Humboldt County Historical Association

Norm Caldwell, President                                                                  Connie Overby, Director

            332-5285                                                                                                 890-9652

www.humboldtiowahistory.org

            July, 2009

The first meeting of the Humboldt County Historical Association with be held on Monday, September 14^th at the barn owned by LeRoy and Susan Witzel.  Mark the date on your calendar.  This is just the first of several exciting programs planned for the year ahead.  If you would be willing to serve as host for any of the meetings, please call Jeanne Raine at 332-3264.

The August board meeting will be held on Monday, August 3 at 6:30 at the home of Mabel Erickson.

Norm’s Notes:

June has been a busy month and the time has flown by.

New lights were put up in the Clancy building to enhance the lighting.  More lights will be put up in the barn, the school and the log cabin.  Now we can see what we¹re doing and the things that need to be done.

Cody Kampen is now helping the Wednesday crew.  He will be working primarily on various roofs at the museum such as the Centennial Building, spot repair on the log cabin and a complete removal and replacement of shingles on the chicken house. 

Carolyn Saul Logan is preparing a list that will be discussed at future meetings concerning project priorities.  This will act as a guide to or projects that need completion now as well as our dreams for future projects.

The kitchen garden is growing and producing.  I can tell you from experience that the peas are excellent.

Terry Kocher has loaned us two uniforms.  One is from the Spanish American War and one is from World War I.  They are on display in the military room. Come in and see this growing patriotic display.              

 Have a great August.

 Norm

News From Your Museum Director: 

 I enjoy sitting on the porch of the Mill Farm House and listening to the squeak of the museum sign as it moves in the breeze.  From my seat on the porch I can see the field across the street, green and lush.   The little red bud tree planted in front of the house last spring has almost doubled in size, the hostas, roses and lilies are doing their job, offering a bit color and a lot of  beauty to any visitor passing their way

The kitchen garden, developed by the Master Gardner Program, is now planted and growing nicely and is a fine addition to our museum.  Donna Day’s garden is a riot of color, if you have the time drop by to see thenew shade garden she planted under the tree near her garden, and the trellis she and Norm built for the entrance to her garden. 

Other museum news, we will be working on organizing the Russ Campbell collection of Indian artifacts now that we have received a grant that will cover some of the expenses.

The Hardy Church will lose its renters the end of July and we will concentrate on displaying church items as they were when the church was located in Hardy. 

Martha and Bill continue to work on their Military Room display.  

We miss seeing Pat Baker working in her Research Room, feel better soon Pat!! 

 n the farmhouse we continue storing our collection of textiles, we are presently working on the fur collection and heavy coat collections.  We are proud to display an embroidered and quilted screen in our Child’s Room, this screen, which is made of blocks embroidered with the alphabet done in a Victorian style, was handmade and donated by Marilyn Hinners. 

We held a grand opening for our Museum Gift Shop and it was a great success.  Keep in mind the shop is open whenever the museum is open. 

Norm and his buddies have been working on developing our Blacksmith Shop in the Red Barn.  LeRoy Witzel is also helping by organizing this display.  Future plans for the Red Barn include expanding the Carpenter’s Display area, organizing the Horse Display area and adding a Wheelwright Display.  We have moved the looms from the upstairs area of the Red Barn and now have room to spread out items already there allowing us to show them off to their best advantage.

Did you see our entry in the 4^th of July parade?  The parade was great fun and is always a wonderful way to remind folks we are here!

Activities planned for July are raffling a quilt during the fair, visits from girl scouts on the 11th, a big wedding at the Hardy Church on the 18^th, and our fair booth at the county fair from July 22 to the 26th.  We also welcome the Women Land and Legacy group and the Community College group on the 30^th.  Yes, two big groups on the same day!  August 1^st is the Republican picnic.  Also, we will start selling the Victorian Tea tickets on August 3^rd. 

WE NEED YOUR HELP:

As I mentioned above, we are developing our Blacksmith Shop Display in the Red Barn.  In order to make this display as realistic as possible we are looking for blacksmith made tools to display in the shop.  We are also looking for a CONE SWEGE BLOCK and TRIP HAMMERS.  If you have any of these items and would be willing to donate them to our museum, please contact Connie, Norm or LeRoy Witzel.

 MARK YOUR CALENDARS:

 August 8^th:  HAPPY 101^ST BIRTHDAY MABEL!!!

 Monday, December 7^th, 2009:  We will be holding a member’s only reception at the Mill Farm House

                                                                      --Connie

Remember to do the Dues!

 Remember to send your 2009 dues ($10.00 single per year or $200.00 lifetime) to Jeanne Raine, 509 11^th Street S.W. Humboldt, Iowa  50548

The 2009 Quilt Class will be held September 20, October 10, 17 and 24.  We will be making “The Evening Star”.  The cost is $25.00 plus a pattern, which can be paid at the museum or at the fair.  Then on the assigned days, bring your fabric and sewing equipment.  We’ll have a ball!

 Historically Speaking

New Street Lamps in Humboldt -1882The Downtown Humboldt Enrichment Group has plans to revitalize the business district. In 1882 the Humboldt City Council also wanted to improve the business area. They chose to place street lamps in strategic locations. The following article was printed in the Humboldt Kosmos dated March 1, 1882. I added current descriptions, so you would know the locations of those businesses.

The much talked of street lamps, ten in number, are now on their way. The question of locating them now attracts the attention. Here is one suggestion, and a good one: one opposite the Congregational Church on the school ground corner, one at the east end of the river bridge (1^st Avenue South), one on the Fremont house corner, ( 8^th St. N & 1^st Ave. N. – Al Blanchard’s corner), one on J.B. Smith’s corner (8^th St. S. & Sumner – Sittin’ Bull), one on the post office or Russell Block corner (U.S. Bank or south across the street ), one on the Peoples Bank Corner (6^th St. S. & Sumner Ave. – Reminder Bldg.), one on the Kosmos corner (5^th St. N. & Sumner Ave. – Olson Abstract) and three along the walk to the depot (south of Co-op). The subscribers are free to make such amendments as they see fit to this disposition of them.

Can you imagine how dark the town was without street lamps?

Martha Schmidt