Isanti County Historical Society

The Isanti County Historical Society is sorting salvaged items and considering what to do next after an arson fire last summer destroyed its building.

by BRYNA GODAR , Star Tribune

http://www.startribune.com/local/north/142122333.html

Eight months after history turned to smoke and ashes in an arson fire at the Isanti County Historical Society, the organization is contemplating its future -- not whether it will have one, but the directions it will take.

The Cambridge fire consumed about 70 percent of the society's archives and all of the building's interior, and the staff now is working in a two-room suite provided by the county, sifting through damaged documents and artifacts.

"We're kind of reassessing the traditional model of how a historical society operates," said Kathy McCully, executive director of ICHS. As staff members evaluate whether to rebuild at the old location or move into a new building, they are also considering becoming fully digital or having virtual exhibits.

In January, staff began to reorganize and document the contents of 61 boxes of salvaged materials. After the fire and the resulting hose-down, wet documents that had not succumbed to the flames were freeze-dried to prevent mold. The documents returned in mid-December, without mold, but were "very brittle." McCully said the lifespan of the paper has been compromised by the fire, smoke, water and chemicals.

The society plans to encapsulate some of the documents, placing them between two sheets of film so people can still handle them without touching the actual paper. In addition, all of the documents will be scanned to preserve them digitally, a step that had not been taken before.

Another storage unit houses about two dozen big tubs of hand-dried items that will need to be inventoried, cleaned, refiled, and organized.

"This is a huge undertaking," McCully said. "We're all very tired, we're trying to take it all in little steps because it's so overwhelming."

She expects it will be at least another year and a half before they can move into a new building.

It will be a slow rebuilding process. The fire claimed photographs, scrapbooks, phone records. "We lost tons of oral history - taped interviews and the transcriptions," McCully said. "They're a one-of-a-kind thing."

The society isn't currently accepting historical items, but received many calls after the fire and thousands of dollars in donations. It also received a $7,000 grant from the Minnesota Historical Society to help with recovery efforts.

McCully said the society is going to become more proactive about collecting records, making copies of documents that people want to keep. "Generally people bring things to historical societies; we'd like to become more proactive about seeking it out," she said. "Our mission is to preserve the history of Isanti County."

Bryna Godar is a University of Minnesota student on assignment for the Star Tribune.

Week 36 falls on March 16. If this were truly a race, we would just be crossing the starting line. It would be accurate to say that each week is like one stride in a marathon. Over the past two weeks we have whittled away at the 61 freeze-dried boxes and have replaced all of the manilla folders and hanging folders, relabeled them with the appropriate titles and ID numbers, and have brushed the fire residue from each page. While doing this we have enjoyed finding articles, photos and ads from years past. At least this part of the job makes the dirty work more enjoyable. I have included one that had us all fooled and giggling, the board included.  

After looking through two or three boxes that contained family histories, it became evident that we have two courses of action. 1.) Find a new replacement, if that is at all possible, or 2.) Trim the burnt perimeter off of each page and keep the original. Depending on the dates of these family histories, I would guess that it will be a combination of both. Following is a list of these family histories. If you have a copy, or know of someone that may, please contact the office. You would not necessarily have to donate your copy, but if you would allow us to scan a clean copy we would then not have to trim the burned version. The less dirty work the better, I say.  
    1.    My Father’s House (Raether, Luebke & Krueger Family History)
    2.    The Life & Times of Viola Lindell Reichel (as told to Gail Szumylo)
    3.    Britta Kajsa (by Junette Erickson Person)
    4.    Mama Remembers, Vols. 1 & 2, Memoirs of Lydia Pearson Anderson
    5.    Sweden to Wyanett & Karmel by Morris R. Peterson (500 printed, we had issue 78)
    6.    Falk/West (Roy) by Carol Falk Olson
    7.    Blomquist/Stanius
    8.    Pearson Tribe
    9.    Ditt eget Släkt (Byss-Bolin, Stoneberg) Family  

There will be more items in a couple of weeks. We will have processed the last of the 61 boxes and will be looking for more replacements. Thank you in advance for helping us find replacements. In the meantime, if you want to support ICHS, donations are greatly appreciated and can be made by mail, at our website, or directly at Cambridge State Bank. For all other inquiries, visit www.ichs.ws, follow us on Facebook, call us at 763-689-4229, email at ichs@izoom.net or drop us a letter at 1700 E. Rum River Drive S., Suite K, Cambridge, MN 55008. We are open by appointment only at this time.  

Kathleen J. McCully, Executive Director
Isanti County Historical Society
 
Visit www.ichs.ws and join our eNewsletter mailing list, or LIKE us on Facebook to stay up-to-date on our progress.

Three items after freeze-drying: A very old Swedish family history (L) with the first pages destroyed, but other pages partially usable. McCall Pattern News, was originally encapsulated, but this too is brittle and must be replaced. The Wireless from CHS Sr. Class of 1912, a yearbook that was only water damaged, but very brittle and wavy.

 

Over the past two weeks we have begun to reorganize the contents of 61 boxes of salvaged archival materials. Since there is no order to how the items were crated at the time of the fire, we must now put everything back in order so we can begin to assess what we are able to use again, or what we will have to replace or toss. Because not everything we have saved can be replaced, we have to find a way to preserve the information in them as well as the original damaged item. It could be a very old family history, a one-of-a-kind scrapbook, a very old yearbook, a legal document, or organization records.

 

All of the freeze-dried materials are very brittle. After speaking with Belfors, the folks who generously donated their freeze-drying services to us, they state that the molecular structure of the paper has been compromised because of the fire, the water and chemicals used to put out the fire, and by the process of freeze-drying itself. Therefore, even though we have been able to rescue these items either in part or in whole, the life span of the paper has been shortened.

 

So what does this mean and how does it affect our work? Well, it means that . Next we must determine if the damaged item should be kept or tossed. If we want to keep the one-of-a-kind, or irreplaceable original document, then it must be treated with a deacidification spray and encapsulated to minimize exposure to the air and oils from our hands during future handling. Encapsulation is similar to lamination. The difference is when something is laminated, it is heat-sealed between sheets of clear film. Since the adhesive touches the original, it can never again be separated from the laminate. With encapsulation, the item is free-floating between two sheets of film, and the edges beyond the page are sealed with a double-sided tape. This way, you can see both sides of the item, you can handle the page, but it won’t be touched by air or the human hand. If need be, the edges can be opened and the original removed.

 

As you can see, we have our work cut out for us. This is Week 34 and the journey again seems rather daunting when I see all of the items that need work. While there will be many steps during our recovery process, scanning will take a huge part of the time. I would be interested in speaking with anyone that has computer/scanning experience that would commit to a certain amount of time each week for several months to help with the task of scanning. Training would be provided. As we move ahead with recovery, there will be many more volunteer opportunities available, so please do not hesitate to contact our office and provide your skills and availability.

 

If you want to support ICHS, donations are greatly appreciated and can be made by mail, at our website, or directly at Cambridge State Bank. For volunteering and all other inquiries, visit www.ichs.ws, follow us on Facebook, call us at 763-689-4229, email at ichs@izoom.net or drop us a letter at 1700 E. Rum River Drive S., Suite K, Cambridge, MN 55008. We are open by appointment only at this time.

 

Kathleen J. McCully, Executive Director

Isanti County Historical Society

__Another example of a Carlson Photo negative saved from the fire. This little gal surely has personality. Does anyone know who it could be?

So this is 2012, the New Year, Week 26, and the Isanti County Historical Society is ready to face the year ahead of change and decision. Change is really hard. We all like the comfort of tried and true ways to conduct business and do our jobs, even move through life. We do everything the same, over and over, never looking to see if there is a better way, or another way, until something happens, or breaks that changes the rhythm of the task.

 

This is what happened to the historical society. Overnight everything that we knew was gone. Our job descriptions were no longer valid (and I hate to have to write new ones, too), the tools we used to do our jobs were gone and we were broken at a massive scale. In 2012, the board, staff, volunteers and those with a passion for history are working at various levels to find other ways, hopefully better ways, to restore the rhythms of our business.

 

This is a very exciting time to think that we have a clean slate and can transform the business of history into a different form in Isanti County. In a world where information is readily available on the web, and technology is changing faster than anyone could ever have imagined, ICHS is determining how we fit in. Our collections are specific to Isanti County. What services can we provide to those interested in those collections? What types of expertise do we need to provide said services? How will those positions be funded, now and into the future?

 

David Grabitske of the Minnesota Historical Society presents five 21st Century challenges to local historical organizations <http://discussions.mnhs.org/mnlocalhistory/blog/2011/11/28/five-early-21st-century-challenges/> and we are not unique in trying to determine how we fit in and the questions we need to ask about how to remain viable and relevant to our community. How to fulfill our mission, how to satisfy 21st Century customer expectations, what types of workers are needed, how to remain fiscally solvent in a world of programmatic funding, what to collect, how much to collect and how to make it accessible. Everyone wants to know how to affect change in positive ways, including ICHS. We just have to also consider a few other variables in order to move forward.

 

We also have the decision of where… to relocate or rebuild? Another team of folks are doing research to determine the availability of alternate locations with suitable space, affordable rent, easy access, etc. Then we will move on to determine the costs of relocation or rebuilding? How much fundraising will we need to do, regardless of the location? Pros and cons will be weighed in order for the appropriate decisions to be made.

 

2012 is a pivotal year for the Isanti County Historical Society. These are huge decisions, all of which we have been trying to break into smaller steps so that we can manage them. Our intent is that knowing what type of services we provide will drive what type of location, or facility we rebuild. The final variable to the equation, however, is money in hand, and future funding.

 

This is a very exciting time for ICHS and the county’s history. Want a unique journey in 2012, a means by which to stretch your knowledge, meet new people, add to your resume, or just become involved as a volunteer. Knowing all that is ahead, I invite anyone who is interested in preserving the history of Isanti County, or that wants to be part of this legwork and decision making to call me. Change is in the air this year and I can’t wait to see what evolves.



Donations are greatly appreciated and can be made by mail, at our website, or directly at Cambridge State Bank. For all other inquiries, visit www.ichs.ws, follow us on Facebook, call us at 763-689-4229, email at ichs@izoom.net or drop us a letter at 1700 E. Rum River Drive S., Suite K, Cambridge, MN 55008. We are open by appointment only at this time.



Kathleen J. McCully, Executive Director

Isanti County Historical Society

 

Visit www.ichs.ws and join our eNewsletter mailing list, or LIKE us on Facebook to stay up-to-date on our progress

___Santa Claus and Kathy Lindgren McCully, c. 1950s. “I don’t remember what I asked for then, but now I would ask for time to be turned back to before the arson fire. But since this cannot happen, my wish is for a better year ahead, a new Heritage Center, more volunteers, new members (young and old and in between), and a renewed appreciation of Isanti County history. What do you think?” Merry Christmas from the Isanti County Historical Society…Enjoy those gifts!

by Kathleen J. McCully, Executive Director
Isanti County Historical Society

As it happens, Week 24 after the fire falls just before Christmas. This is a time when everyone is looking forward to giving and receiving gifts from their friends and family. So while your gifts will be wrapped in festive paper and bows, ours are freeze-dried and packed in sixty-one boxes.  

A plan has been formulated on how to inventory and process each box. ICHS has been very lucky in having Marilyn McGriff, the first executive director of the society, working with us. Marilyn set up all of the filing systems during her tenure, and was familiar with many of the documents and items that were in our collection. Now, after having worked with technology and libraries, she is volunteering time to assist in the identification, prioritizing, processing and cataloging. Her time and talent is a gift that is truly beyond measure.

While we will not be processing and cataloging in full force until after the first of the year, Marilyn has been going through a few of the boxes to see if our process will work. After the fire, we had a crew of about 12-15 folks retrieving items, sorting, wrapping and freezing them. Opening each box now is like opening a Christmas present to ICHS. As Marilyn has been doing so, she has discovered a few things that are almost unscathed: Several scrapbooks of newspaper clippings from the local area; records of the Cambridge WCTU; Isanti County Arts Guild records with some photos of events; memorabilia from the Cambridge American Legion; Justice of the Peace dockets from Braham, 1950s; and file folders of information about several of the cross-roads communities in the county. We do celebrate these small gifts as we move forward.

However, there are many more items that were partially burnt in these boxes as well, and this is still a very dirty, sooty, smelly job. We can’t wear nice clothes, must wear masks and gloves, we have a hepa-filter air purifier running to pull stray particles from the air, and expect that we will be making a grand mess of things as we move forward. In spite of this, my staff and many volunteers continue to come back, day-after-day, week after week-to-work and clean up daily. They are all a gift to me and to the history of Isanti County, because this task could not be accomplished by one or two people alone.

As you celebrate this season with family and friends, Isanti County Historical Society thanks you for your gifts, whether they are photos, historical information, old business or civic organization records, oral histories, family histories, volunteer time and talent, monetary donations or moral support. Remember, this is a marathon for us all, not a sprint and we thank you for accompanying us on this journey.

Donations are greatly appreciated and can be made by mail, at our website, or directly at Cambridge State Bank. For all other inquiries, visit www.ichs.ws, follow us on Facebook, call us at 763-689-4229, email at ichs@izoom.net or drop us a letter at 1700 E. Rum River Drive S., Suite K, Cambridge, MN 55008. We are open by appointment only at this time.

__Musicians unknown, time frame unknown. If you can identify this group, let us know at 763-689-4229 or email ichs@izoom.net. I bet they played great dance music!

Week 23 since the fire and the holidays are almost upon our lovely county. This weekend I found myself on both sides of the stage--as a performer with the East Central Grad Band, and as a concertgoer at a Celtic Thunder concert. Both made me think about the everlasting gift of music, heritage and traditions.

I have played the baritone/euphonium since 5th grade…almost 50 years now. Remembering band lessons, school concerts, contests in high school, and marching band I have great memories and a few really good stories to tell. The East Central Grad Band is the “frosting on the cake” for me as I get to entertain the community, make friends from all walks of life and of different ages, and play music ranging from contemporary to traditional (depending on conductor Lynn Wedlund’s choices, of course). Never would I have thought in 5th grade that I would be playing with a band now. Music is a part of my heritage, but it didn’t just start then.

Celtic Thunder performed songs and played instruments that are very common in their part of the world in celebrating their Irish heritage, The concert was attended by ages from 10 to 100 and amid the laughter, clapping and cheering (and that was just from the performers themselves), I can definitely say that everyone had an excellent time. What a novel idea…combining music and heritage to entertain!

Our ancestors were also performers and musicians. My great-grandfather, Korp Eric Olson was a notable fiddle player in Sweden, who immigrated around the age of 50 to start a new life in North America. Traveling from Sweden he brought with him two violins, and continued to play until his death. Eric, and other immigrant musicians I am sure, brought with them the musical heritage of the old country, which was played, passed down, and eventually evolved into Swedish-American, or perhaps German-American music. What a wonderful gift to leave those that follow.

In the 1940’s, my mom Eileen was given an accordion. She has told me how she sat on the washtub and worked until she finally figured out how to play that accordion. Playing only by ear, she plays some of the Swedish-American tunes, and she even played with a polka band before she was married. She still has that accordion and I marvel at the idea that she plays by ear. Music and heritage at work again!

It seems that not all bands and musicians are as well-known as the East Central Grad Band or Celtic Thunder. Over the past 150 years of Isanti County’s existence, there have been community bands, school bands and orchestras, chorals and choirs, theatrical musicians, traveling musician’s, and even family bands. I have enclosed a photo of a band that was found in the Carlson negatives. I bet this family had a great time performing, sharing their music and heritage to audiences everywhere. If anyone can identify this group and/or the time period, please let ICHS know.

So whether music is in your blood or not, you are an entertainer or performance attendee, as the years pass and generations come and go, remember to share your heritage with others, carry out a long-standing tradition or establish a new tradition this season. Entertain by sharing your memories and family stories, and play that instrument that is collecting dust in the closet. Passing all this on to your descendants is the most wonderful gift of all. Most importantly, keep playing the music … tunes old and new and everywhere in between. Music and Heritage--these things will not change if we don’t let them.

Over the next two weeks, when the entire world will all be busy with family and friends, ICHS is taking a break before the hard-core processing of salvaged materials is started. The office will be taking phone calls and emails, but will not be open until Tuesday, January 3, 2012. Year-end donations toward operating expenses are greatly appreciated and can be made by mail, at our website, or directly at Cambridge State Bank. For all other inquiries, visit www.ichs.ws, follow us on Facebook, call us at 763-689-4229, email at ichs@izoom.net or drop us a letter at 1700 E. Rum River Drive S., Suite K, Cambridge, MN 55008. We are open by appointment only at this time.


Kathleen J. McCully, Executive Director
Isanti County Historical Society

__Recovered negative from the fire showing Isanti County residents gathered for a group photo. Year unknown, event unknown, but judging by the outfits, perhaps 1920s or 1930s.

Since last week was Thanksgiving, article deadlines were on Friday and not Monday. Therefore, I missed my deadline and you did not hear from ICHS in what was Week 20 after the fire. That is only 5 months. A lot has happened in this short time, and believe it or not, there is much for which Isanti County Historical Society can be thankful.

 

To refresh everyone’s memory about Friday, July 8, the Isanti County Historical Society Heritage Center was totally destroyed by an arson fire early that morning. Isanti County history literally went up in flames, as well as the hard work, hopes and dreams that took 46 years to amass. By the end of August the building was demolished, and all recovered archives and artifacts were either hand-dried, laundered, or off to be freeze dried. When all was said and done, we estimate a loss of 80% of all artifacts and archives, and 100% of everything else.

 

We are first and foremost thankful that no lives were lost during the fire. No one was in the building, and no firefighters were hurt. Our antique mannequin, Inga, however, was nowhere to be found. Next, while we were all pretty much in shock, help came from all directions to be sure that we did what was needed to appropriately save the most important items. Multiple historical societies from various parts of the state offered assistance, local businesses gave us whatever we needed to set up a temporary recovery area, fed volunteers, donated vests, gloves, hardhats, crates for the wet and fire-damaged documents and freezer paper to wrap same. Bob Herskovitz and Dave Grabitski from the Minnesota Historical Society worked by our side for 12 hours on Saturday to assist recovery in what I call “conditions from hell.” We are very thankful for all of these people and actions.

 

So these are the tangible losses, but there are intangible ones as well. With the loss of our Heritage Center, we lost our ability to generate income for the historical society’s operating expenses from the rental of our large meeting room. Membership renewals have not been sent during this recovery time and regular events have had to be cancelled. However, ICHS is very thankful for the donations we have received to offset this loss of income. Even small donations have enabled us to keep operating during this transitive time.

 

Over the past five months we have received temporary space to relocate and process our documents, donated office furniture, supplies and still more offers of volunteers. Thank you, thank you, thank you cannot be said too many times.

 

As we move through December, the sixth month after “The Great Arson Fire of 2011”, please consider making a year-end donation to be used for operating funds as we continue “The Great Journey of 2012.” Donations are fully tax-deductible as we are a 501c(3) non-profit and I know that ICHS would be very thankful for this monetary support as expenses still need to be covered.

 

To support ICHS during our marathon journey in recovery and rebuilding, donations are greatly appreciated and can be made by mail, at our website, or directly at Cambridge State Bank. For all other inquiries, visit www.ichs.ws, follow us on Facebook, call us at 763-689-4229, email at ichs@izoom.net or drop us a letter at 1700 E. Rum River Drive S., Suite K, Cambridge, MN 55008. We are open by appointment only at this time.

 

                                                                                                                         Kathleen J. McCully, Executive Director

Isanti County Historical Society

 

Visit www.ichs.ws and join our eNewsletter mailing list, or LIKE us on Facebook to stay up-to-date on our progress:

The Isanti County Historical Society is hosting a pancake breakfast in conjunction with the Cambridge Chamber Business Expo on Saturday, October 22 from 8:00 am-Noon at the Cambridge Armed Forces Reserve & Community Center. Why not let ICHS board members, volunteers and their friends start your day with pancakes, sausage, beverages and great conversation.

If you will recall, the Isanti County Historical Society was destroyed by an arsonist on July 8. The past 12 weeks have been spent setting up a temporary office, drying and salvaging documents, and cleaning up the Heritage Center site—all in anticipation of starting anew in 2012. Proceeds of the pancake breakfast will enable the Historical Society to meet expenses that have arisen as a result of the fire. “Not only did we lose our Heritage Center and county’s history”, says Director Kathy McCully, “but we also lost our ability to generate revenue from building rental.”

Tickets for the breakfast will be available at the door. Everyone is welcome. In the event you cannot attend and you want to support ICHS, donations can be made by mail, at our website, or directly at Cambridge State Bank. For all other inquiries, visit www.ichs.ws, follow us on Facebook, call us at 763-689-4229, email at ichs@izoom.net or drop us a letter at 1700 E. Rum River Drive S., Suite K, Cambridge, MN 55008. We are open by appointment only at this time.

Week twelve and ICHS is ready to begin making plans for the future—a history business for the 21st century. A clean slate we have to envision great possibilities. Do you have any ideas? If so, we would like to hear them. Don’t tell us where to build or how to build. We will figure out the where and how after we figure out what there is about Isanti County history that you want to know? Is it a specific area, a notable person or business, era, education, building, or is it more general—your ideas are wanted. There is a form on our web site for you to complete, or call 689-4229 and we will mail one to you.

Fall is upon us, and before you know it the snow will be falling. We have perennials to relocate before it freezes, items to put in storage that will await a place in the new facility when it is built, and salvaged papers and artifacts to bring to Oakview to be cataloged and filed. It seems that this work is never done, however, it is getting cleaner and drier as we have moved past that stage. Thankfully, the weather is also cooperating so we can do these last tasks without fighting the elements.

Thanks goes to our Hero for History Bob Hupfer from Cambridge Launderers & Cleaners, who generously cleaned several woolen items that were miraculously removed from the fire untouched. Most of the salvaged textiles were able to be washed, but wool not so much. A military uniform, hats, a coat and a few more items all came back clean and odor-free. Businesses and individual support continues to amaze me and is the strongest indication that history is an important part of this community.

Two fundraisers for ICHS are planned. On October 22 we will be hosting a pancake breakfast at the Cambridge Armed Services Center in conjunction with the Chamber Business Expo. Beginning at 8:00 am with tickets at the door. On October 23 we are holding a Heritage Jam with four (or more) musical groups—My Cousin Dallas, Old’s Getting New, Galactic Cowboy Orchestra, and Michael Monroe. There will be music from 3:00-6:00 at the CIHS Hardy Performing Arts Center, a raffle for $1 a chance with drawings throughout the performances, and homemade jam and apple butter for sale. Our tag is “We are in a Jam, will you help us out?” Get it? Heritage Jam! Cost is $15 per person with 6 and under free. Something for everyone! I hope that you and yours will be able to attend one or the other, or both, to support ICHS.

I guess it doesn’t matter whether you are a farmer, a homeowner, a business owner, or a historical society that was burned down. There are still many things to do before the outdoors is less inhabitable. This never changes, the seasons come and go, the years pass and the history adds up. Our journey continues as we make plans to begin anew to preserve and promote Isanti County History.

Monetary donations are greatly appreciated and can be made by mail, at our website, or directly at Cambridge State Bank. For all other inquiries, visit www.ichs.ws, follow us on Facebook, call us at 763-689-4229, email at ichs@izoom.net or drop us a letter at 1700 E. Rum River Drive S., Suite K, Cambridge, MN 55008. We are open by appointment only at this time.

Kathleen J. McCully, Executive Director

Isanti County Historical Society