January 2011MAHS News1

Milaca Area

Historical

Society News

Preserving and sharing Milaca’s history for over 25 Years

January 2011 – Volume 13, Number 1

President’s Notes

We’ve come to the end of another year, and another season at the Milaca Museum. While this is our “off” season, things remain busy even though our doors are closed to the public. Since our move into the auditorium space in the spring of 2007, we’ve maintained and expanded those original 2007 exhibits. With an all-class reunion scheduled for June of 2011, we have decided to turn a large part of our exhibit space over to school related displays, and a committee consisting of Tom Sauer, Mary Anderson, Ardy Becklin, Lynn Kent, Jere Day and Karen Schlenker have been working on the big task of putting away the items in the old displays and determining what will go on display before we open in April.

This is just one example of a project carried out by MAHS volunteers. We don’t have a really good way to track all the time people donate to the organization, but what we have been able to add up indicates that at least 2,000 hours have been put into our organization over the last year. Twenty-five volunteers staffed the museum over the course of the summer, greeting the 1270 visitors who stopped by to see the museum or do research. We received almost 300 items to add to our collection, and had 75 research requests, many via email.

We also thank the City of Milaca for providing our building, heat and lights (approximately $3,600 in value), and Mille Lacs County, for contributing $2500 from the county budget in 2010.

Local History – It’s Where You Live!

Collections

Finally! The cataloguing of our collection on the PastPerfect database was completed by the end of October. There are many improvements and refinements to be made as we work with the system, but it’s all there, and is already proving useful as we take down some of our displays and prepare for new displays on local schools. To further improve our collection and how we use it, I am taking an online course on the basics of archives in January, offered through the American Association of Local History Museums. Since none of us are professionals, this class should vastly improve our understanding of archival material, how best to organize and care for it, and how to make the best use of it.

We are also hoping to have an event this winter/spring, to introduce our members, local educators, and local genealogists and historians to our research resources. Our collection, space and staffing are certainly limited (for instance, we can’t invite school classes to come do research at the museum), but we don’t think our resources should remain the best-kept secret in Milaca. Our collection is made up of more than 7,000 pieces of Milaca’s history, and there are many ways those pieces can go together to tell the story of our homes and families and how we’ve come to be in this place.

Thanks, Julie!

Nobody has done more for the Milaca Area Historical Society than Julie Swalboski. For 15 years, she has served as curator of the collection, and has personally accessioned almost all of our holdings. When the Civic Club disbanded and gave MAHS its uninventoried collection, it was Julie, along with John and Novella McClure, who familiarized themselves with standard practices for organizing, caring for, and storing objects, and accessioned every item. After that initial huge undertaking, Julie continued to accession every item as it came in (as well as serving for some time as MAHS president). There is no counting the hours Julie has given to MAHS, and no way to put a value on the quality of the work she’s done.

Early this winter, Julie fell and broke her hip. While she quickly began to recover, it was clear that it would be months before she could return to her work at the museum, and she asked that a new curator be found. Karen Schlenker, who has done the bulk of the cataloguing on the PastPerfect database, and who was working with Julie on cataloguing new acquisitions, is serving as Acting Curator as the MAHS board determines what to do next.

We all wish Julie well as she regains strength, and look forward to her return to less demanding work at the museum. Many, many thanks, Julie, for all you’ve done.

2011 exhibit – Milaca schools

It’s almost here! After years of preparation, the big all-class reunion will be held during this year’s Gateway to the Northland Festival, June 22-25. As part of the festivities, MAHS will be welcoming more guests at the Museum, with a new school display. Still “under construction,” the exhibit will showcase some of the hundreds of items we have which are related to country schools, town school, and Milaca High School. We have many objects demonstrating teaching and learning, extracurriculars and achievements, but we are always looking for more items that tell the story of interesting happenings in education in our area. If you have anything you could donate that tells a story about Milaca schools, please contact us. And be sure to come to the Museum to see the school display, as well as exhibits on Milaca’s logging days, the area’s smaller towns, and local citizens’ contributions to the military.

The Museum will be open from April through October, Wednesday through Friday (1 – 5 p.m.) and Saturday (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.).

In Memorium

In recent months we have lost some longstanding members. Gen Gardiner joined with husband Bud years ago, and it was always interesting to see the treasures they would bring to our “Show and Tell” meetings. Son Larry continues to be an out-of-town member. We will miss Gen, as well as Bud, who predeceased her.

Mary Mattson had come to every meeting and also helped by volunteering at the Museum, until health issues made this difficult for her some years ago. We missed her warm presence when she could no longer attend, and it was good to run into her in town from time to time. Now, sadly, she has passed away.

So many people have contributed so much to MAHS over the years. It’s a little bittersweet that they often continue to contribute, through family gifts and memorials given after they’re gone. We thank Gen and Mary, and their families and friends, as well as all the others who have gone before, for years of support.

Field Trips

After last spring’s visit to the Greatest Generation exhibit at the History Center in St. Paul, MAHS members took a fall trip to Fort Ripley to see the military museum there. The group then had several options in the area: the Morrison County Historical Society Museum, the Minnesota Fishing Museum, and the historic houses in Little Falls. Thanks once again to Jere Day for organizing the outing. We’re hoping to get more trips in during 2011. If you want to hear about the next field trip (they are usually announced at meetings as well), call Jere Day (983-3325).

From the Record

Asa R. Dailey

MAHS member Lynn Kent is always doing interesting research, and here is information he’s gathered about the man for whom Dailey Township was named.

The book, Minnesota Place Names, says:

“DAILEY Township was named in honor of Asa R. Dailey, an early settler there, who removed to Montana.”

I believe this Asa R. Dailey was the same as the Asa R. Dailey who was a prominent lumberman of Duluth. I can't prove Asa R. Dailey ever actually was a resident of the township, but he did own over a thousand acres in the township according to a 1914 county atlas. It seems strange that the township would have been named for him if he hadn't been a resident, but his prominence at the time may have been sufficient reason.

His biography is recorded in the "Commemorative Biographical Record of the Upper Lake Region", J. H. Beers & Co., Chicago, 1905, pp. 459-460:

Asa Dailey came to Duluth in 1870, and for the last dozen years has been deputy auditor of St. Louis County. His parents, William and Mercy (Barnhard) Dailey, were natives, respectively, of Ireland and New York State.

William Dailey was a carpenter by trade, but in his later years was in the furniture business in Hudson, Wis. He died in 1868, his wife surviving him until 1872. They had a family of nine children, of whom five are living. Asa was one of the younger children.

Asa Dailey was born in Canada, Sept. 18, 1842. His parents moved to Hudson, Wis., when he was a mere child, and he received most of education in the public schools of that place. On Aug. 9, 1862, at the age of nineteen, he enlisted in the 30th Wis. V. I. He took part in several Indian fights during the Sioux outbreak of that year, his regiment being stationed at first in the North but they were transferred to the South in time to participate in the battle of Nashville, where he was injured by an accident, from the effects of which he still suffers. He was also in many skirmishes, but was fortunate enough to escape other injury, and received his discharge Oct. 5, 1865. He then learned the trade of miller, and was employed in a gristmill at Hudson for five years. After that he came to Duluth, engaging in the lumber business as an employee of different firms until 1880, when he went into partnership with John La Chapelle. At the end of two years, he bought out Mr. La Chapelle, and he formed a partnership with John Maguire and W. P. Hinebach. After another two years he bought out the interests of the partners, and conducted the business alone until 1890, when his health failed, as a result of the injuries he received in the United States service, and selling out his lumber interests he retired from active business. In September 1891, he came into the county auditor's office, as deputy, and there he has ever since remained.

On Sept. 7, 1867, Mr. Dailey married Barbara C. Johnson, of Hudson, Wis., a daughter of Thomas and Ann (Stewart) Johnson, both natives of Dickinson's Landing, Canada. Mr. Johnson was a harness maker and dealer by occupation. He lived until 1894, his wife passing away in 1890. Mrs. Dailey was the next to the eldest of their nine children, of whom all but one are living. Mr. and Mrs. Dailey are the parents of the following children: Nellie M.; Charles A., foreman in a meat market in Buhl, Minn.; Francis P.; Josephine B.; and Roy A. The family attend the Episcopal Church. Mr. Dailey is a member of the G. A. R., Willis A. Gorman Post, No. 13, of Duluth, in which he has filled every office, having been for the past six years quartermaster of the post. In January 1904, he was appointed aide-de-camp on the staff of Gen. John C. Black, commander-in-chief, National G. A. R. He also belongs to the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 28, of Duluth, and the A. O. U. W., Lodge No. 10, of Duluth. He has been a life-long Republican, his first vote, in 1864, having been cast for Abraham Lincoln. He was at one time president of the village of Park Point, where he was also clerk, and in 1889 was an alderman of Duluth. He takes a prominent part in all movements for the betterment of the city.

MAHS Business Members

Please thank these businesses for their support of Milaca Area Historical Society.

January 2011MAHS News1

Billings Service

Blue Moon Saloon

Fransen Decorating

Greater Minnesota Credit Union

Jim’s Mille Lacs Disposal

Koch’s Hardware Hank

Kulick Law Office

Milaca Copy Fast

Milaca Local Link

North Star Garage

Peterson-Johnson Funeral Home

Town & Country Finance

January 2011MAHS News1

2011 Calendar

January

  • Jan 25 annual meeting – 7 p.m., Milaca city hall – Show and Tell
  • Winter newsletter
  • Begin exhibit prep for 2010 (to be completed in March)

February

Feb 22 meeting – 7 p.m. Milaca city hall

  • Museum volunteer sign-ups

March

  • March 22 meeting – 7 p.m. Milaca city hall

April

  • Building and grounds season prep cleanup (include windows)
  • Thurs. Apr 7 Museum opens for the season – W Th F 1-5, Sat 10-2
  • Apr 26 meeting – 7 p.m.

May

  • May 24 meeting – 7 p.m. Milaca city hall
  • School visits (MES 2nd & 3rd grade)

June

  • June 22-25 Gateway to Northland festival, all-class reunion
  • Summer newsletter
  • June 21 meeting – Milaca City Hall

July

  • July 22-24 – Milaca Bluegrass Festival
  • July 26 meeting – 7 p.m. Milaca City Hall

August

  • Aug 10 County fair setup
  • Aug 11-14 County fair
  • Aug 23 meeting – 7 p.m. Milaca city hall

September

  • Sept 20 meeting – 7 p.m. Milaca city hall

October

  • Oct 25 meeting – ELECTION OF OFFICERS 7 p.m. Milaca city hall; membership forms for renewals
  • Sat. Oct 29 – last day of 2011 museum season

November

  • No general membership meeting

December

  • No general membership meeting

Ongoing: Accessioning, exhibit improvements, building and grounds maintenance.

Longer range: handicap access, web presence, exhibit improvements, landscape

and ”park” improvements.