Blogs

Tonight, Thursday September 4, the Northfield Historical Society is hosting a reception for Jesse James’ Great Granddaughter, Betty Barr, the reception starts at 5:30 p.m.  In addition we will once again welcome our friend from Germany Dietmar Kuegler, Author and Publisher from WYK Auf Foehr Germany.  This year Dietmar has brought a tour group with him from Germany!  R.L. Wilson was scheduled to be in Northfield but due to another commitment he will not be in attendance.

On Saturday authors, John J. Koblas and Victoria Kasten will be on hand to sign copies of their books.

John J. Koblas is one of the top experts on the James-Younger Gang and their travels through Minnesota and has published twelve books on that subject. One of Koblas' best known books on the James-Younger Gang is Faithful Unto Death, that chronicles the Gang's movements through Minnesota before and after their attempted robbery in Northfield, it is the most comprehensive book on the attempted raid to date. Some of John's other books include; Jesse James in Iowa, Jesse James Ate Here, Minnesota Grit and many more.

Victoria Kasten is the author of the widely popular children's books series, Mighty Stallion. The Mighty Stallion series looks at the American Wild West through the eyes of the wild horse. Right now there are 5 books in the series with more on the way.

Both authors will be on hand Saturday starting at 10:00 a.m. and Koblas and Kasten will return on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. to sign more copies of their books.

For more information on the Historical Society or DJJD please call us at 507-645-9268 or email us through our website by clicking here.

The vintage base ball game between the Northfield Silver Stars and the St. Croix Base Ball Club will be played at Old Memorial Field off Seventh Street Saturday, Sept. 6. Game time is 1 p.m.

The match was previously scheduled to be played at St. Olaf College, but a student activity scheduled for the same time required the base ball game be moved. Spectators are invited to bring a blanket or chairs, park in the city swimming pool parking lot and watch the game.

The match is a recreation of base ball as it was played in the 1860s.

The players do not wear gloves; a ball caught on the bounce is an out; and there is absolutely no spitting, swearing or betting.

The event is part of Defeat of Jesse James Days. There is no admission.

GO STARS!!!!

By now most of you know that on August 23, the Northfield Historical Society will be hosting our first  motorcycle run to raise money for our youth education programs.  If you want to know more about it, visit the Outlaw Run web site.  You can also listen to me on the 93X morning show on August 18 at 8:30 a.m.  I am going to talk about the Run and why a historical society is doing this type of event.

Updates for the Run:

• The lunch at Elysian is going to be a BBQ for $2.00
• After the rally at the Reub N' Stein there will be a drawing for a pair of Minnesota Twins tickets.
• Outlaw Run T-shirts are in!! When you register for the run you get a T-shirt or you can buy them at the Museum Store for $14.95.

For more information on the Run call the Northfield Historical Society at 507-645-9268.

Local author/historian John J. Koblas will give a slide presentation on his new trilogy of books entitled Let them Eat Grass, Thursday, August 14, at the Northfield Historical Society.  The three-part series is broken into different areas about the conflict.  "Smoke," the first book, published in 2006, details American Indian history from earliest times, carefully setting up the climate of inevitable confrontation with the arrival of white settlers in Minnesota. The second book, "Fire," chronicles early attacks on small settlements to the attacks on Fort Ridgely, New Ulm, and the Battles of Birch Coulee and Wood Lake, culminating in the surrender of the Sioux at Camp Release. The final book in the series, "Ashes" focuses on the trials of Dakota leaders, the mass hanging at Mankato, the death of Little Crow, the pursuit of the Sioux into the Dakota and Montana Territories, and the war on a bigger scale—Fetterman, Custer, Wounded Knee, Sugar Point. Whether genocide or accident, if there is a villain in the story it is not peevish old Sitting Bull, or the yellow-haired boy general, but the American people and their never-ending list of places which the Indians 'did not need.'
 

Mr. Koblas will be signing books before and after the presentation.  Refreshments will be served.  The book signing and presentation will start at 6:30 p.m. at the Northfield Historical Society; we are located at 408 Division Street, in downtown Northfield.