and the High Horses and 4 on the Floor will play on the first night. Saturday’s lineup includes Maple Street, Kayla Daniels, The High 48s, The Fish Heads, Monroe Crossing and Akransauce. “We will have eight groups coming in and camping overnight,” Richards said. “By allowing people to camp for the festival, you prevent them from having
ERROL STEFFEN AND BETH DANIELOWSKI are back to play Ma and Pa Ingalls in this year’s Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant, as is Heidi Morgan, who gives voice to “Old Laura.” Tracy Area Headlight Herald file photos
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strum and play.” Amy Foster, the director of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum, said she is looking forward to a big uptick in traffic as the pageant nears. “It’s been kind of quiet so far — April and May were both a little quiet,” she said. “Last year was so busy, so we thought, ‘OK, we’re kind of back now from COVID,’ but it’s been kind of quieter.” Foster said rising gas prices might be playing a role in low numbers at the popular museum so far. Richards is remaining cautiously optimistic that gas prices won’t stand in the way entirely of strong attendance at both the pageant and, subsequently, the museum. “Most of our crowd is probably within 150 miles, so I don’t think too many of them are going to care a lot,” Richards said. “But if you get some of the longerdistance people, I think they might have some second thoughts. Reports I’ve seen say that people who travel are going to travel.” Foster said there are several new exhibits at the museum this year, including a new Garth Williams exhibit; Williams is the illustrator of Laura’s books. Other exhibits have been changed, and there is a new church display in the Masters building. Also, an exhibit opening soon is the Bakker farm display in the old
DREAM continued on page 8
SOUTHWEST SAILOR, JULY 2022 – 7
Fresh faces on Lake Shetek A new era has begun at Pelican Cove, Key Largo BY PER PETERSON tracy area headlight herald
Brett Behrends is no stranger to Lake Shetek. And now, he’s running a
business on its shores. Behrends recently took over ownership of Lake Shetek Lodge and Pelican Cove, a bar/restaurant, from Chuck and Robin Cessna, and Tammy Brink and Lance Rogers. “My family had a seasonal cabin on the lake, so I was on the lake basically every weekend in the
summer growing up,” said Behrends, originally from Slayton. “I’m ready for a new challenge, and I’ve always loved the lake, so I wanted to get some ties back to it.” Behrends, who now lives in Brookings, SD, is in the real estate business — he owns a company called Behr Built — so he knows a good piece of property when he sees one. “The property here is pretty incredible,” said Behrends, a 2005 graduate of Murray County Central High School in Slayton. “The bar is a manageable size, and I’m kind of in the lodging and housing business already.” The previous owners of both buildings did extensive work on them after taking over in 2018. The lodge,
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SHETEK continued on page 10
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Dream: 45th ‘Fragments of a Dream’ right around the corner Continued from page 6
lumberyard building. “We’re also replacing the ramp at Grandma’s house, and all the fencing around our land,” Foster said. “The garden’s been planted, and there’s a lot of new merchandise in the gift store, so that’s always kind of fun, too. A lot of changes, new staff.” The museum is open daily — June through August — from 10 a.m-6 p.m. Richards said the pageant cast usually sees about 50% of the cast from past years return. “We have some who have been here for an eternity, and several that are new,” he said. “We have more men than we’ve had before, which is kind of nice.” Having veterans return year after year, he added, makes it easier to put on a pageant, and not just because they know their lines. “They also coach people,” Richards said. “Like for the adult dance, I changed it up again. The old folks, they knew a fair number of things, and we realized how many new people we have.” Richards works on a yearly basis tweaking and writing scripts to keep the pageant fresh. “We keep working on re-writes,” Richards said. “Hopefully in the next year we will begin a trilogy of shows — a sequence of three.” The music is also changing this year, he added. “We’ve been slowly working to acquire our own copyrighted music, otherwise we get dinged if we’re on YouTube and Facebook,” he said. “We hired, through a grant, to get Matt Combs to record the music — he’s the one who does ‘Pa’s Fiddle’ on PBS; he’s done five tunes for us so far, so we’re incorporating those. That will make it so it’s ours.” Today, four years after the flood, Richards said a full recovery might not ever happen. The pageant has gotten grants and loans to help restore things, but there are still remnants of the 2018 deluge. “I would say for the most part … we’ve finished
DREAM continued on page 9
AMY FOSTER AND BILL RICHARDS both play major roles during the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant. Foster is the curator of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum, and Richards has been deeply entrenched in the pageant since the 1970s. Photo / Per Peterson
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SOUTHWEST SAILOR, JULY 2022 – 9
Dream: This year’s pageant includes alumni cast party Continued from page 8
paying off our loan that we got from SBA,” said Richards, who is already thinking five years ahead to the 50th celebration of the pageant. “That’s a plus.” Despite a few flood memory-triggers, pageant organizers are looking ahead to some major improvements at the pageant site. “The project now that we’re working on is new restrooms — that’s going to be around $100,000,” Richards said. “We’ve put aside $20,000 towards it, and we have another $10,000 coming. We can build a shell and get it started. If we let it sit, it won’t happen.” Richards said the pageant board puts in a lot of time each year to pull off the pageant, doing work that often goes unnoticed. “One of the new board members the other day told me, ‘I’m getting kind of itchy, got something for me to do?’ I said, ‘Well, we need digging done.’ ‘He said, ‘OK, give me shovel,’” Richards said.
‘FRAGMENTS OF A DREAM’ CAST Ingalls Old Laura: Heidi Morgan Laura: Messina Lessman Mary: Madison Alexander Carrie: Brylee Dambroten-Gielczyk Ma: Beth Danielowski Pa: Errol Steffen
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Mrs. Steadman: Payeng Vue Oleson William: Willi Daniel D i DeSmith Margaret: Julie Danielowski Nellie: Olivia Sazama Willie: Cal Lessman Mrs. Hansen: Norma Raymond
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10 – SOUTHWEST SAILOR, JULY 2022
Shetek: New look on the lake Continued from page 7
having allowed him to start the upgrade process — inside and out — before officially closing on the property. “We even got new sand delivered for the volleyball court — we’re going to redo the beach a little bit,” he said. “We’re hoping to get a sign on the lake side that lights up in the shape of a pelican.” Behrends knows he is taking on a lot, but is driven to succeed. And even though he plans on being on-site as often as possible, he has some good help running things in manager Steve Koch. “He’s really taken on a lot — he’s just got an incredible way of analyzing things,” Behrends said. “I think he’s going to do incredible out here; he’s really good at foreseeing problems that come up, troubleshooting them. He’s just got a nice, even-keel way of handling things.” The previous owners had booked bands throughout the summer, and Behrends will honor those commitments. The last few weeks, he said, have been hectic, but in a good way. “We’re definitely not moving on island time — we’re having to move a lot faster than that,” he said. “We’ve got axe throwing on Memorial Day weekend, we’ve got a band coming; we’ve got a lot of good ideas.” The Cove was also once again host of the Shetek Area Sportsmen’s Association’s Annual Walleye Fishing Tournament on June 11. Robin Cessna is optimistic Behrends will take what they have literally built and run with it to make both Pelican Cove and the Lodge as popular and profitable as possible. “He’s just going to continue doing what we wanted to do,” she said. “It can never be an Okoboji, but it can be a mini-Okoboji, or a destination place on the lake.” ••• Behrends isn’t the only new face on Shetek, as new owners have also taken over a few steps to the east at Key Largo, a Shetek icon for decades. The Key Largo team is Ryan and Brandee Bullerman
SLAYTON NATIVE BRETT BEHRENDS has taken over at Pelican Cove and the Lake Shetek Lodge on the shores of Lake Shetek. Behrends has an extensive background in real estate and is excited to start a new chapter for both businesses. Photo / Per Peterson
of Luverne; Darren and Stacie Schuur of Chandler, and Terry and Carrie Van Dyke of Slayton, who ran the Green Lantern in Hardwick for 21 years. “We all work full time, but we knew not opening Key Largo would be detrimental to Lake Shetek,” said Carrie Van Dyke, who is currently running VanBullys in Iona as well. “We couldn’t imagine Key Largo not being open. The Schuurs family have helped us out on many occasions and we work well together. Darren enjoys cooking and grilling, Stacie and Brandee like helping people out and making them feel welcome and putting a smile on their face. We are all business owners. We have family and friends who are always willing to lend a hand, who have always been there. We love having fun. We love small communities and
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the camaraderie amongst them. We’re looking forward to providing a laid-back, relaxing atmosphere.” Behrends said he is looking forward to working with the new owners and forging a strong relationship with them — a symbiosis that had been lacking the last few years. “I think the owners of Key Largo, we’re going to network incredibly well with,” he said. “I think we can both bring a lot more business out there together.” Carrie Van Dyke said the six-headed ownership group is looking forward to carrying on the tradition at Key Largo of hosting major events such as weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, work parties, baby showers, class reunions, retirement parties, and fashion and vendor shows.
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George Catlin party from going any closer to the From Above The Fold Publishing: sacred quarry. Part of the Dakota It is our honor to once again be dialogue is recorded as follows: bringing our readers in the region the “Brothers – I speak strong---the red writings of the late Bill Bolin, an iconic pipe was given to the redman by and beloved historian, educator and the Great Spirit---it is part of our coach in Tracy for many decades. flesh, and it is medicine---we know Bolin passed away October 15, 2017, Bill Bolin that no white man has ever been to and he is missed by so many to this day. the pipestone quarry and our chiefs Bill started writing for the Sailor in have often decided in counsel that 1997 in hopes of passing down many no white man shall ever go to it.” Actually, there is of his experiences, especially to his children, grandchildren evidence that Philander Prescott, visited the quarry in and the many students he encountered in Tracy Area High 1832, four years prior to Catlin. LeBlanc warned Catlin School from his student teaching in 1956-57 until his final to go back, but the artist did not heed this advice. retirement in 2010. The small party’s next stop was at the American Fur The Tracy Area Headlight Herald, with permission from Company Post in what was to become Murray County. Bill’s family, is reproducing his popular columns in this Located just east of the Bear Lakes at the isthmus, edition of the Sailor, as well as in editions yet to come: today’s plat books would place the post in the NE ¼ of section 10, Lowville Township, approximately eight he first highly recorded exploration of miles south of Balaton. Southwest Minnesota was that of George The trader in charge was Joseph LaFrambois. He called the post “Grand Lisiere,” however, when it was Catlin in 1836. According to the article A first established in 1833 the Indian agent Taliaferro had Garden of the Red Gods, “everywhere the artist named it Crooked River “Big Sioux” Post. The post had gone in his travels, the smoking of the longonly survived until 1838 (May 21, 1838 to be exact), due to a combination of falling muskrat prices and a stemmed Indian pipe was an important ritual in severe outbreak of a smallpox plague which decimated practically every phase of peace and war.” Catlin more than half of the local native population. Many early writings indicate that the 41-yearnoted that in all the native peoples he visited, the old George Catlin, shortly after leaving the “Grand pipe bowls were invariably made of the same red Lisiere”, becomes the first recorded white man to visit clay stone from a single quarry. the Pipestone quarries. Prescott buffs would challenge this claim. Catlin’s written expressions of the beauty The Lawrence Taliaferro papers state that on Sunday, he encountered on “Buffalo Ridge” while traveling the 21st August, 1836…Catlin the painter and Mr. Wood an approximately twenty-five miles to the quarries from Englishman go off this day to the Pipestone Quarry.” the Bear Lake Post (Grand Lisiere) are the earliest, Shortly after departure from the St. Peter’s (Minnesota) most vivid and graphic of any I’ve yet encountered. River near the present site of St. Peter they made a He wrote of the Coteau Des Prairie (or Highland of the brief stop at the small trading post of LeBlanc (Traverse Prairies) in these words: “Our approach to it was from des Sioux). Here, Catlin and Wood were met by a large the east, and the ascent, for the distance of twentyparty of Dakota whose intent was to stop the small five miles, over a continued succession of slopes
History Is Life
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and terraces, almost imperceptibly rising one above another, that seemed to lift us to a great height. The singular character of this majestic mound continues on the west side, in its descent toward the Missouri. There is not a tree or bush to be seen from the highest summit of the ridge, though the eye may range east and west, almost to boundless extent, over a surface with a short grass, that is green at one’s feet, and about him, but changing to blue in the distance, like nothing but the blue and vastness of the ocean.” “There is a sublime grandeur in these scenes as they are presented here, which must be seen and felt to understand…Many feels here, and startles at the thrilling sensation, the forces of “illimitable freedom” – his body and his mind both seem to have entered a new element – the former as free as the very wind it inhales and the other as expanded and infinite as the boundless imagery that is spread in distance around him. Such is the Couteau Des Prairie.” We today refer to the Coteau as Buffalo Ridge. I also find the following notes from Catlin’s journal – written upon reaching the quarries, which he called “classic ground” to be very descriptive and informative. “The Great Spirit, at an ancient period, here called the Indian nations together, and standing on the precipice of the red pipe stone rock, broke from its wall a piece, and made a huge pipe by turning it in his hand, which he smoked over them, to the North, the South, the East, and the West; and told them that this tone was red – that it was their flesh – that they must use it for their pipes of peace – that it belonged to them all.” “The color of the pipe-stone varied from a pale greyish-red to a dark blood-red, and in some instances was attractively dappled red and gray. When freshly quarried it was sufficiently soft to be readily carved into such shapes as desired with stone knives and drilled with primitive hand drills. The structure of the pipe-stone varied from ten to twenty inches in
CATLIN continued on page 12
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12 – SOUTHWEST SAILOR, JULY 2022
Redwood County Fair packs a musical punch The Redwood County Fair will take place July 14-17. Musical entertainment this year includes FireHouse (8 p.m. July 14), Hicktown Mafia, opening for Rodney Atkins (8 p.m. July 15), and Phil Vassar (8 p.m. July 16). All entertainment events are free with the purchase of admission to the fair. A one-day pass is $7 ($10 after 6 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday) or $20 for a four-day pass. There are also senior discounts on passes, and there is an open gate after 5 p.m. on Sunday. The general project 4-H showcase begins on Wednesday, June 29, with performing arts judging at First United Methodist Church, and demonstration and livestock judging, either at the church or at the fairgrounds. The Redwood County Fairgrounds are located at 201 North Dekalb St. in Redwood Falls. Schedule: Thursday, July 14 5 p.m. Exhibit Buildings Open! Giveaway to first 100 ppl 5 p.m. Midway Opens! 5-11 p.m. Ride Wristbands in the Midway 5:30 p.m. Stunt Dog Productions 6 p.m. Birdman 7 p.m. Stunt Dog Productions 7:30 p.m. Birdman 8 p.m. Stunt Dog Productions 8 p.m. Main Stage A Rising Force opening for FireHouse 8:30 p.m. Birdman
Saturday, July 16: 10 a.m. Baking Contest on 4H Food Deck 10 a.m. 4H Ribbon Auction 11 a.m. Dock Dogs 11:30 a.m. Birdman Noon Century Farms Program Noon Stunt Dog Productions 1 p.m. Paw Patrol Meet and Greet 2 p.m. Birdman 4 p.m. Stunt Dog Productions 5 p.m. Demo Derby in the Grand Stands 5:30 p.m. Birdman 6 p.m. Stunt Dog Productions 7 p.m. Birdman 8 p.m. Main Stage The T&A Show opening for Phil Vassar
Friday, July 15 (Daycare Day) 8:30-9 a.m. Registration 9-9:30 a.m. Birdman 10:15-10:45 a.m. Stunt Dog Show 11 a.m. Dock Dogs 9 a.m. Birdman 10:15 a.m. Stunt Dog Show 11 a.m. Dock Dogs 11 a.m.-2 p.m FREE Gate – sponsors by Central-Bi Products Noon Birdman 1 p.m. Stunt Dog Productions 5 p.m. Birdman 6 p.m. Stunt Dog Productions 7 p.m. Birdman 8 p.m. Main Stage Hicktown Mafia opening for Rodney Atkins
Sunday, July 17: 9 a.m.-noon 4H Pancake Breakfast 11 a.m. Dock Dogs 11 a.m. Birdman 12:00 Mickey & Minnie Meet-n-Greet Noon Chainsaw Artist Silent Auction Noon Stunt Dog Productions 12:30 p.m. Birdman 2 p.m. Kids Pedal Pull 2 p.m. Stunt Dog Productions 2:30 p.m. Birdman 4 p.m. Stunt Dog Productions 5 p.m. Birdman
Catlin Continued from page 11
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were later sent to a mineralogist in Boston who recognized the samples as “a new mineral compound”. To this day the material is commonly known as “Catlinite”, a lasting tribute to the man who first introduced the sacred pipestone to the rest of the world. In 1855, 19 years after Catlin’s visit to pipestone, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was to pen his famous narrative poem The Song of Hiawatha. No sooner was the poem published than its popularity was assured – although controversy did surround the metre and various incidents. Without a doubt Longfellow relied heavily upon the writings of George Catlin while writing chapter 1 “The Peace Pipe” of his still famous poem. Chapter 1 “The Peace Pipe” “On the Mountains of the Prairie, On the great Red Pipe-Stone Quarry, Gitche Manito, The Mighty, He the Master of Life, descending, On the red crags of the quarry Stood erect, and called the nations, Called the tribes of men together.”
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thickness, the bands of pure, finegrained material best-suited for the manufacture of pipes seldom measuring more than three or four inches in thickness. This stratum was embedded between massive layers of compact quartzite, which dipped slightly to the eastward. With the stone implements in common use in early times, the process of working the quarry was a very tedious one. This particular quarry was not the only place where the pipe-stone was to be found, but it was the only location known to the Indians where it existed in appreciable quantity or was procured under religious sanction.” Samples of the red pipe-stone were taken by Catlin to New York. They
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SOUTHWEST SAILOR, JULY 2022 – 13
Mark your calendar! UPCOMING EVENTS IN THE REGION:
take place July 7 (also the rain date for the event).
June 30-July 3: Balaton Fun Fest, featuring the Borchert Challenge at Balaton Bay Golf Course, Tony Rook Band, fireworks, 3-on-3 basketball, fun run, a kiddie and grand parade, BBQ cook-off, pedal pull, petting zoo, firemen’s street dance and pickle ball tournament.
July 7: Join the Pipestone Cruizers for music and the first Cruise-In of Summer at the Hatfield Roadhouse. The second Cruise-In will take place near the Pipestone County Fairgrounds on Aug. 3. July 8: Night Golf in Tracy, sponsored by the Tracy Area Chamber of Commerce.
July 1-4: Currie Town & Country 150th celebration, Currie. July 3: “Freedom Concert,” 5-8 p.m., in Luverne. This event is sponsored by the Herreid Military Museum.
July 8-10: Murray County Classic Draft Horse Show. The event features the cart, team, unicorn, 4 horse and 6 horse hitch classes. The draft horse competition is held at the Murray County Fairgrounds located in Slayton.
July 4: “Fourth at the Lake” in Luverne, featuring a day full of events, beginning at 8:30 a.m. and wrapping up with fireworks at 10 p.m. www.luvernechamber.com
July 14-17: Cardinal Pride Weekend in Luverne, starting at 8 a.m. Cardinal Pride Weekend in Luverne, starting at 8 a.m.
July 9-10: The Slayton EDA, Murray County Draft Horse Show and the Slayton Area Chamber of Commerce have teamed up to deliver a fun and exciting weekend of events for the Days of ‘87 Celebration. Held the weekend after the 4th of July each year, this celebration is a salute to the year 1887 when Slayton was founded.
July 21-23, 27-29 & 30: “Newsies,” at the Lake Benton Opera House. Reserved seats are $14/$15; and $10 for kids 12-and-under. According to the LBOH website, “Newsies” is set in turn-of-the-century New York City and is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of teenaged “newsies.” When titans of publishing raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack rallies newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions and fight for what’s right. “Newsies” is packed with non-stop thrills and a timeless message, perfect for the whole family and every audience.
July 6: St. Mary’s CCW-sponsored Tracy Area Gardens and Quilts Tour, 2-7:30 p.m. A $15 ticket gives you entry into the entire tour, and pie and ice cream at the Eberspacher site. Tickets are available the day of the tour at Marshall Greenwood Nursery, the park in Milroy and at all the sites. Advanced tickets will not be sold. Raffle prizes include a quilted blanket throw with accessory pillow by Jolynn Johns, a Rubbermaid lawn cart and garden accessories, hosta plants from Jesse James and St. Mary’s pie certificates. Raffle tickets are $2; the drawing will
July 22: Aloha Night at the Tracy Aquatic Center to benefit the Tracy Area Education Foundation.
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FROM BANK, TO BOUTIQUE A new clothing store has opened in downtown Walnut Grove BY PER PETERSON tracy area headlight herald
T
he former Integrity Bank Plus building in downtown Walnut Grove didn’t stay empty for long. Just two years after the bank moved down the road from its former location and into a brand-new building at the intersection of 6th and Main,
Robyn Hansen’s new business, Plum Creek Boutique, will open for business. While anyone familiar with the interior of the building will no doubt see reminders of the bank, it will be clear that a new era inside the 109-year-old structure has begun. “We actually found the old floor tile underneath, but there was no way
ROBYN HANSEN, pictured here with her daughter, Alandra, has opened a new business in downtown Walnut Grove called Plum Creek Boutique. Photo / Per Peterson
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we can use those,” said Hansen, who planned a June 24-25 grand opening. “The entrance of the building was moved in the ‘40s, and the tellers moved then, too. The bank was outgrowing this building, which is why they built a new one.” In other words, one bank’s antiquated building is another family’s treasure —and, as it turns out, another town’s treasure. “I thought, ‘Ooh, this would be kind of a fun building for something,’” Hansen said. “I did my research and thought, ‘Hmm, what would be a good thing to do here?’” At first, Hansen toyed with the idea of turning the building, which she and her husband, Gregg, purchased this past October, into a coffee shop, but concluded that the price tag on that dream would be too much to bear. “I had a plan to do a coffee shop/ bakery down the road, but I did the research and found that today’s top 15-20 of things people wanted was a clothing boutique,” Hansen said. “So many big names are starting to close. Being a clothing boutique, you’re going to find different stuff than you would at a Walmart. I’m always wanting to be different.” Hansen said in order the keep the product fresh, she will carry minimal choices of sizes. This, she said, will prevent any item of clothing from piling up on the racks. “That way, I can keep new things coming all the time,” she said. “I’m going to do the clothing boutique along with some gift items.” Hansen’s will be the only true clothing shop in town. She said she will
start with just women’s clothing but hopes to slowly expand to men’s and teenage wares. Building to a grand opening in just eight months is no small undertaking, but the big day didn’t come fast enough for Hansen, who envisioned opening her store in April or May 1 at the latest. “I wanted to open a couple months ago,” said Hansen, who’s brother-inlaw, Dan, put down the new flooring in the building where needed. “And he helped put the piping in for hanging stuff,” Hansen said. The changing room at Plum Creek Boutique will actually be located where the old vault is. Hansen, who also works in special education in the Westbrook-Walnut Grove School District, said she plans on implementing a loyalty program where customers can build up points toward future purchases. Hours for the new business will be 10 a.m.-5 p.m. from Wednesday-Friday, and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday. With small, rural towns struggling to fill storefronts, Hansen, who said she has always wanted to own her own business, is proud to be able to fill this one. “It’s nice to not see empty buildings,” she said. “I wish we could fill up a couple more downtown — maybe in the future we can. I’m hoping this will bring more people into town to help the other businesses as well. My goal is to help our small town out. It’s a tourist town, and they need more things. This will give them something to do. Working together is the biggest thing. We have to work together to help each other survive.”
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PRIDE OF THE PACIFIC
Ray Fagen Memorial Airshow returned to Fagen Fighters WWII Museum on June 18 BY JESSICA STOLEN-JACOBSON
On June 18, the Ray Fagen Memorial Airshow returned to the Fagen Fighters WWII Museum after a hiatus due to the pandemic. Every airshow held at the Fagen Fighters WWII Museum has a theme, and Diane Fagen, notes this year’s chosen theme centers around the Navy and is titled the Pride of the Pacific. “The reason we chose that is because of the 80th anniversaries that are coming up,” Fagen says. For example, June 6 was the anniversary of D-Day, a day with additional significance to the Fagen family, as Ron Fagen’s father Ray was in the 4th infantry and one of the first wave of soldiers to exit the boat onto Utah Beach in France. While Ray was not a part of the planning of the museum, he was, Diane says, the inspiration behind it. “He wasn’t a pilot in the war, he was in the 4th infantry, but then he flew immediately after getting out,” special to the sailor
she says. In November of 1994, Ron Fagen purchased the first WWII-era plane, a P-51 Mustang named “Sweet Revenge,” and since that time the collection grew into what today is an expansive WWII Museum. Inside the museum, located outside of Granite Falls, numerous exhibits contain a collection of relics from throughout the war, featuring actual military uniforms, weapons, medals, flags, searchlights, communications devices, and, of course, the military planes and vehicles. Nearly all of the vehicles have been restored and drive or fly. There is also an exhibit that houses a life-sized sculpture of the soldiers exiting the boat onto the sand of Utah Beach on D-Day, including Ron’s father Ray. “The sand you see here actually came from Utah Beach in France,” Diane says. Surrounding the walls that house the extensive collection in the buildings are murals that were painted in
portions at a time, taking the artist around a month for each portion. The murals depict the events involving the planes on display. Most recently, the Fagen Fighters WWII Museum added an observation area that guests can access to watch from above the work in the mechanic’s shop where the planes are serviced and restored. The museum has also, most recently, acquired a Japanese Zero, such as the Kamikaze pilots flew. “It’s the real deal. It came from Japan,” says Fagen. The Zero will be flown at the June 18th airshow. The Pride of the Pacific airshow featured WWII-era planes, and military vehicles from not only the Fagen Fighters WWII Museum but from other air museums around the country. That includes all of the WWII-era planes owned by the museum, as well as planes from Wings of the North Museum, Dakota Territory Museum, and many more warbirds.
YMC Museum hosts 150th anniversary exhibit EXHIBITS INSIDE THE YELLOW MEDICINE COUNTY MUSEUM feature photographs of what life was like in the earliest years of the county’s history. Photos courtesy Jessica StolenJacobson
BY JESSICA STOLEN-JACOBSON
In celebration of Yellow Medicine County’s 150th anniversary, the Yellow Medicine County Museum in Granite Falls is featuring a special exhibit with a focus on the townships. Yellow Medicine County was established in 1862, when the United States Government established the Yellow Medicine Agency for the Upper Sioux. The county, along with the river that runs through it were named for the moonseed plant growing along its banks, named Pejuhutazizi, or Yellow Medicine. Visitors to the museum have the opportunity to view a number of displays for each of the county’s townships that include photographs, and historical information from the townships’ history. Another display features a variety of photographs from throughout history depicting what life was like in Yellow Medicine County in its earliest years. There are also advertisements from businesses, and historic newspapers from each of the communities. In addition, the Yellow Medicine County Historical Society is currently working to gather stories from people around the county to help commemorate the stories of the residents of the county. Those stories, they say, can be about anything, from life on the farm, to businesses, to fun places to hang out. To submit stories, send the written story by email to ymchs@co.ym.mn.gov or by mail to Yellow Medicine County Historical Society and Museum, 5500 Hwy 67, PO Box 145, Granite Falls, MN 56241. The exhibit can be viewed during museum hours Wednesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. special to the sailor
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