1920 Spring Cleanup

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

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

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

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

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

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.
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Stearns County History One Room Schoolhouse

One Room School House

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.
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Stearns County History One Room School House

100th birthday

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 !
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Stearns County History

Naming of History Society

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

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