Steele County Historical Society

Steve Groening brings the KOBK news for November and December 1916. In discussion: Louis H. Sullivan presents building proposals for a new high school, Owatonna votes Republican in elections, $20,000 in bonds for a new bridge on Bridge Street passes, Steele County National Guard soldiers are allowed to vote absentee, 10 acres set aside from the county farm for the Steele County Fairgrounds, and Ch

The Minnesota Historical Society issued a news release today announcing 36 recipients of 38 Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Small Grants (up to $10,000 each), totaling $319,726 in 19 counties. These small grants are awarded quarterly to help nonprofit and educational organizations, government units and tribal organizations preserve and share Minnesota history...

June Voss shares snippets of soldiers’ letters home during World War I. The letters will be part of an exhibit at the Steele County Historical Society titled “The Great War, Over Here, Over There,” which opens in April 2017. New episodes featuring Rice and Steele county history are posted to the KRFO-AM YouTube channel and krforadio...

Johnnie Jaeger recounts worries and preparations surrounding Y2K in Owatonna and Steele County, including a community celebration in Medford and extra police patrols in other communities. New episodes featuring Rice and Steele county history are posted to the KRFO-AM YouTube channel and krforadio...

The Steele County History Center will be hosting a fun event for young and old on Saturday, November 19. There will be a Victorian Tea from 10AM to 3PM. It's an opportunity for a parent or grandparent and a child to sample a real old-time Christmas...

June Voss displays the shovel that broke ground for construction of the new Steele County Historical Society building, and tells how it was built with no taxpayer money. The building is a popular meeting place, and its event rooms are often booked by outside groups...

The Steele County Historical Society’s Jerry Ganfield shares the history of the Village of Rice Lake. In the 1850s, it was just east of the entrance to Rice Lake State Park and was a major stop on the stagecoach route from Rochester to Owatonna...

Did you know pop superstar Beyonce has a connection to Owatonna? Turns out, Owatonna High School Class of ’95 alum Scott Nylund is the designer behind some of her costumes, and one of his designs, and some sketches and photos are displayed in the Steele County Historical Society...

Steve Groening brings the KOBK news for September and October 1916. In the report: A bond to build a new high school, $20,000 for a new bridge over the Straight River, opposition to a meatpacking plant, the future location of the Steele County Fair, and pre-election political candidate rallies...

Here's a couple of upcoming events at the Steele County History Center in Owatonna. Free children's programming will be offered on Thursday, October 6. The Jr. History Detectives, which is for Pre-K children, will offer Fall on the Farm/Preserving for Winter at 9AM...