Historical Society Plans Busy September

The Steele County Historical Society (SCHS) will stage a number of events in September and the ticket deadline for the first of those is Thursday, August 27. The Onward & Upward Women's Event is Thursday, September 3 featuring several Steele County entrepreneurs. Reserve tickets by calling 507-451-1420. Men and women are encouraged to attend.

The panel discussion at the Steele County History Center will feature Betsy Lindgren of Express Employment Services, Donnavon Eaker from Steve's Meat Market in Ellendale, and Tanya Henson of the Hat Chic. The event begins at 11:30 am on September 3 and will include a box lunch with the $20 registration cost. The program is sponsored by Sharon West.

An Old-Fashioned Spelling Bee is set for Thursday, September 10 and is open to anyone in fifth grade or older. The press release from the SCHS states, "This free event is a supplement program to the exhibit Country School: The Beating Heart of Rural Community...Spelling bees were considered a social event in the life of many country school children 1856 through the 1960's in Steele County."

Teams of three can sign up for the spelling bee by calling 507-451-1420. The bee will occur at 1 pm on Thursday, September 10.

The society also announces the Gus' Station Car/Care Cruise for Saturday, September 19. The drive will take participants by care communities in Blooming Prairie, Ellendale, Owatonna, and Medford. Money raised will go toward the service bay project for Gus' Station at the Village of Yesteryear.

"Gus' Station was built in 1931 and dispensed gas in Ellendale, MN until 1980, except during WWII ration years...The effort to preserve this building were completed by the Ellendale Historical League in August 2014."

The event is sponsored by Steve's Meat Market, Lerberg's Foods, Fitness and Car Wash of Ellendale, and Curt's Truck and Diesel, Inc of Owatonna.

Finally, the SCHS Extravaganza will be staged as a drive-thru bake sale on Sunday, September 20 from 12 pm to 2 pm. "This event replace the traditional July SCHS Extravaganza that could not be held with the pandemic restricting larger activities, fundraisers, and events." Musical entertainment will play.