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.
February 16, 2025
We’re hosting our “Love Your Museum” membership drive in February and have exciting events planned.
Plus, any new or lapsed member who renews during February will be entered into a drawing for a
customized campfire ring from Heatmor – a generous prize made possible through their support.
Your membership plays a crucial role in preserving and sharing the stories of Roseau County’s history.
There are several levels of memberships. They help us purchase archival materials and print exhibit
posters. They provide supplies for children’s craft projects, buy essential materials, and provide resources
for educational programs. They contribute to the cost of storage boxes and reduce programming fees,
enabling more people to access our events. They allow for acquiring storage fixtures, support newsletter
mailings, and expand programming opportunities.
As Roseau County’s official historical society, we serve the entire region – from Roosevelt to Pelan,
Pinecreek to Wannaska, Pencer to Strathcona, and all points in between. In 2024, over 6,000 visitors
came through our doors to explore the stories and artifacts that shaped Roseau County. Your
membership helps ensure we can continue preserving this history for generations to come.
Stop by and visit your museum in Roseau, renew your membership, and bring in your personal story by
March 1, 2025. Keep an eye open for the special events of Winter Fest on February 22. There will be
classes in ros tegning and an art show and a Hardanger Fiddle Concert. Get tickets for the 5 PM Meatball
Supper while they’re still available. See you there!
Our Curator Britt arranges a lot of programs for people to enjoy and learn about our county. She has
been on the job as Curator for almost 14 years, taking over when Charlene Haugen retired, who in turn
had taken over when Ardyce Stein retired. We’ve had some great directors throughout the years.
One of the past curators that some people might still remember was Ingvard Sunset. He started that job
on March 1, 1948, and retired in 1973 after about 25 years. During all those years, the collection was
housed in the old white Municipal Building that came down after the flood of 2002. Before that, the
collection was moved into the brick building just north of the Municipal Building that also contained the
library from 1976 until 2002. That building also sustained damage from the flood, and both have been
replaced by our current City Center location.
During Mr. Sunset’s time as Curator, several articles came out in local newspapers telling about him and
some of the things he was doing at the museum. In one, he recalled how he had been approached for the
job. Here’s what he was quoted as saying. “I met Amos Fikkan when we were walking over the bridge in
mid-February of 1948. He asked me if I would come up and take care of the place until they got someone.
I heard no more for 25 years,” he chuckled.
He remembered how the museum space was offered to P. O. Fryklund, free with light and heat, for his
huge collection of items, which have grown to over 10,000. “There have been 744 pieces added since I
took over, we just don’t have space to display them all,” he said ruefully. “I’ve kept a record of everything
and they are registered three times … in a book, in a card index file and each item has a tag.” This was
done not only so he would know what was in the possession of the Roseau County Historical Society,
sponsors of the museum, but also so items given to the museum could be properly authenticated as
museum property. “We did have some trouble of people wanting things back in the past … now we
accept only things given to us with no strings attached,” he emphasized.
Even though his job was done alone in upstairs rooms at the Municipal Building, he said it was never a
lonely job, “Although that first week I only had one visitor!” When he had free time, he studied books on
wildlife left by P. O. Fryklund, dug into the history of the county and soon became steeped in the facts of
the history that surrounded him.
“Men came up from the University the week after I took over and showed me how to take an inventory …
so I got acquainted with everything in the place,” he recalled. He smiled when he remembered how one
of the board members asked him if he could stick it out for a year. “I reminded him of it ten years later,”
he laughed.
“Look here,” he said, picking up a big volume. “Have you ever seen the paper published in Malung?”
Bound into a book were the copies of the Roseau County Press published in Malung in 1905, 1906, and
1907 by A. M. Pearson. He put it beside the first copy of the Roseau Region, volume 1, number 1, dated
August 23, 1892, which hung on the wall nearby, the only known copy existing at the time.
His eyes twinkled, “I have learned a lot here. I’ve learned a lot of history, both natural and ancient, I
learned about people and how different they can be. I’ve enjoyed every year of it, or I wouldn’t have
stayed this long.”
The interviewer left as Ing was gazing up at a copy of a map made in 1755 by Robert Vaugondy showing
the Great Lakes and the Lake of the Woods area. He was leaning on an old pulpit from Melum Church.
There was a lot to see at the museum back then, and even more now. Come on in for a look!
Thank you to 
for letting us share our county’s history with your listeners by donating air time, studio time, and production staff every week.