Free
December 2016
Your Holiday Guide to Southwest Minnesota
On track for Christmas Joy Maggie Keller, daughter of Krista and Justin Keller, Slayton, found much to explore at at the Dinehart Holt House in Slayton. The Murray County Historical Society's "Country Christmas" displays at the house will remain open through Dec. 17.
Published by Tracy Publishing Company, Inc. • 207 4th Street • Tracy, MN 56175 • (507) 629-4300 • www.swmnsailor.com
2 – Southwest Sailor, December 2016
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Christmas reindeer Granite Falls man helped popularize Santa’s reindeer
By Scott Thoma
The late Carl Lomen, widely known as the “Alaskan Reindeer King”, was instrumental in associating reindeer with Santa Claus. Lomen was married to Laura Volstead, the only child to former Congressman Andrew Volstead and his wife “Nellie” of Granite Falls. So well renowned was Andrew Volstead, that his 150-year-old home is a national landmark and now a museum and current home of the Granite Falls Historical Society. For the fourth time, the historical society will present “Carl Lomen’s Visit
Carl Lomen
Southwest Sailor, December 2016 – 3
with Reindeer and Santa at the Andrew J. Volstead House” from 1-4 p.m. on Dec. 18. The event is free and open to the public. “This has become a very popular event,” said Terri Dinesen, the president of the GFHS. “We get hundreds of people come to the Volstead House.” The GFHS hires Kendalville Farms of Glencoe, which brings two reindeer and a sleigh to their community. To help defray costs of the reindeer rentals, the GFHS relies on donations from businesses, organizations and private individuals.
An early 20th century Christmas card from Carl and Laura Lomen displays their affinity for reindeer.
A Granite Falls Historical Society card plays up the town’s reindeer connection.
At Tracy Ace Home Center.
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Visitors donating $60 or more receive free membership to the GFHS for 2017, as well as a nickel-plated sleigh bell and inscribed ribbon. Bring your cameras because Santa Claus will also to be on hand, giving those in attendance a chance for two holiday photo opportunities for visitors and their children. “Because it can be too cold to wait outside to have photos taken in the sleigh with the reindeer, we have the people come inside and sign up and wait for us to call their name,” said Dinesen. “Pictures can be taken inside with Santa. And there are activities and snacks inside, too.” Reindeer-themed items will be available for sale. Lomen was born in 1880 in St. Paul. At age 19, he went on a family vacation to Nome, AL. While there, he became enamored with reindeer and eventually his family formed a reindeer corporation with a mother stock of 1,280 that eventually grew to well over a million. Because of his role in organizing, promoting, marketing, and lobbying for the reindeer industry, Lomen became known as the “Alaskan Reindeer King”. Eventually, Lomen married Laura and they brought the reindeer to parades in large U.S. cities that associated the animal with Santa Claus. Andrew Volstead, a former member of the United States House of Representatives for 20 years, is best known as the man who authored the Volstead Act in 1919, which was better known as the National Prohibition Act. He died in 1947. The Volsteads and Lomens are all buried in the Granite Falls City Cemetery.
Published by Tracy Publishing Company 207 4th Street, Tracy, MN 56175 (507) 629-4300 • FAX (507) 629-4301 www.swmnsailor.com tracypublishing@headlightherald.com Seth Schmidt – Publisher April DeSchepper – Ad Composition Julie Johnston – Office Manager Kris Knott – Advertising Sales Lisa Sell – Advertising Manager Carol Strand – Accountant PUBLISHER’S LIABILITY FOR ERROR: The publisher shall not be liable for slight changes or typographical errors that do not lessen the value of an advertisement. The publisher’s liability for other errors or omissions in connection with an advertisement is strictly limited to publication in any subsequent issue or the refund of any monies paid for the advertisement.
4 – Southwest Sailor, December 2016
The Dayton House is characterized by its wrap-around porch, its three chimneys, and its balconies. Its widow’s walk is reminiscent of New England where the Daytons lived before coming to Worthington.
Worthington landmark recalls Dayton legacy By Shari Dalin Nelson
In the 1880s a humble, deeply religious man from New York brought his young family to Worthington, established a Minnesota-based financial dynasty now known as Target Corporation, and instilled in future generations his philosophy of improving his community and dedicating himself to serving others. In 1890, Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton’s great-grandfather built his family’s third Worthington home only a few blocks from the location of the Bank of Worthington, which he purchased on April 1, 1883, and operated as a private bank along with the Minnesota Loan & Investment Company In 1885, on the corner of Tenth Street and Third Avenue, George Draper Dayton erected a new building for
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the establishment, and in 1893 he incorporated it as a state bank. Because of economic hard times, he invested his own money in the bank and thus kept it afloat. He and his wife Emma took in roomers in their home so they could make ends meet. Once the bank was again profitable, he disposed of his interests in the bank in August of 1898. In 1892, the investment company had begun operation in Minneapolis and dealt with land and real estate investment;, and as
George Draper Dayton became more involved in that company, it became necessary for the family to move to Minneapolis. In 1902 Dayton purchased the Goodfellow Dry Goods Company and changed the store’s name to Dayton Dry Goods Company, from which Target Corporation evolved. In business, this humble man followed his strict Presbyterian principles. His stores were closed on Sunday; he allowed no taking of inventory, repair,
George Draper Dayton
nor business-related travel on the Sabbath Day; and he never advertised
Dayton House: See page five
Serving All Your Insurance Needs Life • Health • MPCI • Commercial • Auto • Farm • Crop Hail • Home Owners Greg Carlson Agent Tracy (507) 629-3084
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Southwest Sailor, December 2016 – 5
Dayton House Continued from page four
in newspapers which advertised liquor. His leadership and philanthropy continued throughout his lifetime and extended to his descendants some of whom donated money and items for the renovation of the Dayton House. Even after he left Worthington, George Draper Dayton continued to make donations including to Westminster Presbyterian Church. When he established the Dayton Foundation, he dedicated it to the promotion of the welfare of humankind. Prominent architect South Dakota’s premier architect Wallace L. Dow specialized in the construction of churches and large public and private buildings, but he also designed homes which reflected the owners’ status and success. Among his designs in Sioux Falls are the School for the Deaf, All Saints School, the Old Minnehaha County Courthouse, the Pettigrew House and Museum, the John Tuthill House, the C. E. Johnson House and, in Worthington, the Dayton House. In four months from start to finish, the house was ready for occupancy and had running water from the cistern in the basement, indoor washrooms but outdoor toilets, features such as lower handles and banisters to match George Draper Dayton’s five foot four-inch stature, male and female sides of the house, leaded glass windows, and a formal downstairs and informal upstairs. The total bill for construction was less than $20,000. The bill for restoration came in at approximately two million dollars. Today many of the windows and all the storm windows are originals. The exterior of the Dayton House is Georgian Colonial. Interiors are furnished and decorated true to the Victorian Era. During restoration, efforts
The Dayton House as it stood in 1895.
Emma Dayton had this replica of French sculptor Mercie’s Gloria Victis, George Draper Dayton’s favorite piece of art, made for him as a gift.
were made to recreate the splendor worthy of those who occupied the house, which stands on eight lots where the family’s former residence once stood. Part of one wall in the gentlemen’s room (parlor) is covered with plastic to show the original wallpaper and how closely the designer matched it with the new wallpaper. Throughout the house are pictures of Victorian clothing, local historical events, Victorian prints, and family pictures.
John Cashel
Ruth Cashel
the library, and comprises the male side of the downstairs where George Draper Dayton entertained business associates and held meetings. To the left is the
sitting room, which leads to the courting room/observatory and the nursery/ playroom. The stone in the fireplace in
Victorian décor: See page 12
Victorian elegance When a visitor enters the home through the front door, he or she sees an elegant cherry wood staircase. To the right is the parlor, which leads to
Place a holiday order with Howie for top quality specialty meats... The formal dining room reflects the opulence of the Victorian Era. Ruth Cashel had the fireplace taken out and replaced with a dumb waiter for more efficient food service to the upper floors. During the restoration, the dumb waiter was removed and the fireplace reconstructed.
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CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS
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Shetek Lutheran Ministries provides many programmed retreats for youth, adults, senior adults, women’s groups, men’s groups and families throughout the year. Additionally, its setting provides an ideal location for: •Retreats •Conferences •Family Events •Church Group Meetings •Business & Board Meetings •Weddings and more!
UpCoMinG EvEnts
For more information call (507) 763-3567 www.shetek.org Located 8 miles north of Slayton on Keeley Island, Lake Shetek
Dec. 4 – Lutefisk Supper- 5:30 p.m. Dec. 29 – Winter Fun Day Grades 3-6 Dec. 29 & 30 – Summer Staff Reunion Jan. 8 – Stargazing & Snowshoeing 8-10 p.m. Jan. 27-29 – Scraptacular Retreat Feb. 5 – Toddlers & Trees 3-4:30 p.m. Feb. 10-11 – Marriage Retreat Feb. 12 – Women’s Tea & Ski 2-4:30 p.m. Feb. 19 – All About Making Maple Syrup 3-4:30 p.m,. Whatever you choose to do, you will be surrounded by the beauty of God’s creation.
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6 – Southwest Sailor, December 2016
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Zika, West Nile, Lyme Disease, deer flies, wasps, ants, poison ivy, boxelder bugs, ladybugs, grasshoppers, gnats, blight, crabgrass, thistles, and dandelions, you can put all of these threats and distractions on to the shelf for the rest of the year, because winter is coming! Pregnant ladies can visit southern Minnesota without fear of the Zika mosquito. Horses can frolic in the snow without fear of getting West Nile. Hikers can snowshoe and cross-country ski without worry of being bitten by a tick. All gardens and lawns look the same because they all come in just one color, white. Winter is the time to glide around a corner of the snowmobile trail at Shetek State Park and come face to face with a herd of deer enjoying the sweet ends of the red willow. Winter is when you can kick a wood pile in a farm grove and see the jet-like launch of a cottontail rabbit attempting to escape the fate of a cast iron dutch oven. Winter means hard-water that gets sliced and diced by people with chain saws, chisels and augers to create a hole filled with water that they can fish in. A meal of cold water walleye, perch, crappie, and northern can be the reward of hole drilling and ice sawing. Creative folks build their own fishing shelters so when you venture on to the hard water of lakes with names such as Sarah, Shetek, Current, and Bloody, you will see a variety of canvas tents, camper trailers, fiberglass water tanks, semi sleeper units, even upgraded chicken coops that have been remodeled to make a place to fish, cook, sleep, tell stories or even watch a football game. There is even a commercially-built model that can be purchased that actually calls itself an ‘Ice Castle.’ I was once the owner of a tent-like fishing unit known as the Clam that originated in Westbrook, Minnesota, and was manufactured there by talented women who were very proficient with a sewing machine, and men who could bend metal tubing to make a frame for the fabric cover. My Clam even went to college at St. John’s University with my son. He and his friends would gather on a campus lake called Sagatagan for, what they called, nights of faith, fellowship, and fishing. I don’t know what all was involved in what they did, but I do know that when I got the Clam back in Slayton, it smelled like a thousand Cuban cigars had been burned in it. ••• At one time, St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Slayton had wooden candleholders hand-made by a parishioner who was a cabinetmaker. They seem to work quite well but then a new pastor arrived and announced that alter candle holders should be make of some sort of precious metal so the old wooden candle holders were sent to the junk pile where they were discovered by a man who knew their history and decided to take them and use them for light in his fish house. Our fish houses were all gathered around Block’s point on the south lake of Shetek. As night fell we lit our gas lantern and settled in for the evening bite. The night became darker and darker, so I ventured to my car to get a flashlight and on my return to our fish house, I noticed in the distance candles lighted and burning in kind of a stair step arrangement in a fish house window. So I walked toward the candle-
Hook, Line & Sinker Joe LeTendre tells his fishing tales to audiences statewide.
lit house and shined my flashlight on the guy’s name painted on the door of the house. Dudley Farrell was the name on the door. He was a member of St. Ann’s Parish and the postmaster in Slayton, so I went up to his door and knocked. He shouted, “C’mon in!” So I opened the door and said, “Peace with you,” and he answered, “and with thy spirit!” Then I asked him what time Mass started, and he told me it was over, but he would be willing to take up a collection! ••• I once asked a guy what he liked most about ice fishing. He told me that in the early years of his marriage his new wife liked to do almost everything he liked to do, including hunting, camping, canoeing, motorcycle riding, and softwater fishing. But she only went ice fishing with him once and she told him not to ask her to go ice fishing again. Then he told me the thing he likes most about ice fishing is it gives him a chance to be alone! ••• Winter offers more than ice fishing. Using snow shoes to hunt rabbits or just explore is a fun way to travel over snow. If you enjoy shooting rifles, like to stalk animals that like to eat pheasants, and enjoy wearing really good tough weather clothing, coyote and fox hunting with rifles in .17, .223, 22/250, and a variety of other wildcat calibers is the perfect winter sport for you. I was never one to go for a walk in the snow, but at one time I would walk through snow, cattails, and frozen sloughs to enjoy a meal of rabbit or pheasant or to put down a wily fox or coyote. Winter hunting gave me an excuse to buy and wear really good cold weather boots and clothes, own and shoot high powered rifles, and get a good night’s sleep after hunting in snow all day. I got out-foxed by fox more than once, but we enjoyed a lot of meals of pheasants. ••• Inner tubes, sheets of plastic, sleds, car hoods, and toboggans can give you the thrill of speed, danger, and just plain being out of control when you slide down one of the many very steep and fast hills in our four county area. For a sampler of the fun that sliding down a hill can give you, travel to Garvin State Park just north of the intersection of highways 59 and 14 west of Tracy. At Garvin, there is a hill for every skill level of sliding and you will share the fun of tumbling and falling with lots of nice folks from this area. There is nothing boring about winter on the plains of Minnesota. Groomed snowmobile trails maintained by volunteers of snowmobile clubs make riding enjoyable and easy. State and county parks filled with wildlife make for winter photography at its best. So winter is the time to take the advice that the Nike shoe company gave for years: “Just do it.”
‘Christmas from the Heart’
Southwest Sailor, December 2016 – 7
By Carolon Van Loh
The Al Opland Singers are gearing up for a “Christmas from the Heart” musical December 2-4 and 9-11. The timetable for the show began in July when coproducers Bronwyn Jones and Mary Ann Yseth began looking at possible music and themes for the show. They met almost weekly until September. New music needed to be ordered, and all music had to be ready for the first rehearsal a week after Labor Day. Jones has sung for 20 years and served as a producer 16 of those years, but Yseth is a charter member of the group formed in 1978. “This was when the women joined the Pipestone Male Chorus. The first concert was advertised as the Pipestone Male Chorus and Friends. In 1980, the name was changed to Al Opland Singers in honor of our director,” said Yseth. The producers’ first steps in developing a Christmas show are choosing a theme and the music. “The theme this year evolved from perusing new and old music, and finding music that will fit what we have planned for production,” said Yseth. “We had a piece of music with the title ‘Christmas from the Heart.’ It’s a pretty broad-based title,” added Jones. “We want people to get into the spirit.” And what better way to get into the spirit with a blend of traditional sacred and secular music related to Christmas? “Go, Sing It on the Mountain” and a new song, “The 12 Days of Christmas Re-gifted,” will delight audiences as they listen to these arrangements based on traditional carols. Among several
The Al Opland Singers have a tradition of Christmas shows that dates from the 1980s. “Christmas from the Heart” is the theme for this year’s show.
traditional favorites, the Singers will be performing the long-standing universal favorite, “Silent Night.” Producers are responsible for securing all the behind-the-scene workers like the tech crew, lighting, sound and instrumentalists needed for the production. Staging and choreography appear on the producers’ list as well as overseeing the window design and costuming. Yseth summarized her experience with the Al Opland Singers by saying, “It is very rewarding to work with such dedicated musicians and singers and to
Lake Benton Minnesota Lake Benton Gifts Lake Benton Hardware
see the show come together as planned.” Jones said, “The biggest thing is that everyone is entertained and that their money is well spent.” Al Opland, music teacher at Pipestone High School, founded the Pipestone Men’s Chorus in 1947. He invited Dennis Hansen, a high school music student, to join the group in 1955. Seventyeight-year-old Hansen has been singing with the group ever since and was instrumental in the birth of Pipestone Performing Arts Center (PPAC) in a former retail store on East Main. “As far as theaters are concerned,
in southwestern Minnesota this is pretty much the premiere theater that. .everybody wishes they had,” said Hansen. Musicians like pianists Lorie Line and Dino, two Guthrie Theater performing groups and the Norwegian group Habberstad Ensemble are just a few entertainers who performed at the Center. Reserve your seats by calling 507-8252020 or 877-722-2787 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Adults: $15; Students: $5; Family: $35.
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8 – Southwest Sailor, December 2016
Shopping by light of trees Lights & Beyond specializes in unique home décor & gifts By Carolyn Van Loh
Looking for a unique decorating accessory for yourself or a friend? Maybe it’s time to change lighting in your favorite room. If so, check out Lights and Beyond on Third Street in downtown Tracy. Ade Miller and her husband Jim have transformed the former furniture store into a shopper’s dream. Ade brings a lifetime of experiences to the store. She has both a music and an art degree and taught music in Tracy schools for 25 years. For a time, she juggled her role as a music teacher with her artistic talents. In her younger years, she assisted her dad, an artist who did decorative painting in homes. After working with him on his projects, she decided, “I think I’d like to work on ground level.” The store’s reputation for quality and uniqueness draws customers from a 90-mile radius, with shoppers from Sioux Falls and Brookings, Mankato and Worthington. “Word of mouth is No. 1,” said Ade when asked how shoppers learn about Lights and Beyond. Visitors are often shopping for the appropriate light fixture or a unique, creatively-painted accent piece to complement the lighting and other décor in a particular room. • • • The store kicked off its Christmas holiday season the theme “shopping by the light of the trees.” On several designated nights in early November, the store was illuminated by only the light from decorated Christmas trees and other holiday lighting. Shoppers received a mini-flashlight to assist them as they browse. If you missed the special event, it’s not too late to stop in and find the “just right” gift. Ade has a knack for creating tables out of almost anything she finds. A round, bistro-height table is supported with wood from discarded bleachers. A beautiful, one-of-a-kind coffee table was a treadle sewing machine in its first life. Ade removed the treadle, giving new purpose to the antique. Uniquely Yours, Ade’s first business endeavor, provided an outlet for her artistic genes. The name aptly describes merchandise Ade has repurposed and given one or more coats of paint. She will custom paint furniture and accessories
Jim & Ade Miller enjoy putting a different slant on Christmas decor and gifts.
with the colors the customer wants. About the time Uniquely Yours opened on Third Street, two other local women opened Lights and Beyond in Tracy. When they decided sell their lighting store, the Millers bought the business, and blended the lighting products into the crafty merchandise in the Third Street store, while keeping the Lights and Beyond name. You will still find her “Uniquely Yours” business card attached to projects Ade has painted and restored. • • • Last February the Millers visited Magnolia Market in Waco, Texas. Joanna Gaines of the HGTV “Fixer Upper” show shops there for special pieces for the current “fixer upper” she and Chip are working on. Ade noted the origin of the merchandise. “We order from the same vendors they
Shop indoors out of the wind and cold at both our Tracy and Marshall locations for your fresh cut Christmas tree. Trees are hanging so you can get a full view of your selection.
FRESH FIRS FOR CHRISTMAS
Lights & Beyond See page 11
ITH VISIT W CLAUS SANTA EC. 3 SAT., D AT OUR ALL MARSH RE P.M. STO . TO 2:30
AT BOTH STORES! •Christmas Wreaths/Door Arches •Roping & Boughs •Poinsettias •Holiday Planters With Dogwood •Door Swags & Door Charms •Spruce Tips •Amaryllis Bulbs •Swags •Pine Cones •Gift Certificates
.M 11:30 A
The “Waco Room” is bursting with unusual decorating pieces.
www.greenwoodnurserymn.com Tracy Hours: M-F, 9-6; Sat, 9-4; Sun, 11-4 Marshall Hours: M-F, 10-7; Sat, 9-4; Sun, 11-4
Spomer Classics
Southwest Sailor, November/December 2016 – 9
Low-key Worthington museum once turned down ‘American Pickers’ By Shari Dalin Nelson
Thirty-six years ago while Marv and Jeanine Spomer were antiquing, she suggested that Marv, who was a General Motors dealer, should begin searching for automobile-related memorabilia, and Spomer Classics and Museum was born. “I got hooked on the signs and the memorabilia and here we are today,” he said in a recent interview. When Robbie Wolfe, the brother of Mike Wolfe of the reality show American Pickers, reluctantly visited the museum, he walked through the door and did not even see Marv because his eyes were on the signs which were not yet lit up. As Marv turned on the light, he heard Robbie say, “I have never seen anything like this place before. I have never seen so many one-on-one signs and I have never seen the quality of signs like this any place.” • • • The Spomers left Marion, South Dakota, and came to Worthington in 1972. He became the General Motors dealer in 1976 and later also became a Mazda dealer. In 1994 they bought the Oxford Street building, which they used for service overflow and restoration body work in the back room ,while Marv sold classic cars out of the front. When he sold the dealerships and the property on North Humiston at the end of 2003, he had nine storage areas full of good quality stuff he had collected. At that time, he and Janine decided to share the collection with people in the building at 322 Oxford Street. For about a year they cleaned, applied more than 300 gallons of paint, and added lots of electrical outlets as they changed the purpose of the building, which was built in the 1960s, from its original use as a car dealership to an memorabilia museum. Restoration of signs and cars continues in a shop area at the back of the building. Most of the signs only need to be cleaned; others require a major rebuild. The sale and restoration of classic cars continues. However, special classic cars like the one with autographs of Jesse Jackson, Robert F. Kennedy, and Hubert and Muriel Humphrey on its headrests will probably remain in the collection for many years to come. • • • When Marv conducts a tour, he tells lots of stories about the collection; yet no two tours are alike because there are
31st Annual
Springfield Nativity Pageant
Each car and each sign have stories which Marv will share with visitors.
so many stories that appeal to different tour groups. He may tell about the neon sign which came from the dealership in Marion, South Dakota, where he worked before he and Janine came to Worthington; the car which has never been licensed; the Bonneville which transported Senator Robert Kennedy, the Reverend Jesse Jackson, and former Vice-president and U. S. Senator Hubert H. Humphrey in past King Turkey Day parades; the sign which advertises steam boat rides on Worthington’s Okabena Lake; the car accompanied with a log that includes entries about such minutiae as when it was washed, fueled, and serviced; the first car which came into the museum’s showroom; where he found special signs; and the pieces which will turn 100 in 2017. This storyteller shows his enthusiasm for his hobby and his love for the collection while he preserves history and educates his guests. For each tour, he will tell about any of the thousands of pieces of memorabilia and 18-21 cars which call the museum home. When a tour group, it’s not unusual for
some people remain on the bus because the they think all they will see is a bunch of old cars. Soon some of those on the tour will go back to the bus and encourage those who stayed behind to join them for a fascinating experience. Soon the bus is empty, and Marv captivates his audience as he brings the memorabilia to life. Since he works alone and may not always be at the museum, Marv prefers that people call ahead and make an appointment by calling his cell phone number, which is 507-360-9557 and is also posted on the building. Groups including church groups, the Red Hat Ladies, quilting ladies, family and class reunions, and business groups come for the 90-minute to two-hour tour. Tours have been known to extend to three or more hours. Most visitors view the $10 admission as well worth the cost. If Marv is not available to lead a tour, Janine will captivate the visitors as she introduces items and shares stories about them. • • • Passersby see the perimeter lights when they drive by after dark, but that
display is nothing compared to what visitors experience when they are on a night tour. Marv stated that those perimeter lights prove the durability of neon because he has not turned the neon lights off since 2004, and has only had to replace a piece of glass, an igniter, and four or five transformers. Visitors come from all over the country and the world including a father and son who visit each year from Malta, an island country in the Mediterranean Sea near Italy, and buy a car. Last summer two groups each visited from Australia and New Zealand. In New Zealand, one annual American auto show attracts about 15,000 cars. Recently a son brought his father from a South Dakota nursing home for a visit, and two brothers met at the museum, which is a halfway point between where they live. Some people from Texas were visiting in Windom and came to see the collection. Some stop by to get ideas for creating their own
Spomer classics: See page 11
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The former shop office is filled with automotive marketing materials. One rare sign touts the Luverne car which was made in Luverne, Minnesota.
10 – Southwest Sailor, December 2016
Slayton, Minnesota
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Southwest Sailor, December 2016 – 11
Spomer Classics Continued from page nine
These chairs original home was the second-floor ballroom in the Sabin Building.
Lights & Beyond Continued from page eight
do,” she said. She calls one portion of her store the Waco Room because customers will find merchandise similar to that selected by the TV star. Gift items available include candles, candies and specialty coffees, as well as furniture, lighting products and repurposed furniture. Ade’s workroom for painting projects is in the basement, but a portion of the basement is dedicated to displays of stamping and card making supplies. There is also space for painting classes during which students learn the techniques necessary for painting a chair or other decorative item. Lights and Beyond building was once home to Sabin Ballroom on its spacious second floor. Three antique chairs outside the store’s front door are from the Sabin Ballroom. The ballroom once hosted a young Lawrence Welk and his band. Normal business hours are 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. More information is available at Lightsandbeyond.com.
man caves, while others get ideas for developing their own museums in other states. Spomer Classics has been an inspiration for the development of other museums including the Frontier Auto Museum in Gillette, Wyoming, and the Okoboji Classic Car Museum and Restoration Shop in Okoboji, Iowa. In the Twin Cities, Sioux Falls, and the Iowa Great Lakes areas, garage condominiums are going up. Each of these units can house approximately six cars and has a loft for a man cave, and a group from the cities came to Spomer Classics for ideas for their garage condominiums. • • • The late Stan Haug was Marv’s historian and spent countless hours researching the memorabilia. The first car to go into the showroom was Stan’s Packard, which many will remember seeing as he drove it around Worthington. The crew for the television series American Pickers crew wanted to come to the museum, but Marv and Janine decided they wanted to remain low keyed and turned down the crew’s request. A morning, afternoon, or evening spent with Marv and Janine at the museum will be stacked full of memories, stories, and history as visitors touch signs but not cars, are amazed by the size and quality of the collection, and delight in the beauty of the display.
The Luverne car was manufactured in Luverne, Minnesota, from 1904-1917, and one of its advertising slogans was “They Look Good, They Are Good, and They Stay Good.”
The lighted Pontiac sign has approximately 140 separate lights in it.
A cotton ball decoration.
At Minnwest Bank, we value the gifts of your friendship and patronage. We wish you all the blessings this special season holds.
A Uniquely Yours tag is attached to all Ade’s products. In the background is an old dresser that Ade gave a new life to with her special painting skills.
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12 – Southwest Sailor, December 2016
Victorian décor preserved
the parlor is a masculine color while the stone in the fireplace in the sitting room is pink. The wood in the rest of the downstairs is oak, but the trim upstairs is painted because Dayton wanted to provide a more comfortable and relaxed setting for the family. What is now the sitting room of that suite was for the two boys, David and George. The other room of the suite was George and Emma Dayton’s bedroom. Above the parlor and library is the Smallwood Suite, where were the bedrooms for the Dayton girls-Josephine and Caroline. Upstairs floors are plain hardwood while the floors downstairs are original parquetry, which includes intricate patterns and may be arranged in geometric designs. Long family ownership Florence Moulton Smallwood, the daughter of George Draper Dayton’s long-time real estate partner, and her husband Charles purchased the home in 1902 using part of her inheritance following her father’s death. Charles, who died in 1908, established Worthington’s first telephone exchange. The Smallwoods were very i n v o l v e d throughout the The Smallwood family community, and
The parquet floor borders survived years of traffic and reflect the elegance of the family’s home.
Florence lived in the house until her death in 1921. Florence’s daughter Mary and her husband John (Jack) Cashel were the next family to live at 1311 Fourth Avenue. John was a lawyer who served two terms as a Minnesota State Senator and was president of the Citizens’ National Bank for seven years. After Mary’s death, John married Ruth Gertz, and they continued to live in the house. After John Cashel’s death in 1938, his widow opened the house to roomers and nursing home patients so she could support her four children. During the 50 years that Ruth operated the establishment, the house’s layout changed with three structural additions and numerous modifications including the conversion of a fireplace in the dining room into a dumb waiter for more efficient food service to the upper floors. Restoration efforts In 1992, Melvin Gjertsen bought the house and with his daughter began restoring it to its former glory while hosting meetings, tours, and various
Continued from page five
gatherings. They envisioned turning the house into a bed and breakfast but were unable to do so. In 2001, Historic Worthington, Inc., purchased the house, completed its restoration two years later, and made the Gjertsons’ dream become a reality. The restored Dayton House is one of only 20 in Minnesota to be featured in Preserving Our Grand Homes: Minnesota’s Own. The Dayton House provides a unique setting for business meetings, weddings, showers, retreats, formal teas, family reunions, or other gatherings and has become a popular bed and breakfast. Tours are available either by appointment or when the house is open to the public. If other events are not scheduled, overnight guests may use the
The seating area between the Dayton Suite and the Smallwood Suite is above the house’s porch and main entrance and leads out onto a balcony.
lower level and outdoor spaces also as they step back more than 100 years into Victorian era elegance.
George Draper Dayton met with his business associates in the parlor and in the adjoining library, which make up the “male side” of the home’s downstairs.
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From left: Deb, Brooke, Dr. Jon Heezen, Carey and Angie.
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Southwest Sailor, December 2016 – 13
WG Mercantile blends nostalgia with sweet treats By Scott Thoma
Before opening the door to her car, a young woman reached into a small bag containing a recent purchase, pulls out a piece of fudge, and takes a hearty bite. “I’m in fudge heaven,” she exclaims to a friend, closing her eyes for emphasis. The two women had just exited Walnut Grove Mercantile, a division of Klein Foods, Inc. in Marshall. Walnut Grove Mercantile has been making and selling fudge in Marshall for 15 years. And to those fudgeaholics, the sights and smells of the many varieties can seem heavenly. But fudge isn’t the only thing that entices customers to this popular store owned by Steve and Kay Klein just off Highway 23 northeast of Marshall. There are many other homemade specialties to arouse the tastebuds. The Kleins, both as warm and personable as the Clauses, have been married for 39 years. “We have just always connected from the day we met,” said Steve. “We have compatible personalities. Kay is the perfectionist and keeps everything in order. And I am adventurous and like to try something new.” “Sometime I have to temper him,” laughs Kay. “But we really get along well.” Klein’s father, Ray, got the ball rolling in 1951 when he started Klein Honey Farm, a beekeeping business in Marshall. When Steve and Kay took over in 1992, they expanded the business to include
Walnut Grove Mercantile is known for its homemade fudge.
Who can resist a taste of these sweet morsels?
Steve and Kay Klein cater the tastes of customers by stressing quality and unique offerings.
gourmet honey and re-named it Klein Foods, Inc. Over the years, the Kleins garnered numerous awards for their honey products at the American Honey Show throughout the United States. Klein Foods, Inc. continued to expand to include additional foods such as barbecue sauces, preserves, dressings, dipping sauces, syrups, ice cream toppings, soups, salsa and much more. They also make several kinds of homemade soaps. • • • In 2000, the current retail store was built in order to sell their popular products. It opened to the public in October of 2001 and now also sells kitchen utensils, greeting cards, clothing, toys, old-time candy, gift baskets, ornaments, stocking stuffers, and more. “We wanted to come up with a name that people would associate with,” Steve said. “And because of the popularity of the Laura Ingalls Wilder museum and pageant in Walnut Grove, many people stay overnight in Marshall when visiting that area. So we decided to name it Walnut Grove Mercantile for marketing purposes.” Today, the Laura Ingalls Wilder museum in Walnut Grove even sells some of the products made by Klein Foods, Inc. “A lot of our wholesale customers knew we were opening and suggested we look at making fudge,” explained
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Steve. “It was expensive to start. So we practiced a lot until we got it right and it just took off after that.” • • • A visit to the Walnut Grove Mercantile is a step back in time. The outside of the store was made to resemble a general store from the late 1800s, while the inside has many old-time implements displayed on the floor throughout the store, or hanging from the ceiling. Old-time saloon piano music piped through the speakers in the store also adds to the ambiance. Merchandise is often displayed on
items reminiscent of pioneer days such as a scaled-down outhouse front and a makeshift henhouse. Items such as candle molds, milking buckets, washboards, egg baskets, long johns and even an old-time doctor’s bag are among the things displayed overhead by cords. “We get a lot of comments on some of the old-time things we have sitting around or hanging from the ceiling,” said Kay. “Some people aren’t sure what some of the old things are and they try to figure it out.” A corner of the story has books about local history, including the complete set of Little House on the Prairie books. The stand housing the books resembles a
Walnut Grove Mercantile: See page 14
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14 – Southwest Sailor, December 2016
Yule events abound By Scott Thoma
It seems as though we barely get time to throw out the pumpkins from Halloween when our attention is fastforwarded to Christmas. Stores stock Christmas decoration, trees and lights. Television stations start playing holiday-themed programs. And families already are taking photos for their Christmas cards. Even local communities begin early holiday programs, contests and parades. And Santa Clauses of all sizes and shapes begin belting out “Ho-ho-ho’s” as they pass out treats, converse with children, and pose for photos well in advance of Christmas. Are holiday events include:
Unique gifts are a hallmark of Walnut Grove Mercantile.
Walnut Grove Mercantile Continued from page 13
covered wagon. “We love that store,” said the woman in fudge heaven. “It feels just like you’re inside an old general store. Especially with so many homemade things, just like in the pioneer days. We practically live at this place.” But it’s the fudge that has found its way into the hearts, and mouths, of people all across the United States since the Kleins began shipping orders. “We’ve started offering the fudge for fundraisers to organizations like schools and churches that are trying to raise money,” said Steve. “It’s been really
BALATON – Christmas Weekend in Balaton,, Dec. 2-3. Friday: business open houses, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.; Santa at Community Center, 5 to 6:30 p.m.; Balaton Community Band, 6 p.m.;; Chamber dinner, 5 to 7 p.m; illusionist Jett Skrien, 6:30 p.m. Saturday: Balaton Snow Ball, Ralco Technology Campus gym. 7 p.m. Tickets $20.
successful so far. We are shipping fudge now to 39 states for fundraisers.” • • • Like elves in the toyshop, many of the workers at Klein Foods, Inc. are scurrying in a large room mixing various ingredients for the fudge. “We have made over 60 kinds of fudge,” said Steve, whose interest in trying new ideas stems from his college chemistry background. “We take suggestions from people and then try to make it. Not all of them turn out so we don’t sell them.”
CANBY – Dec. 4: Hometown Holidays will include the first annual Parade of Lights that begin at 6:15 p.m. in the downtown area … A “Living Nativity” involves community members and live animals at 7 p.m. in the downtown area ... Kids Shopping Mall will be held from 4-6 p.m. at P.K. Egan’s Family Restaurant. COTTONWOOD – Dec. 2: Prairie Home Hospice and Community Care Tree of Lights will
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GRANITE FALLS – Dec. 15-24: Watch for the Sneaky Footbridge Elf around town. Fill out the Elf on the Footbridge shopping card in Chambermember stores for the grand prize drawings to be held at 1 p.m. on Dec. 23 … Dec. 18: “Carl Lomen’s Visit With Santa and Reindeer at the Andrew J. Volstead House” is from 1-4 p.m. Live reindeer and sleigh provide outdoor photo opportunities. Santa Claus on hand for photos, too. Activities and refreshments. Free and open to the public. LAKE BENTON – Dec. 3: The 19th annual Christmas Show at the Lake Benton Opera House will be held at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The program will feature soloists and groups singing various holiday songs. The cost is $10 per person. … Dec. 10: Santa Claus Day. LUVERNE – Dec. 3, 10, 17: Several events will be held on Saturdays in December. A Winterfest Arts & Crafts Show with over 100 vendors will be from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Dec. 3 in the Cardinal Gym. Admission is $3 (12-andunder free). There will also be pictures with Santa and a Santa’s Workshop in which those in grades K-4 can make-and-take a holiday project … The Hinkly House will have a Christmas Open House from 1-4 p.m. … Enjoy live music on the evening of Dec. 3 by the Luverne Street Music … Dec. 4: The Historic Palace Theatre will be showing a free Hallmark movie “North Pole Open for Christmas” at 2 p.m. … Dec. 3-23: Participating forms for the Nutcracker Scavenger Hunt, an ongoing event, will be available at the craft show. MARSHALL – Dec. 2: The Prairie Home Hospice and Community Care Tree of Lights will be lit at 6:30 p.m. at Memorial Park … Dec. 4: The Lyon County Historical Society Museum will be hosting its annual Holiday Home Tour from 1-4 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person and can be purchased at the museum, Hy-Vee or Coco Ave. The museum opens at noon that day and offers refreshments and holiday cookies for tour participants … The Marshall Area Fine Arts Council is sponsoring “3 Guys, 30 Instruments Christmas Show” at 4 p.m. at Marshall High School. Door prizes. Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance at the Arts Center or Hy-Vee. Cost is $20 for adults, $10 for students, and $5 for children 12-and-under. MINNEOTA – Dec. 4: The annual Prairie Home Hospice and Community Care Tree of Lights will be lit at 5:15 p.m. at Memorial Park.
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be lit at 4:30 p.m. at the corner of First and Main Christmas Bake Sale from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Community Center.
MONTEVIDEO – Dec. 1: Christmas Lighted Parade on Main Street begins at 6 p.m. Meet and greet Santa Claus following the parade at Hollywood on Main … Dec. 3: The annual Christmas in the Village will be showcased from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Historic Chippewa City. Italian themed this year, the old-fashioned decorated village includes Santa Claus, horse-drawn rides, crafters, bake and candy sales, old-fashioned radio show, and lunch. Admission is $5 per adult, $2 for ages 13-18, and free for 12-and-under. NEW ULM – Nov. 25: The 28th annual Parade of Lights will take place from 6-7 p.m. Santa Claus comes to town to lead 60 units that are all
Community holiday events: See page 15
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Southwest Sailor, December 2016 – 15
Community holiday events Continued from page 14
decked out with lights, making their way through historic downtown. The official tree-lighting follows at City Hall. The Brown County Historical Society Museum has its annual Holiday Open House after the parade, which includes a new exhibit designed for the holidays ... Dec. 24-25: The annual Schell’s Brewery Christmas Luminaries will light the Schell’s mansion and gardens with luminaries from 6:30-10 p.m. on Christmas Eve and at 6 p.m. until they burn out on Christmas Day. PIPESTONE – Dec. 2, 3, 4 & 9, 10, 11: The annual “Al Opland Christmas Festival of Music” will be held at the Performing Arts Center. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. with Sunday matinees at 3 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $5 for students, and $35 per family … Dec. 22: North Dakota native Kat Perkins, who gained popularity
as a Season 6 contestant on The Voice, will appear at the Performing Arts Center with her “Home for the Holidays” program at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person. SLAYTON: Country Christmas, Dinehart Holt House, Nov. 25, 26, Dec. 1-3, Dec. 8-10, Dec. 15-17. , SLEEPY EYE – Nov. 25: Holiday Lights in Motion is a spectacular light show in Sportsmen’s Park … Dec. 7: Ladies Night Out will take place from 5-7 p.m. SPRINGFIELD – Dec. 9-10: The annual “Live Nativity Pageant” will begin at 7 p.m. at Riverside Park. More than 80 volunteers tell the Christmas story. Included in the performances is a 30-voice choir, dancing angels, children choir, and a live manger scene that includes camels.
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TYLER – Nov. 25: Browser Night sponsored by the Tyler Area Community Club will be held from 5-8 p.m. TRACY—Nov. 26:Holiday Bazaar, The Caboose, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., free pictures wiht Santa, Tracy Library, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. ; horse carriage rides; Lions Soup Supper, 5 to 7 p.m.,; Downtown Holiday Parade of Lights, 6 p.m. WINDOM – Nov. 26: Santa Claus makes an early appearance, greeting visitors at the Cottonwood County Courthouse from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. … A city lighting ceremony for its new community-sponsored Christmas lights will be at 5 p.m. … Dec. 15: Christmas by Candlelight will be held from 5-7 p.m. in the downtown square. Horse-drawn rides, live reindeer and caroling.
The Schell’s Brewery mansion will be lit up with luminaries on Christmas Eve.
Merry Christmas from our homes to yours!
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Business open houses Santa at Community Center Balaton Community Band Chamber Dinner
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16 – Southwest Sailor, December 2016
Trac High y Area Cham Schoo ber C l to per hoir at 1 pform .m.
ity l n i r T choo S rom e r P dren f rm Chil n to perfo to a.m. y a l S at 10
Friday, Dec. 2, 9 to 3 pm
at Currie State Bank in Currie Holiday goodies, sandwiches, coffee and hot cider served throughout the day.
Register To
WIN A FREE TURKEY Ten turkeys will be given away on December 15.
Stop by Currie State Bank and register any time. www.murraylandagencyinc.com Tracy 212-6688–Currie 763-3599–Slayton 836-6996
May all your hopes and dreams come true this holiday season. For your faith in us, we are forever grateful.
We wish all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
You Know Us...We Know You” 141 Mill Street – Currie, MN 56123 – (507) 763-3262 Member curriestatebank.com FDIC