In 1886, the Principal of Anoka schools whipped Susanna Coleman, 14 year old black student, as punishment. The incident sparked a month-long conversation in the newspapers that grappled with race and corporal punishment. This episode is a part of the Hidden History series at ACHS.
Hosts Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator, and Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director.
Read MoreThe Woodbury House is the second oldest building in the city of Anoka. Learn about the house on Ferry St., its history that spans back to the beginning of the city, and the families and businesses who have called this National Register Property home.
Hosts Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator, and Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director.
Read MoreA large brick building, complete with tower, overlooks the Mississippi River in Anoka. Uncover its fascinating history as the Kline Sanatorium, a cutting-edge (for 1902!) medical facility founded by the tireless Dr. James Franklin Kline, and now a building on the National Register of Historic Places.
Hosts Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator, and Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director.
Read MoreFor 90 years Grosslein beverages bottled and distributed beverages. Learn about the history of this Anoka County company and listen in to Al Pearson and his grandson Tim as they teach Nate Otto how to drive the Grosslein 1919 Model T truck - a replica of the original delivery truck the Grosslein’s used in Fridley on their routes.
Hosts Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator, and Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director.
Read MoreCommuters along Hwy 169 are familiar with the Anoka-Champlin Bridge which crosses the Mississippi River. But what they may not know is that it is on the National Register of Historic Places. Learn about its history, all the way back to the very first bridge built there in 1884.
National Register of Historic Places series no 1 of 17.
Hosts Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator, and Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director.
Read MoreAuthor and oral historian Kim Heikkila delves into her deeply personal and thought-provoking book, “Booth Girls: Pregnancy, Adoption, and the Secrets We Kept.” This powerful narrative intertwines memoir and oral history, offering a window into Kim’s captivating journey filled with emotions, challenges, and profound revelations.
This episode is a portion of Kim’s presentation at the 2025 ACHS Annual Meeting held May 18, 2025 at the Circle Pines City Hall.
Hosts Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator, and Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director.
Read MoreOn September 8, 1974 Randy Bauer, Jerry Mimbach, and Tom Anderson (all from Coon Rapids) embarked on an epic 7,500-mile journey starting at the headwaters of the Mississippi by kayak. This year, Jim Bauer relaunched Randy’s book about their journey.
Hosts Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator, and Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director.
Read MoreAround 2am March 31, Charles Loken silently roused a few residents of Cedar to let them know that bandits were in the process of robbing the State Bank. The men armed themselves and staked out the bank, waiting for the thieves to emerge. What followed was a shoot out, car chase, man hunt, and ultimately an arrest.
Join Sara to hear this story and more on the Cedar Cemetery Tour June 21.
Hosts Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator, and Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director.
Read MoreJames Shepherd and his family are part of Anoka County's Hidden History. He served in the 50th Colored Regiment during the Civil War before eventually moving to Burns Township by 1870. Intern Miller Krueger collaborated with the Anoka County Historical Society (ACHS) to piece together James's story and his connection to the previous name of Burns Lake.
Hosts Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator, and Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director.
Read MoreMary and Mike Clark celebrated over 50 years together, raising a family, laughing together, and navigating life and the experiences of being a Vietnam Veteran. A few months before Mike passed away, Mary sat down with Rebecca to share her memories of how they met, and how she understood the PTSD that came with being a veteran.
Hosts Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator, and Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director.
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Read MoreAs the 75th Anniversary of Circle Pines approaches, ACHS Intern Chelsea Kappes has explored the archives and the city’s longstanding newspaper, The Circulating Pines. Chelsea and Rebecca recently sat down to discuss her project and how the newspaper reflected the community's values and interests.
Hosts Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator, and Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director.
Read MoreOn December 8, 1925, Grace Campbell was working at the Anoka National Bank in downtown Anoka when a team of five men came in to rob the bank. Sixty-two years later, Grace shared her memories of the event, how they were locked in the bank vault, and even corrected the newspaper on how they eventually escaped.
Host Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator, and Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director.
Read MoreIn this episode learn a bit about the sausage making of being a small museum - including some of the behind the scenes considerations, upcoming murder mystery fundraising, and our plans to have as much fun as possible.
Host Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator, and Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director.
Host Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator, and Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director.
Read MoreLooking to support the war effort, students at Anoka High School created the "Sammie Backer Club" on Oct 3, 1917 after the United States entered WWI. The goal was to send mail to every Sammie (or soldier) who had been a student at their school. Learn about the club and some of the soldiers they corresponded with.
Host Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator, and Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director.
Read MoreIn 1954, the Metropolitan Opera held its first regional auditions in Minnesota. They planned to fly the winner to New York and broadcast the performance to the nation on the radio program “Auditions of the Air.” The winner was Ethel Wagner DeLong, a 33-year-old mother of three from the City of Anoka. In this episode, listen to excerpts from her 1954 “Auditions of the Air” appearance and her subsequent MPR interview in 1979, looking back at her accomplishments. Between clips, you’ll hear our conversation with her eldest son, Peter, who shared his memories of his mother and the music constantly permeating their home.
Host Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator, and Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director.Text
Read MoreGeorge Atwood moved to Anoka in 1912 where he helped construct Cottages at the Anoka State Hospital and spent winters as a lumberjack in Northern Minnesota. In this episode listen as he shares what it was like living in the lumber camps. Hear George’s voice from an oral history recorded in 1979, and a reading of the short memoir he penned describing the jobs, and even smells, at the Ball Club logging camp.
Host Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator, and Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director.
Read MoreWe’re celebration our 100th episode with a special tour Around the County! Rebecca and Sara sit down to share 100 of their favorite facts, memories, trivia, and tidbits from each of the county’s 21 cities (and desperately try to make it to the end without getting tongue tied.) Special guests: the ACHS Board of Directors pop in to share their favorite county memories too.
Host Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator, and Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director.
Read MoreIn 1969, Gary Nereson said goodbye to his pregnant wife and crossed the world to serve in the Vietnam War. After three long months with the 9th Infantry Division, he was reassigned to Advisory Team 66 because of his background in electrical engineering. His new job: help bring electricity to rural villages in South Vietnam. Gary sat down with Rebecca to share his story in November, 2024 as part of ACHS’s Echoes of Bravery project.
Host Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator, and Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director.
Read MoreIn June of 1935, Mrs Josephine Seeker went to the sheriff’s office in Minneapolis and asked them to begin a search. Where was her sister Mrs Clara Williams??
This act set off a chain of events that led deputies to a run-down farm in Anoka County and a shocking murder – Clara had been beaten, killed, and buried on the suspects farm underneath the remains of their dog in an attempt to confuse searchers. Hear the story of the Ponczek murder case.
Host Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator, and Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director.
Read MoreAs you cross the Rum River Bridge into Downtown Anoka the road curves slightly past a long row of tall brick buildings that have been home to businesses for over 140 years. Hear the story of one city block, and the stories it contains from drug stores, shoe, and hardware stores, to restaurants and bowling alleys.
Host Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator, and Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director.
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