Stevens County

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  Carrie McNally Interview, 1990

  Carrie McNally

  In this interview, Carrie McNally reminisces about the golden era of radio. Mrs. McNally was born in Maple Lake in 1898. The first radio she and her husband bought was run by a car battery which had to be recharged in town weekly.

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  Sophie Melchert Interview, ca. 1976

  Sophie Melchert

  Sophie Melchert was 86 years old. She moved to Stevens County as a young girl.

  In this interview, Sophie Melchert discusses what Morris was like when she moved here as a child in the early 1900s. She talks about how the winters were and what they did when the snow got to be as tall as the house. She discusses life on the farm, including wild animals, the roads, transportation, and the various chores.

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  Meta Messenbrink Interview, ca. 1979

  Meta Messenbrink

  Meta Messenbrink was born in Stevens County in 1896 and lived in Morris at the time of the interview.; she was 82 years old Her mother came from Germany and her father came from Wisconsin.

  In this interview, Meta talks about her mother's death and her funeral. Meta recalls life on the farm in the early part of the 20th century and fieldwork and farm chores. She talks about the first time she had ice cream and the processing chores for their dairy and meat products. She reminisces about her country school education and the entertainment of barn raisings, house parties, and neighbors in music bands.

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  Elsie Mohr Interview, 1974

  Elsie Mohr

  Mrs. Mohr was born in 1890 in Nebraska. At the age of eleven, she and her family moved to Horton Township in Stevens County. She lived on a farm in that township for most of her life, though during the time of the interview she was living in the City of Morris.

  In this interview, Mrs. Mohr recalls her early experiences in a rural setting and compares life as a German American in World War I to World War II. In addition, she discusses the Spanish Flu epidemic, the boom and the depression of post-war Stevens County, and life living on a farm in rural Stevens County.

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  Elsie Mohr Interview, ca. 1976

  Elsie Mohr

  Elsie Mohr was 85 years old and was born in Nebraska. She moved to Horton Township in 1902.

  In this interview, Elsie Mohr reflects on her life in the German community outside Hancock. She discusses using the German language and learning English, as well as German food. She discusses schools, churches, food, entertainment, shopping, and their first family car. She also discusses the Spanish Flu Epidemic and the Depression.

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  Mary Murphy Interview, ca. 1978

  Mary Murphy

  Mary Murphy was born in Horton Township, Stevens County in 1891 and she grew up on a farm. She lived at the Villa of St. Francis in Morris at the time of the interview.

  In this interview, she reminisces about Christmas celebrations and programs as a kid. She also taught school for a number of years at the Horton Township country school.

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  Ed Nelson Interview, 1975

  Ed Nelson

  Ed Nelson was born on February 11, 1889. He grew up on a farm and at the age of 18 went to Willmar Seminary to study telegraphy. His first job was in Lester, Iowa, and after that in the Kerkhoven-Willmar area, and finally in Morris before retiring. He worked for over 50 years as a telegraph operator and depot agent with the Great Northern Railway.

  In this interview, Ed Nelson discusses his early life and his 50 years experience with the Great Northern Railroad. He also discusses working conditions, wages, and his relationship with the first union in 1918.

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  Ed Nelson Interview, ca. 1975

  Ed Nelson

  Ed Nelson was 86 years old and was born in Kerkhoven, Minnesota. He worked for James J. Hill's Great Northern Railroad, first as a telegrapher and then later as the train station agent in Morris. He discusses the operation of the station during his tenure.

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  Edwin and Alice Norby Interview, 1978

  Edwin Norby and Alice Norby

  In this interview, Mr. and Mrs. Norby discuss the changes and functions of the Morris Senior Citizens Center and the committees of the center.

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  Fern Noyes Interview, ca. 1977

  Fern Noyes

  Fern Noyes is 79 years old and was born in Missouri. She moved to Morris in 1916 after she married, and they lived into the Le Grand Hotel.

  In this interview she talks a little about Le Grand Hotel. She discusses volunteering in the ration office during World War I. She explains what Morris was like when she arrived in 1916 and talks about their social life and the dances they went to. She discusses her husband's job as a cashier and operator at the Great Northern Railway. She talks about the changes that have happened in Morris over the years.

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  Burton Nypen Interview, 1978

  Burton Nypen

  Mr. Nypen was superintendent of schools in Chokio-Alberta when the two schools were consolidated.

  In this interview, Superintendent Nypen discusses the consolidation proceedings and the many changes induced by the consolidation.

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  Clarice Oie Interview, 1990

  Clarice Oie

  In this interview, Clarice Oie reminisces about the golden era of radio. Mrs. Oie was born in 1919 in Stevens County. . She remembers getting her first radio when she was a child for the entire family.

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  Alvin Olson Interview, ca. 1979

  Alvin Olson

  Alvin Olson was 72 years old and lived in Morris, Minnesota at the time of the interview. His parents were both from Norway and moved to Morris, Minnesota. He worked a variety of jobs, eventually owning a blacksmith shop.

  In this interview, Alvin discusses the changes in Morris, the schools in Morris, and an accident he had in his youth. He also talks about his jobs working for the city, his work repairing cars, his work as a blacksmith, and the changes in motorcycles.

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  Fred Pasche Interview, ca. 1977

  Fred Pasche

  Fred Pasche was 75 years old and was born in Webster, South Dakota. He came to Stevens County in 1908.

  In this interview, Fred recounts his hunting and trapping experiences in Stevens County. He also discusses his horseback riding. He talks about his aviation experiences and his first plane. He discusses the airplane accident he was in, and building planes. He also spent many years as township and then county assessor.

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  Ida Payne and Rosina Moser Interview, ca. 1979

  Ida Payne and Rosina Moser

  Ida Payne was 84 years old and lived in Morris at the time of the interview. She moved to the Donnelly area when she was 5 years old. At the time of the interview, Ida was caring for Rosina Moser (93 years old), who speaks at the end of the interview.

  In this interview, Ida discusses growing up in a family of 17 children. She talks about chores (such as laundry), farming, and her part in the outside work. She reflects on the changes over the years. She talks about caring for her family members when they are sick or elderly.

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  Monsignor Petermeier Interview, ca. 1977

  Monsignor Petermeier

  Monsignor Petermeier was 86 years old. He was born in Melrose, Minnesota.

  In this interview, he talks about his schooling and the three parishes he served as priest in. he also tells how he got the Villa of St. Francis started and what he had to do to go about doing it.

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  Mrs. Harry Phinney Interview, ca. 1977

  Mrs. Harry Phinney

  Mrs. Harry Phinney was 85 years old and lived in Morris. She was born in Illinois and her father was a town doctor. She discusses her activities in church and civic groups, and some of the jobs she held, including receptionist and sorority house mother. She also discusses her husband's involvement in the Works Progress Administration (WPA).

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  Max Podratz Interview, ca. 1979

  Max Podratz

  Max Podratz was 85 years old and lived in Morris at the time of the interview. His parents were born in Germany and after immigrating to the United States, settled near Swan Lake, Minnesota.

  In this interview, Max discusses ethnic relations near Swan Lake in Stevens County. He also mentions country schools, ice fishing, and farm life. He discusses planting windbreaks and the change from horses to tractors on the farm. He also reflects on the changes in Morris.

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  Hilda Poppe Interview, 1990

  Hilda Poppe

  In this interview, Hilda Poppe reminisces about the golden era of radio. Mrs. Poppe was born in Februrary of 1905. Hilda first remembers listening to the radio as a teenager in 1923.

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  G.W. Powers Interview, 1980

  G. W. Powers

  In this interview, G.W. Powers talks about life at home front during World War II. Mr. Powers was born in Chokio, Minnesota in 1911 and established the Power's Produce Company in 1938 and operated it throughout World War II.

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  Kenneth Prall Interview, ca. 1977

  Kenneth Prall

  Kenneth Prall was born in Atlantic, Iowa in 1904, and was 73 years old at the time of the interview. He worked in the clothes cleaning business, starting at the age of 13 or 14.

  In this interview, he discusses his time in the clothes cleaning business, which he worked in for 52-53 years. He discussed the tough times he had during the Great Depression. He also discusses fishing, which is a favorite hobby.

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  Sister Praxeda Interview, ca. 1979

  Sister Praxeda

  Sister Praxeda worked at the Villa of St. Francis since its beginning in 1963 until 1971 when she moved to upstate New York where she worked in a convent.

  In this interview, she discusses the origins of the Villa of St. Francis and reflects on the mission of the Villa and the order of Franciscan sisters.

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  Hart Proudfoot Interview, ca. 1977

  Hart Proudfoot

  Hart Proudfoot was 84 years old and was born in Stillwater, Minnesota. He moved to Morris when he was 7.

  In this interview, he discusses threshing and farm life in Minnesota. He talks about carpentry and why homes weren't insulated. He talks about selling cars for Ford and Chrysler Plymouth and his tricks to good salesmanship.

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  Anna Rasmussen Interview, ca. 1977

  Anna Rasmussen

  Anna Rasmussen was 90 years old and lived in Morris. She was born in Denmark and came to the United States in 1922.

  In this interview, Anna discusses life in Denmark and Danish foods. She worked on her farm and also held some restaurant jobs. Her husband was a road-builder, so she discusses the roads in Minnesota.

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  Shirley Redfield Interview, 1995

  Shirley Redfield

  In this interview, Shirley Redfield reminisces about the early days of television. Mrs. Redfield was born in Clinton, MN on August 30, 1913. She lived outside of Stevens County until 1969 when she moved to Morris. Her first television was purchased in 1953 or 1954.