Washington County Historical Society

Black & White Movie Night: Great Silent Film Comedies
2023-06-21 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
Buster Keaton
Black & White Movie Night returns with an assortment of short subjects featuring famous clowns of the silent era. The program will include Buster Keaton and the third of the “Big Three,” Harold Lloyd. Be prepared to spend an hour laughing! Hosted by former professor Steve Schroer.
Attend in-person at the Washington County Heritage Center

16th Annual Beer Tasting and Silent Auction
2023-06-17 16:00 - 19:00 | Hay Lake School, 14020 195th St N, Marine on St. Croix, MN, 55047
The Washington County Historical Society is hosting the 16th Annual Beer Tasting and Silent Auction at Hay Lake School! Get ready for a several local breweries on tap, a silent auction, and the perfect relaxed setting to celebrate the start of summer.

Tickets are $20/person and available day-of only at Hay Lake School.
Ages 21+ only. Rain or shine.

Questions? Call 651-439-5956. See you there!

Preservation in Stillwater with Matt Thueson
2023-06-14 19:00 - 20:00 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
June will be the 50th anniversary of Stillwater’s Heritage Preservation Commission. Commission chair Matt Thueson considers Stillwater’s evolution, looks back at the city’s lost and saved places, and speaks about how preservation has made Stillwater a more vibrant and livable community.
Attend in-person only at the Washington County Heritage Center

A look at the history of our sweetest springtime crop: Maple Syrup with Steve Saupe
2023-06-06 19:00 - 20:00 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
Attend in-person at the Washington County Heritage Center or virtually on Zoom at the link below.
Minnesota Maple Syrup Producers Association’s Steve Saupe will provide an overview of the history of maple syrup with an emphasis on making a great tasting product. Samples will be provided!
About the Minnesota Maple Syrup Producers Association (MMSPA) –
For nearly 50 years the MMSPA has served the maple syrup industry of Minnesota. Incorporated as a non-profit membership association in 1966, the MMSPA has promoted quality maple products and provided information and education to members. We exist to support and encourage maple syrup production in Minnesota by hobbyists and licensed commercial producers alike.
Producers today owe a debt of gratitude to MMSPA’s first president, Clifford Dalbey of Mora, Minnesota who, along with 13 other producers, formed the MMSPA in 1966. Today the association is made up of over 100 maple syrup producers from the state of Minnesota.
Learn more about them at: https://www.mnmaple.org/
Attend in-person at the Washington County Heritage Center OR virtually on Zoom
ZOOM INFO:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81677748630?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 816 7774 8630
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Antique Musical Instruments of the Warden's House Museum
2023-05-25 19:00 - 20:00 | Warden’s House Museum, 602 Main Street North, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
WCHS volunteer, musician, and historian Mike Frain will give a musical tour of the phonographs, record players, and music boxes at the Warden’s House. Come and enjoy the sound of a bygone era and learn how the machines work!
Attend in-person at the Warden’s House Museum

2023 Stillwater Historic House Tour
2023-05-21 12:00 - 17:00 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
Join us for the 2023 Stillwater Historic Homes Tour on Sunday, May 21 from 12pm-5pm!
Eight beautiful and unique homes nestled into the hills of Stillwater will be opening their doors to share hospitality and history.

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS!

How to tour:

1. Please pick up your tickets on the day of the tour at:Washington County Heritage Center
1853 Greeley Street South
Stillwater, MN 55082
The Washington County Heritage Center will open at 10am on the day of the tour.
At will call, we’ll provide you with:

your tickets
a map with all the house locations
a packet of historical information about each house!

Please bring a photo ID to claim your tickets.
Tickets cannot be picked up early in order to limit potential for copies being made. Thanks for understanding!

2. Houses may be visited in any order! Each house will be open the full length of the tour from 12pm-5pm.

3. No transportation is provided by WCHS, so please plan according to your needs. A few of the houses are close together and can be walked between easily! Others are several blocks apart and we recommend driving to them.
All parking is street parking. There is a free public parking lot located across the street from the Warden’s House that you may use when you visit the Warden’s House.
Rain or shine. All sales are final. Questions? Call 651-439-2298.

WCHS would like to sincerely thank:
Truen Group, Tour Sponsor
Alfresco Casual Living, House Sponsor

Darn Knit Anyway, House Sponsor

Johnny’s TV, House Sponsor

Lowell Inn, House Sponsor

Rose Floral and Greenhouse, House Sponsor

The Tilted Tiki, House Sponsor

Valley Bookseller, House Sponsor
Here is the map for this year’s route!

New Exhibit Grand Opening: Grocery Stores of Washington County!
2023-05-20 13:00 - 16:00 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
The Washington County Heritage Center is opening a BRAND NEW EXHIBIT all about grocery stores and food buying in Washington County!
Best part: admission to the museum will be free during the grand opening celebration! (Donations are always appreciated)

Were you a grocery bagger once upon a time at Hooley’s?
Do you enjoy a Saturday morning farmer’s market?
Did you stand inside Scandia Mercantile waiting for the school bus?
Did you know that the Marine General Store is the oldest continuously operating general store in the whole state?

Whether you’ve lived in Washington County your whole life or recently moved here, we’re all a part of this history.

Come check it out and celebrate history!

Attend in-person at the Washington County Heritage Center

At the Warden's House: Schubert Club at 140: Concerts, Collections, Community with Barry Kempton
2023-05-11 19:00 - 20:00 | Warden’s House Museum, 602 Main Street North, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
Barry Kempton, Artistic & Executive Director of the Schubert Club, will give an illustrated talk about Minnesota’s oldest arts organization, its programs and guest musicians over the years and its Music Museum featuring keyboard instruments, composer letters and the “Music Makers Zone”.

About the Schubert Club:
Since 1893, Schubert Club has invited the world’s great recital soloists and ensembles to the Twin Cities and has promoted the superb musical talents of our community through performances, education, and museum programs. One of the first arts organizations in the country, Schubert Club remains today one of the nation’s most vibrant, relevant, and respected music organizations.
Schubert Club’s INTERNATIONAL ARTIST SERIES has presented many of the world’s great recitalists including Jascha Heifetz, Arthur Rubinstein, Cecilia Bartoli, Isaac Stern, Beverly Sills, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Leontyne Price, Yo-Yo Ma, and Renée Fleming to name a few.
Questions? Contact Warden’s House Site Manager Julianne O’Connell at julianne.oconnell@wchsmn.org

Minnesota's Golden Age of Wrestling 3.0 with George Schire
2023-05-02 19:00 - 20:00 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
Our favorite wrestling historian and author George Schire is BACK for part 3 of Minnesota’s Golden Age of Wrestling! If you missed George’s previous talks, not to worry – George will make sure novices and experts alike will enjoy this program!
Wrestling’s singles feuds and tag team wars! In the wacky and unpredictable world of professional wrestling, good guys and bad guys fought for supremacy and formed interesting tag team combinations that added to the soap opera drama that drew fans in week after week.
George’s book “Minnesota’s Golden Age of Wrestling: From Verne Gagne to the Road Warriors” will be available for purchase at the event.

Open House at the Warden's House Museum
2023-04-30 13:00 - 17:00 | Warden’s House Museum, 602 Main Street North, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
The Washington County Historical Society is excited to announce the special open house celebrating the 170 years of the Warden’s House on North Main Street in Stillwater!
Admission is FREE for the afternoon!
Events include live music from 1-3pm from singer Hilary Thavis and Musician Doug Otto. Hilary will sing sections of blues numbers—fitting for life in a prison. Hilary Thavis is a Prairie Home Companion Alum 2010-2015.
The Warden’s House is full of household items donated by Washington County residents. Many of these every day pieces came from Sears, Roebuck and Company, founded as a mail-order watch company in the late 19th century, made its name with its packed catalogs that advertised everything from wigs, dental tools, and live chicks to entire house kits. Come in and see what has been found and you might recognize items from Sears in your possession
Time
1pm-5pm
Location
The Warden’s House is located at 602 N. Main Street, Stillwater.
Parking
Limited parking is located behind the Warden’s House and overflow parking is located across the street in the parking lot next to the walking trail and the Zephyr Theatre.
The handicapped accessible entrance is located behind the house. Guests are welcome to drop off behind the building and park elsewhere as needed.
Contact
For more information, contact Julianne O’Connell at 651-439-5956 or julianne.oconnell@wchsmn.org

About the Warden’s House Museum:
The Warden’s House opened as a part of the new Minnesota Territorial Prison in 1853. Over time, 13 Warden’s lived in the house until 1914. After that, A superintendent of the Prison, Thomas Ross, and his family lived there until 1941 when the Washington County Historical Society purchase the home from the state and opened it as the second house museum in Minnesota that year. The museum demonstrates the history not only of Stillwater’s infamous prison, but also the history of Washington County.

Oldest Twin Cities: A Guide to Historic Treasures with Julie Jo Severson
2023-04-27 19:00 - 20:00 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
While blending old-world history with modern-day relevance, local author Julie Jo Severson explores hidden and legendary gems throughout the region she’s called home most of her life in her new local guidebook Oldest Twin Cities: A Guide to Historic Treasures. From a tiny, old-school magic shop tracing back to 1899 to a sacred cave tucked below 450-million-year-old bluffs, Oldest Twin Cities pays homage to enduring treasures and natural wonders in our midst. Julie Jo is also the author of Secret Twin Cities: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure, which she describes as a whimsical tour of the Twin Cities through the eyes of the unusual.

About the Author:
Julie Jo Severson works as a freelance journalist, editor, and personal historian helping individuals record their life stories. A fourth-generation, lifelong Minnesotan, she’s still constantly adding to her local bucket list and sneaks in mini-excursions throughout the metro whenever she has the opportunity.

Learn more about the book:
You can order/pre-order signed copies and learn more about both Oldest Twin Cities and Secret Twin Cities at www.OldestTwinCities.com, where 10% of book proceeds will be donated to Give Hope MN, a non-profit focused on bringing the community together to serve those in need.

Seeing Minnesota History Through the Life of Charles A. Lindbergh
2023-04-13 19:00 - 20:00 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
Prof. Chris Gehrz, author of a new biography of Charles A. Lindbergh, presents on the life story of a particularly famous Minnesotan to shed light on important themes in the state’s history, including the frontier, religion, eugenics, isolationism, and environmental protection.

Chris Gehrz (PhD, Yale) is professor of history at Bethel University, where he teaches courses on modern European, military/diplomatic, religious, and sports history. He is the author or editor of five books, including Charles Lindbergh: A Religious Biography of America’s Most Infamous Pilot (Eerdmans, 2021), and writes weekly about history, religion, and education at Substack. A native of Stillwater, Chris now lives in Roseville with his wife and two children.

ZOOM INFO:

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMsc-2urj4pE9F-y-8Wt6ovx5NQPeWoAuD4
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Surviving the Holocaust: Journey to a New World -- Why the Jews? with Ken Engel
2023-04-04 19:00 - 20:00 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
Ken Engel’s parents survived the Holocaust. As a member of the Speakers Bureau of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas/Tolerance Minnesota, the JCRC Middle East Speakers Bureau, and other platforms, he’s given hundreds of presentations to school, college, municipal, synagogue, church, military, educator, industry and private groups, clubs and organizations about the Holocaust, his parents’ experiences during World War II, Israel, Judaism, and related subjects. He’s trained thousands of survivors, children and grandchildren of survivors, community activists and lay members on how to effectively and comfortably share their individual stories with a wide range of audiences.
Ken is Chair of CHAIM (Children of Holocaust Survivors Association in Minnesota), a Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area 150-strong member group of children (second generation, a.k.a 2Gs), grandchild (third generation, a.k.a 3Gs), and other descendants and friends of Holocaust survivors.

He is a member of the governing Coordinating Council of Generations of the Shoah International (GSI), a U.S.-based group of Jewish leaders of Second Generation and other Holocaust-related organizations. GSI networks and shares information and resources on the Holocaust and related issues with Holocaust survivor families, organizations and institutions worldwide via GSI’s monthly e-newsletter and on GSI’s website, www.genshoah.org.

GSI also advocates for the interests of survivors. GSI has more than 25,000 members on six continents and is the largest Holocaust survivor family organization in the world. His close, long-term participation in GSI — which has included speaker training and conducting educational efforts across the U.S. — has helped make him a more effective speaker on these subjects.

An attorney in private practice in downtown Minneapolis, Ken and his sweet wife live in Minneapolis’ Bryn Mawr neighborhood, and have happily welcomed their first three grandchildren — all bright and beautiful, of course!
The program is free to the public and no reservations are required. Event attendees may attend either in person at the Washington County Heritage Center or virtually on Zoom.

ZOOM INFO
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwvfuuorz8vHtQzEU3UXaivtzd407VxnPsW
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Meeting passcode: [REDACTED]

"Winter’s Children: A Celebration of Nordic Skiing" with author Ryan Rodgers
2023-03-30 19:00 - 20:00 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
Author Ryan Rodgers presents on his book “Winter’s Children: A Celebration of Nordic Skiing,” the story of Nordic skiing in the Midwest—its origins and history, its star athletes and races, and its place in the region’s social fabric and the nation’s winter recreation.
Winter’s Children traces Nordic skiing in the Midwest from its introduction in the late 1800s to its uncertain future in today’s changing climate. Generously illustrated, this is an engaging look at the earliest ski teams and touring clubs; the evolution of cross-country skis, gear, and fashion; and the ambitious effort to maintain a vast trail network across Minnesota’s state park system.

ZOOM INFO:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89932131389?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 899 3213 1389
Passcode: [REDACTED]

SOLD OUT WCHS Annual Meeting and Dinner
2023-03-23 17:30 - 19:30 | Stillwater Event Center, 1910 Greeley Street South, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
The WCHS Annual Meeting will be held Thursday, March 23, 2023, at the Stillwater Event Center, located at 1910 S. Greeley Street in Stillwater (next door to the Heritage Center).
The doors open at 5:30 PM for a social hour preceding a dinner served at 6:30 PM. Award-winning caterer Todd Scheel Catering will cater the event. The annual meeting will start at 7:30 PM, with election of board members and an update on the Society’s activities.
Following the short business meeting, photographer Doug Ohman will speak about “Vanishing Landmarks”
Cost of the dinner and program is $25 for WCHS members and $30 for non-members, payable at the door. The public is invited and welcome, but reservations must be made. To reserve call 651-439-2298 or email emily.krawczewski@wchsmn.org.
Want to become a WCHS member? Click here to become a member!

Stillwater's Most Infamous Madam
2023-03-21 19:00 - 20:00 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
WCHS Treasurer Tom Simonet gave a talk about Stillwater’s most infamous lady of the night Nellie “Red Nell” Mandeville. Red Nell became a businesswoman of sorts, hiring other area women to entertain male residents and visitors.
Red Nell’s appearance on the Police Register became as predicable as the sun setting. From August 1882 through July 1883, Nell was arrested ten times! Over this period, she paid $847 in fines but never spent one day in jail. She was charged for running a “house of ill fame.” Curiously, she was always arrested with a man named Mike Keogh, who was charged with the same crime. Red Nell’s colorful life weaves from her birthplace in Ohio in 1848 to her final resting place in Minnesota in 1888. Newspaper articles and history of other area madams show the difficulty of this high-risk lifestyle.

Native American Mounds History with Jon Quijano
2023-03-08 19:00 - 20:00 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
Jon Quijano is an award-winning history documentary writer. His latest field research is taking place here in the St. Croix River Valley, gathering knowledge about the peoples who have called the valley home for thousands of years. This is a talk on his findings and his research process on a work in progress.

Found in the water: The John Jeremy Story
2023-02-16 19:00 - 20:00 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
Over the course of history, families develop special skills such as blacksmithing, gold & silver smiths, plus many other occupations that are handed down through the generations. One family in Stillwater had a very unique talent that went through three generations until it was no longer used, and that was of finding of drowning victims. Learn about John Jeremy’s highly unusual employment with WCHS Executive Director Brent Peterson!

Black & White Movie Night: "The Kid" starring Charlie Chaplin
2023-02-08 19:00 - 20:00 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
Black & White Movie Night is back at the Washington County Heritage Center! Retired university professor Steve Schroer will provide an introduction to the film.
About the movie: Chaplin’s first full-length feature is a silent masterpiece about a little tramp who discovers a little orphan and brings him up but is left desolate when the orphanage reclaims him. Chaplin directed, produced and starred in the film, as well as composed the score.

Annual Winter Ice Cream Social
2023-01-28 12:00 - 16:00 | MN
The Annual Winter Ice Cream Social will be held on Saturday, January 28th from noon to 4pm in North Lowell Park near Mulberry Point. Generous partners include: Leo’s Grill & Malt Shop, Lift Bridge Brewery and The Daily Grind Espresso Café! Free ice cream, bonfire and a chance to visit with your neighbors you haven’t seen since the first snowfall!

Our tent will be set up in Lowell Park near the Gazebo from 12pm-4pm for free ice cream, root beer floats and coffee. Chili will be available for $5 – cash only. And you can’t miss the incredible sculptures made from teams from AROUND THE WORLD for the World Snow Sculpting Championship 2023 put on through Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce and City of Stillwater, Minnesota – Local Government!

"Buried Secrets: Looking for Frank and Ida" with author Anne Hanson
2023-01-25 19:00 - 20:00 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
When Anne Hanson’s dad first asked her to investigate the secret past of his parents, little did she know what she was getting into. For two decades, despite all her digging, she failed to unearth even the tiniest speck of evidence that the families of her grandparents, Frank and Ida Hanson, had ever existed. If her quest were a detective novel, its title would have been, “The Case of the Missing Ancestors.”
Finally, Anne unearthed her grandparents’ true identities and the secrets they took their graves. Journeying into an early twentieth century drama of pain and heartache, she solved a mystery from an era when a young couple, thwarted by social conventions, could simply vanish and create new lives. They radically altered their family destiny, with aftereffects that reverberated for generations.
Yet “Buried Secrets: Looking for Frank and Ida” is, ultimately, a love story. When she learned the truth of her grandparents’ past, Anne comprehended the true depth of their love. Buried Secrets also illuminates the love between a dad and the daughter who gave him answers he had longed for his entire life.
Anne will be presenting her program virtually, but event attendees may attend in-person at the Heritage Center or virtually over Zoom (see link below to register for Zoom).
Author Anne Hanson
About the Author:
Anne Hanson has written for the Boston Globe and numerous newspapers, as well as for corporate publications and the New England Historic Genealogical Society’s American Ancestors magazine. A Wesleyan University graduate, she grew up in suburban Philadelphia. Anne lives with her husband in Brookline, Massachusetts.

How Fur Traders Shaped Minnesota, Literally!
2023-01-18 18:00 - 19:00 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
Herb Reckinger Jr. of the South Washington Heritage Society gives a talk about fur trading and the North West Company. Why does Minnesota’s northeastern border slant down? NWC was responsible for defining Minnesota’s current day border as well as exploration and settlement of Canada/northern parts of the United States. Additionally, Herb will give details on the fierce competition between NWC and their rivals, Hudson’s Bay Company.

Bill McCarthy Poetry Book Launch
2023-01-12 18:30 - 20:30 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
Bill McCarthy is releasing a new book of poetry! To celebrate and launch the new pieces, he is hosting a book release event at the Washington County Heritage Center. Bill plans to have a musician perform as well as readings from his book. Light refreshments and coffee will be served. The new book will be available for purchase at the event.

Warden's House Winter Cleaning Party
2022-12-16 09:00 - 13:00, 2022-12-11 09:00 - 13:00, 2022-12-09 09:00 - 13:00, 2022-12-05 09:00 - 13:00 | Warden’s House Museum, 602 Main Street North, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
TLC the Warden’s Winter Cleaning Parties! Join Warden House site manager Julianne to help clean the Warden’s Home. November 4th, 6th, 11th, 20th and December 5th, 9th, 11th, 16th.

On each date, we’ll pick one of the original rooms to clean. Coffee and hot chocolate will be provided and all cleaning materials will be provided.

Annual WCHS Christmas Book Sale & Author Day
2022-12-03 12:00 - 16:00 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
It’s the most wonderful time of the year – our Annual WCHS Christmas Book Sale & Author Day!

Featured authors include: Brian Casey, Ryan Gale, Gary Goodman, Nancy Goodman, Chris Nelson, Brent Peterson, Naomi Purves-Adams, Gloria VanDemmeltraadt, George Schire, and Jon & Candy Severson.

Private Event: We Can Change the World (WCCW)
2022-11-16 18:45 - 20:45 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States

St. Croix Valley Civil War Round Table Program
2022-11-14 19:00 - 20:00 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
Scott Mingus, award-winning author of more than a dozen books on the American Civil War and Underground Railroad, will be discussing “Wargaming Gettysburg” from 7-8 p.m. at the November 14 meeting of the St. Croix Valley Civil War Round Table. His talk is open to the public.
Learn more about the St. Croix Valley Civil War Round Table at: https://www.scvcwrt.org/
