Latest News — Anoka County Historical Society

History 21 The Podcast - 3.14 Richard Sorenson

On February 2, 1944 Richard Sorenson risked his life above and beyond the call of duty by jumping on a grenade to save the lives of his fellow Marines, and miraculously survived himself. For those actions on July 19, 1944 he received the Medal of Honor. In this episode Richard Sorenson sat down with John Weaver (ACHS Board President at the time) and another WWII veteran R.W. Johnson to discuss growing up in Anoka, his enlistment story, and the events that led up to and after his injuries in the Marshall Islands during WWII.

Host Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator, and Steve Florman, ACHS Board of Directors.

Host Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator, and Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director.

History 21 The Podcast, History 21: The Podcast, PodcastSara GivenJuly 21, 2023Anoka County Historical Societyseason 3, episode 3.14, Richard Sorenson, Medal of Honor, WWII

History 21 The Podcast - 3.13 James Groat Fan Fiction

An expanded partnership between the Anoka Middle School for the Arts in Anoka and ACHS created a surprisingly fun result—fan fiction from the diary of a local Civil War veteran. Listen to the Creative Writing students as they explored the historical fiction genre and how each of their characters met, interacted with, or were related to James Groat who served for a time with the 1st Minnesota.

Host Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator, and Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director.

History 21 The Podcast, History 21: The Podcast, PodcastSara GivenJuly 7, 2023Anoka County Historical Societyseason 3, Episode 3.13, AMSA, james groat

History 21 The Podcast - 3.12 MinneCulture's "The Tiny City that Almost Wasn’t"

At just 16 square blocks, Hilltop stands as the smallest city in Anoka County while also completely surrounded by Columbia Heights. Matthew Schneeman took an audio journey to this special space to tell the story of its creation. This episode includes a rebroadcast of KFAI’s MinneCulture episode, “The Tiny City That Almost Wasn’t.”

Host Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator, and Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director.

History 21 The Podcast, History 21: The Podcast, PodcastSara GivenJune 16, 2023Anoka County Historical Societyseason 3, Episode 3.12, Hilltop, MinneCulture, Matthew Schneeman

History 21 The Podcast - 3.11 Secret Archeologists at ACHS

In this episode, learn about the secret lives of those closest to ACHS! Don Johnson (ACHS Staff) and Allison Schmitt (ACHS Board Member) chat about their experiences in archaeology and geophysics while also dispelling the myth of being a real-life Indiana Jones. They share how their academic skills transfer to the museum, proving that indeed, no education is ever wasted.

Host Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator, and Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director.

History 21 The Podcast, History 21: The Podcast, PodcastSara GivenJune 2, 2023Anoka County Historical Societyseason 3, Episode 3.11, Don Johnson, Allison Schmitt, Archeology, ACHS

History 21 The Podcast - 3.10 Conference Fun at MALHM

Kassy and Rebecca (ACHS Archivist and Director) traveled to a conference overrun by other history nerds this past month, and brought the microphones along with them. Listen to what the museum folk got up to at the Minnesota Alliance of Local History (MAHLM) conference, how Kassy survived the SPAM museum, and conversations with museum friends all over MN from Otter Tail County to Richfield.

Hosts Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator, Kassy Mackenthun, ACHS Collections Manager, and Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director.

History 21 The Podcast, History 21: The Podcast, PodcastSara GivenMay 19, 2023Anoka County Historical Societyseason 3, ACHS, Kassandra Mackenthun, rebecca desens, Episode 3.10, MALHM

History 21 The Podcast - 3.09 AMM Essential Questions

The Association of Midwest Museums, the largest network of museum professionals in the Midwest, invited ACHS staff to participate in their Essential Questions Series focusing on the challenges and triumphs we experienced during the pandemic. Rebecca, Kassy, and Sara discuss the unexpected opportunities that arose from slowing down as well as how we continue to carry those lessons into the future.

Host Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator, and Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director.

History 21 The Podcast, History 21: The Podcast, PodcastSara GivenMay 5, 2023Anoka County Historical Societyseason 3, ACHS, AMM, Kassandra Mackenthun, rebecca desens, Sara Given, COVID-19

History 21 The Podcast - 3.08 Cemetery Tours Behind the Scenes

The ACHS Cemetery Tours are back by popular demand this spring! But what does it take to organize, research, and put on a tour? Go behind-the-scenes with Daryl Lawrence and Sara Given as they share the winding road that ends at Glen Cary Cemetery in Ham Lake and Forest Hills Cemetery in Anoka.

Host Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator, and Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director.

History 21 The Podcast, History 21: The Podcast, PodcastSara GivenApril 21, 2023Anoka County Historical Societyseason 3, ACHS, Cemetery Tour, Glen Cary, Forest Hill, Ham Lake, Anoka, Episode 3.08

History 21 The Podcast - 3.07 Vickie Wendel

Vickie Wendel returns from retirement to chat about her 30 years working at the Anoka County Historical Society. Vickie saw the museum through the introduction of computers and internet (at different times of course), and our move from Colonial Hall to the current building. During that transition when a contractor bid $20,000 to create the first exhibit, Vickie declared she would get it done!

Host Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator, and Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director.

History 21 The Podcast, History 21: The Podcast, PodcastSara GivenApril 7, 2023Anoka County Historical Societyseason 3, Vickie Wendel, ACHS, Colonial Hall, episode 3.07

History 21 The Podcast - 3.06 Coon Rapids Dam

Construction on the Coon Rapids Dam began December 1912. This episode explores the journey it took to build a dam that spanned nearly half a mile across the Mississippi River. Hear its history as well as the voices of those who worked there in its early years, or lived next to it in one of the remaining seven “dam houses.”

Host Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator, and Kassandra Mackenthun, ACHS Collections Manager.

History 21 The Podcast, History 21: The Podcast, PodcastSara GivenMarch 17, 2023Anoka County Historical Societyseason 3, episode 3.06, coon rapids, Coon Rapids Dam, Roy Downs, Jane LaMusga, Earl Eyrich, Irene McAloney, Bill Smith

History 21 The Podcast - 3.05 Jill Morrison

Jill Morrison from Bee Memorable Marketing joins Rebecca to talk about local non-profit Toys for Joy, and how different generations approach furnishing their lives, and being able to pass on those pieces.

Host Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator, and Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director.

History 21 The Podcast, History 21: The Podcast, PodcastSara GivenMarch 3, 2023Anoka County Historical Societyseason 3, episode 3.05, Jill Morrison, Bee Memorable Marketing

History 21 The Podcast - 3.04 Lester Peterson

Lester Peterson was born in 1908 on the farm his great-grandparents homesteaded in Ham Lake. In 1987, he shared his memories and favorite stories growing up, including attending school in Constance, the six Peterson “Tall Men” brothers who performed at the Palace Theater, and the Constance Post Office robbery.

Host Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator, and Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director.

History 21 The Podcast, History 21: The Podcast, PodcastSara GivenFebruary 17, 2023Anoka County Historical Societyoral history, season 3, episode 3.04, Lester Peterson, Constance, Ham Lake

History 21 The Podcast - 3.03 Myra Blumenthal Shapiro

Myra Blumenthal Shapiro grew up in Columbia Heights in the 1930s and 40s. The city she remembers from her childhood with one stop light is very different from the bustling city today. She shares stories about her father, the community that surrounded her, the Heights Theater and the way her graduating class still comes together each year. Myra recorded her “docu-memory” in 2010.

Host Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator and Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director.

History 21 The Podcast, History 21: The Podcast, PodcastSara GivenFebruary 3, 2023Anoka County Historical Societyepisode 3.03, Columbia heights, Myra Blumenthal Shapiro, oral history, season 3

History 21 The Podcast - 3.02 Meet Kassandra Mackenthun

Kassandra Mackenthun joined the ACHS staff as their new Collections Manager at the end of 2022. In this episode she sat down with her new boss, Rebecca, and talked about how she thinks about history, what she wants to tackle first in the collection, and her joy in sharing history with family.

Host Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator and Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director

History 21 The Podcast, History 21: The Podcast, PodcastSara GivenJanuary 20, 2023Anoka County Historical Societyepisode 3.02, Kassandra Mackenthun, archivist, Collections, ACHS, Anoka County

History 21 The Podcast - 3.01 Tony Palumbo

Tony Palumbo began his career in the Anoka County Attorney’s Office in 1977 as a clerk. when he passed the bar two years later, Tony became the Assistant County Attorney. He held this position until his election to County Attorney in 2010, retiring in 2022. In this episode, Tony reflects on his journey to become a lawyer, his 45 years in the County Attorney’s office, and the emotional toll that comes with the job.

Host Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator and Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director

History 21 The Podcast, History 21: The Podcast, PodcastSara GivenJanuary 6, 2023Anoka County Historical SocietyAnoka County, Tony Palumbo, anoka county attorney

History 21 The Podcast - 2.24 Jim Kordiak

Jim Kordiak served as Anoka County Commissioner for 32 years and was often seen walking the streets of his constituency in Fridley and Columbia Heights. Days after the first election his name wasn’t on the ballot since 1986, Kordiak reflected on his time in office, how he decided to run for the first place, and his motivation to start a new chapter of his life.

Host Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator and Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director

History 21 The Podcast, History 21: The Podcast, PodcastSara GivenDecember 16, 2022Anoka County Historical SocietyFridley, Anoka County, episode 2.24, Columbia heights, Jim Kordiak, Albert Kordiak, County Commissioner

Digitizing History with the Anoka County Historical Society

One man at the Anoka County Historical Society has taken more than 10,000 pictures of items in the collection, making the items more accessible to more people.

feature stories, North Metro TV, In the NewsAnoka County Historical SocietyDecember 6, 2022Anoka County Historical Societydigitizing, Don Johnson, North Metro TV

History 21 The Podcast - 2.23 Sam Hermanstorfer

Sam Hermanstorfer enlisted in the Army in 1968, after three years working to raise his status from 4F to 1A. A year later he was in Vietnam assigned to the 1st Division 26th Infantry Company B in the motor pool. Sam describes his journey to Vietnam, and his day-to-day life as a soldier from arriving in Vietnam and building their own hooch, to his strategy of “acquiring” better food than the C Rations provided.

Host Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator and Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director

History 21 The Podcast, History 21: The Podcast, PodcastSara GivenDecember 2, 2022Anoka County Historical SocietyAnoka County, Sam Hermanstorfer, vietnam, episode 2.23

ACHS receives partnership award

LWV-ABC presented ACHS with a Friend of the League award, November 2022.

ACHS programs, In the NewsAnoka County Historical SocietyNovember 28, 2022Anoka County Historical Societyleague of women voters, personal history, LWV-ABC, gretchen sabel, rebecca desens

History 21 The Podcast - 2.22 Forgotten Star Brew Co.

Andy Risvold from Forgotten Star Brew Co. in Fridley shares the history (new & old) about the brewery. Located in the last remaining building from Northern Pump where over 10,000 employees made weapons during WWII, the brewery honors that legacy with a new life.

Host Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator and Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director

History 21 The Podcast, History 21: The Podcast, PodcastSara GivenNovember 18, 2022Anoka County Historical SocietyEpisode 2.22, Forgotten Star Brew Co., Fridley, Anoka County, Beer, WWII, Northern Pump

History 21 The Podcast - 2.21 VEERAC: Anoka's Own Car Company

Move over Ford and Chevrolet, from 1910 to 1922 the City of Anoka was home to its own car manufacturing business: VEERAC. This August, ACHS hosted an old car club at the museum for an afternoon dedicated to this unique vehicle. Listen to the program as Sharon Hastings, and Steve Florman share the history of the company, their connections to it, and even the story of the one, intact and running VEERAC in the world.

Host Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator and Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director

History 21 The Podcast, History 21: The Podcast, PodcastSara GivenNovember 4, 2022Anoka County Historical SocietyVEERAC, Anoka, Anoka Business, episode 2.21