CLAY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

July/August 2001

The Melvin E. Hearl American Legion Post 21 building in Moorhead in 1988. The howitzer and flower garden replaced areflecting pond that was thought to be a hazard. The cornerstone and time capsule were put in place on May 13.1936. (see arrow) Inset is a close up of the cornerstone. See stories on Pages 3. 5. and 14.

-The Clay County HistoricalSociety (CCHS) is elated toannounce that many artifactsfrom the Probstfield familycollection will soon betransferred to the CCHSMuseum in the HjemkomstCenter for proper storage and display.

The name Randolph M. Probstfield has always beenimportant to people interested in the early history of ClayCounty. He and Edwin Hutchinson and Adam Stein areconsidered the first three permanent settlers in theMoorhead area. The historians have focused mostattention on R.M. Probstfield because of the manyinteresting stories and historical facts he recorded in hiswell-kept diaries.

Minnesota achieved statehood in 1858 largely because ofits increasing population in the southern part of the state.But in Clay County there was no settlement by theEuropean immigrants at this time.

Probstfield arrived here in 1859 and lived at Georgetownwhere his first child was born in 1862. He was theGeorgetown postmaster and managed the Hudson's BayCo. facility there from 1865 to 1868.

In 1868 Probstfield built a house in what we now callnorth Moorhead. He was prominent in many civic affairsas public assessor, County Clerk, school board member,State Senator and member of the county's first Board ofCommissioners.

CCHS will provide our membership with continuedinformation on this important acquisition of vital historicalproperty as the story unfolds, and the artifacts areacquired and catalogued at our museum.

Bergquist Cabin winnerMarjorie Lentis of Big Stone City, SD was the winnerof a Swedish doll door prize during the Bergquist Cabinopen house in June. Over 150 guests attended the openhouse including almost 100 who rode the shuttle busfrom the Hjemkomst Center. Featured were ethnictreats, music and craft demonstrations. The event wasco-hosted by CCHS and the Swedish Cultural HeritageSociety.

-Norman County Historical Society, AdaShriner's Widows Club, FargoRoberta Tatro, Bethel MNGary Blomquist, HibbingDorothy Dodds, MoorheadGalen & Sharon Vaa, MoorheadArthur Lions Project Acct., ArthurEileen P. Michels, St. PaulHJZ Tours, Rock Rapids IA

New e-mail addresses:margaret. ristvedt@ci.moorhead.mn.usmark. peihl@ci.moorhead.mn.uspam. burkhardt@ci.moorhead.mn.us

mailto:ristvedt@ci.moorhead.mn.usmailto:peihl@ci.moorhead.mn.usmailto:burkhardt@ci.moorhead.mn.us

CCHS JUly/AUgust Newsletter

Time Capsule opened at American Legion

On May 13, 1936, WPA officials and local dignitarieslowered a comer stone and time capsule in place.[Am. Legion Building article this issue]

On the afternoon of May 14, 2001, Dave Bucholz, CityManager's Office; Ed Woodward, Commander of theAmerican Legion Post; contractor Roger Erickson andPam Burkhardt, CCHS Collections' Manager met in thebasement of the Legion building on 1st Ave. North. Thefocus of the discussion was a hole near the ceiling in thesouthwest corner. The back of the cornerstone was justvisible from the floor. A scaffold and ladder were neededfor a closer look. Firmly cemented into a hollow in thestone was a sealed copper box about 12" x 8." [Seephoto] What had been hidden for 55 years was withinreach - at least, for a short period of time.

Several issues were raised and discussed. First, the timecapsule could not be accessed without clearing moreinterior brick away - that wouldn't damage the structure,but would add to the cost. Second, because framing wasscheduled for that corner, any decision had to be madesoon. Third, should the box be opened? That issue wasleft up to the City and the Legion. Later, the decisionwas made to open the box.

On May 30, 2001 Legion officials, local dignitaries,Mark Peihl and Pam Burkhardt from CCHS and the

press gathered in the small, front room in thebasement of the Legion building. Because of itslocation, only two or three people could share thescaffold while the rest waited on the floor inanticipation.

The time capsule had been prepared before theevent by making an L-shaped cut in the top.Having had the most hands-on experience with therecovery of "objects," I got to do the honors. I carefullybent the flap up - just enough to get at the contents andmake resealing possible. The first look at the contentswas reassuring. We had a recovery kit with us just incase, but everything looked OK - no water had gotten in.As I lifted each layer out, I gave it to Archivist MarkPeihl who transferred it to a table in front of theaudience. Layer by layer the contents were laid out onpaper toweling. Empty, the box proved to be only about6" deep.

Peihl had researched the 1936 event, so we knew whatitems we might expect. Now, each piece of paper wasunfolded as each layer was explored. The original orderwas preserved throughout the process. One setbackoccurred when a rubber band securing a bundle of itemshad degraded and fused itself onto the objects. It wouldtake some time to ease them apart. Only one photo hadbeen found up to that point. Two others were concealedinside the bundle. No 3-dimensional items werementioned in the 1936 account and none were found.With the capsule empty and the items on view, the mediaasked questions and we answered. We took the contentsback to the museum and eased the rubber band away

A hole was made in the interior wall near the ceiling in thesoutheast corner of the basement to reveal the top andback of the cornerstone. The copper box, measuring about12" x 8" x 6," kept its contents hidden for 55 years. Whenthe decision was made to open the box, more of interiorwall had to be removed.

from the bundle. Two more photos were revealed. Peihlinventoried, then he copied the contents before they werereturned.

What was in the time capsule? See the list on Page 14 inthis newsletter. The contents were straightforward -nothing extra added such as coins, pencils or "joke"objects. Where are the contents now? The items wereturned over to Commander Woodward of the AmericanLegion.

-Barnesville Public LibraryHawley Public LibraryMoorhead Public LibraryFargo Moorhead CVB

OpenJulyJulyJulyJuly

CloseSept.Sept.Sept.Sept.

SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED is assembled at theMoorhead Public Library. You might even be tempted todig out an old jigsaw puzzle or two. Do you rememberwhat you built with your Erector set, Lincoln logs, Legosor Tinker Toys? We don't want to bug you, but check outthe game in this display. It was invented in Minnesota!

Simple toys with NO BATTERIES NEEDED are onview at the Barnesville Public Library. Look for yourfavorite toys amongst the marbles, crayons, dollhouseand sandbox toys. Do you still have all your marbles?

The Fargo Convention and Visitors' Bureau along 1-94 isROLLIN' ON THE RED this summer. Visitors to ourarea view a photo display highlighting steamboats on theRed River. The two-dimensional model of the largestcatfish caught in the Red near Drayton, ND in 1991amazes both children and adults. The catfish weighted331b, 4 oz. Of course, we encourage everyone to checkout the Hjemkomst Center exhibits and activities.

Two special displays went up in the CCHS hall case forthe Scandinavian Hjemkomst Festival June 21-24. A dis-play on the Swedish singer Jenny Lind occupies the eastend of the case. The Swedish-American Institute in Min-neapolis provided and erected this display.

The second was organized and erected by the local Swed-ish Society and occupies the rest of the hall case. Thirty-six contributors brought items of Swedish heritage toshare with our visitors. Included is a special case calledThe Finn Connection. Both the Swedish-American Insti-tute and the Swedish Society have graciously allowedthese fine displays to remain up for two months. If youmissed the Scandinavian Hjemkomst Festival activities,you can still get a "taste" of Sweden!

The popular outreach display CHOCOLATECENTERED is on display in the lobby at the HjemkomstCenter for July and August. This "sweet" display wasintern Lisa Hanson's project back in 1997. Lisa is nowthe Administrative Assistant at the Coddington Co. His-torical Society in Watertown, SD.

The Hawley Public Library is also ROLLIN' ON THERED! Fascinating photos take you back to steamboattravel on the Red River as well as activities along thebanks. Admire an early 1930s swimsuit from Hawley'sAndrew Johnson store. Check out artifacts including re-mains of lunches eaten at early Moorhead saloons!

-Donors include:Ulen: Maybelle Dinsmore, St. Paul: In Memory of

Walter & Agnes Manning (Dilworth area)Fargo: Jan Nelson, Elizabeth Lorshbough, Donovan

NelsonSandpoint, Idaho: Keith BoothRossmoor, CA: Richard Pederson

Artifacts include: (photocopies) of the contents of thetime capsule * from the Am. Legion Building, Moor-head; (1) vol. Moorhead Horseshoe League 1969-2001and (1) vol. Clay County Safety Council 1990-2000 bothcompiled by donor; pen & ink sketch on drawing paperby Moorhead artist Walfred Karlstrom and a photo post-card of Walfred Karlstom, his sister Eunice and friend' ,photo postcard of "The Fairmont Old Timers" and astereo view of the Bruns & Finkle Block, 480-4th St.Moorhead by F. Jay Haynes, Moorhead, MN [1876-1879]; photo of Nelmer Nelson, Clay Co Deputy Sheriffand Nelmer's Colt 32 caliber automatic pistol w/black

leather holster;

Forum InjoGuide 2001 magazine supplement to The Fo-rum; tape measure "Compliments of Higgins, Aske Co.Moorhead [about 1915]; copies of two price lists forPederson Mercantile Co. Moorhead for Fall 1898-Spring1899 and 1907 plus photos of the Pederson Family;songbook, Songs from the North 1895 published in mem-ory of Jenny Lind; small clear glass measure fromNorthside Off Sale Inc. Moorhead, Minn. with meas-urement labels for "hogs, men & ladies" on the back anda bright red, soft plastic coin purse with advertisementfor "HA MacDonald, Poultry, Feed, Eggs, Hawley;"blotter, w/ad for OJ Mortenson, realtor, Moorhead,Minn. [1958-1961]; infant's white dress, worn by Amy LBeckstrom b. 7-26-13; instruction book Domestic SewingHandbook 1947 for the Domestic Sewing Machine; enve-lope [first day cover, 5 cent airmail] celebrating the an-niversary of Moorhead incorporation 1881-1931, with agraphic "Spud Capitol of the Northwest;" sticker forJohnson's big top roller rink Dilworth;

CCHS July/August Newsletter

Old Moorhead, American Legion HallThe following was taken from the May/June 1990CCHS newsletter. In light of the opening of theAmerican Legion building's time capsule in May, weare reprinting part that feature story. In 1990, thebuilding was scheduled for demolition to make wayfor a proposed Moorhead Hotel and ConferenceCenter. It didn't happen.

[American Legion] Legion Hall slated for demolition

by Mark Peihl

Although the hall is subject to spring flooding, thebuilding has historical significance - not just toMoorhead, but also to the entire state. In August 1935the Federal Government offered to fund severaldepression relief projects in Clay County including onefor a city auditorium in Moorhead.

The Melvin Hearl American Legion Post agreed toprovide some or all of the local matching funds inreturn for a long-term lease on the building for use as aclubhouse. The project was approved and that fall localmen paid by the Works Progress Administration (WPA)began digging the basement.

Two young Moorhead architects, George Carter andAllen Meinecke, were selected to design the Hall. TheWP A mandated that the project put as many men towork as possible and that building materials cost bekept to a minimum. The architects came up with aningenious idea that influenced WP A structures all overthe state. They convinced several Sabin area farmers todonate many tons of fieldstone, which they had cleanedfrom their fields. Carter and Meinecke taught workershow to cut the stones into blocks and set them in placeto build the walls. The idea worked brilliantly. TheWPA officials were so impressed that they hired theyoung men to design similar buildings all over thestate.

The Federal government provided a blacksmith and aforge as well as goggles for eye protection. The smithwas kept busy making and sharpening chisels. He madethe chisels from discarded automobile axles thatprovided the hardest steel available.

According to newspaper accounts, the workers cut thefieldstone in bee hive-like enclosures to protect eachother from flying chips. It took about an hour to cuteach stone. The stones were trimmed in the random

Ashlar style, meaning cut with squared edges in avariety of sizes. The blocks were then set in randomorder resulting in a multi-colored wall with a strikingpattern.

On May 13, 1936, WPA officials and local dignitarieslowered a corner stone and time capsule in place. Thecapsule contains a transcript of the Post's history, thenames of the building committee and WP A workerswho built the hall, photographs and some newspaperclippings.

By November, the Legion Auxiliary began meeting inthe basement and the official dedication was heldFebruary 4, 1937. Festivities included a banquet anddance, which was also a fundraiser for clubhousefurnishings.

pin back button for Moorhead HS Go Big Orange;trade token for George J Dahm, Tobacco/Cigars,Barnesville; a World's Centennial Exhibition envelopewith a Comstock cancellation dated 1893; WalterManning's WW I Army uniform (two shirts, trousers,garrison cap, helmet, turtleneck, sweater, twoundershirts, drawers, mitts and two pair of leggings)plus three ammo pouches (empty), a pocket mirror withcase, a humidor made from artillery shell "Argonnebattle 1918" containing six cigars, a container madefrom German artillery shell "4-9-19;" an ashtray madefrom German artillery shell, three pieces of browncanvas with the insignia "Engineer Corps. US Army,Twenty-ninth Engineers AEF," Manning's 3-piec~wedding suit and Comstock baseball team shirt, pantsand stockings.

S Kirsten doll raffley.,... 'A Kirsten American Girl™ doll was donated to CCHSfor a raffie to help offset costs of producing a pioneerplay for the Scandinavian Hjemkomst Festival. Toobtain tickets stop in at the CCHS Office or send $1 perticket to CCHS, PO Box 501, Moorhe~d MN 56561.Only orders of 10 or more will receive mailed receipts.

Mama and Papa reflect on their long tiringjourney from Sweden to America and then toMinnesota.

presented "Home is Where the Heart is" to a full houseduring the Scandinavian Hjemkomst Festival in June.The all volunteer cast and director pictured at right are(back row, 1to r) Brianne Melle as Marta, Greta Krier asKirsten, and Director Vicki Paulsen; middle row (l to r)Hannah Chapman as Mama and Michael Champ as Papa,and in front (l to r) Amy Vitalis Hoffman as Anna andAnnaliese Kallod as Lisbeth. The cast all received welldeserved accolades and flowers following the Saturdayperformance.

The look on Kirsten's face tells it all - Marta is really sick.Mama and Papa sympathize, but as hardy pioneers theywill move on and encourage their children to do thesame.

See Page 5 for information on getting a "Kirsten"American Girl doll raffle ticket. The raffle drawing willbe held at the opening of our new exhibit on Oct. 20.

A bird's-eye view of Moorhead •In 1882By Mark Peihl

I love aerial photos. The view from above can show somuch detailed information about a farm or town at aparticular point in time. We have a fair and growingcollection of aerial views at CCHS but the earliest aerialphotography dates from the 1920s. I've often wished Icould scope out Moorhead or Barnesville or other ClayCounty locales from the air in the 1880s or '90s. Thenext best thing, however, are panoramic maps.

In the late 1800s draftsmen traveled the country drawingaccurate views of cities as they might appear fromhundreds of feet up. Local boosters, city officials and realestate agents used these lithograph prints as promotionaltools to lure settlers and businesses to town. Because theywere destined for a local market, the maps had to beaccurate - buyers would not appreciate their home orbusiness incorrectly drawn. This makes them wonderfulhistorical research tools. Like aerial photos, they containhuge amounts of information.

Lithographers produced at least two panoramic maps ofMoorhead. One, dated 1880 appears in the book RoyJohnson's Red River Valley (Soc Glasrud, ed.; Red RiverValley Historical Society, Moorhead: 1982). The printreproduced apparently came from a newspaper clipping.The dot pattern makes details in the image hard to pickout. I've never been able to track down an original litho.In our collections is an 1880 bird' s eye view of Fargoapparently created at the same time. The MinnesotaHistorical Society has a print of Moorhead done in 1882.For our exhibit Inside, Outside, Upside Down, we hadMHS create a full size color photo of the map. We'vereproduced it for this article and blew up some detailswe'd like to point out.

W. H. Frisbie drafted the map during a real boom yearfor Moorhead. After years of slow growth, local residentsanticipated huge developments in the next few years. Fewmaterialized, but the map is a good reflector of this civicboosterism. The view is to the northwest from about 1000feet above today's Romkey Park neighborhood. Fargoappears in the distance. It shows a prosperous, growingcity. Although the buildings are accurately rendered andlocated, the scale is misleading. Tiny citizens crowdstreets lined with huge buildings. This makes the cityappear larger than it was. Four improbably elegantsteamboats ply the Red River and if you look closely,

you'll notice two trains rushing along the NorthernPacific Railway - on a collision course straight towardeach other!A. Only a couple of buildings shown on the map still

stand. The house on the left is 111 South 4th Street,located just south of Kirby's Bar. This building datesfrom at least 1876 and is remarkably unchanged tothis day. The right arrow indicates the presentlocation of 420 Main Avenue, an 1879 vintagestructure. However, the map does not show thebuilding - it was moved to the spot later. Today it'sthe home of YHR Partners architectural firm. Alsoshown is Solomon Comstock's house. Brand new in1882, it's shown in the lower left corner on 8th Streetsurrounded by trees. [By the white "A "]

B. Draftsman W. H. Frisbie jumped the gun a bit whenhe added the Main Avenue Bridge to his view.Though under discussion in 1882, squabblingbetween Fargo and Moorhead delayed its completionuntil 1884. Also shown here are H. A. Bruns' "Belleof Moorhead" flour mill, at right, and the city's tirstwater works, just behind the mill.

C. Wishful thinking is also evident here as Frisbie hasadded a (rather blurry) horse-drawn streetcar onFront Street (Center Avenue). Fargo had such anoperation in 1882 but it went belly up that fall. Thetracks (shown here running across the mythical MainAvenue bridge, then north on 5th Street to CenterAvenue then east to the edge of town) were neverbuilt to Moorhead.

D. What's not shown is also interesting. The "0" marksthe location of the Hjemkomst Center today. In 1882this was part of "The Point," Moorhead's originalresidential area. But the folks who lived alongWestern Avenue (hidden in the trees along the river)were among Moorhead's less affluent citizens. Theirmodest homes may have been an embarrassment tothe city's boosters. Frisbie left them off his map.

Also conveniently missing is Prairie Home Cemetery. Itwould be just off the lower left corner of the map. Itslocation was controversial in the early 1880s. Prairiesurrounded the cemetery when it was established in themid 1870s. But as the city grew south, concerns aboutunhealthy "miasmic vapors" rising from the graves andan unfashionable graveyard close to downtown madesome people suggest moving the deceased. It didn'thappen but Frisbie carefully left it off the map just thesame.

Bird's-eye view (continued from Page 7)

E. Here the palatial Grand Pacific Hotel looms over theeast end of town like a medieval castle. Built in 1881by H. A. Bruns for an astounding $160,000, itfeatured 140 rooms, each linked to the main desk byan electric bell. Twelve were suites with a parlor andprivate bath. It was the biggest hotel betweenMinneapolis and Spokane, Washington - too big forMoorhead. It lost money for fifteen years beforebeing demolished by Great Northern Railwaymagnate James J. Hill in 1896.

F. Belching black smoke, John Erickson's Brewery sitsbeside the river just north of the Minneapolis, St.Paul and Manitoba (Great Northern) Railway tracks.Began in 1875 by two Canadian brothers namedLarkin, Erickson's operation cranked out 1835

barrels of brew in 1881. That's equivalent to 25,00024-can cases. The brewery burned in 1902. Thoughan institution in Moorhead for over 25 years, we haveno decent photos of the place. This is the best imagewe have.

G. Moorhead's Red Light District is another photo-deficient area. From Moorhead's earliest years, thehouses were segregated out on the east side of town.The notorious Madame Kittie Raymond later ownedthis house on the southeast corner of Front Street(Center Avenue) and Pembina (l1th Street). She ran-it for nearly 20 years. In the 1890s three more housespopped up on this block. Reformers leveled thebuildings around 1906. We have no photos of thearea.

CLAYCOUNTY

MUSEUM• • • Showing • • •

"01Jtltchesin rcime"Clay County's Handmade Textiles

"W "I I I''''~tfT"'~ W~~T"'~R ~q~~~~Q(featuring a 1957 tornado video)

.:0\ CYentutp o/CYpchn§"(From the high wheels of the 1880s

to the mountain bikes of today.)

1:::I:III1I1::•• lllllli............•...•.•.•.•.•.•.•••.•.•.•...•.....•..••.•...•.•••.•. ;.:.;::.::::>:::::;:::;:::::::;:;:::;:::;:::;;.:;::;;:;:::.;.;. ..•..•.•-

CCHS extends a very specialthank you to the followingindividuals who have renewedtheir membership for anotheryear.

RENEWALSMarion Bjorndahl, HawleyDorothy L. Martell, FargoOlive Andvik, MoorheadHelen M. Danielson, MoorheadJerry & Dona Lein, MoorheadO.J. & Ruth Storvick, MoorheadVilera Rood, MoorheadVera Knapp, MoorneadNorman Akesson, Davis CAJim Fay, MoorheadJohn Holten, MoorneadMaurice & Garnet Hoberg, MoorheadMilo Moyano, MoorheadMoorhead Area Retired Educators, MoorheadMarjorie & Kelly Aakre, MoorheadIrene B. Swenson, MoorheadMary Bolstad, MoorheadPatrick Colliton, FargoCarroll & Jo EngeUlardt, MoorheadAlbert Knutson, MoorheadRose M. Gytri, Fargo

Margret Kragnes, GlyndonEvert A. Wiisanen, MoorheadPaul Harris, MoorheadJohn M. Jenkins, FargoMary Ellen Thompson, FargoPaul & Irene Burkhardt, FargoMarionnette Crume, GlyndonMarilyn Smith, MoorheadGreater FM Convention

& Visitors Bureau, FargoRex E. Wood, MoorheadDBA Moornead Drug Co, MoorheadBeth Brunnelle, FargoM/M Loren Ingebretsen, FeltonDouglas Joonson, BemidjiMatt Scheibe, Eugene OREdward & Elizabeth Clark, MoorheadSara Pudas, Brooklyn ParkLauri Winterfeldt-Shanks, MoorheadMel Ristvedt, HawleyLee Kolle, BorupGary H. & Becky Olson, MoorheadAlfred Rieniets, MoorneadRamona Kooren, HawleyDorothy Dodds, MoorheadPearl I. Grover, MoorheadClair O. Haugen, MoorheadSteven B. Olson, MoorheadDana C. Powers, RochertEdwin J. Stillmach, Missoula MTGalen & Sharon Vaa, MoorheadHarold Helmeke, MoorheadPaulO. Skatvold, Moorhead

James C. & Clara Wilkins, FargoRaymond & Joan Grefsrud, HawleyRobert & JoAnn Nyquist, MoorheadGustav & Joyce Haug, HawleyNeil H. Larson, Harwood NOGate City Bank, FargoVirginia Klenk, MoorheadArdis & Milton Severson, Detroit LakesMarlene Ames, Fargolone Diiro, MoorheadSanford Steen, MoorheadRuth & Morris Lanning, MoorneadRae P. Haynes, Durango COJustine Swanson, Fargo

CCHS welcomes the followingnew members:

NEW MEMBERSRodney Erickson, MoorheadLutheran Brotherhood East Clay County,

Branch 8431, MoorheadRalph & Ethel Hest, MoorheadMichelle Healy, Onalaska W ASusan Woodstrom, Mi.rnrapolisJohn Caron, Arlington VA

~ c9;r{}a!! !J1J{}fW ~&&k(qooull need two - one to read and one togive awap)

•• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •THE 20TH CENTURY IN MOORHEADHeritage Publications, in collaboration with the

Clay County Historical Society, is proud toannounce this unique 184 page book that takes ayear by year, decade by decade look at the pastcentury in Moorhead. This book, which is full ofhistoric photographs, provides a glimpse at thelast ten decades with major news events of the dayas well as several first-hand recollections bypeople from our community that lived throughthem.There is a limited printing. Pick up your copytoday at the Clay County Museum and Archivesin the Hjemkomst Center,2021st Avenue North inMoorhead or send in the form below. Call 218-299-5520for more information.

THIS ISA L1~ED RUN - BE SUMETO ORDER YOUR COpy BEFORE THEY ARE GONE.••••• ~--- •••••••••••••••• Send. To: •••••••••• - •••• ------- ••••• ~• CCHS MOORHEAD BOOK - P.O. BOX 501 - MOORHEAD, MN 56560 - 218-299-5520 •

• I= MOORHEAD, MN 1900-2000: "A CENTURY OF CHANGE" I• •I#1)Nome________________ # 1)Nome________________ =• Address Address •· ----------------- ----------------- .• City Phone City •• _ Phone •

= State Zip State Zip =: $23 FOR EACH BOOK MUST ACCOMPANY ORDER =1•• _ •••• _ ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ~

Page 14

Time capsule contentsby Mark Peihl & Pam Burkhardt

The capsule contains a transcript of the Post'shistory, the names of the building committee andWPA workers who built the hall, photographsand some newspaper clippings.[Am. Legion Building article Page 5]

What was in the time capsule? Here is a list of thecontents from the top layer down. The last entry has theonly spontaneous addition.

1. Typed list of workmen for the building.[See list below.]

2. One issue of The Minnesota LegionnaireWed. April 13, 1936 [folded with contents}

2a. The Minnesota Legionnaire Wed. Jan. 15, 19362b. The Minnesota Legionnaire Wed. Apr 8, 19362c. The Minnesota Legionnaire Wed, April 22, 1936

3. Typed six-page list ofthe membership of the MelvinE. Hearl Post No. 21, Moorhead, Minn. [foldedwith contents and secured with a rubber band]

3a. Program for the presentation of Verdi'sOpera Aida at MSTC April 30, May 1-2,1936. [contents inserted in this program]3al. Poster for Grand Prize Dance July 4,

1936 sponsored by the Post witharchitect's rendering ofthe futurePost and advertising the four-door Lincoln

Zepher to be given away.3a2. Brochure, Facts About The American

Legion revised May 1934. [insertedbrochure]

Gust I. HicksRudolph LarsonAdolph NelsonClifton WilliamsGeorge HogensonClifford PetersonGeorge JohnsonFrank AndersonOscar BostromFritz FoldenHerbert C. BassittClarence DurlingNels J. PetersonThorvald ThompsonAlbert Eggum

A.J. CarpenterFerdinand RoseFrank HalstromEdgar N. MickelsonAlvin OlsonLindquist PeterRalph J. MaderWilliam MillerJohn EckmanOtto BugeAlton F. MonsonIver O. JohnsonAlfred AbrahamsonFrank ZebleyFrank PaysenoOscar B. Greenwood

3a2a. Newspaper clipping, MinneapolisJournal Sunday Supplement Jan. 8,1928 about the "Moorhead, MunicipalChristmas Tree"

3a2b Undated clipping, probably fromThe Minnesota Legionnaire withphoto of Rev. Frederick Errington,Chaplain of the Moorhead Post

3a2c-d. Two snapshots, apparentlytaken in Prairie Home Cemetery onMemorial Day, 1924.

4. Undated brochure, "Continue to Serve: Jointhe American Legion. "

5. Booklet, "Constitution of The AmericanLegion Department of Minnesota," revisedDec. 1, 1932.

6. Program for the Cornerstone Ceremony,May 13, 1936.

7. Pages 7 and 8 of The Minneapolis Journal,Sunday, April 19, 1936, with an article on thenew Legion Building.

8. Typed list of "Charter Membership Roll ofThe American Legion Melvin E. Hearl PostNo. 21, Department of Minnesota," withhandwritten list dated May 13, 1936

A typed list of building workmen was the firstitem seen and removed from the time capsule onMay 30, 2001. The paper is titled: "Worker onCommunity Building Hole's Park, Moorhead,Minnesota, 1936. WORKS PROGRESSADMINISTRATION of Minnesota.

Einor K. FoldenJohn AndersonEdmund A. ArreAlbert M. NelsonJohn ConradNels P. OstmanKenneth HansonAdolph WangJohn D. WattErnest V. RutledgeLouis FrimanslundH.O. HalvorsonElmer A. AndersonSuperintendent Nels MelveyTimekeeper-Stewart A. Johnson

Family History workshop to feature military researchMilitary on Parade: A Salute to Our Veterans is the theme forthe Family History Workshop XXVI to be held at MinnesotaState University Moorhead on Saturday, Sept. 29. Researchingmilitary records and incorporating veterans' memories intoyour family history are the highlights of this year's workshop.The workshop features a variety of classes for beginning andexperienced genealogists.

Workshop session topics include: getting started; researchingmilitary records; interviewing veterans; document and photopreservation techniques; using computers and the Internet ingenealogy research; planning family reunions; area genealogyresources;

using LDS Family History Center resources; Minnesota,German and Scandinavian research.

Mr. Jon Hovde, recipient of the Purple Heart for his serviceduring the Vietnam War and author of Wings on Fire, is theluncheon speaker. Hovde's presentation is titled Making aDifference.

The Heritage Education Commission sponsors the workshop.Registration deadline is Sept. 10. For more information visitthe web site atwww.mnstate.edulheritage/xxvi.htm. contact ContinuingStudies, Box 401, MSUM, Moorhead MN 56563, or call (218)236-2182.

Thank you to these special BIOS Members of Clay County Historical SocietyPATRON ($200 - $~Grosz Studio, Moorhead

SUSTAINING MEMBERS ($100 to $122lBev & Lloyd Paulson, MoorheadBrian Dentinger,

Edward D. Jones & Co., MoorheadChamber of Commerce of Fargo MoorheadCity of Hawley, HawleyDilworth/Glyndon/Felton Sch«t0lsFirst National Bank, HawleyHawley Public Schools, HawleyKorsmo Funeral Service, MoorheadLutheran Brotherhood,Lake Agassiz Branch 8430, Moorhead

Moorhead Area Public Schools, MoorheadMoorhead Drug Company, MoorheadMoorhead Kiwanis, MoorheadRigels, Inc., Appliances-TV, MoorheadScheels AU Sports, MoorheadSellin Brothers, HawleyVikingland Kiwanis, Moorhead

SUPPORTING MEMBER ($50 to $.221Bentley & Bentley, DDS, HawleyCass-Clay Creamery, Inc., Fargo

City of Barnesville, BarnesvilleRichard T. McMurray,C.M. Associates, Annandale, VA

Eventide,MoorheadGate City Bank, FargoGreater Fargo MoorheadConvention & Visitors Bureau, Inc.

Gunhus, Grinnell, Klinger, Swenson andGuy, Ltd, Moorhead

Lutheran Brotherhood,East Clay Cnty Branch 8431, Moorhe~dMcLarn, Hannaher & Skatvold,Attorneys, Moorhead

Melberg Christian Book & Gift, MoorheadMid-Day Central Lions, MoorheadMoorhead Area Retired Education Asso.National Sojourners Inc., MoorheadPetermann Seed Farm, HawleyState Bank of Hawley, HawleyState Bank of Moorhead, MoorheadStenerson Lumber, MoorheadVeteran's of Foreign Wars, MoorheadWard Muscatell Auto, MoorheadWells Fargo Bank MN, N.A., MoorheadWright Funeral Home, Moorhead

http://www.mnstate.edulheritage/xxvi.htm.

CCHS BIOS Memberships

$ 50 to $99$ 100 to $199$ 200 to $499$ 500 and up,

Supporting MemberSustaining MemberPatronMajor Exhibit Sponsor

As a CCHS BIOS (Business, Individual, Organization Support) Memberyou will receive all benefits of an individual and/or family membershipplus a certificate ready to frame and display, extra complimentary passesto visit the Viking Ship, the Stave church, traveling exhibits in thebuilding, and a listing in all CCHS bi-monthly Newsletters, To become aCCHS BIOS Member please return this form or a facsimile to CCHS, Box501, Moorhead, MN 56561-0501 or call 299-5520,

Business: _

Contact Name: _

Address: _

CCHS Membership Application

• Discount on Photo Reproduction• Voting Privileges• Invitation to all CCHS Social Events• Access to all CCHS Tours

• Support preservation of our heritage• Bi-monthly newsletter• Discount on Acid-Free Materials• FREE Admission to Clay County

Museum & Archives and twocomplimentary passes to the Stave Church, Viking Ship and Traveling Exhibits.

NAME:

ADDRESS:

PHONE:

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