Carver County’s long and rich history is well documented in the records of its various cities, city agencies, and government center. Schools, school districts, churches and civic groups have their own archives as well. Of special note are four historical societies that call Carver County home. These are the Chanhassen Historical Society, the Chaska Historical Society, the Watertown Area Historical Society, and the Willkommen Heritage and Preservation Society of Norwood Young America.

Local residents formed the Chanhassen Historical Society in 2007. Its original goal was to preserve the historic St. Hubert’s Church. The Society’s mission has broadened since then. Their goal is to enhance the lives of the larger Chanhassen community through the collection, preservation, interpretation and sharing of its history. The Society publishes a monthly article in the Chanhassen Villager. They also print a quarterly newsletter, The Chanhassen Historian. It frequently collaborates with other groups, such as the Carver County Library System and Carver County Historical Society, to present family programs and activities. It has no permanent offices.

The Chaska Historical Society was established in 1980. Its mission is to honor the heritage of the Chaska community by preserving, protecting, recording and sharing its history. The Society is housed at the Chaska History Center, 112 West Fourth Street, in the former Brinkhaus Livery Stable. This 1890 Chaska brick structure is on the National Register of Historic Places. It also has historical designation through the city of Chaska. The Chaska Historical Society designs River City Days displays and activities, provides research assistance, and offers books for sale relating to Chaska history. Run completely by volunteers, the History Center also houses local history displays.

The Willkommen Heritage and Preservation Society of Norwood Young America is Carver County’s newest historical society. Norwood Young America moved to new city offices in the fall of 2009. This move opened up space in the old library and city offices. A plan was presented to the city council on February 22, 2010 to open a history center in the library space. This plan was approved in March. The Society had its first meeting on April 8, 2010. By June 2010, they were formally incorporated. The mission of the Wilkommen Heritage and Preservation Society is to preserve the evidence of the past and tell the stories of Norwood Young America and its surrounding communities. This group provides displays at Stiftungsfest and within the history center. They also participate in preserving buildings of significance in the area.

The Watertown Area Historical Society, formed in 1998, is located in the Watertown Community Center. Its guiding mission is to collect, preserve and report the historical story of Watertown and its surrounding area. Its two most noteworthy activities are participation in the annual “Rails to Trails” celebration and a Christmas Open House in the downtown Watertown skyway. The Society also creates exhibits for year-round displays in the skyway and other locations around town.

These non-profit societies not only offer research resources and historical artifacts, but they are also leaders in preservation. They track the historical records of their cities, interpreting and presenting it for residents and visitors. Without organizations like these, much of the valuable resources and history of these areas would be lost.

Turning Point: Interest in history and preservation throughout Carver County sparked the creation of the Chaska Historical Society in 1980, followed by the creation of other local history groups.

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Chronology:

• 1855: Carver County is formed in the Minnesota Territory.
• 1940: The Carver County Historical Society is formed.
• 1980: The Chaska Historical Society is formed by Chaska area residents.
• 1998: The Watertown Area Historical Society is formed.
• 2007: Chanhassen residents form the Chanhassen Historical Society to preserve St. Hubert’s Church and general city records.
• 2010: The Willkommen Heritage and Preservation Society of Norwood Young America is founded.

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Bibliography:

Atkins, Paula. Chanhassen Historical Society Board of Directors President, email message to author, May 15, 2013.

Chaska Historical Society. Accessed May 15, 2013. http://www.chaskahistory.org/

Chaska Historical Society. Chaska: Chaska Historical Society.

Chaska Historical Society. Brinkhaus Livery Stable. Chaska: Chaska Historical Society.

Kroells, LaVonne. Willkommen Heritage and Preservation Society President, email message to author, May 20, 2013.

Watertown Area Historical Society. Founding of the WAHS. Accessed May 15, 2013. http://www.watertownmnhistoricalsociety.org/

 

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Related Resources:

[Primary]

Atkins, Paula. “Now a Brief History.” Chanhassen Villager, February 10, 2011.

“Chanhassen Volunteers Plan a Historical Society.” Chanhassen Villager, May 30, 1991.

Chaska Historical Society. An Invitation to Take a Tour of Historic Chaska, Minnesota’s Brick City. Chaska: 1997.

“Chaska Historical Society Spoke to Group.” Chanhassen Villager, April 5, 2007.

“Historical Society, Preserving Chaska.” Carver County Herald, March 18, 1981.

[Secondary]

Barac, Lavonne. Chaska:A Minnesota River City, Volume 1 and 2. St. Paul, MN: Carver County Public Library, 1989.

The Book Committee. 125th Anniversary of the City of Young America, Minn., 1856-1981. Norwood: Times Printing Co., 1981.

Hess, Jeffrey. Going To Town. St. Paul, MN : Minnesota Historical Society, 1982.

Hoisington, Daniel John. Chanhassen: A Centennial History. Chanhassen, MN: The Press, Banta Corporation, July 1996.

Johnson, Charlotte Mary Speikers Christensen. The History of the Watertown, Minnesota Area 1856 to 2006: 150 Years of Community Life. Watertown, MN: 2006.

Norwood Book Committee. Norwood Centennial, 1872-1972. Glencoe, MN: Kopy Kat Printing, 1972.

Tremblay, Ruth and Lois Schulstad. Images of America: Carver County. Arcadia Publishing: Charleston, South Carolina, 2011.

[Web]

Chanhassen Historical Society. http://chanhistorical.org/

 

The longest continuously running festival in Minnesota history, Stiftungsfest, was founded in 1861. This German festival celebrates the music and culture of Carver County’s German immigrants.

Stiftungsfest has a long and rich history, rooted in Pioneer Maennerchor, a German men’s singing group also founded in 1861. One night, founder Carl (also spelled “Karl”) Bachmann had a dream in which he was leading a group of men singing songs in German. Inspired by this dream, the next day, he gathered the best male singers who were willing to put in practice hours. That very evening, the first practice of Pioneer Maennerchor was held in Bachmann’s home in Benton. The group sang songs in both English and German, due to the groups’ strong German roots. Over the years, the group traveled and participated in many concerts, festivals, and contests. They have won many awards.

That same year, Stiftungsfest was born as a picnic for choir members and their families. Choir member’s chose the name for the gathering, which is German for “Founder’s Day Festival”. This yearly picnic was first held in Vogler Woods, then Young America’s City Park. Each year, the festival grew larger, until the whole community of Young America was involved. Baseball games became a main attractions along with the music and dancing. Other Minnesota towns with large German immigrant populations, like New Ulm and Gaylord, offered special train service for this festival, as did Minneapolis and St. Paul.

In 1867, the Pioneer Maennerchor built a permanent home, Singer’s Hall, in Young America. The hall was famous for its “Des Brosse Runde Tisch,” or big round table. Used for card games after practices, the table had a special shelf beneath the playing surface to hold beer mugs, preventing spills on the tabletop.

By 1911, interest in Pioneer maennerchor had waned. However, the group did not officially disband until July 7, 1938. The final six members voted to turn over control of Singer’s Hall and Stiftungsfest to the village of Young America. The village handed control to the fire department, which has maintained festival traditions ever since. When the cities of Norwood and Young America merged, so did the fire departments. Both departments have worked to run Stiftungsfest through Stiftungsfest Incorporated since that day.

Over time, there have been changes to Stiftungsfest. In 1956, barbeque sandwiches were first offered. That same year, the festival became a three-day event for the first time since 1866 with baseball tournaments, bingo, parades, dancing, as well as singing and music. Since 1981, Stiftungsfest has hosted the Diedesfeld band from Bonn, Germany, every five years. Other bands from Germany are invited every year. In 2011, Stiftungsfest celebrated its milestone one hundred fiftieth anniversary. In 1994, to better house Stiftungsfest, Willkommen Park was redesigned to look like an old German town.

Turning Point: The founding of Carver County’s Pioneer Maennerchor in 1861 was the start of a yearly gathering of choir members, called Stiftungsfest, which has grown into Minnesota’s longest running and largest celebration of German heritage and music.

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Chronology:

• 1861: Pioneer Maennerchor is founded. That same year, the choir meets for the first of many yearly gatherings of choir members and family, naming it “Stiftungsfest” of “Founder’s Day Festival”.
• 1867: Singer’s Hall is built in the village of Young America as the permanent home of Pioneer Maennerchor.
• 1911: Membership in Pioneer Maennerchor is dwindling as interest wanes.
• July 7, 1938: Pioneer Maennerchor disbands, turning control of Singer’s Hall and Stiftungsfest to the village of Young America. The village in turn gives control to the Fire Department.
• 1956: Stiftungsfest becomes a three day event with baseball tournaments, bingo, parades, dancing, music, and singing. Barbeque sandwiches are served for the first time.
• 1981: The Diedesfeld band from Bonn, Germany is invited to perform, the first of many German bands to play the festival.
• 1994: Willkommen Park, home of Stiftungsfest, is redesigned to look like an old German town.
• 1991: The cities of Norwood and Young America merge, including their fire departments. Both run Stiftungsfest through Stiftungsfest Incorporated.
• 2011: Stiftungsfest celebrates its milestone 150th anniversary, making it the longest continuously running festival in Minnesota history.

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Bibliography:

The Book Committee. 125th Anniversary of the City of Young America, Minn., 1856-1981. Norwood: Times Printing Co., 1981.

“Celebration a Grand Success.” Young America Eagle, September 2, 1910.

Lemke, Margaret. “Stiftungsfest History on Display.” Norwood Times, August 21, 1986.

“The Pioneer Maennerchor.” Young America Eagle, September 2, 1904.

Shepel, Jan. “Stiftungsfest Has Roots in Maennerchor.” Norwood Times, August 21, 1986.

“Singers’ Hall is Deeded to Village.” Young America Eagle, May 13, 1938.

“Stiftungsfest.” Adult Educational Program. Carver County Historical Society, 2007.

Stiftungsfest. About Stiftungsfest. http://www.stiftungsfest.org/aboutus.html

“Stiftungsfest’s Rich History.” Norwood Times, August 23, 1979.

Stiftungsfest. Stiftungsfest History. http://www.stiftungsfest.org/history.html

“Stiftungsfest Through the Years.” Norwood Times, August 4, 1961.

“Young America- Festival.” Weekly Valley Herald, September 19, 1872.

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Related Resources:

[Primary]

P1211
Bachmann, Charles William. Charles W. Bachmann and Family Papers, 1854-1912. Minnesota

Historical Society Manuscripts Notebooks.  http://www.mnhs.org/library/findaids/P1211.xml
Description: a collection of manuscripts, diaries and letters relating to the Bachmann Family and Pioneer Maennerchor.

“Council Resolution Accepting Deed.” Young America Eagle, May 20, 1938.

Kratzke, Cony. “A Look Back at Stiftungsfest.” Norwood Young America Times, August 27, 1992.

__________. “Looking Back on 1896 Notes.” Norwood Young America Times, October 29, 1992.

__________. “Looking Back to the 35th Stiftungsfest.” Norwood Young America Times, August 22, 1991.

__________. “Stiftungsfest Changes Through Years.” Norwood Young America Times, July 30, 1992.

Mesenbring, Mary Lou. “Stiftungsfest Centennial.” Norwood Times, August 24, 1961.

“Obituary.” Weekly Valley Herald, September 12, 1889.

“Pauline Ackermann Recalls Early Days of Old Singer Hall.” Norwood Times, August 4, 1961.

Pioneer Maennerchor. “In Memoriam.” Weekly valley Herald, September 12, 1889.

“Photo of Pionier Maennerchor at Stiftungsfest in 1910.” Norwood Times, June 15, 1956.

“Singers Hall is Sold to Plato Man Tuesday Night.” Young America Eagle, February 21, 1947.

“Young America- In Our first Issue of This Paper.” Young America Eagle, August 12, 1904.

[Secondary]

Rothfuss, Hermann E. “Plays for Pioneers: German Drama in Rural Minnesota”. Minnesota History, 34 no. 6 (Summer 1955): 239-242. http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/34/v34i06p239-242.pdf

“. . .On the Historical Horizon- Some Anniversaries.” Minnesota History, 35 no. 4 (December 1956): 193-204. http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/35/v35i04p193-204.pdf

[Web]

City of Norwood Young America (NYA). http://www.cityofnya.com/

City of NYA. Willkommen Park. http://www.cityofnya.com/parks-trails/willkommen-park/

Images/Audio/Video

 

AV-81-4689.
Photographic print “Singer’s Hall”
Photograph Collection, Carver County Historical Society (CCHS), Waconia
Description: Image shows three individuals standing in front of Singer’s Hall, Young America, Minnesota. Circa 1870s or 1880s.
Rights held by the CCHS.

AV-81-5108.
Photographic print “Stiftungsfest 1898”
Photograph Collection, Carver County Historical Society (CCHS), Waconia
Description: Shows a crowd gathered at the 1898 Stiftungsfest celebration. Rights held by the CCHS.

AV-81-5109.
Photographic print “Pioneer Maennerchor”
Photograph Collection, Carver County Historical Society (CCHS), Waconia
Description: An image of the members of Pioneer Maennerchor. Circa 1870s or 1880s. Rights held by the CCHS.

AV-81-6488.
Photographic print “Singer’s Hall”
Photograph Collection, Carver County Historical Society (CCHS), Waconia
Description: A row of people wraps around the front of Singer’s Hall. Circa 1870s or 1880s. Rights held by the CCHS.

AV-81-6498.
Photographic print “Pioneer Maennerchor”
Photograph Collection, Carver County Historical Society (CCHS), Waconia
Description: An image of the members of Pioneer Maennerchor at the annual Stiftungsfest celebration. Circa 1910. Rights held by the CCHS.

Uncatalogued.
Photographic print “Carl Bachmann”
Photograph Collection, Carver County Historical Society (CCHS), Waconia
Description: A portrait of Carl Bachmann. Circa 1880s. Rights held by the CCHS.

 

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“This article used with the permission of MNopedia, operated by the Minnesota Historical Society, under a Creative Commons License. No changes have been made to the article’s content.”

 

 

Home to many historically significant people and places, Carver County’s possibly best known is recording artist Prince and his Paisley Park Studios. Located in what were Chanhassen cornfields, the site was a key location in Minnesota’s music industry. In its heyday, it drew artists and musicians from around the world. Though no longer in business, it still draws the eye of travelers along Highway 5 in Chanhassen.

Located at the intersection of Highway 5 and Audubon Road, Paisley Park officially opened on September 11, 1987. A ten million dollar, 65,000 square-foot facility, it spans three separate wings. Paisley Park contains two 48-track recording studios, a 24-track studio, a twelve thousand foot soundstage, a rehearsal and dance hall, video editing suites, and dozens of offices. This studio has music, film, and video production capabilities.

This studio was designed by Bret Thoeny of Boto Design Inc., in Venice, California, working closely with Prince. Tushie Montgomery and Associates, Inc. and Bossardt Christenson Corp. constructed it. Prince designed it to provide a place in Minnesota to record and edit film and music without having to go out of state. He also wanted the studio to have capabilities to match or surpass those on the east and west coasts.

Over the years, many individuals and groups recorded or rehearsed at Paisley Park Studios. Among them were Kool and the Gang, Chanhassen Dinner Theatre casts, the Sesame Street touring company, the Jets, Patti Labelle, Jermaine Jackson, Ipso Facto, Gene Loves Jezebel, World Party and Limited Warranty. Many TV commercials have been edited and completed there, as were music videos, feature films, and concert films like Prince’s “Sign ‘O the Times.” Over the years, Prince himself held concerts on site, which became legendery for their party feel, size, and noise levels. He also started the Paisley park record label from here. As more and more people called about tours, or showed up wanting one, they began being offered for fifteen dollars.

Paisley Park closed in 1996 for remodeling. It never resumed the same level of business once it re-opened. It closed again in the mid-2000s, after tax problems arose. Still, it remains famous in Chanhassen and among Prince fans worldwide.

Turning Point: Paisley Park Studios, a state-of-the-art recording facility, opened on September 11, 1987, launching over a decade of visits from music, entertainment and advertising people around the world.

 

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Chronology:

• 1983: Prince films Purple Rain in Minneapolis, and gets the idea to build a studio complex that can meet the needs of musicians and film-makers in Minnesota and beyond.
• September 11, 1987: Paisley Park Studios opens.
• 1996: Paisley Park closes for remodel, and largely remains closed.
• Mid-2000s: Paisley Park closes to the public, no longer available for rent or use.

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Bibliography:

Bream, Jon. “Prince’s Paisley Park Is A Mini-Hollywood.” Chicago Tribune, May 7, 1987. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1987-05-07/features/8702040156_1_outdoor-basketball-court-prince-paisley-park-studios

Bream, Jon. “Prince’s Paisley Park.” Minneapolis Star Tribune Sunday Magazine, August 14, 1988.

Crawford, Richard. “Paisley Park Among Those Late on Taxes.” Chanhassen Villager, March 25, 2010.

Durben, Mary. “Chan’s Paisley Park Keeps Busy With Local, Big Name Artists.” Carver County Herald, December 9, 1987.

Keller, Martin. “Creativity and Commerce Converge in Paisley Park: Smash Palace.” Twin Cities Reader, September 2-8, 1987.

Lileks, James. “A Paltry Paisley Peek.” Minneapolis Star Tribune, June 9, 2000.

Olson, Mark W. “Our Princely Identity.” Chanhassen Villager, March 17, 2004.

Palleschi, Amanda. “Purple Pride: Inside Paisley Park and the Psyche of Prince Fans.” Chanhassen Villager, June 19, 2004.

 

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Related Resources:

[Primary]

Adams, Forrest. “Chanhassen Feels the Funk.” Chaska Herald, October 29, 2009.__________. “Purple Commute.” Chanhassen Villager, October 29, 2009.

Crawford, Richard. “Prince Settles Delinquent Tax Bill.” Chaska Herald, March 22, 2012.

Jansen, David. “Prince’s House Demolished.” Chaska Herald, November 10, 2005.

Olson, Mark W. “Superfunkychanifragisexy: Prince Interview, A Minnesota Potluck.” Chaska Herald, June 14, 2001.

___________and Mollee Francisco. “Carver County’s A-List.” Chaska Herald, January 5, 2012.

Pederson, David. “Special Effects, Big Stars Brighten Up Paisley Studios.” Chanhassen Villager, January 12, 1989.

Zuege, Unsie. “Chanhassen Elementary Receives ‘Princely’ Sum.” Chanhassen Villager, October 6, 2004.

__________ and Melissa Gilman. “Prince Shares Views.” Chanhassen Villager, June 13, 2001.

[Secondary]

Chambat, Valerie. Prince. France : Editions Prelude et Fugue, 1999.

Dean, Patty. “PunkFunkRockPop.” Minnesota History, 58 no. 1 (2002): 29-39. http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/58/v58i01p029-039.pdf

Draper, Jason. Prince : Chaos, Disorder, and Revolution. New York: Backbeat Books, 2011.

Introducing the World Class Facility, For World Class Performers. Chanhassen: The Studios, 1988. A brochure. Minnesota Historical Society Call #: TK7881.4.P34 I5 1988

Leiby, Richard. “Behind the Seams : The Closet Dcoors are Open at Paisley Park and Prince’s Prints are to Dye For …” Us Weekly, no 136 (September 3, 1990): 40-45.

Paisley Park: Come Inside. Chanhassen: The Firm, [200-].

Paisley Park Studios. Chanhassen: The Studios, 1988. A portfolio.

Rowland, Mark. Prince, His Story in Words and Pictures : An Unauthorized Biography. New York: Lorevan Publishing, Inc., 1985.

[Web]

Encyclopædia Britannica. “Paisley Park Studios: Prince’s sonic Playground.” http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/709677/Paisley-Park-Studios.

 

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“This article used with the permission of MNopedia, operated by the Minnesota Historical Society, under a Creative Commons License. No changes have been made to the article’s content.”

 

The official source of “the Minnesota Pickle” and creators of the State Fair pickle line, Gedney Foods is an iconic Minnesota company, with products distributed throughout the Midwest. Founded in 1880, Gedney continues to grow one of the more successful pickle brands in the United States.

Matthias Anderson Gedney founded the M.A. Gedney Company. He was born in Patterson, New Jersey on October 24, 1822. Gedney spent much of his youth and early adulthood at sea as a merchantman and in the navy. In 1849, he joined the California gold rush, making enough money to start a small trade business and marry Calista Jane Bailey. Gedney first got involved in the pickle business in 1863. That year, Gedney and his family moved to Illinois. He began working for Northwestern Pickle Works near Evanston. While in Illinois, Gedney’s wife Calista passed away in 1874 after having twelve children, three of whom died as infants. Gedney left Northwestern Pickle Works in 1876 to join S.M. Dingee and Co., a pickle company in Chicago. He was related to the Dingee family through his mother-in-law, Eliza Dingee Bailey. In 1877, Gedney was remarried, to Anne Kirk.

In 1879, after years in the pickle business, Gedney decided to found his own company. Moving to Minneapolis, Gedney searched for local Minnesota farmers willing to grow cucumbers, a semi-tropical vine fruit not yet introduced to the state. In 1880, he founded the M.A. Gedney Pickling Co. with two of his five sons, Charles Bailey Gedney and John Parker Gedney. The first factory opened in 1881 on Lowry Avenue in north Minneapolis. By 1888, the company was successful enough that two other sons, Isadore Vallier and Henry Edwin, joined. The company was incorporated on April 23, 1888.

By 1893, the Gedney Pickling Co. was expanding. Factories were already established in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Chaska; Omaha and Kearney, Nebraska; and Mauston, Wisconsin. Expanded railway service ended the need for these local branches by the early 1900s. All Gedney factories outside of Minnesota were closed. In 1958, the Chaska branch was expanded and all pickle processing moved to this location. The company went national in 1999 to better compete with larger corporations.

In 1905, Gedney Pickles celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary. That same year, Matthias Gedney passed away. His youngest son, Isadore Vallier Gedney, succeeded him as head of the company. The company remained under the leadership of Gedney descendents. Isadore Gedney’s son-in-law Harry Augustus Tuttle, II succeeded him in 1945. Harry Tuttle’s son, Gedney Tuttle, took over in 1967, followed by his son, Jeffrey Tuttle in 1997. Other family members work in the factories or hold key positions.

When Gedney Pickles started in 1880, they offered only pickles. After opening a branch in Chaska in 1900, sauerkraut was added to the product line. The company soon added other vinegar-based products, such as mustard, relishes, olives, catsup (now commonly spelled ketchup), Worcestershire sauce, horseradish sauce and tobacco pepper sauce. None of these products are still produced except pickles and relishes. In 1940, bottled salad dressings were added, and in 1994, jams, both of which are still produced. The company began its State Fair Pickle line in 1991 with two varieties. This line grew to five pickle types and four different jams in 1994. In 2002, Gedney began production of all pickles for the Del Monte and Target Archer Farms brands.

Turning Point: In 1863, Matthias Gedney got his first job in the pickle business with Northwestern Pickle Works, beginning a lifelong passion for and business in pickles.

Chronology:

• October 24, 1822: Matthias Anderson Gedney is born in Patterson, New Jersey.
• 1849: M.A. Gedney joins the California gold rush, starting a small trade.
• 1863: Matthias Gedney joins the pickle industry, working for Northwestern Pickle Works near Evanston, Illinois.
• 1876: Gedney joins the S.M. Dingee and Co. pickle business in Chicago, Illinois.
• 1879: Matthias Gedney and family move to Minneapolis, where he encourages local farmers to grow cucumbers.
• 1880: The M.A. Gedney Pickling Co. is founded by Matthias Gedney and two sons, Charles Bailey Gedney and John Parker Gedney.
• 1881: The first Gedney pickle factory opens on Lowry Avenue in Minneapolis.
• April 23, 1888: The M.A. Gedney Pickling Co. is incorporated.
• 1893: The Gedney Co. has expanded into Minneapolis, St. Paul and Chaska; Omaha and Kearney, Nebraska; and Mauston, Wisconsin.
• 1905: The M.A. Gedney Pickling Co. celebrates twenty-five years. That same year, Matthias Gedney passes away. His son, Isadore Vallier Gedney succeeds him as head of the company.
• 1958: The Chaska factory expands; all operations and pickle processing is moved to Chaska.
• 1991: The State Fair product line is introduced by Gedney Foods.
• 1999: The Gedney Food Company expands nationally through increased distribution and purchase of Del Monte pickling plants.
• 2002: Gedney begins production of all Del Monte and Target Archer Farms brand pickles.

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Bibliography:

Burns, Christopher. “In the Hall of Minnesota’s Pickle King: M.A. Gedney Co. Relishes the Pickle Business.” Chanhassen Sailor, June 6, 1990.

Gedney Food Company website. Company History. http://www.gedneyfoods.com/Company/History

“Gedney Pickle Factory Will Locate Here.” Weekly Valley Herald, February 7, 1901.

“M.A. Gedney Co. Announces New Pickle Processing Plant.” Weekly Valley Herald, April 25, 1963.

“The Pickle Factory.” Weekly Valley Herald, June 26, 1902.

Schettler, Joel. “Gedney’s Makes Move- From ‘Minnesota Pickle’ to ‘Minnesota Preserve’.” Chaska Herald, April 28, 1994.

Tuttle, Gedney. The Minnesota Pickle: A History of the M.A. Gedney Company. Edina: Lily Pad Publishing, 2009.

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Related Resources:

[Primary]

“Charley Gedney Was Up From St. Paul.” Weekly Valley Herald, April 24, 1902.

“Gedney Factory Has Fine Record of Production.” Weekly Valley Herald, January 7, 1954.

“Pickle Professor.” Waconia Patriot, May 15, 2008.

“To Get a Pickle Station.” Lester Prairie Herald, December 31, 1908.

[Secondary]

Barac, Lavonne. Chaska: A Minnesota River City, Volume 1 and 2. St. Paul: Carver County Public Library, 1989.

Frank, Melvin Lynn. “In North Minneapolis: Sawmill city Boyhood.” Minnesota History, 47 no. 4 (Winter 1980): 141-153. http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/47/v47i04p141-153.pdf

Hoisington, Daniel John. Chanhassen: A Centennial History. Chanhassen, MN: The Press, Banta Corporation, July 1996.

Holcombe, Maj. R.I., ed. Compendium of History and Biography of Carver and Hennepin Counties, Minnesota. Henry Taylor and Company: Chicago, 1915.

M.A. Gedney Company. Picklicious : 125 Extraordinary Recipes : A Cookbook for People who are Passionate about Pickles. Chaska: M.A. Gedney Company, 2005.

Tremblay, Ruth and Lois Schulstad. Images of America: Carver County. Arcadia Publishing: Charleston, South Carolina, 2011.

[Web]

Gedney Food Company website. http://www.gedneyfoods.com/

 

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Images/Audio/Video

AV-81-9028.
Photograph Collection, Carver County Historical Society, Waconia
Photographic print
“Gedney Pickle Plant”
Description: Image shows a side view of the exterior of the Chaska pickling factory. The image shows the vats used to brine the pickles.
Rights held by the CCHS.

 

AV-86-9248
Photograph Collection, Carver County Historical Society, Waconia
Photographic print
“Gedney Sign”
Description: Shows a man standing to the left of the Gedney sign, outside the Chaska factory. Circa 1980s.
Rights held by the CCHS.

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“This article used with the permission of MNopedia, operated by the Minnesota Historical Society, under a Creative Commons License. No changes have been made to the article’s content.”

The parish of St. Hubert’s is one of the oldest in the county. Many years before becoming the City of Chanhassen, the community went by the name St. Hubertus in honor of this parish. The church has played a central role in the community life of that town since it was organized. Named for Saint Hubert, who lived in Belgium in the 600s, converted to Christianity, gave all his money to the poor, and became a missionary bishop, his life has become a guide for the church and its parishioners.

            Father Magnus Maria Mayr, O.S.B., organized the parish of St. Hubert’s Church in 1865. It was his belief that German immigrants should preserve their culture here in America rather than trying to be too “American”. He believed this preservation would happen only by the settlers settling, worshipping, and attending school together. The German Catholic community around St. Hubert’s was his attempt to accomplish this.

The original church was a small log cabin, only 18 x 24 feet, built on land donated by Henry Pauly, Sr. and additional land purchased by the congregation. That structure was used until a new pastor was appointed in 1872. The story goes that Reverend Father William Lette refused to offer mass until the congregation built a new, nicer frame church. Father Aloysius Wewer was appointed in 1877, the first in a long line of Franciscans who served at the church.

Father Wewer was replaced by Father Ambrosius Jannssen, who in 1881 began construction of a 2-story brick structure that would serve as both a school and residence for the Franciscan nuns who worked at the school. That structure burned shortly after, with a new one replacing it. A wing was added on in 1894, consisting of 2 classrooms and a hall. The Sisters of St. Benedict came to teach at St. Hubert’s in 1895.

Around this time, Archbishop John Ireland was encouraging German-Catholic settlement in Minnesota, as a way to grow and expand the Catholic Church here. In 1887, the village around St. Hubert’s was turned over to the diocese, and platted as St. Hubertus. All streets were named after Saints: St. Aloys, St. Claire, St. Francis, St. Joseph, and St. Mary. Main Street was St. Hubert, which it would stay up through the mid-1900s. The village remained as St. Hubertus until it was incorporated as Chanhassen on April 21, 1896. Archbishop Ireland also oversaw dedication of the newly constructed St. Hubert’s church. Construction began on this in 1887, led by Reverend Fulgentius Eich. It was completed in 1888.

St. Hubert’s Church became the center of daily town life in Chanhassen up through at least the 1940s. Life revolved around church, school, work, festivals and holy days. The baby boom after WWII caused need of a larger school, which opened in 1957. In the twenty-first century, that building is home to Chapel Hill Academy. Expansion continued after that, with a new church in 1976 and the old brick school being torn down in 1974, with the latest being the new school and church built in 1997.

The brick 1888 church was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. That same year, the structure was leased by the city for $1 per year, and was used by the Colonial Church at Heritage Square as headquarters.

In the twenty-first century, the students and parish of St. Hubert’s remain active in community events and social justice activities. Among the festivals and activities, past and present, are: the ReDiscover Celebration, the German Festival, the Feast of St. Hubert, the Knights of Columbus, Feed My Starving Children, Sharing and Caring Hands, MealTrain, and the Harvest Festival.

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Related Resources

[Primary]

St. Hubert’s website. Historic St. Huberts. Accessed August 15, 2014. www.sthubert.org/historic-st-huberts

Hoisington, Daniel John. Chanhassen: A Centennial History. Chanhassen, MN: The Press, Banta Corporation, July 1996.

[Secondary]

“City Attempts to Preserve Old St. Hubert Church.” Chanhassen Villager, March 9, 1995. 

“Fate of Historic Church in Question.” Chanhassen Villager, December 4, 2008.

“Future is Unknown for Old Landmark Church.” Chanhassen Villager, September 6, 1990.

“Golden Jubilee: St. Hubert’s Catholic Parish of Chanhassen 50 Years Old.” Weekly Valley Herald, November 11, 1915.

“Keeping the Past Alive- Parish, City Look to Preserve St. Hubert’s.” Chanhassen Villager, October 21, 1993.

“On The National Register of Historic Places.” Chanhassen Villager, March 15, 2007.

“St. Hubert’s To Build $230,000.00 School Building.” Weekly Valley Herald, April 19, 1956.

“The Historic St. Hubert’s Building Dedicated in 1888 Has Closed.” Chanhassen Villager, August 6, 2009.

“Traditions Kept Alive at St. Hubert’s.” Chanhassen Villager, January 7, 1988.

The United States has always been known as the “melting pot”, with good reason. Minnesota and Carver County are no strangers to this term either. Immigrants made Minnesota and Carver County what they are today. The first peoples who lived in this area were Dakota and Ojibwe American Indian groups, until the treaty period began in earnest. Then, immigrants flooded in, first from Eastern states, and later from Western Europe.

            From 1850 to 1900, Minnesota’s population boomed from fewer than 6,100 people to 1.75 million. Over the years, Minnesota has been a destination of choice for Germans, Norwegians and Swedes, for the similar climates and good farmland. Other groups that came in smaller but still large numbers were the Irish, Czechs, Russians, Ukrainians, Polish, Finnish, and Italians. They were fleeing war, famine, land inheritance practices, and disease, or simply looking for more opportunity and a better future.

            The official election paperwork for 1896 attests to this growing diversity, being printed in nine languages in all: English, German, Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, French, Czech, Italian and Polish. In Carver County, this diversity can be seen in the community places names that linger to this day and the ghost towns of old: Gotha, Swede Lake, Hamburg, Helvetia, Scandia, Cologne, Dahlgren, and Schnappsburg. In the 2000 U.S. Census, 4 million Americans claimed Swedish ancestry, with Minnesota having the most inhabitants of Swedish descent at 9.6% of the 2005 population. Also according to the 2000 census, 44.3% of Carver County citizens claim German heritage (largest percentage in any MN county) and in MN as a whole, 37.9% of citizens claim German heritage (largest of any of the 50 states).

            In the twenty-first century, the countries of emigration have shifted. No longer from Western Europe, most today are from Asian-speaking, Spanish-speaking, and African countries. In 2011, 389,000 Minnesotans were foreign-born, with 179,000 U.S. born children with at least one foreign-born parent. These groups have spread across Minnesota, but nearly 80% still live in the 7-county metro area: Washington, Ramsey, Anoka, Hennepin, Carver, Scott and Dakota. Many of today’s immigrants are fleeing persecution, war, genocide and disease. They hail from Mexico, Laos, India, Somalia, Vietnam, Ethiopia, Korea, Liberia, China, Thailand, Yugoslavia, Tibet, Kenya, the Philippines, Cambodia, Sudan, Bosnia, Eritrea, Brazil and the former Soviet Union. Ethnic and cultural groups include the Hmong, Tibetans, Buddhists, Oromo and Karen.

            As one of the coldest states, with harsh winters, why would many of these immigrants and refugees choose Minnesota and Carver County? Many come to join family, or for our strong economy with companies like Target and 3M. They come for the quality of life and educational opportunities. For some, they seek the high end research and medical positions. For others, it is the chances for unskilled work not requiring English proficiency. Minnesota also has a history and reputation of active volunteerism regarding immigration and refugee resettlement. There is the University of Minnesota’s Immigration History Research Center, the International Institute of Minnesota, the Minnesota Council of Churches: Refugee Services, World Relief Minnesota, and many more.

            In the twenty-first century, between 2000 and 2005, Minnesota’s African population grew by 23.89%, the Asian population by 21.43% and the Latino/Hispanic population between 30-50%. Each year, anywhere from 25-50% of Minnesota immigrants are refugees, compared to 8% for the U.S. as a whole.

            In Minneapolis Public Schools, as of 2012, more than 90 different languages are spoken. That number is rising in Carver County, according to the 2030 Comprehensive Plan. In Carver County’s largest district, Eastern Carver County Schools #112, 41 languages are spoken with 11% of students speaking a language other than English at home. Minnesota and Carver County continue to grow and change as a “melting pot” and remain a destination of choice for many.

 

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Carver County website. Carver County 2030 Comprehensive Plan. Accessed August 13, 2014. http://www.co.carver.mn.us/departments/LWS/docs/01_02_Intro_100427.pdf

The Advocates for Human Rights. “The Facts: Immigration in Minnesota.” Pamphlet. Accessed August 13, 2014.  http://www.energyofanation.org/sites/25e1f498-741c-478a-8a08-aa486d8533a5/uploads/immigration_in_minnesota.pdf

The Minneapolis Foundation. Immigration in Minnesota: Discovering Common Ground. Brochure. October, 2004.

United States Census Bureau website. American Fact Finder: 2000 Census. Accessed August 13, 2014.  http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/community_facts.xhtml

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 Secondary:

Gunderson, Tom. “They Came to Minnesota.” Minnesota Public Radio (MPR), May 3, 1999. http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/199905/03_gundersond_refugees-m/?refid=0

 Minnesota Historical Society website. “Becoming Minnesotan: Stories of Recent Immigrants and Refugees.” Accessed August 13, 2014. http://education.mnhs.org/immigration/

University of Minnesota IHRC website. “Immigration History Research Center and Archives.” Accessed August 13, 2014. http://www.ihrc.umn.edu/

What is a migrant worker? A migrant worker is someone who travels place to place in search of work, often following harvest schedules and weather patterns. Migrant workers often work the jobs not wanted by locals, involving hard labor, long hours, and little pay. One field common to migrant labor is farming, which means outdoor work in all weather, often bent or hunched to tend plants and weeds.

            While many migrant workers in Minnesota are Hispanic, especially in Carver County, they are by no means the only migrant workers in Minnesota or elsewhere in the U.S. For the purpose of this article, however, they will provide the focus as there is more data available. The 1900 and 1910 census data for Minnesota lists no Hispanic residents. 1920 lists one, then 1930 jumps to 54 (though these numbers may not be accurate as migrant workers were often classified under “white”). The reason for this initial growth in migrant labor was two-fold.

            A violent revolution in Mexico in the early 1900s caused many Mexicans to lose their livelihood and journey to Texas either legally or illegally. In Texas, they were discriminated against and confined to certain areas, forcing them to seek elsewhere for work. There were also major economic changes, and many Mexicans in Texas lost land or jobs. In Chaska, the Carver County Sugar Company, (later the Minnesota Sugar Company and then Crystal Sugar), opened its doors in 1906. A higher demand for sugar led to larger fields and more need for labor. During the “Campaign” from November to January (the planting, cultivating, and harvesting period), sugar beets required almost 24-hour a day labor. This led the sugar company to create housing along Stoughton Avenue and pay for travel expenses to be more attractive to migrants. The Immigration Act of 1924 limited immigrants from Europe, Asia and Africa, not Mexico. Many sugar factories sent recruiters south to Texas to find workers from Texas and Mexico.

            During the 1930’s, the numbers of migrant workers dropped. As people struggled by, prejudice against migrants taking work increased, and many migrant workers were deported to Mexico and their jobs given to a white man. The 1940’s saw a return of migrant workers with WWII taking many men away and the growth of the local canning industry with the Mayer Canning Company (later Green Giant) and the M.A. Gedney Pickling Company in Chaska. Jobs were found not only in the fields that supplied these companies, but in the factories themselves.

            The 1940’s also saw the start of the Bracero Program. Bracero is a term for laborer derived from the Spanish word brazo which means arm, as in “one who works with his arms”. On August 4, 1942 the United States concluded a temporary agreement for the use of Mexican agricultural labor (officially referred to as the Mexican Farm Labor Program), and the influx of legal temporary Mexican workers began. The program continued with the U.S. entry into the Korean War and continuing labor shortage. It was formalized by Congress with Public law 78 in 1951. Between 1942-1964, 4.6 million contracts were signed, with many returning year after year, making it the largest U.S. contract labor program. However, it could take months to recruit workers after getting through all the paperwork and red tape.

In the 21st century, more Hispanic people are choosing to make Carver County their permanent home, rather than passing through for work. Thousands of migrant workers still come to Minnesota each year, though many go to the Red River Valley and Willmar/Granite Falls/Montevideo areas instead. We may have fewer migrant workers in Carver County, but their history endures.

 

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Related Resources:

[Primary]

Bracero History Archive website. “About”. Accessed August 13, 2014. http://braceroarchive.org/about

The Invisible Hands That Feed Us. Traveling exhibit. Carver County Historical Society, 2013.

Machtemes, Elsie. “Harvesting Hopes.” Waconia Patriot, September 13, 1984.

 Olson, Mark W. “Fields of Memory.” Chaska Herald, October 23, 2009.

“Robinson Spends Two Months in Quest for Labor.” Weekly Valley Herald, May 27, 1943.

“Sugar Factory Ends Sixty-Three Day Run.” Weekly Valley Herald, December 4, 1952.

[Secondary]

“1915 Banner Year in History of the Minnesota Sugar Company.” Weekly Valley Herald, December 16, 1915.

“New Ruling for Beet Labor Made for 1938.” Weekly Valley Herald, August 18, 1938.

Norris, Jim. North for the Harvest: Mexican Workers, Growers, and the Sugar Beet Industry. St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2009.

“Peterson Named Local Farm Help Recruiter.” Weekly Valley Herald, May 20, 1948.

“What Tony Can Teach Us.” Editorial. Chaska Herald, October 23, 2009.

 

Over the years, Carver County has been home to many creameries and dairy operations, but only two with any national acclaim or attention. Many are already familiar with Bongards Creameries, but Oak Grove Dairy once called Carver County home as well. In operation for over 70 years, Oak Grove Dairy left an indelible mark on the history of Carver County and Minnesota.

            Oak Grove Dairy’s long history began back in 1933. The operation started on a 24,000-acre farm located between Shakopee and Savage, started by George Benz. The operation grew quickly, and by 1936, it had outgrown its land and structures. The operation was relocated to the Norwood Creamery, and it became the permanent home of Oak Grove Dairy. The original plant had eleven staff and distributed only within Carver County. At the height of operation, it employed 266 staff and sold product to over 90% of Minnesota through over 2000 retailers.

In the earliest days of the creamery, patrons shipped cream to the dairy, later it was whole milk. There were two ways that the dairy got its supply: either delivered in milk cans by the farmers, or picked up by milk haulers. All milk cans were emptied, washed, and steam sterilized to be returned to farmers for the next batch. With increased mechanization, milk now goes from refrigerated bulk tanks on farms, into stainless steel tank trunks, to the plant. At its peak of operation, Oak Grove Dairy received milk from farmers in a seven county radius.

Over its years of operation, many changes and improvements were made at Oak Grove. In 1980, a blow mold was installed at the plant, allowed workers to make their own plastic bottles, furthering the change from milk cans and glass bottles to conveyor belts and plastic. In 1986, the plant was enlarged and modernized, increasing production to about 65,000 fluid gallons of milk each day. In 1988, Oak Grove Dairy stopped buying milk directly from farmers and producers, who then had to transport milk elsewhere, like Glencoe Butter. After this change, Oak Grove purchased its milk from Bongards Creameries, Glencoe Butter and Produce, the FDA (First District Association) and the NFO.

During this time, Oak Grove Creamery was an active part of its community. The company made donations to community events, aided in flood relief in 1997, served ice cream at events, and more. In March 1999, staffers served 3,200 ice cream cones over the course of two days at the Norwood Young America Farm and Home Show.

The beginning of the end started in 2000, when Oak Grove Dairy was sold from the Benz Family to Marigold Foods, Inc. This brought the company under the umbrella of Kemps’, as the parent organization. Management changed a few times in the next few years, until the decision was made to cease operations and close the plant in 2004. Operations were combined with the Duluth and Minneapolis plants, with some staff moving to work at the Minneapolis branch. All others had to seek new employment.

Many reasons were discussed for why this plant was closed, among them the decreasing number of dairy farms. The U.S. Department of Agriculture notes 650 dairy farms in Carver County in 1979, down to fewer than 150 in 2004. Many smaller operations throughout the state closed around this time, or consolidated with larger companies, just to survive financially. Whatever the reason for its closing, Oak Grove Dairy left its mark on Carver County history. Its name lives on in the Oak Grove City Center that’s stands in Norwood Young America in the twenty-first century.

 

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Related Resources:

[Primary]

Garrison-Sprenger, Nicole. “Big moo-ve: Kemps Closes Oak Grove Dairy in Carver Co.” Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, July 8, 2004. Accessed August 28, 2014.

http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2004/07/12/story6.html?page=all

Oak Grove Dairy. Oak Grove, Bottled in the Country. 1933-2004. Norwood, 2004.          

“Oak Grove Dairy Joins Marigold Family.” Kemps Limited Edition Article, Summer 2000.

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[Secondary]

“City Receives Grant for Oak Grove Project.” Norwood Young America Times, October 2, 2008.

“Oak Grove Celebrates 50 Years in Area with Open House Sunday.” Norwood Young America Times, April 24, 1986.

“Oak Grove Dairy, Milk For Army, Five Norwood Farmers Supplying Grade A Milk for Uncle Sam’s Soldiers at Fort Snelling.” Weekly Valley Herald, March 13, 1941.

“Oak Grove Project.” Norwood Young America Times, November 29, 2007.

“Oak Grove Will Be closing in NYA.” Norwood Young America Times, October 30, 2003.

“Twins Player Joins Oak Grove.” Norwood Times, October 26, 1967.

 

Carver County was formed in 1855. The first county seat was located in San Francisco Village in San Francisco Township. After just one short year, flooding and distance caused a vote to move the location of the county seat. It was moved to Chaska, where is has been ever since. Over the years, though, there have been very intense battles trying to remove the seat to a more central location. What follows are the details of these battles as gleaned from newspaper accounts of the time.

            Over the years, there was talk and debate in 1870, 1872, 1880 and most intensely in 1920 about removal of the county seat from Chaska to either Benton or Waconia. During the winter of 1870, a select committee of Carver County residents took a resolution to the state Legislature to introduce plans to allow county residents to vote on where the county seat would be located- Chaska, Waconia or Benton. When nothing came of this, Waconia residents teamed with Benton to have the seat moved there in 1872. In responses in the Chaska paper, it was asked if taxpayers could afford the debt of a new building. That attempt, too, was dropped. The 1880 attempt to move the seat to Waconia never got past the discussion stage, and was mentioned in only one issue of one paper.

This brings us to the most elaborate and intense attempts at removal, which occurred between April and June of 1920. In this case, the removal battle was between the cities of Waconia and Chaska. This battle involved many back-and-forth arguments, accusations, ridicule and mudslinging. The Waconia County Seat Removal Committee argued that the county seat should be centrally located, as it was unfair to make people in the northern and western parts of the county travel 20-30 miles to Chaska when other cities only had to travel six miles. A later article presented three arguments: economy, convenience, and cost.

For economy, it was argued the county would pay out less in mileage and fees to those making the trip to be jurors, etc. For convenience, they argued “At present, the people in the north and west end of the county who pay the same rate of county tax, fulfill the same obligations to serve on juries and attend court and have business before the commissioners and in probate court the same as do citizens of the east end of the county, are required to travel 20-30 miles across the county [. . .] It is a matter of justice that all the people of the county should have equal opportunity to share in its facilities and participate in the activities of government.” The third argument was that the cost of new buildings to replace the dilapidated ones in Chaska would be minimal. A petition was signed by 2,471 people, what they said was 83% of people outside Chaska, calling for a public vote.

Chaska’s Civic Committee responded with arguments questioning how the committee got signatures on the petition, touting the small number of signers (2,471 out of 4,000), and saying the proposed building costs were laughable, and telling the “intelligent, thrifty, and progressive” taxpayers not to be fooled. Arguments then turned into accusations back and forth, using sensational language like “ludicrous”, “the fight is on”, “real arguments only will count”, arguments “seem plausible on the surface but underneath are only an empty shell”, ideas were “ludicrous in the extreme”, and “Chaska fires opening gun. . .deadly missile was filled with hot air.”

The public vote was held June 18, 1920, and resulted in Chaska’s favor. With the largest vote in the history of the county up to that time, Waconia received 1,989 votes to Chaska’s 2,372. A massive victory celebration was held in Chaska.

In 1951, prominent brickyard and bank owner Charles Klein passed away, leaving a bequest of $500,000 for a new courthouse, on the condition that it be built in Chaska. In 1962, a bond for $850,000 was brought to vote in the county, to supplement Klein’s fund. The bond passed and a new courthouse was constructed in Chaska to replace the small, outdated, historic courthouse. One paper claimed, “it’s conceivable [Klein’s] bequest stopped another county seat struggle from materializing.” Klein was active in town in the 1920’s, and was most likely familiar with the feud. Whether or not those were his true reasons for the bequest, or just to support his town, history may never no. There were no more county seat battles after that time, however. The county seat was, and remains, in the city of Chaska.

 

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“Carver County, The Way it Was . . .Removing the County Seat to Chaska.” Waconia Patriot, February 12, 1976.

“Carver County Will have Red-Hot County Seat Fight.” Waconia Patriot, April 15, 1920.

“Chaska Fires Opening Gun. . .Deadly Missile was Filled with Hot Air.” Young America Eagle, April 30, 1920.

“Chaska Victory in County Seat Fight . . .Largest Vote in History of County.” Weekly Valley Herald, June 24, 1920.

“Cost of Removal Will Not Be Burdensome.” Waconia Patriot, April 15, 1920.

“County Commissioners Announce Courthouse Steering Committee.” Weekly Valley Herald, October 4, 1962.

“County Seat of Carver County Should Be Centrally Located.” Waconia Patriot, April 8, 1920.

“County Seat Question.” Weekly Valley Herald, October 17, 1872.

“County Seat Question.” Weekly Valley Herald, March 4, 1880.

“County Seat Removal.” Weekly Valley Herald, October 3, 1872.

“County Seat- Resolution.” Weekly Valley Herald, February 3, 1870.

“Courthouse Site Selected.” Weekly Valley Herald, January 10, 1963.

“Issue Passes in Record Vote.” Weekly Valley Herald, November 8, 1962.

“Petition Filed- The Fight is On. Tell The Truth- Don’t Garble.” Young America Eagle, May 14, 1920.

“Real Arguments Only, Will Count.” Weekly Valley Herald, April 22, 1920.

“Removal of the County Seat.” Weekly Valley Herald, January 25, 1872.

“Waconia Is Readily Accessible from All Parts of Carver County.” Waconia Patriot, May 13, 1920.

“What Others Say About County Seat Question.” Waconia Patriot, June 30, 1920.

“Why the Courthouse Should Be Moved.” Young America Eagle, June 18, 1920.

 

Secondary:

“60 Times $500,000 Equals What–?” Waconia Patriot, May 13, 1920.

“Additional Facts on Building Costs.” Young America Eagle, April 23, 1920.

“An Amusing Proposition.” Young America Eagle, April 30, 1920.

“A Real Hot Time in the Old Town” Weekly Valley Herald, June 24, 1920.

“Beware of Misleading Last Minute Rumors.” Weekly Valley Herald, June 17, 1920.

“Carver County’s Courthouse.” Weekly Valley Herald, June 3, 1920.

“Carver County Seat Removal Petition.” Young America Eagle, May 7, 1920.

“Grand Jury Members Say Chaska Doesn’t Tell The Truth.” Young America Eagle, May 7, 1920.

“That County Seat Question.” Weekly Valley Herald, April 15, 1920.

“The County Seat Question.” Waconia Patriot, April 1, 1920.

“The Victory Celebration.” Weekly Valley Herald, June 24, 1920.

“This is Our Chance!” Young America Eagle, June 11, 1920.

“Waconia Makes Bid for County Seat.” Weekly Valley Herald, April 8, 1920.

 

On May 6, 1965, Carver County was hit by severe tornadoes, as part of a larger tornado outbreak that was occurring across the central United States. The outbreak is considered one of the biggest natural disasters in the county’s recent history.

The tornadoes started in the early evening of May 6. At least six separate tornadoes swept through the townships of Young America, Waconia, Dahlgren and Laketown, destroying a large number of farms. The storms also caused heavy damage upon commercial and residential developments in Chanhassen[1]. The tornadoes, lasting four hours, started near Glencoe in McLeod County, and dissipated after running through the North Suburbs of Minneapolis in Hennepin County. They destroyed approximately 2,500 homes and caused an estimated fifty-two million dollars in property damage. A total of thirteen Minnesota residents died from the tornadoes, including three in Carver County.

The Young America and Waconia townships suffered the worst damage from the tornadoes, with local papers describing the result as “total destruction”. The path of destruction across the two townships was approximately a half to three-quarters of a mile wide and more than eight miles long. Across the two townships, all buildings were completely destroyed on twenty farms. In Young America, nine farms suffered from destruction of one or more of their buildings, as did three farms in Waconia.

Though not hit as badly, considerable damage was done to the townships of Dahlgren and Laketown, and the city of Chanhassen. Five farms in Dahlgren and eleven in Laketown all suffered the loss of one or more buildings. In Chanhassen, the tornadoes destroyed several business buildings and approximately one-third of its rural homes suffered partial damage, with heavier destruction reported on at least one of its farms.

Cleanup operations began on Friday, May 7. Some were able to salvage furniture and personal belongings, but for most it was a complete loss. With ruin and debris spread everywhere, nameplates from mailboxes were frequently the only things identifying one plot of farmland from another. Local organizations helped with the cleanup and recovery efforts, such as volunteer efforts made by students of local schools.

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“Tornado Losses”. Waconia Patriot, May, 13, 1965, 1.

“Tornadoes Hit At Chanhassen, 6:28”. Waconia Patriot, May 13, 1965, 3.

“Tornadoes Hit Carver County – Damage Severe”. Weekly Valley Herald, May, 13, 1965, 1, 12.

“Tornadoes Hit Area”. Lester Prairie News, May 13, 1965, 1, 6-5.

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[1] In 1965, what is now the city of Chanhassen was divided between the Chanhassen Township and the Village of Chanhassen. The township suffered rural damage, while the village suffered business and residential damage. The two communities merged in 1967 into what is now Chanhassen.

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http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/