Mapping Schroeder Area History Exhibit Grand Opening October 4

Submitted by newsherald on Fri, 10/03/2008 - 12:21pm

 

The most ambitious exhibit created by the volunteers of the Schroeder Area Historical Society (SAHS) is now installed at the Cross River Heritage Center on West Highway 61 in Cook County.  The Grand Opening of Mapping Schroeder Area History: More than 150 Years and Building Community: Homesteads, Roads and Resorts will take place with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 12:30 p.m., Saturday, October 4, at the Cross River Heritage Center in Schroeder, Minnesota.

Project-Exhibit manager Barb Livdahl and her cadre of SAHS volunteers including Linda and Skip Lamb, Dory Spence, Roger and Paul Livdahl, Judy Gregg, Bill Griffith, Kathy Linnel and Floyd Peterson created a new community as they logged in 1,000 hours of work on paper and 5,000 hours thinking, dreaming and creating the exhibit. 

Upon exploring the Cross River Heritage Center the guest will immediately learn about the contribution the Anishinabe people made when the European immigrant settlement of Schroeder began. Under the heading, "The Ojibwa built the trails…” is the storyboard text:

“The Ojibwa lived along Lake Superior and hunted and trapped in the forest long before the arrival of the European settlers and before Minnesota became a state in 1858.  They cut a foot path close to the shore simply called the lake shore trail or The Grand Portage Trail.  Because this was the only land route from Duluth to Grand Portage, fur traders, surveyors, fishing families and mail carriers walked it.  From 1879-1899 John Beargrease, the son of an Ojibwa chief, or his brothers carried mail along the trail.”

Thirty-one story boards filled with text, photos and maps distinguish the exhibit along with historical artifacts including the Ojibwa handwork used in the every day life of former local resident Betty Powel Skoog.  The roll top desk, barber chair and post office window from The Stickney Store and Lamb’s Store bring the first floor exhibit to life.

The storyboard heading 1920’s Moving to Schroeder chronicles how Horace Stickney followed his “heart” to Schroeder. Horace was attracted to local school marm Nellie Fredenberg who lived with her parents in Cramer.  An excerpt from Nellie’s diary record the story of the first sparks of Horace and Nellie’s courtship at a local dance. Nellie played hard to get but at the end of the dance when the band played “Home Sweet Home," Horace took charge.  Nellie writes,  “When they started to play 'Home Sweet Home,' Horace was right beside me and said let's go home and he went off and got my coat and rubbers before I had a chance to refuse.”

The grand opening festivities are part of a larger community celebration. On October 4, The Cross River Heritage Center, Sugarloaf Cove, and The Tofte Fishing Museum will be celebrating “A Day of Traditions” (formerly John Schroeder Days). 

The day will begin with morning hikes at Sugarloaf Cove and morning interpretive programming.  The Tofte Fishing Museum will have its Fishing Traditions Art Show from 1-4 p.m.  They will have an immerging artist awards at 2 p.m. 

The Cross River Heritage Center will begin its day at 10am featuring the local history of the Parent family.  Ribbon cutting for the exhibit will begin 12:30 with a brief program.  At 1pm local historian Skip Lamb will conduct a walking tour of Schroeder.  From 1-3 p.m., local authors Andrea Peterson, Roger MacDonald and JimCordes will be signing their books.  At 3 p.m., the popular band Portage will be making its first appearance at the Cross River Heritage Center.

Mapping Schroeder Area History: More than 150 Years was supported by the Elmer L. and Eleanor J. Andersen Foundation and Trillium Grants.  Building Community: Homesteads, Roads and Resorts was funded in part under the Coastal Zone Management Act, by NOAA’s Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, in cooperation with Minnesota’s Lake Superior Coastal Program as well a gift from the Lamb family in memory of Harry and Doris Lamb.

For more information contact the Cross River Heritage Center at 218-663-7706 or crheritage@boreal.org.  The Heritage Center is located at 7932 West Highway 61, Schroeder, MN, 55613.