This collection contains oral histories pertaining to life and events in Stevens County, Minnesota. The oral histories range greatly in topic and time period.
The digitization of these oral histories was made possible in part by the people of Minnesota through a grant funded by an appropriation to the Minnesota Historical Society from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. Any views, findings, opinions, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the State of Minnesota, the Minnesota Historical Society, or the Minnesota Historic Resources Advisory Committee.
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Jake VanEps Interview, 1995
Jake VanEps
In this interview, Jake VanEps reminisces about the early days of television. Mr. VanEps was born Nov. 5, 1919 in Bejou, MN and moved to Stevens County in 1940. He purchased his first television in 1954.
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Frances Van Zomeren Interview, 1990
Frances Van Zomeren
In this interview, Frances Van Zomeren reminisces about the golden era of radio. Mrs. Van Zomeren was seventy-four years old at the time of this interview. She remembers listening to the radio when she was in third of fourth grade.
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Frances Van Zomeren Interview, 1995
Frances Van Zomeren
In this interview, Frances Van Zomeren reminisces about the early days of television. Mrs. Van Zomeren was born October 1916 in Stevens County. She saw a television for the first time at the Chicago's World Fair in 1933.
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Edna Varnum Interview, 1979
Edna Varnum
In this interview, Edna Varnum discusses how she and her husband started their Main Street business that eventually became Varnum's Hardware. She discusses here role in buying and determining new product lines, the difficulties and changes World War II brought to the hardware business, and the reasons for the sale of their family-operated business.
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Emma Varnum Interview, ca. 1977
Emma Varnum
Emma Varnum was 95 years old and lived in Morris. She was born in Illinois and her father was a farmer. She knew Thomas Edison when she was a child. After she was married, she moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico traveling by covered wagon. In 1906 she moved to Morris.
In this interview, she discusses travelling by wagon train to New Mexico and what they ate and drank along the way. She discusses train robberies and what it was like to live in New Mexico, including how they got and rationed potable water. She talks about early Morris, the many liquor stores and the "red light" district.
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Anne Webster Interview, 1995
Anne Webster
In this interview, Anne Webster reminisces about the early days of television. Mrs. Webster was born on October 26, 1914 in Nunda, SD and moved to Morris, MN in 1941.
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Ed Weeding Interview, ca. 1977
Ed Weeding
Ed Weeding was 68 years old and lived in Chokio. He attended the West Central School of Agriculture in Morris.
In this interview, he discusses some experiences about his time at the West Central School of Agriculture. He discusses the depression and farming. He relates his involvement in the group that brought the University of Minnesota to Morris. He mentions the friction with Montevideo.
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Henry Wendt Interview, ca. 1977
Henry Wendt
Henry Wendt was 78 years old. His parents were born in Germany and immigrated to the United States. His father homesteaded in Stevens County in 1877, and Henry Wendt continued to live on the land at the time of the interview. He farmed the land from 1929-1963.
In this interview, Henry Wendt discusses his family history and the process of filing for a homestead. He also discusses various stories of his father, including a story about how his father almost lost his money pouch while threshing. He then talks about his experiences farming, including the changes in farming equipment.
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Cleda Wernsing Interview, ca. 1979
Cleda Wernsing
Cleda Wernsing was born in Illinois and was 83 years old. Her father was a farmer and her family moved to Minnesota because of cheaper land.
In this interview, Cleda discusses the changes Chokio and Johnson have undergone over the years. She discusses what they did for a social life. She also talks about some of the changes in home appliances over the years.
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Gail Whitmer Interview, 1981
Gail Whitmer
Gail Whitmer bought the Morris Taxi Service in late 1959. He was familiar with the taxi company because he was in a unique position of being the former night driver for Mr. Luckens "Morris Taxi" company. He worked out of the Merchant's Hotel and had two taxis.
In this interview, Gail Whitmer talks about different people he transported, costs of operation, and city involvement. He decided to sell the business in 1968 because of an arthritic hip. However, he never was able to sell the business as he could find no buyer.
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Mary Willie Interview, ca. 1979
Mary Willie
Mary Willie was born in Iowa and was 85 years old. Her family moved to Minnesota because of cheaper land available.
In this interview, she discusses the moving process and traveling by covered wagon. She also mentions barn dances and the threshing experience.
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LeRoy Woolridge Interview, 1975
LeRoy Woolridge
In this interview, Mr. Woolridge discusses how he acquired the first airplane in Stevens County. He discusses his barnstorming activities across the Midwest and general views of early aviation.
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Roy Woolridge Interview, ca. 1975
LeRoy Woolridge
Roy Woolridge was 76 years old and was born in Iowa. He operated the pool hall in the Morris Hotel and also the Chevrolet and Buick dealership in the 1920s. He talks of his experiences as an early aviator, barnstormer, and stunt flyer. He flew with the likes of Lindberg and Amelia Earhart.
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Roy Woolridge Interview, ca. 1978
LeRoy Woolridge
Roy Woolridge was 70 years old, from Morris, and this was his second appearance on Reminiscing in West Central Minnesota. The first part of the interview consists of excerpts from his earlier interview.
In the second part of the interview, Roy discusses his activities with the Senior Citizens Center.
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August "Pat" Zimmerman Interview, ca. 1979
August Zimmerman
August "Pat" Zimmerman was a lifetime resident of Chokio and was 80 years old. He was a farmer for most of his life.
Pat discusses the town of Chokio and what it was like when he was growing up. He talks about his German background, the local church, the family farm, his best years in farming, and changes in the types of equipment used.
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Dorothy Zinda Interview, 1978
Dorothy Zinda
Mrs. Zinda is active in the Morris Senior Citizens Center.
In this interview, Mrs. Zinda discusses the Morris Senior Citizens Center, particularly the Nutrition Center and activity programs.