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Fall, 2015 Page 1
North Chisago Historian
North Chisago Historical Society
Chisago County, Minnesota
It’s another issue. Hooray!! What has happened
since the last issue.
The museum has an alarm system! An NCHS mem-
ber couple contracted to have, with the Board’s ap-
proval, a security system installed in the museum
and they paid for the installation and the monthly
charges for one year. Thanks to our members that
donate to the society.
Remember, we are a 501c3 group so get a tax re-
ceipt for any $$ donations you make.
Sign on the side of the museum seen from 4th Street, do-
nated by North Metro Signs, Harris.
Back To The 50s Tea Party
Tuesday, October 27, 2015, 12 noon
Yes, it is another Tea Party, a fun Tea, at the Muse-
um on Tuesday, October 27. The theme is Back to
the 50s. Anyone have their 50s clothing in the
closet? A prize will be awarded to the best 50s out-
fit. Swoon to the music of Elvis in person (Eddie
Pangerl).
Cost is $20.00 with a 50s menu, cheap for what is
planned. Enjoy the tasty treats, the teas, the service
and the fun of the 50s. Come on over!
Reserve your spot by contacting Marian Eklund at
320 396-2676 or [email protected] or Bev
Heinrich at 320 358-4525. Space is limited.
Fall, 2015 Page 2
Old Rural Schools
The years of the rural school were recalled at a joint
meeting of two Chisago County rural schools locat-
ed near Rush Point, Minnesota. They were District
24 aka Nessel or Deming, and District 26 aka as
Goebel School. The former students and interested
family gathered at the Nessel Town Hall on Satur-
day, September 26, for a noon potluck.
Both schools were officially organized in
1870. District 26 pupils met in homes until a log
cabin one-room structure was built near Lake 30
(Stauffer's Lake); and later moved to the Fred Goe-
bel farm located about a mile north of Rush
Point. In 1894, more than 50 students were enrolled
with one teacher, Herman Berg. A larger structure
was built on the same site in 1889; and in 1904 an
additional room was added. In 1898, with Esther E.
Jackson as teacher, there were 70 students en-
rolled. The school board consisted of John Dahl, M.
Challeen and Fred Goebel. The school remained
open until 1945 when the last of the students were
transported to Braham, MN. Letters to a student in
the hospital tell of there being 11 students in the
"big" room and 22 in the "little" room in 1935. Dis-
trict 24 closed in 1953; and those students were
transported to Rush City, MN
From the "History of the Benson Family in Rush
Point" written by Lyndon Benson, Lowell Benson
read about how the children would place their wet
mittens on the metal shield surrounding the big stove
to dry them until they would set off a smell; and they
better be removed before they were
scorched. Wood supplied the heat in these large
stoves. The wood was usually delivered by Charlie
Eklund; and then the students would line up and pass
the split wood chunks into the woodshed for stack-
ing. Lyndon also spoke of the teachers: Merle
Mattson, Louraine Olson, Doris Johnson, Hilve
Finkelson and Nancy Bjorklund.
Wallace Eklund, a former student, told about his
connection with Louraine Olson in her later years of
life. Louraine was a 1933 graduate of Rush City
One-Room Schools
On August 4 the NCHS presented a program on
One-Room Schools where youth actually attend a
one-room school for 1 or 2 weeks using the curric-
ulum of the day. Teachers and students from three
counties discussed their activities at these schools.
Below Marian Eklund reports on a recent meeting
of former students and their families.
President’s Message
Do you like to meet and greet people? If so, the
NCHS could use some more volunteers to be at the
Museum when it is open, which is 9am– 4pm on
Saturdays (split shifts). The building will be opened
up and closed for you. The duties are to ask visitors
to sign the guest book, hand out brochures, sell
books and answer questions. If you are interested,
call our secretary, Marian, at 320 396-2676. The
museum is also open from 1-4pm on Wednesdays,
which is the time for discussion of local history and
to relate what you know about a certain subject. If
others are also present, an interesting discussion can
occur.
Come and see our new displays. We have an 1890’s
bedroom almost completed; It needs a water pitcher
and bowl set. We also have a farm and trap display
in the process of completion. And a display of Dr.
Holme’s medical instruments.
We thank Dennis Frandsen of Plastech Corporation
for printing and mailing our newsletters.
Written by Carl Heinrich
Goebel School, District 26
Fall, 2015 Page 3
The school children in the center of the picture with
Esther Howard are: Phylis Beaver, Jimmy Norris, Her-
ta Norenberg, the Lomire Twins and Lanney Noyes.
The children on each end were not her students.
Error in the last issue: Esther Howard mentioned a
picture with her children. The picture is below. Her
school was District 60. She paid $12 for room and
board to Mr. and Mrs. Sharp.
North Chisago County Trivia
Where was the “hub of the potato belt”?
What was North Branch named after?
Where was Rush City originally located?
What was the original name for Rush City?
See last page for answers.
High School. She took a year of "normal" training;
and then was hired as a teacher at District 26; and in
1936 a contract shows that she was paid $60 a
month. This contract was signed by Walter
Hochmuth, chairman, John Johnson, treasurer, and
Henry Halverson, clerk.
Students from District 24, related how their teacher,
Miss Alice Stone, was a kind and patient teach-
er. Yvonne Lind recalled how she would write a
Christmas play; and they would present it at the
Nessel Town Hall. Miss Stone would transport the
students to the hall for practice; and the hall would
be filled with parents and family the night of the
presentation. Each student had a piece to learn and
a part in the play. Another student recalled that
when they moved to Rush City that Miss Stone was
again her teacher there. Others related how she was
a much loved teacher.
The great granddaughter of Fred Goebel, Lois Lund
Eaves, spoke of how her mother, Doris Goebel
Lund, and her siblings did the janitorial work at the
school. They would stay after school to do some of
the cleaning and haul in the firewood; and would
return early in the morning to get the fire going so it
would be warm when the teacher arrived.
At Dist. 24 school, Wendell Fridstrom fired the
stove during the middle '40's at $15 a month. He
would either walk the 1 1/2 miles from home or ride
his scooter. Also from Dist. 24 was told the story of
one of the Mell boys who had been naughty in
school; and the teacher sent him home. When he
Old Rural Schools (Continued) got home, his Dad sent him back to school. Finding
him back at school, the teacher said "I thought I sent
you home." He replied, "You did, but Dad sent me
back." The teacher sent him back home again; and
the story goes that he spent most of the day walking
back and forth.
And, so the recollections went on; and a good time
was had by all who gathered (about 40) to recall
those good old days at their rural school.
Written by Marian Eklund
District 24 Town of Nessel school
Fall, 2015 Page 4
Museum Building Update
We need some repairs on the building so we have
asked a painting company to repair the exterior stuc-
co.
We need better interior lighting, some window im-
provements and a new or repaired front door awning.
To help accomplish this, a Rush City official men-
tioned submitting for a Rush City SCDP Downtown
Revitalization Program loan/grant for the needed im-
provements.
Estimates were obtained so a submission was made
on September 14. This is just the proposal stage and
this winter the justification and work quotes are sub-
mitted for approval. It will be May before we really
know anything.
If part or all are approved, it will be a good situation
for the museum and the NCHS.
How do you hear about our monthly meetings?
In a survey taken at a recent meeting, the attendees
mentioned that most read about the meetings in the
Scotsman, the Post Review, the County Star, the
mailed quarterly membership card or by word of
mouth. Other lesser read notices were by posters,
church bulletin board, or Chamber of Commerce
email.
Monthly Meetings
The October 6 meeting at Rushseba Hall is about the
Main Street Businesses in the 30’s—50s. The No-
vember 3 meeting will be a continuation on that
theme with more businesses featured through the
eyes of the business’ family and kids.
The December 1 meeting will be our annual ethnic
dinner and meeting also at Rushseba Town Hall
north of Rush City. Bring your favorite dish to pass.
We are sorry to hear that Marvel Anderson is moving
to the cities; she will be closer to family there. She
has led the effort to put together our monthly pro-
grams for over two years and we will miss her.
Good luck to you, Marvel.
So for 2016, if any of you have program ideas, please
let us know.
Some Items Donated to the Museum
Recently we received a library table, two bookcases,
and two filing cabinets for the library and research
room.
We are about to get two upright showcases for our
artifact.
We continue to have people walk into the museum
and donate items. Recently, a couple donated their
1950s era baby bed.
We also continue to receive family history or geneal-
ogy booklets which are currently placed into our li-
brary.
A comfortable rocking chair is now in the library.
This picture is
Marvel Ander-
son with her
mother’s table
she donated to
the library. —>
Fall, 2015 Page 5
Museum Exhibits Update
Another room has just been put together as a 1890s-
era bedroom. It has a oak bed with wire springs and
3 layers of bedding. Other furniture was placed in
the room also. See picture below.
Dues
Yes, this is a bad word; but this helps keep the organ-
ization going. If you did not pay your $15-20 around
June or since then, please send them in. If you have,
thanks a bunch.
The museum costs around $400 per month to oper-
ate, primarily utilities. So your dues or donation re-
ally helps. We try to be tight in our expenditures.
Send any $$$ to NCHS, PO Box 556, Rush City,
MN 55069. This address is the city hall and we pick
up the mail there. The Treasurer will send a tax re-
ceipt for any donation.
Rush City MusicFest
The NCHS had a tent booth at the Rush City Mu-
sicFest which was sponsored by the Rush City Cham-
ber of Commerce. We were present all Saturday af-
ternoon.
Several other vendors were present and around us but
the event had few attendees in the afternoon. Pic-
tured above are Larry Hendrick and Jan Lind holding
a couple of the publications for sale, a plat book of
Chisago County and a History of Rush City. Not
present as this time are Melanie Hedberg and Marlin
Gregerson.
The item below was brought into the museum. What
is it? It is mounted on a stump of a tree.
Remember the Tea Party.
See page 1 for details.
Fall, 2015 Page 6
Items considered needed
Video projector to project DVDs related to monthly
programs or make Powerpoint presentations as need-
ed.
Extra mannequins or dress forms are needed to dis-
play our uniforms and dresses.
Trivia Answers
1) North Branch
2) The North Branch of the Sunrise River.
3) At Government Road and Blueberry Trail
4) Rushseba
Board of Directors:
Carl Heinrich, Pres, Rushseba
320 358-4525
Larry Hendrick, VP, Rock Creek
320 591-0057
Marian Eklund, Sec., Stanchfield
320 396-2676
Ronnie Hunt, North Branch
651 674-7521
Marlin Gregerson, Rush City
320 358-4556
LaVonne Foster, North Branch
Non-Board – Pat Moulton, Treas, Rush City
320 358-3534
We have openings for 1-2 new Board members.
Librarians - Marian Eklund and Bev Heinrich
Museum Address:
350 South Eliot Avenue, Rush City
Mailing address:
North Chisago Historical Society
PO Box 556
Rush City, MN 55069
Current Museum Email Address:
Issue Editor – Larry Hendrick, redwing-
NCHS is a member of the Rush City and North
Branch Chambers of Commerce.
Locations for Nessel and Goebel schools.
Nessel #24 school - West of Rush City on County 7
at the “T” intersection of County 8. A driveway
north of the “T” is the location; there is no marker
for the school. Coordinates are:
N45o39’32.0”; W093 03’48.2”
Goebel #26 school - Just north of Rush Point, on
Arbor Avenue beside the driveway with the mailbox
labeled as Olson. Coordinates are:
N45o40’24.3”; W093o06’39.2”