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Upcoming Events

Learn more about Golden Valley's history by joining us at one of our upcoming programs!

Fourth Annual Golden Valley Historical Society Holiday Open House is Saturday, Dec. 14

Golden Valley Historical Society’s (GVHS) Fourth Annual Holiday Open House is Saturday, Dec. 14. The public is invited to stop by 6731 Golden Valley Road, from 11 am to 3 pm, to enjoy seasonal music by the Festive Flute Loops (12 noon – 1 pm), visit the 1882 Historic Church, tour the Golden Valley History Museum’s immersive exhibition, enjoy a display of classic toys from decades past, purchase a vintage street sign, and donate to PRISM’s warm clothing drive.
 

Seasonal Music by the Festive Flute Loops   12 noon – 1:00 pm

The chapel of GVHS’s 142-year-old Historic Church will ring with the seasonal music of The Festive Flute Loops quartet. It will be family-friendly fun with music from “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” to “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies” as lovely as you’ve ever heard it. Flutists Mary Hegre, Diane Markovich, Laurie Strand, and Jeanne Roudabush are based in Eden Prairie and most recently appeared at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. 

 

For a preview for what’s in store, their recent recording can be sampled at their website.

 

Spread Warmth in the Community. Donate to the Warm Clothes Drive

Share your holiday joy and help others stay warm! GVHS is conducting a warm clothes drive for PRISM, the Golden Valley non-profit that serves the western suburbs. PRISM provides assistance with housing, food, and other resources with dignity. On Dec. 14, Drop off donations of new or gently used (and clean) coats, hats, mittens/gloves, or other seasonal items in the designated boxes in the museum and church.

 

Donated clothing will be sold through PRISM's Shop for Change at extremely affordable rates for its clientele, with the monetary proceeds then benefitting its life-changing services. 

 

Historic Toys from Decades Past

The holiday décor in the Historic Church will include a fun display of classic toys from decades past, including some antique riding toys that are over 100 years old. From the collection of Golden Valley’s Ken Huber, these are the toys - dolls, boats, bikes, trikes, wagons, scooters, pedal cars - that greeted excited youngsters on Christmas morning or other special family celebrations in decades past.

 

Visit the Golden Valley History Museum 11 am – 3:00 pm

Visit the award-winning Golden Valley History Museum’s immersive exhibition that traces the history of Golden Valley from the ice age and pre-European contact to today.

 

The exhibition explores the former Golden Valley High School; the first Byerly’s Foods, Golden Valley Garden Club, Ewald Brothers Dairy, Golden Valley Police and Fire Departments; civil rights, human rights, and leadership.

 

Visit the 1882 Historic Church in the Valley  11 am – 3:00 pm

Step inside the Historic Church in the Valley, decked out for the holidays, and its original, 142-year-old chapel. It currently hosts monthly history programs, weddings, memorial services, and vow renewals for up to 80 guests. Take a look; volunteers will be on hand to answer questions.

 

Take Home a Vintage Golden Valley Street Sign   11 am – 3:00 pm
Available for sale on December 14 will be over 1,000 decommissioned Golden Valley street signs, from Aquila and Avondale to Zane and Zealand. Some date back to the 1940s.

 

It could be the perfect holiday gift to decorate a college student’s dorm room, a backyard fence, or to surprise a nostalgic former resident. Signs are $25 each and can be purchased by cash, check, or PayPal. Proceeds from the sale of signs support GVHS programs and operations.

 

For an approximate street sign inventory (We try to keep track!) of available signs, use this link.

 

Golden Valley Historical Society’s November 14 Off-site Program:

To Banish Forever: A Secret Society and Ho-Chunk Removal in Minnesota

Left: Robert Pilot (Ho-Chunk), host of Native Roots Radio. Center: “To Banish Forever” book cover. Right: Cathy Coats, author

Hennepin History Museum (HHM) and six other community organizations including the Golden Valley Historical Society are hosting author Cathy Coats and Native Roots Radio host Robert Pilot (Ho-Chunk) who will present a book reading and discussion about the often-excluded history of the Ho-Chunk in Minnesota with an emphasis on Indigenous history in the Twin Cities West Metro area.

 

The program will be presented at The Trailhead, 1221 Theodore Wirth Parkway, Golden Valley, on Thursday, Nov. 14 at 6:00 pm. Be sure to arrive by 5:45 pm for snacks provided by the North American Traditional Indigenous Food System.

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Admission is free, with an optional pay-as-you-can donation. Pre-registration is required. Please use this link:
Event registration page 

 

The Ho-Chunk people have endured a series of forced movements and discrimination in Minnesota. When the Ho-Chunk considered establishing a reservation near Lake Minnetonka in 1853, politicians claimed that their presence would compel settlers to abandon the area.

 

The Ho-Chunk were then pressed to seek new homelands. They eventually settled on some of the richest agricultural lands in the state near Mankato, Minnesota.

 

After the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862, a group of white men formed a secret society that advocated for completely removing Ho-Chunk people from Minnesota. Although the Ho-Chunk people did not participate in the war, the secret society sent armed men to surround their reservation. The secret society threatened to shoot anyone who crossed the reservation’s boundaries.

 

In her book, To Banish Forever: A Secret Society, the Ho-Chunk, and Ethnic Cleansing in Minnesota, Coats explores how white residents sought to expel Ho-Chunk people from the state and benefit from their land.

 

Cathy Coats is a Metadata Specialist for the University of Minnesota Libraries and was previously a cataloger at the St. Cloud State University Library. She is an award-winning researcher who received her Master of Arts in Public History from St. Cloud State University.

 

Robert Pilot is a citizen of the Ho-Chunk Nation and the host of Native Roots Radio in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is a retired teacher, a water protector, and an advocate for Native issues.

 

Community partners:

  • Hennepin History Museum

  • City of Golden Valley’s Diversity

       Equity, and Inclusion Commission

  • Golden Valley Community Foundation

  • Golden Valley Historical Society

  • The Loppet Foundation

  • Minnesota Historical Society Press

  • Valley Community Presbyterian Church

HISTORY PRESENTATION, BOOK SIGNING, MUSEUM DISPLAY

Join us for "The History and Legacy of Ewald Bros. Dairy" on October. 10th

Above: William Ewald, and images from Ewald Bros. Dairy's 97-year history. Below article copy: Ewald Bros. Dairy display, Golden Valley History Museum; and image from William Ewald's book

PRESENTATION

 

On Thursday, Oct. 10, the Golden Valley Historical Society (GVHS) will present “The History and Legacy of Ewald Bros. Dairy” at 7:00 pm in the GVHS Historic Church, 6731 Golden Valley Road. The speaker is William Ewald, a third-generation descendant of the iconic Ewald Bros. Dairy family tree.  Admission is free. GVHS members and the general public are welcome.

 

William Ewald is the family historian and the foremost authority on the history of the Twin Cities dairy business. He is author of “Images of America: Ewald Bros. Dairy,” published by Arcadi Publishing, which

documents through a pictorial journey the nearly 100-year history of the company.

Founded in 1886 in Minneapolis, the Ewald Bros. Dairy was a significant player in the local dairy industry serving two out of every three consumers taking home milk delivery. The dairy was founded by pioneer Chris Ewald a 16-year-old Danish immigrant and established by his four siblings, known as the “Ewald brothers,” who set out to provide fresh, high-quality dairy products to the community.

Initially focused on milk production, Ewald Bros. Dairy expanded its offerings to include a variety of dairy products such as cream, butter, and cheese. Their commitment to quality products, local sourcing, and customer service helped them build a loyal and long-lasting customer base.

Widely recognized throughout the state for their billboards and frequent jingles on WCCO radio, Ewald’s established a firm grasp on the local dairy business and at its peak employed over 400 local employees.

 

Ewald’s ceased operations in 1983 after a nearly 97-year run in the business.

 

BOOK-SIGNING

Ewald will have copies of the book for sale ($20 donation) and he has agreed to sign them after the presentation for all who are interested. Between the family and publisher, 100% of all proceeds from the sale of “Images of America: Ewald Bros. Dairy,” are directed to the local Sister Kenny institute. 

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MUSEUM DISPLAY

The Golden Valley History Museum (same building and address) has an Ewald Bros. Dairy display filled with historic items and memorabilia. The museum will be open prior to the presentation, from 6:00 – 7:00 pm, so that visitors can view the exhibit prior to attending “The History of the Ewald Bros. Dairy” presentation.
 

William Ewald was born in Golden Valley which, along with Minneapolis, is considered the early home of Ewald Bros Dairy and its vast dairy herds. William and his wife, Roxanne, are long-time GVHS members. Until recently, William served as both vice-president and acting-president of the GVHS board.

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William Ewald was born in Golden Valley which, along with Minneapolis, is considered the early home of Ewald Bros Dairy and its vast dairy herds. William and his wife, Roxanne, are long-time GVHS members. Until recently, William served as both vice-president and acting-president of the GVHS board.

CHECK BACK: MORE PARTICIPANTS AND ACTIVIES ARE BEING ADDED

Golden Valley Historical Society’s Golden Jubilee Community Celebration and Open House is Saturday, Sept. 14

Founded in 1974, the Golden Valley Historical Society (GVHS) is commemorating fifty years of uncovering, preserving, and sharing our community's vibrant past. Celebrate with us at our Golden Jubilee open house and discover the stories that have shaped Golden Valley through our community partners, museum exhibits, and historic church open house.

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GOLDEN JUBILEE COMMUNITY CELEBRATION AND OPEN HOUSE

Saturday, September 14, 2024

11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Golden Valley History Museum, 6731 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley

The event will feature booths for wonderful local organizations and partners, musical performances, demonstrations, guided tours of the Golden Valley History Museum, visits to the 1882 Historic Church in the Valley, a one-day reduced-price ($15!) sale of vintage Golden Valley street signs, refreshments, and more. 

Mayor Harmon, above; Will Samorey, right.

​ PERFORMANCES WILL INCLUDE

​11:00 am &           Violin performance by Will Samorey,

12 noon                 Golden Valley Orchestra concertmaster​

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1:30                        Perpich Center for Arts Education,
                               readings by Literary Arts students                           

 

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SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE

​11:00 am                 Event begins

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11:30 am                  

 

 

 

 

                           â€‹

 

 

 

 

 

3:00 pm                 Event ends

 

Welcome from GVHS and acknowledgment of recognition including GVHS Day Proclamation, Golden Valley Mayor Roslyn Harmon, City Council; MN Senate Resolution of Support, Sen. Ann Rest; MN House Resolution of Support, Rep. Mike Freiberg; Certificate of Recognition, Office of Gov. Tim Walz; Letter of Recognition, U.S. Senator Tina Smith; Official Congressional Record Entry, Office of U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar

​ VISIT THE HISTORIC CHURCH IN THE VALLEY

                           

 

​​Have you ever traveled Golden Valley Road and were intrigued about the “Historic Church in the Valley?” This is your opportunity to explore it!  The original chapel was built in 1882 by early pioneers as a nondenominational church. In 1890, it was pulled by horses and mules almost a mile over rolling logs to its current location. The chapel currently hosts monthly history programs, weddings, memorial services, and vow renewals.

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Volunteers will be on hand to answer questions. 

​ Our Town's Story - Golden Valley

​While visiting the Historic Church in the Valley, you’ll be able to sit in a pew and view “Our Town’s Story-Golden Valley,” a 33-minute documentary by CCX Media in collaboration with the Golden Valley Historical Society. (11 am – 3 pm)

                           

 

​VISIT THE GOLDEN VALLEY MUSEUM

Open since Sept. 2018, the Golden Valley History Museum features an immersive exhibition, “Golden Valley: No Place Like Home,” that traces the history of Golden Valley

​

The exhibition explores the former Golden Valley High School, the first Byerly’s Foods, Golden Valley

Garden Club, Ewald Brothers Dairy, Golden Valley Police and Fire Departments, and Golden Valley civil and human rights and leadership.

 

In 2020, this exhibition received an Award of Excellence from the American Association for State and Local History. 

 

Museum guides will be available from 11 am – 3 pm.

 

​​TAKE HOME A VINTAGE GOLDEN VALLEY STREET SIGN

From Aquila and Avondale to Zane and Zealand, there will be 1,000 decommissioned Golden Valley street signs – some dating back to the 1940s - available for sale. Normally $25, they will have a reduced-price of $15 for one day only! (cash, check, or PayPal.) Follow the link below for an approximate inventory of available signs.

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https://drive.google.com/file/d/11eh7ZOSOsQSRdCrVFcGGd-grP93Yvghc/view?usp=sharing

 

Enter through the museum door.

 

​KEN HUBER'S VINTAGE RIDING TOYS FOR KIDS

Youngsters and the young at heart will enjoy a display of fabulous, restored antique and vintage riding toys in the parking lot - bikes, trikes, wagons, scooters, pedal cars, and Irish mails. They’re from the collection of Ken Huber, a historical society board member.

 

​ANTIQUE TOYS

Additional, special antique toys will be available for viewing in the Historic Church.

 

1929 MODEL A FORD

Ken Huber will also have his fully restored 1929 Model A Ford Tudor Sedan on hand, a vehicle that has seen almost as much history as the 142-year-old Historic Church in the Valley.

 

​OUTDOR TABLES/BOOTHS WILL INCLUDE

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  • CCX Media

Your Connected Community Experience for high-quality local news, high school sports, city meetings and events, and free media training and equipment for community use in Golden Valley, Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Maple Grove, New Hope, Osseo, Plymouth and Robbinsdale since 1982.

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  • Docomomo US/MN

Golden Valley is home to Minnesota’s chapter of this Midcentury Modern documentation and conservation organization.

 

  • Ewald Dairy History

History of the local, iconic dairy. Book-signing by William Ewald, author of “Images of America-Ewald Bros. Dairy.” And there’s the Ewald display in the museum.

 

  • Golden Valley Community Foundation

The organization that brings you Global Golden Valley, Small Sparks Microgrants, Sustainability Day, and GVCF Arts & Music Festival

 

  • Golden Valley Garden Club

A network of gardeners that shares enthusiasm and knowledge of gardening to better the community and promote the conservation of natural resources.

 

  • Golden Valley Girls Softball League

A premier slow-pitch softball league welcoming girls in grades 3-12 from all cities and all skill levels.

 

  • Golden Valley Little League

Learn skills and make friends! Open to all youth ages 5-12 living in or attending school in Golden Valley.

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  • Golden Valley Open Space & Recreation Commission

Community members assist the city council with open space needs, parks and recreation programs, trail systems, and Brookview Golf Course.

 

  • Golden Valley Community Service Commission

These volunteers assist at events to help raise money for identified human service needs in the community and advises the council on the allocation of funds.

 

  • League of Women Voters-Golden Valley

Voting information from this local organization with over 75 years of empowering voters and defending democracy

 

  • One Good Deed

This local, volunteer group founded by Michelle Christensen schedules monthly events that spread kindness, generate friendships, and grow community.

 

  • Pollinator Demonstration Gardens – Dylan Casey

Eagle Scout candidate Dylan Casey will be on hand to talk about the sun and shade pollinator demonstration gardens he recently created on the museum grounds.

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  • Perpich Center for Arts Education

Minnesota’s official arts education school, funded by the Legislature and located in Golden Valley, with a focus on theater, dance, literary arts, visual arts, and media arts.

 

  • PRISM

Golden Valley’s organization for dignity-centered resources including Marketplace Food Shelf, Shop for Change Thrift Shop, Homelessness Prevention, and Celebrating Children.

 

  • Sweet Potato Comfort Pie

Golden Valley’s Rose McGee is founder of this organization which is a country-wide catalyst for caring and building community, “Kumbayah: The Juneteenth Story” playwright, and author of “Can’t Nobody Make a Sweet Potato Pie Like Our Mama!”

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  • Just Deeds

Just Deeds is a public-private coalition that helps property owners find discriminatory covenants and discharge them from their property titles. The Coalition also provides education opportunities to help communities acknowledge this racist history and pursue reconciliation and anti-racist solutions. 

 

​FREE TREATS

Treats will include cake, cookies, lemonade, and coffee. Golden Valley Lunds & Byerlys will provide a Golden Jubilee 50th Anniversary Cake. This is enduring history as it is from the very first Byerly’s location, a source of Golden Valley pride. Be sure to see the Byerly’s display in the museum while you’re on site. 

 

PARKING

With the parking lot occupied by booths and activities, allow a little time to park on surrounding public streets including Idaho, Hampshire, and Florida Avenues, as well as on Phoenix Street

 

WEATHER

If the weather is truly uncooperative, some outdoor booths representing community organizations may not be available for attendees to enjoy, but the museum and historic church would be available for visits and the vintage sign sale would also take place indoors.

 

SAVE THE DATE and a CALL FOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO PARTICIPATE

Make plans to join us on Saturday, Sept. 14 for Golden Valley Historical Society’s Golden Jubilee Community Celebration and Open House

This year marks a significant milestone for the Golden Valley Historical Society (GVHS) as we celebrate our 50th anniversary. Our mission is to find, preserve, and disseminate historical knowledge about the City of Golden Valley. To commemorate this occasion, we are hosting a big, special, inclusive, and fun community event!

 

“Save the date” and encourage local organization you are a part of to participate in this event to showcase how we all contribute to the history and vibrancy of our great community.

 

Golden Jubilee Community Celebration and Open House

Saturday, September 14, 2024 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Golden Valley History Museum

6731 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley

 

The event will feature booths from a variety of local organizations, musical performances, demonstrations, guided tours of the Golden Valley History Museum, visits to our 1882 Historic Church in the Valley, a one-day reduced-price ($15!) sale of vintage Golden Valley street signs, refreshments, and more.

 

If you or someone you know represent a community organization interested in a free booth at the event, we would love to hear from you by Friday, August 16.

 

Golden Valley Historical Society

Celebrating Our 50th Year. 1974-2024.

gvhistoricalsociety@gmail.com

763-308-5059

THURSDAY, MAY 9 PROGRAM

The Impact of Golden Valley’s John Mitchell and other Twin Cities Pioneering Black Executives of the 1970s

On Thursday, May 9, at 7pm, Anthony R. Scott, president of Minnesota’s Black Community Project, will give a presentation to the Golden Valley Historical Society on Golden Valley’s John Mitchell and four other pioneering Black executives of the1970’s.

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Mitchell was a treasured Golden Valley resident, the city’s first Black city council member, and driving force behind creating a Black History Month celebration in the city.

 

To celebrate its Golden Jubilee year, GVHS programs are highlighting the 1970s, when GVHS was founded, as well as looking forward toward the next fifty years. 

 

In the 1970s, veteran aeronautical engineer John Mitchell was chosen to lead Honeywell’s equal opportunity efforts with the goal of getting members of the Black Community into responsible positions with the company.

 

Scott will highlight Mitchell and four additional Black executives who made a difference in then-termed Affirmative Action efforts fifty years ago. They are Jeanne Cooper, publisher of the Twin Cities Observer; Bill English, Control Data; Joe Johnson and Louis Moore, Multifoods, and Lafayette Jones, Pillsbury.

 

Anthony Scott is president of Scott Publications which re-issues magazines and books originally published by his father, the late Walter R Scott, Sr. during the pre- and post-Civil Rights eras. He is also president of Minnesota’s Black Community Project – a Minnesota non-profit organization that celebrates the accomplishments and contributions of African Americans in Minnesota. 

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In 2020, Minnesota’s Black Community Project’s first book, Minnesota’s Black Community in the 21st Century, received Book of the Year Award from the Academy of Human Resource Development. This book was published by the Minnesota Historical Society Press. 

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Join us for this informative program at the GVHS Historic Church6731 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley. It is free and open to the public. 

Above: May 9 presenter Anthony R. Scott. Submitted photo. Left: John Mitchell, from a Golden Valley History Museum display

THURSDAY, April 11 PROGRAM

Planting the Seeds of Change: Golden Valley Garden Club’s 2024 Pollinator Pathways Initiative

On Thursday, April 11, Barb Ego, vice-president of the Golden Valley Garden Club, will present at the Golden Valley Historical Society (GVHS) what all the buzz is about the club’s Pollinator Pathways 2024 initiative.

 

A pollinator pathway, as described by the Canadian Wildlife Federation, is a pesticide-free corridor of native plants that provides nutrition and habitat for pollinators and helps them to disperse into new habitats.

 

The Garden Club will soon roll out its initiative to establish pollinator pathways in Golden Valley, starting with a small-model or pilot program involving Golden Valley residents' yards. “Our goal is to form connections,” Ego explains, “between the city’s existing green corridors, native buffer zones, and neighborhood pollinator-friendly pocket gardens.”

 

Envisioned as a public-private-corporate effort, a successful result would provide a healthier environment for pollinators, pets, and people for years to come. The City of Golden Valley and the Golden Valley Garden Club share the same vision for creating new pollinator and wildlife habitat. Residents of strategically targeted areas of the city will initially be invited to participate and can apply to receive (a limited number of) free native pollinator plants.

 

The 2024 initiative will plant the seeds of change. Newly planted pocket-sized gardens will then have the potential to serve as neighborhood demonstration plots which inspire and encourage other residents - and even businesses and organizations - to create additional pollinator-attracting gardens.

 

The program is at 7 pm in the GVHS Historic Church, 6731 Golden Valley Road. All are welcome; it is free and open to GVHS members and the public.

Yard sign for participants, above. Golden Valley Garden Club's Barb Ego, right

THURSDAY, MARCH 14 PROGRAM

As Golden Valley Historical Society turns 50, revisit the fashion, history, and culture of 1974 with Goldstein Museum of Design’s curator, Jean McElvain Ph.D.

As the Golden Valley Historical Society (GVHS) celebrates its Golden Jubilee in 2024, revisit the fashion, history, and culture of 1974 – the Society’s founding year - for a Thursday, March 14 program. Expect a fun and fitting look at what we were wearing 50 years ago by guest presenter Jean McElvain, Ph.D., of the University of Minnesota’s Goldstein Museum of Design (GMD).

 

She will return us to the fashion and design of the 1970s through images of objects in GMD's over 30,000-piece collection and explore how and why culture gravitated toward colorful excesses from mod miniskirts to polyester leisure suits.

 

The Goldstein Museum of Design is the only design museum in the Upper Midwest. As its curator, Dr. McElvain brings a deep understanding of many facets of 19th and 20th century design, identifying relationships between everything from fashion to architecture. She uses exhibition curation and design to tell stories and guide research.   

 

The program is at 7 pm in the GVHS Historic Church, 6731 Golden Valley Road. It is free and open to GVHS members and the public.

PANEL DISCUSSION, Q&A

Women in Local Government: A Conversation With Golden Valley Leaders

On Thursday, Feb. 8, Golden Valley Historical Society (GVHS) invites you to “Women in Local Government: A Conversation with Golden Valley Leaders,” for an insightful evening of dialogue and community connection.

 

Gain valuable insights into the role of women in local government during this panel discussion followed by a Q & A. Golden Valley residents and local leaders Helen Bassett, Denise LaMere-Anderson, and Marti Micks will share their unique perspectives, experiences, and expertise on women in leadership roles.

 

The program is at 7 pm in the Society’s Historic Church, 6731 Golden Valley Road. It is free and open to Society members and the public.

 

Featured Panelists:

 

Helen Bassett

Helen has served on the Robbinsdale Area Schools Board of Education for 20 years and is the first Black woman to be voted its chairperson. She is a Government Affairs liaison for the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Helen is also the co-founder and managing director of the Minnesota School Board Directors of Color and Indigenous Fellowship. 

 

Denise LaMere-Anderson
Denise is a Golden Valley city council member and serves as its liaison to the city’s Community Service Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, and Housing and Redevelopment Authority. She is also a Golden Valley Historical Society board member and, in her “day job, Denise is the Chief Talent Officer for Taylor Corporation.

 

Martha (Marti) Micks
Marti is the president of the League of Women Voters of Golden Valley and past-president of League of Women Voters of Minnesota. She is a retired social studies teacher from the Osseo School District, served eight years on the Golden Valley City Council and Housing and Redevelopment Authority, and was a civilian management analyst for the U.S. Army in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

 

“This event promises to be an enlightening exploration of the impact and significance of women in local government,” said Emily Dietle, GVHS president. “Don't miss the opportunity to be part of the conversation and engage with our distinguished panelists and members of the audience.”

Third Annual GVHS Holiday Open House is Saturday, Dec. 9

Join us on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023, for the Golden Valley Historical Society (GVHS) Holiday Open House. Visit the Golden Valley History Museum and Historic Church, both at 6731 Golden Valley Road, from 11am to 3pm, to enjoy festive holiday music, lots of history, and even purchase a vintage street sign. It’s for GVHS members, the public, and family members of all ages.

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VISIT THE HISTORIC CHURCH
Have you or anyone you know traveled Golden Valley Road and were intrigued about the “Little White Church in the Valley?” The Open House is your opportunity to explore it!  The original chapel was built in 1882 by early pioneers as a nondenominational church. In 1890, it was pulled by horses and mules almost a mile over rolling logs to its current location. The chapel currently hosts monthly history programs, weddings, memorial services, and vow renewals. Step inside and take a look! Volunteers will be on hand to answer questions.

 

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Festive Holiday Music by “The Flute Loops” 

11:30 am

GVHS's 142-year-old chapel will ring with holiday music by The Flute Loops. “We are a group of adult amateur flutists,” said member Diane Markovich, “who share a love for the flute, learning, and making and sharing music together.” Based in Chaska, The Flute Loops repertoire features classical, folk, jazz, pop, Broadway, sacred, and holiday music. This unique 15-year-old ensemble has performed for weddings, churches, Minnesota Arboretum events, parties, and senior residents.

 

The Flute Loops are Mary Hegre, Diane Markovich, Jeanne Roudabush, and Laurie Strand. Hear their latest recording, “The Festive Flute Loops,” here: Flute Loops website.

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“The History of All Things Christmas: How the Past Affects Today’s Christmas Celebrations”  

1:00 pm

Christmas trees and gift-giving - how and when did these traditions begin? Local historian David Kuball will present an entertaining and timely talk titled, “The History of All Things Christmas: How the Past Affects Today’s Christmas Celebrations.”

 

You’ll get insights into the origins of popular traditions plus recent additions that may connect with your own holiday memories. Some Christmas traditions have surprising origins. “In fact, many of our Christmas traditions came from corporations that developed them as part of holiday advertising," David stated. There were periods when Christmas was very different from the holiday we celebrate today. In fact, he said, "there times when Christmas was unpopular, and I’ll share instances when it was actually banned.”

 

David Kuball is a long-time Golden Valley resident. He is active in the community and has been on the GVHS board of directors for seven years.

VISIT THE MUSEUM

The Golden Valley History Museum will be open for GVHS members and the public. And, vintage Golden Valley street signs will available for purchase. Volunteers will be on hand to answer questions.

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The Award-Winning Golden Valley History Museum
This is a great opportunity to tour the Museum. Open since Sept. 2018, the museum features an immersive exhibition that traces the history of Golden Valley from the ice age and pre-European contact to today.

 

The exhibition explores the former Golden Valley High School, the first Byerly’s Foods, Golden Valley Garden Club, Ewald Brothers Dairy, Golden Valley Police and Fire Departments, civil rights, human rights, and leadership.

 

In 2020, this exhibition – “Golden Valley: No Place Like Home” – received an Award of Excellence from the American Association for State and Local History.

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Take Home a Vintage Golden Valley Street Sign! 
From Aquila and Avondale to Zane and Zealand, GVHS has over 1,000 city street signs – some dating back to the 1940s - available for sale. After the state required street signs to be larger and with a reflective surface, the city began replacing signs and GVHS became the repository of decommissioned signs beginning in 1997.

 

This just might be the perfect holiday gift for a college student’s dorm room, a man cave, or a nostalgic former resident. To view the collection and purchase a sign, enter through the Museum.

 

Signs are $25 each and can be purchased by cash, check, or PayPal. Proceeds from the sale of signs support GVHS programs and operations.

 

For an inventory of available signs: Street Sign Inventory

Antique Toys, Wagons, Buggies, Sleds

GVHS board member Ken Huber collects and restores a variety of old things; you may have waved to him and his dog, Linus while joyriding in his Model A Ford. He has a special interest in antique and vintage children’s riding toys: bikes, trikes, wagons, scooters, pedal cars, and Irish mails. A selection of his collection will be displayed throughout the Historic Church.

YOU’RE INVITED: NOV. 9 & 11 HISTORY TALKS
Educating and Empowering Voters, Protecting Democracy: The 75-Year Impact of the League of Women Voters of Golden Valley

In a special acknowledgement of Golden Valley history, Golden Valley Historical Society (GVHS) is partnering with the League of Women Voters of Golden Valley (LWV-GV) on a program titled, “Educating and Empowering Voters, Protecting Democracy: The 75-Year Impact of the League of Women Voters of Golden Valley.”

 

From League president Marti Micks and four other presenters representing different eras, learn how the history of City of Golden Valley and the League have always been intertwined. The program will offer information about the League’s long and storied history in Golden Valley, and a time for socializing (Happy 75th Birthday cake!) It’s free and open to the public.

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“For 75 years, our League has provided a wide variety of opportunities to become educated on issues, to build leadership skills, and to encourage involvement in civic life," Micks said. " It's a great story, one we'd love to share.”

 

The program is offered twice. Attend one or both.

 

Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, 7 pm
Hosted by Golden Valley Historical Society
GVHS Historic Church, 6731 Golden Valley Road

Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, 10 am (9:30 social time)
Hosted by League of Women Voters of Golden Valley
Brookview Community Center, 1st floor Valley Room
316 Brookview Pkwy S.

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Pictured, from the archives: Charter members of the League of Women Voters of Golden Valley at a long-ago League anniversary celebration event.

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“The Chalet at Glenwood,” now Theodore Wirth, in the early 1920s. While part of the Minneapolis Parks system, the golf course is in Golden Valley. Vintage postcard courtesy of Nokohaha.com.

On Thursday, Oct. 12, the Golden Valley Historical Society (GVHS) will host a program on the history of golf at Theodore Wirth and Brookview, two Golden Valley courses with a long and fascinating history.

 

 

Roxann Maxey will present “From Glenwood to Theodore Wirth,” the history of the first public course in Minnesota and second largest city-owned course in America. She is the Golf Operations Manager for Theodore Wirth Golf Course.

 

Ben Disch and Brett Johnson will present “Brookview Golf - Then and Now,” the rich history of Brookview, originally a private course and country club built in the 1920s by Archie Walker and his father, lumber magnate T.B. Walker.  Disch is Brookview’s Operation Manager, Johnson is the Assistant Operations Manager.

 

The Thursday, Oct. 12 program is at 7:00 pm in the GVHS Historic Church, 6731 Golden Valley Road. Admission is free and open to the public.

Left: The cornerstone of George Dayton's first store in downtown Minnapolis. Right: Presenter David Kuball

On Thursday, Sept. 14, local history enthusiast David Kuball will present “The Daytons – A Family Business,” a Golden Valley Historical Society (GVHS) program. Kuball will explore the 140-year endeavors of the Dayton family and how they impacted the citizens of Minnesota.

The 7:00 pm presentation is in the GVHS Historic Church, 6731 Golden Valley Road. Admission is free. GVHS members and the public are welcome.

“There are many notable families and companies throughout Minnesota history, but one tends to stand out for its impact on the state,” Kuball said. “From helping farmers in debt, to bringing fashion to Minneapolis and beyond, and to providing leadership in the Twin Cities and state, the Dayton family history is compelling and rises to the top.”
 

Multiple generations of Daytons were active in serving the needs of Minnesotans – and of course making themselves wealthy.  George Dayton moved from New York to Worthington, Minnesota in 1883 to help establish the Bank of Worthington. He eventually moved to Minneapolis to start a retail business that would famously and affectionately become known at Dayton’s.
 

While George got the family off to a strong start in Minnesota, it was the following generations who not only branched off into multiple businesses, but also impacted state politics.

                                     

David Kuball is a warm and engaging presenter with a love for history “which has been a hobby for most of my life,” he said. He was born in Faribault, MN and grew up on a nearby dairy farm with his parents and seven brothers and sisters. He has a Journalism degree from the University of Minnesota. “After failing to find a job with a newspaper,” David said, “I discovered that I had technical skills,” which led him to his current IT job with Optum. He is a long-time Golden Valley resident, active in the community, and has been on the GVHS board of directors for seven years.

Left: Adjutant Tom Martin and Commander Craig Hartman of Golden Valley’s Chester Bird Post 523 American Legion. Photo by Jim Elert. Right: The America Legion’s first national convention was held November 1919 in Minneapolis. Credit: “Century of Service,” The American Legion.

On Thursday, May 11, a few weeks prior to Memorial Day, Commander Craig Hartman and Adjutant Tom Martin of Chester Bird Post 523 American Legion Post in Golden Valley will be GVHS’s guest presenters.

They will touch upon the 100-year history of the American Legion, the 75-year history of Chester Bird Post 523, Chester “Bird” Ptaszek (the man behind the name), a legacy of giving, and the Legion’s big plans for June.

The presentation is at 7pm in the Society’s Historic Church, 6731Golden Valley Road. It is open to Society members and the public.

“The core of Chester Bird’s mission,” Hartman said, “is to honor and always remember, to give back, and to uphold time-honored values. We’ll share some examples.”

Hartman’s and Martin’s informal presentation will include historical anecdotes from the Golden Valley
Legion’s first meeting in December 1945 (in the original Golden Valley Village Hall) to hosting a June 17, 2023 street dance and barbeque cookoff, a partnership with the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Foundation. The event will honor those in law enforcement, fire, medical, and all first responders. Proceeds will go to students pursuing degrees in law enforcement.

They will share the post’s rich history of service, charitable giving, and scholarships. Martin urges May 11 participants “to bring their own questions, stories, and remembrances” to share during the presentation and discussion.

Craig Hartman, a U.S. Navy veteran, has served as Legion commander for the last seven years. Tom Martin is the Adjutant, former Commander, and a U.S. Navy and Air Force veteran.

Carl Rowan, with President Lyndon Johnson, after being named director of the United States Information Agency (Photo: Black History Moments). Sen. Robert Lewis speaks at a Senate committee hearing (Photo: Minnesota Historical Society).

On Thursday, April 13, the Golden Valley Historical Society will welcome Jeremiah Ellis to speak about journalist, author, and government official Carl Rowan, and Dr. Robert Lewis, a veterinarian, educator, and Minnesota state Senator.

 

As prominent Minnesotans, and leaders in the African American community in the Twin Cities, both men - now deceased - had distinguished professional lives. Ellis will offer deeper insights and the context of the times that shaped their lives. Rowan was born in 1925, Lewis in 1931.

 

Carl Rowan received a master's degree in journalism from the University of Minnesota in 1948. He wrote for the African American newspapers Minneapolis Spokesman and St. Paul Recorder, and then The Minneapolis Tribune where he reported extensively on the civil rights movement.

 

He became a distinguished author and journalist who was published in over 100 newspapers.

 

Rowan was appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary of State by President John F. Kennedy, became U.S. Ambassador to Finland, and was appointed director of the United States Information Agency (USIA) by President Lyndon B. Johnson, making him the first African American to hold a seat on the National Security Council.  He died in 2000.

 

Robert Lewis received a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Minnesota, and established a pioneering veterinary practice in St. Louis Park and later in Golden Valley where he also lived in later years.

 

He was a member of the St. Louis Park Board of Education and the State Board of Education. In 1972, he became the first African American to serve in the Minnesota State Senate. His passion was addressing the needs of senior citizens, the economically disadvantaged, Minnesotans with disabilities, those who were incarcerated, marginalized people, feminists, and victims of domestic violence.

 

Lewis also served on the board of the Minneapolis Urban League, where he was voted Man of the Year, and he was named Veterinarian of the Year by the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association.

 

His promising legislative career came to an abrupt end when he died of a heart attack at 47 years of age.

 

Ellis will share the context of the times in which these men lived. “In some ways Rowan and Lewis’ stories reflect historic systems that shaped many African American lives,” Ellis says, “like race-based housing discrimination, and yet looking closely at each man can lead us to better appreciating the wide range

of Black experiences in Minnesota.”

 

He will also explore the women in Rowan’s and Lewis’s lives and how they were shaped and affected by the professional lives of these men, and he will talk about their mentors and why the system of mentorship was so vital for up-and-coming Black professionals in Minnesota. 

 

Jeremiah Ellis is the Director of Partnership for Generation Next, a coalition of civic, business, and education leaders from across Minneapolis and St. Paul dedicated to closing achievement and opportunity gaps. He also is a commissioner for the St. Paul Public Heritage Preservation, and until recently he worked as the Arthur C. McWatt Senior Fellow for the Ramsey County Historical Society.
 

The Thursday, April 13 talk is at 7 pm in the Society’s Historic Church, 6731 Golden Valley Road.  The program is free and open to Society members and the public.

Left: Adjutant Tom Martin and Commander Craig Hartman of Golden Valley’s Chester Bird Post 523 American Legion. Photo by Jim Elert. Right: The America Legion’s first national convention was held November 1919 in Minneapolis. Credit: “Century of Service,” The American Legion.

On Thursday, May 11, a few weeks prior to Memorial Day, Commander Craig Hartman and Adjutant Tom Martin of Chester Bird Post 523 American Legion Post in Golden Valley will be GVHS’s guest presenters.

They will touch upon the 100-year history of the American Legion, the 75-year history of Chester Bird Post 523, Chester “Bird” Ptaszek (the man behind the name), a legacy of giving, and the Legion’s big plans for June.

The presentation is at 7pm in the Society’s Historic Church, 6731Golden Valley Road. It is open to Society members and the public.

“The core of Chester Bird’s mission,” Hartman said, “is to honor and always remember, to give back, and to uphold time-honored values. We’ll share some examples.”

Hartman’s and Martin’s informal presentation will include historical anecdotes from the Golden Valley
Legion’s first meeting in December 1945 (in the original Golden Valley Village Hall) to hosting a June 17, 2023 street dance and barbeque cookoff, a partnership with the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Foundation. The event will honor those in law enforcement, fire, medical, and all first responders. Proceeds will go to students pursuing degrees in law enforcement.

They will share the post’s rich history of service, charitable giving, and scholarships. Martin urges May 11 participants “to bring their own questions, stories, and remembrances” to share during the presentation and discussion.

Craig Hartman, a U.S. Navy veteran, has served as Legion commander for the last seven years. Tom Martin is the Adjutant, former Commander, and a U.S. Navy and Air Force veteran.

GVHS presents a March 8 talk, exhibit premiere, and book signing by Jane King Hession on Minnesota's pioneering first modern architect

The Golden Valley Historical Society (GVHS), partnering with Brookview Golden Valley, is presenting a talk, exhibit premiere, and book signing event on Elizabeth “Lisl” Scheu Close (1912-2011), Minnesota’s first modern architect. Jane King Hession, author of the award-winning Elizabeth Scheu Close: A Life in Modern Architecture, will bring Lisl’s life and career - including her work in Golden Valley - to light on Wednesday, March 8, at 7 pm in the Bassett Creek Room at Brookview Golden Valley, 316 Brookview Pkwy S, Golden Valley. The event is free and open to the public.

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Wednesday, March 8 Talk
Hession’s talk and accompanying exhibit will examine the extraordinary life and prolific career of a pioneering woman in the field of architecture. With her husband Winston Close, Lisl founded the first architectural practice in the state dedicated to modern design. A specialist in residential architecture, she designed roughly 250 custom houses during her long career, the largest concentration of which stands in the University Grove neighborhood of Falcon Heights.

 

She also designed prefabricated houses for the Page & Hill company of Minnesota. More than 10,000 houses were produced from her designs. Among the many Close-designed buildings is the only ice arena she ever designed, which was built on a site in Golden Valley. 

Although she forged a successful career, it wasn’t an easy road. She became an architect at a time when it was not common, or accepted, for a woman to do so, especially in her native Vienna, Austria. “But she negotiated every obstacle and, in the process,” Hession said, “became a role model for generations of women who would follow in her footsteps.”

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March 4-23 Exhibit

To complement the March 8 talk, Brookview Golden Valley is presenting the exhibit "Elizabeth Scheu Close: A Life in Modern Architecture” on the community center’s second floor, outside of the Basset Creek Room, from March 4th through the 23rd.

Hession originally curated this exhibition for the Goldstein Museum of Design at the University of Minnesota in March of 2020. “It went up just in time for the university––and the world––to shut down due to the pandemic,” she said. “As a result, to date it has never been shown and has been seen only by a handful of people.”

The exhibit traces Lisl’s upbringing in one of Europe’s earliest modern houses in Vienna, Austria, to her immigration to and education in America, to her sixty-year career as one of Minnesota’s leading modern architects.

Jane King Hession is a Minneapolis-based architectural writer, historian, and curator specializing in midcentury modernism. Born and raised in New York’s Hudson River Valley, she earned her Master of Architecture from the University of Minnesota and Bachelor of Arts degrees in English and Art History from SUNY Albany. 

She is a past president of the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy and the Minneapolis Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians, and a founding partner of Modern House Productions. Hession is the author of five books including Ralph Rapson: Sixty Years of Modern Design, Frank Lloyd Wright in New York: The Plaza Years, and Elizabeth Scheu Close: A Life in Modern Architecture, which was a finalist for a 2021 Minnesota Book Award, and winner of the 2022 David Stanley Gebhard Award.



Book Signing

Copies of the book, Elizabeth Scheu Close: A Life in Modern Architecture, will be available for sale and signing by the author immediately following the March 8 presentation at Brookview.

This is the third in Golden Valley Historical Society’s three-part speaker series, "Voices in the Valley: Amplifying Underrepresented Histories of Golden Valley," made possible by Union Pacific Railroad’s Community Ties Giving Program. Note that this event takes place at an alternative venue and evening than most GVHS programs.

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