The Ramsey County Historical Society, Anoka County Historical Society, Dakota County Historical Society and Hennepin History Museum have partnered to establish the Arthur C. McWatt Fellowship Program.
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The Big Stoop Orchestra played to a crowd of 600 at Anoka High School on January 28, 1948. In this special episode, hear the story of how Wilburne “Big Stoop” Chamberlain started the band in 1946, the band’s time at Oak Ridge Resort on Crooked Lake, as well as listen to music the band played at that concert in 1948. Special thanks to Mark Joslyn and podcast guest Ron Chamberlain.
Hosts Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator and Rebecca Ebnet-Desens, ACHS Executive Director.
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Since stories remain the heart of history, ACHS consistently looks for new avenues of gathering and preserving those that live in Anoka County. In this episode of History 21: The Podcast, you can hear the conversation between Rebecca Desens and Ben Mchie, one of two fellows hired though Legacy funds this spring. Ben underscores the importance of intergenerational storytelling, how strategic conversations can help bring understanding to a community, and the magic of his program called Street Teams.
Hosts Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator and Rebecca Ebnet-Desens, ACHS Executive Director.
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Born at the tail end of the 19th century in 1897, Hazel Hartman lived in a different Anoka County than we experience today. In this oral history, recorded at her home in 1989, she shares memories about growing up in Constance (located in present day Andover) and her life in a rural Fridley after she married Carl Hartman (Fridley’s first mayor) in 1928.
Hosts Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator and Rebecca Ebnet-Desens, ACHS Executive Director.
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Erin McBrien returns to the podcast with ACHS Board Member, Steve Florman, to reflect on her one year anniversary working with the collection at the Anoka County Historical Society. How did Erin react to the (quite literally) dump truck-sized load of documents and photographs from Federal Cartridge to go through? What does Erin’s job have to do with a [19]80’s video montage? What surprised her most about being a “lone arranger”? This truly behind-the-scenes conversation will shed light on what goes into managing the collections at ACHS. Feel free to laugh along!
Hosts Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator and Rebecca Ebnet-Desens, ACHS Executive Director.
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Sometimes the most impressive things live right in our backyards and we don’t even know they exist. Join Cindy McKenny, former front desk staff at ACHS, as she talks about her experiences with Reading Corps, a program supported by Americorps. You’ll meet her new boss, Chris Erickson, program and community partnerships manager, and hear some stories about their time tutoring. Feeling curious? We’ve also included ways you can be involved!
Hosts Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator and Rebecca Ebnet-Desens, ACHS Executive Director.
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The 19th century American industrial revolution dynamically changed our society. We moved from an agrarian way of life to an agrarian/manufacturing combination. British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli captured this upheaval when he said, “In a progressive country change is constant, change is inevitable.” This article is about one of the catalysts that contributed and stimulated revolutionary changes in Anoka County in the 19th century.
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Family is a constant thought in Dennis Berg’s life, and it was for them he wrote his autobiography, “Growing Up Barefoot.” Listen as he reads excerpts from it about his childhood on the farm (complete with outhouse!), meeting his wife, finding employment with the Greenberg’s and being drafted to serving in Vietnam.
Hosts Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator and Rebecca Ebnet-Desens, ACHS Executive Director.
CW: This episode contains descriptions of engagements in Vietnam. If you would like to skip this section entirely, it lasts from the 22-34 minute mark of the episode.
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We remember Flora Aldrich as a doctor practicing in the early 1900s who saw patients out of her stately home on 3rd Ave., So, Anoka. In that role she published two medical books and provided countless recommendations on healthy living. What history often forgets is her single novel, “the one man “. In this podcast you can get a taste of Flora’s attempt at creative writing, then commiserate with hosts Sara and Daryl about just how bad we think it is. Warning, in discussing the books themes we ignore all spoilers!
Hosts Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator and Daryl Lawrence, ACHS Board Member.
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Albert Kordiak served as Anoka County commissioner for 32 years, beginning a family legacy that lasted a total of 64 years when his son retired. During his lifetime, Kordiak built a legacy based on supporting causes he firmly believed in, including the anti-communist movement in the 1950’s, advocating for his hometown of Columbia Heights, and remembering his Czechoslovakian roots. In 2009, Kordiak took time to record an oral history for ACHS that detailed many of his experiences.
Hosts Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director, Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator and Erin McBrien, ACHS Archivist.
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Before photographing an accident or crime scene became a standard part of law enforcement in Anoka County, William Nelson took up his camera in 1961 to document the scenes as a volunteer. In 2010, Nelson donated his collection to the museum and recounted his time as unofficial photographer.
Hosts Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director, Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator and Erin McBrien, ACHS Archivist.
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Levon Williams, a Race, Equity & Inclusion Consultant with the American Association of Museums, discusses his work at ACHS and other midwest museums through the Facing Change grant. Levon reflects on how diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion (DEAI) work can be messy, convoluted, and imperative for museums.
Hosts Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director, Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator and Erin McBrien, ACHS Archivist.
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As the staff at the Anoka County Historical Society continue to process the centennial collection of the Federal Cartridge Corporation, we trip over tidbits like the situation below. In 1929, FCC was only seven years old and, in many ways, Charles Horn and Bob Ehlen still had some kinks to work out of the company. In what could likely become a classic tale of employee safety standards set in place by Horn, Ehlen received instruction to change the locks on campus to Yale locks with master keys.
“It is simply nonsense to have to climb through the window and so there will be no more trouble I want uniform locks put on all doors,” wrote Horn.
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Dennis Tkach played as part of the Tkach band for 40 years—four of the members are in the same family! Their parents, Walter and Mary, created B Sharp Music in Columbia Heights. Dennis shares how the band formed when he was a high schooler as a seven-piece variety dance band to compete in the Minnesota State Fair Amateur Talent Contest (they made it to the finals!). They played for over 2000 events throughout the Twin Cities and western Wisconsin before retiring in 2019…but have they really?
Hosts Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director, Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator and Erin McBrien, ACHS Archivist.
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John Jost’s love of Anoka Halloween began as a child, and have culminated in the publication of a book celebrating the 100th anniversary of the festival. Learn about his connection to the holiday as a child, and what it was like organizing and celebrating a 100th anniversary during a pandemic.
Hosts Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director, Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator and Erin McBrien, ACHS Archivist.
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When a city like Anoka begins, the residents erect several landmark buildings to signify the importance of their culture. Often these include a post office, bank, town hall, churches and schools. This week, students and staff at Franklin Elementary in Anoka celebrate 150 years of education under the same name, though not always the same building.
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In 1979 Karen George became an Anoka Princess and spent the next year driving back and forth from college in Morehead, MN to represent her home town at various events and parades. George shares her journey as a candidate and Princess, how she designed the first Halloween themed float for the city and her lasting connections with Anoka Halloween.
Hosts Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director, Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator and Erin McBrien, ACHS Archivist.
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What’s it like living in a haunted house? Jenn Shoemaker and her family (along with a couple permanent, ghostly residents) lived at 403 Van Buren in Anoka for four years. Hear how they came to own this beautiful home, the surprise of finding that their new house was on the Ghosts of Anoka Tour, and all the supernatural occurrences they experienced along the way.
Hosts Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director, Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator and Erin McBrien, ACHS Archivist.
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What’s it like running a county historical Society? Sam Klocksien, Executive Director of the Isanti County Historical Society, sits down with Rebecca to talk about the ins and outs of running a museum - from helping people with research to mowing the lawn yourself.
Hosts Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director, Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator and Erin McBrien, ACHS Archivist.
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Just in time to head out for the annual Nowthen Threshing Show, John Wetter and Anne Zimmerman, President and Director of the Nowthen Historic Power Association, talk about what exactly threshing is, everything you can find at the show in Nowthen, and why it’s important to preserve and showcase these skills for kids today.
Hosts Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director, Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator and Erin McBrien, ACHS Archivist.
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