Sherburne History Center Blog

With the coming of the new decade, centennial celebrations emerge from the pages of history.   Nationally recognized centennial celebrations include prohibition and women’s suffrage.   Local centennial celebrations include the construction of Elkhi Stadium, also known as Handke Stadium.   Important not only for its age, it also serves as a monument to the center of recreation and outdoor sports in the community.   Handke Stadium circa 1951 Before 1920 it was a mud pit, located next to the public school.   Later, with the stadium construction, the pit serves, to this day, as a landmark to the evolution of the idea of community in Elk River.   Through three phases of construction, from 1921 to 1940, Handke Stadium highlights local initiative and self-reliance that county residents regard as vitally important.   The stadium is often associated with the Elk River schools.   Built in 1898, education officials located the Elk River School...

It has been a few months, but with the new year, I am resolved to post more information about the history of Sherburne County.   So, here goes:   With the anniversary of World War Two, we have all heard about the scrap drives and rationing programs.   Yet, exploring the scrap drives in more detail may enlighten us about the true value of this particular program.   Sherburne county promoted its first scrap drive in the summer of 1942.   Elk River Mayor M. C. Tesch provided some perspective on the value of scrap metal to the war effort.   He noted fifty pounds of scrap metal would help make artillery shells.   Cartridge cases originated from discarded doorknobs. And, 25 tons of steel made a tank.   In this first scrap dive, the city of Elk River urged the citizens to deliver 30,000 pounds of scrap for the war effort.   Although J. D. Flaherty, the chairman of the scrap drive committee, felt the city would surpass the goal, disa...