Sherburne History Center Blog

  Union Church Bell currently housed at the  Sherburne History Center As we explore communication devices in Sherburne County, attention to the telephone and the telegraph remain important considerations.   Yet, before the telephone and telegraph, the county needed some technology to sound fire alarms and arouse the citizenry in the middle of the night.   Every small community wrestled with the question of how to sound an alarm.   Some communities used steam whistles from factories.   Others used the ever-present church bell. The leaders of Big Lake chose to utilize local church bells.   An example of the church bell warning system remains in the collections of the Sherburne History Center.   The church bell from the Union Church served for many years as part of the warning system for Big lake.   Some residents remember, “you could hear that bell for miles.”   With every fire, or other catastrophe, the Union Church bell rang out. Ins...

A recent photograph published on the internet, generated a variety of questions regarding the location and history of Meadow Vale.   We will make an effort to provide more details about life in the area known as Meadow Vale, possibly fill in some details about the community   Meadow Vale was originally a farming community located in the north west corner of Elk River township.   For individuals looking at a map, consider section 6 of township 33, range 26, with some overlap into section 31, township 34, range 26.   Meadow Vale Schoolhouse Perhaps the most common photograph associated with the community continues to be the image of District 28 schoolhouse (references vary, some research refers to the school as District 18).   The school, along with the nearby church, served as the community centers for Meadow Vale.   Still later, the local Grange Hall also acted as a community gathering place.    Memories of the community, written...