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Home My WebLink About2017-05-09 PACKET 08.A.y HISTORICAL WHISPERINGS - .r�-- -= , —Washington County ,y U l - " Historical Society ! Volume 43, Issue 1 Washington County, Minnesota April 2017 Baseball Before a Captive Audience: The Minnesota State Prison's Sisal Sox, 1914-1972 r-= This 1954 aerial photo clearly shows the baseball diamond at the northern side of the state prison complex. Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society. The Stillwater prison newspaper, the Prison Mirror, managed and edited by the prisoners, documented nearly 1,300 games between the prison team and outside opponents between 1914 and 1972. Most of these games were against amateur teams fi•om Minneapolis and St. Paul and neighboring towns in Min- nesota and Wisconsin, but as the years wore on high school and American Legion teams peppered the schedule as did an occasional appearance by the professional St. Paul Saints and Minneapolis Millers of the American Association. The Minnesota Territorial Prison was completed in Battle Hollow north of downtown Stillwater in 1853. When Minneso- ta became a state in 1858, the Stillwater prison became the Minnesota State Prison. As the years passed, buildings were added and the capacity expanded, but the prison was hemmed in by the hillside which formed a natural barrier and the few acres east of the prison that led down to the St. Croix River By Rich Arpi Rich Arpi is a member of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR). He is a research center associate with the Ramsey County Historical Society, a former archivist for the Minnesota Historical Society, and a volunteer archivist at the Washington County Historical Society. Here he explores here a little known area of amateur baseball as it was played by prisoners in the Stillwater State Prison and documented in the Prison Mirror, the oldest continuously published prison newspaper in the country. were owned by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad. In 1890 a twine factory, which relied exclusively on prison labor, was built inside the prison walls. The prison quickly became crowded, with the prisoner's cells small, cold, and damp. The prison courtyard was a small space that had no room for recreation, other than a few yards for walking. BASEBALL -CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 In This Issue ... ... we hear how playing baseball led to good conduct in the state prison and note that slave owners once lived in Wash- ington County ... plus, news of the organization. Executive Director's Report and Happenings p. 2 New Museum Season p. 4 WCHS Annual Report p. 5 County History Calendar P. 9 Robert Dyson, Slaveholder P. 10 Board & Staff From the Executive Director Washington County Happy spring! Historical Society Now that the sun is shining and the temperatures are warming up, we are excited to get the museums dusted off and new displays formed and ready for the public to come through to learn more about the great heritage of Washington County. Board David Lindsey President At the Warden's House we will have a new manager and some new exhibits and dis- plays, including "Washington County in the Great War"; a collection of paintings fiom Scott Foss Vice President Callie Wolf, daughter of Stillwater Brewer Joseph Wolf; a beautiful watercolor of the Af- Joe Otte Recording Secretary ton House – which is celebrating its 150th anniversary; and much, much more!! Tom Simonet Treasurer The annual Open House for the Warden's House Museum will be on Sunday, April Myron Anderson Director 23. There is no cost for the event and you can get a sneak peak of the new displays, meet Ryan Collins Director the new manager, and visit with some of the greatest volunteers any organization could ask for. The event is fiom noon to 4 PM. Holly Fitzenberger Director The Washington County Historical Society has a great reputation of producing some Sheila Hause Director of the finest history publications. Each year the Minnesota Alliance of Local History Mu- Karlene McComb Director seums (MALHM) hands out the annual Minnesota History Awards and this year WCHS Angie Noyes Director won the award for publications for our book Company K in the Border War, The book Becky Puag Director traces the Stillwater National Guard as it went to the Mexican border to protect the United States against the Mexican bandit Pancho Villa!! Pick up a copy when you visit the War- den's House Museum. Staff Brent Peterson The Boutwell House preservation is progressing — slowly! Unfortunately, more dam - Executive Director age was found in the foundation and it is now is being restored. Donations are needed so that we can finish the project. Please call WCHS at 651-439-5956 to donate. Open Warden's House Manager We have another full slate of programs at both museums and will have the Eder DustSchool Dubuque open also. Check out the events on the next page and the base ball calendar on page Hay L Hay Lake Museum Manager 6 so you won't miss anything – the Tenth Annual Hay Lake Beer Tasting is on Saturday, June 17 from 4-7 PM!! Chairs Thank you for being a member of the Washington County Historical Society. Remem- Robert Goodman ber, memberships are due now. You can renew your membership online at our website Endowment Fund Chair www.wchsmn.org or by sending at check to: WCHS, PO Box 167, Stillwater, MN 55082. Nancy Goodman Brent T. Peterson, Newsletter Editor WCHS Executive Director Historical Whisperings is published quarterly by the Washington County Historical Society, PO Box 167, Stillwater, MN 55082-0167. Website: www.wchsmn.org Phone: 651-439-5956. For information about stories and newsletter articles, contact editor@wchsmn. org For information about events and collections, contact information@rwchsrrm. org To book a museum four phone 651-439-5956 2 HISTORICAL WHISPERINGS Happenings at WCHS ... Open House at Warden's House Museum Sunday, April 23 Get a sneak peek at what's new at the Warden's House Museum on Sunday, April 23, fiom noon to 4 PM. The event is flee for members and the public to check out the new exhibits and talk with knowledgeable volun- teers and historians. Eat some sweets, listen to live mu- sic, and enjoy some coffee donated by Caribou Coffee while you look around. Trusty "Doghouse" Riley (volunteer Bob Goodman) is the doorman and guide at the 2014 Open House. Put These Summer Events on Your Calendar! Heritage Speaker Series — Free Sunday Programs at Museums `Steamboats North' Program at Hay Lake May 28 Learn more about the pioneers' road to Minnesota. Bob Goodman presents a program about the river steamboats that carried the settlers and supplies to pre - railroad Minnesota. The free program is at 2 PM on Sunday, May 28. Wildwood Park Talk at Warden's House June 11 From 1889 to 1932 Twin Citians rode the streetcar to Mahtomedi to visit the Wildwood Amusement Park. Sara Han- son, executive director of the White Bear Lake Area Historical Society, will talk about the park's glory days at the Warden's House Museum on Sunday, June 11 at 2 PM. Free program Railroad Depots Theme of June 25 Talk at Hay Lake Bill Schrankler, author of Shadows of Time: Minnesota's Surviving Railroad Depots, will share stories about many different depots and their importance to Minnesota history on Sunday, June 25, at the Hay Lake School, 2 PM. Bill will have books to ssign. Program is free. One Room School Games July 16 at Hay Lake School Join us at the Hay Lake Museum as we learn about different games at one -room schools with children's education spec- ialist Melissa Kneeland. Young and old will have fun playing wirlygigs, hoop rolling, hopscotch and more. There is no charge — so come and join the fun! See the next page and check the WCHS website for more great events later in the summer. <www. wchsmnn. org> Beer Tasting June 17 at Hay Lake Museum —10th Year! The WCHS Tenth Annual Beer Tasting will be held at the Hay Lake Museum Complex Saturday, June 17 fi•om 4 to 7 PM. Cost to participate in the beer tast- ing is $20 (21 -plus only) and admission includes a commemorative glass. Tap- room Travelers will debut their web - show from the 2016 beer tasting. We'll also have live music from the Cutaways and some classic cars and cigars to admire. Food will be available on the grounds and the museums will be open to view. There will be a silent auc- tion with some great items. A vintage base ball game will precede the Beer Tasting at 10 AM. Summer Interns Wanted! WCHS will be hiring three high school graduates or undergraduates majoring in history or a related field for a ten week period this summer. The paid position allows students majoring in history or a history -related field to gain hands-on experience in a local histori- cal organization. Interns learn about day-to-day opera- tions of a small history museum, in- cluding exhibit design, research facili- ties, fundraising and collections care. All applications must be submitted by May 10, 2017. Send application letter, resume and references to WCHS In- ternship Committee, PO Box 167, Stillwater, MN 55082. You can get more details at ww.wchsmn.org Directors Re-elected at March 23 Annual Meeting At the WCHS Annual Meeting on March 23, four directors were elected to till three-year terms on the WCHS Board of Directors. All were current board members who elected to rerun. No other candidates were offered. Scott Foss of Mahtomedi is the board's current vice-president. He was first appointed to the board in 2010. Scott's career has been in human ser- vices area. History is a passion with him. Both Foss and his son Parker are members of the St. Croixs vintage base ball club, Karlene McComb of Stillwater was first elected to the board in 2011. She has been employed by 3M for many years in an international and marketing Boyd Huppert Speaker at WCHS Annual Meeting Members enjoyed Boyd sharing some of his favorite stories from his weekly TV show. Pictured here, the award-winning journalist (left) talks with members of the audience. capacity and has volunteered with other nonprofits. Myron Anderson of Woodbury is an attorney and the financial officer of a St. Paul -based technology compa- ny. He was first elected to the WCHS board in 2011. He is a life-long history buff who is especially interested in mili- tary history, local architecture and early economic development. Holly Fitzenberger of Stillwater was first appointed to fill out a term on the board in 2010. She is a past local and state board member of Minnesota Business Women and a member of Skyway of Minneapolis Business Women. She has worked in insurance, healthcare and accounting. APRIL 2017 3 Museum Events Report Museum Manager Attends Vintage Base Ball Conference in Cooperstown, NY Yup, that's me, Dttstyn Dubuque, Hay Lake Museum Manager, and St. Croix. Nine teanntate Eric "Sugar" Sjogren, at Cooperstown! L The Vintage Base Ball Association (VBBA) held its national conference in the home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in March. Dustyn Dubuque was there representing the Me- nomonie Blue Caps, the team he manages out of Menomonie, Wisconsin, and the St. Croix Base Ball Club of Stillwater, along with some other team players. The conference brought together members of 23 different teams from around the nation to participate in a silent auction, a weekend at the gorgeous Otesaga Hotel, and a trip to the Baseball Hall of Fame. During the trip to the Hall of Fame, Dubuque was taken aback to see an original copy of the Beadle's Dime Base -Ball Player rule book from 1860. This is the rule book the St. Croix BBC plays by every summer. At the conclusion of the confer- ence it was announced that the Menomonie Blue Caps would host this conference in 2018 — it will be great to have the con- ference back in our area! I am sure many ballists fiom the Washington County area will attend. Museums Open First Weekend in May! The Warden's House Museum will open on Thursday May 4, for the 2017 tour season! Hours are from 1 to 5 PM Thursday — Sunday, May through October. The Hay Lake Museum Complex — Johannes Erick- son Log House and Hay Lake School — will open Satur- day, May 6. Hours are from 1 to 4 PM Saturday and Sun- day in May, September and October, and also 1 to 4 PM Fridays in June, July and August. The Eder School will be open Sundays starting June 4 through August 13 — with exception of July 2 (weekend before the Fourth). Group tours can be scheduled anytime. Call 651-439- 5956 or email <information@wchsmn.org> 4 HISTORICAL WHISPERINGS Become a WCHS Volunteer! Information Day Is April 20 If you have a passion for history, join us at the Warden's House Museum on Thursday, April 20 for a new volunteer orientation/infonnational meeting at 6:30 PM. Whether you'd like to indulge your inner historian or build up your resume, volunteering with WCHS can be a very rewarding experience. Volunteers assist the historical society in a wide vari- ety of ways including: cataloguing our artifact inventory, creating scrapbooks of historic photographs and newspa- per articles, and, of course, guiding visitors through our museums. Wherever your interest in history lies, we can tailor your volunteer experience to suit you! At the April 20th meeting, we'll take a tour of the Warden's House Museum and provide further information about volunteering with WCHS. The Warden's House is located at 602 Main Street North in Stillwater. Contact WCHS at <information@wchsrnn.org> or call 651-439- 5956 with any questions regarding volunteer opportunities or the orientation meeting. Museum Outdoor Movie Night Returns! Charlie Chaplin Silents Shown June 30 What could be better than watching a movie under the stars on a summer night? Bring your whole family to the Hay Lake Museum on Friday evening, June 30, to watch a batch of Char- lie Chaplin silent films from the early 20th century projected on the side of the Hay Lake School. You are encouraged to bring a blanket or chairs (and warm clothes if it seems advisable) as we sit outside and relive the silent era of film with one of the all-time greats. fhis The night will consist of a short film by Charlie Chap- lin and the showing of his first full-length feature, "The Kid," which featured Jackie Coogan and had its premiere in 1921. The museum will be open for free tours at 7:30 PM with the movie to begin at dusk — 90 minutes max. This event is flee to the public and entertaining for young and old! Snacks and beverages will be available for purchase. is Mr ersat PiCturR t{pOA Whroh the famous candian has WNl�ld •Who% year. 6 reels of Joy. THE KID" A first National *Attraction The night will consist of a short film by Charlie Chap- lin and the showing of his first full-length feature, "The Kid," which featured Jackie Coogan and had its premiere in 1921. The museum will be open for free tours at 7:30 PM with the movie to begin at dusk — 90 minutes max. This event is flee to the public and entertaining for young and old! Snacks and beverages will be available for purchase. Washington County Historical Society Financial Report for FY2016 Balance Sheet as of Dec. 31, 2016 ASSETS Total Operations Endowment Building Total Boutwell House Income $ 58,937.32 Current Assets Total Operations Endowment Total Endowment Building 4,953.57 Total Building Fund $ 83,289.84 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 35,456.00 Total Endowment Assets $ 301,947.05 $ 0.00 $ 315,765.91 $ 0.00 Total Publications $ 28,717.95 $ 22,588.24 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 Total Society Operations $ 39,251.05 $ 48,686.90 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 Total Current Assets $ 453,205.89 $ 71,275.14 $ 315,765.91 $ 35,456.00 Fixed Assets Total Boutwell House Asset Furniture and Equipment Total Heritage Center Total Fixed Assets TOTAL ASSETS LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Liabilities Total Long Term Loans Total Liabilities Total Equity TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY $ 583,691.27 $ 525,849.00 $ 756,875.00 $ 1,866,415.27 $ 2,319,621.16 $ 473,738.38 $ 473,738.38 $ 1,845,882.78 $ 2,319,621.16 $ 0.00 $ 525,849.00 $ 0.00 $ 525,849.00 $ 597,124.14 $ 40,000.00 -$ 40,000.00 $ 637,124.14 $ 597,124.14 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 315,765.91 -$ 65,000.00 $ 65,000.00 $ 380,765.91 $ 315,765.91 Profit and Loss for the Period of Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2016 $ 685,867.74 $ 0.00 $ 756,875.00 $1,442,742.74 $1,478,198.74 $ 567,580.74 $ 567,580.74 $ 910,618.00 $1,478,198.74 Income Total Operations Endowment Building Total Boutwell House Income $ 58,937.32 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 26,760.38 Total Endowment $ 4,953.57 $ 0.00 $ 1,920.00 $ 0.00 Total General Public Funding $ 52,921.81 $ 59,282.75 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 Total Grants $ 98,364.00 $ 78,000.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 Total Heritage Center Income $ 230,026.04 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $148,049.04 Total Interest Income $ 1,400.55 $ 66.40 $ 11,898.86 $ 0.00 Total Other Income $ 228.50 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 Total Stonebridge $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 10,000.00 Total Income $ 446,831.79 $137,349.15 $ 13,818.86 $189,331.66 Expenses Total Activities $ 2,372.74 $ 7,393.06 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 Total Boutwell House Stillwater $ 60,892.40 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 41,957.61 Total Hay Lake School, Scandia MN $ 3,824.58 $ 2,213.80 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 Total Heritage Center, Greeley St $ 70,074.64 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 72,030.39 Total Insurance $ 7,885.46 $ 3,752.74 $ 0.00 $ 1,840.72 Total Membership Expense $ 5,928.40 $ 6,547.06 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 Total Operation Expenses $ 12,636.42 $ 11,163.04 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 Total Wages, taxes, benefits $ 110,290.98 $ 81,869.78 $ 0.00 $ 20,121.35 Total Warden's House and Office $ 15,117.36 $ 8,984.85 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 Total Expenses $ 289,022.98 $121,924.33 $ 0.00 $135,950.07 Net Income $ 157,808.81 $ 15,424.82 $ 13,818.86 $ 53,381.59 This is an unaudited statement. The final document from our accountant will be available in July. APRIL 2017 5 B.4SEBALG—Co171frnred from page I The New Prison Gets a Ball Field Work on a new prison began in 1908 on the flat plain above the river bluffs in South Stillwater (now Bayport), three miles south of the old one. By early summer of 1914 the entire prison population had been transferred. While the buildings of the new prison were built close to one another, as in any other prison, room was left for a ball field in the north part of the complex. With a new prison, Warden Wolfer granted some new rules and privileges which included: "Baseball and athletic sports will be played on the prison green every Saturday afternoon." Allowing the prisoners to be out in the fresh air for any extended period was a new privilege. "The crack of the bat as it struck the ball, the yell of the umpire and the enthusiastic cheers and yells of the fans, was heard for the first time within prison walls in Stillwater last Saturday when over six hundred delighted inmates of the new prison gathered on the prison green to enjoy the new rules recently announced by Warden Wolfer." —Prison Mirror, June 14, 1914 The prisoners wasted little time, as the prisoner newspa- per reported in the June 4, 1914, issue: "The crack of the bat as it struck the ball, the yell of the umpire and the enthusiastic cheers and yells of the fans, was heard for the first time within prison walls in Stillwater last Saturday when over six hundred delighted inmates of the new prison gathered on the prison green to enjoy the new rules recently announced by Warden Wolfer. It was a grand sight, one never to be forgotten by those beholding it. Men who have been prisoners here for long terms—some of them who have seen thirty and thirty-five of penal servitude, could not repress the tears that coursed over their cheeks; and all they could say as they went about clasping the hands of their fellows, was `Ain't it grand –oughtn't we be thankful. "' The prisoners quickly divided themselves up into teams; one team represented the prison newspaper employees and another, the band and orchestra members. The Green Sox soon became the dominant prison team and by September challeng- es had gone out to outside teams. The Gehlar Colts, Starkels, and Simonet's from Stillwater faced the Green Sox; clubs from as far away as Le Sueur and Hinckley, Minnesota, came in for games. The season, which ended in November, left the prison team with a 3-6 record against outside clubs. Baseball Promotes Good Conduct A successful 1914 season laid the groundwork for a successful baseball program at the Stillwater state prison. The biennial reports of the wardens between 1916 and the late 1940s provide snippets of information on the baseball pro- 6 HISTORICAL WHISPERINGS gram. Usually only a few sentences mentioned the baseball program and they were repetitive from report to report, but were illuminating nonetheless. Warden J. J. Sullivan, in the 1923-1924 report writes, "During the baseball season the score and standings of the major league clubs is posted daily on the large scoreboard in the dining room. The men are appreciative and it is no question but that these weekly diversions have a tendency toward good conduct." Warden after warden repeated the thought that baseball unproved morale and conduct be- cause only those prisoners who were in good standing could participate on the team or watch the games, which were held weekly on Saturday afternoons and on holidays, between three and six o'clock. Harold Seymour in his book, Baseball: The People's Game, devotes the following paragraph to baseball at the Stillwater prison: "Baseball became incorporated into the unwritten by- laws at the Stillwater, Minnesota, State Penitentiary with the appointment of Charles S. Reed as warden in October 1914. Although inmates had played one or two games be- fore his arrival, Reed encouraged the baseball spirit sup- posedly `inherent in every man. 'He put up huge score- board at the front of the dining hall, where everyone could see it. Each day before the noon meal he had the scores of all major-league and double-A minor league games posted. The men received permission to converse at table every other day, and comments on the deeds of Cobb, Speaker, Johnson and other stars filled the air. In an even more radical move, Reed continued the pay of Stillwater men working in the prison industries when the shops shut down for the ball games. Although this policy cost the prison an estimated $ 1,200 per game, or from $ S, 000 to $ 6, 000 a month, Reed believed the money well forfeited. `We by not to forget, ' he said, `that the purpose of the industries is not to make goods and revenue for the state, but to make better men of the inmates, while at the same time protecting society. ' " Although the prison ball team was mentioned occasion- ally in the Stillwater Gazette and the St. Paul Pioneer Press, we are indeed fortunate that the Prison Mirror provided com- prehensive coverage of baseball games played at the prison. Each prisoner received a copy, delivered to his cell, and he was expected to place it at the foot of his bed the next morning for disposal. Each prisoner was also allowed to send one copy home to family member or to a friend for flee. In addition to extensive coverage of the prison games, the paper was not shy in critical commentary and analysis of each ballplayer's per- formance on the field. Weekly columns, with only the byline of "Bobbles," "Diamond Dust" or "A Fan," on events in the major leagues and the American Association were as detailed and informative as any in the daily Twin Cities newspapers. Rosters of the Federal League teams were provided along with news of player transactions. 1936: The Team Becomes the Sisal Sox The 1914 prison team was known as the Green Sox. However, that name quickly faded and for the next twenty years the prison team was variously known as the Greys, the Stars, or just the Minnesota State Prison (MSP) team. In 1936, the prison officials decided to hold a contest among the prisoners to come up with a new name for the ball .% In the days before photographs became commonplace in news- papers, humorous art work pep- pered the game accounts. team that had more color and meaning. Hundreds of sug- gestions poured in. Among the names considered were: Hermits, Spinners, Minneso- ta Binders, Rebels, Interstate Comets, Fagans, Walled City Gophers, Racqueteers, Sinners and Jaybirds. Names of birds, beasts and insects were also popular as were names of natural disasters such as Hurricanes and Cy- clones. Several entrants adorned their entries with clever drawings and one en- try was a poem indicating the valor and ability of the local nine. Officials set up an elaborate scoring system, that would make the Hall of Fame voters proud, that weeded the suggestions down to a popular few. The name chosen was The Sisal Sox, in nod to the twine factory, which used hemp, or sisal, as its raw product. So after May 1936 the Sisal Sox was the name of the Stillwater prison's baseball team that played outside teams and pickup prison teams until its demise after the 1972 season. The Sisal Sox played outside teams and pickup prison teams, playing 25 to 30 games per year. The results of nearly 1,300 games against outside opponents were recorded in The Prison Mirror – 689 wins, 546 losses and 43 ties. Playing as an independent club for most of its history, the Sisal Sox compiled an impressive record. For a few years in the late 1950s and 1960s, the team was a member of the Friendly Valley League, and played a 14 -game league schedule in addition to numerous non-league games. The most common opponents were the prison's closest neighbors, the Bayport and Stillwater town teams. The Sisal Sox compiled a rec- ord of 66 wins and 60 losses and one tie between 1915 and 1954 against the Bayport -South Stillwater The Stillwater Loggers often played the prison team between 1948 and 1960. This photo was taken in 1954. The tall player in the back row, fourth front right, is the later -to -be -famous Bud Grant.. team; a record of 31-17-2 between 1931 and 1947 against Stillwater; and a record of 7-10-1 against the Stillwater Log- gers between 1948 and 1960. Other local opponents were teams from Oak Park and the Omaha Railroad Shops in Hudson, Wisconsin. Common St. Paul opponents were the St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company, the Knights of Columbus, and the Lorence Recrea- tion Club. The Sox frequently met teams from American Linen Supply Company and the West End Athletic Club of Minneap- olis. Its most common college opponent was the River Falls, Wisconsin, Teachers' College, which faced the Sisal Sox be- tween 1915 and 1952 with a 9-12-2 record for the Sox. Special treats were five games against the top professional teams in the area, the Minneapolis Millers and St. Paul Saints of the Ameri- can Association. In 1930 the Sisal Sox played a game with the Chicago Giants, possibly an African-American team. It was the only game the Sox won in the series against professional teams—an 8 to 7 victory. The Sox's record against the prison all-star teams that filled the schedule when an outside team cancelled was a stel- lar 19-1-2 between 1915 and 1966, proving the Sisal Sox man- agement usually was able to recruit the best baseball talent in the prison. Umpires were often prison guards or officials, but quite often mayors and businessmen of neighboring Stillwater and Bayport performed yeoman service. The ball field at the Min- nesota State Prison at Stillwater was dedicated as Swanson Memorial Field on August 17, 1957, in memory of Roy G. "Swaney" Swanson, a man who had devoted twenty years to scheduling baseball, football, basketball and softball games at the prison as well as taking his turn as the plate umpire every Saturday. Play Outside Prison Walls The Sisal Sox actually played several road games in their history. Between 1938 and 1942 the team played a series of twenty games against the St. Cloud Reformatory team, known as the Red Tops. The series was discontinued after BASEBALL—Continued on next page APRIL 2017 7 Is There a Roster of the Sisal Sox? The short answer is "No." The author says: "This work to date has covered only the last twen- ty years of the club and is made more difficult because box scores use nicknames or abbreviations of names. Nicknames also change from year to year, and depend on the correspondent. Roy Austin was referred to "Speedy" in some reports and "Rabbit" in others. "Freckles" Brown, "Schnozz" Brown and "Bobby" Brown all played for the Sox at the same time in the 1950s and are easily confused with one another and possibly with several other Browns. Other monikers noted are Robert "Moose" Morris, John "Water Buffalo" Northrup, "Yogi" Zelmer, Mel "Linus" Waltz, and Ernie "The Monster" Verdick." One box of "Statistics Showing Sisal Sox' Skill," compiled by "Ernie," shows a player called "Lawr" bat- ting .444, with "Sandy" close behind at .421 and "Smi" hitting .400. Others listed are "Wels," "Ben," "Barney," "Lark," "Al," "Quin" and "Wood." several years, but overall, the Sisal Sox won 16 of the 20 games played. In 1960, when the Sisal Sox team was a member of the Friendly Valley League, at least one playoff game was played outside the prison walls. Road games were infrequent, but not because prison officials had any serious issues with them. The security and logistics were not insurmountable; after all, prisoners were transported all the time. The overarching reason was that the baseball game on Saturday and holiday afternoons became part of the routine of prison life. Most of the prisoners looked for- ward to the games, and attendance figures when given, were usually over 95 percent of the prison population and occasion- ally topped 1,000 individuals. Bleacher seating was limited, so many prisoners stood three or four deep behind the plate and down the foul lines. Jack Junker, who played for the Stillwater Base Ball Persists in the St. Croix Valleyi Come out to watch the WCHS St. Croixs play base ball the way it was meant to be played — by 1860s rules! Saturday May 20 – vs. Afton @ Crocker Park, Lakeland, noon Saturday June 17 – vs. Ruin River Rovers & La Crescent Applejacks@ Hay Lake School Beer Tasting, 11-4 PM Saturday July 1 – vs. Forest Lake Brewers @ Schumaker Field, Forest Lake, 1 PM Saturday July 22 – vs. various clubs demonstrate @ Stillwater for Lumberjack Days, Old Athletic Field, start 11 AM Saturday September 23 – vs. Afton @ Crocker Park, noon 8 HISTORICAL WHISPERINGS Loggers against the Sisal Sox in the 1950s, recalls that the prisoners bet cigarettes on the outcome of at -bats (hit or not) and avidly rooted for the other team. Dave Jurdcer, who played football and softball against prison teams in the 1970s and 1980s, and thus missed playing the Sisal Sox, nonetheless recalls the experience that all visit- ing teams went through between 1914 and today. In addition to being searched entering and leaving the prison, visitors had their hands stamped with invisible ink as a precaution against prisoners trying to sneak out with the visiting team. Teams would have to march through the cell block to the field which might have unnerved more than one young player. Dave re- calls the baseball field being ringed by a running track and weight lifting stations with some prisoners otherwise occupied during the game. Afterwards, the visiting teams were fed a meal with the prisoners in the mess hall. Fresh vegetables from the nearby prison farm were plentiftrl. The Sisal Sox baseball club ceased after the 1972 sea- son, having played only a few games in the previous three years. Over time, more and more of the prison population be- came involved in intramural teams in basketball, broom hock- ey, softball and volleyball. It became more difficult to schedule games for the Sisal Sox as amateur baseball declined a bit in the 1960s, and more high school teams filled the schedule. The constant turnover of prisoners may have been a factor, as well as the prison's all-star softball team, which was more competitive and took players and interest away from the Sisal Sox. But it is undeniable that baseball was the sport that led the way to a ftrll athletic program and a dramatic change in prison life at the Stillwater State Prison, though there may yet be a few who remember the "crack of the bat," rather than the "metallic ping," at the prison ball yard. Information for this article was compiled from The Prison Mirror and Biennial Reports of the Wardens of the Stillwater State Prison, available at the Minnesota History Center, and phone interviews with Dave and Jack Junker of Stillwater, 2016. WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORY Calendar of Events Please contact the sponsoring organization for updated infor- mation about these events: Gannnelgarden 651-433-5053; Afton Historical Society 651-436-3500; Historic Courthouse 651-275- 7075; South Washington Heritage Society (SWHS) 651-459-7950,- Washington 51-459-7950;Washington County Historical Society (WCHS) 651-439-5956; Denmark Toimship Historical Society (DTHS) 651-436-7639; April 11 Tuesday—DTHS program; Ken Martens talks about Old Time Medicine at the Denmark Town Hall, 7 PM. Free. April 23 Sunday—Open House at the Warden's House Museum, Stillwater, noon -4 PM. Refreshments, self -guided tours, music, and opening of new exhibits. Free. Through mid-October—Free guided tours of Historic Courthouse, Stillwater; M–F at 11, 1, 3 & 5 PM; Sat. at 11, 1 & 3 PM. April 28 Friday—Gammelgarden Museum and Scandia Butik opening weekend, Scandia. April 29 Saturday—Victorian Tea and Program by Minnesota Historical Society, noon to 2 PM at Historic Courthouse, Stillwater. $40 per person, reservations needed. May 4 Thursday—Warden's House Museum in Stillwater opens for the season, Thurs–Sun 1-5 PM. May 6 Saturday—Hay Lake School Museum Complex in Scandia opens for the season, tours weekends 1-4 PM. May 13 Saturday—SWHS trip to State Capitol Building in St. Paul for free tour. Meet in the St. Paul Park City Hall parking lot at 9:30AM for car pooling. May 2 Saturday—Washington County Vintage Base Ball Opener. St.Croixs vs. Afton Red Socks, Crocker Park, Lakeland, noon. May 28 Sunday—WCHS program "Steamboats North" with Bob Goodman at the Hay Lake School, Scandia, 2 PM. Free. May 28 Sunday—Immigrant for a Day, 1-4 PM, Gammelgarden Museum, Scandia. Free family event. June–September second and fourth Sundays—Woodbury Histori- cal Society Heritage House open 1-4 PM Membership Report The Washington County Historical Society welcomes new and renewing annual members listed here. Thanks to you all for your yearly support. And special thanks to those of you who added a donation to your membership check. WCHS truly ap- preciates your support. Remember, annual memberships are due January 1 each year. For information call 651-439-5956 or email information@wchsmn.org New and Renewing SustaininIa Members LeRoy & Sheryl Bendickson * Richard Hodsdon * Loring & Lucy McAllister * Joe Otte * Jim Thommes New and Renewing Patron Members Don Gettinger * Ed & Kathleen Fagerlund * Tom Jefferson Bryan & Barb Olson * David Smith, * David Spencer June 5–August 14 Sundays—WCHS Eder Schoolhouse open noon to 4 PM except July 2. Oakdale Nature Preserve. June 10 Saturday—SWHS tour of Fort Snelling National Ceme- tery led by Jim Sullivan. This will be a bus tour from St. Paul Park City Hall parking lot. Please sign up; bus fee. June 11 Sunday—WCHS program "Wildwood Amusement Park" with Sara Hanson, WBLAHS director; Warden's House Mu- seum, Stillwater at 2 PM. Free. June 17 Saturday—Vintage base ball with Menomonie Blue Caps vs. La Crescent Applejacks 11 AM -4 PM, Lions Club Park, Scandia (next to Hay Lake Museum). June 17 Saturday—WCHS Beer Tasting at Hay Lake Museum Complex, Scandia, 4-7 PM. Tasting is 21+ only; cost $20 June 24 Saturday—Vintage base ball St. Croixs vs. Blue Caps at Menomonie, WI. Time TBA. June 24 Saturday—Midsommar Dag, 10 AM – 4 PM, Gam- melgarden Museum, Scandia. June 30 Friday—WCHS Outdoor Movie Night at Hay Lake School. Watch "The Kid" with Charlie Chaplin at dusk. Free family program. June 25 Sunday—WCHS program "One -Room School Games and Activities," Melissa Kneeland, 2 Pm. Free family event July 1 Saturday—Vintage base ball St. Croixs vs. Forest Lake Brewers, Schumaker Field, Forest Lake, 1 PM. July 4 Tuesday—Vintage base ball St. Croixs vs. Northfield Sil- ver Stars, St. Olaf Field, Northfield, 1 PM. July 8 Saturday—SWHS program: Daniel Munson talks about his book, Malice Toward None, St. Paul Park City Hall, 10 AM. July 20 Thursday—Ice Cream Social and Kick-off to Stillwater Lumberjack Days 5-8:30 PM, Historic Courthouse, Stillwater. July 22 Saturday—Demonstration Vintage Base Ball during Stillwater Lumberjack Days, all -day play at Old Athletic Field, Stillwater. 11-5 PM. Free. New and Renewing Annual Members Rich Arpi * Betty A. Bender * Keith Beyer * Patricia Beyer * Jacquelen Bialozynski * Kathy Brevig * Carol Brotzler * Chuck & Judy Clausen * Ryan Collins * Mary Combs * Mary De Reu * Rod De Reu * Paul Dornfeld & Dede Potter * Rich Eder * Duane Elliott, * Thomas Elmquist * Barbara Enslin * Sally Erickson [Valley Tours] * Holly Fitzenberger * Mike & Bonnie Frain * Kermit Frye * Sam Fudenberg * Barbara & Joe Halligan * Eric Heieren * Craig & Jeannine Hoffheck * Dick & Ginny Johnson * Thomas Lanman * Marilee & Louis Larkey * Jacqueline Lathrop * Dave Lindsey * Richard Lohmann * Beverley Kraemer * Patrick Kurtenbach * Linda Kuzma * Doug & Mary Louise Menikheim * John & Evy Nerbonne * Duane Olson * Frank A. Orsello * Roger & Darlene Peterson * Becky Pung * Orville & Nadine Pung Audrey Thueson Radke * Jan Rothanburg * Susan Rowe Dan & Yvonne Schivone * Patrick Shannon * Tom & Sue Simonet * Kathy Widin * Lynn Wilson * Sarlyn Ziegler APRIL 2017 9 Robert Dyson, Stillwater Slaveholder By Dr. Christopher P. Lehman Dr. Christopher P. Lehman is a professor in ethnic studies at St. Cloud State University and a Visiting Fellow, Harvard University, Summer 2011. He is the author of Slavery in the Mississippi Valley, 1787-1865: A History of Human Bondage in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin (2011). He has documented slaves and slaveholders living in Stearns, Benton, Hennepin, Ramsey and Washington counties. Washington County, Minnesota, was home to one of the few southern slaveholders to take up residence in the state. Robert Dyson, a homeopathic doctor from Maryland, traveled to Min- nesota in the late 1850s, invested in real estate there, returned to Maryland to participate in the slave trade, and then went back to Minnesota to reside permanently in Washington Coun- ty. In addition, he became a local leader of the Democratic Party within two years of his relocation. As a result, the coun- ty's early economy and politics were partially influenced by a man whose wealth came from slave labor. In 1855 he inherited eleven slaves from his late father Bennett Dyson, and their collective value added to $4,000. The junior Dyson then left his home in Charles County, Maryland, and by early 1858 he started a real estate agency in Minneap- olis. He was one of dozens of southerners who invested in land in Minnesota, either as an alternative to involvement in planta- tion slavery or as a complement to it. He advertised land for sale in his hometown newspaper. An advertisement on page three of the May 6, 1858, issue of the Port Tobacco Times and Charles County Advertiser states Dyson's intention to attend May Court for anyone wanting to buy land from him. Having written the statement on April 29, 1858, he identified Minneapolis as the official location of his business. On the other hand, directly below that notice in the May 6 issue was another one from Dy- son, and it described a completely different business transaction. He informed his hometown readers that while temporarily in his hometown in May 1858, he would also sell one of his slaves to an interested buyer. He adver- tised, "For Sale, A Young Likely Negro Woman will be offered at private sale during May Court in 10 HISTORICAL WHISPERINGS April 29, 1858.-3m Stillwater's Main Street as it looked when Dyson lived there. The Minesota House was built in 1848, before the spelling of the territory's name was settled. Photo Everett, 1865. Port Tobacco." He also wrote this statement on April 29, meaning that he considered Minneapolis his business home while drafting the advertisement for the slave sale. When he returned to Minnesota later that year, he set up his residence in Washington County. On October 26, 1858 he began promoting his medical practice in the Stillwater Messenger, and he designated Stillwater as his address. Mean- while, he started involving himself in local politics and his efforts proved successful in a short amount of time. He was one of five delegates representing the county in Minnesota's Democratic Convention in the summer of 1859, according to the Red Wing Sentinel of August 20, 1859. He had not yet settled in his new location for an entire year, but he had Noncp.. ROBERT DYSON, REAL ESTATE DEALER AND AGENT, . $inneapol* Minnewta, WSTILL attend to investing, loaning money, ex- vr amining titles, and all business connected with the Real Eatale Agency, and to the locating orlAnd Warrants. He can be seen in Port To- baccedariag May Court. References given when required. April 29. 1856.—tr FOR. SALE. AYOUNG LIVELY NEGRO WOMAN will be offered at private sale durinK May Court In Port Tobacco. Any person wishing to purchase will please call on me, or JAbi■ D. CAarlNEsa, Port Tobacco. ,ap.29--3t. ROBERT DYSON. Robert Dyson, a southern speculator then located in Minneapolis, advertised his business and a slave for sale in a Maryland newspaper- in 1859. He had sold all his slaves at the time of his death. already won over the county's Democrats. The state elections that fall proved disastrous for the Democrats, because the Republican Party wrested political control of Minnesota from them. By the 1860 cen- sus, Dyson was back in Charles County, Maryland, residing in the town of Hill Top and resuming his medical practice there. Shortly thereafter, in October 1860, Robert Dyson died and is buried in Charles County. Nevertheless, Dyson had made his mark in Washington County. He had pro- vided a service for Minnesotans, and the eleven slaves from his inheritance generated some of the wealth fiom which he paid for land in Minnesota and advertisements in the Stillwater Messenger. He was just one link between the county and the economy of Afifican American slavery, but he was a link nonetheless. MORE ON THE STORY Slavery in a Free Territory? How Could That Be? The Missouri Compromise of 1820 drew a line across the country horizontally and stated that slavery could not exist in any new states north of the line. Despite that, before Minnesota became a state in 1858, slavery was common. Officers and civilians at Fort Snelling, many of whom came from southern states, brought their slaves with them. Through the 1820s and 1830s it is estimated there might be anywhere from 15 to 30 black slaves living at Fort Snelling at any time. Minnesota was a favorite vacation spot for wealthy southerners who commonly brought their personal slaves with them on steamboat excursions to St. Paul and Stillwa- ter. Minnesota hotel owners welcomed these well-to-do travelers and did not question the "servants" who accompa- nied them. Hotel registers indicate this was common up through the start of the Civil War. The Dred Scott decision in 1857, that a slave remained a slave even in a free state, protected slave owners in non -slave states. But few of these personal slaves remained in Minnesota. When their owners left the state they took their property, including slaves, with them.. Other blacks arrived in Minnesota on the Under- ground Railway, and some who came with their masters were stolen away by abolitionists. These mainly were spir- ited away to Canada, or to eastern states. The 1850 census for Minnesota lists 39 free blacks, some of whom may have been slaves. The census pro- cedures assumed there were in fact no slaves to count in Minnesota, so they had to be listed as free blacks or simply not enumerated. By 1860 there were about 260 blacks listed in the census. While Democrats in Minnesota supported letting vot- ers in the new state of Minnesota decide whether to allow slavery in the state, the rival Republicans argued for pre- vention of the spread of slavery. Minnesota came into the union in 1858 as a free state with a Democratic governor; by 1860 the Republican outlook had prevailed. Historic Cottage Grove Records Transferred to WCHS On March 6th John Burbank, Cottage Grove Senior Plan- ner, transferred historic Cottage Grove documents to the col- lections of the Washington County Historical Society. Among the documents that will now be housed at the His- torical Society archives are road petitions from the 1860s; Jus- tice Dockets from 1898-1948; Town of Cottage Grove meeting minutes from 1931-1964; and wolf bounty claims dating fi•om 1942—among other items. `These documents represent many different eras of Cot- tage Grove history," said Brent Peterson, Execu- tive Director of the Washington County His- torical Society, "They give us a glimpse into the community's past, and put a great deal of focus on where the community will go into the future." The records will still need to be processed through the Historical Society before they will be open for the public to view and to do research. John Burbank, left, and Brent Peterson review Cottage Grove records nor>> at WCHS. Among the documents transferred were many photographs, including this from about 2001 with Governor Ventura. From left, commissioners Bill Puh-abek, Dick Stafford, and Wally Abrahamson. You shop. Amazon donates kl When you shop Amazon Smile, the foundation donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible purchases to the nonprofit of your choice. Simply visit smile.amazon.com, choose Washington County Il u Historical Society Stillwater MN as your charity (be sure it's I� the Stillwater one), and begin shopping. There is no difference in price or goods, and no charge to you. Bookmark Amazon Smile so whenever you shop, you help support WCHS. APRIL 2017 11 DATED MATERIAL WONTON (OUNTO *TOWAL SO 10 Box 167 Stillwater, MN 55082 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Contact Us To receive this newsletter by U.S. Mail or Email, or for information about the Washington County Historical Society, contact us at 651-439-5956 or email information@wchsmn.org On the web at www.wchsmn.org Non -Profit Organization U. S. Postage PAID Permit No. 224 Stillwater, MN 55082 Cottage Grove HPC City Office 12800 Ravine Pkwy Cottage Grove, MN 55016 .•x•�� ._•s rT ..�-'v ...._. �. � � .. r 'ili`I i. `1'ii'i` ��` II' 'i` .i' iii'i� fi ! iii ----------------------- MEMBERSHIP APPPLICATION or RENEWAL Washington County Historical Society Name ' Address ' I I City, State, Zip Telephone Indicate preferred type of membership I _Annual Individual ($25) _Annual Senior Citizen/Student ($15) I I _Annual Family ($35) I I _Annual Patron ($75) I I _Annual Sustaining ($125) I _Life ($1,000) I I I Additional donations are welcome and needed. Volunteer help is also needed (check here _or call). Detach and mail to: WCHS Memberships I PO Box 167, Stillwater MN 55082 I Membership includes subscription to Historical Whisperings. - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 12 HIST TERINGS 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.wchsmn.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 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