Meeting With Minnesota 13 Author

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.

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Meet The Author of "Minnesota 13"

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

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

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.
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Historical Society Parade Float

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

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 !
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More On Highland Cemetery

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.
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Memorial Day 1922

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.
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Highland Cemetery News

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.

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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...