July/August - Winona County Historical Society

The Argus
Winona County Historical Society
160 Johnson Street
Winona, MN 55987
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Permit # 87
Winona, MN
55987
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Winona County Historical Society Newsletter
photo by Paul Crosby
Volume 16, No. 4 July/August 2015
Meet the Bunnells and Co.
We would like to introduce you to the
Bunnell family and their associates...well,
those who will be playing them in this
summer’s first play at the Bunnell House,
The Hired Girl Gets Married.
The cast of characters includes Willard
Bunnell; his wife Matilda; their hired girl
and soon to be bride, Rachel Vennon; her
groom, Henry Herrick; and the minister,
John Dyer.
Ken McCullough
(John Dyer) is the
Poet Laureate of
Winona. He has
published eight
volumes of poetry,
a book of short fiction, and articles, reviews and illustrations. He is the translator
of Cambodian poet and Pol Pot survivor
U Sam Oeur. McCullough has received
numerous awards and grants for his work,
and has taught in venues ranging from
grade schools to colleges to prisons. He
has performed in a six Theatre du Mississippi productions and acted in several
films produced by My Town Productions as
well as Missouri Breaks, with Jack Nicholson and Marlon Bando. He is married to
playwright Lynn Nankivil.
Ray W. Felton (John
Dyer) has performed
in a variety of venues
since 1987, including the
former Winona Community Theater, street acting
at the Victorian Fair, 3 films, 2 television
commercials, radio spots, story readings,
the Winona County Historical Society
Cemetery Walk, and more than 10
staged readings and plays for Theatre
du Mississippi. In addition to his work, Ray
enjoys flower gardening with his partner
Carolyn and reading history. He has also
served as the public address announcer
on a volunteer basis for over 825 events
at Winona Senior High School, the YMCA,
and the Winona Swim Club. Ray and Carolyn share an inner city house and garden
with their fierce gray cat Reuben. They
also share two children, two grandsons
and one grandog.
Walker Robeson (Henry
Herrick) was born and
raised in Winona, MN.
He recently graduated
from St. Mary’s University with a BA in Theatre
and Visual Arts, and has
accepted a place in the
MFA program in Theatre Performance at
the East 15 School of Acting in London,
UK. Notable previous performances include Pentecost, The Government Inspector, and Uncle Vanya.
This is Ryan Knox’s (Willard Bunnell)
second TdM production after last year’s
Christmas Radio Show. He has appeared
in many La Crosse Community Theater
productions, most recently as a French
Revolutionary in Les Miserables and as
Banquo in Macbeth. Ryan works at the
Kane Street Community Garden in La
Crosse guiding volunteers who will raise
30,000 pounds of organic vegetables
this growing season. He thanks Linda for
her encouragement and patience. He
thanks the WCHC for their support of this
production.
Chris Hallum (Willard
Bunnell) is a lifelong resident and current Mayor
of the City of Rushford,
Minnesota and works
at Fastenal Company in
Winona. Chris didn’t act
in a play until he was
28 years old. That show was “Arsenic and
Old Lace” for the Rushford Area Society
of the Arts (RASA) and I’ve been hooked
ever since! Productions since then include
“Little Shop of Horrors”, “Barefoot in the
Park”, “Hello Dolly”, “The Nerd”, “Leaving
Iowa”, ...Continued on page 3.
Board Members
Peter Walsh, President
Mary Nelson, VP
Tom Bremer, Treasurer
Jonelle Moore, ex officio Secretary
Michelle Alexander, City Council
Sandra Burke
Jerome Christenson
Robert Fischer
Tim Hoff
Sue Hovell
Margaret Johnson
Ken Lindamann
Patrick Marek
Mary Polus
Jim Pomeroy
Pat Rogers
Mike Slaggie
LeRoy Telstad
Cindy Timm
Staff
Mark F. Peterson, Director
507-454-2723 ext. 1
director@winonahistory.org
Jennifer Weaver, Asst. Director
507-454-2723 ext. 3
assistdir@winonahistory.org
Joyce Betz, Receptionist
507-454-2723 ext. 0
desk@winonahistory.org
Jodi Brom, Curator
507-454-2723 ext. 4
curator@winonahistory.org
Walter Bennick, Archivist
507-454-2723 ext. 2
archives@winonahistory.org
History Never Stops
Membership & Donations
by Mark F. Peterson, Executive Director
Thank You for Your Support!
photo by Kathy Greden
Bunnell plays. Riverboat tours. Special excursions. Chocolate, Shakespeare & Champagne
event. County Fair. Furniture exhibit. Inventory project. Grant reports. Facility rentals.
Fixing up properties. What do they all have
in common? The answer is that all of that
plus the regular work of on-going programs,
exhibit openings and planning for other
events is keeping all of the staff and volunteers here very busy this summer. I’m always
amazed at how much this organization takes
on and does every year. I want to thank the
hardworking staff and board for their willingness to be open to new ideas and challenges and for going the extra mile to make
sure things get done and are done well.
We have recently received two grants
thanks to the work of staff members Assistant Director Jennifer Weaver and Archivist
Andy Bloedorn. Jennifer, along with Jamie
Schell, submitted a grant to the Southeastern
Minnesota Arts Council for the “Art of Fine
Furniture” exhibit (you HAVE to see it!). The
grant was for $ 7180 and will allow free
admission to the show and help with publicity.
Andy wrote a small Legacy Grant to the Minnesota Historical Society for $10,000 which
will get our Archives a new digital microfilm
reader-printer. This state-of-the-art reader
will be a huge improvement to our old equipment. Thanks for your work on these important grants. I’ve always said it’s the grants
that allow is to always move forward as an
organization.
Last month I wrote about cleaning out my
mother’s house she lived in for 63-years. It
must have struck a chord with folks because
a lot of people commented to me about
what I wrote and shared some of their
experiences. I know my daughter laughed
when she read what I said about her and her
brother. We now have the house completely
empty and when the floors are refinished
and a few other things done it will be put
on the market. It will be sad to not have
the house I grew up in available anymore.
I’m glad the job of dividing up the family
heirlooms and other things went so well. It
doesn’t always. I’m also glad that I had siblings who could step in and do so much of the
work. I can’t imagine what it would be like
for an only child to have to do all this. I went
through a similar separation when my grandparent’s farm was sold. We used to go there
almost every weekend and I just loved exploring the large house, the woods along the
river and the lake it bordered. Many years
later it was on the market and I couldn’t resist
the opportunity to get in again. The saying
“you can’t go home again” was all too true.
When I saw the velvet Elvis hanging in what
had been a very formal dining room I knew
I shouldn’t have come back! In the meantime
I’m hauling out boxes of stuff from my house
to be either thrown, given away or shredded.
Progress is being measured by the pound. w
Ann Kendrick, Membership
membership@winonahistory.org
Laurie Lucas, Rental Coord.
507-452-6609
rentals@winonahistory.org
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Winona County History Center
Metal Company; Schneider Heating & Air Conditioning; Watkins Inc.
New Members:
Shelby Faustino; Carol Garman; Jerry & Corrine Grochowski; Mary Jane Guy; Bea & Tom Hoffmann; Dave &
Teri McNally; Deborah Niebuhr; Carolyn O’Grady & Jim Bonilla; Ron Prondzinski; Dick & Mary Schneider; Barbara J. Steinson &
John T. Schlotterbeck, Greencastle, IN; Mavis Thelen; Jeff & Marcy Van Van Fossen.
Renewals: Ann R. Abraham; Richard Adank; Allan & Maxine Aldinger; Eileen E. Amundson; Beryl Arnold, Charleston, SC; David
& Muriel Arnold; Steve & Nancy Bachler; Florence E. Badowich; Lionel & Donna Bening, Plano, TX; Walt & Bunny Bennick; Joyce
O. Betz; Joyce & Ray Bisco; David Bittner; John Borman, Rogers, MN; Christine Boudin-Stoa & Tom Stoa; Barb Burchill & Dan McCammon; Linda & Bob Clay; Larry Clingman; Chalan Colby, Los Altos Hills, CA; Robert E. Collins; Emilio & Monica DeGrazia; Bob
Doerer; John & Lois Durfey; Jean Engler; Dorothy Evanson; Kathi & Greg Fischer; Peter & Jeannine Flick; Tom Flood, Chiefland, FL;
Dr. Joseph & Mary Foegen; Jeff Franko; Carol Galbus; Rick & Gayle Garrity; Mr. David Girod; Gayle B. Goetzman & Ben Stolpa;
Dan & Nancy Goltz; Joan Greshik, Cochrane, WI; Philip & Jeanne Handke; Mike & Sue Hauser; Jerry & Noreen Hennessy, Lewiston,
MN; Rod J. Henry; Judy Jacobson, Fargo, ND; Kathryn Jarvinen; John Kalmes, Rollingstone, MN; Howard & Alice Keller, Ft. Myers,
FL; Chuck & Diane Kernler; Lawrence W. Kieffer, Cedar Falls, IA; Thom & Robyn Kieffer; Emily Kurash; Nicole LaChapelle, Lewiston,
MN; Margaret Lambert; Patricia Laska, Wabasha, MN; Richard Lindner; Joyce O. Locks; Robert L. Lovas, Sr., Cochrane, WI; Lore L.
Maas; Kevin & Bonnie Mahoney; David & Sharon Martin; Pat Mason; Gerry & Mary Masyga, Tempe, AZ; Carole Matejka; Elmer &
Louise Mattila; Laird McCulloch, Woodside, CA; Patricia McHugh, Storrs, CT; James A. & Marleen Miller; Jim Miller; Sharon Miller,
Minnesota City, MN; Bruce & Mary Beth Montplaisir, Altura, MN; Phyllis Morken; John & Marlene Mulrooney; Pat & Jay Mutter; Lynn
Nankivil & Ken McCullough; Robert G. & BJ McQueen, Birchwood, WI; Dolores Myers; Fred W. & Nora Lee Naas; Mary Nathe;
Gaye Nepper; A.M. ‘Sandy’ Oskamp, Cochrane, WI; Robert G. Pavek; Pat Pearson; Patte Peterson; Blake & Jan Pickart; Dick &
Irene Renk, Ft. Myers, FL; Taff Roberts & Anne Plummer; Mike & Anne Rompa; Daryl & Mary Rusert, Lewiston, MN; G.R. (Glenn)
Sanders; Betty Jane Schneider; Steve Schuh; Peter Shortridge & Amy Nankivil; Marvin & Linda Seppanen; Tom & Mary Ann Severson; Mary Singer; John & Charlotte Speltz, Apex, NC; Ron & Diane Stevens; Constance Strand, Fountain City, WI; Geraldine Taylor;
David & Lynn Theurer; Al & Bonnie Thurley; Ralph Townsend; Carl & Bonnie Troke; Pete & Joyce Woodworth; Nancy Vaillancourt,
Owatonna, MN; Kay Vanderzee, Dakota, MN; Van Schaik-Iremonger Family, LaCrescent, MN; Mark & Grace Zimmerman.
Donations:
Laurie Lucas; Laird McCulloch; David & Lynn Theurer; In Memory of Penny Breitlow: Arlayne Fremling; Harry &
Ormsin Gardiner; In Memory of George Frey: Carolyn Goplen; In Memory of Marianne Mastenbrook: Walt & Bunny Bennick;
Carolyn Goplen; LaVerne & Elaine Johnson; Laurie Lucas; Don & Donna Peterson; Mark Peterson; Chuck & Judy Shepard;
Annual Fund: Mary Mueller; Rod Henry, in Memory of Ernestine Henry.
Ensure the Future of the Past!
Remember the Winona County Historical Society in your estate planning.
Andy Bloedorn, Archivist
507-454-2723 ext. 2
archives@winonahistory.org
Todd McAllister, Maintenance
507-454-2723 ext. 0
Business Partner Renewals: Altura State Bank, Altura, MN; Hawkins, Ash, CPAs, LaCrosse, WI; Wm. Miller Scrap Iron &
WCHS Museums
160 Johnson St., Winona, MN 55987
Open: Weekdays 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sunday 12 - 4 p.m.
Laird Lucas Library & Archives; Open: Weekdays 10 a.m. - 12 & 1 - 5 p.m.
The Willard Bunnell House Off Hwy 61, Homer, MN; Open for Summer
Performances, Weekends 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., July 27 through August 2
Rural Heritage Museum Winona County Fairgrounds; Opening Soon!
Bunnell House Excursion!
The Winona County Historical Society and Theatre du Mississippi are offering an excursion on the Cal
Fremling to Homer Landing, to see the Bunnell House Summer Performance. Once at Homer, you will walk the
Fremling’s portable ramp to land, where you will be picked up by the Trester Trolley for transportation up to
the Bunnell House for the 4:00 p.m. performance of The Hired Girl Gets Married, then ride the Trolley back
to the boat for a return trip to the Levee dock. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres and a talk about the Bunnells with playwright Lynn Nankavil and Director Paul Sannerud along the journey. All inclusive excursion tickets are $75 for the public and $70
for WCHS members and are available at the Winona County History Center. ONLY A FEW SEATS LEFT!
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Clip and Save Calendar
July
4
8
Museums Closed for Holiday
Municipal Band Pre-Concert, 7:30 p.m. at the
Bandshell in Lake Park.
9
Civil War Round Table, 7 p.m.
8-12 Winona County Fair, St. Charles, Minnesota
13
Quilt Guild, 7 p.m.
15
Food For Thought: Big and Silver Carp: Are They
Here Yet? with Ranger Edward Lagace,
12:05 p.m.
18
The Joy of Using Handtools for Making Furniture
with Craig Johnson, 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
21-25 Latsch Week, See below!
22
Food For Thought: Book Chat, Homicide in
Hardcover, By Kate Carlisle, 12:05 p.m.
Celebrating John Latsch!
27
ART? CRAFT? DESIGN? WHAT IS THIS STUFF?
with Jamie Schell, 7 p.m.
29 Food For Thought: “Summer for the Taking” - A
Novel Explores Connection to Place, with Kathleen
Peterson, 12:05 p.m.
August
2
“The Hired Girl Gets Married”, Summer Perfor-
mances end at the Bunnell House.
5
One Day Pioneer School Session, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
6 -7 Two Day Pioneer School Session, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
10
We Are Winona Exhibit Reception, 4 - 6 p.m.
10
Quilt Guild, 7 p.m.
13
Civil War Round Table, 7 p.m.
26
Food For Thought: Book Chat, Caleb’s Crossing,
By Geraldine Brooks, 12:05 p.m.
Also see page 7 for our History on the River Cruise
Schedule!
John Latsch Week July 21 - 25
Latsch Week 2015 Schedule of Events
Last July we held the first John Latsch week to honor the
legacy, pioneer wholesale grocer, John Latsch left Winona
and surrounding area. This includes over 18,000 acres of
public land in the form of state and city parks. This year
we will honor him with a series of educational opportunities
and activities.
Latsch Program and Reception - Mike Kennedy will present “John A Latsch, His Land and Properties” Tuesday, July
21at the Winona County History Center
John A. Latsch (1860-1934) spent much of his youth learning the Mississippi backwaters and canoe trails from his
Indian friends around the Trempealeau area. He never lost
the love of being out in the solitude of the many islands
and sloughs that the pre-dam river offered. Living in Winona and running his father’s large and successful wholesale grocery business was his life’s work. Spending time in
his canoe was the respite that motivated him to purchase
much of the surrounding bluffs, shore land and islands. He
directed that its use be accessible spaces for children and
adults to recreate and learn to conserve the wild spaces for future generations. His entire family preceded him in
death and he dedicated his gifts of over
18,000 acres of land to the City of Winona, States of Minnesota and Wisconsin,
to their memory, so that all would “enjoy
in perpetuity the fruits of his toil.” w
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History on the River - Fran Edstrom, writer for a John Latsch
documentary that is currently in production, will talk about
Latch’s relationship with nature and the river. Tickets $15
members, $20 public, available in advance at the History Center; aboard the Cal Fremling, 7 p.m. boarding at
Levee dock. 90 minute cruise.
Whitewater State Park - A park naturalist will lead a
Latsch Land Hike and take people to see the area of the
park that was donated by John Latsch. Friday, July 24 at
3 p.m.; meet at the Visitor’s Center.
Westfield Public Golf and Dining (land donated by Latsch!)
Latsch Day - Adults 9 holes of golf and a fish fry for $15!
Kids get 9 holes of golf with a Chicken strip basket for $6!
Portion of proceeds go to WCHS, plus free will donation
opportunity! Friday, July 24.
Winona Farmer’s Market - Sign up to Win a Bike and
participate in games and contests to learn about Latsch as
a grocer. Saturday, July 25, 7:30 a.m. - Noon.
Meet the Bunnells & Co.
Continued from cover...
(Chris Hallum Cont.) “How to Talk Minnesotan”, “The Sensuous
Senator” and “Honk!”. This is my first show that doesn’t fall under
the RASA banner and I’m honored to be a part of telling a little of
Winona County history.
Gabriel Verges (Henry Herrick) is a Theatre
Major with an Acting Emphasis and Music Minor
at Saint Mary’s University in Winona. He is
from Littleton, Colorado, and will be a senior
this upcoming school year. You may have seen
him onstage in Saint Mary’s productions such as
Hamlet, Urinetown, and Uncle Vanya. This is his
first professional production, and he is thrilled to
be working with the Winona County Historical
Society on telling such a special story.
Lisa K. Adams (Matilda Bunnell) grew up in the
theatre. She saw her first show at the age of
5 and by 8 she was on stage with the rest of
her family! Most recently, Lisa performed in
two shorts for Theatre du Mississippi for their
Original Shorts event. She has also been active
at La Crosse Community Theatre where she was
last seen as Vera in First Baptist of Ivy Gap. She
also played Patty in A Charlie Brown Christmas
and was Assistant Stage Manager for Mary Poppins last season.
Some of her favorite performances include Kate in Taming of the
Shrew at Holmen Community Theatre and Miss Maudie in To Kill A
Mockingbird at Theatre in the Park (Petersburg, IL). She really enjoys opportunities to use her acting skills for the greater good and
performing this fictionalized historic tale at the Bunnell House will
surely be added to the list of favorite theatrical experiences!
Karen Dulak (Matilda Bunnell) has had a passion for the theatre since she performed in her
Kindergarten production of The Wizard of Oz
and was cast as the only female flying monkey.
After earning her degree in Theatre Arts from
Southwest State University, she stepped off the
boards for a bit to raise her family but did
take on the role of Santa Clause, the Easter
Bunny and the Tooth Fairy on an occasional/as needed basis. Karen stepped back into her love of acting a few years back and has
been active with the Fountain City River Players in their productions of Harvey, Rumors and Arsenic and Old Lace. Her work with
the Theatre du Mississippi includes their very first Christmas Radio
Show and the role of Martha Gekler in the Rockwell Kent play,
Angels in the Trees. She is delighted to be a part of this historical
play at the Bunnell house and even more delighted that women
don’t wear corsets in 2015!
Taylor Novak (Rachel Vennon) is now
appearing in her second TdM show.
In the fall, she will be attending Saint
Mary’s University of Minnesota for
her sophomore year studying musical
theatre. Past roles from Saint Mary’s
and her hometown of West Salem, WI
include: Various characters in Working,
Ariel in The Little Mermaid, Mary in There’s a Monster in
My Closet, and Virginia in The Canterville Ghost.
Bringing the Bunnells Back to Life...
Lynn Nankivil (Playwright) was born in
Minneapolis but has made her home in
Winona for many years. She received a
BA from St. Mary’s College and an MA
from St. Mary’s University and has been
a member of The Playwrights’ Center in
Minneapolis for twenty-five years. Lynn
is the author of ten history based scripts,
five of which have been produced by Theatre du Mississippi.
These include: Star of the North, Deep Water Boys, Appearing Now!, East Side Story, Angels in the Trees: Rockwell Kent
in Winona. Other productions and staged readings have
been produced by Great American History Theater and
Playwrights’ Center in the Twin Cities. Besides writing, Lynn,
with her husband Jack Nankivil and their three daughters
operated a horse-breeding farm for many years and raised
the first offspring of Secretariat. Lynn is now married to
Ken McCullough and they make their home on a farm on the
Winona bluffs.
Janis Martin (Costume Designer) has
worked on many productions for many
venues as a professional costume designer
and they include Saint Mary’s University
of Minnesota; Gilmore Creek’s Little Shop
of Horrors, The Foreigner, Showtune, and
Lend Me a Tenor; Commonweal Theatre’s
Last Night of Ballyhoo, To Kill a Mockingbird, Sylvia, Midnight Dreary, and 39 more! She has also costumed for or Viterbo University; Mixed Blood Theatre; Luther
College; Kentucky Shakespeare Festival; Marshall University;
Santa Barbara Civic Light Opera; and Ensemble Theatre of
Santa Barbara.
(Meet more of the crew on page 8!)
3
Biography
by Walter Bennick
George Albert Colburn, 1878-1921
Founding Director of the Winona
Municipal Band
George Alfred Colburn, the son of Joseph Elliott and Letitia
(Ellis) Colburn, was born in Colton, St. Lawrence County, New
York on June 25, 1878. George’s father was a physician and
specialized in diseases of the eyes and ears. In the mid-1880s,
George’s father moved his family to Chicago, Cook County, Illinois where he set up his medical practice. Joseph Colburn was
also an accomplished artist and exhibited his work across the
upper Midwest. It appears that George had a natural ability in
music and was educated at the American Conservatory of Music
in Chicago. Following his formal musical education, George
taught music theory and violin at the Conservatory (1903-1915)
directed the band at the Northwestern Military Academy in
Highland Park, Illinois (1902-1915), conducted the Choral Society at Logansport, Indiana (1914-1915) and was the assistant
director of the orchestra at Ravina Park, Illinois (1913).
George was married to Ruby Harrington, the daughter of
Stephen and Kate (Van Tuyl) Harrington, in Chicago on March
18, 1903. Ruby was born on April 28, 1880 in Riverside, Cook
County, Illinois and later moved with her father, a metal manufacturer, to Highland Park. The couple had seven children born
to them between 1903 through 1911. Their youngest child, Kate,
died a couple of weeks after she was born.
George was an accomplished composer of music and apparently was offered a number of commissions to write musical
scores in addition to being asked to direct a variety of musical
groups. In 1913, George was approached by George Kleine,
a movie producer, to write a piano score form his photoplay
entitled “Antony and Cleopatra.”
Early in 1915, George was approached by the Winona Association of Commerce to assume the position of the founding
director of the fledging Winona Municipal Band. George had
been familiar with Winona as his father had recently been in
Winona to exhibit some of his paintings in an art show in the
city. George accepted the position and arrived in Winona in
June of 1915 and immediately set to find experienced musicians
for the band and develop a rehearsal schedule. Not only did he
look for experienced musicians who would be ready for the first
band concert but also looked for individuals who he could train
to play an instrument. Within five weeks George was able to organize a band which presented their first concert at Levee Park
on August 8, 1915. The concert, however, was a disappoint-
4
On Exhibit
ment as the music did not carry far, especially due to necessary
noises in the park area. The next concert, planned for August
22nd, was changed to the pavilion at Bluffside Park which was
built into a natural amphitheater. The park, though not readily
accessible since it was across the lake, was served by the trolley
system by a bridge that stopped near the park.
After George had arrived in Winona, George Kleine’s 8-reeled
photoplay of “Antony and Cleopatra” was ready and was being shown at the newly constructed Candler Theater in New York
with George Colburn directing the orchestra. The photoplay was
presented in Winona at the Opera House on October 25, 1915
with George Colburn directing the 15-piece symphony orchestra.
Late in January of 1916, the Winona Municipal Band presented
its first concert of the year at the Colonial Theater which included a new arrangement written by George Colburn. Their
next venue was at the Winona Opera House which included not
only the Municipal Band, but also the Men’s Municipal Chorus
with Mrs. Jeannette Lamberton as the featured Soprano soloist.
The band had another successful year of concerts, which also
included one at the opening of the G.O.P convention in Winona
in which then Senator Warren G. Harding spoke. The 1917 season was equally successful which also included some concerts at
Lake Park in the band stand that had been placed at the end of
Main Street. Early in 1917, George also received a commission
to compose and direct music for a 30-piece symphonic band for
an historic pageant illustrating the discovery, settlement and history of the Midwest to be presented in a theater at the Indiana
Dunes.
George Colburn’s contract with the Municipal Band ended in
March of 1918 and George returned to Chicago as he was
offered a contract with the Northwestern Military School. After
Colburn’s resignation the Association of Commerce hired Emile
Michaux the band’s new director. Colburn and his family settled
in Chicago, but soon after returning there, he became ill with
diabetes, which caused his death on April 18, 1921 at the age
of 42 years. However, about seven months earier, George and
Ruby’s son, Alfred, had died at the age of 14-years on September 17, 1920. Both were buried in Graceland Cemetery in
Chicago.
Following the death of her husband, Ruby Colburn returned to
Winona with her two youngest sons. The boys attended school in
Winona, graduated and went on to college, John at the University of Wisconsin in Madison and Robert at the University of
Minnesota in Minneapolis. The family was active in Winona’s
musical circles and in the local theater. The boys even presented
some of their father’s musical composition while they were at the
high school. Around 1935, Ruby Colburn left Winona around
1936 and moved to Madison, Wisconsin to live with her son,
John. Ruby later moved to Chicago with her son where she died
prior to 1940. w
NEW Exhibits at the History Center
The Art of Fine Furniture 2015
Now - July 31
Community curator, and local fine furniture maker, Jamie Schell, has gathered new pieces from regional and national
artists to showcase the history of furniture making as a craft and its transformation into the world of art. Fellow furniture
maker Craig Johnson will be back with a workshop on using hand tools in woodworking. Sponsored by Winona National
Bank and funded in part by the Southeast Minnesota Arts Council. Free and open to the public!
Learn more at www.theartoffinefurniture.com.
Related Programs - Hands On History
THE JOY OF USING HANDTOOLS FOR MAKING FURNITURE WORKSHOP BY
CRAIG JOHNSON
Saturday, July 18
9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Free.
@ the Winona County History Center
THE ART OF FINE
FURNITURE
2015
JUNE 20 - JULY 31
WINONA COUNTY HISTORY CENTER
160 JOHNSON STREET, WINONA MINNESOTA
LECTURE: ART? CRAFT? DESIGN? WHAT IS THIS STUFF? WITH JAMIE SCHELL
Monday, July 27
7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Free.
@ the Winona County History Center
100 Years of Music: The Winona Municipal Band
On Exhibit Now
We are bringing out our collection of uniforms and images from the 100 years of
the Municipal Band in Winona. A section of the History Center’s main exhibit hall
will hold this look into the band’s history. We will be at the July 8 Municipal Band
Concert at the Bandshell in Lake Park with a craft for kids at 7:30 p.m.
We are Winona: The Cultures of Our County
August 8, 2015 - January 10, 2016
Through historical biographies we will explore the traditions of the various cultures
that make up the communities of Winona County. Featuring the exhibit, “One
Community, Many Stories” from Project FINE, highlighting the stories of today’s
immigrants to Winona County.
Opening Reception: Monday, August 10, 4-6 p.m.
THE ART OF FINE FURNITURE IS AN EXHIBIT OF WORKS BY
REGIONALLY AND NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED STUDIO
FURNITURE MAKERS AND OFFERS WORKSHOPS AND
LECTURES THAT ARE DESIGNED TO INSPIRE THOSE WHO
ARE INTERESTED IN THE EXTRAORDINARY.
Curated by Jamie Schell
www.theartoffinefurniture.com
This exhibit is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and
cultural heritage fund. Pictured pieces by (L to R, top to Bottom) Mark Laub, Tim Gorman,
Dave Munn, Craig Johnson, and Roger Knutson
Plan Your Visit!
History Center Admission:
$5 Adults, $3 Students,
WCHS members free!
Log-on to winonahistory.org
and click MUSEUMS
9
Society News
Bridge Kiosk at the History Center
MNDOT has an interactive kiosk in the
History Center lobby for community
members and visitors to explore the
history of Winona’s bridges, the new
bridge progress, the historic bridge’s
restoration, and more. Stop in an
check it out!
Civil War Grave Commemoration and
Re-dedication
History Buff! Please mark your calendars for July 18, 10 a.m. There will
be a Civil War grave commemoration and rededication ceremony in
Woodlwan Cemetery. This is sponsored by Governor Dayton’s Civil
War Sesquicentennial Committee and
the Hiawatha Valley Civil War Round
Table. Sgt. Moses Chamberlin, captured at the Battle of Brice’s Crossing
and prisoner of war at the infamous
Andersonville prison, will be honored.
He died soon after being released
from Andersonville and is buried in the
From the Archives
family plot (section cc) at Woodlawn.
A grave marker commemorating his
service will be dedicated in an event
featuring special guests, Presentation
of Colors, a flag line, bagpiper, Rep.
Gene Pelowski speaking on Andersonville, Mayor Mark Peterson, and dedication by the 3rd Minnesota volunteer
re-enactors. A lawn chair is suggested.
CSC Thank you!
A huge thank you to Winona National
Bank, the Great River Shakespeare
Festival and all the Dessert and
Champagne donors. As well as, Jefferson Pub and Grill for serving and
all the donors for the grand prize gift
basket, won by Elizabeth Indra. Thank
you to the hard working committee
and all the event volunteers. And to
those who of course came! It was a fun
crowd and a successful event, raising
over $3000 for WCHS!
Annual Quilt Raffle
The Winona Area Quilt Guild has
Welcome TdM Staff to the Bunnell House!
Paul Sannerud (Director)
is the Board President for
Theatre Du Mississippi
and is a Visiting Professor of Scenic Design at St
Mary’s University. He has
designed or directed over
400 shows in his career.
Kathy Florin (House Manager) lives in Winona
with her daughter Freyja. When she’s not
helping organize events
for the Frozen River Film
Festival and Theatre
du Mississippi, she enjoys
river musings, beautifying
space, and being moved
by music.
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Jessica Clarke (Stage
Manager, and understudy for Rachel
Vennon)) first became
involved with Theatre du
Mississippi as an actress
in Lynn Nankivil’s East
Side Story while attending theatre classes at
Winona State University. Several years and
some shows later, and she is now on the other
side of the curtain with TdM. The Hired Girl
Gets Married is her first summer show, and
says she is “extremely honored and eternally
grateful to stage manage this show and for
TdM; thank you so very much for this opportunity. It has been an exciting challenge and
a lot of fun working with everyone so far.
Here’s to a great summer!”
donated “All
Wrapped Up,”
a Christmas theme
quilt that is 90 x
100” for the WCHS
annual quilt raffle fundraiser. You can
view this fun quilt at the History Center
and get your chances to win. $1 each.
The drawing will be held during the
Christmas House Tour on December 6.
Need not be present to win.
Looking for Stories
“On the Street Where You Live” will
be the theme for the 2015 Voices
from the Past: Woodlawn Cemetery
Walk. The committee has been hard
at work researching Winona’s street
name origins. Are any of your family
members buried in Woodlawn and
named for a Winona street? Have you
heard stories or have memories associated with those streets? Share your
stories! Please email our archivists at
archives@winonahistory.org or call
507-454-2723 ext. 2.
Winonans may be familiar with Daniel Munson
(Production Manager)
for his recent work as
Production Manager for
the Great River Shakespeare Festival as well
as his current status as
Artistic Director for Theatre du Mississippi. His
association with theatre in Winona goes back
to the 1980’s when he was also the President
of the Board for the Winona Community Theatre. Daniel is a published playwright and
has worked professionally around the country
(from the Pasadena Playhouse in California to
Broadway in New York) as a stage manager
under the Actors Equity Association union.
By Walter Bennick
The cover to George Colburn’s Antony and Cleopatra written for George Kleine’s 8-reeled photoplay of “Antony and Cleopatra”
was presented in Winona at the Opera House on October 25, 1915 with George Colburn directing the 15-piece symphony orchestra. The Bluffside Park pavilion in which the Municipal Band performed many of its early concerts which built around 1907 and apparently dismantled in 1940 to be replaced by a new pavilion built the National Youth Administration. Unfortunately, World War II
started and the NYA was disbanded, the new pavilion was not built.
Well it’s that time of year again in Winona County: the
Winona County Fair July 8-12 in Saint Charles, Minnesota.
What better time to highlight some of the artifacts from
the County Fair in our collection.
Photo 1 & 1 a: A Winona County Fair ad printed on the
back of a Confederate States of America five dollar bill
from 1913! I wish I knew more about this.
Photo 2 & 2a: A ticket to the Winona County Fair “Me for
the Big Fair Every Day” and on the back “The fair is worth
it” from 1916.
Photo 3: Premium booklet of 91 pages from the 28th Annual Winona County Fair in 1937.
Photo 4: The official Race Program for the Winona County
Fair 1938.
Photo 5: Golden Jubilee coin from the 50th Anniversary
of the Fair in 1960 with the Little Red School house on the
front and on the back the coin had a cash value of 50
cents on the fairgrounds in Saint Charles.
Photo 6: A 100th Anniversary commemorative Coin with
“Saint Charles Gateway to Whitewater”, “Welcome to
Minnesota Est. 1854” and an image of the fairgrounds
with Ferris wheel and Tent “Winona County Fair 100 Years
1910-2010”. If you have any information or stories you
like to share about these County Fair Artifacts, please call
Jodi Brom 454-2723 EXT 4. So head on out to the Fair
and remember to check out The Rural Heritage Museum.
See you there. w
Collection Corner
By Jodi Brom
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Food For Thought
A Lunchtime Learning Series
The Food For Thought learning series takes place
at the Winona County History Center. Lectures, Films,
and Book Chats begin at 12:05 p.m. and last approximately one hour (unless otherwise noted). Attendees
are welcome to bring their own lunch. A beverage is
served. All are free and open to the public.
Lecture Big and Silver Carp: Are They Here Yet? with Ranger
Edward Lagace, July 15, 12:05 p.m.
Ranger Ed will share information about the fish in our section of
the Upper Mississippi River Refuge. From their ecology to the
frying pan, Ed will also have new mounts of these amazing fish
to show, as well as, others.
Book Chat Homicide in Hardcover, By Kate Carl-
tion to Place, with Kathleen Peterson, July 29, 12:05 p.m.
Set in a small Minnesota college town, the story explores characters who are struggling with a sense of duty to family and
to oneself, and how the place where we are born and raised is
part of us no matter how we might try to leave it behind.
Kathleen Peterson finished the first draft of this novel in 2012.
After putting it away for several months, she wrote two more
drafts and then asked a few ‘beta’ readers to look at it. One
was Chris Livingston, owner of The Book Shelf and editor of
Book Shelf Editions. He offered to publish it through his imprint,
and the first edition was launched in May 2015.
Book Chat Caleb’s Crossing, By Geraldine Brooks ,
August 26, 12:05 p.m.
Inspired by a true story and narrated by the irresistible Bethia,
Caleb’s Crossing brilliantly captures the triumphs and turmoil of
two brave, openhearted spirits who risk everything in a search
for knowledge. (From Amazon book Description)
isle, July 22, 12:05 p.m.
September - The Devil at
My Heels
by David Rensin and
Louis Zaperini
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July 8 - 12 Rural Heritage Museum Tours and Demos
We will be at our Rural Heritage Museum on the fairgrounds for the Winona County Fair. The Schoolhouse, log cabin and barn will
be open from Noon - 6 p.m. on Wednesday and from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. on Friday - Sunday. Pioneer school activities will be offered
to the public stopping by on Friday from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Pioneer School!
Pioneer skills, lessons, crafts and games for students 6 - 12 years old. Held at the Gainey Schoolhouse on the Winona
County Fairgrounds. Call the History Center for more information and to enroll your student, 507 - 454 - 2723 ext. 0.
Sessions and Cost:
One Day Session: August 5, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.; $25 public/$20 WCHS members
Two- Day Session: August 6-7, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. each day; $40 public/$30 WCHS members
History On the River!
2015 On the River Program Schedule
Cruises leave the Levee Dock at 7 p.m. sharp
We will be at the Winona Municipal Band Concert
at Lake Park’s Bandshell on July 8 at 7:30 p.m.
The concert will begin at 8 p.m.
for Food For Thought Book Chat
See you at the Winona County Fair!
Tickets are $15 for members and $20 for non-members. Package 3 cruises and get them all for $40 if you are a member or for $55 for non members. Not a member? It is easy to join. Call, stop in, or log on.
The streets of San Francisco would be lined with hardcovers if
rare book expert Brooklyn Wainwright had her way. And her
mentor wouldn’t be lying in a pool of his own blood on the eve
of a celebration for his latest book restoration. With his final
breath he leaves Brooklyn a cryptic message, and gives her
a priceless and supposedly cursed copy of Goethe’s Faust for
safekeeping. Brooklyn suddenly finds herself accused of murder
and theft, thanks to the humorless but attractive British security
officer who finds her kneeling over the body. Now she has to
read the clues left behind by her mentor if she is going to restore justice. (From Amazon book Description)
Upcoming Books
Programs & Events
Lecture “Summer for the Taking” - A Novel Explores Connec-
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Each cruise is 90 minutes with an educational program, sight-seeing time, and light refreshments!
August
July
6 Scott Lowery and Bob Stuber - Music on the Mississippi SOLD OUT
2 Capt. Richard Karnath - Steamboating Memories
9 Colette Hyman – Dakota Life Along the River SOLD OUT 13 Capt. Richard Karnath, Steamboating Memories II
16 Bill Wittenbreer – Early Landscape Artists of the Upper 18 (Tuesday) Bridge Progress III
20 Carol Jefferson, PhD. – Understanding Islands
Mississippi
23 Celebrating John Latsch Week Cruise with Fran Edstrom, 27 Kathy Greden – Photographing the River: Currents of
Change and Purpose
writer for a documentary being produced by Mary
September
Farrell about Latsch.
15 (Tuesday) Bridge Progress IV
30 Bridge Progess II
History in the Making: Watch the Bridge Progress!
June 18, July 30, August (Tuesday) 18 and September (Tuesday) 15;
all 7 p.m. depart. $15 members/$20 public each or do them all for $50 members/$70 public
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Stop Downtown for treats and deals!
We will be serving Birthday Cake and the
History Center will be open late!
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