Fundraising supper March 18
By KATHY PAULSEN
Staff Writer
Think local history isn't interesting?
Think again.
The Clarks Grove Area Heritage Society is making plans to build a museum for their community. The site has been selected, the floor plan is drawn, and now they need help to raise funds for the project.
The society is inviting everyone to Clarks Grove on Tuesday night, March 18, for a pancake supper.
LeRoy Sommers will be flipping pancakes, served with sausage, coffee and milk, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the First Baptist Church. Boy Scout Troop #219 has volunteered their help.
Clarks Grove historyClarks Grove, one of the older towns in the area, was home to Danish settlers, who started co-operative businesses - the first in the state.
The creamery was erected shortly after the city began in 1890, and later had 82 patrons, which helped the city blossom. The First Baptist Church held its first services in the area beginning in 1863, and moved into Clarks Grove in 1915. A railroad was built in the area and the first train made its way through town on November 28, 1900. The hardware store was built in 1896, the lumber yard in 1902, and the bank in 1903.
Clarks Grove Area Historical Society
Phyllis (Paul) Hanson and Kathy (Irvin) Jensen started a heritage society in Clarks Grove back in 1994-95 with some 46 charter members, and incorporated in 1997. They had guest speakers come in to share program as well as provided demonstrations about things in the past, like shucking corn by hand and making twine, that they were eager to keep from being forgotten.
Phyllis and Kathy organized trips, and many people had great times remembering the “good old days" when Clarks Grove was first established.
Kathy Jensen published a history book, “Clarks Grove, A Place To Call Home," at the time the city celebrated their Centennial in 1990. The Clarks Grove Area Heritage Society later created a book, "A History in Story and Pictures of the Clarks Grove Area," in 2007 and sold them for $20. Both the books are interesting reading and bring back many thoughts of those early days.
The recent 150th anniversary of the First Baptist Church produced more information and was widely enjoyed - not only by the present residents and descendants of former residents, but by the community in general.
Museum
Many people in the area might like to preserve some of their history and artifacts. You may have great-great-grandma's baptism dress or your granddad's old cream separator. Maybe you have the scythe that your dad used to cut weeds or wheat. You may have a group of old pictures with beautiful hand made dresses or events at the family farm or church. You may have items from those old "school days" or your mother's washboard, all of which would be interesting to have in the museum.
There are still items of yesteryear in our midst, treasured by the families who inherited them. But what will become of them?
A museum had been talked about so often, it was finally decided to take on the task of building and establishing a living history of Clarks Grove. Though many of the original members of the Clarks Grove Area Heritage Society are gone there still remains a determined core of members, who have volunteered to take on the task of fund-raising with this goal in mind.
Knowing that selling history books and holding pancake suppers won’t raise enough funds to undertake such a project, they mailed a letter in February to all the households in Clarks Grove and the surrounding area.
The letter included a design and floor plan for a proposed one-story, 40 x 60 foot building. The museum would be handicap accessible and located in the heart of town, next door to the Municipal Building, and close to Bob Hanson Park on Independence Avenue. Plans are to set the building back from the street, which would allow ample parking, not only in front of the building, but on the south side as well.
The Heritage Society believes they need to raise $80,000 to put up the building. Donations are tax deductible and can be given as a one-time donation or in smaller donations of any size and any time. Any gift will be greatly appreciated.
The society is hoping to hold a groundbreaking this spring, and it is hoped that former members, friends and people of the Clarks Grove area will volunteer their help and support the project.
Copies of the book, "A History in Story and Picture of the Clarks Grove Area," will be available for purchase at the pancake supper as well.
Clarks Grove Area Heritage Society officers, Everett Jensen, Kathy Jensen and Marvel Beiser, feel there is a great heritage in Clarks Grove to share and keep alive. This museum will allow historical items and family heirlooms, some of which have already been donated and collected, to be safely displayed.
Without a museum to house these historical items, some of the area’s history and heritage would be lost.
If you are unable to attend the pancake supper and would like to donate to this worthy cause, donations can be mailed to the Clarks Grove Area Heritage Society, c/o Kathy Jensen, at PO Box 188, Clarks Grove, MN 56016.