Holdingford Area Historical Society Inc

"The Ford in the River" is now Available

2012-01-07T21:06:00.000-06:00

As said in the previous post The Holdingford Area Historical Society has reprinted a limited edition of "The Ford in the River" , the history of Holdingford written and published by Father V. Yeserman in 1985 .

It is available locally at Headley Hardware Hank or the Corner Pizza , Holdingford, Mn.

Also by mail $25 per copy + $5.00 shipping & handling mail your name and phone number to JMC2619 at gmail.com   Check or money order only.

limited edition of "The Ford in the River"

2011-11-22T14:39:00.000-06:00

The Holdingford Area Historical Society is reprinting a limited edition of "The Ford in the River" , the history of Holdingford written and published by Father V. Yeserman in 1985

This would make a wonderful Christmas gift, the book outlines the history of accomplishments in the Holdingford area and would be a great gift to pass onto our friends and relatives.

$25 per copy

Reserve a copy at Headley Hardware Hank , Holdingford, MN or

e-mail your name and phone number to JMC2619 at gmail.com

Check or Cash no credit card.

Delivery date coming soon.

Support your local Historical Society !

This fall we were able to renovate the roof of our future Museum and are now raising funds to reinovate the interior.

History Plaques ready for Review

2011-11-21T22:27:00.000-06:00

Click on the link to see the History Plaques that are ready for review.

Road Trip To Paynesville

2011-10-18T20:56:00.000-05:00

The Holdingford Area Historical Society took a road trip to the Paynesville Area Historical Society's Museum. We were very impressed with the work they have done on creating their museum.
It would be well worth your time to visit them.

Holdingford Historical Society finds a home

2011-09-18T08:12:00.000-05:00

By Mike Kosik- Albany Enterprise

What started as a newly elected Holdingford city councilor's desire to get a record of past mayors and council members has bloomed into a full-fledged historical society.

"I started digging through the files for old minutes" of the city council, historical society member Mike Odden said.

As a result, one of the oldest buildings in Holdingford is being restored and will preserve the history of the area thanks to the efforts of the Holdingford Area Historical Society.

The building that most recently was used as the city's maintenance shop but has been turned over to the Holdingford Historical Society.

For a group that was formed about five years ago, they have taken on a big project. The first order of business is repairing the roof.

Bids were taken and the $16,000 project is scheduled for this fall.

Pretty soon a group of people interested in preserving the history of the Holdingford area met at the Corner Pizza and became the Holdingford Area Historical Society.

The society first looked at an old school house that was owned by Margaret Huls, a former teacher.

Huls, a society member, received the old school house with the stipulation that it would be preserved. Plans were to move the building, but issues regarding asbestos, the cost of moving the building and its condition squelched the idea.

At the time, Huls was a member of the Holding Township Historical Society.

What did pan out was the old Welna Produce building, located on the corner of Main Street and County Road 17.

The 80 by 40 foot building had also been used by the Holdingford School District for shop and agriculture classes before the city took it over, Odden said.

The building is still in good shape, but the roof leaks. Through various fundraisers, the society raised the money for the new roof.

After that plans are to section the building off for various displays.

One of those displays will be a one-room classroom, so the historical society will be able to use some of the old fixtures and items in the old school building that had been turned over to Huls.

The Welna building sits on an old railroad lease site. The railroad track is now the Lake Wobegon Trail, which is owned by the county.

"If the building is razed, nothing can go back there," historical society member Mark Koehn said.

Much of the exterior of the building will remain as is, but the interior displays will be a work in progress, said Sue Marstein, a city councilor and society member.

"It's going to be a 15-year project," historical society president Herman Ebnet said.

While fundraising will be an on-going activity, the historical society hopes to secure grants.

To that end, it needs to affiliate with the Stearns County History Museum and the Minnesota Historical Society. While neither organization provides funding or other assistance, it is a necessary step to get grant money.

But the historical society has initiated several fundraisers, and has done fairly well.

One of them is Minnesota 13 t-shirts. Minnesota 13 was the name given to the moonshine produced in Stearns County during Prohibition.

The Holdingford area was one of the hotbeds of moonshining and Minnesota 13 had the reputation of being a high quality, albeit elicit liquor.

The historical society also sells bottled water and has set up collection jars throughout the community.

The sale of CDs containing news stories from the Holdingford Advertiser is another fundraiser. Stories from issues of the Advertiser going back to the 1900s are on the CDs.

The Advertiser was the precursor to the Holdingford Herald, which published until 1972.

"It's been doing very well for us," Marstein said about the CDs.

The historical society hopes to tie in their building with the covered bridge over the Lake Wobegon Trail and the trail itself. A gift shop is one possibility.

While the historical society has many artifacts now, they are continuing to look for more, particularly old photos.

"People with old photos can donate them to the historical society," said member Jan Klug, or they can just drop them off and get them returned.

"If people have old photos they can give them to Mike (Odden) who will make copies and give the photos back," Ebnet said.

The Holdingford Area Historical Society is a not for profit organization and donations are tax deductible. Those who wish to donate can send their donation to Holdingford Area Historical Society, c/o Sue Marstein, Box 69, Holdingford, MN. 56304, or drop it off at the Stearns Bank in Holdingford.

Tidbits From the Past

2011-01-19T16:52:00.001-06:00

Tom Long , had been looking at some old newspapers and was kind enough to share the information he gleaned with us.
Thanks Tom

July 21, 1910 - Sitting Bull Jr. and a small band of his braves, and one
medicine man came in off the reservation one night this week and treated the
citizens to a ghost dance.

March 2, 1911 - Henry Sandkamp has purchased the Merchants Hotel with
furniture. The price was $6100.

June 22, 1911 - "Real Estate Deal" - Henry Sandkamp bought the old drugstore
wing adjacent to the Merchants Hotel from Val Herman last Monday morning.
The price of the property has not been given out, but is understood to be
about $3500 to $4000. The property is a two story brick veneered building
with a full stone basement and also includes a piece of ground in the angle
between the hotel and the addition just transferred. Mr. Sandkamp has now a
handsome and valuable piece of property as there is in town.

May 15, 1913 - "New Telephone Service" - Holdingford has now the most
complete and prompt service that can be procured. The Northwestern Telephone
Company has begun a continuous day and night service with Miss Mary Abeln as
chief operator and Miss Lizzie Sandkamp as assistant. Holdingford has wanted
this service for many years and will now take pride in at last securing the
best there is to be had. Nothing slow about this town!

October 29, 1914 - "Attention" A meeting of the citizens of Holdingford will
be held in the Scenic Opera House, Saturday evening Oct. 31st, 1914, at 7:30
to consider the matter of electric lights. A representative from
Minneapolis, and others, will be on hand to give information on the subject.
Everyone is invited to attend.

December 10, 1914 - "Lights Coming" - It takes a time keeper and a card
index to keep up with Holdingford.
We are going to have electric lights after all. They are almost ready. The
building is up and the machinery will be installed at once. The poles have
been set and the wire strung and today we print the franchise and the
contract whereby the village gets street lights. About the middle of January
next, Holdingford will be shining like a jewel.

January 14, 1915 - The electric light plant was first started up last Friday
evening and light furnished in the corner saloon for a while. Saturday
evening the lights were turned on the streets. It certainly looked good. The
lights will not be turned on regularly for a few days yet.

June 10, 1915 - Val Herman has traded his lot back of the Merchants Hotel to
Henry Sandkamp for a lot opposite the depot near Mr. Stewart's residence.
This last lot he has sold to the Standard Oil Company which is now putting
in two storage tanks for kerosene and gasoline. Mr. Herman will now have
charge of the station here and will run a tank team to deliver oil to nearby
stations.

February 3, 1916 - Nemec Theatre, St. Cloud - One week starting February 6,
Sunday matinee - Elliot and Sherman present twice daily - "The Worlds
Mightiest Spectacle", D.W. Griffith's "The Birth of a Nation". Good Horses,
18,000 People, 5,000 Scenes, Cost $500,000, Symphony Orchestra of 30.
Daily Matinees, 25c, 50c, 75c, 1.00
Evening "	50c, 75c, 1.00, 1.50

November 29, 1917 - "Thanksgiving Midnight Supper" - A big Thanksgiving
mid-night supper will be served The Merchants Hotel beginning at 11:00 p.m.
Price 75c per couple. Everyone is cordially invited to come and enjoy a
good, square meal.

December 27, 1917 - The Merchants Hotel has put on fire escape ladders on
the east and south side of the building to comply with the state
regulations. Winkler Brothers won the contract, and their valuable employ,
Stephen Gruidl made the iron fire escapes here, which is a creditable piece
of work.

February 28, 1918 - "Holdingford Lightless" - The mass meeting held here
last Monday evening by Mr. Fred Speechly, secretary of the Holdingford Light
Company. was not very well attended, and according to all probabilities,
Holdingford will not only have Wheatless, Meatless, Heatless, Snowless, days
but most of all "Lightless nights" and the people of this community are
wondering what the "whatnextless" will mean.

May 27, 1920 - "Aeroplane creates sensation in Holdingford on Monday" -
Cyril Stodolka, the Royalton aviator, accompanied by Alvin Orth, arrived on
the Frank Meier field at five-thirty Monday afternoon with 65-horse Curtis.
He came over in about 8 minutes against the wind. The news of his coming was
circulated around earlier in the day, and a large crowd of spectators were
awaiting his arrival.

Holdingford Holiday Events

2010-11-29T19:44:00.000-06:00

Holdingford Holiday Events

Come home for the holidays!

2010 Holdingford Area Holiday Home Tour

The 2010 Holiday Home Tour will be held Saturday, December 4^th from 1-5 PM and

Sunday, December 5^th from 1-4 PM. The following families will be welcoming guests into their homes which they have decorated for Christmas:

Dale & Kathy Bruns, Arlie & Marcy Lawrenz, Lee & Dana Paulzine, and

Idella Schneider-Two Rivers Guest House.

As a special bonus tour (open to all--no ticket required), view the newly constructed

Community Country Church across from the Holdingford school and the St. Mary’s Parish House.

Those participating will enjoy refreshments at the Lake Wobegon Coffee Shop located on Main Street. Also, ten local businesses have partnered with the Holdingford Area Historical Society (HAHS) and are offering holiday coupons for each ticket purchased.

All proceeds go to the Historical Society and the future history museum.

Tickets may be purchased for $10 in advance or $12 on tour days at Holdingford Corner Pizza & Antiques, Holdingford Gas & Grocery, Headley Hardware Hank, Albany Country Floral & Gifts, and Paul & Kathy’s Grocery in Upsala.

Tree Lighting Ceremony

All are invited to attend!

The Holdingford Garden Club, “Pedals to Petals” will host the annual tree lighting ceremony on Friday, December 3, 2010. The ceremony will start at 6:30 PM in the Triangle Garden located at the intersection of River and Main Street. Mayor Ernie Schmit will preside over the event, accompanied by local carolers as they ring in the new holiday season.

Free hot chocolate and cider will be served.

Annual Santa Breakfast

For All Ages!

A pancake and sausage breakfast with Santa Claus will be held on Sunday, December 5^th,

from 9AM-12:30PM at the Holdingford City Center on Main Street.
Sponsored by the Holdingford Women of Today

St. Hedwig’s Church Centenial Holdingford, Mn

2010-08-10T17:45:00.000-05:00

St. Hedwig’s Church of Holdingford is Celebrating 100 Years ! on September 12, 2010

below is the schedule for the day.
9:00-10:30 AM
FREE Shuttle from Holdingford High
School Parking Lot (every 15 minutes)
10:00 AM
Rendition of Hymns of the Past 100 Years
& Performed by Church Choir
10:30 AM
Celebration Mass with Bishop Kinney
Past & Present Parish Priests Co-Celebrate
12:00-2:30 PM
Chicken & Ham Dinner (Free Will Offering)
Proceeds Will be Donated to;
The Five Parish Youth Group, Helping Hands
Outreach, Holdingford Area Historical Society,
Holdingford Food Shelf and Homa Bay
(St. Hedwig’s Sister Parish)

12:00-6:00 PM (Shuttle Continues)
Activities
Live Music, Silent Auction, Bingo, Guided
and Self-Guided Church Tours, Children’s
Rides & Games
Stands
Country Store, Memorabilia, Garden
Harvest, Crafts & Quilts
Booths
Polish Specialty Foods, Beer, Popcorn,
Cotton Candy, Drinks, Hamburger &
Polish Sausage
Historical Church Artifacts and Images on
Display in the Religious Education Center

Their limited edition Centennial Book (Harvesting a Heritage of Charity)The book has the history of the church, Interesting articles on certain functions within the church, Family memories (especially showcasing families that were here when the original church was built), biographies of past priests, lots of photos and of course it finishes out with a section of favorite recipes. It costs $18.95 and is available at Helping Hands, Headley Hardware and also can be ordered at 320-746-2426.

Senator Joe McCarthy +Baseball+Holdingford

2010-07-06T20:40:00.001-05:00

In a Life Magazine Oct 18, 1968 article, Senator Joe McCarthy talks about his time playing in the Great Soo League. See if you can find where he talks about the pink hats and pink sweaters, worn by one of the teams.

The Henry Sandkamp Family

2009-12-06T21:52:00.003-06:00

We recently had the pleasure of meeting another individual, one Tom Long from Maitland, Florida who has traced his great grandfather's family back to the early 1900's when they were active members in the village of Holdingford. He has researched the "Advertiser" newspaper for information on his ancestors.

Enjoy reading the following narrative of the lives and times of the great-grandparents of Tom Long, Henry and Katherine Sandkamp, and their family as reported by the Holdingford, Minnesota weekly “Advertiser” newspaper from 1908 to 1921.
The Sandkamp Family History

Tom is the newest member of the Holdingford Area Historical Society, you can join also :)

Legacies of Faith:Churches of Stearns County book Signing

2009-11-08T21:54:00.003-06:00

On November 2d John Roscoe presented the book Legacies of Faith:Churches of Stearns County to the Holdingford Area Historical society meeting. It is a beautiful full color, 232-page book with 180 color pictures by photographer Doug Ohman.

Below is excerpt from Article By Michael Jacobson, in Paynesville Press newspaper 9/9/09

Their new book - "Legacies of Faith" - traces the history of Stearns County, the founding of its 49 Catholic parishes, and the building and architecture of its 52 Catholic churches. "We praise them for their architecture and their immigrant history. What's remarkable is that throughout the United States, churches are disappearing. But Stearns County is defying that demographic," said John, a retired English teacher in Albany who lives in Sartell.

"When people drive by them, they take them for granted," agreed Bob, who studied architecture at the University of Minnesota and works in residential design, emphasizing historic preservation. "They become commonplace. And for people outside the county, they don't know they're here."

All the churches in Stearns County are still actively used, are in excellent condition, and have vibrant congregations.

The book - costing $19.95 - is being sold at various locations in the county, including the Stearns History Museum in St. Cloud and at Ben Around Books in Paynesville. The book can also be ordered online at www.legaciesoffaith.net.

Holdingford's Soldiers Shrine

2009-09-24T16:56:00.001-05:00

Holdingford's Soldiers Shrine: Anniversary quietly passes by
by Roberta Olson
(Created: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 10:16 AM CDT

The massive Soldiers Shrine is 42 feet long, 18 feet wide, and 22 feet high. It features statues, and flags. The statues were completely refinished in July of 2009.

An anniversary in Holdingford quietly passed by on Sunday, Sept. 6.  It was the 67th anniversary of the day the Soldiers Shrine was dedicated in 1942.  As the Parish of St. Hedwig prepares for its centennial in 2010, a new realization of the history of the parish, and of the World War II shrine, is being experienced.  The shrine in Holdingford, located across the street from the St. Hedwig's on a corner lot, was the very first shrine built in the United States to honor those who served in the U. S. Armed Forces, at home and abroad.  Five thousand people attended the ceremonies, held in the middle of World War II. Among the dignitaries were Governor Harold Stassen, Charles Brenny, mayor of Holdingford; Frederick Schilplin, publisher of the St. Cloud Daily Times; Rev. Gilbert Winkelman, OSB, dean of the School of Architecture at St. John's University; Dr. E. J. Schmitz, master of ceremonies, and The Rev. Fr. John Kromolicki, pastor of St. Hedwig's.  The shrine measures 42 feet long, 18 feet wide, and 22 feet high. Four carved angels with trumpets stand in procession, followed by a large statue of Christ. In July of 2009, in preparation for next year's centennial, the statues were refurbished by Linda Mader. The shrine's altars had been refurbished in 2007. Beautiful flower gardens have been planted around the shrine, and are at peak bloom now.  At one time plaques with names of more than 100 soldiers were embedded into the walls of the shrine. Today they are no longer visible. The four crosses on the shrine are in memory of four young men from Holdingford who died during the war. They are Elmer Kerestes, Pearl Harbor; Walter R. Mattson, St. Lo, France; Walter Krystosek, Anzio Beach, Italy; and Joseph Troxil, U. S. Navy who died at sea.  The original dedication  Gov. Stassen praised the countless volunteers who made Fr. Kromolicki's vision a reality. "The nation must hold true to the basic rights and precepts given them by God or a just peace would be but a vain hope," he said.  Fred Schilplin commented, "This beautiful community's Soldiers' Shrine is the expression of his love and the love of all the people of Holdingford, Stearns County and central Minnesota for the defenders of democracy everywhere." He said "The shrine will stand through the years as a loving patriotic tribute and a physical emblem of the faith of a whole community."  Rev. Gilbert Winkelman, OSB, dean of the School of Architecture at St. John's University, designed the shrine. It was constructed by Edward Feia, his son, Donald, and many parish volunteers. Many area farmers donated more than 540 loads of fieldstone for the construction.  St. Hedwig's Church is a member of the Five Parish Catholic Community. Fr. Mark Stang is the pastor, with Fr. Gregory Ombok serving as interim pastor. The five parishes include St. Hedwig's and St. Mary's of Holdingford; Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Opole; St. Columbkill's in St. Wendel; and Immaculate Conception in St. Anna.

St. Hedwig Church's Centennial celebration has been set for Sept. 12, 2010.

Philipsek and Welna family histories

2009-08-29T13:47:00.004-05:00

Louie Welna, of Milton, Vermont has done a fantastic job researching the Philipsek and Welna family histories. This history is broken down into a sections on the old country , where he traced the family beginnings, as well as interviews, photos and family tree in this country. If you follow these links you can read Philipsek and Welna family histories.
Philipsek Part1a (old country)
Philipsek Part1b (old country)
Philipsek Part1c (old country)
Philipsek Part 2
Philipsek Part 3
Philipsek Part 4
Philipsek Part 5
Philipsek Part 6

I would like to note if there are other familes of the area that would like to create a link to the Holdingford Historical site let us know.

The Biglist of the people of Holdingford

2009-08-29T13:22:00.004-05:00

Those who are interested in Holdingford should be aware of the book 'Ford in the River' by Father vincent A Yzermans written in 1985. We are very pleased to have been given access to the complete index of names mentioned in the book.
This massive list was compiled by Louis D. Welna as part of writing the history of the Philipsek & Welna family histories. He said it took a year to compile this list, which is very understandable as it is 145 pages long !
you can read The Biglist of the people of Holdingford.
A big thank you Louie !!

RIDING THE RAIL TO HOLDINGFORD

2009-06-25T14:29:00.002-05:00

Coming up in July 10-11 is Holdingford Daze , the theme this year is
RIDING THE RAIL TO HOLDINGFORD. Based on the one hundred years since the Soo Line Railroad was officially opened on September 8th 1909. It had been built in 1907 and used but not officially opened.
A couple of special events are Friday evening 6:00-8:00 pm & Saturday all day, the Mn Central Railroad Club HO Scale Model Train Display will be at the City Center.
Friday night from 6:00-10:00 pm will be the First Holdingford Classic/Antique Car Show (on Main Street)

Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History Stearns County History Soo Line Railroad

Klisch & Langset Store

2009-02-20T08:30:00.006-06:00

Here are two views of the Klisch & Langset Store in Holdingford. Note the bank in one but not the other

1896 Map Holdings' ford & Wardville

2009-01-10T08:53:00.005-06:00

1896 is the date of this map of Holdings'ford & on the west side of Two River River & Wardville on the east side.
Lot's of little tidbits here. Note the school [the 1st] on the corner of what is now the intersection of County roads 9 &17. There were 2 Main Streets at the time. On the corner of Plymouth & 2nd St was the Union Evangelical Church built in 1896. St Mary's Catholic Churcg was on the west side built in 1885

1894/02/19,Name of post office Changed to HoldingFord on east side of river (Wardville)VALENTINE BATZ Postmaster

Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History Stearns County History

Impressive bicycle ride

2008-08-20T18:25:00.001-05:00

Now this was a impressive bicycle ride

Holdingford Herald-Aug,26,1937
Theodore Patrias,18, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Patrias, who are visiting here, arrived Sun. night about 10:00 o'clock by bicycle,making the trip from Detroit,Michigan, in 7 days,averaging over 100 miles a day.The tires on the bike were just about wore out when he arrived.

Holdingford Daze-Historical Society Booth

2008-07-15T21:09:00.003-05:00

Holdingford Daze was a very good day, we got to talk to a lot of people and we sold our "Mn13 non-alcoholic water", "Mn 13" t-shirts, sweatshirts but the highlight of the day was Special guest Elaine Davis author of "Minnesota 13" she was gracious enough to donate the proceeds of her book sales that day which totaled $544, to the Holdingford Area Historical Society, with the money to go toward restoration of the old city maintenance building to be used as a history museum. It's one of the oldest buildings in town. Very cool !!

1953 Map of Holdingford Area School Districts

2008-06-25T17:35:00.003-05:00

I came across this in a 1953 UM study of Holdingford area schools.

Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History Stearns County History of schools

1908 Statistics

2008-06-23T19:46:00.001-05:00

Here are some statistics for the Year 1908 :
* The average life expectancy was 47 years.
* Only 14 percent of the homes had a bathtub.
* Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.
* There were only 8,000 cars and only 144 miles
* Of paved roads.
* The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.
* The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower !
* The average wage in 1908 was 22 cents per hour.
* The average worker made between $200 and $400 per year .
* A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year,
A dentist $2,500 per year, a veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000 per year, and a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.
* More than 95 percent of all births took place at HOME
* Ninety percent of all doctors had NO COLLEGE EDUCATION!
* Instead, they attended so-called medical schools, many of which
* Were condemned in the press AND the government as ’substandard. ‘
* Sugar cost four cents a pound.
* Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen.
* Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.
* Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used
* Borax or egg yolks for shampoo.
* Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from
* Entering into their country for any reason.
* Five leading causes of death were:

1. Pneumonia and influenza
Technorati Tags: 100 years ago,1908 to 2008. Then and now

2. Tuberculosis
3. Diarrhea
4. Heart disease
5. Stroke

* The American flag had 45 stars.
* The population of Las Vegas , Nevada , was only 30!!!!
* Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and ice tea
* Hadn’t been invented yet.
* There was no Mother’s Day or Father’s Day.
* Two out of every 10 adults couldn’t read or write.
* Only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school.
* Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at the local corner drugstores. Back then pharmacists said, ‘Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind,regulates the stomach and bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health.’ ( Shocking? DUH! )
* Eighteen percent of households had at least
* One full-time servant or domestic help.
* There were about 230 reported murders in the ENTIRE ! U.S.A. !
* And organized Barbershop didn’t exist

Mn 13 non-alcoholic Water

2008-06-15T22:16:00.004-05:00

Elmer Ebnet one of the famous Ebnet brothers. Who knows more than he likes to admit about Minnesota 13 and it's history. He is pictured here after buying the very 1st bottle of Mn 13 non-alcoholic water from the Holdingford Area Historical Society. He said in true Elmer fashion, that he had never boughten a bottle of water in his life and this one he wasn't ever going to open unless his barber shop was burning.
Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History Stearns County History Minnesota 13 Moonshine Mn 13

Bottled Minnesota 13

2008-06-11T16:41:00.007-05:00

Now that we are adding to the Historical Society's line of Minnesota 13 products. We have started the process a few weeks back of trademarking,Minnesota 13, Mn 13.
The design below is on our water bottles, that we will be selling this weekend at the Carmel Roll Ride, which is starting in Holdingford this year. Along with the Mn 13 shirts and shirts here

Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History Stearns County History Minnesota 13

Holdingford Herald May 13-1971

2008-06-05T20:58:00.001-05:00

SIX STUDENTS FROM THE HOLDINGFORD AREA WILL BE AMONG 48 SENIORS GRADUATING FROM THE ST.CLOUD SCHOOL OF NURSING SAT. MAY 22ND THEY ARE: JUDITH ATHMAN,KAREN BATCHA,EUGENE BRETH,MARY WIECHMAN,SUZANNE WINKLER,AND BERERLY WOIDYLA.BISHOP GEORGE SPELTZ WILL CONFER THE DIPLOMAS,REV.WILLIAM VOS WILL ADDRESS.

THE BURGLARS WHO ROBBED THE EBNET BROS. MARKET RECENTLY,WERE CAUGHT IN A MPLS. APARTMENT LAST WEEK.THEY HAD BROKEN OUT OF JAIL IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON AND WERE ENROUTE TO MPLS. WHEN THEY DID THE JOB HERE EARLY TUESDAT MORNING.

LEWIS AND CLARK STARTED WESTWARD UP THE MISSOURI RIVER,MAY.14 1804

MR. AND MRS. WALTER EIDEN WILL CELEBRATE THEIR GOLDEN WEDDING ANNIVERSARY SUN.MAY 16TH 9 O'CLOCK ST. MARYS CHURCH,FOLLOWED BY AN OPEN HOUSE AT THE RIGHT PLACE 2-5

IN 1970,THE NATION SPENT $67.2 BILLION FOR HEALTH AND MEDICAL CARE

Holdingford Herald May 16-1957

2008-06-05T20:56:00.000-05:00

FIFTY-ONE SENIORS WILL GRADUATE WEDNESDAY,MAY 29TH-EIGHT O'CLOCK IN THE HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM-ANGELA MOONEN AND LAVERNE PANEK-HONOR STUDENTS WILL BE ADDRESSING THE CROWD,FOLLOWED BY THE GIRLS TRIPLE TRIO,AND A CORNET TRIO GIVEN BY,PETER SUFKA,JAMES WALETZKO AND KATHLEEN JOHANNES-ENDING WITH BENEDICTION BY FR.JEROME BIELEJESKI

TONY LITCHY BROUGHT IN AN EGG SHAPED LIKE A PEANUT ON TUESDAY IT IS ON DISPLAY IN THE HERALD WINDOW.

MRS.RALPH VOS, A MEMBER OF THE HOLDINGFORD SCHOOL BOARD,DISTRICT NO. 93,HAS RESIGNED HER POSTION FROM THAT BODY TO ACCEPT A POSTION AS A TEACHER,THEREFOR MRS. VOS WILL NOT FILE FOR RE-ELECTION. THE BOARD TERMS OF MRS.VOS WOULD HAVE EXPIRED NEXT JULY.

Holdingford Herald-May 13-1943

2008-06-05T20:52:00.001-05:00

FRANCES EBNET IS BRIDE OF MICHAEL BRETH,IN A BEAUTIFUL CEREMONY AT ST. MARY'S CHURCH TUESDAY MORNING MAY 4TH. THE BRIDE AND GROOM ARE BOTH GRADUATES OF THE HOLDINGFORD HIGH SCHOOL. THEY WILL MAKE THEIR HOME ON A FARM 2 1/2 MILES SOUTH OF HOLDINGFORD. AT THE WEDDING, MISS CHRISTINE EBNET,SISTER OF THE BRIDE,SANG "AVE MARIA",ACCOMPANIED ON THE ORGAN BY MRS.JOE GOBERNATZ.A WEDDING DANCE WAS GIVEN AT DREAMLAND HALL.

POPPY DAY IS MAY 29,THE POPPIES THIS YEAR WILL HONOR THE MEN WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES IN THE PRESENT CONFLICT,AS WELL AS THOSE WHO FELL AMONG THE POPPIES OF FRANCE AND BELGIUM 25 YEARS AGO,SHE SAID (MARY WERTIN PRES.) THE MONEY CONTRIBUTED FOR THE FLOWERS WILL BE USED FOR THE WELFARE OF VICTIMS OF BOTH WARS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

A BROOD SOW ON THE FARM OF O.O. JOHNSON GAVE BIRTH TO EIGHT LITTLE PIGS ON APRIL 16 AND IN A SPELL OF BAD DISPOSITION KILLED THE LITTLE FELLOWS.BEING REPENTANT OF HER ACT SEVEN DAYS LATER SHE GAVE BIRTH TO ELEVEN MORE PIGS.

AS BEFORE,THE BLACKOUT FRIDAY EVENING WAS EXECUTED 100 PER CENT IN THE VILLAGE OF HOLDINGFORD. AIR RAID WARDENS AND FIREMEN WERE ON DUTY AT THE FIRST SIGNAL AND EVERYONE CO-OPERATED WITH THE ORDER

Holdingford Advertiser May 20-1920

2008-05-14T18:37:00.002-05:00

Way Back When
Holdingford Advertiser-May,20,1920 \retrieved by Kathy

John Grossman,Nick Theilen and Manly Immeral,all of Avon were discovered early Monday morning by sheriff Schoener in the act of transporting a complete still and thirteen barrels and two milk cans fit for distillation.The name of John Rass, also of Avon was given by the men as that of the owner of the still which they claim to have been moving in an attempt to circumvent the federal officers who were warm on the trail of the law breakers. The mash was destroyed at the direction of the sheriff and the apparatus is in his custody at his office.

Automobile speeders in the downtown district of Holdingford are becoming numerous and the law governing t5he speed regulations within the limits should be enforced.

Bids will be received to 8:00 p.m.,on june 7th,1920 for the labor of building 275 feet of six-foot cement sidewalk,according to grade,with 2 driveways and 3 street crossings. Said sidewalk beginning at lot 11, running south to corner of lot 22, Batz & Herman Addition, in the Village of Holding.The council reserves the right to reject any and all bids.Dated at Holdingford,Mn. on May 18,1920
Geo. M. Meller (recorder)

Communication was recevied from Cyril Stodolka, the Royalton flyer, in which he stated that he would visit Holdingford the fore part of next week with his Curtiss plane and will take up passengers who wish to try the sensation. Permission was granted by Frank Meier to use his field as a landing place. Watch for him.
Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History Stearns County History

Holdingford Herald May 16-1957

2008-05-07T13:30:00.001-05:00

HOLDINGFORD HERALD
THURSDAY,MAY 16.1957
FIFTY-ONE SENIORS WILL GRADUATE WEDNESDAY,MAY 29TH-EIGHT O'CLOCK IN THE HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM-ANGELA MOONEN AND LAVERNE PANEK-HONOR STUDENTS WILL BE ADDRESSING THE CROWD,FOLLOWED BY THE GIRLS TRIPLE TRIO,AND A CORNET TRIO GIVEN BY,PETER SUFKA,JAMES WALETZKO AND KATHLEEN JOHANNES-ENDING WITH BENEDICTION BY FR.JEROME BIELEJESKI

TONY LITCHY BROUGHT IN AN EGG SHAPED LIKE A PEANUT ON TUESDAY IT IS ON DISPLAY IN THE HERALD WINDOW.

MRS.RALPH VOS, A MEMBER OF THE HOLDINGFORD SCHOOL BOARD,DISTRICT NO. 93,HAS RESIGNED HER POSTION FROM THAT BODY TO ACCEPT A POSTION AS A TEACHER,THEREFOR MRS. VOS WILL NOT FILE FOR RE-ELECTION. THE BOARD TERMS OF MRS.VOS WOULD HAVE EXPIRED NEXT JULY.

Holdingford Herald 5-13-71

2008-05-07T13:21:00.004-05:00

THURSDAY,MAY 13,1971

SIX STUDENTS FROM THE HOLDINGFORD AREA WILL BE AMONG 48 SENIORS GRADUATING FROM THE ST.CLOUD SCHOOL OF NURSING SAT. MAY 22ND THEY ARE: JUDITH ATHMAN,KAREN BATCHA,EUGENE BRETH,MARY WIECHMAN,SUZANNE WINKLER,AND BERERLY WOIDYLA.BISHOP GEORGE SPELTZ WILL CONFER THE DIPLOMAS,REV.WILLIAM VOS WILL ADDRESS.

THE BURGLARS WHO ROBBED THE EBNET BROS. MARKET RECENTLY,WERE CAUGHT IN A MPLS. APARTMENT LAST WEEK.THEY HAD BROKEN OUT OF JAIL IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON AND WERE ENROUTE TO MPLS. WHEN THEY DID THE JOB HERE EARLY TUESDAT MORNING.

LEWIS AND CLARK STARTED WESTWARD UP THE MISSOURI RIVER,MAY.14 1804

MR. AND MRS. WALTER EIDEN WILL CELEBRATE THEIR GOLDEN WEDDING ANNIVERSARY SUN.MAY 16TH 9 O'CLOCK ST. MARYS CHURCH,FOLLOWED BY AN OPEN HOUSE AT THE RIGHT PLACE 2-5

IN 1970,THE NATION SPENT $67.2 BILLION FOR HEALTH AND MEDICAL CARE

Historical Society Birthday Party

2008-04-08T22:03:00.003-05:00

Our birthday cake was eaten by the 40 people that came to the meeting.

A few of the people looking at some of the exhibits on display. More pictures will be coming by people with steady hands.
Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History Stearns County History

Tom Betz & Halvor Langslet

2008-04-08T21:53:00.004-05:00

Tom Betz and his wife Deborah from Minneapolis, who have done a tremendous amount of research on Halvor Langslet a early resident of Holdingford. They honored us by coming up for our meeting and Tom talked about Halvor's life and times.

Holdingford & Bobby Fischer

2008-03-17T16:22:00.002-05:00

Bobby Fischer (recently diseased chess champion) purchased his first automobile from the Kroska Motors dealership in Holdingford.
After winning his world championship match with Boris Spassky in 1972 he took driving lessons from Ed Kroska’s son, who owned a car rental company in California. Ed’s son ordered all of his vehicles through the Kroska Motors dealership (making Ed the nation’s top salesman one year), including Bobby Fischer’s first car.
shared by Joe Christiansen

Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History Stearns County History Bobby Fischer

Historical Birthday Party

2008-03-12T13:25:00.005-05:00

We want to let everyone know and invite the public to Our First Birthday Party !

The Holdingford Area Historical Society is celebrating its first birthday at its April 7th meeting. 7:00 pm. City Center, We will have a birthday cake and ice cream along with displays of local interest.

Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History Stearns County History

Oldest Person in Holdingford ?

2008-03-05T14:13:00.009-06:00

I was thinking that last year Marcella Klasen celebrated her 100th birthday in 2007. She has since passed. I wonder who is the oldest person in Holdingford now ?
Marcella would have been 101 this Saturday, here are a couple of articles about her.
Another written by Mark William Miller Sr last year:
Marcella Marie Klasen, who was born in Freeport but lived much of her life in Holdingford, will be celebrating her 100th birthday
Marcella is currently living at Arlington Place Assisted Living Apartments, 21 16th Avenue S.E., St. Joseph.
She was born March 8, 190 7.
Celebrations for Marcella will include a closed birthday party for nephews, nieces, uncles and aunts on March 17.
There will be an open house for the general public on March is.
The time for both events will be 2 to 4 p.m.
Marcella was the fourth child to be born to John Bernard Klasen, known as J.B., and Mary Josephine (Bischoff) Klasen, known as Josie, on March 8, 1907, in the Frontier Inn, Freeport, which J.B. owned and operated, and where he also sold jewelry.
'when J.B. built and opened the First State Bank in Holdingford in 1910, Marcella and the rest of the family moved to Holdingford and started out living in a small house in town. Eventually, they all lived in a large house on the edge of town, which eventually included 10 siblings in addition
to Marcella. She is the only living offspring bom to J.B. and Mary Josephine.
Marcella graduated from Holdingford High School in 1925, where she also participated in such extracurricular activities as music, drama, and basketball. After high school, she attended the College of St. Catherine's, St. Paul, where she graduated with a major in history and minors in music and library science. Upon graduating from college, Marcella attended business school in St. Paul.
Her teaching career involved contracts in Menaga, Wis., Red Wing and then her alma mater, Holdingford, where Marcella taught business classes. She also coached the girls basketball team to three winning seasons. During this time, Marcella also taught private piano lessons. She also served as the high school principal in Holdingford for a few years during her experience there as an educator. During WWII at some time, she left the teaching profession and worked in a private Chicago firm for a few years as a secretary.
Upon Marcella's return to Holdingford she worked in her father's bank and quickly learned the business. After J. B's death, Marcella helped her brother Leo manage the bank, which at that time was called the Security State Bank of Holdingford.
Marcella lived in the family house on the edge of town and often accepted many guests, including nephews and nieces, brothers and sisters and their spouses, both at the Holdingford house and the lake cabin at Little Birch Lake. Nephews and --nieces were always well treated and loved by Marcella, who was always so gracious. She currently has 30 living nephews and nieces. One nephew and one niece are
deceased.
Marcella's community activities have been numerous in the Holdingford area. She was heavily involved with hosting the Red Cross bloodmobile drives, and she was eventually awarded the Clara Barton Centennial Honor Award in 1981 for her "excellence in unselfish and invaluable volunteer service given to the needs of human kind."
Marcella served as St. Mary's Church Choir Director for a few years in Holdingford and also sang in the choir. She was instrumental, along with others, in the creation of an apartment in Holdingford for low and middle income people, a two-story building with 16 units. Anyone within a 10-mile radius who qualified financially in terms of low income, could rent an available unit. She managed the building financially for many years until Catholic Charities assumed financial management upon her request.
Throughout her life, Marcella has been generous with her time and money. For example, she sponsored a seminarian in Africa financially, which allowed him to pursue his divinity studies, and eventually his ordination as a Catholic priest. Marcella donates a scholarship to St. Catherine's College every year.
Marcella lived in the Klasen family residence in Holdingford until the year 2000, when she gave the house up for health reasons. She now is enjoying life in an assisted living residence in St. Joseph at Arlington Place Assisted Living Apartments. Aunt Marcella was an exceptional woman of her time. -If women of today were to look for an exemplary role model, she would qualify.

Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History
Stearns County History

Business and Building Boom

2008-02-23T11:19:00.005-06:00

It seems that a important aspect of a town's growth is the attitude of the businessmen.

Advertiser January 17th 1917
Holdingford is experiencing a business and building boom,according to the Advertiser. If reports are true, they will make the rest of the neighboring villages look like a 2-cent piece with a hole unpunched into it before long. Go to it, if you are made up of live business men you deserve, and will get, a prominent place on the map of this great state

Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History Stearns County History

Holdingford Herald Feburary 21/1935

2008-02-21T08:29:00.005-06:00

1934-march 7 the village council opened a municipal liquor store in Holdingford. During the first seven months they sustained a loss of $87.22. But the last five months has netted the village the sum of $557.11 [clear profit]. It cost the village an avarage of
$3,700 a year to operate.

Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History Stearns County History municipal liquor store

Minnesota 13 Mousse

2008-01-20T11:21:00.000-06:00

old recipe
Minnesota 13 Mousse
1C. heavy cream
1 pinch of salt
5t. powered sugar
2 egg whites
1/2 gallop of Minnesota 13
whip the cream until it is medium thick
fold in sugar & salt
mix until stiff, add Minnesota 13, to stiffly beaten egg whites & fold this mixture into whipped cream
place in a flat pan or trat & set outside to freeze for about 4 hours
stir & scrape down the pan when the mousse stiffens.
(gallop= pour a gallop into glass drink half, throw rest into recipe)

Holdingford Inflation Since 1908

2008-01-20T11:01:00.000-06:00

Just a hint of inflation
From the 1908 Dec. 17 Advertiser
Klisch & Langslet:
Men's all wool flannel shirt $ 1.25
Children's coat .95
Men's pant .95
40 piece decorated China set $3.50
Men's winter clothing suits $4.95
The Holdingford Market
Turkeys live per lb. .10
chickens-young .06
hogs-dressed per lb. .051/2
beef-on hoof .02 to .03
eggs per dozen .28
A Holdingford Liquor license was $500- Holdingford gave out 3 licenses which comprised the funding for the operation of the city- the city license was just in 2007 was again to $500 for the first time since the reopening of selling licenses after prohibition ended in 1934.
Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History Stearns County History

More on the Minnesota 13 Shirts

2008-01-09T13:34:00.000-06:00

In case you missed it, the Mn 13 shirts we designed and had made are a fund raiser for the Holdingford Area Historical Society. Buy one or two or a dozen for the family, we are trying to raise funds to move a one room school house into town. They are for sale at the Corner Pizza and Antiques and the Municipal Liquor Store in Holdingford. Even some St. John's students found Holdingford and enjoyed their visit and pizza at the The Corner Pizza & Antiques. Verified by this youtube video they have proclaimed it the best pizza they had ever had in a antique store.

Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History Stearns County History Minnesota 13 shirts

Minnesota 13 Shirts

2007-12-07T20:04:00.001-06:00

Well guess what. For a fund raiser The Historical society has decided to sell t-shirts and sweat shirts, hooded and regular. They can be had in 4 different colors, if ordered or what is available. Colors are light blue, natural, white, and ash. Your choice of these designs. They should be at the Corner pizza next week. So stop in and get one. And another for a Christmas present.

Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History Stearns County History Minnesota 13

Mnnesota 13 Best Selling Book

2007-11-30T08:31:00.000-06:00

I just found out that Elaine Davis's Minnesota 13 book has been the best selling local book of the year at the Stearns County Museum. Pretty good especially since it didn't come out until the end of July. Haven't got your copy yet? Need a unique Christmas gift ? Stop in at Bev's Corner Pizza and pick up a copy or two and browse through all the antiques she has there.
Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History Stearns County History Mnnesota 13 moonshine

Christmas Pizza

2007-11-28T19:46:00.000-06:00

December 3d 7:00pm Historical Meeting will be a Christmas pizza and cookie party. We are having shirts made as a fundraiser for the historical society. Hopefully they will be done by then. See you there.Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History Stearns County History

Minnesota 13 Class

2007-11-01T15:19:00.000-05:00

We seem to be stuck on the minnesota 13 theme right now, like
here, here here and here but that is o.k. as it is very interesting. I just found out that Elaine Davis is going to be teaching a community Education class at the Holdingford High School Commons on Monday December 10 th ,7:00-8:30 p.m. the Fee is $5 the registration deadline is December 3d. Here is the other information I received from the Community Ed Dept.
'Stearns County’s Wet Wild Prohibition Days'
Dr. Elaine Davis, Author
Elaine is looking forward to coming to Holdingford to share her new book, Minnesota 13, a historical overview of the years from 1920-1933, when moonshine production dominated Stearns County as the 18th Amendment was in effect. She will present stories from, and sign copies of, Minnesota 13. Elaine will also share with you what she has learned about self publishing. This will be a great opportunity for you to meet a local author and learn from her research and experiences.
I believe it will be a enjoyable evening, as she has many stories that are not in the book.
Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History Stearns County History Minnesota 13 class

Minnesota 13 Golf

2007-10-18T17:14:00.000-05:00

The year was 1931, the 13th of June at 1:00 p.m. was the Grand Opening of the Minnesota 13 (13 holes that is) Miniature Golf Course, in Holdingford. It was built and owned by Al Siebenard. The first round was free that day and people were able to play until dark, lights for evening play were being installed . Miniature golf was gaining much popularity around the country. Who says people didn't have a sense of humor.
Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History Stearns County History Minnesota 13

1937 Baseball

2007-08-10T15:37:00.000-05:00

I was talking to a friend about how popular baseball has been over the years in Holdingford. It came up that local famous baseball pitcher, Ambrose "Lefty" Ebnet back in 1937 received a baseball contract from the Winnipeg ball club of the Northern League, he disregarded their offer and signed as pitcher for twice the all salaried club in Sorel, Canada
Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History Stearns County History

Meeting With Minnesota 13 Author

2007-08-07T10:54:00.000-05:00

We had a standing room only crowd at our historical society meeting with Author Elaine Davis (admittedly it's not a real large place).
There were many people there for the first time to listen to her discuss the book and ask questions. It went very well, with Ms. Davis talking about and showing some of her research on the book. A lot of folks were buying more than one copy to give as gifts. So she was busy for quite some time signing books. If you want a signed copy, Bev at the Corner Pizza and Antiques has a few . Get them while you can.

Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History Stearns County History Minnesota 13 Elaine Davis

Meet The Author of "Minnesota 13"

2007-08-01T10:01:00.000-05:00

Ms. Elaine Davis author of "Minnesota 13"-Wet Wild Prohibition Days, will be at the Holdingford Historical Society meeting on August 6th 7:00 pm, at the Corner Pizza and Antiques to talk about her new book.
Everyone is welcome!
Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History Stearns County History Minnesota 13

Minnesota 13 MoonShine During Prohibition

2007-07-26T16:00:00.001-05:00

Elaine Davis has just published her book called "Minnesota 13"-Wet Wild Prohibition Days. I just got a copy yesterday and have just finished reading it I found it a fun read, engaging and hard to put down.
If you want to get a flavor of what this part of Minnesota, Stearns County and the area around Holdingford was like during Prohibition, this is the book for you. It provides a lot of well researched information on the history of 'Minnesota 13' the notorious or famous moonshine whiskey depending on how you look at it. That was created and made in the area.
Written in a easy to read style. Ms. Davis relates a lot information about the unique relationships between law and lawbreakers, the humor and seriousness of life in hard times . You can buy copies in Holdingford at The Corner Pizza & Antiques or go to her web site Wet Wild Prohibition Days to buy it or get more information.
Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History Stearns County History Prohibition Minnesota 13

St Hedwigs 1919

2007-07-24T16:58:00.001-05:00

Thanks to a generous gentleman by the name of David Grossnickle, the historical society now has a postcard photo of St. Hedwig's Church from Feb 1, 1919. If you look close you can see some differences between then and now. Like the difference in the steps.
Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History Stearns County History old Catholic Churches

Historical Society Parade Float

2007-07-15T20:02:00.000-05:00

Some pics of our Historical Society float in the city parade. I think the folks who worked on it did one heck of a job. Some people though this was the school house we wanted to move into town. No, it was not. Actually it was originally a smoke house and was converted like this, by Dale Skroch one of our members, just for the parade.
Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History Stearns County History

One Room School Bell

2007-07-01T09:31:00.000-05:00

The Holdingford school District has donated the school bell from One Room School Dist. #114 that at one time let the kids know that it was time to come to school. A big thanks !
Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History Stearns County History

More On Highland Cemetery

2007-05-31T12:07:00.000-05:00

I just finished making a spread sheet of the Highland Cemetery Map. I had to scan it in and manipulate the image to be able to read some of the writing of names. Over the years some had faded, light ink etc. I was able to read most of them. unfortunately other than the date of the map none of the plots are dated, well except for the relatively new ones.
Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History Stearns County History cemeteries

Memorial Day 1922

2007-05-22T20:51:00.000-05:00

Memorial Day 1922 was celebrated in Holdingford with a "Parade, public speaking, ball game and other sports. Big Chicken Supper" (chicken suppers still popular today) "at the Scenic Hall. Bazaar, Big Dance, Dreamland Hall." It was noted this was the opening of the ball park at the end of Main Street, also Winkler Bros. were giving a free "Auto Strop Safety Razor" to the first man of the home team to hit a home run.
Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History Stearns County History Memorial Day

Highland Cemetery News

2007-05-20T08:27:00.000-05:00

I got a chance to see the original plat map of Highland Cemetery. I had posted before about the local cemeteries The first thing I noticed was the title "Hichland Cemetary" at Holdingsford the map was made by J.D. Morgan, it was surveyed and platted November 1892, with 92 burial plots.

Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History Stearns County History cemetery

1920 Spring Cleanup

2007-05-12T08:35:00.000-05:00

I thought this would be apropriate, since the city is having their Spring Cleanup Day on June 16 this year. The cartoon is from April 15, 1920. It tells a lot. The ladies are talking about the city water tower. The one that was on third Street. A park is mentioned next to it, the land being donated for it. Somehow, the park disappeared and houses were built there. If anyone knows more about this I would like to hear about it. As I understand it, there was a park there as well as the City Hall (which was later moved and made into a house a couple of blocks away) the jail and Fire station were added onto to make another house...

April Fools 1920

2007-04-27T18:42:00.000-05:00

There are only a couple more of these but i thought I would post them. A little late for April Fool's Day this year and the world view has changed a lot.
Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History political cartoon history

March 3,1920 Cartoon

2007-04-22T14:59:00.000-05:00

Here's anotther one. I would be willing to bet that is Karl Marx with the red flag in his hand, as the American soldier encourages the communists to leave "for foreign parts".
Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History Stearns County History cartoon history

Our Own Cartoonist

2007-04-21T08:40:00.000-05:00

The Advertiser for a time had it's own editorial cartoonist. A M. L. Rugloski went to work for the Advertiser in March 1920 and created cartoons for the paper based on local concerns. Unfortunately it didn't last to long. This is the inaugural cartoon from March 18th 1920.
Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History Stearns County History cartoon history editorial cartoon history

School update

2007-04-14T10:51:00.000-05:00

More good news, The city Council has passed a Resolution to allow the Historical Society to move the schoolhouse onto city property. Present thinking will place it between the Lake Wobegon Trailhead rest area and the city maintenance building.
Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History Stearns County History

The Warzecha School

2007-03-21T06:59:00.000-05:00

Update on the old school. It was Dist. 88 it was closed in 1967 when consolidated with Dist.738. It was called "The Warzecha School". The original placement was on the intersection of County Rd. 17 and County Rd 3.About 2 miles east of Holdingford. We are exploring the possibilities of moving it to Holdingford. Eventually restoring it, opening it to the public.
Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History
Stearns County History One Room Schoolhouse

One Room School House

2007-03-19T20:27:00.000-05:00

This is one of the many one room school houses that covered the landscape in Minnesota and other parts of the country. In the minutes this particular one, refered to as district building 1986, was owned at one time by Dist 738, Holdingford. According to the School Board minutes of April 11, 1973 was sold for $1.00 as it was to be used for a area Historical Society that Mrs. Margaret Huls was President of.
Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History
Stearns County History One Room School House

100th birthday

2007-03-12T11:53:00.000-05:00

The Historical Society set the dues at $15 for individual membership. Discounted to $10 for those age 65 and older and free membership for anyone who has reached 100 years old. I just found out a local lady just celebrated her 100th birthday so she will be our first free membership. Happy Birthday Helen !
Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History
Stearns County History

Naming of History Society

2007-03-07T11:33:00.000-06:00

We have made the next step in organizing by officially naming the group the "Holdingford Area Historical Society" and electing officers. Everyone in the group wanted to be inclusive of the area around Holdingford especially with Arban, St. Anna, Opole and South Elmdale. With that said all are welcome to become involved. There are 15 members at this point. For more information on joining, Bev Eichten at the Corner Pizza is the Membership Chair. One of our members is going to the State Historical Society workshop in Becker later this month. I will be meeting with the City's HIP group as they have taken us under their wing as a HIP Task Force group.
Our next meeting is April 2d.
Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History
Stearns County History

cira 1912 Holdingford Main Street

2007-03-06T12:19:00.000-06:00

Not exactly sure when but probably circa 1912 as the water tower was built between 1910-12.
There were 3 saloons in town at the time. Each paid a $500 liquor license fee. [same as it is today] Back then it covered the whole city budget.
Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History
Stearns County History

Holdingford on Ebay

2007-02-25T21:45:00.000-06:00

I was bidding on a neat photo of Main Street Holdingford from sometime between 1912-17. I didn't get it. I went for the minumim bid and it went for a lot more. Very limited funds for that kind of thing. Oh well. I hope they take good care of it.
Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History
Stearns County History

Holdingford Baseball

2007-02-18T10:03:00.000-06:00

Baseball has a long history in Holdingford, John Ebnet former businessman and owner of Holdingford's "Our Own Hardware' store relates about the Ebnet family's involvement in baseball.:
Baseball team had 15 Ebnet relatives
In 1948, there were eight brothers in the Ebnet family on the Holdingford amateur baseball team. Frank Ebnet, the father of the boys, was the team’s manager. There would have been a ninth brother on the team, but Nick Ebnet died at the age of 32.
Lloyd and Cyril Ebnet were also on the Holdingford team. Lloyd and Cyril were nephews of the brothers on the team.
The team played some exhibition games during the season under the lights in Albany. For two games, Holdingford added LeRoy Ebnet, Mike Ebnet, Vernon Ebnet and Art Ebnet to the roster. Holdingford got beat by Farming and then beat St. Martin.
The Ebnet brothers had a cousin, Linus Ebnet, who played in the Northern League. But Linus died after getting hit in the head during a Northern League game. This was in the days before players wore helmets. Ambrose “Lefty” Ebnet, one of the brothers, pitched for Winnipeg in the Northern League in the 1930s and 1940s.

(front row, left to right) are LeRoy Ebnet, Mike Ebnet, Vernon Ebnet and Art Ebnet; (middle row) George Ebnet, Alfred Ebnet, Cyril Ebnet, Elmer Ebnet, Leo Ebnet and Joe Ebnet; (back row) Ambrose “Lefty” Ebnet, John Ebnet, Frank Ebnet, Roman Ebnet and Lloyd Ebnet. Frank was the father of Ambrose, John, Roman, George, Alfred, Elmer, Leo and Joe. Cyril and Lloyd were Frank’s great-nephews and Mike was Frank’s brother. Vernon, LeRoy and Art were nephews of Frank’s.
Tags: Holdingford small cities history Holdingford baseball
Stearns County History Stearns County History

Holdingford Historical Society meeting

2007-02-12T22:09:00.000-06:00

The Holdingford Historical Society regular meetings will be the first monday of the month at 7:00 pm at the Corner pizza. The next being march 5th.
I was recently informed that St. Hedwig's Church Cemetery was much older than I had been lead to believe. On checking with the Church records the earlist burual date was Dec. 10, 1912. The Church was built starting October 1910.
Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History
Stearns County History

February 5th Historical Society Meeting

2007-02-05T23:24:00.000-06:00

Mr. Tim Glines, Manager of Outreach Services, for The Minnesota Historical Society braved the horribly cold weather and made it up from St. Paul for our Historical Society meeting. He provided a lot of very good and interesting information on directions a society can take. We are all excited about the next step in organizing our group. Our next meeting will be Monday March 5th at 7:oopm.We appreciate his help and encouragement.
Tags: Holdingford Minnesota History Stearns County History

Bielejeski Family Public Service

2007-01-18T15:33:00.000-06:00

The Bielejeski family has been quite involved in public life in Holdingford's early years.
As well as providing a place to "wet the whistle"
Hubert Bielejeski was on the City Council 1947,48,49 and Mayor in 1960-61.
Stanley M. Bielejeski was on the Council 1930-31
Vincent Bielejeski mayor 1918
D.F. Bielejeski council 1914-15
I'm not sure how long the Saloon was in operation but the photo is from 1908. That's Stanley Bielejeski on the left side of the picture of the Bielejeski Bros. Saloon 1908-14

Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History Stearns County History

Car Dealerships and Gas

2007-01-14T08:37:00.000-06:00

Kroska Motors from the early 1960's. At one time Holdingford had a Ford,G.M and Chevy dealerships in town. In the 60's there were 3 gas stations.
Tags: Holdingford
small cities history Minnesota History Stearns County History

Monday 5th of Feburary Meeting

2007-01-05T13:12:00.000-06:00

Monday 5th of Feburary,7:00pm. Historical Society meeting is scheduled to be at the Corner pizza, we are going to continue to move through the procedures of getting a proper structure. Tim Glines, Manager of Outreach Services, for The Minnesota Historical Society will be our guest. Everyone is welcome so put it on your schedule.
Tags:
Holdingford
small cities history Minnesota History Stearns County History

Where Meetings Are Held

2007-01-04T22:33:00.000-06:00

I forgot to say this building is where the 'Holdingford Historical Society' has been holding it's meetings. We had a meeting on the second of January. Which went well. With Dan Hovland, President of the Upsala Historical Society. He gave us some good ideas as how to proceed with organizing.
Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History Stearns County History

Progress of a Building

2007-01-02T23:00:00.000-06:00

On the north end of Main Street is a building that started out as the Farmers State Bank, which went bankrupt in the twenties and has been a beer bar and restaurant under various owners since..
From 1929-69 this was 'Kornies Korner Kitchen', now days it is the 'Corner Pizza and Antiques' where they make a great homemade pizza, and you can sit amongst antiques while you eat.

Tags:
Holdingford
small cities history Minnesota History Stearns County History

1932 air view of City

2006-12-17T12:06:00.000-06:00

A photo of Holdingford from the 'Minneapolis Journal' from February 21. 1932. Taken by John J. Kollodge of the 109th air squadron flying with pilot Lieut. Frank Judd of Minneapolis.This was taken after a snowstorm. If you know the layout of town you can see what buildings were there at the time.
Tags: Holdingford
small cities history Minnesota History Stearns County History

A Holdingford noteable retires

2006-12-10T23:01:00.000-06:00

Baseball has always been a big part of Holdingford's history. I thought this would be appropriate here.
This was in the Pioneer Press's Charley Walters column.
"Joe Brinkman, who is from Holdingford, Minn., will retire this month after 34 seasons as a major league baseball umpire. His career has included three World Series and three All-Star Game appearances. His 4,505 games ranks fifth on baseball's all-time list and is more than six of the eight major league umpires in the sport's Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., worked."
Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History Stearns County History

Ancestry.com present

2006-12-08T14:34:00.000-06:00

Ancestry.com has a early Christmas gift for you. If you are interested in tracking relatives that went through Elis Island. Between 1820 and 1960, more than 41 million people left their home countries seeking a better life in the United States. Ancestry.com celebrates your immigrant ancestors by giving you FREE access to the newly expanded immigration collection. We’re also bringing you the Ellis Island Experience web site, which helps you understand your ancestors’ journeys to America.
Search a total of more than 100 million names from the records of over 100 of American port cities. This is realy a cool site. Just fun to go to.

Tags: Holdingford small cities history Mn History
Stearns County History Elis Island

Next Meeting Date

2006-12-04T22:38:00.000-06:00

We had a good turn out for our first meeting. Our next meeting is set for January 2d, 2007. At the Corner Pizza & Antiques, it provides for a very friendly atmosphere for talking about the past.
Tags:
Holdingford
small cities history
Minnesota History
Stearns County History

Holdingford Area Historical Society

2006-11-27T22:11:00.000-06:00

There will be a organizational meeting of the Holdingford Area Historical Society on December 4th 7:00p.m. at the Corner Pizza. Everyone welcome.
Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History Stearns County History

1906 postcard

2006-11-26T13:05:00.000-06:00

Thanks to the efforts of Mr. Thomas Betz and his wife Deborah of Minneapolis. We have recently came into possession of this beautiful postcard, through the generous gift from Mr. N. Kowalczyk, postcard dealer. It predates our other old card by a few years so this postcard is from about 1906. More on this later.

Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History Stearns County History 1906 postcard

1912 Village of Holdingford

2006-11-24T18:03:00.000-06:00

A picture of the Village of Holdingford,Mn dated 1912. Looking north, most of the buildings no longer exist
Tags: Holdingford historical city photos Minnesota History
Stearns County History

DCI in Holdingford

2006-11-22T22:09:00.000-06:00

Here is the history of DCI written by Richard Konsor (written in 1995 for the 40th anniversary of DCI)

"I guess my twin brother Fred and I have always been building something. One of my earliest memories is of a sawmill-the blade was made of the end of a tin can and the logs were stalks of rhubarb! I can't quite remember what we had for a carriage, but we had one.

Much of what we were building was to help our Pa's farm. One of our projects was to improve a five-section harrow. We figured it'd be much easier to move if it would fold up; thus we hinged it so it would fold onto the center section that had the wheels. We thought the idea worth sharing so we wrote to International Harvester. Their reply was, "if something like that could be made, our engineers would have already developed it'!

Most things we made needed to be bolted together. Electric welding was just getting started. Fred and I started welding on our farm after first making our own welder using a Model Ford engine and two starter generators from an old Dodge car. In the 1920's Dodge cars had a 12 volt starter generator and we had to wind new field coils to make enough current for a welder. Next we had to learn how to weld after we had it finished! We did welding on the farm for customers, and one year we made 75 farm wagons from Chevrolet front car axles that had disc wheels. And that is how we got started in the welding business!

Fred and I went into the service for two and a half years during World War 11, and when we came back we started a shop in Holdingford in 1946 called Konsor Welding (at the present day location of Jim's Snowmobile and Marine). We did welding repairs and made wagons, etc. One day the local creamery wanted us to repair a stainless steel vat. Now we had never welded on stainless before, but we would tackle almost any job. When the repair job turned out ok, they wanted us to build a new vat. We then repaired an old horizontal stainless tank that was poorly built, and later they wanted us to build them a new horizontal tank-which we did.

A little later the buffer makers from Freeport and Villard wanted us to build each location a horizontal tank-5,000 gallons, I think. We didn't have much experience yet, but we took the job. As we didn't know where to got some of the parts needed, they went and picked up some peephole fittings, agitator shafts and propellers. I believe they obtained these parts from Stainless and Steel Products in St. Paul.

We made coned heads for the first tank as we didn't have any equipment to make dished heads then. We also made a horizontal tank for the Watkins' Creamery and did some repair work there. As our shop was small, we had to make the outside jacket first, and then build the stainless one on top of it.

We
would then wrap the jacket around the liner. Ralph Mader of Holdingford was our first employee. And dedicated he was! He stayed with the company for 32 years until he retired.

About the time we were building the Watkins tank, Bill Haggerty (the Watkins buftermaker) went deer hunting with the owner of Owatonna Creamery Supply, and Bill must have told him that he was having a tank made in Holdingford. Before the owner went back to Owatonna, he came to Holdingford to see what we were doing because he was selling tanks he was having made in Chicago. He then asked us if we would make some tanks for him.

At this time Carl Nielsen was a salesman for Owatonna Creamery Supply and the owner sent Carl to Holdingford with a tank order from them. He wondered if we could build one of that size--I think it was a 5,000 gallon tank. We took the order and when it was finished they sent their truck to pick it up.

We needed agitators for these tanks, so we bought them from Stainless and Steel Products in St. Paul. By then I think they were getting wise or suspicious of us, as one time they wanted to know what the serial number of the tank was. They thought we were installing the agitator on one of their tanks that didn't have any. We told them it was a tank we were building...and that was the end of getting any more agitators from them. It was a good thing, as then we made our own-befter and cheaper!

With the building of the tanks we got to see Carl Nielsen quite often. One day he inquired about going into business together. This was favorable to Fred and me and so Dairy Craft (later called DCI) was formed. We stayed in our little shop until 1955. We then bought the former Ford Garage, which now belongs to Polar. Years later Dairy Craft moved to St. Cloud because of space and rail transportation."
For more of the story you can read excerpts of of DCI from a historical account byCarl Nielson who was co-founder and President of DCI Inc.
Tags: Holdingford small cities history Minnesota History Stearns County History DCI St. Cloud

My Grandma's post card collection

2006-11-21T06:12:00.000-06:00

Many years ago, my grandmother gave me her collection of post cards. She explained to me that as
a young girl back then they would collect them much as people collect baseball cards. They would be in series and tell stories as one collected each post card. I don't remember her saying if they were bought in packs or individually. A couple of samples Any way you may want to check out more of them here

Tags:
antique post cards history postcards old postcards holdingford

The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library

2006-11-17T19:11:00.000-06:00

The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library which has just put up a data base of Minnesota Legislators Past & Present. I found in about two minutes that there were more Legislators than I was aware of from Holdingford. The data base is very nicely done. it is cross referenced several different ways making it easy to use.
I had known of Randolph Holding being a representative, confirmed through the help of Senator Fischbach's staff, last year. I was going to request they also check up on Senator Batz, as he was referred to around Holdingford. I wasn't sure what he was senator of.
I was pleasantly surprised to find Holdingford was home to two more House of Representatives !

Valentine Batz- Senate 1899-1906 (District 54)
Counties Served: Stearns
City of Residence (when first elected): Holdingford
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Randolph Holding- House 1872 (District 31)
Counties Served: Stearns
City of Residence (when first elected): Holding
-----------------------------
G. Norsving- House 1872-73 (District 17)
Counties Served: Goodhue
City of Residence (when first elected): Holding
-------------------------
Otto Stein- House 1921-24 (District 46)
Counties Served: Stearns
City of Residence (when first elected): Holdingford.

Much thanks to the hard work of the folks at the Legislative Reference Library .

Tag: Minnesota Legislative Reference Library Holdingford Stearns County history Senator Fischbach

Holdingford Historical Society

2006-11-13T22:56:00.000-06:00

I'm looking to see if anyone is interested in getting involved with starting a Holdingford Historical Society ? If so contact me. By leaving a comment, e-mail or if you're from the area. Give me a call. I'm not hard to find. I've been thinking about this for a while. It seems like now is the time.

Tag: Holdingford-Historical Society-Minnestota history-Stearns County

Longest Serving Mayor

2006-11-11T20:00:00.000-06:00

Boniface Stoerman was the longest serving Mayor of Holdingford by far, serving as Mayor uninterrupted for 17 years from 1976 to 1993.

Tags:history,Central Minnesota,Stearns County,Holdingford

Historic Election

2006-11-07T19:44:00.000-06:00

A little election note, relevant today. The largest turnout in
village history was in the 1928 Nov 8th election where out of 740
possible voters votes only 20 voters did not vote.

2006-10-31T16:57:00.000-06:00

Thanks to Herman Ebnet I have aquired photos of the east St. Mary's Church. the first is a architectual drawing. The second I am guessing was soon after the dedication in 1915 .

Halvor Langsleth Letters

2006-10-26T22:24:00.000-05:00

Tom and Debrah Betz , kindly sent me the copies of Halvor Langslet's
letters.It took a while to read them. Almost all were in english but
some are in Norwegian so I'll have to find someone to translate.
Actually the letters date from 1908 to 1911. They are a wonderful
collection almost like a diary. Halvor wrote every few days.
Especially when he went on the road selling Deval cream seperators
around Minnesota. He would come back to Holdingford to visit friends
and his wife would sometimes come down from 'Detroit' as they called
Detroit Lakes then. I'll be going into more detail as time goes on.

Letters from the Past

2006-10-14T11:08:00.000-05:00

Have you ever seen the tv show ' If Walls Could Talk'
it's about people who buy houses and find things left by previous
owners. I received a phone call the other day. About meeting some
people about a former Holdingford businessman at the turn of the 19th
century. It turns out a gentleman by the name of Thomas Betz and his
wife were in town and they had a wonderful story to tell.
A friend of theirs had bought a house in Detroit Lakes,
Mn. After buying it, they were in the process of reroofing the
house. They came across a compartment apparently not assessable from
the house. A box that had over 200 letters in it.
Mr. Betz was given these letters. Being a person who cares
about preserving the past carefully, opened, flattened them placing
them under archival folders.
Now it gets really interesting. The letters were from a
Halvor Langslet to his fiancee. Written over a period of several
years. from about 1908 to 1912. Halvor had come to town working on
the railroad and opened up a general merchandise store with another
gentleman by the name of Vincent Klisch. I so far have just been
able to do a quick survey of them so far. They tell about the time.
Mr. Betz is graciously going to get us copies of the letters with a
little horsetrading of photos on our part. A real wonderful resource.
I am waiting anxiously to read them all.

New Old Map of Minnesota

2006-10-10T10:33:00.000-05:00

We got a new map of old Minnesota. Brought in by one of our residents. It shows the state of Minnesota by township, rail roads and state highways of the time. no date but the company that made the map was in business under that name between 1922-28. Which fits the roads shown on the map.

The cemeterys

2006-10-04T06:44:00.000-05:00

There has been a inquiry as to the number of cemeterys and when they
started. As far as I can figure out
1892 Highland Cemetery started, this is actually two plots of land
parallel to each, one belonged to Union Evangelical Church Holding,
the other the Slovak Lutheran Church.
1896 St. Mary's Cemetery started, German Roman Catholic
1947 St. Hedwig's Cemetery started, Polish Roman Catholic
I also understand there was another cemetery called ' Willow Creek'
supposed to be located north of town but I haven't figured out where
yet. As I understand it no longer exists.

The Holdingford Advertiser and Stearns-Morrison Enterprise

2006-10-01T09:29:00.000-05:00

One way to find out more about the history of Holdingford is to get the 'Stearns-Morrison Enterprise' newspaper. A weekly paper published in Albany. There is a column called 'Way Back When' that writes about tidbits about people and items of interest from various time periods.

A way back when comment of my own. In 1909 the Albany paper wasn't supported enough in Albany and the paper was printed as part of the " Holdingford Advertiser" now a days the reverse is true.

mike.council@holdingfordmn.us

Holy Myrrh-bearers Orthodox Church

2006-09-27T22:01:00.000-05:00

There was once a Orthodox Church near Holdingford, just northeast of town. It was established in 1895. To learn more about this I suggest you use this link to find out more. Holy Myrrh-bearers Orthodox Church

Valentine Herman Dies

2006-08-21T16:54:00.000-05:00

Valentine Herman, was a very influentual member of the community. He was 66 years old when he died June 15th 1936.After being in poor health for a number of months.

Helping out folks

2006-07-25T11:18:00.000-05:00

I have not been adding to this blog this summer as . IT'S SUMMER! But
when I got a call the other day from a gentleman from Illinois, who had
been directed to me by our Mayor. He was looking for, I am assuming a
relative who died in 1934 and buried he thought in Holdingford. Indeed
he was. It gave me pleasure to be able to help him out. I also found
out he had a blacksmith shop in town, was a mechanic and served on the
city council for a number of years.

The Hospital

2006-04-11T23:39:00.000-05:00

I finally came across a picture of the Holdingford Hospital. Click on the photo you will able to read the article.

Electric power plant

2006-03-27T19:35:00.000-06:00

Holdingford's First and only Electric power plant, was started by Val Herman in 1915. It was a diesel powered generator creating electricity stored in batteries. Starting in 1919 power was supplied by the St. Cloud Water & Power Co. and in 1927 NSP obtained the power rights.
In the picture Frank Wrobel is standing to the left of the door. I don't know who the other people were. I've heard there was a butcher shop there in later years.And there was a laundramat there until 2000 not sure when that started yet. It's now for sale. Maybe make a neat place for a Historical Society ?

Recovery of Newspapers

2006-03-23T11:35:00.000-06:00

Some good news, we are aquiring all the bound copies of the 'Holdingford Recorder' which turned into the 'Holdingford Herald Newspapers', until it was purschased by the Stearns-morrison Newspapers. They will be under the protection of the City of Holdingford. Someday I hope to see a historical society started in town. There is a rich local history here.

Representive R. Holding

2006-02-03T21:55:00.000-06:00

I had heard a rumor that Randolph Holding served in the Mn. legislature, I tried searching various places without any sucess. I happened to be at a Holdingford Commerical Club meeting when Minnesota State Senator Michelle Fischbach was there speaking to the group. Afterwards. I told her of my search, I had found lists of the heads of senate and house and list of women legislators but not rank and file members. Two days later I recieved the answer. I found out through the help of Senator Michelle Fischbach & Jeanna Whitby from her staff, that Randolph Holding indeed did serve in the Minnesota Legislature as a House member in 1872 (District 31) he was on the 'Ways and Means' committee and the 'Rules and Joint
Rules' committee.
Acording to the 'Holdingford Advertiser' of July 1915 Randolph died at Ransom, N. Dak. at the age of 71.

2006-01-16T13:58:00.000-06:00

A map of herman's Fairview Addition from 1915. It shows Gertude Avenue, this was his wife's name. The Holdingford City Council recently changed the name to Gertude Street as it was the only 'Avenue' in Holdingford. And running incorrectly against modern convention,east-west. This area of the city at one time was all woods, oldtimers have told me they used to go hunting in the woods here. In the late 1960's the land had been completely cleared and was partly used as a gravel pit.