Past Events
Annual Holiday Open House at the Golden Valley Historical Society is Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025
Golden Valley Historical Society’s Annual Holiday Open House is Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. The public is invited to visit the Golden Valley History Museum and Historic Church, 6731 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Never visited or not for a long time? You’ll find the Historical Society decked out in festive holiday finery; discounted vintage Golden Valley street signs for sale; tours of the award-winning history museum; free Lunds and Byerly’s cookies from “Byerly’s Peggy;” a chance to visit and learn more about the Historic Church and its 1882 chapel; details on rental of the chapel for weddings; vow renewals, and memorial services; discounted Golden Valley Historical Society memberships; and a variety of volunteer opportunities.
Golden Valley History Museum
Open since Sept. 2018, the Golden Valley History Museum features an immersive exhibition that traces the history of Golden Valley from the ice age and pre-European contact to today.
The exhibition, “Golden Valley: No Place Like Home,” also 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.
The museum will be open, and volunteers will be on hand to answer questions.
At the Museum: Cookies from "Byerly's Peggy" Nelson
Also in the museum, from 11 am to 3 pm, will be beloved former Byerly’s employee Peggy Nelson (now a museum greeter), who will hand out cookies and treats courtesy of the Golden Valley Lunds and Byerly’s store. Peggy will also answer your questions about the museum’s Golden Valley Byerly’s exhibit highlighting the first store in the locally loved chain, one which introduced the Twin Cities and Minnesota to “Glamorous Groceries.”
SPECIAL ONE-DAY SALE
Discounted Vintage Golden Valley Street Signs
Thanks to the City of Golden Valley, the Historical Society is the repository of over 800 decommissioned, mainly vintage Golden Valley street signs, some dating back to the 1940s. Stop by (use the museum entrance) and peruse, they could be perfect for last-minute holiday gift shopping. Signs will be discounted to $20 and can be purchased by cash, check, or PayPal. Proceeds from the sale of signs support GVHS programs and operations
SPECIAL ONE-DAY SALE
Discounted Historical Society Memberships
Sign up to become a Historical Society member at a discounted cost of $20 for an individual and $40 for a family annual membership. Members are the first to know about upcoming events and opportunities. We rely on our members to help sustain our programs and maintain the Historic Church.
Inside the Historic Church is this 1882 Chapel
If you’ve never visited before, make a point to visit this Historic Church, a Golden Valley Road landmark. Inside is the 1882 chapel which in 1890 weas pulled by horses and mules almost a mile over rolling logs to its current location. We’ll share its complete history with you at the Open House.
Historic, Memorable, Intimate Weddings
Built in 1882, the chapel is the oldest church and one of the oldest buildings in Golden Valley, a charming and intimate venue for up to 80 guests – and just east of downtown. Stop by the Open House for a look. We’ll also answer your questions about the chapel’s rental for weddings, vow renewals, and memorial services.
Visit, Learn, Enjoy, Join
Historical Society board members and volunteers will be on hand to welcome you and answer your questions.
November 13 History Program
History of Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute and Rotary International’s Role in Eradicating Polio
A Golden Valley Historical Society and Golden Valley Rotary Club program on Thursday, November 13 will explore how two remarkable organizations— Golden Valley’s Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute and Rotary Clubs—played and continue to play vital roles in the fight against polio.
The “History of Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute and Rotary Clubs’ Role in Eradicating Polio” program will be from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Golden Valley Historical Society, 6731 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley.
Learn how local Golden Valley institutions helped shape international progress toward ending one of the most devastating diseases of the 20th century.
It is free, open to all, and no preregistration is required.
Come with questions or stories to share about your experiences with polio for the moderated question and answer part of the program.
Iron lung patient and staff. Minnesota Historical Society.
Sister Kenny Institute, Minneapolis. c.1942
The program will feature two guest speakers:
Erika Schuld, Director, Post-Acute & Community Services from Allina Courage Center–Sister Kenny Institute, will share the history of the organization from its beginnings in 1928 as well as the groundbreaking rehabilitation work that began in Minnesota and transformed care for those affected by polio. In her current position, Erika supports recovery, independence, and quality of life for patients. Her background includes work in mental health, geriatrics, hospice, and palliative care.
Tim Mulcrone, Polio Eradication Chair for Rotary District 5950, will share Rotary International’s mission to eradicate the disease and how Rotary Clubs continue to make a difference around the world. A colleague said: “Tim can always be counted on for the latest data and progress on Rotary’s flagship initiative, the worldwide eradication of polio.” He is the last remaining charter member of Chanhassen Rotary founded in 1987, serving three times as President and on numerous Club and District committees. Since 2012, he has served as the Polio Eradication Chair for Rotary District 5950 which encompasses 71 Rotary Clubs in Minneapolis and Central Minnesota.
Following the presentation, attendees will have an opportunity to make a donation that would go towards polio vaccinations around the world via Rotary International and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. Golden Valley Rotary has pledged to match all contributions up to $2,000 so that those in attendance can make even more of a difference.
[The Golden Valley History Museum, same location as the program, will be open for interested attendees from 6:00 to 7:00 pm.]
photo by Jessica Stobel
LGBTQ+ History Month
The History of the LGBTQ+ Community in Golden Valley: Oct. 9 Roundtable Discussion for LGBTQ+ Month
October is LGBTQ+ History Month, a time to honor the rich history and contributions of this community throughout the country. To celebrate and document the storied LGBTQ+ history in Golden Valley, three sponsors - Golden Valley Historical Society, Golden Valley Pride Festival, and the City of Golden Valley’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commission - will host an open forum-round table discussion titled, “The History of the LGBTQ+ Community in Golden Valley” on Thursday, October 9.
The event is at 7:00 p.m., at Brookview Golden Valley, 316 Brookview Parkway S. It is free, open to all, and no pre-registration is required.
Golden Valley, a historic suburb in the Twin Cities Metro, has long been a beacon of human rights initiatives. With a vibrant LGBTQ+ history dating back to the 1970s and boasting more LGBTQ+ households per capita than any other city in Minnesota, Golden Valley was the first suburban Minnesota city to hold its own Pride Festival.
Stories will be shared, the past honored, and hopes and plans for an even more inclusive future will be presented. The panel will feature community members who are pledged to keeping alive the rich 50-year history of the LGBTQ+ community in Golden Valley, and who have also contributed to the development and support of this community.
Panelists will include:
Jonathan Burris, longtime lawyer, service on advisory boards and human rights commissions, recognized for service by Outfront Minnesota and the Minnesota Aids Project
Seth Kaempfer, City of Golden Valley’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Manager
Peter Knable, GV Pride Founding Member and Board Chair
Christopher Robinson, GV Pride Immediate Past Board Chair
The moderator will be Nick Thorson, Currently the GV Pride Board Chair and Golden Valley Historical Society Secretary
Despite the flourishing LGBTQ+ community, the city has faced moments of controversy and tension. From the push for Gay Rights in the late 1970s, through the AIDS crisis of the 1980s, to marriage equality in the late 2000s and early 2010s, Golden Valley residents have held diverse opinions regarding the LGBTQ+ community.
The Golden Valley History Museum, 6731 Golden Valley Road, has displays on LGBTQ+ history in the city and is open each Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
LGBTQ+ History Month was founded in 1994 by Rodney Wilson, the first openly gay public-school teacher in Missouri. This month includes National Coming Out Day on October 11 and commemorates significant LGBTQ+ marches on Washington in 1979 and 1987.
GRAESER PARK, 1941 Courtesy of Minnesota Historical Society; Graeser Park’s “Beehive” Fireplace, 2024 Courtesy of Restore Lilac Way; MnDOT’s Andrea Weber at work in the park.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2025: HISTORY WALK-AND-TALK
The Amazing Restoration of Highway 100/Lilac Way’s Graeser Park Historic Wayside Rest
On Wednesday, May 7, Golden Valley Historical Society (GVHS) and Robbinsdale Historical Society (RHS) will cosponsor a 6:00 pm walking tour of the restored Graeser Park, located at 4400 Lakeland Ave N in Robbinsdale. The event is free and open to the public; no pre-registration is required.
The tour will be led by MnDOT Historic Roadside Property and Waysides Program Manager Andrea Weber, who oversaw the park’s restoration.
“Graeser Roadside Park is a true hidden gem of the Twin Cities,” Weber noted. “It was believed to be lost after the Highway 100 reconstruction when it suffered heavy impacts due to construction and staging, but there it sat, covered in a layer of soil with parts stored offsite for another day.”
The walk-and-talk presentation will showcase the work done during MnDOT’s three-year historic preservation project. A nomination for National Register of Historic Places is in process. Weber will point out specific features that have been restored, as well as some of the challenges, such as stabilizing existing features, making accessibility improvements, and matching the original rock garden plantings.
The tour will include standing and walking on turf areas and some uneven stone steps and pathways. Anyone using a mobility device will be able to stay on accessible paths.
In case of severe weather, the Wednesday, May 7, event will relocate to inside space at the Golden Valley Historical Society, 6731 Golden Valley Rd, Golden Valley. A notice of change of location will be posted on RHS and GVHS websites and Facebook pages
A BRIEF HISTORY: CONSTRUCTION OF HIGHWAY 100 AND ITS ROADSIDE PARKS
Highway 100 was constructed between 1934 and 1941, during the Great Depression. Starting in Shakopee and ending in Robbinsdale, it was the first highway in Minnesota to have a cloverleaf interchange. The 12-mile section from Highway 5 in Edina to Highway 52 in Robbinsdale, was known as “Lilac Way.” The Highway Department planted 7,000 bushes of twelve varieties of lilacs along the highway.
Seven roadside parks, including Robbinsdale’s Graeser Park, were built by laborers and skilled masons were paid through President Franklin Roosevelt’s federal relief program, the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The parks were designed in a rustic style, with distinctive fireplaces, rough-cut stone tables, and unique rock gardens.
NEARLY LOST TO HIGHWAY 100 RECONTRUCTION
With the reconstruction of Highway 100 starting in the late 1990s, most of the wayside parks were eliminated. Graeser Park, the largest, most elaborate, and last to be built, was spared, but tables had been removed, and the beehive was crumbling, damaged by years of excessive fires.
THE COMMUNITY STEPS UP
“The community had not forgotten the park and had already begun to unearth it,” said Weber. “When I first saw it in 2021, I was amazed with its potential. Since then, we have been working to restore it to its intended use and bring a spotlight on this important historic roadside park.”
Graeser Park has been a focus of the Robbinsdale Historical Society (RHS) since 2018.,” said Kristi Gibson, a board member and Graeser Park enthusiast. “The Robbinsdale Lions began working in 2013 to uncover the park’s rock garden, and once MnDOT committed to preservation, RHS came alongside to help raise awareness and support. Starting in 2022, RHS helped recruit volunteers to pull weeds left by years of overgrowth, and later to water and tend the perennials and bushes that MnDOT planted.
When Graeser Park became eligible for National Register listing in February 2024, Robbinsdale City Manager Tim Sandvik stated, “The City of Robbinsdale remains grateful for the work of our volunteer community members and direction from assisting agencies including MnDOT. It’s a tremendous amount of work to reach this point, but we look forward to continued efforts to preserve such a wonderful amenity in our community.”
MnDOT plans to pass ownership of the park to the City of Robbinsdale in the near future.
Andrea Weber is a licensed Landscape Architect and has been the manager of the MnDOT Historic Roadside Property and Waysides Program since 2018. She has also held positions at Dakota County in Capital Project Management, as a Landscape Architect/Project Manager at the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, and as the City of Shakopee Park and Landscape Designer. She enjoys working in preservation, uncovering the unique history of each site, and finding creative ways to share it with the public through design, interpretation, and community events.
Pictured: The cover of "This Game is for the Girls," and presenter Bob Mattison.
OUR THURSDAY, APRIL 10 HISTORY TALK
This Game is for the Girls: The 50-Year Story of Golden Valley Girls Softball
On Thursday, April 10, Golden Valley Historical Society will host a talk by Bob Mattison, a long-time Golden Valley resident who quite literally wrote the book which chronicles the 50-year history of Golden Valley girls’ softball.
Founded in 1974 with six teams, at the beginning of the revolution in girls’ and women’s sports, the Golden Valley Girls Softball (GVGS) league grew - at one time fielding 42 teams - into one of the state’s premier slow pitch leagues by promoting athletic, sportsmanship, and teamwork skills for generations of girls.
The presentation, “This Game is for the Girls: The 50-Year Story of Golden Valley Girls Softball,” is at 7 pm at the Golden Valley Historical Society, 6731 Golden Valley Road. It is free, open to the public, and pre-registration is not required.
Mattison writes that GVGS is a prime example of a youth athletic organization that really works – for its players, parents, families, and community. “I wrote the book because I was impressed with the league, eager to learn about how it started, and curious what it took to develop into the success it is today,” Mattison said, “It took a lot of digging to find the founders and the leaders through the years, and to put it all together. It turned into a pretty big project but was a lot of fun.”
The presentation will focus on the founding of the league by a group of women who wanted their daughters to have the opportunity to play a fun team sport – something that was only available to boys at that time - and how the league grew and developed over the years into the great community asset it is today. It will highlight the support the league has had from the Golden Valley Parks and Recreation Department, especially the efforts during the last decade to provide the girls with facilities comparable to boys’ baseball.
Mattison had many perspectives: He coached in the league with his daughters for 13 seasons. He served on the league’s board, was the sponsorship director, umpired for 14 years, and served as umpire-in-chief.
With no proceeds going to the author, the book is the property of the league and is sold as a fundraiser. It is available on Amazon in both eBook and paperback form, under the title “The Game is for the Girls.” League members will have copies of the book available for sale on April 10 and Mattison would be happy to sign copies.
The Golden Valley History Museum, same location, will be open before the program, from 6 - 7:00 pm.
Presenter Mary Agnes Ratelle (right) and a magazine illustration from the "More Than a Housewife" presentation (left).
WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH PROGRAM
More Than a Housewife: The Image of Post-War Women in Magazine Illustrations
For Women’s History Month, Golden Valley Historical Society (GVHS) will explore the changing image of the 1950s housewife in post-war America, primarily utilizing visual representations found in magazine illustrations. On Thursday, March 13, the society will host a talk by Mary Agnes Ratelle, Interim Executive Director of the Edina Historical Society (EHS). It is at 7 pm, 6731 Golden Valley Road. It is free, open to the public, and pre-registration is not required.
The 1950s housewife has been a mainstay of American visual culture, used to embody both the hopes of postwar economic opulence and the limitations of the domestic sphere that second wave feminism pushed against.
“In the March 13 presentation, I will offer the visual representation of the 1950s housewife,” Ratelle said, “by analyzing her representation in magazine illustration in the context of postwar marketing practices and psychological theory.”
Through a primary focus is on American magazine illustration, she added, “I will also explore its deeper connection with American economic development and psychological research.”
Ratelle held numerous positions at the Edina Historical Society prior to becoming its Interim Executive Director. “I was raised in Edina,” she said, and the city's historic sites have always had a profound impact - inspiring my love of history since childhood.” She is a graduate of the Art History and Museum Studies MA program at the University of St. Thomas. Much of her research focuses on historical fashion, women's history, and the impact of the visual arts on society.
The Golden Valley History Museum, same location and with permanent displays appropriate to the story of women’s history of leadership in Golden Valley, will be open prior to the panel discussion, from 6-7 pm. The sale of vintage Golden Valley street signs will also be taking place during this time.
Panelists Mayor Roslyn Harmon, Mayor Nadia Mohamed, Chief Virgil Green, and facilitator Rose McGee
FEBRUARY 19 BLACK HISTORY MONTH PANEL DISCUSSION
Moving the Needle Forward: Equality, Equity, and Progress in Challenging Times
On Wednesday, Feb. 19, GVHS will present “Moving the Needle Forward: Equality, Equity, and Progress in Challenging Times,” a Black History Month panel discussion. Panelists will include Golden Valley Mayor Roslyn Harmon, St. Louis Park Mayor Nadia Mohamed, and Golden Valley Police Chief Virgil Green. As important trailblazers in the story of the western Twin Cities suburbs, these three Black leaders will engage in a discussion facilitated by entrepreneur, author, and playwright Rose McGee.
As Golden Valley and Saint Louis Park have joined forces in the “Westopolis” (West of Minneapolis) marketing venture, the panel will explore the area’s changes, needs, challenges, and achievements.
The program will be held at 7:00 pm at the GVHS Historic Church, 6731 Golden Valley Road. It is free and open to GVHS members and the public. It will be recorded for future replay. Note that it is a different day and week than most GVHS programming.
Roslyn Harmon took the oath of office as Golden Valley’s mayor on January 2, 2024. She is executive director of the Dispute Resolution Center in St. Paul and the first Black person to be mayor of Golden Valley. Harmon says she brings her dispute resolution skills to the office. A pastor and the daughter of Golden Valley icon Rose McGee, Harmon was included in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal’s 50 Black Leaders and received a 2024 Black Woman Entrepreneur Award.
Nadia Mohamed became this country’s first elected Somali American mayor in 2023. Similar to Mayor Harmon, Mohamed’s political philosophy centers on bridge-building. She is a recipient of the 2024 Emerging Leader Award from the League of Minnesota Cities, and the Centennial Under 40 Impact Award from the National League of Cities.
Virgil Green became the first Black police chief of the Golden Valley police department in 2022 following a law enforcement career in New Mexico, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. He's a chief who wears the uniform, responds to calls, and visits residents in their yards, homes, and businesses through his “Chat With The Chief” initiative.
Rose McGee is a facilitator, author, and founder of the Sweet Potato Comfort Pie racial justice and equity organization. She is the author of Story Circle Stories, the play Kumbayah: The Juneteenth Story, and the children’s book Can’t Nobody Make a Sweet Potato Pie Like Our Mama. She was named Golden Valley Citizen of the Year and has received Golden Valley’s Bill Hobbs Human Rights Award twice.
The Golden Valley History Museum, same location and with displays appropriate to the story of Black history in Golden Valley, will be open prior to the panel discussion, from 6-7 pm. The sale of vintage Golden Valley street signs and drop-off of warm weather clothing for PRISM will also be taking place during this time
THURSDAY, JANUARY 9 AT THE GOLDEN VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
“The History of Ordinary Things” will be no ordinary program!
The holiday season can be overly busy, so to start the new year on a calmer note, Golden Valley Historical Society’s (GVHS) January program will be light, fun, and informative. On Thursday, January 9, GVHS will present “The History of Ordinary Things” by David Kuball, 7:00 pm, Golden Valley Historical Society, 6731 Golden Valley Road. It will be free, family-friendly, and open to the public.
“The presentation will celebrate a number of ordinary things,” David said, “and we will have fun learning about how they came into our lives. We may think of history as limited to events such as the moon landing or the life of a famous person. It’s easy to understand that the Statue of Liberty, George Washington, a World War II battle, or the Great Wall of China has a place in history.
“But there are things we encounter daily,” David continued, “and each has a fascinating story. These are common things we’ve known most of our lives, ordinary things that we take for granted but would miss if they went away. Each has a history.” The presentation will be fun for all ages. “For example," David shared, "potato chips were invented almost 200 years ago and have a great story.”
A long-time Golden Valley resident, David has loved history most of his life. He grew up on a dairy farm near Faribault, MN, earned a journalism degree from the University of Minnesota, and has had an information technology career with Optum, a health services company. He is on the board of the Golden Valley Historical Society and is a director for the Golden Valley’s Crime Prevention Fund.
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.
A feature story on the Holiday Open House’s toys will be on CCX Media’s Cable Channel 12/799 on Friday, Dec. 13 at 4:00, 5:00, and 6:00 pm. It will also be available for viewing at https://ccxmedia.org/ no later than 5:00 pm the same day.
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.
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:
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Hennepin History Museum
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City of Golden Valley’s Diversity
Equity, and Inclusion Commission
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Golden Valley Community Foundation
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Golden Valley Historical Society
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The Loppet Foundation
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Minnesota Historical Society Press
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Join us for this informative program at the GVHS Historic Church, 6731 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.”
THURSDAY, JANUARY 9 AT THE GOLDEN VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
“The History of Ordinary Things” will be no ordinary program!
The holiday season can be overly busy, so to start the new year on a calmer note, Golden Valley Historical Society’s (GVHS) January program will be light, fun, and informative. On Thursday, January 9, GVHS will present “The History of Ordinary Things” by David Kuball, 7:00 pm, Golden Valley Historical Society, 6731 Golden Valley Road. It will be free, family-friendly, and open to the public.
“The presentation will celebrate a number of ordinary things,” David said, “and we will have fun learning about how they came into our lives. We may think of history as limited to events such as the moon landing or the life of a famous person. It’s easy to understand that the Statue of Liberty, George Washington, a World War II battle, or the Great Wall of China has a place in history.
“But there are things we encounter daily,” David continued, “and each has a fascinating story. These are common things we’ve known most of our lives, ordinary things that we take for granted but would miss if they went away. Each has a history.” The presentation will be fun for all ages. “For example," David shared, "potato chips were invented almost 200 years ago and have a great story.”
A long-time Golden Valley resident, David has loved history most of his life. He grew up on a dairy farm near Faribault, MN, earned a journalism degree from the University of Minnesota, and has had an information technology career with Optum, a health services company. He is on the board of the Golden Valley Historical Society and is a director for the Golden Valley’s Crime Prevention Fund.
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.
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.
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.
“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.
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.
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.
“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.
Pictured, from the archives: Charter members of the League of Women Voters of Golden Valley at a long-ago League anniversary celebration event.
“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.
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.
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
1:30 Perpich Center for Arts Education,
readings by Literary Arts students
SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE
11:00 am Event begins
11:30 am
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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Golden Valley Community Foundation
The organization that brings you Global Golden Valley, Small Sparks Microgrants, Sustainability Day, and GVCF Arts & Music Festival
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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.
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Golden Valley Girls Softball League
A premier slow-pitch softball league welcoming girls in grades 3-12 from all cities and all skill levels.
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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.
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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.
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League of Women Voters-Golden Valley
Voting information from this local organization with over 75 years of empowering voters and defending democracy
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One Good Deed
This local, volunteer group founded by Michelle Christensen schedules monthly events that spread kindness, generate friendships, and grow community.
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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.
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PRISM
Golden Valley’s organization for dignity-centered resources including Marketplace Food Shelf, Shop for Change Thrift Shop, Homelessness Prevention, and Celebrating Children.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
From the 1885 Herancourt birdseye map of Minneapolis. https://www.loc.gov.item/75964644/
VOICES IN THE VALLEY: AMPLIFYING UNDERREPRESENTED HISTORIES IN GOLDEN VALLEY
On Thursday, February 9, the Golden Valley Historical Society (GVHS) will host the second talk in its 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.
The featured speaker will be Steve Boyd-Smith who has worked for more than 30 years as an exhibit planner for historic sites and museums nationally. His talk is titled “Seeking Absent Voices: Losses, Opportunities, and Challenges.”
Using some of the diverse stories he’s excavated with groups from throughout the Twin Cities, he will engage attendees about the opportunities resulting from digging deeper into history, the consequences when we fail to tell the diversity of our stories, as well as the challenges we sometimes face as we move toward “better.” Ultimately, Boyd-Smith says, “we’ll explore how communities can reclaim, restore, and reveal [our] stories, thereby helping to restore dignity to [all of our neighbors], living and dead.”
“Telling stories of our history shapes our present perspectives and unearthing and engaging diverse stories can enrich us all and allow for new possibilities and new conversations in our communities,” Boyd-Smith says, “and it all starts with a process of connecting, digging deep, and hearing.”
Steve Boyd-Smith comes from a background in public history and theater and now runs Amplifier Experience Design, a firm which specializes in working with communities and groups throughout the country as they unearth, reclaim, and tell their own stories.
The Thursday, February 9 talk is at 7 pm in the Golden Valley Historical Society’s Historic Church, 6731 Golden Valley Road. It is handicap accessible and equipped with a speaker system. This presentation will also be recorded and posted to the Society's website in the following month for those unable to attend. It is free and open to the public.
Next in the Series
Elizabeth Scheu Close: Pioneering Mid-Twentieth Century Architect
To complete the series, Jane Hession, Minnesota-based author and architectural historian, will lead a discussion of her book, “Elizabeth Scheu Close: A Life in Modern Architecture” on March 8.
Elizabeth “Lisl” Scheu Close (1912-2011) was Minnesota’s first modern architect. With her husband Winston Close, she 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 and more than 10,000 houses were produced from her designs. Jane King Hession, author of Elizabeth Scheu Close: A Life in Modern Architecture, will bring Lisl’s life and career (including her work in Golden Valley) to light. GVHS is partnering with Brookview Golden Valley on this talk.
The program is Wednesday, March 8, 7 pm, Brookview Golden Valley, Bassett Creek Room. 316 Brookview Pkwy S, Golden Valley, MN 55426. The program is free and open to the public. A question-and-answer session will follow.
The Golden Valley Historical Society (GVHS) is presenting a three-part series to continue its work of bringing forth and highlighting diverse community voices and histories. The series is “Voices in the Valley: Amplifying Underrepresented Histories” in Golden Valley.” The first program, on January 22, 2023, by Maria Cisneros, City of Golden Valley Attorney, is “Going Deeper with Just Deeds: Righting Old Wrongs and Fostering Justice Today.”
FIRST IN A TREE-PART SERIES
Going Deeper with “Just Deeds:” Righting Old Wrongs and Fostering Justice Today
On Thursday, January 12, the Golden Valley Historical Society (GVHS) will begin a three-part- series for Society members and the public titled "Voices in the Valley: Amplifying Under-represented Histories of Golden Valley,” made possible by the Union Pacific Railroad’s Community Ties Giving Program.
Maria Cisneros, Golden Valley City Attorney, co-founder of the Just Deeds Coalition, and Past President of the Minnesota Association of City Attorneys, is the leadoff speaker. She will share the work she and the city of Golden Valley have been doing with the Just Deeds Coalition and how that work illuminates both the city’s past and present.
Many may be familiar with the Mapping Prejudice project, as well as the Just Deeds Coalition that emerged from it. However, Cisnernos notes, “the January 12 talk will present an opportunity to go deeper than past presentations, highlighting developments and a context uniquely pertinent to Golden Valley.”
Golden Valley was growing into a city at the same time racial housing covenants in the Twin Cities and elsewhere were in most common use. It will come as no surprise, therefore, that as Mapping Prejudice’s research has progressed, numerous covenants have turned up in this city. But that is not all their research has turned up.
Cisneros will address the wider cultural context in which these covenants emerged in Golden Valley as well as share other ways that racial exclusion was practiced in this area.
“Those who put racially restrictive covenants in their houses’ deeds, decades ago, did not stop there,” Cisneros said. “They employed a symphony of interlocking, and sometimes more direct strategies to exclude based on race. This history might help us to reflect on how current policy discussions can also create exclusion, unintentionally or not.”
Originally from Robbinsdale, Cisneros lives in Golden Valley with her husband and four children in a home that had a racially restrictive covenant at the time her family bought it. “I felt compelled to have the covenant removed and to co-found the Just Deeds Coalition,” she said, “when I realized that my husband and children who are mixed-race Latino would not have been allowed to live in our neighborhood when our home was built in the 1950s.”
The Thursday, January 12 talk 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. A question-and-answer session will follow.
THREE-PART SERIES
Voices in the Valley: Amplifying Underrepresented Histories in Golden Valley
The Golden Valley Historical Society is the recipient of a $5,000 Union Pacific Railroad Community Ties Giving Program grant, which will allow GVHS to host a three-part series open to the public called "Voices in Valley: Amplifying Underrepresented Histories of Golden Valley.” These three talks will continue GVHS’s work of highlighting diverse community voices and histories as well as continuing the dynamics of historical storytelling that enrich us all.
Elsa Kendig, co-chair of the GVHS program committee with Teresa Martin, shared: “The Golden Valley Historical Society is grateful for this support from Union Pacific. By hosting these dynamic speakers, we hope to help the community reflect on how we can turn what we learn into practical actions that build a healthier and more just Golden Valley.”
Going Deeper With “Just Deeds:” Righting Old Wrongs and Fostering Justice Today
Maria Cisneros, 7pm, Thursday, Jan. 12, GVHS Historic Church
This program is described in greater detail above.
Unrepresented Voices in Museums
Steve Boyd-Smith, 7pm, Thursday, Feb. 9, GVHS Historic Church
Steve Boyd-Smith is a local exhibit planner who has worked with organizations throughout the country. Enlisting stories from a variety of museums, he will engage us in an important conversation about histories that have been erased, voices that are underrepresented in our museums, and the challenges and need for diverse representation and interpretation in Golden Valley, in Minnesota, and beyond.
Elizabeth Scheu Close: Pioneering Mid-Twentieth Century Architect
Jane Hession, 7pm, Wednesday, Mar. 8, Brookview-Golden Valley
To complete the series, Jane Hession, Minnesota-based author and architectural historian, will lead a discussion of her book, “Elizabeth Scheu Close: A Life in Modern Architecture.”
Schue Close was widely recognized as a pioneer of modern architecture and one of the few women who were practicing architects in the mid- twentieth century. She designed homes and public buildings around the state including some in Golden Valley. Please note that this is a change for the norm, this program will take place on a Wednesday evening at Brookview-Golden Valley.
GVHS Historic Church & Museum. A 1910 postcard from the “History of Christmas” program. Inside the Historic Church and 1882 chapel. The building’s basement filled with 1,000 vintage street signs for sale. Ewald Bros. Dairy exhibit in the Golden Valley History Museum. Photos by Jim Elert. 1910 Christmas postcard submitted from David Kuball’s personal collection.
Once a year, the Golden Valley Historical Society flings open its doors and invites the public and family members of all ages to check out the museum, the church building, and 1882 chapel. For those – and we know it’s most of Golden Valley – who continue to be curious what’s behind the doors of this iconic building at 6731 Golden Valley Road, here’s what you can do on Saturday, Dec. 10 from 11am to 3pm:
VINTAGE GOLDEN VALLEY STREET SIGNS FOR YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING
You can own a piece of Golden Valley history. Over 1,000 decommissioned city street signs – many from the late 1940s era – are being sold for $25 on Dec. 10, just in time for holiday gift-giving.
From Avondale to Zane, from Aquila to Zealand, that special sign you’re seeking may be available. They’re a perfect gift for a basement or garage, as a gift for a family member, college student’s dorm room, and best-ever gift for the nostalgic former resident. Enter through the Golden Valley History Museum door, toward the back of the building. Pay with cash or check only.
Want to know if the special sign your hoping to purchase is available? In advance of the sale, you can check out the Street Sign Inventory which is as up-to-date as Society volunteers can promise.
If you’re interested in a sign, but unable to attend the December 11 sale, here is the Street Sign Order Form which can also be found under “About Us” at www.goldenvalleyhistoricalsociety.org
VISIT THE GOLDEN VALLEY HISTORY MUSEUM
You can visit the national award-winning Golden Valley History Museum. Open since Sept. 2018 (and closed for a year-and-a-half due to Covid), the museum presents the history of Golden Valley from pre-European contact to today. Current topics include the former Golden Valley High School; the first Byerly’s Foods; Golden Valley Garden Club; Ewald Bros. Dairy; Golden Valley Fire Department; and civil rights and leadership in the city.
VISIT THE HISTORIC CHURCH AND ITS 1882 CHAPEL
You can visit the Historic Church and its original, 1882 chapel, the oldest in Golden Valley. If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like inside what’s often called the “Little Church in the Valley” as you travel Golden Valley Road, this
is your chance for a walk-through. The 80-capacity chapel hosts weddings, memorial services, vow renewals, and other special events. Ask a volunteer about rental possibilities.
ATTEND “THE HISTORY OF CHRISTMAS: THE HISTORY AND SYMBOLOGY OF THE HOLIDAY
You can attend a special, free holiday history program. Local history buff David Kuball will present “The History of Christmas: The History and Symbology of the Holiday” on Dec. 10, 1pm, in The Don & Mary Anderson Chapel of the Historic Church.
We may like to think that the Christmas holiday has always been celebrated the way that it is today. However, we don’t have to go too far back in time to find that Christmas has changed a great deal.
“The evolution of Christmas includes many bumps and gyrations,” Kuball says. “You may be surprised to find that Christmas was both controversial and ignored at different points in history.” At the same time, some key people promoted Christmas and shaped it to be the holiday as we know it today.”
Suitable for all ages, the presentation will explore various traditions, the evolution of the holiday, and contemplate how early Golden Valley settlers may have celebrated Christmas.
The Christmas holiday includes symbols, images, and colors that many have come to recognize. How are they associated with the holiday, and what is the special meaning behind them? “Discover how something as common as the Christmas tree may have more symbolism than you may have imagined,” Kuball added.
GIVE THE GIFT OF GOLDEN VALLEY HISTORY
You can give the gift of Golden Valley history. Wrapped, one-year GVHS gift memberships will be available for purchase on Dec. 10. Give someone you love a great stocking-stuffer ($20 individual, $25 family.) Recipients will receive a monthly newsletter and invitations to free history programs and other special events where they can join others who love and appreciate local history.
Dr. Kasey Keeler
Photo credit: (Left) University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Human Ecology. (Right) Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission
A virtual and in-person Golden Valley Historical Society program
On Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022, the Golden Valley Historical Society (GVHS) will continue its series on Ȟaȟa Wakpadaŋ (the Dakota name for Bassett Creek) and how the watershed relates to the area now called Golden Valley.
GVHS is pleased to present Dr. Kasey Keeler, Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her talk will focus on the perspectives she encountered while conducting oral history interviews with 14 Native American people who live, work, or play in the Ȟaȟa Wakpadaŋ watershed.
Dr. Keeler is partnering with Valley Community Presbyterian Church, which received a Legacy Amendment grant to support this project. The church (located on the east side of Highway 100 just a few blocks north of the creek) pursued this project as a follow-up action after writing its land acknowledgement statement.
Dr. Keeler’s research explores the relationship between Native people and the Ȟaȟa Wakpadaŋ watershed. It also reflects on what it means to be a Native person living in the suburbs.
From both of these topics emerged stories that serve to remind us, Dr. Keeler says, “that suburbs are historically Indian places, places that we have always been, and places where we belong.”
Dr. Keeler reminds us that, “We live in an Indigenous landscape.” This understanding emphasizes that Native viewpoints, past and present, are integral to the history of this area. Her words also encourage everyone to be respectful neighbors while living in the homelands of the Dakota people.
GVHS hopes that this second in a two-part series on the Ȟaȟa Wakpadaŋ watershed will encourage participants to reframe the area they live in as defined by interconnections – of water, stories, relationships, and time – instead of by boundaries.
Project manager Crystal Boyd says, “We are grateful to Dr. Keeler and all of the project participants for speaking about their lives and sharing their thoughts on the watershed, including their hopes for how human relationships and natural areas can be restored.”
A self-described “suburban Indian,” Dr. Keeler was raised in the Twin Cities on Dakota homelands. She is an enrolled citizen of the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians and a direct descendant of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation.
Dr. Keeler teaches American Indian Studies at UW-Madison with further specialization in Civil Society & Community Studies within American Indian communities. She is currently working on a book, American Indians and the American Dream, which analyzes ways in which American Indian people have worked both against and with federal Indian policy to navigate home ownership both off- and on-reservation.
Dr. Keeler will present virtually on Thursday, Nov. 10, at 7 pm. Join the presentation and discussion using this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2526298674
A hybrid opportunity is also available as the presentation will be live-streamed on a large screen at the Society’s Historic Church at 6731 Golden Valley Road.
The program is free and open to Society members and the public. A question-and-answer session will follow.
Two programs about Bassett Creek or Haha Wakpadan
TWO-PART SERIES ON BASSETT CREEK
PART I: Thursday, Oct. 13
On Thursday, Oct. 13, GVHS will present “Reforming our Relationship with the Bassett Creek Watershed: A History,” a talk by Laura Jester, Administrator of the Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission (BCWMC). She will speak about the history of restorative efforts for the Bassett Creek Watershed, as well provide insights into how and why watersheds like Bassett Creek, whose Dakota name is Haha Wakpadaŋ, deteriorated after European settlers began to use it.
Many Golden Valley residents live on lands that were originally heavily dotted with wetlands fed by the watershed. This affects our homes and how we live in them.
“As we become increasingly aware that our water system’s health and sustainability are foundational to everything else we do,” Jester shared, “this presentation will help attendees understand not only the history of the watershed, but the possibilities for renewed relationship with this core aspect of our community.”
Jester has worked in the water resources field for 30 years and has been the Administrator of the BCWMC for the last 10 years. She has a BS in aquatic toxicology and MS in aquatic ecology from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point.
The Thursday, October 13 talk is at 7 pm in the Society’s Historic Church at 6731 Golden Valley Road. The program is free and open to Society members and the public. A question-and-answer session will follow.
PART II: Thursday, Nov. 10
GVHS will follow up with a Thursday, Nov. 10 program, “Haha Wakpadaŋ/Bassett Creek Oral History Project,” by Professor Kasey Keeler, assistant professor of American Indian Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She will talk about suburban American Indians and their relationships to the Bassett Creek/Haha Wakpadaŋ watershed.
More details on this 7 pm in-person or virtual program will follow on this website and in the November GVHS newsletter.
Minnesota Historical Society photographs featuring early curling competitions at the St. Paul Curling Club. Left: circa. 1935. Right: undated.
Tim McMahon, an avid curler, author, history buff, and past president of the St. Paul Curling Club, will give a presentation entitled, “What the Heck is Curling? The Proud and Storied History of Curling in Minnesota” at the Golden Valley Historical Society on Thursday, April 14.
McMahon comes from a family of curlers who enjoy the sport which originated in Scotland. He is co-author of “100 Roaring Years on Selby Avenue: The St. Paul Curling Club.”
The book chronicles the history of the St. Paul Curling Club, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is the largest curling club in the United States, with over 1,200 members. Club members have competed in national, international, and Olympics competitions.
The book tells the story of a classic building and a pastime steeped in Minnesota history, from the first bonspiels on the Mississippi River in 1893 to the 2012 centennial of the Selby Avenue clubhouse.
McMahon’s presentation will sample the book’s stories about generations of curlers through the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, the war years, the first women curlers in the 1950s, Olympic curling playdowns in the 1980s, and the popularity of curling today.
An example of this popularity in Golden Valley is the outdoor pub curling leagues on four synthetic “ice sheets,” believed to be the first in Minnesota, for beginners and casual curlers at Brookview Golden Valley.
Come join the fun, including a bit of a curling lesson, on Thursday April 14, 7pm, at the Golden Valley Historical Society’s Historic Church, 6731 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley.
The program is free and open to Golden Valley Historical Society members and the public. A question-and-answer session will follow.
Golden Valley Historical Society will participate in a Sunday, March 13 Volunteer Fair, sponsored by the Golden Valley Community Foundation, at Brookview Golden Valley from 10am to 1pm. Stop by and visit; we’ll be among a dozen or more non-profit Golden Valley organizations taking part. Talk to us about becoming a museum greeter in the award-winning Golden Valley History Museum, an event host in our Historic Church, or becoming “a part of history” by becoming a member of the Society.
Brookview will also be filled with vendors for the March Market in the Valley (winter farmer’s market), and, of course, there’s the 316 Bar + Grill and Backyard indoor playground.
Haha Wakpadaŋ is the Dakota name for Bassett Creek. This waterway was used by Native American people as they traveled between Medicine Lake (I Capa Cagastaka Mde) and the Mississippi River (Haha Wakpa). Photo credit: Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission.
Rediscovering and reframing: Native American history in the Golden Valley Historical Society Archives – a Thursday, March 10 virtual program
Did you know that one of the earliest pieces of evidence of human activity in Golden Valley is a precontact chipped knife blade? It was discovered during an authorized study near Bassett Creek in 1986.
Or that in the mid-1800s, a Native American woman lived with a Frenchman near what is now Meadowbrook Elementary School?
Join us on Thursday, March 10 for “Rediscovering and Reframing: Native American History in the Golden Valley Historical Society Archives,” when Crystal Boyd will present a virtual program on some of the “hidden” stories discovered in the Golden Valley Historical Society (GVHS) archives. She will share results from a recent project that the GVHS has undertaken to inventory and catalog Native American resources in its collection.
She will share results from a recent project that the GVHS has undertaken to inventory and catalog Native American resources in its collection.
“I look forward to sharing some of the information that has been rediscovered or reframed through this work,” Boyd said. “It’s exciting to expand what the Society knows about the resources in its collection, share it with the public, and stimulate discussion.”
The project, which also inventoried and catalogued African American/Black and Asian American resources in the GVHS collection, is supported by a $9,900 grant from the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants Program and GVHS.
Boyd is the President of Crystal Boyd Consulting LLC. She provides grant writing and project management services for museums, nonprofits, and local governments in Minnesota.
She earned her Master’s degree in Museum Studies from the University of Colorado and has worked with museums for 17 years. Crystal facilitated development of the Golden Valley History Museum, which won a national award from the American Association of State and Local History (AASLH) in 2020. She is also the volunteer collections coordinator for the museum.
GVHS members and the general public are welcome to participate in the 7pm virtual presentation and question-and-answer session. It will be the Society’s second program hosted virtually as the omicron threat continues to recede, but the small size of the Society’s makes physical distancing a challenge.
To join this virtual presentation, choose one of these options:
1) Copy the code below into your browser
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2526298674
2) Go to https://zoom.com, select the “Join a Meeting” option at the top of the page, then enter meeting number 252 629 8674 when prompted, then your name.
Any presidential visit to your city is a good thing; in this case it was a 2012 visit to the Honeywell plant in Golden Valley by President Barack Obama, the country’s first African American president. This photo is preserved in the GVHS archives with other materials related to Black history in the city. (Photographer unknown)
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
“IT HAPPENED IN GOLDEN VALLEY:” A FEBRUARY 10 VIRTUAL PROGRAM ON AFRICAN AMERICAN AND BLACK HISTORY IN THE GVHS ARCHIVES
To commemorate Black History Month, the Golden Valley Historical Society (GVHS) will host a presentation about African American and Black resources that are preserved in its archives. The Thursday, February 10 virtual event will explore items that have been brought to light by a recent GVHS inventory project.
“A thorough process to comb through the Society’s archives has already yielded more than 100 items related to Black history in Golden Valley,” said contractor Crystal Boyd. “This project will ultimately expand knowledge of the city’s history, improve public access to the archives, and honor the lived experiences of Black community members.”
To date, examples of items from the archives include birth records from the early 1900s and school photos from the 1920s, which are some of the earliest documentation GVHS holds of Black families in Golden Valley.
The presentation will cover topics including the Golden Valley Human Rights Commission, the Oliver Lyle lawsuit, and the related pamphlet “It Happened in Golden Valley.”
It will also explore the city’s earliest Black History Month celebrations during the 1980s, gaps in the archives, and potential steps for working with Black community members to preserve local history.
The project is supported by a $9,900 grant from the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants Program and GVHS. A future program will share the project's additional work on identifying Native American resources in the archives.
Boyd is the President of Crystal Boyd Consulting LLC. She provides grant writing and project management services for non-profit organizations. Boyd earned her Master’s degree in Museum Studies from the University of Colorado, and she has worked with museums for 17 years.
Boyd facilitated development of the Golden Valley History Museum which, won a national award from the American Association of State and American Association of State and Local History (AASLH) in 2020.
GVHS members and the general public are welcome to participate in the 7:00 pm presentation and question-and-answer session. It will be the Society’s first-ever program hosted virtually due to the current Omicron spike, the small size of the venue, and the City of Golden Valley’s declaration of a public health emergency.
To join this virtual presentation, choose one of these options:
1) Click here on Zoom Meeting
2) Copy the code below into your browser
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2526298674
3) Go to https://zoom.com, select the “Join a Meeting” option at the top of the page, then enter meeting number 252 629 8674 when prompted, and then your name.
You can own a piece of Golden Valley history by attending the Saturday, Dec. 11 “Vintage Golden Valley Street Sign Holiday Sale & Museum/Historic Church Open House.” Nearly 1,200 decommissioned city street signs – most delightfully aged and dented from the late 1940s era – are being sold as a fundraiser by the Golden Valley Historical Society (GVHS).
VINTAGE GOLDEN VALLEY STREET SIGN HOLIDAY SALE
From Avondale to Zane, from Aquila to Zealand, that special sign you’re seeking may be available.
Arguably, there is no better or more economical holiday season gift for a proud current or former resident of Golden Valley than a $25 vintage street sign, many that are 60-70 years old. They’re perfect for a basement or garage, as a gift for a family member, college student’s dorm room, and best-ever gift for the nostalgic former resident. These signs are already prized possessions throughout the metro area, in outstate Minnesota, and throughout the country.
The sale takes place Saturday, Dec. 11, from 11 am to 3 pm, at GVHS Golden Valley History Museum and Historic Church, 6731 Golden Valley Road.
Enter through the Golden Valley History Museum door, toward the back of the building. Signs are $25 each - cash or check only. Want to know if the special sign your hoping to purchase is available? In advance of the sale, you can check out the Street Sign Inventory which is as up-to-date as Society volunteers can promise.
If you’re interested in a sign, but unable to attend the December 11 sale, here is the Street Sign Order Form which can also be found at www.goldenvalleyhistoricalsociety.org.
MUSEUM AND HISTORIC CHURCH OPEN HOUSE
While you’re at the sale, you may want to also take the time to visit the Golden Valley History Museum and its award-winning Golden Valley: No Place Like Home exhibit presents the history of Golden Valley from the ice age to the present.
Also, during the 11am – 3pm sale hours, the Society will have its 1882 Historic Church, the oldest in Golden Valley, open for a walk-through. If you’ve ever wondered what it looked like inside that “Little Church in the Valley” as you travel Golden Valley Road, this is your chance.
Current Covid/safety requirements for GVHS events: For the protection and respectful consideration of others, face coverings are required of those attending, as is maintaining safe physical distancing.
More:
100 YEARS OF VILLAGE AND CITY STREET SIGN HISTORY
An investigation of the origin of Golden Valley street names was completed in 1996 by a committee of the Golden Valley Historical Society chaired by Leone Johnson. The study confirmed that Golden Valley streets have three separate A to Z alphabets; one has U.S. state and Canadian names, and another carries a patriotic theme.
A number of streets identified in the study were named after early settlers or historical events. Among them: Bassett Creek Drive and Lane (Joel Bassett owned a lumber mill and served on the Territorial Council), Bies Drive (prominent early settler, Christopher Bies), Ewald Terrace (Ewald Dairy), Lilac Way and Drive (1939 lilac sales to beautify Highway 100), Medicine Lake (Indigenous name); Schaper Road (Shaper Manufacturing made the popular “Cooties” game), Schuller Circle (Schuller’s Tavern), Turner’s Crossroad (Paul Turner had a truck farm across from Tennant Co.), and Varner Circle (prominent early settler, Charles H. Varner.)
According to “Golden Valley 1886-1986,” a book produced by the Golden Valley Historical Society; “In 1920, the people of Minnesota voted for Amendment 1 (also known as the Babcock Amendment) which created the Highway Department, effective in 1921. All roadwork was done by counties and the state paid part of the cost.”
The earliest road signs in the Village of Golden Valley were arrows on a post pointing toward a village with the number of miles from the sign post to the village. These signs were put up by the Minnesota Automobile Association to encourage people to purchase these early cars. To this day, at the corner of Meadow Lane and Sunnyside Ridge is such a sign, a magnificent relic stamped with the year 1922. (It is not necessarily the original location of this sign.)
Don Anderson, 30-plus-year secretary of the Golden Valley Historical Society contributed the following recollections on the history of street signs in the Village and City of Golden Valley:
“The roads of Golden Valley became more prevalent after World War I. The need for road identification required the Village of Golden Valley to buy street signs and posts. This vintage sign had the road name in black letters on a white background.
After World War II the need for more housing and industry in the Village required more roads and more street signs. This generation of Village street signs from the late 1940s featured a green background with white letters.
Decades later, the state required that these street signs be replaced with larger signs, with a reflective surface, easier for first responders (and others) to see. So, Golden Valley began to systematically replace the old signs with the reflective street signs. The old street signs were hauled to the city's street maintenance building and put in a stack on wooden pallets.
In 1997, the street superintendent of the city contacted me and asked if the Society would like to acquire a bunch of old street signs. I said yes. That (and periodically ever since) is when the signs began to be delivered to the Society's Historic Church on Golden Valley Road, and the Society initiated a fundraiser by selling the vintage street signs.”
Learn more, ask a question, volunteer, or become a member of the Golden Valley Historical Society:
www.goldenvalleyhistoricalsociety.org
763-308-5059
The Golden Valley Historical Society (GVHS) received word on September 9 from the Minnesota Historical Society (MHS) that it has been awarded a $9,900 Minnesota Historical & Cultural Heritage Grant. The grant is for a proposal submitted in July for “Identifying and Cataloging Native American, African American, and Asian American Resources in the Golden Valley Historical Society Archives.”
Teresa Martin, newly appointed to the GVHS board of directors, said, “This grant makes it possible to inventory the Society’s archives to bring to light items related to three important groups in our community.” It will also facilitate digitizing key items by writing metadata for select pieces from the archives.”
In addition, the project will support transcribing presentations about Native American history that were previously recorded on VHS tapes at GVHS’s membership meetings.
In June, GVHS solicited bids from potential contractors to complete the project and in July selected Crystal Boyd Consulting LLC to conduct the work.
Crystal Boyd said, “I look forward to helping identify stories in the archives that may have been overlooked in the past. This is a great opportunity to begin highlighting diverse experiences throughout the city’s history and expanding dialogue between community members and groups.”
David Kuball, GVHS treasurer who wrote and submitted the grant, said, “Completing this project will better prepare GVHS to respond to inquiries about Golden Valley history. This project, for example, will identify items that could enrich community initiatives such as writing a Land Acknowledgment Statement or celebrating Black History Month.”
The project’s expected completion date is February 2022. If you have questions, please contact Teresa Martin at tthmartin@comcast.net.
A Thursday, Nov.11 Program by Marshall Tanick
Football Law in Minnesota: How the Vikings Almost Came to Golden Valley and Other Tales from the Gridiron
Those who regularly attend monthly history presentations sponsored by the Golden Valley Historical Society (GVHS) know that there’s no limit to what you may encounter and learn. Now, you’re invited to learn about local football law, and lore, like how the Minnesota Vikings almost came to Golden Valley.
On Thursday, November 11, the entertaining local lawyer Marshall Tanick will bring together his expertise in law and his passion for football in a program titled, “Football law in Minnesota: How the Vikings Almost Came to Golden Valley and other Tales from the Gridiron.”
The 7:00 pm presentation, followed by a question-and-answer session, is in GVHS’s Historic Church, 6731 Golden Valley Road. Admission is free. GVHS members and the general public are welcome.
“I plan on reviewing some of the more interesting and unusual legal cases involving the Vikings and football in general in Minnesota and in northwest suburban communities,” Tanick said, “anything from recent court rulings and litigation landmarks affecting student athletes, to injuries, to sports betting.”
Tanick is a Golden Valley resident, an attorney with the Meyer Njus Tanick law firm, and in 2019 was named Attorney of the Year by Minnesota Lawyer magazine. He’s a frequent writer and speaker on a wide variety of legal and historical subjects and a favorite of GVHS audiences for many years.
For the protection and respectful consideration of others, face coverings are required of those attending, as is maintaining safe physical distancing.
Golden Valley Historical Society’s (GVHS) monthly history series continues with the Thursday, October 14 program, “The Dakota War of 1862, a Brief but Monumental Part of Minnesota and U.S History” by presenter David Kuball.
Local historian-hobbyist Kuball will share how the arrival of a wave of settlers to Minnesota in the 1850s set the stage for a conflict with Dakota people living in the southern part of the state. In 1862, after the U.S. government failed to honor its part of a 1858 treaty, severe hunger and additional factors led to the Dakota War. It is a sad story – four years after Minnesota statehood – for all involved, with results that continue to reverberate today.
Attendees will learn about the circumstances that led to the war, the multiple battles that took place around the state, and the dramatic, historic consequences that followed.
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, Minnesota and grew up on a nearby dairy farm with his parents and seven brothers and sisters. He attended the University of Minnesota and obtained a degree in Journalism. 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 has been on the GVHS Board of Directors for five years.
The 7:00 pm presentation, followed by a question-and-answer session, is in GVHS’s Historic Church, 6731 Golden Valley Road. Admission is free. GVHS members and the general public are welcome.
GVHS follows CDCs guidance in response to the Delta variant of Covid-19. Face coverings and appropriate physical distancing are required for all guests. In the event of cancellation, a notice will be posted on the GVHS website and Facebook page prior the event.
Doug Ohman, perhaps Minnesota’s preeminent photographer, historian, and storyteller, will do the honor of restarting Golden Valley Historical Society’s (GVHS) monthly history series after an 18-month pause.
On Thursday, Sept. 9, he will present “Heart of the Farm – Barns of Minnesota” for GVHS members as well as the pubic. In one of Ohman’s most popular presentations, attendees will enjoy a photographic, anecdotal journey which illuminates and celebrates the barn, the greatest of all rural Minnesota icons. “From the early days of statehood through the era of agribusiness,” Ohman says, “our barns tell a story – and this story will bring you back to the farm and explore the importance of our rural roots.”
Bringing Minnesota history to life, Ohman has been photographing and chronicling the state of Minnesota – and sharing stories throughout the Midwest - for over twenty-five years. He founded Pioneer Photography in 1995, his photographs are regularly displayed in regional art shows and festivals, and he has published numerous books on Minnesota.
The 7:00 pm presentation will be in GVHS’s Historic Church, 6731 Golden Valley Road. An audience Q & A will follow.
GVHS follows CDCs guidance in response to Covid-19 and its variants. Face coverings and appropriate physical distancing are required for all guests. Changes in protocols or cancellation could take place as a result of updated guidance, so please visit the website prior to the program.
On a beautiful Saturday, Nov. seventh morning, a crew of Golden Valley Historical Society volunteers with a joyful spirit took on the annual fall yard clean-up task at the Historic Church and Museum.
The volunteers battled swirling winds with their own rakes and tarps from brought from home, and here greatly aided by the three jumbo, gas-powered backpack leaf-blowers Mike Nielsen was able to procure.
Once the grounds were in pristine condition, the crew even found the time to right the ever-leaning welcoming sign in front of the Historic Church and Museum.
Our sincere thanks go to Jenny Brookins, Jim Elert, Ken Huber, David and Jan Kuball, Mike Nielsen, Cindy and John Nelson, Steve Schmidgall, and to Don Anderson to stopped by to congratulate the crew and provide moral support upon completion of the task
Left to right: Steve Schmidgall, John Nelson, Jim Elert, Ken Huber, Jim Nielsen, David Kuball, Cindy Nelson, Jenny Brookins
From Adair to Zane, from Avandale to Zealand, we’ve got 1,200 vintage Golden Valley street signs for sale. At $25 each, they’re perfect for holiday gift-giving, and the perfect fund-raiser for the Society.
Peruse the updated “Street Sign Inventory” and “Street Sign Order Form” by going to “Support Us” at www.goldenvalleyhistoricalsociety.org. While we remain closed for in-person interactions during this Covid time, you can send in your order now and we’ll do our best to get a vintage sign to you for the holidays. (We can mail your sign for an additional $10 shipping and handling fee). Questions? Contact Don Anderson at 763-588-8578 or gvhistoricalsociety@gmail.com.
National Award
Golden Valley Historical Society
Wins 2020 National AASLH Award of Excellence
NASHVILLE, TN (May 25, 2020) -- The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) proudly announces that the Golden Valley Historical Society (GVHS) is the recipient of an Award of Excellence for its Golden Valley: No Place Like Home museum exhibit. The AASLH Leadership in History Awards, now in its 75th year, is the most prestigious recognition for achievement in the preservation and interpretation of state and local history.
GVHS opened the Golden Valley History Museum and its Golden Valley: No Place Like Home exhibit in 2018 (6731 Golden Valley Road). The exhibit presents the history of suburban Golden Valley from pre-European contact to today. More than twenty displays include topics like natural history, Native American life, and early pioneer families. Twentieth century topics include Golden Valley High School, the Golden Valley Garden Club, Ewald Dairy, and the Golden Valley Fire Department.
GVHS president Ken Huber said, “This award acknowledges the preparation and planning that volunteers have been doing since 1974. We’re honored to receive national-level recognition for the exhibit.”
With input from the local community, a subcommittee of GVHS members outlined the exhibit content. Professional museum experts from Museology Museum Services then designed, fabricated, and installed the displays. GVHS secretary Don Anderson said, “The museum incorporates five themes that help visitors explore Golden Valley’s history. Visitors can learn about the city using a different lens each time they stop by the museum.” The exhibit themes include human rights, power, economy, home, and community.
Project manager Crystal Boyd says, “We secured eight grants totaling more than $200,000 over the course of five years. This funding allowed us to develop the exhibit and preserve the collections. We’re proud to share Golden Valley’s history with the local community and the people of Minnesota.” Support for the exhibit was provided by volunteers, donors, and the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
This year, AASLH is pleased to confer fifty-seven national awards honoring people, projects, exhibits, and publications. GVHS and the other winners represent the best in the field and provide leadership for the future of state and local history.
The AASLH awards program was initiated in 1945 to establish and encourage standards of excellence in the collection, preservation, and interpretation of state and local history throughout the United States. The AASLH Leadership in History Awards honor significant achievement in the field of state and local history and bring public recognition to small and large organizations, institutions, and programs. For more information about the Leadership in History Awards, contact AASLH at 615-320-3203, or go to www.aaslh.org. For more information about the Golden Valley Historical Society, go to www.goldenvalleyhistoricalsociety.org.
About the American Association for State and Local History
The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) is a not-for-profit professional organization of individuals and institutions working to preserve and promote history. From its headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee, AASLH provides leadership, service, and support for its members who preserve and interpret state and local history in order to make the past more meaningful to all people. AASLH publishes books, technical publications, a quarterly magazine, and maintains numerous affinity communities and committees serving a broad range of constituents across the historical community. The association also sponsors an annual meeting, regional and national training in-person workshops, and online training.
About the Golden Valley Historical Society
The Golden Valley Historical Society (GVHS) was organized in 1974. Its mission is to find, preserve, and disseminate historical knowledge about the city of Golden Valley, Minnesota. In 1997, GVHS acquired the city's oldest church building as a permanent home. The historic church was constructed in 1882 and is often used as a wedding venue and to host a variety of speakers and presentations. The museum addition was constructed in 2012, and GVHS opened the Golden Valley History Museum in 2018. Both the church and museum are operated by GVHS. The society also collects and preserves oral histories, photographs, video histories, and three-dimensional objects. Due to COVID-19, the museum is currently closed until further notice. Learn more at www.goldenvalleyhistoricalsociety.org.
About the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund
This publication was made possible in part by the people of Minnesota through a grant funded by an appropriation to the Minnesota Historical Society from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. Any views, findings, opinions, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the State of Minnesota, the Minnesota Historical Society, or the Minnesota Historic Resources Advisory Council.
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Contacts
Crystal Boyd, Project Manager, Golden Valley Historical Society, 612-247-5283, gvhistoricalsociety@gmail.com
Bethany Hawkins, American Association of State and Local History, 615-320-3203, hawkins@aaslh.org
photo credit Stan Waldhauser
photo credit Crystal Boyd
photo credit Stan Waldhauser
photo credit Larren Boyd
GOLDEN VALLEY, MN (August 25, 2020) The Golden Valley Historical Society is pleased to announce a new documentary tracing the history of Golden Valley through the words of individuals who have a passion for sharing their personal experiences, stories, and research about Golden Valley. “Our Town’s Story—Golden Valley” will debut on September 17.
Work on the documentary began in 2019 through a community partnership between the Golden Valley Historical Society and CCX Media. CCX Media has served Golden Valley and eight neighboring northwest suburbs for over 30 years and is in the midst of producing a history video for each city. Documentaries for Brooklyn Park, Maple Grove, Plymouth, and Robbinsdale can be found at https://ccxmedia.org/city_programs/our-towns-story/
Due to COVID-19, “Our Town Story – Golden Valley” will debut through a virtual “made for TV and Facebook” event hosted by the Golden Valley Historical Society and CCX Media on Thursday September 17 at 6:00pm. The event will include a live discussion about the importance of preserving Golden Valley’s history, a showing of the 33-minute documentary, and a post-showing “reminiscing” time when viewers can submit questions through Facebook.
For directions on how to connect to the event, please go to ccxmedia.org/city_programs/our-towns-story/ or contact Dave Kiser at CCX Media at 763-278-4169 or dkiser@ccxmedia.org.
The September 17 debut event will be recorded and replayed on Sunday September 20 at 7:00pm on CCX Media Channel 799/12. The in-studio event will be available for ongoing viewing at ccxmedia.org. The 33-minute video will be available ongoing viewing at www.goldenvalleyhistoricalsociety.org
“Our Town’s Story – Golden Valley” explores the natural amenities, area settlement, civic activities, educational organizations, and development stages that shaped the area over the years. Individuals interviewed for the video included members of the Golden Valley Historical Society, past and current political figures, and community residents.
Timeline of video production:
-Held initial meetings in early 2019
-Conducted interviews and captured community video during spring and summer 2019
-Gathered historical photographs during winter 2019/2020
-Completed video editing during summer 2020
See the rich history of Golden Valley come to life through video during an exciting debut event on Thursday September 17 at 6:00 pm.
About the Golden Valley Historical Society
The Golden Valley Historical Society (GVHS) was organized in 1974. Its mission is to find, preserve, and disseminate historical knowledge about the city of Golden Valley, Minnesota. In 1997, GVHS acquired the city's oldest church building as a permanent home. The historic church was constructed in 1882 and is often used as a wedding venue and to host a variety of speakers and presentations. The museum addition was constructed in 2012, and GVHS opened the Golden Valley History Museum in 2018. Both the church and museum are operated by GVHS. The society also collects and preserves oral histories, photographs, video histories, and three-dimensional objects. Due to COVID-19, the museum is currently closed until further notice. Learn more at www.goldenvalleyhistoricalsociety.org.
Golden Valley's First Peoples:
Dakota History, Culture
and
Decolonizing Practices Today
Thursday, March. 12, 7:00 PM
Golden Valley Historical Society
6731 Golden Valley Road
Join us March 12th as guest speakers Dr. Roxanne Biidabinokwe Gould (Grand Traverse Band Odawa/Ojibwe) and Jim Rock (Dakota) present "Golden Valley's First Peoples: Dakota History, Culture and Decolonizing Practices Today" at the next Golden Valley Historical Society (GVHS) history-talk and discussion.
These husband and wife educators and Golden Valley residents - return to offer GVHS members and public what is likely to be another memorable and thought-provoking history lesson.
We're seeking historical items that tell the story of
Golden Valley
Sunday, March. 8, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
at the Brookview Community Center
Are you a history buff? Do you have photos, postcards, maps, or other items in your basement or attic that might help tell the story of Golden Valley?
The Golden Valley Historical Society (GVHS) is hosting a booth at Market in the Valley on Sunday, March 8
from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
at the Brookview Community Center, 316 Brookview Parkway.
Stop by to share your historical items or to chat about the history of Golden Valley.
Read more about the event here.