Follow

• 

  Barrett Ice Works Interview, 1972

  Barrett Ice Works

  Workers at the Barrett Ice Works Plant were interviewed. The Barrett Ice Works was owned and operated by the Ole Hjelle family. The recording includes some of the engine and machine sounds and various interviews with workers.

  Grant County

• 

  Sam Barr Interview, 1973

  Sam Barr

  Sam Barr was born in a boxcar in Forsythe, Montana on May 19, 1914 to Samuel Arthur Barr, an itinerant line man with a power company and his wife Julia Cecelia (Weber) Barr. The family returned to Ortonville when Sam was six months old. Sam was educated in Ortonville until illness took him out of school before graduating high school. In the early 1950s Sam became involved in politics. He served 12 years as a representative in the Minnesota State Legislature.

  In this interview, Sam Barr discusses his early background and his first involvement in politics in the 1950s. He discusses Bill Sorenson, representative, and Barr's first election to the House. He discusses major issues during his 12 years as a representative, including: sales tax issues, bills sponsored by Barr (small loan industry bill and doctor procurement for rural Minnesota bill), Barr's association with UMN Morris and the establishment of UMN Morris, non-party designated legislature vs. party-type legal issue, a cloud seeding bill, the regard for the Minnesota government and representative Ed Martinson.

  Big Stone County

• 

  Edward E. Barsness Interview, 1973

  Edward E. Barsness

  Edward Barsness was born on July 25, 1891 and was a long-time resident of Pope County. After attending school in the county and then in St. Paul, Edward Barsness served in World War I. He then became editor of the Pope County Tribune, a job he held for 35 years. He served several terms in the Minnesota Legislature (1927 and 1961) and was also the Judge of Probate in Pope County for several years.

  In this interview, Edward Barsness discusses his personal background. He then discusses the Pope County Tribune as a political force. He talks about politicians he respected and the newspaper as a "moral enforcer." He discusses issues important to Barsness as a legislator, the Farmer's Holiday, and newspaper editors of his era compared to the editors of the 1970s.

  Pope County

• 

  Ole Barsness Interview, ca. 1975

  Ole Barsness

  Ole Barsness was 92 years old. His father and brothers came from Norway to homestead in Barsness Township, Pope County. His father fought in the Civil War, and was the first to introduce horses into West-Central Minnesota farming. Ole farmed in Pope County. He talked of early automobiles, road conditions, and why he never married.

  Pope County

• 

  Sigrud Bartness Interview, 1973

  Sigrud Bartness

  Sigrud Bartness' father was born in Norway and immigrated to the United States in 1871.

  In this interview, Sigrud Bartness discusses his father's immigration and how he came to Alexandria. He discusses the Lien church, the blizzard of 1873, grasshopper plagues, working on the railroad, prairie fires, farming with oxen, the Friedem's Union Cemetary, and the Lower Elk Lake Temperance Society.

  Grant County

• 

  Eda Beck Interview, ca. 1979

  Eda Beck

  Eda Beck grew up on a farm near Herman and was 88 years old. Her father farmed and her family moved many times until they settled in Barrett, Minnesota. Eda was a teacher and taught in both country and town schools. She spent most of her adult life living in Norcross, Minnesota. She helped to organize the Norcross Study Club.

  In this interview, she discusses her experiences as a teacher. She talks about the Norcross Study Club and her hobbies: fishing and crocheting.

  Grant County

• 

  Eugene Behl Interview, ca. 1976

  Eugene Behl

  Gene Behl was 69 years old and was born in South Dakota. He moved to Morris in 1912. He was a former employee of the Minnesota Highway Department (1925-1969).

  In this interview, Gene Behl talks about the development of Minnesota highways and highway equipment.

  Stevens County

• 

  Emma Belgum Interview, ca. 1977

  Emma Belgum

  Emma Belgum was 90 years old and was born in a dugout house near Kensington, Minnesota. Her parents came from Norway in 1871.

  In this interview, she discusses many of her experiences on the farm, both before and after she was married. She talks about a bad storm that occurred on their farm. She also discusses the changes in farming over the years.

  Douglas County

• 

  Ben Bengston Interview, ca. 1978

  Ben Bengston

  Ben Bengston was born in North Dakota and later moved to Minnesota. He was 90 years old and lived in Morris at the time of the interview. He worked as a farmer with his father, and then joined the U.S. Navy before World War I. He did line work for Ottertail Power Company, then worked as a farmer again, and worked for the state on the State Board of Electricity. After retiring, he did some carpentry work.

  In this interview, he discusses growing up in a sod house. He discusses farming and threshing techniques. He talks about going to a rural school near Canby, Minnesota. He discusses his time in U.S. Navy in Nicaragua. He mentions his time working for Ottertail Power Company, and includes a time when he was almost injured in an accident.

  Stevens County

• 

  Elmer Benson Interview, 1973

  Elmer A. Benson

  Elmer Benson was the son of Norwegian immigrants and had lived all his life in Appleton, Minnesota, where he was born. After attending law school, Benson served in World War I and then worked in an Appleton bank. He was appointed Securities Commissioner, later Bank Commissioner, and then U.S. Senator by Floyd B. Olson. Elmer Benson, a Farmer-Laborite, was then elected governor in 1936. He was also active in the Non-Partisan League.

  In this interview, Elmer Benson discusses the Non-Partisan League in Minnesota and Swift County, the establishment of the Farmer-Labor Party in Minnesota, and Benson's participation. He discusses the Farmer-Labor Association, A.C. Townley, and the Farmer-Labor Party in West Central Minnesota. He discusses New Deal principles and West Central Minnesota Farmer's Holiday Movement, as well as the Democratic Party-Farmer-Labor Party merger. He discusses Hjalmar Petersen, Floyd B. Olson, and representative Rev. Kvale, He also discusses the split in the Farmer-Labor Party, Benson's present activities, and his opinion of his administration and the Farmer-Labor Party. Finally, he talks about his concern over the present conservatism in the DFL and the nation, the AFL-CIO, and his anti-war sentiments about the Vietnam War.

  Swift County

• 

  Carol Berg Interview, 2005

  Carol Berg

  In this interview, Carol (Lamb) Berg talks about life as a student at the West Central School of Agricultural, where she graduated from in 1945. Mrs. Berg worked as a WCSA faculty stenographer from 1946 through 1947. Carol and her husband Charles met while both were attending WCSA. The couple were married in 1948, and raised seven children on a farm near Chokio.

  Stevens County

• 

  Charles Berg Interview, 2005

  Charles Berg

  n this interview, Charles Berg talks about life as a student at the West Central School of Agricultural, where he graduated from in 1945, and attended the WCSA Advanced Class in 1946. Charles and his wife Carol met while both were attending WCSA. The couple married in 1948 and raised seven children on a farm near Chokio. Charles served in the Minnesota senate for 26 years.

  Stevens County

• 

  Stan Berger Interview, ca. 1979

  Stan Berger

  Stan Berger was born in 1906 in Kansas and later moved to Herman. He farmed with his brothers on the "BB" ranch; they often held dances there to raise extra money during hard times. He was also active in the city council and the fire department.

  In this interview, Stan discusses farming, the BB Ranch and the dances they held there, the bands they had for the dances, and a rodeo they held. He also talks about the starting of his implement and car dealership (Chevrolet) and various cars. He then discusses working for the fire department and the roads in Herman.

  Grant County

• 

  Viola Bergherr Interview, 1978

  Viola Bergherr

  In this interview, Ms. Bergherr discusses the Morris Senior Citizens Center. She was the recently elected Treasurer of the organization and discusses her perspectives as an officer. She also discusses federal programs and financing the Center.

  Stevens County

• 

  Ted Berg Interview, 1973

  Theodore Berg

  Ted Burg was born in 1884 near Wendell, Minnesota. His parents came from Goodhue County in 1871.

  In this interview, Ted Burg discusses his early neighbors, the businesses in Elbow Lake and Hereford, his first teachers, the Broosters, the prices in the Depression and how the Great Northern Railroad hauled grain.

  Grant County

• 

  Hugh Block Interview, 1974

  Hugh Block

  In this interview, former blacksmith Hugh Block discusses some of the secret codes of a blacksmith and plays some old tunes on a harmonica.

  Grant County

• 

  Mary Bogie Interview, 1975

  Mary Bogie

  Mary (Hawn) Bogie was born on December 16, 1879 in eastern Canada Province. When she was 3 years old, she and her family moved to Pope County and farmed.

  In this interview, Mary Bogie discusses her childhood and younger years. She talks of migrating from her birth place in Canada to Pope County and discusses life as a farm girl.

  Pope County

• 

  Henry Boma Interview, ca. 1977

  Henry Boma

  Henry Boma was 86 years old and was originally born in Holland, but immigrated to the United States with his parents at 6 months old in 1891. The family settled on the East Coast. He was 8 or 9 years old when his family moved to Minnesota by train. They first moved to Nobles County, then they moved to Edgerton, Minnesota. He got married in 1916 and moved to his own farm. He lived in Hancock for 57 years.

  In this interview, Henry discusses his father's occupations, including how he got involved in forestry work. Henry talks about his horses and farming. He briefly discusses other employment he had, including being the cop in Hancock. He talks about the differences between his son's farming and equipment and the equipment he had when he farmed.

  Stevens County

• 

  Ed Brandvold Interview, ca. 1977

  Ed Brandvold

  Ed Brandvold was born around the Starbuck area and was 86 years old at the time of the interview.. His family moved to Canada for a while in 1905 to homestead the land. He moved back to Starbuck in 1914 and married in 1915. He worked for the railroad in Glenwood for some time, then homesteaded in 1918.

  In this interview, he discusses his history, his work for the railroad in Glenwood, and homesteading. Next, he talks about his truck driving work, which he did for 29 years.

  Pope County

• 

  Grace Bratton Interview, ca. 1977

  Grace Bratton

  Grace Bratton was 89 years old and was born in Illinois. She then moved to Iowa, South Dakota, and Minnesota.

  In this interview, she discusses the homesteading procedure and the breaking up of virgin land, plus how sod houses were made. She also talks about farm work and the effect of the depression.

  Stevens County

• 

  Peter Braun Interview, ca. 1977

  Peter Braun

  Peter Braun was 87 years old and was born in South Dakota. From there, the family moved to De Graff to farm. They had to clear out the trees and build their own house. They moved to Alberta then and owned a business there and farmed. Peter was retired at the time of the interview and lived in Donnelly where some of his sons took care of his farm.

  In this interview, he discusses farm life in De Graff, the family businesses in Alberta, and the Barrett Ranch.

  Stevens County

• 

  Lily Brendon Interview, ca. 1977

  Lily Brendon

  Lily Brendon was 82 years old and born in Illinois. Her family moved to the Alberta area when she was 8 years old because of the cheaper land prices.

  In this interview, Lily describes the process of moving by train and traveling in the area. She also discusses the Alberta School, milking cows, their first car, experiences as a bus driver driving the horse-drawn school bus, her job at the Villa of St. Francis, and her current job with Head Start.

  Stevens County

• 

  Emma Brenvold Interview, 1972

  Emma Brenvold

  Emma Brenvold was born in 1883 near Pomme de Terre. Her parents came to Grant County in 1880.

  In this interview, she talks about her neighbors in Pomme de Terre, camping wagons on the Abercrombie Trail, her first teachers, Pomme de Terre businesses and businessesmen, and an interaction with Native Americans during her childhood.

  Grant County

• 

  Olive Briggs Interview, 1973

  Olive Briggs

  Olive Briggs was born in Pomme de Terre in 1891. Her father, Russell Briggs, met her mother at Hotel Nicollet in Minneapolis then went to Pomme de Terre Township.

  In this interview, Olive Briggs talks about Loggie Johnson and John Livey who were merchants in Pomme de Terre. She discusses Revered Norman of Ashby, the postal service in Pomme de Terre, various Pomme de Terre businesses, and building a bridge across Pomme de Terre River.

  Grant County

• 

  Charles Broten Interview, 1978

  Charles Broten

  Mr. Broten is the Director of the Older American Program and had observed and contributed to the development of the Morris Senior Citizens Center.

  In this interview, Mr. Broten discusses the financial aspects of the Morris Senior Citizens Center. He discusses how the Center was funded and its activities, programs, and special services to the elderly.

  Stevens County