These stories can also be heard on Sunday mornings around 10 am on WILD 102’s “Look Back in Time” program. Each week’s radio story will be posted here on our website.
Weekly radio stories are researched, compiled, and read by Sheila Winstead, RCHS Board Member.
April 14, 2024
On February 22, 1929, the Roseau Times-Region told about the Open House at the Roseau
County Museum. I’ll read the description they wrote in that week’s paper 95 years ago.
“It was a delightful party which the Roseau County Historical Society had planned and carried
out at the courthouse Monday evening for those who braved the cold to attend. The party had a
three-fold character, namely, illustrated lecture on the early history of Minnesota; second, a most
palatable lunch, and third, the official opening of the Roseau County Museum.
The court room was comfortably filled for the illustrated lecture given under the auspices of the
county organization and the forestry department. The stereopticon machine was furnished by
the forestry department, as were also the slides covering the particular subjects with which that
department is mainly concerned, such as conservation of wild life and timber. The slides
covering the state’s history were furnished by the State Historical Society. George Bergland of
the forestry department operated the machine while E. E. Billberg gave the lecture.
All the scenes were from the pioneer days. A number of these views were from the northern part
of the state, showing the beginnings of a number of the cities of today while others were
reproductions of the sod huts and log cabins of the pioneer days. Photographs of a number of
the men and women prominent in making of Minnesota’s early history were projected on the
screen. It was an interesting and worthwhile entertainment.
Admission to the first part of the program also admitted one to the free lunch served in the office
of Clerk of Court P. O. Fryklund. Mr. Fryklund brewed the coffee while the serving was attended
to by fair damsels who had volunteered for the work. To say this part of the program was
thoroughly enjoyed is putting it mildly.
A visit to the southeast basement room of the courthouse was a revelation. This room has been
decorated by use of light-colored paint; shelving and display tables have been built and placed
in the room to the best advantage. But the real surprise was the many articles on exhibit. The
bulk, as yet, come from Mr. Fryklund’s collection, but there are also a great many articles that
have been given by others for this collection. A number of early township records and other
documents have become the property of the society. Newspapers and other writings of historical
value are among the collection. Then there are a number of interesting pictures from the early
days; implements used by the early settlers; Indian relics found in the county, and a number of
other items which serve to show what a change has taken place since the first white people
came and took possession of what became Roseau County.
The county historical society invites everybody to join as members. Yearly dues of 50 cents are
required of each member and this money together with net proceeds of any entertainment or
concession it may have in the year constitutes the society’s source of income. The funds are
conservatively spent and every dollar is made to yield 200% value.
Officers of the society are: E. E. Billberg, president; J. W. Durham, vice president; G. I. Brandt,
secretary; and P. O. Fryklund, treasurer.”
Forty-seven years after that Open House, and after a move from the City Auditorium into the
new Museum- Library Complex, another Open House was held on June 25, 1976. Here are
parts of the description from the Roseau Times-Region:
“A rainy morning changed to sunshine and the crowds came to attend the dedication of the
museum-library complex in Roseau. They stayed all day with the facility packed with viewers
until closing time at 9:00 PM. They also kept Lions and 4-H members dishing out food; saw and
participated in street dancing and viewed old pioneer automobiles on Roseau’s main street.
Both scheduled guest speakers, Congressman Bob Bergland and Minnesota State Historical
Society Director Russell Fridley were unable to attend the dedication. Filling in for them was Neil
Mattson, Editor of the Warren Sheaf and President of the Minnesota State Historical Society.
Mattson spoke following remarks by other persons on the stage which was set up in the entry of
the new building. Master of Ceremonies for the dedication, and the noon luncheon at the Travel
Inn for visiting dignitaries, was former Roseau Mayor John Reese.
Architect Gyring emphasized that the building is a material thing which gets life from the people
who use it. “They will help make it a living museum, he said, “as they will make it a living library.”
Roseau County Historical Society President Joel Olson outlined the history of the society. He
also reported on the first picnic of the society when 300 gathered at Warroad.
Mattson told the crowd that Roseau County is one of the youngest counties with one of the
longest recorded histories. “You have one of the most interesting parts of the state to interpret,”
he said. He reported that county museums are growing in number and that there is more and
more interest.
Mattson said weekly newspapers are recording history in “our day books of history.” He told the
crowd that the perspectives of history change and emphasized that historians must be in the
forefront to change thinking of current events “at the time into the proper frame of reference.” As
an example, he pointed to Custer’s last stand in the context it was understood at the time and
the way it is viewed now. “That is an example of why it is so difficult to interpret history too
currently. It may take many years to understand fully the forces which impel us onward.”
He reported that people today want a museum to be “an education” and that the cost of “four
walls and a roof” are a small part of the total. “It usually costs an equal amount of money and
much more energy to interpret the history in a meaningful, educational and interesting manner.”
He declared that affirming the place of the individual in the community local history can help to
preserve or rebuild a sense of identity. “The perspective of history can equate contemporary
problems with past fears and offer a measure of comfort,” he said. “It can demonstrate that
there is no need to despair even in these times of a constant acceleration of history.”
“We must make efforts to record our present – not just on the big national scale but right here in
Roseau, Minnesota,” he declared.
When the ribbon was cut and the doors opened, the crowd surged in to fill both the library and
museum and to view the art exhibits as well as the interpretative displays. Harness making, rug
making, trap setting, ox yoke carving and other attractions such as Indian bead making and
painting spiced up the day and kept the crowd entertained. There was music by a variety of
groups throughout the dedication and they represented all portions of the county.
Thank you to (www.roseauonline.com) for letting us share our county’s history with your listeners by donating air time, studio time, and production staff every week.