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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-05-14 PACKET 09.A.HISTORICAL f, 4Z r " WHISPERINGS iff Washington Count ffistorical Society Volume 40, Issue 1 Washington County, Minnesota April 2013 Bud Fowler Comes to Stillwater in 1884 First Black Player in History of Organized Baseball By Dan Cagley Stillwater became a part of orga- nized professional ball when the Northwestern League expanded to twelve teams in 1884. The Northwest- ern League was considered one of the top leagues in organized ball at the time, and had been one of the first minor leagues to actually use a bal- anced league schedule to determine a true league champion. Milwaukee was the biggest city in the league, while Stillwater was the smallest, as the St. (oix River valley lumber boomtown had a population of 18,000. Signing Bud Fowler proved to be one of the very few gems that Stillwa- ter was able to bring in before the sea- son under those circumstances. Fowler Signs with Stillwater Born on March 16, 1858, John W. Jackson (known in baseball circles as Bud Fowler) lived early in his life in Cooperstown, New York. Between the 1878 season and 1884, Fowler was a pitcher on various semi - professional teams, mostly in the Northeast and Canada. He also briefly pitched in 1878 with the Live Oaks of Lynn, Massachusetts, from the International Association and thereby became the first black player in the history of or- ganized baseball. Many leagues formed with ros- ters around twelve players per team, and each roster would have a few pitchers who would play other posi- tions when they were not pitching. Fowler, by all accounts, had good foot speed and a strong arm with his frame of 5 -7 and 155 pounds, so he was able to see extended time at catcher, pitch- er, second base, and all of the, outfield positions. Stillwater Club's 1st Season After playing a five -game exhibi- tion season, the Stillwater Nine started the regular season on a long losing streak that dampened fan interest and civic pride in the team. In the opener, Peoria won 15 -0 as Stillwater commit- ted 17 errors. The next day the team was more competitive as the offense W This photo from 1885 shows John "Bud Fowler" Jackson in the uniform of the Keokuk baseball club for which he played that year. Photo from the National Baseball Library, came to life in a 12 -8 loss. In the of- fensive effort, center fielder Fowler, first baseman Joe Pickett, and pitcher Joe Visner combined for seven hits. In its next series Stillwater was swept by Quincy, Illinois. The team - managed only eleven hits, and thought they might have lost Fowler to serious injury in the third game on May 8. The Stillwater Daily Sun reported, "Fowler, the colored bonanza, broke the bone of one of his toes and will be unable to play for four weeks. " FoirLan— Continued on page 8 From the Executive Director The Washington County Historical Society has stepped into a new stage in its life. The Historical Society recently purchased the building at 1862 South Greeley Street in Still- water. This 14,000 square foot building that rests on about two acres of land near the intersection of Greeley and Highway 36 will become the most modern, entertaining and educational heritage center in the Midwest. But there is still work to do. For the next four years or so the Historical Society will be leasing the building to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. This rent money will help pay down the mortgage that was taken out — it will NOT pay the building off. More fundraising will be needed to complete that phase of ownership, and then the fundraising will take place for the Historical Society to create the interior of the building with exhibits, proper archival storage and research center. We still need the help of the membership to accomplish this. Over the course of seven years, as board members have struggled with what building or what location would be best — the core element of the discussions was to make this organization better. This WCHS Board has done it! They have taken the risk and did what needed to be done for the good of the Washington County Historical Society and now as members you also must help with your financial contributions so that this dream becomes reality. Some of the ways you can help is by attending our events and inviting others to come too. Make sure your membership is up to date and make a year end donation for the operational expenses as well as the capital expenses. This is your Historical Society — make it a great one!! Visit the museums as they open in early May. Join the first 5K race up at Hay Lake School and remember the beer tasting on June 22nd The Warden's House is always a great place to visit and learn about our heritage and see the flew displays that have been created for this year! ! Thank you for being a member of this Historical Society and I hope to see you during the spring and summer at one of our great events. Brent T.. Peterson, WCHS Executive Director WCHS News... WCHS Will Have a New Heritage Center! On February 28 WCHS President David Lindsey and Executive Director Brent Peterson signed the papers giving the Society ownership of the former UFE Inc. building at 1862 S. Greeley Street in Stillwater. The 14,000 square foot building will eventually house the new Washington County Heritage Center. The Society paid $139,000 down and received a mortgage for the remainder of the $795,000 purchase price. The building, which is close to Highway 36, will be rented to the Minnesota Depart- ment of Transportation for four years for use as a headquarters for the new St. Croix River Bridge construction. The rental income will help offset mortgage payments and allow the Society time to raise the remaining money and develop exhibits for the building. Major grants have come from the Margaret Rivers Fund, Washington County, and the cities of Stillwater and Newport, as well as many individual donors. Anyone wishing to contribute to the new building can donate online at GiveMN.org or send a check to WCHS Heritage Center, PO Box 167, Stillwater, MN 55082. 2 HISTORICAL WHISPERINGS Put These on Your Calendar! Open House April 28 Get a preview of what's new at the Warden's House on Sunday, April 28. The museum will be free from noon to 4 PM. You can enjoy refreshments, check out new exhibits and chat with knowl- edgeable volunteers. First Ever 5K Run May 4! WCHS will hold its first 5K run at the Hay Lake School complex on Saturday, May 4. The race will start at 9 AM and take participants around Hay and Sand Lakes, starting and ending at the Hay Lake Museum. Registration cost is $20. More information will follow. Beer Tasting June 22 The WCHS Sixth Annual Beer Tasting will be held at the Hay Lake Museum Complex June 22 from 4 to 7 PM. Cost to participate in the beer tasting is $10 (21 -plus only) but a free program will be offered at 4 PM in the school. A vin- tage base ball game will precede the tasting, starting at 2 PM. "Gettysburg" Film Showing Save this date – Saturday July 7 —to stop in at the Hay Lake School at 7 PM for a free showing of the film "Gettysburg," commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the First Minnesota Regiment's charge at Gettysburg. Special! Wine, Cheese and Chocolate Tasting April 71 Join us Sunday, April 7, from 3 -6 pm at Northern Vineyards, 223 Main Street, in Stillwater, for this special event. There will be live music and a silent auction as well as fun - filled afternoon tasting wine paired with gourmet cheese and choco- late and get a souvenir wine glass as well. The $20 admission benefits the WCHS and the new Heritage Center. Tickets are available online at <wchsmn.org> or call 651- 439 -5956 WCHS Scholarships Available —Apply by May 1 The Washington County Historical So- ciety is offering a scholarship for post- secondary education. The scholarship is available to graduating seniors enrolled in a Wash- ington County high school or a student in a college or university program cur- rently residing in Washington County (as a permanent rsident) who is focus- ing on history, American studies, archi- tecture or other history related field. Applicants must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and must be a member of WCHS or have an immedi- ate family member in the organization. The goal of the Washington County Historical Society Scholarship program is to encourage historic preservation and interpretation and to encourage students to study history by providing financial assistance in the form of an educational scholarship. All applications must be received by May 1, 2013 and the recipient(s) will be notified by May 15, 2013. For more information, please contact your high school councilor office or the Washing- ton County Historical Society at 651- 439 -5956, email < information@ wchsmn.org> or visit our website. Directors Re- elected at March 21 Annual Meeting At the 2013 Annual Meeting on March 21, four candidates were elected to fill three -year terms on the WCHS Board of Directors. All were current board members who elected to rerun. Scott Schell, Mark Balay and J. Joseph Otte have each served on the board for three years. Becky Pang was appointed to the board in 2012. Mark Balay is a Stillwater architect and a long. -time member of the histori- cal society, who has worked on several museum renovations and fundraisers. Joseph Otte is a principal at Wenck Associates in Oakdale who lives in St. Paul. Joe's professional career involves researching the historical use of proper- ty and historical preservation. Scott Schell is a life -long resident of Stillwater who worked for the city for more than 25 years. Scott is a musician and author of the WCHS publication, Garage Sounds. Becky Pung of Stillwater is a recent recruit to WCHS who was appointed to fill out a term. Becky is employed by Washington County as a social worker. February 18th –"History Matters Day" gave WCHS Board member Becky Pang (left) and WCHS Executive Director Brent Peterson a chance to visit with legis- lators to impress upon them the importance ofpreserving our heritage and to make sure Minnesota Legacy Funding continues. They are shown with Senator Karin Housley in her office. APRIL 2013 3 History Matters! Museum Events Report Looking Ahead from the Warden's House By Sean Pallas Warden's House Site Manager Happy Spring everyone! Here at the War- den's House, I'm gearing up for the be- ginning of our summer touring season. In just a few short weeks, our doors will swing open and another season worth of patrons will shuffle their way through the rooms of the muse- um. I can't wait to meet our new summer interns! We're ac- cepting applications until May 24 and trust me when I say this is one amazing experience that any history majors out there won't want to let slip by. Help us celebrate the beginning of this new season by joining us at the Warden's House Open House on April 28 from 1 -5 PM. You'll also be able to get a sneak peek at our two brand new exhibits featuring "Washington County on the Bat- tlefield" and "Photography in Washington County ". And if you can't make it to the Open House, we, of course, will be giving regular tours from Thursday through Sunday until October. Hopefully I can see you sometime this summer! If you'd like to see a Warden's House tour from the other side, I invite you to learn about volunteering with WCHS to an informational meeting on Saturday, May 11 at 6:30 PM at the Warden's House. The Warden's House would not run nearly as smoothly without our dedicated volunteer tour guides! Thank you and here's to another wonderful touring sea- son! Contact Sean at 651- 439 -5956 or email spallas.wchs@gmail.com WARDEN'S HOUSE ARTIFACT WW I Typewriter This Blickensderfer " #6" Type- writer from 1898, was used dur- ing the First World War to type dispatches in the Tool, Chateau Thierry, St. Mihiel, Argonne and Verdun areas of France. Looldng closely, you can see that the sol- dier issued this typewriter in- scribed in pencil the locations where he was stationed and the dates he spent there, from Janu- ary 1918 through April 1919. 4 HISTORICAL WHISPERINGS Greetings from the Hay Lake Museum By David Sandager Hay Lake Museum Site Manager This summer of 2013 is shaping up to be an exciting time for the Hay Lake School Museum! We at the museum and WCHS are pleased to announce that we will be holding our first ever WCHS Hay Lake 5K Run on our opening weekend of May 5th. The ran will take participants around Hay and Sand Lake near the museum in the beautiful spring weather and scenery in Eastern Minnesota. Later in the summer we are hosting our 6th Annual Beer Tasting Event on Saturday June 22, from 4 to 7 PM on the Hay Lake School grounds. Starting at 2 PM at the City Park just north of the Hay Lake Museum, the W CSH vintage base ball team will host a game with the Northfield Silver Stars. Whether you enjoy running, baseball or sampling new brews from all over the county and state we hope to see you at the Hay Lake Museum this summer! Don't forget that we are open for tours and visitors all summer long with our hours be- ing 1 to 4 PM on Saturday and Sunday in May, September and October, and from I to 4 PM Friday through Sunday in June, July and August. Please contact me if you have any questions or would like to book a group tour. Contact David at 651- 433 -4014 or email davidsandager @gmaiL com. Museums Open 1st Weekend in May! The Warden's House Museum will open on Thursday, May 2, for the 2013 tour season! Hours are from 1 -5 PM Thursday through Sunday, May through October. The Hay Lake museum Complex— Johannes Erick- son Log House and Hay Lake School —will open Satur- day, May 4. Hours are from 1 to 4 PM Saturday and Sun- day in May, September and October, and also Fridays in June, July and August. Group tours can be scheduled anytime. Call 651- 439 -5956 or email <information @wchsmn.org >. GHOST TOWNS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY Copas Settlement in Scandia Dates from 1849 In the mid- 1800s, immigrants began arriving in north- ern Washington County. They came by steamboat, and of- ten arrived at a place called Loghouse Landing, about three miles north of Marine. In 1849 Benjamin Otis built a half- way hotel a short distance away on the road from Stillwater to Taylors Falls. John Copas and John Columbus came in 1854 and built a log store nearby. Two years later, a land developer named Frank Regis- ter platted the area from the bank of the St. Croix River back 400 feet on the plateau as a townsite called Vasa (the township was originally also named Vasa, but was absorbed into Marine in 1860). Vasa post office was established and a steam sawmill and saloon were soon built, but the flow of immigrants slowed during the severe depression of 1857. In 1860 the post office was discontinued and the area reverted to wheat fields. The area became known as Copas. The Copas School (built in 1876 and still standing across the road from Benjamin Otis's house) was used until 1945. John Copas' house stood south of it. A small store was built next to the school (and that also still stands, alt- hough converted into the much - larger Crabtree's). By 1886 the Soo Line railroad from the Twin Cities to Sault Ste. Marie had finally come through Marine and a new little town grew up along the tracks near the Copas. A depot was built about a mile west of the old village. The Copas looking north along the Soo line tracks. The large build- ing is the lumberyard; behind it are the hardware store and harness shop with the post office. A road ran on the east side of the buildings; present highway 95 is at the far right. town soon had a new post office, plus telegraph office, har- ness shop, lumber company, planing mill, and hardware store. Farmers utilized a stockyard and loading platform, an elevator and a potato warehouse. Copas became a farm shipping center, processing about 100,000 bushels ofpota- toes annually. Eventually tracking supplanted rail and Copas busi- nesses began to disappear. The hardware store was moved to Scandia in 1930 where it survives as Meister's Bar and Grill. The railroad phased out passenger and mail service, and in 1963 the Copas depot was moved away. The last building was razed that same year, and today there is little to show where the railroad village stood. Membership Report Welcome to the new and renewing annual members listed here! The Washington County Historical Society thanks you for your yearly support—we truly could not exist without you. Special thanks go to those of you who added a donation to their mem- bership check. Remember, memberships come due January 1 each year. This is your chance to upgrade your membership to a higher support category. The new membership categories are listed on page 12 of this issue. Questions? Call 651- 439 -5956 or email <information @wchsmn. com >. New and Renewing Sustaining Members Arnold & Carol Johnson * South Washington County Heritage Society New and Renewing Patron Members Robert Boxell * John & Evy Nerbotme New and Renewing Annual Members James & Katherine Anderson * Nancy Anderson * Rich Arpi * Ron Baker * Sandy Berglund * Kathleen Brevig * Chuck & Judy Clausen * Mary Combs * Jack Evert * Sally Evert * Holly Fitzenberger * Janet Frye * Gerald Glaeve * Bob & Nancy Goodman * Barb Greeder * Jo- Ann Hallquist * Burnell & Doris Hanson * K. A. Harris * Joan Helms * Craig & Jeannine Hoflbecic * Marie Ir- rgang * Donna Jewell * John Kaul * Sally Knutson * David Lindsey * Gayle Lobitz * Robert & Judy Michae- lis * Evelyn Peterson * Becky Pang * Scott Schell Tom & Sue Simonet * Lorraine Shingledecker * Jim Shrake * David & Judy Stone * Gene W. Story * Paula Thompson * Audrey Thueson - Radice * Stan Turner Wisconsin Historical Society * Emily Wolterstorff Lindsay Yannuzzi Thank you all! APRIL 2013 5 The One -Room School: A Center of Community Activiti by Mavis Voigt, Denmark Township Historical Society One -room schools are valuable pieces of history. They were an integral part of the rural community, serving not only as classrooms, but also as sites for many activities such as box - supper socials, dances, elections, programs and meetings. If something important was happening in a community, it was likely to be happening at the schoolhouse. At one time, there were about 5,000 one -room school- houses in Minnesota. After schools were consolidated in the mid- 1900s, most of the buildings were moved to nearby farms to be used as storage sheds, garages or chicken coops. Some burned, some simply disintegrated with time. One survivor still on the original site is the Valley School built in 1852 in the former village of Point Douglas at 13728 St. Croix Trail South. (See box.) What was a typical one -room school like? Rural schools had separate entrances for boys and girls as well as separate outhouses. Wood desks with wrought -iron legs stood in rows, with the smallest children seated up front. Sometimes individual slate blackboards were used as well as the big blackboard up front, where students had to show what they had learned. Pictures of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln usually were hung, along with maps and examples of the "Palmer Method" of handwriting. Sometimes the older students who arrived at school first were dispatched to a near- District 2 Hay Lake School is Washington County's first brick school, built in 1896 to replace a wooden building on the site. It is shown here in 1898 with teacher and students. The building was expanded over the years and is now the WCHS Hay Lake School Museum in Scandia. District 34 Valley School, at the southern tip of Washington Coun- ty, was more than a school when it was photographed in 1900. It was a center of activities for the community. In 1885 the school had 12 students; in 1937 it had 10, and in 1940 it had 11. Valley School closed in 1946 when schools were consolidated, then was in private hands. The Denmark Township Historical Society plans to restore the historic building and make it a rich resource once again. Pho- to courtesy of Wayne Boyd. by farm to get a pail of water which the students shared, using one cup for all. Students hung their coats in a hall near the en- trance, or, if the coats were wet from rain or snow, they were hung near the stove to dry out. Stoves were wood or coal burn- ing at first and later were replaced with oil burners. Parents supported teachers in their efforts to help their children learn. The philosophy was simple. Children were sent to school to learn, and despite limitations of the school, learn they did. It was largely unheard -of for someone to question the teacher's authority, even in disciplinary matters. Children in grades one through eight attended the school, usually taught by one teacher. Teachers were usually young and had limited training before being hired. Some attended a six -week training course after they graduated from high school; others attended a "normal school," forerunner of the teachers' college, for one or two years. They stayed at a nearby farm where they got room and board. They usually had to walk to school and start the stove so it would be warm when the children came. Teachers were held in high esteem and were expected to behave proper- ly and to attend church. Although things had changed by the 1930s, teachers still often boarded with families and walked to school, earning a pay that averaged $45 a month, out of which they paid $10 -13 a month to the owner of the farm where they boarded. Classes met in front and everyone listened in When a group had a class in, say, arithmetic, they came to the front of the school and sat on a bench or chairs, while stu- dents in other grades could listen in or study on their own. A typical curriculum included reading, writing, arithmetic, history, grammar, spelling and hygiene. Strong emphasis was put on writing skills, good penmanship and grammar. Sentence 6 HISTORICAL WHISPERINGS construction, parts of speech and diagramming of sentences were taught. Arithmetic was also emphasized. Addition, sub- traction, multiplication and division were to be mastered by the fourth grade. Then came fractions and percentages. American history and geography were considered important. It was com- mon for students to be retained in a grade until they learned the subject matter for that grade and were then promoted. Spelling bees were held, and students memorized poetry regularly, sometimes competing on a county level for recitations. Opening exercises often included singing songs, including the "Young Citizens League Marching Song" and many others. When it was time for lunch, children got out their syrup pails packed with sandwiches and homemade cookies. More than the school curriculum School programs were often held at Christmas time, and students practiced for weeks for their part in the program. The stage was simply a curtain (or sheets) hung up to divide the audience from the action. Sometimes women in the community (including the teacher) prepared a box supper, which the men bid on for the privilege of sharing it with its creator. Some- times a bidding war took place over the teacher's box supper. All proceeds went to the school. Children try out the old desks in the Palley School dur- ing an event held last May. The DTHS is raising money to pay off the contract and enable renovation of the 160 year old structure. The schools of yesteryear did not have a formal program of physical education. Recess time allowed for some outside activities, such as ball games and other games such as "Red Rover, Come Over," "Farmer in the Dell," "Drop the Hand- kerchief .. "Fruit Basket," and others. A ringing hand bell meant that recess was over. Teachers and students in the early years were a stalwart lot. Many people who attended or taught in one -room schools believe that they prepared students well for high school and even college. And many can still recite the poems by Longfel- low or Whittier that they memorized in fourth grade. Saving the Valley School The Denmark Township Historical Society is in the process of saving and restoring the Valley School. The volunteer group bought the school in January 2012 for $80,000 and paid the first $40,000 on May 1 to become the official own- ers. Since then the Society has paid another $15,000 with a final payment of $25,000 due May 1, 2013. Contributions to the SOS: Save Our School Fund are needed to meet this goal and can be sent to treasurer Jean Boyd at 7575 Quad- rant Avenue South, Hastings, MN 55033. The Society has received two important grants: one for $4,800 from the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Herit- age Fund (Legacy Fund) to fund nomination to the National Register of Historic Places, and one for $3,000 from the Sweatt Fund to pay for a historic building architectural re- port. Two historians have been hired who are working on the reports. Once the schoolhouse is on the National Reg- ister, it will qualify for major grants. More information is available from President Wayne Boyd at 651- 436 -8031 HISTORIC WASHINGTON COUNTY Kids Playing Baseball Kids in Stillwater were as enthusiastic about baseball at the turn of the 20th centu- ry as they are today. This game is being played in Triangle Park on South Broadway about 1900. Note that their field has a back- stop, although the street with curbing, and the hill and trees in the outfield might have made the game a bit challenging. Photo courtesy of Brent Peterson. APRIL 2013 7 FoinER— Continued fiorn page I However, a more detailed version of the injury and a different diagnosis was given by the Saint Paul Daily Globe, which reported that: "Fowler, the lightning colored catcher for the Stillwaters, had his foot spiked by a base runner at the home plate, break- ing the bone of his big toe. The sur- geon says it will be several days be- fore he can play again, but Fowler asserts positively that he will be be- hind the bat again on Saturday." Remarkably, Fowler did return on Saturday, May 10, and played sec- ond base. Even though Milwaukee pounded Stillwater, 11 -1, Fowler showed that the toe injury was not going to inhibit his play as he stole two bases. Bad pitching, bad defense, and inconsistent hitting all contributed to the 0 -16 start to the season, but the pitching was the key. Fowler was not "The crowd showed their appreciation of his work by applauding him every time he went to bat." used on the mound until two weeks into the season. The team's start was so abysmal that field manager Joel May, a former railroad superinten- dent, was released so he could accept a position with Northern Pacific. Joe Miller of White Bear, an ex -major leaguer from the National Association days took over and made Fowler his weapon to start winning games. Fowler Leads Stillwater to Wins Fowler finally put Stillwater into the win column on May 26, as he beat Fort Wayne, 7 -5. The Fort Wayne Daily Journal was impressed with his stuff and felt his fastball "was speedy." For his effort, the team presented Fowler with a then - handsome bonus of ten dollars and a new suit of clothes. After losing sixteen in a row, the Stillwater Nine surprisingly won five in a row with particular thanks to Fowler. He started and won four of the five games, and one game tools only one hour and twenty -five minutes to finish. He also had eight hits in twenty at bats during the stretch of games, and six of his hits were for doubles. He was so impres- sive during this stretch that fans from the opposing team cheered for him. "Fowler, the coloredplayer who twirled the sphere for the visitors, pitched a fine game and batted well, " said the Terre Haute Evening Gazette after an 11 -8 win in Terre Haute. "The crowd showed their apprecia- tion of his work by applauding him every time he went to bat. " The team and Fowler's winning streak ended in a 6 -3 loss to Mus- kegon, Michigan, on June 2. The game was tied at 3 -3 in the bottom of the seventh, but Muskegon pushed across three runners to go ahead to stay. Even in the loss, the Muskegon Daily Chronicle was impressed: "Fowler, the phenomenal pitcher, is a good one. " The loss marked the beginning of a stretch of games in which he rested his arm and played other positions, as his right arm must have been fatigued from so much work in such a short span of days. He still pitched in relief of James McCue the next day, but McCue became the workhorse in throwing three complete games in four days. Although field manager Miller threw his pitchers in bunches that would make modern pitchers cringe and perhaps hurt the long -term stability of the pitching staff, he had finally found a couple pitchers that gave his team a chance to win. On June 9 Fowler pitched but lost a 3 -2 decision to Minneapolis. Two days later, he did not pitch as effec- tively, but received more offensive support in a 10 -6 win in the series fi- nale over Minneapolis. The victory raised Stillwater's record to 7 -23, and Fowler had been the winning pitcher in five games. 8 HISTORICAL WHISPERINGS Bud Fowler, back row center, is shown as part of the Keolcuck,, Iowa, team for which he played the year after leaving Stillwater. At top left is Otto Schomberg who also played for the Stillwater Team in 1884. Photo: National Baseball Library. Fowler was on the mound again two days later against Saint Paul, and signs of overuse became apparent. Although he was 3 -4 at the plate with a triple and a stolen base to help his own pitching cause, he lasted only until the fourth inning on the mound before moving to third base. Stillwater lost the game, 12 -8. Stillwater turned the tables on Saint Paul the next day with a 10 -6 win. Fowler came in from third base to finish the game at pitcher in relief of the starter James McCue. Since the 0 -16 start, Fowler and McCue had logged most of the innings and were , the only effective pitchers during the next sixteen games of which Stillwa- ter won eight. It would be unlikely that the two could have continued at that pace without wearing down or breaking down, so on June 14 the Stillwater management signed John F. Quinn to eventually become the ace of the staff. Stillwater [was] the fourth Northwestern League club to fold before the season ended. The team continued to play at a .500 pace not only because of stronger pitching, but also from an improved lineup in the field. Fowler began to play more at second base in July. He also played catcher. He continued to be strong at the bat as he went 3 -6 winning run in an 8 -7 win over Min- neapolis on July 2. Just when things looked more promising, Stillwater lost eight games in a row. To get the team back in the right direction, the team released five players during the stretch (McCue was the biggest name), and suspended an- other player for 30 days without pay. The team was down to nine play- ers on the roster on July 17, but that is all they needed to beat Fort Wayne, 4- 0. John F. Quinn was back on the mound, and he responded by going the distance for the shutout. Stillwater Club Folds The struggles on the field had affected the team's financial success all season, but the struggles at the end of July and the first week of August had cemented the team's fate. The team lost six games in a row by a combined score of 59 -12, and had fallen to a record of 21 -45. The direc- tors voted to disband effective August 4, making Stillwater the fourth Northwestern League club to fold be- fore the season ended. The Northwestern League had all eight of its teams complete the 84- game schedule in 1883, but the league disbanded'before any team finished the 110 -game schedule in 1884. There would not be another Northwestern League game played until the league reformed in 1886. Fowler led the pitchers with sev- en wins in his fifteen decisions. As in the instable Northwestern League sea- son of 1884, Bud Fowler's career would include many more seasons of strong play with teams or professional leagues that were instable. Between 1885 and 1895 he played for Keokuk (Iowa), Pueblo (Colorado), Topeka (Kansas), Binghamton (New York), Montpelier (Vermont), Laconia (New More on the Story To commemorate the 100th Anniver- sary of the death of John W. Jackson, ake Bud Fowler, and in honor of upcoming Black History Month, the City of Stillwater and the Washington County Board pro- claimed Feb. 26 "Bud Fowler Day,' In ad- dition, a walkway at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in "Cooperstown, NY, where Fowler grew up, will be named "Fowler Way' in April. Black players were accepted by many teams in the years before Jim Crow laws, in later years Fowler ran into discrimina- tion and was eventually forced out of baseball by a white players' revolt. Hampshire), Crawfordsville (Indiana), Terre Haute (Indiana), Santa Fe (New Mexico), Greenville (Michigan), Galesburg (Illinois), Burlington (Io- wa), Sterling (Illinois), Lansing (Michigan) and Adrian (Michigan). After 1895 Fowler played mostly with black teams, such as the legend- ary barnstorming Negro League team, the Page Fence Giants, which he or- ganized and managed himself. In 1904 -05 Fowler tried to organize a national colored baseball league, but could not find the necessary financial backing. Bud Fowler was reported to be ill and suffering financially by 1909 and quietly passed away at his sister's home in Frankfort, New York, on February 26, 1913. He was 54. APRIL 2013 9 WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORY Calendar of Events Please contact the sponsoring organization for updated information about events: South Washington Heritage Society (SWHS) 651- 459 -1082; Washington County Historical Society (WCHS) 651- 439 - 5956; Denmark Township Historical Society (DTHS).651- 436 -7639; Gammelgkrden 651- 433 -5053; Afton Historical Society 651 -459 -3500; Historic Courthouse 651- 275 -7075. April? Sunday —WCHS Wine Tasting at Northern Vineyards in Stillwater. Fundraiser for new Heritage Center. April 15 through October 11 —Free guided tours of Historic Courthouse, Stillwater; M –Th at 10 AM, noon, and 2 PM. Fri & Sat. at 10:45 AM. Through mid- October = Exjhibit of Washington Couinty High School Athletics (with WCHS) at the Historic Courthouse. April 28 Sunday —Open House at the Warden's House Muse- um, Stillwater noon to 4 PM. April 7 Sunday — "History in Your Backyard," noon -3 PM, Washington County Historic Courthouse Visit with repre- sentatives of county historic sites and organizations. April 9 Saturday —SWHS Old Schools in Southern Washing- ton County, presented by Judy Spooner; St. Paul Park City Hall, 10 AM.. NOTE DATE CHANGE! April 16 Tuesday —DTHS presentation on 1942 military plane crash in Denmark Township; St. Mary's Church Guild Hall, 8435 St. Croix Tr. S., 7 PNI. April 28 Sunday —Open House at the Warden's House Muse- um, Stillwater, noon -4 PM. Refreshments, self - guided tours, and opening of new exhibits. May 2 Thursday Warden's House Museum in Stillwater open for the season, Thurs -Sun 1 -5 PM. Call for group tour reservations. May 3 Friday— Gammelgarden opening weekend; local artist exhibition opens, Scandia, M -Sat 10 AM -4 PM; Sun 1 -4 PM. May 4 Saturday —WCHS 5K Run starting at Hay Lake School Museum 9 AM - 4 PM. May 4 Saturday —Hay Lake School Museum Complex in Scandia opens for the season, tours weekends 1 -4 PM. May 11 Saturday —SWHS field trip to Bailey Nursery; meet at St. Paul Park City Hall, 9:30 AM. May 19 Sunday —St. Croix Baseball Club vs. Afton Red Socks at Pettit Park, Lake St. Croix Beach, 2 PM. May 26 Sunday Immigrant for a Day, At 1, 2 & 3 PM at Gammelgarden Museum, Scandia. Free family event. June 8 Saturday —SWHS program by North Star Model T Club; St. Paul Park City Hall, 9:30 AM. June 22 Saturday —St. Croix Baseball Club vs. Northfield Sil- ver Stars, 2 PM, Hay Lake Museum, Scandia. June 22 Saturday —WCHS Sixth Annual Beer Tasting at Hay Lake Museum Complex, Scandia, 4 -7 PM. Tasting is 21 +; cost $10; food available. June 22 SaturdayMidsommar Festival, 10 Am-4 PM, at Gammelgarden Museum, Scandia. June September second and fourth Sundays Woodbury His- torical Society Heritage House open 1-4 PM (Marsh Creek Park. Woodbury). June– September second and fourth Sundays — Oakdale Lake Elmo Historical Society one -room school open; 2 to 4 PM. Oakdale Nature Preserve (4444 Hadley). June 23 Sunday and fourth Sunday each month— Bluegrass and Lemonade in the Shade, Gammelgarden , Scandia. July 4 Wednesday —St. Croix Baseball Club at St. Olaf Field, Northfield, MN vs Northfield Silver Stars, 1 PM. July 13 Saturday —SWHS program about WWII experiences by Bill Kiuschel; St. Paul Park City Hall, 10 AM. HISTORIC ST. CROIX VALLEY Veterans Association at Prescott This photo, showing the members of the St. Croix Valley Vet- erans Association in front of their headquarters, was donated to WCHS by Mary Bakeman. The photo was taken on June 13 or 14, 1907. The building is the Odd Fellows Hall, which once stood in Prescott, Wisconsin, at the north edge of downtown. Although WCHS has detailed histories of several Stillwa- ter veteran's groups, this is the first reference to a "St. Croix Valley Veterans Association" we have came across. Who are these people in the photograph? Did the Association include Minnesotan veterans? One of the most exciting elements of studying history is unearthing a good mystery. If you have any information about the photo, please contact WCHS. 10 HISTORICAL WHISPERINGS Let's Play Ball! Vintage Base Ball, that is! Enjoy the game of Base Ball the way it was meant to be played. The WCHS vintage team, the St. Croixs, plays by 1860s rules. Here are a few ways play differs from today's game: • No gloves • Handstitched balls • No bunting • Balls caught on a hop are an out Hope to see you there! Please join us for St. Croixs 2013 Schedule Saturday May 18 — vs. La Crescent Apple Jacks at La Crescent MN. Sunday May 19 — vs. Afton Red Socks at Pettit Park, Lake St. Croix Beach, 2 pm Saturday June 8 — All day Round Robin with Menomonie Blue Caps, Onions, & Milwaukee Cream Citys at Barron County Historical Society, Cameron, WI Sunday June 9 — vs. Afton Red Socks & Milwaukee Cream Citys at Barron County Historical Society, Cameron, Wl. Saturday June 15 — vs. Quicksteps at Columbia Heights Saturday June 22 — vs. Northfield Silver Stars at Hay Lake Museum Beer Tasting, Scandia, 2 pm Thursday July 4 — vs. Northfield Silver Stars at St. Olaf Campus, Northfield 1 pm Saturday July 13 — vs. Menomonie Blue Caps at Menominee, W I Saturday July 20 — Stillwater event with Arlington Greys, Onions, Mankato Baltics, Afton Red Socks, Rochester Roosters and Quicksteps, Old Athletic Field Sunday July 28 — Rooster event at Olmstead County Historical Society, Rochester 10 am Sunday Aug. 4 —vs. Afton Red Socks at Washington County Fair 2 pm Sunday Aug. 25 — At Afton with Afton Red Socks, Quicksteps, Mankato Baltics Menomonie Blue Caps, and Onions at Pettit Park, Lake St. Croix Beach. Saturday Sept. 7 — At Jesse James Days vs. Northfield Silver Stars, Northfield 1 p Saturday Sept. 14 — vs. Arlington Greys, Arlington. Saturday Sept. 28 — vs. Afton Red Socks at Pettit Park, Lake St. Croix Beach, 2 pm Please call for directions and times. our upcoming season! Above: "Squirrel "Jurekat the bat for the St. Croixs dur- ing a game with Northfield at Hay Lake School. Right: Afton behind (catcher) Ray "Stash" Hanson waits for the pitch while Umpire Tom Simonet watches the action. Umpires are always properly dressed. St. Croixsx umpire Tom Simonet gets much needed help in call- ing the match. Tallykeepers Mr. Tholkes of the Quick- steps and "Basher" Cagley of the St. Croixs watch the action at Stillwater's Old Athlet- ic Field. Fans, called "cranks, " line the hillside. APRIL 2013 11 WCHS St. Croix Base Ball Club 2012. Left- right, back: Doug Ernst, Brent Peterson, Marty Jurek, Erik Sjogren, Liberty and Umpire Tom Simonet; front: Ryan Medeiros, Rich Arpi, Chris Nelson, Scott Foss and Patrickplundstein. DATED MATERIAL Box 167 Stillwater, MN 55082 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Ir 3 MEMBERSHIP APPPLICATION or RENEWAL j I Washington County Historical Society I I t Name t Address t I City, State, Zip Telephone Indicate preferred type of membership Annual Individual ($25) _Annual Senior Citizen/Student ($15) Annual Family ($35) Annual Patron ($75) _Annual Sustaining ($125) 1 _Life ($1000) t I Additional donations are welcome and needed. Volunteer help is also needed (check here or call). Detach and mail to: WCHS Memberships PO Box 167, Stillwater MN 55082 i Membership includes subscription to Historical Whisperings. ------------------- - - - - -- Non - Profit Organization U. S. Postage PAID Permit No. 224 Stillwater, MN 55082 Cottage Grove HPC City Office 7516 S. 80th St. Cottage Grove, MN 55016 t> i1l�ttt��nitiEh1i4�1ta1 }�;�.110111 I,rlikIIh „ Our Mission The Washington County Historical Society collects, preserves, and disseminates the history of Washington County and the State of Minnesota. WCHS programs include book publication, speakers and workshops, historical reenactments, vintage base ball, school programs, exhibits, print andelectronic newsletters, historical markers, and a history websik (www.wchsmn.org) with links to other history organizations: Our goal is to provide an oppor- tunity for all county citizeu�jo learn about and enjoy our area's history and to build a sense of community heritage. The Washington County Historical Society is uniquely situated to document early Minnesota history and to tell the story of immigrants from the eastern United States and Europe who settled the region in the mid- nineteenth century. The county's geographic connections to the Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers place the county at the forefront of settlement and the estab- lishment of the territory and state. For this reason we have chosen our motto, Gateway to Minnesota History 12 HISTORICAL WHISPERINGS T 6eeR IAOING S flieRIAUCIION SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 2013 4 = 7 PM WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY WCHS Hay Lake 5K Saturday May 4"', 2013 9:00 AM Hay Lake School Located on Corner of Olinda and Old Marine Trail 3 Miles South of Scandia, MN To Register Call (651)- 433 -4014 or go to www.wchsmn.org Pre -Run Registration is $15 for Run & Shirt Day of Registration is $20 for Run& Shirt