Document - Historical Society Minutes - Meeting Minutes - 6/5/2012MEETING NOTES/MINUTES
EAGAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY
TUESDAY
June 5, 2012
3:30 p.m. – EAGAN ROOM
Members present: Chair - Mary Ellen Voracek, Kim Hazel, Millie Gignac, Martin DesLauriers, Joan
Remick, Lori Tripp, Ted Ringberg, Bernie Jansen, Ron Erickson and Linda Myhre. Also present were
Communication Coordinator Joanna Foote.
MEETING MINUTES & SECRETARY
The minutes from February 7, 2012 were approved and accepted with noted corrections. April, 3, 2012
minutes were also approved and accepted.
BOOK PROJECT AND PHOTO ACQUISITION UPDATE
Author Hoistington has been working to completing interviews. They consist of Eagan Historical Society
members, City Staff members, community representatives and is in the process of interviewing current
and past City officials. Foote indicated that expect a draft of the book by the fall and have the final book
ready for sale for the holidays.
No public came to the “scanning day” at the Community Center.
Foote and Hazel have been monitoring facebook and especially noted “The Original Cedar Grove” page.
This page is dedicated to the residents who resided in the area during the 1960’s through the 1980’s
with postings and photos. Foote contacted resident Lisa Fleming who has posted great photos and
asked if the committee could use them. She told Foote that her father took the pictures and he would
be pleased if the pictures where used by the Eagan Historical Society.
2012 OPEN HOUSE
2012 Open House will be held Sunday, June 24, 2012 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Tripp, Remick,
Voracek and Hazel will volunteer that day. Jansen and Gignac will be staffing the Dakota County
Historical Society booth during the Eagan Art Festival that day. A second Open House will be held
Tuesday, June 26, from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. Foote noted that she won’t be available to attend Sundays’
event, but, will there Tuesday night. Foote will do the publicity on Eagan’s facebook page, Web site and
sign board. It was decided that Eagan 150th pins and the small maps would be handed out that day as
pencils are being reordered and are not yet available.
Foote is looking at a new vendor for pencils. During the conversation it was decided to have our Web
site imprinted on the pencils.
Update on 1914 Town Hall Visitors
On May 5, 2012 Eagan Parks and Recreation Department partners with the South of the River
Recreators. For the past 7 years they have participated in the GPS Family Race. Each of the five
communities picks specific sites in their cities for racers to visit. At each site they must complete tasks
or answer questions in order to move on. One of Eagan’s sites was the 1914 Town Hall and volunteers
handed out a quiz of items to locate within the Town Hall or upon the property. One question required
interaction with a volunteer. Participants then searched the town hall for clues to help find the items on
their lists. Ringberg said they talked to about 40 groups and Hazel mentioned that this turnout was
extremely successful. Committee discussed using this format for future events.
Group of 9th grade girls did a tour and took video of the Town Hall for their project on Wednesday, May
29th.
Foote received a visit request from a group called the Shape Note Singing. Foote explained that it is an
early American form of group singing. Music consists of camp songs and non-church type hymns. If the
committee agrees, they could look at the space and clarify a date. Foote will look at the logistics
involved if they decide to go forward with this. The group agreed that it would be interested in allowing
the use if practical.
Meeting Holtz Farm Friends
Committee discussed meeting with the Holz Farm Friends on July 10th as part of our regular meeting or
July 11th at Holtz Farm when they meet that night. Foote conveyed that the opportunity is there to be
more aware of what each other is doing by forming a joint partnership on certain events and/or having
permanent displays or event base displays sharing items that would be of interest to both groups. Foote
will clarify the date and send out information to the members.
Meeting with Dakota County Historical Society
Foote started a conversation to explore the benefits of forming a joint partnership with the Dakota
County Historical Society. The DCHS is now partners with 6 different organizations. The time seems
right to meet with them and see what options are available for partnership. This may be unofficially on
displays and/or projects or become a more formal partner organization. Both provide potential
opportunities for enhancing the mission of each organization.
July’s agenda, should we include a Field trip to Dakota County Fair, in Farmington? Committee decided
to wait until September, October, or November to meet with Dakota County Historical Society.
OTHER
Committee revisited the subject of July 4, 2012 Funfest Parade. The theme is a Yellow Ribbon
Community and in it was suggested at the February meeting maybe to provide a bus which would carry
Veterans and Military families if they would like to participate. Unfortunately, no committee members
will be available July 4th this year to participate in an event at the parade.
Foote suggested that the committee think about ideas to get more involved with the community by
participating in ongoing events to keep us highly visible. Foote reminded the committee that she had
partnered with Parks and Recreation staff to providean historical tour for residents. Something similar
could be coordinated again. She also noted that the group had previously hosted a speaker on haunted
places and had discussed having the same speaker provide a presentation regarding gangster activity in
the area. As the Lone Oak Years indicates that gangsters frequented Starks, the group had considered
hosting the speaker there, perhaps with dinner and a dance. Committee thought maybe October would
be a good time to have coordinate an event.
Ringberg suggested expanding the “questions list” and continue working on it into the fall. Hazel
brought photos and newspaper clippings to be filed. Voracek brought in articles on the opening of 35E
and when electricity came to “the farm”. DesLauriers talked about Brooker Electric Power Company at
southwest corner of Wescott Road and Highway 149 which is the now the old Able Craft building.
NEXT MEETING
The next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 10, 2012 at 3:30 p.m. in the Eagan Room,
located in the City of Eagan Municipal Center. This meeting date was moved due to the July 4th holiday.
ADJOURNMENT
Jansen made a motion to adjourn the History Committee meeting and DesLauriers seconded the
motion. All members voted and adjournment was at 4:54 pm.