September 2018
PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 9
CIRCLE PINES, MN
Farm Fest - Silent Auction Sunday, Sept. 9 - 3-7pm
NORTH OAKS NEWS 4779 Bloom Avenue White Bear Lake, MN 55110
Publication of the Hill Farm Historical Society
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
Hill Farm News
Entrance
Marc Owens-Kurtz
A DRONE’S VIEW OF FARM FEST
FUN for the whole family!
FOOD FROM THE GRILL, POP & MORE
FARMERS MARKET
BEER FROM A KEG, WINE IN A CUP
PETTING ZOO AND PONY RIDES
Silent Auction
Items and Opportunities found only at a Hill Farm Historical Society auction READY FOR BIDDING & MORE TO COME
Bidding closes at 6:00 p.m. Items may be paid for by cash, check, credit card or PayPal Items should be picked up by 7 p.m.
MEMORABLE
An evening for 16 people at Hill house on Summit Avenue. Hearty hors d’oeuvres, wine and tour
HISTORICAL
1892 map of North Oaks Farm Color copy of oil painting-James J. Hill house & greenhouse Color copy of 1884 oil painting of Dairy building 1950 North Oaks concept map Louis W. Hill Sr. house windows
BOOKS
HAPPY, SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS
“ Celebrations to Remember: Exceptional Decor & Fabulous Food “- Soile Anderson “Dutiful Son, Louis W. Hill” Biloine W. Young & Eileen R. McCormack “James J. Hill, the Empire Builder of the Northwest” Michael P. Malone “Remembering Louis W. Hill through Oral History” compiled by Elizabeth Burns
AMENITIES
A variety of wines 1 gallon of Abbott paint Bike tune-up at County Cycle Chuck & Don’s Pet Supply gift basket Movie baskets-wine & food to eat while watching movies. Hand thrown pottery bowl
TICKETS
Guthrie Theatre Lakeshore Players St. Paul Chamber Orchestra Minnesota History Theatre St. Paul Saints Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Valleyfair
GIFT CERTIFICATES
Hotel 340 Hummingbird Floral Jersey Mikes Kowalskis Lexington Floral Maplewood Toyota Mr. Carwash Outing Lodge - Stillwater Pazzaluna Restaurant Porterhouse Restaurant St. Paul Grill University Club W.A. Frost White Bear Center for the Arts Wild Mountain Skiing
VISIT THE BLACKSMITH
MILK A COW, MAKE BUTTER
WHITEKNUCKLES BLUE GRASS BAND
Meet the HFHS Board of Directors
a 21 member volunteer working board dedicated to preserving and telling the story of James J. Hill’s farm
Judy Ohannesian, Ken Klein, Barbara Kirkpatrick, Tami McNeil, Jake Popp, Eileen McCormack, and Bill Ecklund. Not shown Mary Nussbaum, Peter Dahlberg and Sara Maud Lydiatt-Vanier
Front-Ann Haase (Secretary) Dorothy Hoem (Treasurer), Lydia Brown, Jayne & Chuck May. Back-Walter Krebsbach, Mike Vinyon, Paul Dickson (President) Denise Fleming, Joan Brainard
Thank you members and contributors
who supported the Hill Farm Historical Society in 2018 *Life Members
Kenneth & Janet Adams *James & Sharon Allen Donald & Jean Alsop *Caroline Amplatz *Kim & Gloria Anderson Marc & Susan Asch *Tom and Kerry Atkinson Mark & Patricia Azman *Thomas & Ann Bagnoli Roger & Carolen Bailey Bank of America Faith Basten Charles & Jean Bauer *John & Margaret Beahrs Leo Beauregard Thomas & Judith Beniak *Pete & Wendy Benson Ray & Carol Bergeson Bryce & Pamela Beverlin Gregory & Sarah Booth *Benson & Joan Brainard John Brainard Rawley & Ginny Brodeen Bronwen Cound & Bill Brody Mark & Lydia Brown Conrad & Faye Buhr Bob & Lynn Butler Nikki Butler *Bruce Carlson Norris & Lesley Carnes *Richard & Carol Caruthers Romelle Castle John & Lynne Clayton *Charlie Cliffe *Elizabeth Cliffe *Roger & Judith Colton Peter & Jenean Cordon Donald & Sandra Craighead *Michael & Pamela Crandall Gordy & Dianne Curphy *Earl & Kathleen Currie *Peter & Anuradha Tummala Dahlberg Christopher DeLaForest James & Channing Riggs DeMay
Lori & Paul Delahunt Paul & Connie Dickson *Charlton Dietz *Thomas & Kathleen Diffley John & Emily Douglass Dennis & Debra Duffy James & Jayne Early *William & Kareen Ecklund Mark & Mari Ekblad Charles & Laura Eldridge *Richard & Gwen Elias Jean Engle James & Elizabeth Ericksen Ronald & Marcia Everson *Eric Felhaber *Mrs. Richard Felhaber *Joe & Denise Fleming *Tom & Carmen Foley Fred & Dorothy Forro Steven & Judith Forshay Philip & Caroline Fortmeyer *Richard Cisek & Kay Fredericks Miriam Zachary & Bob Freed *William & Bonita Frels *Lee & Kathryn Gatrell Paul & Catherine Gatto Robert & Rosemary Geist Donald & June Gibbons Mark & Diane Gorder Mary Buerkle-Grant & John Grant *Jacqueline Grove Mary Swanson & Darrel Gubrud *Benjamin & Kimberly Gulli *Philip & Carolyn Gustafson Ashley & Ann Haase *Richard & Sarah Haber Norman & Evangeline Hagfors Al and Nancy Hans JoAnn Hanson George & Susan Henly Timothy & Colleen Herold *Allan & Lois Hietala *Louis Fors Hill
Peter & Rebecca Hilger Jerry & Mary Ann Hinderman David & Debra Hjortland June Hochbrunn Bruce & Dorothy Hoem *Jonathan & Kathleen Hoistad *Mark & Anne Colombo Houge *Jeffrey & Janette Howe Jim & Carol Beatty Huhn Dennis & Judy Hull Julia & Gerald Hupperts Dean Hedstrom & Sandra Jacobsen Philip & Kim Severson Jemielita *Harry & Marian Johnson Jerome & Inge Johnson William & Susan (Marilyn S.) Jolitz *Mark & Evelyn Jorgensen William & Janet Jungbauer *Donald & Susan Kvam Stephen & Lauren Kavan Shaun & Michelle Kennedy *Craig & Barbara Kirkpatrick Teresa Quinn & Ken Klein Maureen A Kane & John Knoedler Sanjay & Sonia Kohli Brad Koons Richard & Christine Kowalski *Walter & Andrina Hougham Krebsbach *Carl & Janet Kuhrmeyer Paul & Ursula Kuhrmeyer James & Linda Lee Matti & Ritva Liiste Jean Ljungkull *Gary & Mary Lunstad Robert & Marilyn Mackie Albert & Nancy Maiers *John & Louise Marta Chuck & Jayne VanDesteeg May *Roy & Dorothy Mayeske *David & Pamela McCarthy Eileen McCormack Robert McCoy *Sean & Gina McDermott
SCALE MODEL OF 35 BUILDINGS ON THE FARM
Malcolm McDonald Thomas & Jean McGough Pat & Sandra McKasy Nancy McNee Harry G., Jr. McNeely Bruce & Tami McNeil *Margaret L. Meyers Alan & Janet Karvonen- Montgomery *Richard & Janet Moses Raleigh & Barbara Nelson Kyler & Gail Nelson Gregg & Colleen Nelson Donald & Gerda Nightingale David & Sheryll Norback *North Oaks Garden Club *Gary & Mary Nussbaum Norman & Margaret Nystrom Gerald & Sheila O’Brien *Stephen & Beverly Ogren *Judy & Douglas Tiffany Ohannesian David & Julie Oliver Bruce & Patricia Orud Charles & Victoria Osborne Willard & Missy Patty, Jr Gary & Jannette Paulu Thomas & Janet Payne Ben & Layna Peltier Brian & Katy Petersen Mark & Mary Peterson Dwight & Marge Peterson Shaun & Meredith Peterson Perry & Rachel Pickerign Thomas & Bette Plumb Jacob & Meissa Popp Steve & Kathy Porter Press Publication *Robert & Maureen Proebstle Tim Quinn *George & Joy Rathmann *Patricia Reioux Ron & Debbie Resch *Joseph Braun & Ann Rinehard *Jerry & Joanne Robertson
Keith & Catherine Ross *Kevin & Leela Scattum Evan & Sarah Asch Schnell Robert & Patricia Schubert *Cass & Bonnie Selden *Dennis & Barbara Senneseth Susan Olive & Patricia Sheehan John Shelendich John Shinar Robert Smith Douglas & Mary Smith Michael & Amy Murphy Sullivan *Loren & Sally Swanson Norman & Marie Sweeny Gregory & Jeanette Swenson *Edwin & Diana Taylor *Robert & Kathleen Tipler *John & Marie Tobin Peter & Katherine Tomsich Tradition Capitol Bank Mike & Doreen Trucano Robert & Cindy Turkington Dennis & Karen Vaughn William & Karen Veeneman Sarah Vessey *Michael & Laurie Vinyon Joe & Katie Wahlberg Jon & Dawn Walburg Curtis & Sharon Wall James & Susan Wandell *Jean M. Wardin Tom & Judy Ware *Eugene & Alma Warlich *Thomas & Jane Watson *Bob Sheets & Mary West Roxanne Wheeler *David & Suzanne White *Philip & Christina White Dorothy & Robert Williams *Roger & Farron Winges Tim & Krista Wolter Joann Youngstrom Jeff & Sandra Smith Zinn
GAMES AND INFLATABLES
BUTTER MAKING EXHIBIT IN THE DAIRY
VIDEO KIOSKS IN THE GRANARY
Financing the Restoration of North Oaks Farm
By Joan Brainard Hill Farm Historical Society Board member It all started in 1988 when the North Oaks Company said they would give the 5.6 acres of land with three of the James J. Hill’s North Oaks Farm buildings built in 1884- the Dairy, Granary (red barn) and Blacksmith/ Machine shop to the 501c3 non-profit Hill Farm Historical Society if $150,000 was raised to assure the buildings would be restored to be an asset to the community. Money raising started with Margaret and Richard Felhaber’s contribution of $30,000 to a fund dedicated for landscaping and fencing the historical site. Margaret loved formal gardens, Richard preferred the natural look. As a result, a prairie was planted on the west side of the farm site, and a gazebo and fruit trees - one for each Felhaber grandchild were planted south of the dairy building. North Oaks residents rallied together and raised the money. Their names and others who have since contributed are on the sign panel in front of the Dairy building. Volunteers guided by resident Peter Hilger started restoring the dairy in 1992. Broken window glass was replaced, the porch and cupolas were rebuilt as they were in 1884. Painting was done by local resident volunteers. A new roof replaced the original 100-year-old roof. Restoration of the exterior of the Dairy was completed in 1996. Cost: $106,000. The next projects needed professional contractors. Many of the bricks in the Machine/Blacksmith shop had to be removed, cleaned up and replaced. Part of the north wall and all of an interior wall that had been removed to enable trucks to be stored inside the building needed to be rebuilt. Also a new
the original Dairy building. Resident Bill Campbell made an exact copy of a wood butter worker. Exhibits on the walls show how butter was made in the late 1880’s.
roof was installed. Cost: $83,000 plus $1,500 for blacksmith equipment. HFHS was running out of money! In about 1999, a successful money raising campaign was needed before reboarding the granary. HFHS board member Carl Kuhrmeyer oversaw the project. Although referred to as the Red Barn, enclosed wood ventilation channels from the root cellar exiting at the roof cupolas indicates it is a granary used for storing grains. Cost: $348,000. The electric system which was not up to code was upgraded. A new well near the Machine Shop was paid for by the North Oaks Garden Club. Onward to interior restoration and telling the story of the farm. Dairy walls were painted a light yellow based on paint samples taken from the dirty old walls. Marble floors which James J. Hill had ordered in his own handwriting were repaired. Based on research of the James J. Hill papers at the Hill Reference Library, equipment used in the dairy was identified. By attending farm auctions and visiting antique shops, HFHS acquired a DeLaval separator and a wood churn similar to the ones in
In 2007, Dick Leonard and Joan Brainard published “Three Bold Ventures, the History of North Oaks” with all proceeds from the sale of the book dedicated to the Hill Farm Historical Society who marked the income for preparation of exhibits to tell the story of North Oaks Farm. Book production costs were financed by Louis W. Hill, Jr. children: Louis Fors, Johanna and Mari. When Walter Meyers, HFHS first president, died in 2003, Margaret, his wife, contributed to a fund dedicated to the dairy. All of the walls in the three buildings are now filled with exhibits telling the story of North Oaks Farm. The historic site is on the National Register of Historic Places. It has been a great 30 year journey facilitated by many volunteers, and financial supporters. James J. Hill’s North Oaks Farm will live on for future generations to know how great the man was, and the unique role the farm played in history. (the small photos - left to right - the Machine/ Blacksmith shop, Granary, and Dairy interior before restoration.)
Join the Hill Farm Historical Society Annual Family Member $35 Life Member $1000 Name Address City, State, Zip Send to: 100 Village Center Drive - Suite 240 North Oaks, MN 55127