Humboldt County Historical
Association Newsletter
March 2009
Norm Caldwell, President Connie Overby, Director
332-5285 890-9652
March, 2009
The next general meeting of the Humboldt Historical Association will be held on Thursday, April 16 at 7:30 at Springvale Senior Living. The program, sponsored by the Humboldt Historical Association, The Humboldt Genealogical Society, and the Humboldt Public Library, is entitled “Humboldt County Through the Eyes of One Pioneer 1855-1860”. It will be presented by Ron Stone. The evening will be hosted by Marilyn Dodgen and John and Jeanne Raine The April board meeting will be held on Monday, April 6 at 6:30, at the home of Jeanne Raine.
Norm’s
Notes:
Thanks to Roger Natte, a local Fort Dodge
historican, who spoke to us about early river traffic on the Des Moines
River. While this topic may not be as interesting as the local current
price of corn and soybeans, he told us of how important early methods of
transportation were to early settlers for their food and supplies.
The crew of Norm Caldwell, Tom Nelson, and Terry Hart (a.k.a. CnH, “ a sweet crew doing sweeter things”) is busy working on several projects.
1. Wiring and placing a display case in the church to hold an early communion set and other valuable items.
2. Working on three windmills to be placed on display. The back tail section of each windmill identifies the windmill. It also identifies the history of where it was first used and/or abused. One of the tails came from the Thompson farm near Hardy (Two brothers, no boys with rifles). It is in perfect condition. Another came from the Verbrugge farm just up the hill from the museum grounds. I think the Verbrugge boys enjoyed shooting at the tail section, or at least it appears that someone did!
3. Museum store should be ready by May 1. Electrical, paint and finish trim need to be done.
4. Carriage House…it is not in any shape to be moved. The board of directors hope to build a replica if funds are available. We will remove several items to be copied.
The military room is finished from the standpoint of construction. Gun cases from the old court house and display cases are in and ready for occupancy.Last note: We receive many diverse items from many history-loving people. But identification and cataloging for Bill Verbrugge and Martha Schmidt can be a problem. Gene Soppeland has donated many, many items for our military room. Another box came last week and he identified each item. For example (1) Swedish Model 1896 Bayonet and (2) Insignia, Civil War, 3 piece, in frame.
Thanks to Gene and thanks to all. We have a wonderful museum.
Norm
News From Your Museum Director:
Even though it’s still cold outside I feel spring in the air. I look forward to smelling the earth after the field across the road from the museum has been plowed. I also look forward to watching the soybeans grow from little green dotted lines in the field to the golden tinged bushes in the fall.
The Ballroom in the Mill Farm House was the location for the Girl Scout Daisy Tea on Thursday, March 5. Nineteen little kindergarten and first grade girls, along with their favorite teddy bear, attended the tea and were served a cupcake, chocolate dipped strawberry and cocoa. After the tea we talked a little about our museum and showed off some of our antique dolls and toys. Each girl left with one free adult admission ticket, so we hope some of the girls and their families will return over the summer.
On Friday, March 6, I had the pleasant experience of taking many different items from our museum and sharing them with the Humboldt Questers group.
Don’t forget to come, if you can, and help us clean the Hardy Church from 9am to 5pm on Thursday, March 26th. Any help you can give us will be greatly appreciated.
On Monday, April 6 Connie will attend the Collections Care on Exhibit, presented by the Iowa Museum Association and being held at the Danish Immigrant Museum in Elkhorn.
On Wednesday, April 22 our museum will host the P.E.O. Chapter OA at our museum. We will share with the ladies of this group some of our favorite dresses, hats and shoes.
Everyone is working hard to get our museum store ready for this season. Norm and his buddies will be painting and finishing things up, then Connie and Mabel will start setting the store up. We will have a “sewing” day on Thursday, April 30, from 9am to 5pm. Any time you can give us will be greatly appreciated. We plan on making handmade items to sell in the store, anything from corn husk dolls, church dolls to aprons. If you have something you would like to either give to the store to sell, or to sell on commission please call Connie at 890-9652. Or, if you have an idea for something we could make please let me know.
Don’t Forget!!! Our Garage Sale will be held on Saturday, May 16. Please drop off any items for this sale at the Clancy Building.
June 1 our museum opens!!!!
Remember to send your 2009 dues ($10.00 single per year or $200.00 lifetime) to Jeanne Raine, 509 11th Street S.W. Humboldt, Iowa 50548
The History of Aprons
The main use of Grandma’s apron was to protect the dress underneath as she had only a few, and it was easier to wash aprons than dresses.
Her apron had many uses. It served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven. She could use it to carry eggs and sometimes fussy chicks from the chicken coop to the house.
That big, old apron was wonderful for drying tears, cleaning dirty ears and hiding shy children when company came. It wiped many a perspiring brow bent over a hot wood stove. When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch and waved her apron to let the men know it was mealtime.
Grandma used her apron to carry chips and kindling wood, vegetables from the garden, and apples from the grove. When company came up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.
It will be a long time before anyone invents something which will replace the “old-time apron” that served so many purposes.
--Martha Schmidt