“Working as a curator at the Waseca County History Center…it’s not just a “job”.

In my nearly 25 years of researching and processing Waseca County artifacts, I have had many notable connections with people seeking information about their properties and families. Many of those encounters uncovered unexpected connections between me and the researcher or have opened doors to new experiences and friendships as well as attracting new memberships and donations.

A few memorable experiences include:

1. A visitor from the nearby county of Goodhue came to the museum inquiring about photos that we might have of her family property and residence in Waseca. She donated photos we had never seen of northwest Waseca city residences from the 1940s.

In the course of our conversation, she noted that she and her husband worked on abandoned cemetery upkeep in their rural area. She specifically mentioned a place I knew my aunt and uncle had lived. Much to my surprise, she knew exactly where their cemetery markers were. I was able to visit that area and find their stones in a remote corner of a family cemetery. We have stayed connected over the years exchanging relevant information to both of our inquiring minds!

2. A New Richland resident visited the museum recently to donate several items relevant to the Waseca School of Agriculture. As we conversed, I discovered that almost 70  years ago, his mother had been my second-grade teacher! Even more exciting was the fact that I had on my laptop, a photo of Mrs. Johnson and her country school students taken while on a field trip to an Owatonna newspaper office. He was delighted to see this photo taken in 1947.

3. A woman and her little Havanese dog who were visiting from New Mexico, stopped to visit our museum and talk about her Waseca family roots. While we were talking, she mentioned that she was having trouble finding a place to stay nearby that would accept her dog staying in her room. I invited her to stay with me at my bed and breakfast. As a result, we spent a delightful evening together and also enjoyed a leisurely breakfast with her little doggie, “Missy” feeling right at home with us as she enjoyed her view from my dining room window seat. My visitor and I became Facebook friends and continue to be in touch even years later. She became a member of our society and also added information to our family files.

4. Several years ago, I was researching and preparing artifacts for a museum exhibit on Waldorf, a community to the south of Waseca, and of which I had limited knowledge. One day, two men came to see the exhibit featuring all the townships of our county. They were specifically interested in the townships that included the Waldorf area. As they talked with each other, I asked if I could eavesdrop on their conversation because they seemed knowledgeable about Waldorf history. I learned many useful things that I could apply to our Waldorf exhibit and include in our files.

That conversation led to a long friendship with these men. One of them was the unofficial but avid Waldorf historian and that encounter led to the museum featuring a museum exhibit of his Waldorf memorabilia that was wildly popular with the people from that area and brought in scores of visitors. The day of its opening was like a huge family reunion, with people excited to see each other, shaking hands, taking photos and reminiscing about the “good old Waldorf days”! We received new memberships from these visitors and also ensured that many of the Waldorf artifacts will be donated to our museum.”