Category Archives: Businesses

What’s new on the DHC?

13 Friday Jul 2018

Posted by in Agriculture, Businesses, Carleton College, City of Northfield, History Blog, Malt-O-Meal, Northfield Historical Society, People, Politics and Government, Religion, Rice County Historical Society, Social Issues, St. Johns Lutheran Church, St. Olaf College

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We have been busy so far in 2018! Here is a list of some of the highlights that have been added to the Northfield-Rice County Digital History Collection since January:

Bridgewater Township collection:

First United Church of Christ collection:

Three Links Care Center collection:

St. John’s Lutheran Church collection:

Rice County Historical Society collection:

Northfield Historical Society collection:

Carleton College born digital collection:

More to come!

Fun Finds in the NHC: New Additions to the Collaborative

26 Wednesday Oct 2016

Posted by in Businesses, Christdala, First National Bank, History Blog, James-Younger Bank Raid, Northfield Public Library, People, Religion

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The Collaborative has been busy transcribing, interpreting, and uploading a number of documents in the last few months. We’re excited to share some of these new additions with you!

First National Bank of Northfield collection:

  • Excerpts from the first minutes book of the First National Bank. This selection includes digitized records relating to the failed James-Younger Gang bank raid of 1876. You can see when the bank directors decided to get a burglar proof safe with a time lock, how much was left in the bank after the raid attempt, and various tributes to Joseph Lee Heywood, the fallen acting cashier/hero of the day. The book also includes cashier G. M. Phillips’s account of receiving the famous telegram, “Bank Robbed. Heywood Killed. Two Robbers Also Killed.”
Telegram to First National Bank cashier G. M. Phillips with news about the bank raid, Sept. 7, 1876.

Telegram to First National Bank cashier G. M. Phillips with news about the bank raid, Sept. 7, 1876.

 

Northfield Public Library collection:

  • Souvenir program for the city of Northfield’s centennial in 1955. The booklet includes a brief history of Northfield, information about Northfield’s “pioneer families,” and a program for “The Genesis And Rise Of Northfield,” a dramatic pageant presented by the Northfield Centennial Corporation. The program was presented with compliments of local businesses, whose advertisements also appear inside.
Cover of the Northfield Centennial souvenir program

Cover of the Northfield Centennial souvenir program

  • Views of Northfield book. This book features photographs of various houses of prominent citizens in Northfield, MN as well as photographs of the different churches in town. Houses are labeled according to their owners and churches are also labeled. The book is not dated, but we estimate it is from around 1899.
Page 5 from the Views of Northfield book, including the residences of C. A. Drew, C. W. Blodgett, J. F. Revier, as well as Miss Baker's Boarding School.

Page 5 from the Views of Northfield book, including the residences of C. A. Drew, C. W. Blodgett, J. F. Revier, as well as Miss Baker’s Boarding School.

 

Christdala Church Preservation and Cemetery Association collection:

  • Various records (mostly in Swedish) documenting the immigration of members of the Christdala Church, as well as some baptism certificates, confirmation certificates, and letters of dismission. The migration forms include information about the birth dates and places of the individuals named, as well as the date they left Sweden. The NHC has identified the names and dates on these documents, but has not translated the Swedish or transcribed them fully – so if you would like to volunteer your skills as a Swedish transcriber, please let us know!
Migration form for Carl Berndtsson and Stina Berndtsdotter, dated April 25, 1882. View on NHC http://contentdm.carleton.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/CCPCA/id/1124/rec/29

Migration form for Carl Berndtsson and Stina Berndtsdotter, dated April 25, 1882. View on NHC to zoom in.

Look for more uploads in the coming months, including a batch of newly-scanned documents from the history of the Congregational Church in our First United Church of Christ collection.

Fun Finds in the NHC: Archer House Beginnings and Changes

12 Friday Aug 2016

Posted by in Businesses, History Blog, Northfield News

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On the centennial of the opening of Northfield’s Archer House in August of 1877, Marjorie Neuhaus wrote an article titled, “Hotel Stuart: Now Century Old”. The Northfield History Collaborative has digitized Neuhaus’s first draft, with edits by longtime Northfield News reporter and editor, Maggie Lee.

1stpg

Her account provides some great details on the beginnings of our historic hotel and the changes in ownership, design, and use over the years. I particularly enjoyed reading the description of the gala grand opening in the middle of August, 1877:

pg2

including this gem:

Among the 250 invited guests were … politicians with their fashionably dressed wives and eligible daughters. As they stepped down from their carriages, they were greeted by a group of attractive young gentlemen who escorted them on a tour of the hotel.

Neuhaus’s article also included a few menus for gala dinners, listing all of the delicious food and beverages one could enjoy. Green Sea Turtle Soup, or Cream of Oyster, yum!

Christmas 1895 menu at the Archer House

Christmas 1895 menu at the Archer House

Banquet Menu for the Bronson Reception, October 17, 1903, which cost $1.50 per person

Banquet Menu for the Bronson Reception, October 17, 1903, which cost $1.50 per person

For some visual evidence of the Archer House’s changes over the years, here are photos from the Northfield Historical Society’s collections that supplement this NHC document:

Stereograph of the Archer House shortly after it opened, c. 1880.

Stereograph of the Archer House shortly after it opened, c. 1880.

The hotel's name changed to the Manawa Hotel, which can be seen in the wagon parked out front in 1890.

In 1903, the hotel’s owners changed its name to the Manawa Hotel, written on the wagon parked out front.

The name changed again to the Hotel Stuart, as seen in this photo from 1920.

The name changed again to the Hotel Stuart in 1913, as seen in this photo from 1920.

At one point the hotel's bricks were painted white, which you can see in this photo of the Hotel Stuart in 1959.

At one point the hotel’s bricks were painted white, which you can see in this photo of the Hotel Stuart in 1959.

The Hotel Stuart in 1977.

The Hotel Stuart in 1977, its centennial year.

Clearly, the Archer House has changed even more since Marjorie Neuhaus wrote about it, but that makes me wonder – which version of the hotel would you like to visit?

Newspapers (and even more interestingly, drafts of news articles like this one) can provide fascinating descriptions of history. See more from the Northfield News collection of the NHC. Who knows what else you can find if you look hard enough?

Fun Finds in the NHC: Malt-O-Meal Additions

24 Friday Jun 2016

Posted by in Businesses, History Blog, Malt-O-Meal

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As we near the end of Northfield’s history month, I’m happy to announce the addition of new photographs to the NHC from the Northfield Historical Society’s Malt-O-Meal collection. This collection includes artifacts and images from the history of the Malt-O-Meal company, but it also documents key places in Northfield where it ran its business.

In celebration of our newest exhibition, “Malt-O-Meal Originals,” enjoy this selection of historical photographs of the Ames Mill, Campbell Mill, and other Northfield views.

Cannon River and mills

Cannon River, two mills, and downtown Northfield, long before Malt-O-Meal came. Taken in 1888. http://contentdm.carleton.edu/cdm/ref/collection/NfldHistSoc/id/9737/rec/13

Cannon River and Ames Mill

Cannon River and the Ames Mill long before Malt-O-Meal took up residence. Taken in 1888. http://contentdm.carleton.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/NfldHistSoc/id/9738/rec/12

Ames Mill, 1930

Ames Mill in 1930, with Malt-O-Meal sign on top. Sign reads “Malt-O-Meal, A Cereal You’ll Enjoy. Made here, sold everywhere.” http://contentdm.carleton.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/NfldHistSoc/id/9740/rec/1

Ames Mill with gas station

The Ames Mill included a gas and service station for vehicles from 1932 through 1981. http://contentdm.carleton.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/NfldHistSoc/id/9748/rec/1

Aerial view of Ames Mill

Aerial photograph of the Ames Mill from the early 1970s. Neon letters spell out “Malt-O-Meal” on top of the mill. http://contentdm.carleton.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/NfldHistSoc/id/9745/rec/1

Ames Mill with awnings

Ames Mill from across the Cannon River, with neon sign and red awnings, 1977. http://contentdm.carleton.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/NfldHistSoc/id/9743/rec/1

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Campbell Mill

Aerial view of the Campbell Mill, the site of the production of ready-to-eat cereals since 1961. http://contentdm.carleton.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/NfldHistSoc/id/9747/rec/1

To see these images (and more!) in person, come to the Northfield Historical Society and ask for the “Malt-O-Meal Originals” exhibit. More artifacts from the collection will be posted on the NHC soon, so stay posted!

For more Northfield history fun, see the last week of events described here! Highlights include the History Hound Walk tomorrow (June 25), Teddy Roosevelt Live at Books and Stars on June 29, and the Vintage Base Ball Game on July 4 at 1 p.m.

Fun Finds in the NHC: KYMN Radio jingles

17 Friday Jun 2016

Posted by in Businesses, History Blog, KYMN Radio

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Northfield’s history month is already half over, but you still have time to enjoy another exploration of Northfield history as preserved by the Northfield History Collaborative. You may not know this, but the NHC can digitize not only documents and photographs, but also audio files.

Today we will take a look at more recent history from our partner, KYMN Radio. KYMN started broadcasting on September 27, 1968. Although the station broadcasts from downtown Northfield today, its original location was in Waterford Township, just a few miles away.

KYMN Radio building, 1979

KYMN Radio building, 1979. See more details on the NHC: http://contentdm.carleton.edu/cdm/ref/collection/KYMN/id/47/rec/31

The station has focused on local interests since its beginning. Businesses within and close to Northfield advertised with them over the airwaves. The NHC has digitized a number of 1970-era commercials and jingles, and these are my favorites (they last about 1 minute each):


Also on the NHC are jingles for these companies:

Sit back and take a listen. Do you remember listening to the radio more than 30 years ago and hearing these commercials? See what else is in the KYMN collection on the NHC!

P.S. History Month may be half over but there are still plenty of events to attend! Hope to see you there!