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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-03-11 PACKET 09.A.Volume 40, Issue 4 _. "sib �f /�� Washington County, Minnesota �// January 2014 Newspaperman A. J. Van Vorhes: Witness to History By Nancy Goodman hi the summer of 1862 the editor and publisher of the Stillwater Ga- zette, Andrew Jackson Van Vorhes unexpectedly became a war corre- spondent —not of the War of the Re- bellion then going on in the east and south, but of the Dakota War that suddenly and surprisingly sprang up in Minnesota. Van Vorhes came from a publish- ing family in Ohio. In 1856 he moved to Stillwater and started a Republican newspaper, the Stillwater Messenger. He was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 1858, serving one term, and later served as clerk of the Minnesota Supreme Court. When the Civil War broke out in 1861, A. J. Van Vorhes became a member of the Stillwater Guard, the hometown militia. In August 1862 A. J. (as he was commonly known) was deputized by Clark W. Thompson, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, to "ride shotgun" on the federal annuity payment, which had just arrived in St. Paul and had to be delivered to the Sioux Agency on the Minnesota River for distribution to the various bands. The long - delayed payment, $84,000 in gold coin, was to be escorted by Cyrus G. Wykoff, sec- retary to Superintendent Thompson; Major Edwin A. C. Hatch, a former Indian agent; Justus Ramsey, brother of Governor Alexander Ramsey; and Van Vorhes. The four men left St. Paul Sunday morning, August 17, with the gold in kegs, traveling by express stagecoach. They made about 95 miles before stopping for the night at a roadside tavern (keeping, you may be sure, a sharp eye on their cargo) and were off again early Monday morning. But af- ter meeting a messenger heading for St. Paul to raise reinforcements and hearing that the Sioux had broken out and were killing whites, Major Hatch diverted the stage to Fort Ridgely, where they arrived about noon. All was in pandemonium. The newspaperman immediately began tatting notes, and penned a report to the St. Paul papers in a letter dated August 20: WiTNEss— Continued on page 8 H WHISPER Washington County x t 1 It = Historical Societe ' Andrew Jackson Van Vorhes was a 38- year -old newspaper publisher in Stillwater in 1862, when he found him- self at Fort Ridgely in the middle of a war. He later became a captain in the quartermaster department. We have completed 2013 and we look forward to 2014 here at the Historical Society. Last year was full of excitement and fun for the people who work and volunteer for the Historical Society. We held a lot of great events, made many friends and discovered more about our history than we knew before the year had started. The Historical Society tools a giant step forward in 2013 by the purchase of a new facility on South Greeley Street in Stillwater. It is currently being leased to the Minnesota Department of Transportation for their use as headquarters for the new St. Croix River Crossing and the rent being paid will help us pay off the building. With grants from the Margaret Rivers Fund and the Hardenbergh Foundation the building will be paid off by December 2015! After the Department of Transportation leaves at the end of 2016, WCHS will have to have raised more finds to make it into a quality museum space and make it the pride of all historical societies in the area. Our fundraisings efforts are far from over, so, if you can, please donate to the Heritage Center. It is the first of the year and memberships are due please renew your memberships soon. It is because of our members that we do what we do and with our members' help we will continue to preserve the great history of Washington County for people of today and those of the future!! One sad note is that we are losing our site manager at the Hay Lake School. David Sandager has done a great job at Hay Lake but he was enticed to move to a better position with the Minnesota Historical Society. David will be around as a volunteer so when you see him at the school, or scooping ice cream or pouring a beer, give him a hearty handshake and thank him for his commitment to the organization! ! The history of Washington County is so diverse and wonderful it is truly a pleasure to be a part of the preservation and the ongoing building of the organization. The members, board of directors, staff and volunteers are the best there is and I hope to see more of you at the events for 2014, either as a participant or volunteer. Thank you for your continued membership and support to the Washington County Historical Society. Brent T. Peterson, Executive Director News of the Organization ... History Authors at December 94 Booksigning On Saturday, December 14, the Warden's House Museum hosted a booksigning with local authors. Dozens of people braved the cold day and icy terrain to browse for Christmas gifts and schmooze with the historians. The museum was decorated for a Victorian Christmas and the aroma of hot coffee and apple cider filled the air. Among the authors present were Bob and Nancy Goodman (shown right), Gloria Vandemmeltraadt, Bruce I {ohn, Bill Schrankler and Brent Peterson with many new publications for Christmas 2013. 2 HISTORICAL WHISPERINGS Ice Cream in January? You Bet! January 18 The Sixth Annual WCHS Ice Cream Social will be Saturday, January 18, noon to 4 Piet at Stillwater's Mulberry Point (end of Mulberry Street) on the M. Croix River waterfront. Everyone is invited! The event is free, the coffee is free, the ice cream is free! And for a modest amount, warming chili will be available. Attendees are invited to wear historic garb for the occasion, such as lumberjack outfits. "We don't expect too many vintage swimsuits," says WCHS Executive Director Brent Peterson, "but you never know." History Hound from the Minne- sota Historical Society will also ap- pear. Food, coffee and bonfire are provided by Leo's Grill & Malt Shop, River Moon Coffee and the Stillwater Convention & Visitors Bureau. Museum Manager Wanted Are you someone, or do you know someone, who loves history and wants to work weekends? Have we got a job for you! The WCHS will be hiring a person to manage the Hay Lake His- toric Corner Museum in Scandia for the next season. This person gives tours of the Erickson Log House and Hay Lake School, hosts school classes doing "living history," trains volun- teers and plans events for the muse- um. The museum complex opens May 3 and is open Fridays and Saturdays in May, September and October; Fri- days, Saturdays and Sundays June, July and August. Members of the WCHS board, spouses and friends celebrated the pre - Christmas delivery ofa check from the Hardenbergh Foundation underwriting the purchase and transformation of the building at 1862 S. Greeley St. in Stillwater into a new Heritage Center. Back, left to right, Dave Lindsey, Karlene McComb, Scott Foss, Joe Otte, Holly Fitzenberger, Nancy Goodman, Tom Simonet, John Kaul and MarkBalay. Front: Becky Pung, BrentPeterson, andMyron Anderson. Annual Meeting Will Be March 27 —Save the Date! Thank You, Donors to the WCHS Annual Appeal! WCHS will hold its annual member- ship meeting and dinner on March 27, 2014 at the Water Sheet Inn in down- town Stillwater. The evening starts with a 5:30 PM, social hour, a sit -down dinner at 6:30, and the annual meeting and pro- gram starting at 7:30. The speaker is yet to be determined. The cost of the dinner and program is $20 for WCHS members and $25 for non - members. Reservations are required, but you may pay at the door. The WCHS board of directors wants to thank all the members and busi- nesses who contributed to the annual appeal last fall. We raised more than $4,000 plus another $1,100 on Give to the Max Day, November 14. WCHS is dependent upon our membership to keep operating, and are so grateful for the response. Your donations make it possible for us to preserve our county and state history, develop new interpretive displays and present interesting programs for histo- ry buffs, young and old. Online Giving Is Easy You can make donations to the Wash- ington County Historical Society online any time through GiveMN.org. Visit our website www.wchsinn.org and click on GiveMN.org JANUARY2014 3 WCHS Receives Hardenbergh Foundation Grant for New Heritage Center! Warden's House Plans for a New Season By Sean Pallas Warden's House Site Manager Well, hello historical society members! I hope you have had wonderful holiday sea- son. And I'd like to thank you all for anoth- er fantastic year at the Warden's House Museum! To everyone who made it to one of our events or swung by for a tour, I ex- press my sincere appreciation. I know it's a clich6, but it wouldn't be possible without you! If you were unable to make it any of our 2013 events, I'll do my best not to rub it in too much! From spending an after- noon with Gloria VanDemmeltraadt and her new book, Memo- ries of Lake Elmo, to commemorating Civil War medicine with Ken Martens, to investigating the supernatural with the Johnsdale Paranormal Group our wide range of event topics drew in even wider audiences. Keep an eye on Facebook, Twitter, the Historical Messenger e- newsletter, and, of course, the Historical Whisperings, so you won't miss out on our 2014 events! Our superb volunteer staff guided a wide variety of Stillwater visitors through our museum. We had elementary school field trips, Girl and Boy Scout troops, groups from both Russia and Germany, law school students, and hundreds of folks simply wandering around town. And speaking of our volunteer staff, check out the "New WCHS Volunteer Orientation" article at right to learn how to become part of the WCHS team. This year, 2014, is shaping up to be another great year for WCHS. This is the 100th Anniversary of both the Stillwater Prison moving to its current location in Bayport and the clos- ing of the Stillwater Boom Site. You can expect exhibits and events relating to both of these occurrences. We're also cele- brating WCHS' own 80th birthday this year! Come see the new exhibits and say hello at the Warden's House Open House on Sunday, April 27 from Noon -4 PM. And again, thank you! Contact Sean at 651-439-5956 or email spallas.wchs @gmail.coin New WCHS Volunteer Orientation (for those with a passion for local history!) As you probably know, the Washington County Historical So- ciety is going through a period of growth. In the next few years, we're going to be putting more and more effort into opening, and then operating, the new Washington County Her- itage Center. One of the most important pieces of this complex puzzle will be a reliable pool of dedicated volunteers. Currently, we have about eight individuals who gracious- ly donate their time and talent to the Warden's House Muse- um. They help run our events, give tours of our museum, and work behind the scenes with cataloguing and artifact preserva- tion. Other volunteers are involved with the Hay Lake Muse- um, the research facility, membership, outreach and our publi- cations and newsletters. If you have an unfulfilled passion for history or are look- ing to improve your resume then volunteering with WCHS can be a fantastic opportunity! On Saturday, April 12, at 12 noon, we will be hosting an orientation for anyone interested in volunteering with the Washington County Historical Society at the Warden's House Museum. We'll take a tour of the museum before taking some time to discuss in better detail what our volunteers help with. If you have any questions about the orientation, please contact Sean Pallas at spallas.wchs @gmail.com or call 651- 439 -5956. Thank you. WARDEN'S HOUSE ARTIFACT Kitchen Grocery List By Sean Pallas Remember when Apple began promoting the Whone with "There's an App for that "? Those commercials immediately came to mind when I first came across this clever little device. People have always tried to make their lives easier and with this tool you could keep track of your kitchen's inventory by switching the little toggles next to each item. This grocery list was manu- factured by GiftCraft in Providence, Rhode Island. This item probably came to WCHS as part of a siza- ble donation from the Charles Parker family. I can only say "probably," as unfortunately it has no identifying information tied to it. This winter, we are dutifully cata- loguing every single one of our tens of thousands of ar- tifacts in an effort to regain some of that history that has been accidently misplaced. 4 HISTORICAL WHISPERINGS am = -- ^- Bill Shrankler signed copies of his book at a Warden's House event in December. Shadows of Time is a new bo ,ok by Bill Schrankler and Frederick L. Johnson published by the Woodbury Heritage So- ciety. The coffee -table size photo essay features all 168 of Minnesota's remaining railroad depots, many on the National Register. Schrankler is a former St. Paul school principal and teacher and is a Woodbury Heritage Society board member. The book costs $34.95 plus tax and is available at the www.woodburyheritage.org (click on publications and down- load an order form) or contact Bill at 651- 739 -1836 or bschrankler@comeast.net. comeastnet. Girl front Bireh Creek is a feature- length documentary video about Justice Rosalie Wahl, who was a resident of Lake Elmo. It was produced under a Legacy grant ad- ministered by WCHS by Lightshed Productions. Girl The writer and director is Birc�i C reek Emily Haddad; filmo- '"` °r `' "" grapher is John Kaul, who is a member of the WCHS board of directors. Girl from Birch Creek is now available from WCHS in DVD format for $20 (includes tax). Call 651- 439 -5956 for more information. Membership Report Thank you to everyone who has renewed their membership for 2014, and a big welcome to those who are joining us for the first time. And special thanks those who included a donation with their membership dues. You know that your membership entitles you (and family members if you have a Family, Patron or Sustaining Member- ship) to free admission to the museums; a discount on local history books, souvenirs and other items for sale in the WCHS store; and access to the Society's archives. Welcome! Memberships expire January 1 each year — use the handy form on page 12 K Q,1i 1 � to renew. Questions? Call 651- 439 -5956, or email information @wchsmn.com New and Renewing Sustaining Members Priscilla Farnham * Patty Johnson New and Renewing Patron Members Thomas Curtis * Paul Wahiquist * Fritz West New and Renewing Individual & Family Members Allen Co. Public Library * Edna Bjorkman * Linda Cameron * Kevin Charlsen * Rod & Mary DeReu * Duane Elliott Helen Falde * Family Search Int'l * Bev Gross * Judith Hansen * Edith Hophan * Cynthia Huhnke * Bob & Kathy Iverson * Donna Jewell * Robert Jones * Helen Josephson * Beth Juran * Beverly Kraemer * Madonna Mochinski * Kathleen Nolan * Evangeline Nolde * Barb & Bryan Olson * Roger & Darlene Peterson * Carol Scott * Barbara Squadrito * Erin Sanislo * David & Diane Wright JANUARY2014 5 Jennie's husband, Samuel Redmond, had been one of the largest -scale sheep growers and feeders in the US. The sheep business, she noted "was more or less precar- ious," and at the time of Samuel's death after a short ill- ness in 1916, was not particularly profitable. The widow, with three young children, faced the future with a 240 acre farm, an ordinary house with few conveniences, a small barn and large sheep shed, a mortgage and some livestock. She made up her mind that she would keep her "I knew very little about farming but I Jennie Redmond with sons Samuel, left, and Robert. They are pictured with the family's new dairy barn and remod- eled home in a 1927 St. Paul Dispatch photo In 1927 the St. Paul Dispatch newspaper did an in- depth front page story on one of Washington County's most successful f ,,is. That farmer was a Cottage Grove w. _,an, Jennie Redmond. Noted the (male) reporter, "There is one farmer in the Northwest who has farmed successfully (meaning profitably) through good times and bad and who sees no reason, although conditions are unfavorable, why farm- ing should not continue to be profitable. And that farmer, fellow male citizens, is a woman." For more than a decade, Jennie Redmond had oper- ated a 240 -acre dairy and hog operation near Langdon, in Cottage Grove, with the help of her sons Samuel, then 19, and Robert, 12. found, when faced with my task, that I knew more about it than I had realized. Mr. Redmond's business had taken him away fiom home sometimes during the five years we lived on the farm and, at those times I had to manage. But I had a great deal to learn and I don't know how I learned it. It just seemed to come to me as I went along. When problems appeared, and there were plenty of them, I always managed to work them out some way." Jennie Redmond, said the Dispatch reporter, "was not born to farming; possibly she acquired it, but, cer- tainly, she had it thrust upon her." She was born in Bel- fast, Ireland, in 1883 of Scottish parents, and reared in the city "with never a thought that some day she might find it necessary to make a living and certainly with no thought that she might live in the county." In 1900, when she was 17, Jennie came to the Unit- ed States for a visit. She liked America, she told the re- porter, and decided to stay. While here she met Samuel Redmond, who also had come from Scotland and liked America, and they were married. About 1911 they pur- chased the farm in section 28 of Cottage Grove, just south of the plat of Langdon. When Jennie looked at her options after her husband's death she felt the sheep business was too risky. In his later 6 HISTORICAL WHISPERINGS years, Samuel had diversified somewhat. In addition to sheep, he had put in a small herd of dairy cattle and had found feeding cattle and hogs on a small scale through the winters profitable. Jennie Redmond decided to main- tain as large a dairy herd as possible and to feed cattle and hogs for market. She would buy feeders she said, when she felt her crop could be marketed more profita- bly in the form of beef and pork. So when times were good she would buy all the livestock she could handle — say 75 to 100 steers and 65 to 75 hogs —along with feed in addition to that the farm produced. With a smile she said, "7'm Scotch, you know. Maybe that explains it." The Redmonds had a ready market for their milk at the Langdon Butter and Cheese Company and were on the Milwaukee Railroad line that enabled them to ship animals to market in South St. Paul. Through the eleven years she had then been farm- ing, Jennie said, she noted that the income from feeding cattle and hogs had been greater than the income from the dairy herd. She made enough money to build a "pala- tial" dairy barn. She was able to remodel the old farm- house and equip it with every convenience available in the nineteen twenties. Noted the paper, "[The house] now has two screened porches and one glazed and one screened porch which is used for a summer dining room. It is lighted through electric fixtures and in the kitchen is a large electric range. In the basement is an electric washing machine and twining water for both the house and the daily barn is provided by a storage tank kept filled by an electric pump." Jennie and sons kept the farm running through the 1930s. When she tools over farming, Jennie Redmond had a daughter aged 10, a son 8 and a baby 7 months. Throughout the years she raised her kids, did all her own housework, managed the farm and supervised the hired help, and found time to do part of the millcing. How did she manage to succeed at her new profession? With a smile she said, "I'm Scotch, you know. Maybe that ex- plains it." Thanks to Alice Robinson for submitting this story from the files of the South Washington Heritage Society. Picture and original story from the St. Paul Dispatch, Sept. 5, 1927. Electrification of Washington County was helped by the building of three major transmission lines across the county from 1900 to 1910. Lines from the White Bear Electric Company extended to St. Paul Park in 1911. Farms in the south part of the county were some of the last to be electrified. The local telephone system in Cot- tage Grove was up and working in June of 1902, but not yet connected to long distance. Electric appliances were just coming into the market when Samuel and Jennie Redmond bought their farm about 1911. In 1909 the first reliable and long -lived heating element was introduced and in 1909 the light- weight fractional horsepower electric motor appeared. Electric washers and ranges were on the market after 1910. A refrigerator built into an old icebox case was brought out in 1914, but there were few sales of electric refrigerators until the 1920s. From History of Washington County, pp. 128 -130 JANUARY 2014 7 WITNESS Continuedf om page L "The party attending Mr. Wykoff, act- ing Superintendent, who was on his way to the Upper Sioux Agency to make the annual annuity payment, met a messenger about six miles from this place, on Monday morning, announc- ing an outbreak at the Lower Sioux Agency, and the murder of all the whites in the vicinity, except the few who made their escape. Upon our ar- rival here [Fort Ridgely], we found the statement confirmed. Upon learn- ing the facts Captain Marsh immedi- ately set out for the Agency with forty- five men of his company – leaving some twenty at the garrison. In the evening seventeen of his men returned " Captain John Marsh had been drawn into an ambush at the Redwood ferry by a large body of Dakota warri- ors. hi attempting to retreat back across the river, Marsh was killed, along with many of his command and interpreter Peter Quinn. The few able men left to defend the fort.were ._der command of the 19 -year old adjutant, First Lieutenant Thomas P. Gere, who had been in the army just eight months, and who was sick with the mumps. Settlers Tell of Murders Vorhes and party were trapped within the fort. He wrote a dispatch to the Saint Paul Press on Tuesday morning, sending it by a fast - riding messenger: "Monday night [August 19] was a night of anxiety and peril to the little band at this garrison. Every man be- came a soldier, and every precaution was taken to protect the fort. Lieut. Gere, of Company B, did all in his power, whose efforts were seconded by every civilian. "The lights of burning buildings and grain stacks lighted the entire hori- zon. Escaped citizens came in during the night, giving accounts of horrors too terrible for the imagination to conceive or appreciate. Mothers came in rags and barefooted, whose hus- bands and children had been slaugh- tered before their eyes. Children came, who witnessed the murder of their parents, or their burning in their own houses. Every species of torture and barbarity the imagination can picture, seems everywhere to have been resorted to. I am no alarmist, and would not excite the public mind; but these things are are true" [em- phasis in original]. "The roads between here and the Meanwhile, frightened settlers Nineteen year old Lieutenant Thomas P. Gere was in charge of Fort Ridgely defense. Below, were pouring into the fort, and soon a painting by James McGrew, c. 1890, depicts the place bulged with hundreds of ref- Fort Ridgely during the siege. Minnesota His - ugees, many of them wounded. Van torical Society collections. Agency, and in the direction of New Ulm, are lined with murdered men, women and children. From three to four hundred citizens are now in these barracks, claiming protection, five of whom are wounded —two of them children of six or eight years of age. The hospital is already filled. Dr. Muller, the post Surgeon, is doing all that his acknowledged skill can sug- gest for their relief. " Late that night reinforcements arrived from St. Peter —Sioux Agent Galbraith with fifty recruits who had been on the way to Civil War service. The next morning, Tuesday, Lieuten- ant Tim Sheehan and Company C of the Fifth Minnesota, summoned by Marsh when he first heard of the trou- ble, arrived back at the fort. Although small groups of Indians were seen, there was no attack. Reported Van Vorhes, "Last evening Major Galbraith, who HISTORICAL WHISPERINGS was on his way to Fort Snelling with fifty recruits, and had reached St. Pe- ter, arrived, having learned the state of affairs, and secured arms at that place. We now have about 250 armed men, and can hold the post against any probable contingency; but with this force no assistance can be given the suffering thousands all around us. One or two regiments should be dis- patched with proper equipments — otherwise this border will be desolat- ed ' This letter was published by the St. Paul Press, which added: "As soon as the above and other let- ters were received yesterday, the Governor ordered the balance of the Sixth Regiment, with Col. Nelson at their head, to repair to the frontier. He also issued a proclamation ... calling upon volunteer mounted men to report themselves in squads or companies to Colonels Nelson and Sibley, to assist in putting down this murderous foray. " Dakota Attack in Force Fearing that his first dispatch might have been intercepted, Van Vorhes wrote again on Wednesday, August 21, to the St. Paul newspapers, bringing the story up to date: `At 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon the anticipated hour arrived. A small force ofbrdians appeared about three fourths of a mile north of the barracks, evidently with the intention of drawing out the entire force, while the main body were to dash upon the barracks from the east, where they were approaching under cover of woods and ravines. In this way, after driving in our pickets, they were ena- bled to approach to within musket shot, still under cover of trees and outbuildings. `At this point, they opened a volley upon a detachment of Company B, stationed at one of the north entranc- es, but without serious effect. It was but the work of a moment for Lieut. Sheehan to bring his Company to bear upon them, and constant discharges of shot and shell compelled them to re- coil. They, however, furiously re- newed the attack, and in this way the fight was continued until dark, with an almost continuous discharge of mus- ketry and artillery. As to the strength and loss of the enemy, all is conjec- ture "A number of citizens' buildings sur- rounding the barracks were fired by the enemy, but none of the Govern- ment buildings were burned. Ilere was one of our greatest dangers, but a timely rain, which continued during the night, and the vigilance of the guards prevented the fames from spreading. A few old outbuildings, which served as hiding - places for the enemy, were burned during the night by order of the commandant. " It is to his credit that Van Vorhes, a newspaperman born and bred, con- tinued to write throughout the siege, which lasted nine days before help arrived. More than forty balls, he not- ed, were fired through the windows of his room by the Indians and the walls became pock- marked with bullet holes. "Volley after volley was poured upon us, yet our men did not waver. Once the enemy rallied in force at a given point to make a desperate charge with war clubs and tomahawks, after draw- ing the fire of one of our guns in their front. " In a dispatch to the Stillwater Messenger, Van Vorhes questioned where the reinforcements were: "What is the matter at St. Paul and Fort Snelling? Have reinforcements been sent and cut off, or are we to be sacrificed to indifference and apathy? " A Vow of Annihilation To the Messenger, Van Vorhes wrote that on that Tuesday night he and his fellow citizen soldiers had made a solemn vow that if they were to escape from their perilous situation they would "prosecute a war of utter extermination of the entire Sioux race." This may sound like hyperbole so many years after these events, but these men meant it, and this attitude rose to the surface afterwards as many of these same men were put in charge of guarding the Indian prisons and internment camps. The Dakota, led by Little Crow, maintained their siege for another week until August 27, when Colonel Henry H. Sibley arrived to secure the fort with 1,400 militia recruits. - `x. J. Van Vorhes apparently de- cided to do his part in the war and was accepted into the Minnesota volunteer army as captain and assistant quarter- master the following April. He served as post quartermaster at Fort Snelling from June 1863 through February 1864, then at Fort Ridgely until he resigned in March 1865. Van Vorhes again took charge of the charge of the Messenger on his return from the ar- my. In 1868 he retired permanently from the business. Andrew Jackson Van Vorhes was a newspaperman who found himself in the midst of one of the most histor- ic events ever to occur in Minnesota. He did his best to inform the citizens of Minnesota of the events unfolding on the frontier. Quotations from the St. Paul Press, August 22, 1862; Stillwater Messenger, Sept. 2, 1862; letter of August 21 reprinted in New York Times Aug. 29, 1862. Biographical information from article written by Brent T. Peterson, published in Lowdown Feb. 8, 2013. JANUARY 2014 9 Shepherding Black Sheep Chaplains of the Minnesota State Prison (1858 -1908) by Annie Morphew Annie Morphew was a 2013 intern at the Warden's House Museum and wrote this paper for her summer project. She is a 2013 graduate of the University of Minnesota - Morris with a history degree. Her article has been abridged. "You know the difficulties attending Christian work among prison- ers, from the fact that many feel it to be for their interest to appear religious, and while I may be deceived, yet I believe that the efforts put forth during the year have not been wholly in vain, " Reverend Edward B. Wright In August 1858 Warden Henry Selzer hired Reverend John C. Caldwell, the rector of the local Presbyterian Church, on a part -time basis as the first chaplain at the Minnesota State Prison. Chaplains were primarily respon- sible for holding religious services at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday in the prison chap- el. The Protestant and Catholic chaplain on the prison payroll split this duty — each one taking responsibility for hold- ing the service on alternate Sundays. However, despite the insistence on al- ternating Protestant and Catholic ser- vices, the chaplains were instructed that services "shall not be sectarian in char- acter, but shall recognize the Christian faith as a basis of religious teaching." Indeed, the chaplains were specifically discouraged from attempting to "prose- lyte a prisoner Prison Rules The religious environment of the prison experienced by both chaplains and prisoners was a highly controlled and disciplined one. Chapel rules for- bade speaking, whispering, fidgeting, or wandering eyes during service. Prison- ers were expected to "march erect with arms by your side keeping step with the music" when both entering and leaving the chapel. During service the prisoners were to "sit with arms folded during service" and "erect in [their] seat facing the speaker." Additionally, "reading, spitting on the floor, shuffling of the feet or any other unnecessary noise" and "gaz[ing] about the room at visitors or at fellow convicts" were strictly prohib- ited. The rules further threatened that "any willful violation of these rules will be promptly reported, and severely punished if necessary to enforce compliance." Education and Reformation As they settled into their role at the prison, some chaplains began to expand the scope of their ministry beyond Sun- day service and the occasional hospital visit. For example, Presbyterian Rever- end [Edward B.] Wright, chaplain from 1867 to May 1869, devoted his brief career at the Stillwater prison to explor- ing opportunities for moral reformation and education for convicts within the prison walls. In Wright's first chaplain's report dated December 12, 1867, he expressed concern over the state of the prison library. Initially, Wright's campaign for better library books seems to have been well received. In the 1869 report on the prison, the inspectors' report directed attention to Wright's report where "will be found some interesting facts and val- uable suggestions as to what is needed to promote the reformation of the con- victs." In the warden's report, Warden Joshua Taylor suggested that the chap- lain's salary be increased. However, Wright still complained that there was "too little religious and moral instruction and not any special efforts for intellectual improvement," in the prison. Perhaps emboldened by his success with the library improvements, Wright proceeded to criticize the cur- rent practice of hiring prison chaplains from the local Stillwater churches, ques- tioning "whether the great and growing State of Minnesota is doing its full duty by its convicts, looking upon the Prison as a place of reformation as well as of punishment," by "secur[ing] what little time one of the town pastors, over- burdened with other duties, can give to their religious instruction." In the end, Wright's plea for the appointment of a full -time prison chap- lain fell on deaf ears and sometime in 1869 Wright himself vacated his chap- laincy at the Stillwater prison. By then the warden had changed his tune con - ceming Wright's strident improvement of the prison library. In his next report, Taylor informed the Board of Managers of the State Prison that, "Through a misunderstanding of the law I pur- chased in July, 1868, two hundred dol- lars worth of books, mostly selected by Rev. E. B. Wright, the then acting Chaplain of the prison, for which I paid the money out of my own pocket, and waited until some time in January, 1869, before I was able to get the bills approved and paid. This year, with a better understanding of the law, I have avoided anything to do with the appro- priation of two hundred dollars appro- priated for purchasing books, and there has been none received at this office." More Permanent Position By 1890, prison chaplaincies were becoming more permanent. John H. Albert served as Protestant Chaplain at the prison for nine years (1890 -1899) and his successor S. J. Kennedy served for another six years afterwards (1900- 1906) while Father Charles Corcoran served as Catholic Chaplain for at least twelve years (1896- 1908). Due in part to their longer terms, the role played by the prison chaplains was expanded dur- 10 HISTORICAL WHISPERINGS ing this period. Reverend Albert par- ticularly increased the role of the chap- lain in education and prison reform at the Stillwater prison while Father Cor- coran engaged in more in depth, lasting, and individual pastoral care than that engaged in by any previous chaplain. Rev. Albert linked moral reforma- tion with the education of prisoners and, as a result, was a leading figure in the Pierian Circle, the Chautauqua reading circle formed at the Stillwater prison. In March 1890, the Prison Mirror, the convict -run newspaper at the Stillwater prison, suggested that a Chautauqua circle be formed at the prison. Permis- sion was granted in April and the first meeting was held the following June. Focus Shifts to Networking Father Corcoran shared a similar sense that the work done by chaplains within prison walls had to be supple- mented by continued care outside of them. In an attempt to ameliorate these tensions and provide a solid spiritual foundation for eventual reformation and recovery, Corcoran focused on expand- ing his network of pastoral care both inside and outside the prison walls. In a report dated September 15, 1898, Cor- coran remarked that "the nature of the work [prison ministry] makes it impos- sible to give concrete results, —the best WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORY Calendar of Events Please contact the sponsoring organization for updated infor- mation 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. January 18 Saturday —WCHS Ice Cream Social North Lowell Park, Stillwater; noon -4 pm. Free ice cream and coffee. February 8 Saturday SWHS program: Oakdale native Gloria Vandemmelhaadt will discuss her book Memories of Lake Elmo," St. Paul Park City Hall, 10 AM. March 8 Saturday —SWHS program "St. Paul in the Early 1900s" presented by St. Paul historian and city tour guide Russ Lunak; St. Paul Park City Hall, 10 AM. March 27 Thursday —WCHS Annual Meeting, Water Street Inn, Stillwater. Save the date! Father Charles Corcoran, Catholic Prison Chaplain (1896 -1908) results will not be apparent until the inmates again take up their places in civil life." In order to combat relapses into criminal activity, Corcoran developed a powerful dual strategy of personal pas- toral care within the prison and net - working outside the prison walls in the former convict's new community. In a chaplain's report dated August 1, 1900, Corcoran describes his "practice of vis- iting the cell room and speaking to the inmates individually." Corcoran also used this one -on -one time in order to "advise a number of the inmates in the selection of their library books and course of reading," and to urge others to "attend school or [otherwise] encourage [them] in their efforts to obtain a better education," demonstrating the comple- mentary practices of individual pastoral care and promotion of education in the hopes of facilitating moral reform. Cor- coran's real innovation, however, was his practice of giving "inmates letters of introduction to clergymen, living in lo- calities where they intended to settle after their release," and writing to cleri- cal friends about other inmates, released or on parole, so as to keep them in some sort under religious supervision. By the turn of the twentieth centu- ry, chaplains Albert and Corcoran had developed prison ministry at the Stillwater prison to the point where the influence of the institution and its opin- ions on prisoner reformation reached both the national stage and, in many instances, the ears of former convicts in their new homes. This development of the role of prison chaplain had been gradual. Throughout most of the nineteenth cen- tury, the chaplains had passed through the prison quickly; stopping to lead a quick service or buy a few library books. However, a process of gradual charm end redefinition of appropriate roles had made the chaplaincy far more salient by 1914 when the old prison closed its doors and the inmates moved to Bayport, Minnesota. April 6 Sunday — "History in Your Backyard," noon -3 pm, Washington County Historic Courthouse., Stillwater. Visit with representatives from various county historic sites and organizations. April 12 Saturday —SWHS program (tentative) "History of the South Washington County Bulletin," St. Paul Park City Hall, 10 AM. April 12 Saturday —WCHS volunteer orientation, Warden's House, Stillwater, noon. Mid -April through Mid - October —Free guided tours of Histor- ic Courthouse, Stillwater; M -Th at 10 AM, noon, and 2 PM. Fri & Sat. at 10:45 AM. April 27 Sunday Open House at the Warden's House Muse- um, Stillwater, noon -4 pm. Refreshments, self - guided tours, and opening of new fashion exhibit. May 1 Thursday Warden's House Museum in Stillwater open for the season. Call for group tour reservations. May 3 Saturday —Hay Lake School Museum Complex in Scandia opens for the season. JANUARY2014 11 DATED MATERIAL WAMIN6TW OUNTU *TOAUL iN111.1 Box 167 Stillwater, MN 55082 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Non - Profit Organization U. S. Postage PAID Permit No. 224 Stillwater, MN 55082 Cottage Grove IIPC City Office 12800 Ravine Pkwy Cottage Grove, MN 55016 Jill ti131i l;rul'1111111j)1Ilfil'1`i'i�'' • - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - MEMBERSHIP APPPLICATION or RENEWAL Washington County Historical Society Name Address City, State, Zip Telephone Indicate preferred type of membership _Annual Individual ($25) _Annual Senior Citizen/Student ($15) _Annual Family ($35) _Annual Patron ($75) _Amoral Sustaining ($125) — Lite ($1,000) 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 Membership includes subscription to Historical Whisperings. ----------------- - - - - -- 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 and electronic newsletters, historical markers, and a history website (www.wchsinn.org) with links to other history organizations. Our goal is to provide an oppor- tunity for all county citizens to 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 easfem 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 J ,. 12 HISTORICAL WHISPERINGS