Document - Historical Society Minutes - Historical Society Minutes 10142006 - 10/14/2006MINUTES
EAGAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY
November 14, 2006
A regular meeting of the Eagan Historical Committee was held on Tuesday,
November 14, 2006 at 3:30 p.m. in the Eagan Room at Eagan City Hall. Members
present were: Ted Wachter, Jean Funk, Alyce Bolke, Kim Hazel and Mary Ellen Voracek.
Also present was Communications Coordinator Foote.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Bolke made a motion to approve the minutes of the October 3, 2006 (Distributed at
the meeting) Eagan Historical Society meeting as presented. Funk seconded the motion.
All members voted in favor.
TOURS AND SCHOOL VISITS
The Committee recapped the third grade presentations and tours. Foote read letters
from some of the third grade students.
THRESHERS FIELDS SIGN DEDICATION
The Committee recapped and discussed the October 17, 2006 Threshers Fields sign
dedication. Foote also noted that ThisWeek’s reporter and a photographer were at the
event and had run an article and photo about the event. The Sun Current used a photo
taken by Foote at the dedication and also did an article.
Ted Wachter brought an old news clipping that showed two men standing next to the
wheel on a hay wagon. The wheel comes nearly to their shoulders. Wachter indicated that
this wagon would have been a similar height to that used when threshing.
ROAD NAMING IDEAS
Foote introduced the item stating the Committee would be considering names for
two new roads located in Eagan. The Committee further discussed road names for
property in Section 1, north of Lone Oak Road near the Inver Grove Heights border, which
was the Ames Estate. The Committee’s top two suggestions for the road were Ames’
Crossing and Kyber Path. A distant third suggestion was Section One Road
The Committee then discussed road names for a road south of the Community
Center/Central Park and west of Lockheed Martin in Section 9. This property had once
been owned by Louis DesLauriers who was Martin’s father and drove the milk Route for
the community for many years. Martin later took over that route. Due to the prominence
and long history of the DesLauriers family in Eagan, the Committee suggested that the
roadway be named Deslauriers Way. An alternate suggested, as it is easier to spell, is Milk
Run Road.
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AMES ESTATE INFORMATION
Foote introduced the item and gave background on the history of the Ames
property. She noted that in researching options for the road naming done previously, she
had obtained a variety of information and photos related to the Ames Estate. Much of the
information came from the Dakota County Historical Society (DCHS) and from Bill
Wolston who had done research on the Estate for a DCHS publication. She also noted that
she had contacted Thomson West to find out if they have any information on Mr. Ames, or
the Estate, as both Charles Lesley Ames and his father had held prominent positions at
West Publishing.
OTHER BUSINESS
Volunteer - Foote stated Sara Wolf, an Eagan resident who attended an Open House at the
1914 Town Hall this year, is interested in helping with the Eagan Historical Society as a
volunteer but is not able to make the regular meetings due to her job requirements. The
group agreed to consider project that Sara might assist with after hours or on weekends.
Spearhead - Foote noted that a gentleman named Richard Nelson, who lives on Carriage
Hills Dr. in southern Eagan has donated a native American spearhead that he found when
walking on his road. The spearhead is shaped roughly like a fish and measures about 4-1/2
inches long and about 3 inches high. It comes to a rather sharp point at the nose and has a
flat, blunt tail which looks like it has been tapered to fit into a handle. Mr. Nelson has
donated it in hopes that the Historical Society might be able to find out more about it and can
use it for display to the community.
Greatest generation stories – Ray Wade sent a note to make the members aware of a
project the Minnesota Historical Society is currently doing. They are collecting stories from
“the Greatest Generation” and are asking those people who lived through the War years to
send them stories and remembrances of their lives during those years. MNHS has
information at its Web site where members can find more information if interested.
Mr. Eagan correspondence – Foote received and responded to the attached e-mail
regarding Patrick Eagan, from a gentleman who thought his family might be related.
Treasures from outhouses – Hazel recently visited the Rosemount Community Center
where she took photos of several display windows which contain articles that have been
recovered from outhouse holes. The display represented many china, pottery and glass items
of a wide variety.
NEXT HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEETING
The next Eagan Historical Society meeting will be December 5, 2006 at 3:30 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
Upon motion by Voracek, second by Hazel, the meeting was adjourned at 4:55 p.m.
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