steele county historical society

The Steele County Historical Society’s Dan Moeckly tells us about Henry “Hank” Hartwig, who owned some of Owatonna’s first auto dealerships, and this automotive mechanic’s service coat. Hartwig, a lifelong Steele County resident, first operated Paige Motors, then H...

Longtime Owatonna doctor John McIntyre had a tumultuous early life and served on the front lines in Europe during World War I. After the war ended in 1918, he stayed in France, continuing his studies until he was discharged from the Army in 1919...

Steve Groening recounts some of the top 1917 news from May and June. Included are National Guard war recruitment efforts and area support, a lawsuit against a man selling margarine, and Red Cross contributions in Steele, Waseca and Dodge counties rise rapidly...

Jerry Ganfield tells us about some of the vintage dresses donated to the Steele County Historical Society by the Kinyon family. The dresses include the wedding gown and mother-of-the-groom dress from Florence Riddell Kinyon’s 1911 wedding, some day dresses from the 1880s, and some 1920s-era flapper dresses...

Daniel Moeckly gives us a preview of the Steele County Historical Society’s coming Autos and Roads exhibit with a profile of Ernest Winship, a local leader on the Jefferson Highway project and in building engines and chassis. New episodes featuring Rice and Steele county history are posted to the KDHL YouTube channel and kdhlradio...

June Voss delves into some fashion history with a look the creation of hats and the evolution of hat fashion as guided by social changes, focusing on the cloche hat. Millinery was one of the few jobs outside the home available to women at the time, and Steele County boasted a few shops...

Steve Groening reports on the March-April 1917 news for Steele County. Topics include President Woodrow Wilson’s declaration of war on Germany, Owatonna’s National Guard Company I ordered to more than double its recruits to a force of 150, a proposal to dissolve the Farmers Cooperative Meatpacking Co...

Robyn Ladd tells us about Harriet Ware, a graduate of Owatonna’s Pillsbury Academy and a famous teacher, lecturer, composer and publisher of music in the early 1900s. Her music was performed by popular opera stars of the time such as David Bispham and the Salt Lake Mormon Tabernacle Choir...

The Steele County Historical Society’s Paul Nelson explains how the Anti-Horse Thief Association was created in Steele County in 1902. Horse thefts had been increasing, and residents needed a way to protect their stock. New episodes featuring Rice and Steele county history are posted to the KDHL YouTube channel and kdhlradio...

Just how prevalent were horse and mule thefts in the early 1900s? The Steele County Historical Society’s Paul Nelson takes a look at one such theft from the Fred Ahrens farm and how the Anti-Horse Thief Association may have been involved...