Travels to Waseca

Hear Rae Katherine Eighmey, well known Food Editor and Writer, speak on her book, Food Will Win the War—Minnesota Crops, Cooks and Conservation During World War I, at the final Spring Lunch-Lecture at the Waseca County Historical Society next week, Thursday, May 27, 12-1 p.m.

This engaging case study of food, conservation, and life during World War I brings alive the unparalleled, mostly voluntary efforts made by everyday Minnesotans to help win the war.

Meatless Mondays, Wheatless Wednesdays, vegetable gardens and chickens in every empty lot. When the United States entered World War I, Minnesotans responded to appeals for personal sacrifice and changed the way they cooked and ate in order to conserve food for the boys “over there.” Baking with corn and rye, eating simple meals based on locally grown food, consuming fewer calories, and wasting nothing in the kitchen became civic acts. High-energy foods and calories unconsumed on the American home front could help the food-starved, war-torn American Allies eat another day and fight another battle.

Food historian Rae Katherine Eighmey engages readers with wide research and recipes drawn from rarely viewed letters, diaries, recipe books, newspaper accounts, government pamphlets, and public service fliers. She brings alive the unknown but unparalleled efforts to win the war made by ordinary “citizen soldiers”—farmers and city dwellers, lumberjacks and homemakers—who rolled up their sleeves to apply can-do ingenuity coupled with must-do drive. Their remarkable efforts transformed everyday life and set the stage for the United States’ postwar economic and political ascendance.

Rae Katherine Eighmey is a food historian who has written several historical recipe books and coauthored Potluck Paradise: Favorite Fare from Church and Community Cookbooks.

Paid reservations due by May 25. WCHS Members, $11; Non-members, $16 Call 507-835-7700 for more information.

There’s a FREE workshop called “Preserve Your Family History” Tuesday, May 4, at 6:30 p.m. at the Waseca County Historical Society Museum, 315 Second Ave. N.E., Waseca.

The workshop will be put on by Minnesota Historical Society’s outreach conservator, Bob Herskovitz, in conjunction with the Waseca County Historical Society. This FREE workshop will help you preserve your family heirlooms for generations to come.

Bring personal items for one-on-one expert advice about how to take good care of your family treasures! Learn practical methods for preserving family letters, papers, and photos, or the American flag that flew over your family farm. Discover the rich history of your community with friends and neighbors.

The Waseca County Historical Society is part of the program planned at a fundraiser dinner for Farmamerica on Tuesday, April 13.  New Executive Director, Jim Gibson, is working hard to make this happen.

There’ll be a marvelous dinner, entertainment by “Northern Drawl”, and a program including Pat Beckmann, Executive Director of the Waseca Arts Council presenting six new artworks by six artists created of Farmamerica activities and the people who volunteer and visit.

Joan Mooney and Sheila Morris, WCHS Co-directors, will be presenting the framed color photographs from the WCHS Collection—of Doug Ohman’s “Barns of Waseca County”, on loan to Farmamerica.

Farmamerica needs to raise funds to match a grant from Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council—that made the new artwork possible.  Enjoy the reception at 5:30 p.m., the dinner at 6:30 p.m., and entertainment at 7:30 p.m. The program following will be brief. $25 per person, call Farmamerica at 507-835-2052, or WCHS at 507-835-7700 for tickets.

I recently became aware of a Waseca County Historical Society page that may interest you history buffs. It’s a listing of Waseca County oral histories with links to the recordings. You may even be surprised to see your own family members listed as contributors.

The oral histories range from railroads, to wars, to family history and personal recollections. I hope you find it as interesting as I did. Here’s the link:
http://www.historical.waseca.mn.us/genealogy/oralhistory.html.

The page is currently a public page on the WCHS’s paid membership site and is only available to non-members using the above link so take advantage of this now since it may not be available later.

Another thing. As you look at the list of oral histories, think of how great it would have been if your parents, or grandparents, or neighbors, or teachers, or coaches had recorded their oral history for inclusion in the WCHS collection. Is it time for you to arrange for the recording of your or your family’s oral history, or of your recollections of an important event in your life?

The Waseca Athletic Hall of Fame has announced five new members to be inducted this year. This will give the Hall 34 members since its beginning in 2005.

This year’s inductees are Mike Larson (1983), Greg Vilt (1987), Bill Lechner (1961), Jacob Conway (1996) and the Waseca High School 1990 State Champion Baseball Team.

Mike Larson was a three-sport athlete, earning 7 varsity letters in football, basketball and baseball. Greg Vilt, a three-sport athlete in football, basketball and baseball earned 8 varsity letters. Bill Lechner was a Student Manager for football, basketball and track, earning 10 varsity letters. Jacob Conway earned 9 varsity letters as a three-sport athlete in football, basketball and track. The 1990 Waseca High School Baseball Team is the only boy’s athletic team of modern time to win a state championship.

This year’s induction banquet will be held September 26 at the Waseca VFW Club. Social hour begins at 5:30 p.m. with dinner and program at 6:30 p.m. The new inductees will also be recognized during half time at the Homecoming Football Game.

Banquet ticket cost is $20 per person and includes your choice of rib eye steak or chicken breast over wild rice.

Tickets can be purchased at the Waseca High School Activities Office or by calling Scott Shafer at 507-835-5535.

The initial Hall of Fame class included Jo Arvesen, Manny Beckmann, John Bendix, Jerry Cawley, Monte Dufault, Gene Glynn, Shyde Krause and Tink Larson. The 2006 class included Wayne Breck, Steve Cunningham, Rolf Iversen, Jami Jager, Jason O’Brien and Jerry Slattery. The 2007 class included Charles Dunn, John King, Bob Johnson, Jill Hanson, Amy Buschow, Joel O’Brien and Bruce Wessman. Last year’s inductees included Dwain “Whitey” Aamot, Lisa Broughton, Dr. Al Rieck, Todd Mann, Don Miller, Roger Paschall, Terry Gilbertson and the 1918 State Champion Boys Basketball Team.

Wasecans are trying to save Loon Lake island. I image they could use your help, both time and money. See a KEYC TV clip here: http://www.keyc.com/node/21668.

The island was probably larger when I in Waseca in the 40s and 50s but I never knew it when it was large enough to have a resort on it. I do remember what we called the “Annie Stink”, the portion of the creek that flowed from the old dump to Clear Lake, the last remnant of the waterway that flowed between Clear Lake and Loon Lake.

I received a notice this morning that Jim and Judy Kozan have added a history section to their Waseca Music Company (aka Kozan’s Music Store) web site. The history covers the Waseca band program, the Waseca garage bands of the 60s and 70s, and more. Check it out by following this link: http://www.wasecamusic.com/history.html