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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
