“The Good Old Days” -By Tom Kuehne

Why Here? Today, we could have found ourselves in the “Old Country."

Prices, political problems, family and community issues caused our ancestors to want to make the big move to America.

Some countries were experiencing severe economic problems. The administrations in some countries caused real security concerns. Some family traditions actually left family members with a very limited economic future. They had to create a future in a way entirely different than they had grown up or been helping their parents to create.

So naturally they were looking for an opportunity to build a more comfortable life. There were a variety of promotional and advertising brochures in the libraries, newspapers or any place that was a gathering place. America was promoting their land and opportunities to anyone that would come there.

Most of these brochures were not entirely honest. They spoke about a land that was just waiting for them to come and begin to plant and harvest crops of tremendous yield. Pictures of well dressed families happily standing in front of their two story house along with a couple of well finished steers. Some pictures showed a young fellow, well dressed, following his walking plow, smiling as though his plowing of the beautiful loam was no effort at all. It was a land of milk and honey and all one had to do was to come over and claim it.

An ad for Minnesota spoke of the good soil surrounded by territory teaming with wildlife, which could easily feed your family even if the crops were not great. Another ad was primarily shown in Germany, promoting the rich land along the Sauk River, near the future town of Melrose and how farming there would be very prosperous. The actual truth was that the soil was good, but it was populated by

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Services provided through one of these waivers and/or programs are designed to help people to live safely in their home and community and decrease nursing home placements. MnCHOICES uses a person-centered approach that tailors services to an individ-

The Old Hippie Cafe

ual’s strengths, preferences, and needs. It allows the individual to have an important and active role in the planning of their long-term services and supports.

An individual can request a screening or have a screening and decide not to access waivered services. Also, an individual who has a screening may not be eligible for waivered services and/or may be referred for other appropriate services as determined by the MnCHOICES assessment.

To request a MnCHOICES assessment for long-term services and supports, please call Todd County Health and Human Services at 320-732-4500.

hardwood trees that were a couple of hundred years old. You could homestead the acres, but the trees with roots as large as normal trees needed to be cut and the stumps needed to be dug from the soil. Remembering that there were no caterpillars or backhoes and all of the work needed to be done with axes, handsaws and a team of horses. That is why sometimes one would see stumps in the farmer's field. Turning the wooded land into tillable fields took years and a whole lot of physical labor. A positive thing about creating a farmstead, was that it was normal for the neighbors to gather to help when a building was built. Typically the homesteader would gather logs or lumber and when the big day arrived, the neighbors would arrive for a day of work, a couple of good meals and probably a beer or two...

For feedback or story ideas, email Tom at tom@swanvilleinsurance.com.

If you need help with Health or Life Insurance or for Senior Health Solutions Contact: Tom Kuehne 320-360-0343

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Corner Pub & Grill Freeport, MN • 320-836-2120

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• 6 oz. Steak $12 • Add 3 Shrimp $15

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• Add 3 Shrimp $15

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Toppings 50¢ each; Bacon 50¢ Slice

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