Sherburne History Center Blog

Out west, tradition held that stealing a man’s horse was the most despicable and life threatening action imaginable.   A horse thief was usually hanged without the benefit of a jury trial.   I recently came across the following article in the Sauk Rapids Frontierman on 7 June 1855:   The meanest and most contemptible action we know of, is for a white man to steal a canoe.   It is a common occurrence, for some people who are going to the Falls or St. Paul , and who are either too stingy or mean to pay for a passage down by land or purchase a canoe, to steal the first one they chance to see.   The people residing upon the river have lost a large number during the past two years, and we have lately been made a victim by one of this class of detestable beings—canoe stealers.   It may seem cunning, and be a cheap way to go down stream, but if we ever find out the thief, he will learn to his satisfaction that “ Jordan am a hard road to travel.” I wonder if t...

The Mpls./St. Paul Star Tribune published an interesting article on-line that suggests Minnesota students are generally well informed about American History.   Coming from a teaching background in Georgia , this is great news. According to the article, teachers and student evaluators in Minnesota give students high marks for knowing the basics of U. S. History.   Unfortunately they lack depth in their understanding.   Students know who Thomas Jefferson was, that Richard Nixon resigned the Presidency in disgrace, and the basics of World War II.   Unfortunately, they don’t necessarily understand Watergate or appreciate the relationship between Jefferson and Sally Hemings.   This is a big deal.   I once taught U. S. History at a university in Georgia where students didn’t know who won World War II!!   It sounds like Minnesota is doing well to teach their children their history.   Nationwide the news is not so good.   A report quoted in the...

A close up of the trunk for more perspective on the idea of BIG!

A few weeks ago I was reading in the Pioneer Press about the program to determine the biggest trees in Minnesota .   The article featured a burr oak in Newport .   That inspired some conversation and we have tried to determine the largest trees in Sherburne County .   We found this one in Santiago that comes close to being big.   I thought I would throw this out to anyone that is reading:   Do you know of any big trees in Sherburne County ?   Keep in mind that big, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.   So let me know, where are the big trees around the county?   How do they compare to this one. As a frame of reference for size, the fence in the background is about six feet tall.   The building with the peaked roof is about nine feet, and the wire spool next to the tree is about three feet high.   So this is a tall tree. What do you think?

In the past I have commented on the multitude of crops that have been grown in Sherburne County .   Farmers of the county have raised strawberries, corn, potatoes, and soybeans.   Even tobacco and ginseng have been raised in the county. But, I think I have finally found the truly unusual, maybe unique, plant.   The Sherburne County Star News on June 17, 1897 reported that Mrs. Chester Nickerson had been tenderly cultivating an orange tree in her home.   “The tree is about three feet high” and was brought indoors during cold weather.   “We have never been accustomed to brag about Minnesota ,” the newspaper said.   “There are half a dozen oranges,” on the tree! The crops, plants and produce to come out of the county never cease to amaze me.   The cultivating skills of the people of Sherburne County are uniquely noteworthy.

With National Pollinator Week coming up in the last week of June, and the scheduled program at the Sherburne History Center on 25 June, I thought this would be a good time to add a few photographs of the prairie flowers in bloom at the history center.

While reading microfilm an announcement came to my attention that reinforces my preoccupation with the weather.  The Sherburne County Star News newspaper on June 3, 1897 reported: "The necessity for fires for heating purposes in the latter part of May as was in the case this year is unusual even in this climate."