Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Holy Myrrh-bearers Orthodox Church

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

Monday, August 21, 2006

Valentine Herman Dies

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.

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Helping out folks

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.



Tuesday, April 11, 2006

The Hospital


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

Monday, March 27, 2006

Electric power plant


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 ?

Thursday, March 23, 2006

Recovery of Newspapers

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.

Friday, February 03, 2006

Representive R. Holding

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.

Monday, January 16, 2006


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.

Thursday, January 12, 2006




Since this blog is named hermans fairview. After the addition in Holdingford of the same name . It Started in 1915. by Valentine Herman one of Holdingford's early movers and shakers in the community. Photo from 1920 as he ran for reelection to County commissioners.

Saturday, January 07, 2006

hospital



I took this photo the other day it is the cornerstone of the hospital built in Holdingford. As you can see it is dated August 27,1911. Thie hospital was on the west side of Two River Rivers, at the intersection of county roads 9 and 17. In the same year on the east side of the river, the "Holding Farmers Creamery" was started.