Transcription:

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN (1706-1790)

Printer, author, inventor, diplomat, philanthropist statesman, and scientist.  The eighteenth century’s most illustrious Pennsylvanian built a house in Franklin Court starting in 1763, and here he lived the last five years of his life.

Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission 1990

Hull Rust Mahoning Mine Historic Marker

Hull-Rust-Mahoning Mine

It has been called the “Grand Canyon of the North,” a fitting title for the world’s largest open pit iorn mine.  The Hull-Rust-Mahoning pit actually began as separate mines, named for their owners, first dug in 1895, that gradually merged into one.  Today this enormous pit measures 1.5 by 3.5 miles with a depth of 600 feet.  Because of its size and the important developments that took place here, the Hull-Rust-Mahoning mine played a key role in making Minnesota the leading iron-ore producer in the country.

Setting in the midst of the Mesabi Range, the largest of Minnesota’s three iron ranges, this mine owed its dominance to its particular iron formations.  Here, vast stretches of high-grade, soft ore lay in shallow deposits that could be scooped up with giant steam shovels, machinery perfected at this site.  Using the open pit method, mining companies removed huge quantities of iron ore quickly and economically, dumping it into rail cars that were moved out of the mine on tracks circling the slopes of the pit.

Large mining operations required extensive financial resources.  Small local developers were soon driven out, and the wealthy ones with names like Rockefeller and Carnegie took over.  In 1901 J. P. Morgan consolidated their mining and manufacturing operations as United States Steel, creating what was then the biggeste corporation in the world.

The Hull-Rust-Mahoning Mine developed rapidly in the early 1900s, when demand was high for iron and steel to build railroads, bridges, and skyscrapers.  In its peak production years during World Wars I and II, this pit supplied as much as one-fourth of all the iorn ore mined in the United States.  It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1966.

Erected by the Minnesota Historical Society.

New London Historic Marker

New London

Louis Larson, a Swedish emigrant, found the falls on the Crow River in 1860.  In 1861 he built a cabin nearby and the following year started a dam and sawmill.

On August 17, 1862, the Dakota Indian War broke out.  Larson and all the settlers in the area were forced to flee for safety and did not return until 1865.

Larson and Samuel Stone, returned to find the dam washed out.  The rebuilt the dam and sawmill and added a gristmill.  Settlers came from miles around for lumber, flour and other needs.  Larson named the town New London after New London, Wisconsin.  By 1868 New London had grown to forty people, three stores and a blacksmith shop.  It was the county seat of Mononagalia County from 1866 to 1870 when it merged with Kandiyohi County.  The original court house still stands, identified on Main Street.

Sponsored by the Kandiyohi County Historical Society and erected in [can't see date].

Green Lake Village Historic Marker

Green Lake Village and Mill

Several families settled near Green Lake’s Crow River inlet in 1864.  This became a trading center known as Green Lake Village, with a post office established in 1867.  That same year the Green Lake lumber and grist mills were built.  Lumber milling was discontinued in 1868.  Grain milling continued here long after New London developed as a trading center.  The mill was purchased in 1902 by the Hillman family.  It was converted into a hydroelectric plant, furnishing much of the electric power for the area until 1920.  The Green Lake Mill became the Olde Mill Inn, a resort that was in operation through the rest of the 20th century.

Sponsored by Roberg Imlang Legion Post 507 of New London, The Federal Highway Administration, and Kandiyohi County, for the Glacial Ridge Scenic Byway Project.  Erected in 2002.

Located on N. Shore Drive, Spicer, MN.

The Wallachei Historic Marker

The Wallachei

This neighborhood dates back to the early days of New Ulm.  Oral history suggests the borders shown above.  The origin of the name “The Wallachei” is obscure.  The most likely translation is “low land horse pasture.”  Or, legend has it, Mr. Kraus had a horse named Walla.  Each morning he would send his son out to the barn with the instruction:  “Gibs” du Walla heu” (Give Walla hay).  There were a few large families, large gardens, numerous farm animals, flocks of chickens, and outdoor privies.  It was a tought, hard working neighborhood where outsiders were not always welcome.  There was a small grocery, mink ranch, and gravel pit, all anchored by the Hauenstein Brewery.  There was even a “Wallachei Clubhouse” to provide low-cost gemutlichkeit (fellowship).  German-Bohemian names predominated such as:  Hesse, Lamecker, Kagermeier, Prokosch, Wallner, and Wieland.  The character of the area began to change when it became built-up beginning in the 1950′s.  But its proud name endures.

Erected by:  Junior Pioneers of New Ulm and Vicinity; German-Bohemian Heritage Society; George L Glotzbach; and New Ulm Area Foundation.  2007

Located in South Park, New Ulm, Minnesota.

Joseph LaFramboise Historic Marker

Joseph LaFramboise

Interpreter to the Sioux

1826  Licensed U.S. fur buyer with H. H. Sibley.

1834  Owned Little Rock Trading Post on the Minnesota River.

1837  Interpreter for Indian Treaty at Fort Snelling and Washington D.C.

1838-39  Guide for Jean N. Nicollet, U.S. Gov’t Cartographer in Nicollet Co.

July 23, 1851  Interpreter with Rev. Riggs for Sioux Indians at Traverse des Sioux Treaty.

1853  First assessor for West half of Nicollet Co.

1856  Largest land owner in Nicollet Co. – 400 A.

Nicollet County Bicentennial Commission

Located in Fort Ridgely State Park, near the Fort Ridgely Cemetery.

Dacotah House Historic Marker

1859 Dacotah House 1971

Helena Erd Seiter       Adolph Seiter

The Dacotah House, located on this site, was built in 1859 by Adolph Seiter and Frank Erd.  Adolph’s wife, Helena Erd Seiter soon established her fame in the kitchen. During the Dakota Conflict of 1862, Helena fled in a wagon with her children to St. Peter.  She is credited with convincing the authorities there of the reality of the outbreak.  Military aid was sent to New Ulm.  The Dacotah House was a refuge and hospital during the conflict and later military headquarters.

For many years the Dacotah Hotel was a central gathering place because of its wonderful food, hospitality and renowned visitors.  The Seiter/Johnson families were the proprietors until 1948, when it was sold to the Esser family.  The Citizens State Bank purchased it in 1968 and operated the hotel until its closing in 1971.

Donated by Seiter/Erd Families 1992

Located on wall of Citizens Bank, Minnesota Street, New Ulm, Minnesota.

New Sweden Indian Attack

Mrs. Maria Jonsson, wife of Erik Jonsson, and their son, Pehr, were killed by Sioux Indians on August 23, 1862, near their home in New Sweden Township, about five miles northwest of this marker.  Both natives of Sweden, Mrs. Jonsson was thirty-five and Pehr was twelve years old at the time of the massacre.  Another son, August, born in New Sweden Township in 1861, died of exposure two days after his mother’s death.  All three bodies are buried in this cemetery, which was consecrated in 1859 by the Scandian Grove Lutheran Church.

The Jonsson homestead was one of the eastern-most sites involved in depredations committed by the Indians during the Sioux Uprising of 1862.

“Days of affliction come to meet me” Job 30:27

This marker was erected in 1962 by the Scandian Grove Lutheran Church in grateful memory of these pioneer members of the congregation.

Frank Erd Building

In 1860, Frank Erd built this two story building of brick and stone.  The lower floor housed, Erd’s mercantile business, the second floor provided space for County offices.  This original structure extended back from the sidewalk about twenty-five feet.

During the Battles of New Ulm in 1862, the substantial structure provided refuge for many women and children.  A keg of gun powder was placed in the basement of the building to be ignited should the Sioux capture the downtown area.  In charge of lighting the fuse was twenty-six year old Mary Schmitz Ryan.

A telescope placed on the flat roof of the building was used to observe the approach of the Sioux.

The building was purchased by Willibald Eibner in the 1880′s and used for many years as a restaurant and bakery.  It has been enlarged and remodeled several times.

Sponsored by Haus Messerschmidt and Brown County Historical Society

Brighton

On the Red River Oxcart Trail to Traverse des Sioux
1854-First white man to claim land-Bruce Pierce.
1855-56-Then; Christian, John & Andrew Anderson; Christian & Torger Peterson & the Jensens.
1862-The Applebaum home was the refuge for victims of the Sioux Uprising-5 died.
4 churches: Catholic, 1859, Norwegian Methodist 1860, Norwegian Lutheran 1868, & Zion Lutheran.
3 blacksmith Shops – Creamery 1905-1919.
1877-First township officers-J.H. Dorn, Andrew Jensen, Leonard Boor, Adam Epper & C. Peterson.
1879-Post office in store of Peterson & Jensen.

Nicollet County Bicentennial Commission

Located on County Road 5 between MN 15 and MN 111, Nicollet County, Minnesota.  (Click on photo to go to Flickr, where there’s a link to a map of the location.)

Lake Pepin

“City dwellers need go no farther than this if they seek romantic solitude,” wrote panorama artist Henry Lewis in 1848.  “One cannot imagine a more lovely expanse of water than Lake Pepin in quiet, clear weather, and no wilder scene than when, whipped by the storm, its waves bound against the rocky cliffs.”

Between the towns of Red Wing and Wabasha most of the rugged valley of the Upper Mississippi is filled by this river widening known as Lake Pepin.  Long before the European explorer Father Louis Hennepin “discovered” what he called the “Lake of Tears” in 1680, it served as a highway for Indian people of many cultures.  Their burial mounds and earthworks can still be found along its shores.

After the Minnesota Territory was opened to settlement in 1849, Lake Pepin saw a brisk commercial traffic generated by lumbering and agriculture.  Huge rafts of logs, some 1,200 feet long and 300 feet wide, were towed down the river.  Steamboats brought in thousands of new settlers and carried out the wheat and flour produced on the rich land.  The lake itself provided resources for commercial fishermen and for clammers, who sold the clam shells to be used in button making.

Today’s “city dwellers” and others still seek “romance” and recreation in sailing, water skiing, and fishing on the beautiful lake that has welcomed generations of visitors to Minnesota.

Erected by the Minnesota Historical Society 1985.

Frederick Forster, who conducted the New Ulm Pottery here with Francis Gommel, was also the Postmaster.  This building, used as a combined pottery works, Post Office and dwelling, was a very important defense outpost in 1862.

During the Second Battle of New Ulm, Henry Swift, future Governor of Minnesota, and about twenty men were assigned to defend this structure.

“A number of our men took possession of the brick Post Office…and loopholed it in all stories and through the roof, thus protecting quite a range on the rear of the town,” wrote Colonel Flandrau.

Even though the building was outside the barricaded area, the defenders were able to repulse all Indian advances and retained possession to the end of the fight.

This is one of the few buildings remaining from the time of the Uprising.  The exterior walls have been covered with stucco, but the building remains essentially unchanged.

Located on the west side of north Broadway, between 1st N St and 2nd N St., New Ulm, MN.

This first one is from Louisiana, and was located just down the road from some huge refineries. I always thought of Texas as being oil country, but Louisiana is right next door and has its fair share as well.

The location of the second one may surprise you. It’s from western North Dakota, near Tioga.

Oil was discovered in North Dakota in 1951, and it remains a large part of North Dakota’s economy. The northwestern part of the state is dotted with many oil wells like the one pictured.

To see more travel photos, visit Photo Fridays at DeliciousBaby.

Two Battles of New Ulm

The first news of the Sioux Uprising was brought to New Ulm at noon on August 18, 1862, by survivors of a Civil War recruiting party that had been ambushed in Milford Township.  Barricades were hastily erected in a three-block area on Minnesota Street under Captain Jacob Nix’s command, and Henry Behnke was sent to St. Peter to ask for help.

The first attack on Tuesday, August 19, by about one hundred Indians was repulsed.  By the time of the major attack on August 23, some three hundred defenders had gathered, including volunteers from St. Peter, Mankato, and Le Sueur.  Judge Charles E. Flandrau of Traverse des Sioux was elected to command the desperate defense of the beleaguered town.  The battle raged all day and the outcome was often in doubt.  On Sunday the 24th, as reinforcements under E. St. Julien Cox appeared, the Sioux withdrew up the Minnesota Valley.

Faces with a shortage of food and ammunition, and threatened with disease, two thousand refugees from New Ulm were evacuated to Mankato on the 25th, without mishap.  Most of them returned shortly to rebuild the community.

Sponsored by the Brown County Historical Society, June 20, 1962.

This is a close-up of the map portion of the marker.

Norseland Community

The name Norseland was originated by community spirited settlers.

1858-Norseland Store was built by John Burke

1896-Patrons built Norseland Co-op Creamery next to the Burke store which had a post office

1922-Emil Swenson became a partner in the general store known as Burke and Swenson

1939-Emil Swenson bought Burke’s share

1929-New Creamery built at present site

1950-Roger Swenson, son of Emil Swenson became owner of the general store

1970-Creamery joined Tri-ag Cooperative; handling-Fertilizer-feeds-seeds, and general agricultural supplies.

Bicentennial–1976

The second is just south of the first, along Minnesota Highway 22.

Norseland Community

1854 Methodist church organized-disbanded 1900.

1858-Norwegian Lutheran church organized.  1911 present church erected.

1858-Scandian Grove Lutheran church organized. 1888 stone church erected.

1858-Burkes had a general store & post office-Later a garage-luxurious restaurant & sold tractors.

1875-Anton Olson bought the blacksmith shop-is still family operated. Anton’s son changed the name to Anthony. The Anthonys were implement dealers-farmers-made wagons & plows.

1896-Norseland Cooperative Creamery was built.

1939-George-Maurice & Ray Anthony bought the Burke farm land at auction

Nicollet County Bicentennial Commission

Tri-State Marker

1859: Set at the junction of the states of Minnesota, Iowa, and Dakota Territory by the Federal Land Office survey of Minnesota’s western boundary.

Early 1900′s:  Removed after partial destruction by vandals.

1938:  Repaired and reset by adjacent counties at original site under direction of U. S. Department of Interior.

1979: Broken from base by vehicle traffic.

1980: Restored and relocated at this site by the county governments and historical societies of Lyon County, IA, Rock County, MN, and  Minnehaha County, SD.  Flush marker set at original location – 43 – 30′ N.L.

Dedicated to the pioneers of Siouxland this 26th day of October 1980.

Maine Prairie Corners

Here in 1856 settlers from Maine established a community that grew into a vigorous pioneer village including three churches & stores, two lodge halls, blacksmith shop, cheese factory–all built near the site of a 2 1/2 story tamarack fort used during the Sioux Outbreak of 1862.

With the coming of the Soo Line in 1886, most buildings were moved to Kimball.  The last to remain burned in 1919.

Stearns County Historical Society and the Kimball Centennial Committee 1949.

Located at Three Rivers Trail park near Bradgate, Iowa.  Click through to photo; it is mapped in flickr.

Here’s a close-up of the text so that you can read the significance of this place.

Found on the west side of a gravel road; there is no sign indicating the marker from the road.  For location, click through to the photo.  I have attempted to map the location in flickr.

Notice that local historians recognized the need to remember this location and placed the plaque in 1947.