Micro Stream Radio - Preservation Oaks

EP010 Minnesota Beltrami County Historical Society - Emily Thabes

For this episode, Sean Thomas caught up with Ms. Emily Thabes, the Executive Director of the Beltrami County Historical Society located in Bemidji Minnesota. I think after listening to the program, you’ll agree that she and her team are sustaining a whirlwind of activity all of which provides value to the community! 

We learned about how the historical society is working on building and improving the complicated relationships between the historical society and the native Ojibwe and Dakota 1^st nations located in the county. 

Emily is excited to share a new exhibit located at the historical society Depot called: Beltrami Women in Winter Sports. There are a number of Beltrami County women athletes who have made it to the Olympics. 

We learn about a great man by the name of John Morrison who was a renaissance man, running a General Store and Trading Post, filling the role of Postmaster, being a Headmaster of a local school, and starting the Historical Society. 

The Beltrami Historical Society will celebrate their seventieth anniversary in 2022. There are also anniversaries this year for the federal Title IV law and the Winter Olympics! 

Early in the society’s history, in the 1950’s; Charles Vandersluis collected 150+ oral histories from residents of Beltrami County. Many of them are from native American inhabitants. The society is working on digitizing and transcribing these and will make them available online via their website. These items are pure GOLD and wonderful. 

The society serves over 80 townships, native nations, and reservations in the county. They are planning to go on the road to complete a “Township Tour” throughout the County. 

The society is partnering with a consortium of Minnesota museums and historical societies to create exhibits about a history of toys. 

Learn about the two grants for core work to support collection preservation that the historical society were awarded recently. 

The society is redoing both their online website store and the gift shop in the historical society depot. 

Volunteers always needed and there is a wide range of opportunities for volunteers. Something for everyone. Helping with tours, and collection management work. Digitization of materials. Setting up gift shop and online store. Writing articles, designing brochures. To volunteer, simply fill out the volunteer form on the website. It is also available at the society depot. 

We review the multitude of excellent programs that the society has designed to share and offer education. 

We review Emily’s list of the most immediate priorities for the public to help with. 

Many thanks to Emily for taking the time to meet with Preservation Oaks!  If you’re a listener in the area the society serves, OR if you’re a listener researching ancestors in the community the society serves and you’re not already a member, please consider joining and supporting the society! There are a number of great benefits conferred upon members! 

You can connect with the Beltrami County Historical Society at their website at

Beltrami County Historical Society (beltramihistory.org)
130 Minnesota Ave SW 
Bemidji, MN   56601 
PHONE: 2184443376 
EMAIL: depot@beltramihistory.org

I hope this information helps the audience understand how valuable the society is the community and what kinds of excellent services they have to offer to their members and the public. The Beltrami Historical Society is truly one of our Preservation Oaks!

 

EP009 Iowa Heartland Museum - Melody Lager

In this episode, Sean Thomas meets with Ms. Melody Lager, the President of the Board of the Heartland Museum located in Clarion, Iowa.

Sean shares his thoughts and hopes regarding the new year and recognizes our national Martin Luther King holiday.

We learned that the Heartland Museum is a very diverse and unique regional museum! Melody shared an overview of the museum, letting us know that it maintains a collection of antique restored tractors and farm machinery, horse drawn farm equipment and buggies, farm and construction toys, a re-creation of Main Streets in the Victorian Age, the 1930’s and 1950’s. This includes a tribute to Alvina Sellers who was known as the “Iowa Hat Lady”.

The museum continues its mission and growth into 2022. Melody shared that the highest priority at this time for the museum is a new building; the cost of which is high; but the museum is out of space at this time. In order to increase the history preserved in the museum, another building is needed. Please donate to this worthy cause!

Melody mentioned the following events being planned for this year:

• An open house murder mystery based on a murder that occurred in Clarion in the late 1800’s. This is being planned for May 2022.
• Two new exhibits are being installed and Melody is planning a weekend extravaganza to share these with the public and donors.
• The museum has a new horse that will be used to be harnessed to buggies. That horse needs a name and so the museum will sponsor a “Name that horse” contest. Get involved and help name the horse!
• Several presentations on Barns, the Civil War, and Geocaching. The Museum has a site used by the public for Geocaching! Sounds great! Just connect with the Museum to have some fun!

There is a cutter snow sled buggy made by the Garland Company in the museum’s collection. As far as anyone knows, it is the only one in the country and very beautiful! She shared some of the history of this rare and unique piece.

Very cool! The town of Clarion is where the 4H emblem and clubs started in the US. The museum has the schoolhouse there it all began on the grounds that you can see!

You can also use Smile.Amazon.com to automatically donate to the museum every time you shop. Right now, not a lot of people use it. Please sign up to help raise the funds for the new building!  

There is so much to see that we didn’t have time to review! If any listeners are anywhere near Clarion, IA. I recommend planning a trip to visit this fantastic resource! The folks in Clarion and Wright County are so lucky to have this jewel in their county; preserving their history, values, and culture; and then sharing it for the benefit of the County’s residents of all ages. This is really a treasure!

The Museum is open all week and including Saturdays, from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The rest of the year, they need you to call to make an appointment to complete the tour.

If you’re a listener in the area the museum serves, and you’re not already a donor, then please consider donating and supporting them! They are out of space and need to build a new building in order to preserve and offer more for the County!

The Heartland Museum is truly one of our nation’s Preservation Oaks!

The contact information for the Heartland Museum is:

Heartland Museum | Facebook

Heartland Museum Antiques, Tractors, Old time stores; Clarion Iowa

Address:    119 SW 9th St

                  PO Box 652

                  Clarion, IA   50525

Phone: 515-602-6000

Email: heartlandclarion@gmail.com

 

EP008 Hawaii Caledonian Society of Hawaii - Bruce McEwan

In this NEW YEAR'S episode, Sean Thomas Radcliff meets with Bruce McEwan, the Chieftan of the Caledonian Society of Hawaii.

 

Bruce McEwan was so kind to educate us on the facts of the richness of the history of the Scots in Hawaii. They were a part of the Royal Family of Hawaii. Princess Kaiulani was half-Scottish, and the Caledonian Society and others hold a traditional Tribue to Princess Kaiulani during the Scottish Highland games annually. It’s such a shame that the 2020, 2021 games were canceled and possibly the 2022 games may have to be canceled as well. We learned that 2020 was the 40th annual Highland Games and the Scotts in Hawaii have yet to be able to celebrate that with the people of Hawaii.

 

Bruce told us all about why Robert Burns, the Bard of Scotland is important to the world and why an annual Robert Burns night is held in January for the Scottish National Poet.

 

The Caledonian Society of Hawaii is doing so much each year to keep the people of Hawaii aware of the Scottish influence in the Islands. There is the Tribute to Princes Kaiulani, and the Highland Games we’ve already mentioned, and then there are traditional, ceremonial, and just plain fun events happening all the time.

We learned about some of these such as the SERG program which assists young adults to complete a project normally in Scotland, the Scott of the Year award, the Robert Burns night, the St. Andrew’s Day celebration, the Blessing of the Tartans, participation of the Society in Hawaiian multi-cultural events of all kinds, and finally attending upon request events in schools and other places where a Scott is requested to attend.

 

Bruce educated us about Robert Crieghton Wiley, who served as a trusted advisor to the Hawaiian Royal Family until the overthrow of the Kingdom in 1893. He sadly related the tragic death at just 24 years of age of Princess Victoria Kaiulani, who was educated in the UK and who passed away in 1899. We also learned about Archibald Scot Claghorn who married into the Hawaiian Royal Family.

 

We learned how the Scottish National flag got to be created and how St. Andrew became the patron Saint of Scotland. Very interesting.

 

We found out that the Caledonian Society has been active for 56 years and how the top priorities are getting back to normal in-person events post covid and attracting and retaining young people across the Islands for membership and leadership of the Society going forward.

 

Bruce told us about the Oral Interview project of people of Scottish descent in the Islands and how that led to the publication of a book entitled “The Story of Scotts in Hawaii”. That book is available from the Caledonian Society website and makes a fantastic gift.

 

Bruce mentioned how the original oral histories and other valuable artifacts were donated to a local Historical Society and Library where they are preserved in perpetuity.

 

The Caledonian Society membership is open to anyone with an interest in Scotland and educating the public in the History and Culture of the Scots in Hawaii and Scotland. There are so many fun events going on all the time, please see the list on the Society Web Site. It just makes sense for anyone who wants to contribute to the community to join and support the Society.

 

I have to say sincerely, that whether you’re a member of the Society or not; participating in the annual Tribute to Princess Kaiulani ceremony at the Royal Family’s mausoleum would be up there at the top of my list of things to make certain I observe annually.

 

There were a thousand questions I could have asked Bruce McEwan during our time together but could not in the interest of time. If questions occur to you and you would like more information, please connect with the Society via the contact information provided.

 

If you’re a listener in the area the society serves, OR if you’re a listener who values the history of Hawaii or Scottish ancestry, and you’re not already a member, please, do yourself a favor by joining and supporting the Society!

 

The society’s website and contact information again:

Caledonian Society Of Hawaii | Facebook

The Caledonian Society of Hawaii (scotsinhawaii.org)

Email at info@scotsinhawaii.org

Mail: P.O. Box 4164, Honolulu, HI 96812-4164

 

I hope this information helps everyone, like me, understand how valuable the Caledonian society of Hawaii is to the community and what kinds of excellent benefits they have to offer to their members and the public.

 

The Caledonian Society of Hawaii is truly one of our Nation’s Preservation Oaks!

 

EP007 Kansas Reno County Museum and Historical Society - David Reed

In this CHRISTMAS Episode, Sean meets with Mr. David Reed, the Chief Curator and “Story Teller of Truth”, from the Reno County Museum and Historical Society located in Hutchinson, Kansas.

David shared a Hutch News newspaper article from January 2, 1873 which described one of the first Christmas celebrations in Hutchinson.

We discuss the great State Fair controversy and how President Taft helped resolve the issue in 1913.

David shared that both Reno County and City of Hutchinson are 150 years old and how the area will celebrate this in 2022.

Sean Thomas goes ga-ga over the insane coolness of the Strataca mine that the Society manages and where the Society sponsors and annual 5k run, a 10k run, and the Tour de Salt bicycle race, all of which are 650 feet underground! There is nowhere else like this across the world!   There is also a conference center and an annual Murder Mystery theatre that takes place.

We learn about David’s background, his passion for history, and his belief that museums not only curate history but also culture.

David reviews how a new style of exhibit is being implemented into the museum and is forecasting completion sometime next year.

We discuss the annual Halloween event which is live-streamed and the annual Christmas in the Courtyard specifically designed for the community to relax and meet the museum staff.

We discuss a project where over 100 oral histories provided by local African Americans in the county were collected and archived, and how the Society is planning to make this treasure-trove of history available to the public.

We learned about the life and times of Solomon Butler, a great man hailing from Hutchinson; who changed Reno County forever and for the better.  More to come about Solomon from a Professor at Dubuque University planning to publish a book about Solomon’s life.  

We learned about Ms. Pat Mitchell, a local Historian and renaissance woman who died much too early and whose life’s work was donated to the Reno County Historical Society and is a huge collection; rivaling the number of artifacts the Museum had prior to her generous gift. The Society is working to make this totally and historically impressive collection available to the public.

We find out how Reno County was named after General Reno, and how Hutchinson was named after C.C. Hutchinson.

We learned about the day the Reno County Courthouse sank into the Salt Mine and needed to be replaced, and how the Museum has an undeteriorated 150-year-old pickle in a jar!

We learn that Reno County Kansas IS where Morton Salt comes from!

We discussed the two National Historic Districts in the area and the Business College building.

We learn about the founding of the Reno County Museum and how it evolved into the facilities it occupies today.

We learn about Ben Blanchard and the founding of South Hutchinson and the discovery of salt underground.

David and Sean had fun during their time together and we learned that the Reno County Museum and Historical Society (renocomuseum.org)  is without a doubt one of our great Nation’s Preservation Oaks! 

 

EP006 Iowa Fremont County Historical Society Sandra Bengtson

In this episode, Sean Thomas meets with Sandra Bengtson, the President of the Fremont County Historical Society in Sidney Iowa.

 

We discussed the facilities the Society manages which are the Museum, the Old School House, the Gathering Place, and the Ferrell House Museum.  

 

The Society is very excited about the fact that digitization of archived Sidney newspapers has been completed. Sandra may now be able to find the date that the town started being referred to as “Rodeo Town USA”.

 

Congratulations to Sandra and team for rescuing several boxes of 150-year-old records from being destroyed by the County.

 

We discussed a HUGE project underway to prepare County Probate files for digitization. There are over 3000 of these to complete.

 

Great news! Sandra was able to confirm that Ulysses S. Grant did stay in the Cromwell House when it was a hotel! Sandra believes he may have been there with other political luminaries of the time in an attempt to start the Greenback Party. The original Hotel Registry book and other items can be seen in an exhibit in the museum!

 

We discussed the blessed Underground Railroad that existed in the County during the time of the Civil War. Sandra relayed an interesting story about two slave girls and how they escaped to freedom. You can learn more by listening to the program and by viewing the exhibit at the Museum.

 

Sandra relayed how the Jesse James gang operated in Fremont County and gave the listeners a wonderful story of the James gang robbing a bank in Imogene and then failing in an attempt to steal a fine team of local horses

 

Some goals of the Society for the coming year:

• Over the Winter, Sandra would like to redesign the Society’s web site.
• The Society needs to have a concrete parking area poured in front of the Museum and so needs the donations to fund that.
• The Society would like to have a Gazebo built near the Museum to be used by the people of the county. Again, what is needed are donations to make that a reality.

We discussed some of the books available from the Society and about the Catholic Church in Imogene which was built in 1915, replacing another one that stood on the same spot which was built in 1880 but burnt down. The new church has an altar which was created in Italy and is really beautiful.

 

If you’re a listener in the area the society serves, OR if you’re a listener researching ancestors in the community the society serves and you’re not already a member, please consider joining and supporting the society!

 

The Society’s website, email address, and phone number are:

1. https://fremontcountyhistorical.org
2. fremontcountyhistorical@gmail.com
3. Phone: 712 374 3248
4. Fremont County, Iowa Genealogy Research | Facebook

The Society is very valuable to the community and the kinds of excellent services they provide. The society is truly one of our Preservation Oaks!

 

EP005 Iowa Cedar Falls Historical Society Carrie Eilderts

In this episode, Sean Thomas meets Carrie Eilderts of the Cedar Falls Historical Society.

• You’ll learn why Cedar Falls was once known as “The Garden City”
• How a portion of the downtown has been added to the National Registry of Historical Places.
• The possibility each year that the ICE HOUSE MUSEUM will be impacted by river flooding. Listener’s, please make your tax-deductible donation to the Cedar Falls Historical Society so they have a fund to deal with flood prevention and/or flood cleanup if this should occur like it did in 2008 and 2016.
• How Cedar Falls has a rich Danish heritage. Those who want to learn more can connect with the Society via their website.
• How people can designate the Cedar Falls Historical Society as their organization of choice on Amazon Smile. From that point on, each time you use Amazon Smile, Amazon donates a portion of everything you purchase to the Society. It’s a good way to maintain consistent donations.
• How Carrie was always interested in history as a youngster but what really sealed the deal for a history future was a history teacher who made history come alive. Now Carrie says “every day is different and fun”.
• How the Society began in 1962.
• How the ICE HOUSE MUSEUM will celebrate its 100^th anniversary in 2022!
• We discus the programs the Society offers every year. They are all available on the website.
• How the Society is lucky enough to have 100 volunteers from the community to help the four full time staff members manage the four facilities, running the programs, and genealogy research. The unique approach Carrie uses to manage the facilities and the public.  
• The Bus Tours which the Society sponsors to various unique and exciting destinations.
• How the Society is embracing virtualization, digitization, web access, and social media in everyday operations.
• How the Society incorporates new history into the fabric of the community and Society.
• How the Society is collecting stories from the community regarding how people have coped with the Covid pandemic.

This Society is preserving the history of Cedar Falls Iowa for future generations and to share the story of the culture and the history of the place.  

If you’re a listener in Cedar Falls OR if you’re a listener researching family history in the Cedar Falls Iowa and you’re not already a member, please consider joining and supporting the society! Right now, donations, and visitors are needed.

 

The Cedar Falls Historical Society’s website URL is Cedar Falls Historical Society (cfhistory.org) - (319) 266-5149

 

I hope this information helps everyone  understand how innovative and valuable the Cedar Falls Historical Society is to the community. Please help all you can by volunteering and donating to support them. The Cedar Falls Historical Society truly qualifies as one of our nation’s Preservation Oaks!  

 

EP004 Iowa Dyersville Area Historical Society Christy Deutmeyer

In this episode, Sean Thomas meets Christy Deutmeyer of the Dyersville Area Historical Society.

You’ll learn how the town of Dyersville began and some of the influential business men of the area. We discussed the Field of Dreams movie set; which is now a park in Dyersville.

We learn about the Dyer-Botsford Museum and plans for further maintenance in spring 2022. Donations are needed for this.

We discussed how Covid has affected both the Society and the Community.

Christy discussed a curriculum developed in 2019 to allow school aged children to interact with the Society and learn about how life has changed from the last century to this one. She is planning to implement this as soon as Covid dissipates.

The Society is contemplating publication of a new book to celebrate the 150^th anniversary of the Dyersville area.

An objective Christy has established to be accomplished this winter season is to redesign and implement a new Society Web Site.

One thing that comes shining through in the program is just how passionate Christy and her organization are to help members and visitors.

If you’re a listener in the Dyersville Area OR if you’re a listener researching family history in the Dyersville Iowa area and you’re not already a member, please consider joining and supporting the society!

Right now, volunteers, donations to maintain the Dyers-Botsford Museum, and visitors are needed. The Dyersville Area Historical Society’s website URL is dyersvillehistory.com

I can’t wait for the changes to the website.!

The Dyersville Area Historical Society is truly a value-add to the community and definitely one of our nation’s Preservation Oaks!

 

 

EP003 Iowa - Montgomery County Historical Society - Dave McFarland

In this episode, Sean Thomas interviews the Director of the Montgomery County Historical Society, Dave McFarland.

You’ll learn how the town of Red Oak began and some of the influential business men who buildings and streets were named after including the designation of a part of the town as a Historic District, and the Red Oak Town Square which in addition to other community spirited monuments, has a monument to a Red Oak native son who lost his life when the US battleship Maine was sunk in the Spanish American War.

We learn about human remains that were included in a donation to the Society and how Dave and team worked to re-patriate and inter the remains properly.

One thing that comes shining through in the program is that Dave is really missing interactions with local people; as in visitors and especially volunteers! He mentioned that 60% of the visitors coming to the history center this year live further than 50 miles from the center!  I challenge the Montgomery County listeners to make a visit to their fabulous Historical Center. It is unique and a beautiful facility.

Dave loves to approach the education of history with the public by telling stories. A quote from Dave: “ History is not about the artifacts. Rather, it’s about the lives and characters these people had and how that is still applicable to us today. That is what makes history interesting.”

You’ll learn how Dave and team are tracking the impact of COVID and drawing comparisons between it and the Spanish Flu which occurred 100 years ago and took the lives of millions.

Dave discussed how he and his good wife published the book “A Tour Through the History of Montgomery County and the Montgomery County History Center” and how you can get your very own autographed copy!

We discussed the Thomas Murphy building and its future, how the Society does a LOT of genealogical work being requested by people across our nation, how the Society saved the oldest church building in the county, Junction Days annual celebration, the annual corn boil, the various historical buildings the Society maintains for the public, and lastly, you’ll hear some relevant quotes from Dave McFarland.

If you’re a listener in Montgomery County OR if you’re a listener researching family history in in Montgomery County Iowa and you’re not already a member, please consider joining and supporting the society! Right now, volunteers, donations, and visitors are needed. The Montgomery County Historical Society’s website URL is https://www.mocohistorycenter.org/

I congratulate the community on having the foresight to invest in the facility which is home to the Montgomery County Historical Society.  The Montgomery County Historical Society is truly a value-add to the community and definitely one of our nation’s Preservation Oaks!

 

EP002 Hawaii Kailua Historical Society Dr. Paul Brennan

In this episode, Sean Thomas interviews the President of the Kailua Hawaii Historical Society, Dr. Paul Brennan.

Dr. Brennan is so knowledgeable and an expert in the history of Kailua. Dr. Brennan indicated he would like to complete more archeology in the area before it’s damaged or gone forever and lost to the people of Kailua. He discusses what he refers to as the "Queen’s Retreat", an archeological site which includes a Hawaiian Temple, the Queen’s Carriage way, and a place where the Royal Family of Hawaii bathed.

You'll learn about modern day Kailua, how Kailua was originally settled, how Kailua got it's name, the commercial and cultural development of Kailua prior to and after World War 2. and statehood in 1959.

Since 1981 when he and his wife arrived in Hawaii from Papua New Guinea, Dr. Brennan has focused his life’s work on preserving the oral histories of Chinese, Japanese, and Portuguese immigrants, as well as Native Hawaiians in Kailua. He now has over 150 of these stored in the Society’s archive.

We discuss Japanese "Picture Brides", and how Dr. Brennan has conducted tours of Kailua free of charge for years. 

Dr. Brennan shared touching and beautiful stories about Kailua and its residents and how the Society is helping address the homeless problem on Kailua.

We also discuss the future of the Kailua Historical Society which includes obtaining a permanent facility for the Society and several other key strategic objectives. 

This is an exciting time for the Kailua Historical Society! I would love to be there as the Society develops these plans! There’s a lot of opportunity to help our Preservation Oak Dr. Paul Brennan and the Kailua Historical Society!

If you’re a listener in Kailua OR if you’re a listener researching family history in Kailua and you’re not already a member, please consider joining and supporting the society!  The Kailua Historical Society’s website URL is Kailua Historical Society.org

I hope this program helps the audience understand how valuable the Kailua Historical Society is to the community and what kinds of excellent work they continue to do for their members and the public.  The Kailua Historical Society is truly a value-add to the community and definitely one of our Preservation Oaks!  

 

How did the program get the name Preservation Oaks?

Your host Sean Thomas Radcliff reviews how the program got it's name, the objectives of the program and Micro Stream Radio, then finally encouraging listeners to support both the program and the institutions highlighted in each episode.

Learning about the role and challenges of these vital organizations is going to be eye opening and fun for me and the listeners!  

Anyone across the world interested in finding and documenting their family history in the United States needs to know the benefits of working with and becoming a member of historical and genealogical societies in the locations where their ancestors lived and died. 

This program will help people understand the role of these organizations, how to successfully interface with each, and not only gather the information they need, but also how to support this important work.