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