TheScriver ScribblerA quarterly publication of the Northfield Historical Society

408 Division Street • Northfield, MN 55057 • 507/645-9268www.northfieldhistory.org

Winter/Spring 2008

By Eric Hillemann,Carleton College Archivist

The Carleton College Archives recentlyreceived an exciting collection of studentletters penned by an early-era Carletonstudent. Written to home, these lettersprovide first-hand glimpses of both colle-giate and town life in 1870s Northfield.The letters, part of a larger donation offamily material given by Thomas L.Hughes, a 1947 graduate of Carleton,were written by Hughes’ grandfather, alsonamed Thomas Hughes, while attendingCarleton’s preparatory and collegiatedepartments from 1874 to 1880. Theelder Hughes’ commentary on both ordi-nary student life and notable events ofthose years is fascinating.

Thomas Hughes was a first-generationAmerican, the son of immigrants who set-tled in the Welsh community of Cambria,Blue Earth County, Minnesota, in the mid-1850s. The father, Henry Hughes, was a Congregationalistpreacher, school superintendent, and farmer, who in 1864received a presidential appointment as postmaster ofButternut Valley. Three sons from this family were ultimatelyeducated at Carleton, beginning with Thomas, who was 19

Inside this issue…From the Director...................................................Page 2Understanding NHS Collections ...........................Page 3H. Marquardt Donates Lions Club Pin Collection ...Page 5 Calendar of Events..................................................Page 8

New Collection Recounts Bank Raid

Book ReviewWestward We Came: A NorwegianImmigrant’s Story

when he arrived in Northfield in the winterof 1874 and found room and board withthe Presho family, then living on the south-west corner of Sixth and Union. Thomaseventually graduated as valedictorian ofCarleton’s class of 1880 (with ThorsteinVeblen, later to achieve fame as one ofAmerica’s best known economic and socialtheorists, as salutatorian), married a class-mate from the class of 1881, Alice O. Hills,and went on to a distinguished career inlaw. He was also an honored historian ofsouthern Minnesota. Some of Hughes’future descriptive talents as a historian arealready on display in his student lettershome from Northfield.

When making the gift, Thomas L. Hughesobserved that the letters show the role ofCarleton in nurturing his grandfather’sescape from “the provincialism of his ruralWelsh immigrant background” to the

“Yankee kingdom” to which Carleton heldthe keys. Northfield, which one of the earli-

est letters describes as “far prettier than any place I have everseen before,” is reflected in these letters from multipleangles. Accounts are given, for example, of prominent per-sonalities of town and gown, of religious revivalism and

Collection to page 6

See page 4

ANNUAL MEETINGINVITATION INSIDE!

Thomas Hughes(Photo courtesy of Carleton College Archives.)

NORTHFIELDHISTORICALS O C I E T Y

2

THE SCRIVER SCRIBBLER

THESCRIVER SCRIBBLER

A quarterly publication of theNorthfield Historical Society

Mission StatementTo be the primary communityresource that honors, preserves,

and interprets Northfield’s uniqueplace in history, building a bridge

from our past to our future.

Vision StatementA Northfield whose vibrant her-itage frames its exciting future.

Editors:Jeff Sauve

Evelyn Hoover

Writers:Eric Hillemann

Susan HvistendahlJoan Olson

Joseph M. Shaw

Northfield Historical SocietyBoard of Directors

Dan Freeman, President

Gail Jones Hansen, Vice President

Chuck Sandstrom, Treasurer

Debby Larsen, Secretary

Chip DeMann

Chris Ellison

Scott Elmer

Adriana Estill

Eric Fure-Slocum

Jeff Johnson

Deanna Kuennen

Jodi Lawson

Michelle Millenacker

Lora Steil

Earl Weinmann

Hayes Scriven,Executive Director

Northfield Historical Society408 Division Street

Northfield, MN 55057507-645-9268

www.northfieldhistory.org

Production and PrintingBy All Means Graphics

17 Bridge Square, Northfield507-663-7937

From the Director…I would like to begin this report by briefly recapping Winter Walk.This year the Northfield Historical Society (NHS) hosted local authorsJohn Koblas and Victoria Kasten. In fact, Victoria used Winter Walk tolaunch her newest book in her Mighty Stallion Series titled, AStallion’s Heart. NHS has to thank the James-Younger Gang for pos-ing for pictures again this year and also the Defeat of Jesse James Dayscommittee for sponsoring the pictures. Without their help, Winter

Walk would not be as successful for NHS.

I mentioned in the November Scribbler the formation of the NHS Long Range PlanningCommittee. The Board has just completed the Long Range Planning process. The Boardwould like to thank Skip Zimmerman, because without his expertise and guidance, theBoard would not have been able to accomplish this task. At the Annual Meeting on March15, the Board will be proposing new Mission and Vision statements for NHS. OfficialValues for NHS will also be voted on by the membership.

Much debate and many long hours went into the creation of these statements, which theBoard feels reflect NHS today. Most of you know that NHS has undergone many changes inthe past year and half. This is our way of getting a fresh start in ’08. The new statements are:

OUR MISSIONTo serve as the primary stewards of the unique history of the Northfield area, fostering anawareness of its meaning and relevance through the discovery, documentation, preserva-tion and interpretation of our collective stories.

OUR VISIONTo achieve a fiscally sound organization driven by a large, diverse and engaged member-ship, innovative educational exhibits and programming, and a successful presence down-town and throughout the Northfield area.

OUR VALUESIntegrity – We demonstrate integrity with our relationships with the community and inauthenticating of our collected history.

Stewardship – We serve as dedicated guardians of our local history, maintaining the high-est legal, ethical and professional standards.

Education – We teach Northfield history through creative, inclusive programs and exhibitsthat help people learn the true, meaningful uses of the past.

Collaboration – We work effectively with culturally and ethnically diverse community,state, national, and international organizations in furthering our mission and outreach; towork together respectfully as an internal team comprised of board, staff, volunteers.

Diversity – We embrace our community’s ethnic and cultural diversity, and ensure ourprograms, exhibits, and collections celebrate and reflect the differences and commonalitiesof our collective past.

This will be a big year for NHS and I feel really blessed to be part of this organization.Many people have told me that NHS has a new aura or feeling about it. I cannot agreemore. In the past year and half NHS has experienced so much energy from everyone fromour volunteers to our Board members. NHS is heading in the right direction and it is goingto be a fun ride!

Hayes ScrivenExecutive Director

Hayes Scriven

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Winter 2008

The Northfield Historical Society (NHS) has pledged in itsMission Statement, to “identify, collect and preserve for futuregenerations” the documents and material objects that illus-trate life in the city of Northfield and surrounding areas in the19th and succeeding centuries.

But what is a “collection” in archival terms? We use the wordfrequently, but rarely bother to explain its meaning. We arefamiliar with collections of coins or stamps or music boxes;we know about collections of furniture in museums.

For archivists, a collection is the total quantity of material orobjects that are given to the organization by a donor. A collec-tion may consist of one letter, one carton of office files, a fami-ly Bible, a christening dress, or a World War II uniform. At theother end of the spectrum a collection may be a room full ofinvoices, receipts, and annual reports. Dolls and teddy bears orordinary kitchen tools, which are examples of items used dailyby the members of a family, might also comprise a collection.

The collections of NHS are housed in the basement of theScriver Building, Northfield’s first stone building, erected in1868 by Hiram Scriver, an early mover and shaker (see image,top right of page 1 masthead). He was elected Northfield’sfirst mayor after it became a city in 1875.

Part of the Historical Society’s mandate is to properly care fordonated items. That means providing temperature andhumidity control, dealing with unwanted pests, animals andinsects, with downpours and hailstorms, and with security.

The Collections Room, located directly below the restoredFirst National Bank, houses objects, large and small, whichhave been given to the Society since its founding in 1975. If

they are to be preserved, the donations require constant atten-tion and maintenance:

• Acid-free boxes and tissue for storage of artifacts • Hanging racks for clothing • Acetate sleeves for photographs • File cabinets for paper records

In this era of rapidly changing technology, archivists cannoteven be certain that today’s formats will be available fortomorrow’s donations. How many of you have a phonographplayer that can handle 78 rpm or 33-1/3 long-playing records?

The Archives Room, also in the basement, is lined with book-shelves and filing cabinets. NHS has the records of theNorthfield Rotary Club, the Daughters of the AmericanRevolution (DAR), Sheldahl Corporation, various churches,

Thank You to our New and Renewing Members! Join them today!Welcome to our new members, and a big thank you to our old friends for renewing their NHS memberships! Should you wish to make an additional dona-tion, please consider upgrading your membership. If you have any questions about your membership status, or to notify us of changes in your address orcontact information, please call the NHS at 507-645-9268.

Understanding to page 8

Scribbler Welcomes New EditorsThe Northfield Historical Society is pleased to announcethe Scriver Scribbler’s new editors: Evelyn Hoover andJeff Sauve. Currently, Evelyn and Jeff live in Zumbrotawith ambitions to move to Northfield this year. Evelyn isthe Executive Editor for MSP TechMedia, a division ofMSP Communications, and former Managing Editor ofthe Northfield News. Jeff, a regular contributor to theScribbler, is the Archivist at St. Olaf College.

The Northfield Historical Society would like to alsothank Gail Jones Hansen for her service editing theScribbler for the past few years. Under Gail’s editorship,the Scribbler grew and became a more engaging publica-tion. Thank you, Gail, for all your services.

Understanding NHS Collections

Maxine AmundsonSolveig BaileyPaul & Maribeth BeckGary BensonDaniel BergesonMarjorie BestBill BethkeLinda BlaisdellBill BleckwehlDavid BlyJean BoardmanArmand & Judy BoehmeDixon BondDean BrittonJudy BroskeArlene CarrollMary CaseyJames & Judith Cederberg

Marylou CleggKeith CoveyRaymond & Ellen CoxEarl CrowCarol Korda & Bruce DalgaardBob & Martha DaviesJim and Nancy DimickMary Dyer-BennetMarjorie Bingham

& Thomas EganRobert & Sarah EntenmannAnn & Brendon EtterJennings & Elaine FeroeJames & Beverly FinholtKarl & Alene FinkEugene & Clair FoxDan FreemanEric Fure-Slocum

Harold GargraveSharon Gates-HullMarie & Frank GeryFrederick & Ruth GonnermanMarvin & Judy GrundhoeferEvangline HallLorraine HansonGlen & Barb Herrington-HallRobert HickcoxEric HillemannBarry & Kristi HoldenFlorence HovlandDavid HvistendahlSusan HvistendahlMargit & Eric JohnsonGail Jones HansenJoann & Paul JorgensenJoan Kark

Allyn & Deanna KuennenKatharine & Bob KuyperDebby LarsenDonna LarsonElse LovollBarbara LunderganEugene & Elaine LymanJames MachacekMac & Ruthabeth McElrathCharles & Lois MessnerRobert and Teresa OdenRaymond OzmunDagfinn Moe & Lydia QuanbeckSauve FamilyRobert & Paula SchanilecErnie SchanilecEugene & Joyce SchraderDorene Scriven

June SeversonJoseph & Mary ShawSusan & Gary SingerArlene SivanichJudith SostedGeorge & Carolyn SouleJudith StoutlandLilli Alanen &

Frederick StoutlandDavid SudermannCurtis and Karen SwensonWilliam TalenElaine ThurstonNorman & Joan TorbensonJulian & Betty TrangsrudSandy VesledahlClark & Eve WebsterDeWayne Wee

Henry & Louise WitmanMary WoodFrank & Ann WrightKathleen YungSkip Zimmerman

& Genevieve Tompkins

Companies & OrganizationsDefeat of Jesse James

Days CommitteeNorthfield Insurance

New Life MemberBrett & Michelle Reese

THE SCRIVER SCRIBBLER

4

Book ReviewWestward We Came: A NorwegianImmigrant’sStory, 1866-1898, editedby Erling E. Kildahl. Purdue UniversityPress, 2008.

The editor of this volume, Erling E. Kildahl, has assembledand edited scattered recollections of his father, the ReverendHarold B. Kildahl, who is the real author of the book. Theresulting immigrant story is rich and many-faceted. Ofspecial interest to Northfield readers are stories of St. OlafCollege and of the town, including a surprisingly detailedaccount of the James-Younger bank raid of 1876 as recalledby 11-year-old Harold. Harold Kildahl had close dealings withtwo highly-respected benefactors and mentors, the ReverendB. J. Muus, founder of St. Olaf, and the Reverend Th. N.Mohn, the college’s first president.

Some Northfield residents know the Kildahl name fromKildahl Park Pointe, a new housing facility for seniors in thenorthwest part of the city; others will know that John NathanKildahl, one of Harold’s older brothers, served as the secondpresident of St. Olaf College from 1899 to 1914. The parents,Johan and Nicoline Kildahl, ran a boarding house for St. Olafstudents in Northfield and suggested the name “St. Johannes”for the Norwegian Lutheran congregation. Harold himselfbecame an extremely capable, well-regarded clergyman who,in 1934, was granted the honorary Doctor of Divinity degreeby his alma mater, St. Olaf College. Erling E. Kildahl, the edi-tor, the youngest child of Harold Kildahl, was Director andProfessor of Speech and Theater at Purdue University from1948 to 1981.

Westward We Came includes four major sections. The firsttells of the family’s heart-wrenching ocean journey fromNorway to America in 1866. The second describes years ofstruggle and poverty in Goodhue County and in Northfield.The third recounts the adventurous move westward, first tothe Red River Valley and then to a homestead claim nearDevils Lake, Dakota Territory. The fourth section tells ofHarold’s return to Minnesota to attend St. Olaf, pursue seminary studies, receive ordination, get married, and accepthis first call.

In truth, it is an immigrant’s story, but also a vivid depictionof the western movement. Readers will admire the courageand abilities of young Harold, his brother Andrew, and sisterMathilde as they began farming their land claim before theirparents arrived. They experienced first-hand the very featuresof pioneer life that later became the stuff of books andmovies: The flooding of the Red River; the advance of therailroads; prairie fires; breaking the sod. One day while plowing with the oxen, 18-year-old Harold was confronted bytwo claim jumpers, one of them carrying a shotgun. He calledtheir bluff and they left. He and his brother Andrew learnedfrom the Indians to dig their well where they found a badgercolony. Defying convention, they brought saplings from anearby lake to establish a grove of trees. They learned how tofile claims on the land and acquired 1,200 acres. The Kildahlfarm became a town with a post office.

It was a good life in Dakota Territory, but Harold felt thestrong desire for an education, so he returned to Minnesotato prepare for the ministry. Those eventful years in the westproduced money for his education and also a maturity andsense of purpose that would serve him well in his ministry asa parish pastor and church administrator.

Joseph M. Shaw, Professor Emeritus of Religion,St. Olaf College, has been researching and writingtopics of St. Olaf history since retirement.

❏ YES! I’d like to help “make history” in Northfield!Enclosed is my check for a one-year membership in theNorthfield Historical Society.

❏ Senior/Student – $30 ❏ Individual – $40 ❏ Family – $50

❏ Historian – $100 ❏ Patron – $250 ❏ Settler – $500

❏ Life – $1,000

Name _______________________________________

Address ______________________________________

Telephone ____________________________________

Email________________________________________Please enclose this form with your check made out tothe Northfield Historical Society and mail to the NHS at408 Division Street, Northfield MN 55057. Or come visitus – we’re in the Scriver Building on Bridge Square!

Renew Your Membership Today!

5

Winter 2008

Herold Marquardt Donates Lions Club Pin Collection

“We take glasses all over the world fromNorthfield,” says Marquardt, recalling twotrips he took in the 1980s to the towns ofParral and Camargo in the state ofChihuahua, Mexico, along with Northfieldoptometrist Dr. James Gutfleisch and others.Marquardt says some people walked for 40miles to get glasses. Marquardt remembersone grandmother who “gave me a big hugand said that’s the first time she got to see hergrandchild in her life. She just cried andcried… Made us all cry.” Dr. Gutfleischremembers that this trip was organized aspart of an international organization calledVolunteer Optometry Services to Humanity(VOSH) and that Marquardt’s role was givingeye tests and fitting glasses, next to a sign thathumorously referred to him as “Dr. Quack.”

Marquardt and his wife Esther (both ofwhom have won the Melvin Jones Award, thehighest Lions Club honor) raised three girls,Mary Ann, Phyllis, and Helen, and they have

nine grandchildren. When asked what he would like to sayabout the Lions Club and its mission, Marquardt says,“They’ve always been willing to help a person who is down.And that’s why I joined.”

Kimber and Burt Paulsen (of the Northfield Lions Club)both laud Marquardt’s services to the Lions Club and thecommunity. Paulsen says he has “never seen anyone as activeand do as much for the Lions Club as Herold has.”

NHS is archiving the pins and hopes to have them on display soon for the public.

To read more about the Lions Club and Marquardt’s involvement visit northfieldhistory.org.

By Susan Hvistendahl

Since joining the Northfield LionsClub after retiring from dairy farming, Herold Marquardt hasrepresented the club as governorand state representative on tripsacross the United States and abroadto such places as Singapore, HongKong, Tokyo, Russia, Iceland,Australia, and New Zealand. As partof a pin trading club and in thecourse of his travels, he started collecting Lions Club pins, filling sixcork boards with a total count of1,403 pins.

Now 91 years old, Marquardt’s firstwish was to sell the pins and splitthe proceeds with two area LionsClubs. But he wanted to keep thecollection together and DonKimber and the Cannon ValleyLions Club came up with the ideaof donating them to the NorthfieldHistorical Society (NHS). Marquardt agreed and is glad thatthe collection can stay in Northfield. He feels he is givingback to the community that supported Lions Club effortshere throughout his tenure.

Marquardt, a Nebraska native, moved with his family tofarm two miles south of the Big Steer in 1947. After sellingthe farm, he worked as a mechanic for an implement company in Dundas and was approached by his neighborKen Schrader to join the Northfield Lions Club (which datesback to 1921). Years later, when Schrader was diagnosedwith terminal cancer, he expressed a goal of starting anotherclub in Northfield and asked Marquardt to be the “GuidingLion” of the new Cannon Valley Lions Club. Kimber wascharter secretary of the new club and remembers that“Herold was always available to answer any questions wehad and give us a hand with anything.” The new club wasestablished on March 26, 1984.

Marquardt collected more than just pins over the years.Kimber says Marquardt was “responsible for collecting thousands of pairs of glasses” and Marquardt commendsNorthfield’s participation in this noteworthy Lions Clubvision program.

VOTE ON A STORY FOR NEXT ISSUEWhich story would you like to read about in the next issue?Cast your vote by calling NHS at 507-645-9268 or emailingthe editor, Jeff Sauve (sauve@stolaf.edu).

1. Prehistoric skull2. Mastadon tooth found in Dundas3. Mystery grave and old gravestones

Harold Marquardt, 91, and his Lions Club pins.(Photo courtesy of Susan Hvistendahl)

river baptisms, of the Grange, the Ladies’ SewingCircle, holiday celebrations, local elections andlocal scandals, celebrity visits, public lectures,town baseball, agitation of the temperance ques-tion, the founding of St. Olaf College (1874), andat Carleton the burning of the college building(Willis Hall) in 1879.

Space is far too limited here to excerpt broadlyfrom the wealth of interesting relation present inThomas Hughes’ six-and-a-half years of lettershome. Rather this piece is limited to sharingextracts incorporating Hughes’ account of what may havebeen the single most sensational local event of those years,the 1876 bank raid by the James-Younger gang. This is inter-esting, as a contemporaneous recounting of the raid that hasnot, to my knowledge, previously been in print, but it is

Collection continued from page 1

6

important to keep in mind that Hughes was not an eyewit-ness, and was only telling his family the story, not entirelyaccurate in detail, as it was being talked about in town at thetime. I have made some edits to Hughes’ original spellingand punctuation.

NorthfieldSep. 14th, 1876

My dear parents [. . .]

Since my last letter Northfield has been visited by one of thesaddest and most terrible tragedies that ever happened in ourstate. About 2 o’clock last Thursday afternoon a band of eightwell armed well mounted men rode into town, dashed up theprincipal street, and when opposite the National Bank, stopped.Three of them dismounting entered the Bank while the other fivebegan firing up and down [the] street at every body and thing.The city was taken by surprise. Only a few persons happened tobe in the street at the time. These fled in terror. But a few storeshad arms at all, and to make matters worse most of these hadlent them or had let them go out of repair as they had neverbefore had occasion to use them. The three ruffians who enteredthe Bank at once leaped over the counter with drawn revolversand demanded the three officials in charge (Heywood, Bunker,and Wilcox) to surrender as they were going to rob the Bank.They then placed Bunker and Wilcox on their knees with handsup while two of their number guarded them holding theirrevolvers at their heads. The other dragged Heywood to the doorof the vault and asked him to open the safe, which he refused todo. The ruffian then placed his pistol at his head and swore andthreatened him, but all in vain. He then shot at him but could notterrify him. Then the villain drew his knife, and drew it across histhroat, making a small scratch. Heywood however could not bemoved. He would never prove false to his trust. The robber thenleft him and entered the vault himself. Heywood jumped up andpushed him in and closed the door. One of the other ruffiansthen rushed forward and dragged Heywood away, striking himdown with his pistol, and let his comrade out.

Bunker now taking advantage ran out through the back door. Oneof the robbers immediately fired on him and shot him in the shoul-der. However he escaped. By this time it was getting hot on theruffian party outside.The citizens had begun to recover from theirfirst panic, and two or three having found guns were returning firewith zeal.Two of the ruffians had fallen dead in the street whiletwo more were wounded.The remaining one rushed to the doorof the bank and shouted to his comrades to come out, “that thegame was up, and they were beaten.” The three within nowrushed out, but their leader, maddened at the thought that theyhad failed in their attempt, turned and shot Heywood through thehead dead on the spot – for it was mostly due to his heroic faith-fulness to duty that they had failed.

The desperadoes then mounted their horses in haste, picked uptheir wounded, and fled to the woods. Since, they have beenhotly pursued by men from all parts of the state. Over a thou-sand men are after them now in the “Big Woods” and there areprobabilities that they might be caught.

But at least you see they did not gain much by raiding onNorthfield.They lost 2 killed, 2 wounded, and three horses, andsince all their horses have been taken. And after all their troublethey did not get a cent. We lost Mr. Heywood and a Swede[Nicolas Gustafson] killed and Mr. Bunker wounded. Mr. Heywoodwas one of the best men of the town. He was treasurer of theBank of the city and of Carleton College. He was very religious –famed for honesty and an exemplary man in every way. He leavesa wife and child and a host of friends to mourn his loss. What adifference was between the honor paid his remains and that ofthe two robbers who lay like dogs in the streets.

This from your affectionate son,

Thomas Hughes

THE SCRIVER SCRIBBLER

7

Winter 2008

The Hughes letters, and most other historical collectionshoused in the Carleton College Archives are open toresearch use by the general public, as well as to membersof the college community. To be certain of finding theArchives office open for a visit, appointments are recom-mended.

Eric Hillemann has been Carleton’s College Archivistsince 1990.

NorthfieldSep. 22nd, 1876

There has been nothing but excitement here since the robbery.But last night that excitement reached its climax when twotelegrams came saying all the gang had been caught. Four upthere near Madelia, the other two out near Sioux City. The firstproving true, the latter not, as I am sorry to say. Such rejoicingwas never known in Northfield. The people were wild. Lastevening was like a regular Fourth of July night. A huge bonfirewas made in the square in the middle of town. Cannon, torpe-does, firecrackers and guns were fired till near midnight. TheBand was also out. Indeed it is a good thing they are taken, notonly that justice might have her due, but also that this might be awarning to other evildoers that they might see that “the way ofthe transgressors is indeed hard,” and that “the wages of Sin isdeath.”

The heroic conduct of the noble Heywood who fell bravely athis post, faithful to his trust though beaten with a pistol, thougha cocked revolver was placed at his head, though a knife wasdrawn across his throat, though dragged and kicked about andtormented every way until at last killed, has been admired andwondered at throughout the entire length and breadth of theland. From Atlantic to Pacific the press unite in his praise.

Amid all the corruption and infidelity to trust common to thetimes, he looms up as a noble example of true humanity.There is a combined movement on the part of the bankinginstitutions of the country to raise a fine monument to hismemory, and to found an endowment the proceeds of whichshall go to keep his wife and child as long as they live.

In this event two extremes meet – the purest and the basestspecimens of humanity. One beloved and honored by all, theother denied the burial even of a dog.

NorthfieldOct. 6th, 1876

Nothing new of any importance has happened here since Iwrote you last. The three robbers are safely domiciled in thecounty boarding house at Faribault at present, where it islikely they shall remain for a time.

NorthfieldOct. 13th, 1876

The excitement of the “Robbers’ Raid” has now subsided.Nothing more is heard of them. The three prisoners are inclose confinement at Faribault. Having been placed in chainsin their cells while four or five armed men stand guard beside,and nobody is allowed to see the prisoners at all.

Many people of this town are away in the Centennial at pres-ent. Some also are returning every week. I suppose for a townof its size, more have visited the Exhibition from here than anyplace in the state. “Jesse Ames & Sons,” the millers of this city,carried away the first Premium for the best flour in the world atPhiladelphia, which is quite an honor to them and the state.

NorthfieldNov. 17th, 1876

The trial of the famous Younger brothers, the Northfield robbers, is now in progress. And the old excitement has bro-ken out anew. The prisoners made their appearance in courtyesterday, exactly two months since they entered the jail.About 1500 persons thronged the streets of Faribault tocatch a glimpse of them passing. They were chained handand foot and surrounded by 50 armed men, who have beenguarding the jail ever since they were taken. So you see theYounger Boys have not been a very light expense to RiceCounty.

Four indictments have been made against them: the murderof Heywood, the murder of the Swede, the wounding ofBunker, and the attempt to rob the Bank. What shall be theirpunishment is the question now. The public sentiment heredeclares firmly they shall not escape hanging.

Rice County Courthouse (Photo courtesy of Rice County Historical Society.)

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March 15th – Annual Meeting, Great Hall,Carleton College

April 12th – History Mystery,Alexander Faribault House, Faribault

May 1st – Shooting of Ytterboe the Dog Documentary,Viking Theater, St. Olaf College

May 15th – The History of Memorial Day and theSignificance of the World War I Poppy,Northfield Historical Society

June 12th – Volunteer Appreciation Day,Northfield Historical Society

June 19th – Bank Raid Re-enactment and Taste of Northfield, Downtown Northfield

Spring Calendar of Events private diaries, World War II oral histories, and a largecollection of photographs.

All of the materials at the NHS are available for research andstudy. Visitors come from places near and far seeking infor-mation about their ancestors, or to learn about early settlers,the history of industry and transportation, or the history ofthe West. And, of course, many come who are interested inJesse and Frank James, the Younger Brothers, and the ill-fatedattempt to rob the First National Bank.

Come and visit the Archives and Collections Rooms; you willsee what we do on a continuing basis to fulfill the mandate ofour Mission Statement.

For more information on the archives visit our website,www.northfieldhistory.org and on the left side click theResearch Library tab.

One final word about volunteers: this organization, like manyother civic organizations, would not survive without the workand financial support of volunteers. There is always work tobe done. Volunteers are needed and welcomed.

Joan Olson graduated from Bucknell University in1954 and went on to get her M.A. in History fromCornell University. In 1969 she accepted the position ofArchivist at St. Olaf, which she held until 1998.

Understanding continued from page 3

ANNUAL MEETINGINVITATION INSIDE!

For the most up-to-dateinformation on the NHS visitwww.northfieldhistory.org