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:

by Elizabeth Sias, Isanti County News

As a result of the fire that destroyed the Isanti County Historical Society Heritage Center on July 8, St. John’s German Lutheran Church in Bradford lost several historic artifacts.

Some of those were an antique chandelier and lamp manufactured by the Coleman company.

Friends of Historic St. John’s posted on the Coleman Collectors Forum website about replacing the lamps and received offers for donations.

On the afternoon of Friday, Aug. 19, representatives from the International Coleman Collectors Club, from Madison, Wis., were on hand at the historic church to donate new items to the church.

The Bowling Proprietors of Minnesota, with local Junction Bowling Alley Owner Mike Warring, was also there to present a check to help with the restoration efforts of the church and the ICHS; $3,000 was given to the ICHS and $2,000 was given St. John’s.

Coleman collector Jerry Engbring and Steve Potter, regional contacts for the International Coleman Collectors Club, compared the new 1916 chandelier and lamp with those destroyed in the fire, which are now black with soot.

Engling’s and Potter’s reflections could be seen in the metal as they pumped air into the pressure lamps and ignited them.

Finally, the chandelier and lamp were lifted into the air on a rope pulley system to hang in the church.

For more information on St. John’s, visit www.ichs.ws/st-johns-church.html. You can also find the church on Facebook by searching for “Historic St. John’s German Lutheran Church of Bradford, MN.”

About the historic church

Built in 1882, Historic St. John’s (German) Lutheran Church is located on the south side of County Rd 5 (NW) in Bradford Township.

Historic St. John’s is representative of the many rural churches scattered across Isanti County which served the function of binding together the small ethnic communities comprising the county’s rural population.

The church is primarily significant for its association with the German immigrant population of Isanti County. It is also significant as one of the few remaining examples of the small churches that the county’s rural population throughout the county’s history.

An upcoming event for St. John’s is Oktoberfest, where you can enjoy an authentic German meal. This year’s event will be held Saturday, Sept. 24, from 4 to 9:30 p.m. The Kevin and Melinda Ruprecht Band will perform, and there will be real German adult beverages. The event will be held outdoors under the big tent at the church.

See original story at http://isanticountynews.com/2011/08/24/donations-given-to-replace-items-lost-in-fire/