Image provided by Historic Cook County

By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - August 2, 2023

What do Olga Soderberg, Alta McQuatters, and Sue Hennessy all have in common? A few things, in fact. 

First, they were all born in Cook County and spent a lot of time growing up in the area. 

Second, they have all had an instrumental hand in shaping the Cook County community into what we know and love today (whether we’re visitors or locals). 

Third, these three women will be highlighted in a presentation by Historic Cook County on Thursday, August 3, 2023, from 5:30 - 6:30 pm, at the Johnson Heritage Post. Historical Cook County staff will be presenting and sharing information about each woman's family, upbringing, and major contributions to the area. 

Katie Clark, Operations Director of Historic Cook County, shared with Boreal Community Media that the decision to develop an event like this came from community feedback. 

“We have had people over the years tell us that they would love to see more women highlighted, as well as their pivotal impact on the Cook County community,” she said. 

Soderberg and McQuatters in particular have had an important impact on Historic Cook County and making it what it is today. 

Soderberg spent two years attempting to obtain the former lighthouse keeper’s building - the one the Historical Museum is in today. She also helped raise money for the organization, as well as collect some of the artifacts still around today. 

McQuatters has been involved with Historic Cook County for years (in addition to many other positions throughout the county) and has put in countless hours manually documenting family trees, researching graves throughout the county, as well as documenting Native American stories. 

Hennessy is a name very familiar to many around Cook County for her work with the Grand Marais Playhouse. Sue has helped enrich the community through art - creating a space where people can feel themselves and make connections. 

One other thing these three women have in common? Without them, the area would not be the same. 

• Thursday, August 3, 2023, from 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
• Johnson Heritage Post115 West Wisconsin Street, Grand Marais, MN 55604
  
  

To learn more about the event, visit the Historic Cook County site here.