Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
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As we move further and further into the 21st century, we also move further away from some of the most impactful events of the century before. Countless books and movies have been made about the two world wars that devastated much of the world in such a short period of time. Still, it is too easy to lose touch with these monumental events. That is why this summer, while cleaning the Stavanger Church, the Eddy County Museum staff worked to create a permanent exhibit to highlight the impact these...
Have you ever shaved with a straight edge razor? Would you even know where to begin? For much of history, the straight razor was the most effective option for those who wanted a smooth face. Perhaps this is why beards were commonly in fashion in the centuries leading up to modern times. Change came in 1895, when King Gillette invented and began selling razors with disposable blades. These blades no longer required honing and were far safer. No longer would a clean shave be a risk of cuts and...
From time to time, someone will ask me if the museum is haunted. My first reaction is to laugh. My second reaction is to tell the truth and say, "I never been there after dark, so I have no reason to believe so." The truth is, some of the artifacts within the museum do haunt me. There are items that sit in the darkest corners of the museum and offer little in terms of didactic value. In lay terms- these artifacts do very little to earn their keep. Their labels are simple and provide only the...
The history of the Eddy County Museum begins in the 1960s when three community groups came together with a vision to preserve the county's history for future generations. Those future generations include every one of us. We are the future, filled with uncertainty and promise. So why should we care about the past? Individually, we all have our own reasons- many of which are tied to our experience and heritage. Collectively, our reasons aren't that different from the museum pioneers in the 1960s....
Over time, humans have made many great tools and developments to aid in the carrying of our "things." From wheelbarrows to baskets, most carrying implements had an element of work involved. Even the lunchboxes, briefcases, valises and satchels all had such purpose. Sometime during the 18th century, women developed a new kind of implement to help them carry their necessary belongings. The reticule, as it was called, served women for the next 200 years. These bags hung close to the body or from...
Perhaps you remember the saying, "See a penny, pick it up. All day long you'll have good luck," but how many actually do this? After all, what can you buy with a penny these days? Or a nickel? Or dime for that matter? In early years of the 20th century, coins had far more buying power, so it makes sense that there were a wide variety of coin cases and purses available at that time. The Eddy County Museum holds a dozen coin carrying devices in the collection. Most are the common leather pouches...
For much of the past two years, the Stavanger Church at the Eddy County Museum has been undergoing renovations. As a result, museum-goers have had limited access - until this past week, when museum staff opened the doors to all the buildings and invited the public to an old-fashioned dessert social. Approximately 40 patrons visited over homemade desserts and amidst artifacts of yesteryear. Some of them dated well over a century old. (I am of course referring to the artifacts, not the patrons.) I...
A century ago, agriculture was a whole different business. Sure farmers had to contend with soil conditions and weather patterns, but the process of getting grain from field to market was markedly different. Wheat was the preferred crop and threshing was the required technology. The homesteaders of the region were lucky to have access to threshing technology. At that time, most threshing was done with a horse-powered belt system and was quite labor intensive. In the photo above, several members...
Porches are ubiquitious with Victorian Era homes. These large, open and welcoming spaces were often located at the front of the house and served some important roles. From day-to-day, porches served as an interface between the private inside world and the public outside world. They were designed to meet the elements, but still protect the residents from rain, sun and wind. Porches offered an alternative space to the the stuffy indoors, and the threatening wilds of the outdoors. Much like the...
Celebratory family photos are something we have all been a part of. Whether the family gets together for Thanksgiving, Easter or a funeral, it's often likely that someone will herd all the bodies together for yet another family photo. Such happenings might not seem like much at the time, but someday they might be treasured deeply. I have been in the process of archiving my own family's photos, and as I do so, I can't help but notice patterns. I see similarities in stances and smiles and can ea...
Once upon a time, before the craze of all things pumpkin spice, apples were the food that signaled a welcome change from the hot summer days to crisp autumn evenings. People embraced the crisp autumn air and joyfully collected apples - much like the women in the photograph. There are some 2,500 varieties of apples growing in the United States, whether cultivated or in the wild. Cultivated varieties can still be found growing in tree rows and front yards. The wild, less predictable varieties are...
Undergarments are one of those rarely talked about luxuries. Assuming (as I always have) that earlier generations were more prudish and cautious about such private matters, I am still surprised each time that I have encountered undergarments within the Eddy County Museum collections. I couldn't understand why anyone would donate their most intimate clothing to be on public display. But maybe there is nothing to be embarrassed about. In those days, undergarments were essential for...
After researching and writing about the history of cocoa, I succeeded in baking my first-ever, truly authentic homemade chocolate cake. It was delightful and immediately increased my household reputation as a baker. Baking can be a challenge for some, as there are so many variables and so little room for error. As my elders often reminded me, "To be a good baker, you have to be able to follow instructions." I often wondered who wrote those instructions... just what kind of experts unlocked the...
Did you ever rummage through your grandmother's kitchen storage cabinets? Did you find yourself equally delighted and perplexed by the variety of tools and implements? A whole range of specialized tools and simple innovations have made their way into the kitchen. The display kitchen at the Eddy County Museum is no different, offering insight to the early 20th century (and beyond). This week I share just of a few of the items that took me back to grandma's kitchen. Maybe they'll get you thinking...
It is shocking to see people overdressed during the sweltering summer heat. But have you ever seen a group of young people go to the beach in full-length dresses? Of course not! But if you were around in the 1910s, you likely would have. But why? It was simply not proper to show much skin, and full coverage attire provided a perk for those who ventured out of doors. Heavy clothing protected against the sun as well as biting insects and bothersome plants. But why bother with any of that at all?...
The artifact featured this week is a metal cocoa tin dating back to the 1920s. Monarch cocoa was one of the many products produced and marketed by Reid, Murdoch & Co of Chicago, Ill., established in 1873. There's more to the history of this object and its contents than that. Afterall, the origins of cocoa date back to the equatorial empire of the Olmec, who occupied portions of Central America from 1500-400 BCE. The Olmec people enjoyed crushed cocoa beans combined with water and chilis,...
Last fall I wrote about dogs and the role they played in the families of early settlers in Eddy County. After recently writing about friendships, I was reminded that canines (and felines) can offer some pretty valuable relationships. It has long been recognized that animals can help calm and soothe people during times of distress, and even lower blood pressure, but there are more benefits to caring for a pet, a fact that the folks pictured here seem to understand. Pets can alter our moods and...
For as long as I can remember, I've heard songs and jokes about the cookie jar. Yet somehow, I have never lived in a home that had a cookie jar. I guess my cookies resided in plastic packages (as many do). Cookies are characterized as sweet, handheld baked goods. They first made their appearance in the Middle East during the seventh century. The concept of the cookie (and the sugar needed) eventually made its way into Europe, and by the 14th century, cookies were commonplace in European...
It is all too easy to look back in history and create images of superhumans who were far stronger and wiser than people of today. We often talk of the hardships they endured; bitter cold, disease and isolation, furthering the image that the early settlers had no option but to grit their teeth and push forward in the face of adversity. Part of today's social narrative builds upon the notion that people long ago had no choice but to cooperate in order to survive. But we fail to imagine that these...
This week's featured artifact is a photograph of Edgar and Joyce Mattson driving in the New Rockford Parade on July 4, 1957. Edgar and Joyce, the original owners of the 1903 Orient Buckboard, made the claim that their car was the first gasoline-powered vehicle in Eddy County. Even in 1957, it must have been mind boggling to think that these were the cars of yesteryear. The scene was enough to convince Carl J. Aaland to capture it on film. The photograph was later donated by Edgar and Joyce's...
As an archivist, one of my dream projects is to sit down with the hundreds of postcards in the Eddy County Museum's collections, and transcribe (or perhaps decipher) the messages written on the back. Alas, such a project would require both time and funding. So I temper my ambitions and only occasionally stop to read the cryptic cursive from a century ago. Curiosity got to me when I found this handmade, mixed-media postcard that a young man named Henry wrote to his sister, Mrs. Fred Dahl, and mailed it to Moorhead, Minn., in 1910. Not only does...
Regular readers of Archival Anecdotes will likely have noticed that the Eddy County Museum has a healthy collection of fashion accessories. Folks from the late 19th and early 20th centuries were undoubtedly influenced by both Victorian and Edwardian fashion, even way out on the prairie. From hat pins to handbags, there are an estimated 200 artifacts in the museum related to fashion. Is the fan where fashion meets function? Anyone who has ever sat in the still air on a warm day knows the relief a...
The art of hairwork is far more intricate than you might imagine. The Eddy County Museum holds two unique specimens of this craft. Both were created as a symbol of love and devotion from a wife to her husband. Throughout the Victorian Era, hairworks were popular tokens to signify affection, and came in the form of intricate mementos. Hair was formed into bracelets, brooches, earrings, rings, chains, necklaces, bags, bookmarks and so much more. The popular lady's magazines of the era often p...
The boots featured this week are the only set of army boots in the Eddy County Museum's collection, and are among a limited number of artifacts from World War I. With a little research, I learned they are Pershing Boots, a specialized trench boot that infantry soldiers affectionately called "Little Tanks." These boots were a major upgrade over the 1917 trench boots, which were reportedly cold, leaky and often fell apart, not good for soldiers on the move. These 1918 Pershing Boots boasted...
The time has come. The Eddy County Museum will soon be opening for the season. Every Sunday afternoon from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the public will be welcomed to tour the museum. Now you can see the artifacts which I have featured here in Archival Anecdotes, or maybe you'd rather stumble upon something you've never seen before. One thing is for sure, you are bound to find something that strikes your interest, that makes you think. After all, that's what...
