Document - Historical Society Minutes - Historical Society Meeting Minutes - 11/1/2016MEETING NOTES/MINUTES
EAGAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY
TUESDAY
November 1, 2016
3:30 p.m. – Fire Safety Center Conference Room
Members present: Chair Mary Ellen Voracek, Vice-Chair Kim Hazel, Kern Hough, Ted Ringberg, Pat
Geagan and Lynae Gieseke. Also present was Communication Coordinator Joanna Foote, Matt Carter,
Dakota County History Society and Jim Roe, Minnesota River Greenway Interpretive Plan.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Minutes of the October 4, 2016 meeting were accepted with change to indicate the October meeting
being held at City Hall rather than the Fire Safety Center.
HISTORICAL SOCIETY BUSINESS
Dakota County MN Greenway Cultural Resources Interpretive Plan – Jim Roe
Jim Roe, Interpretive Planner for Dakota County MN Greenway Cultural Resources, gave an overview of
the Greenway Project noting the Greenway Trail will be primarily a bike trail, south of the MN River from
the confluence with the Mississippi to about 35W with various interpretive stops along the trail.
Possible themes include Dakota Culture, Living on the River, geological features, and others. Mr. Roe
would like to speak with one of the Eagan Historical Society members on the history of the area. He
noted it would be nice if someone could attend the upcoming advisory group meeting on Thursday,
November 3, from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. at Fort Snelling. Foote noted that she planned to be present. Hough
also agreed to attend.
DCHS WWI Display at Town Hall – Matt Carter
Matt Carter, Executive Director Dakota County Historical Society (DCHS), gave a brief update on DCHS
current projects, noting DCHS is in the rebranding process and new website.
His main topic, however, is a $70,000 grant that DCHS has applied for to facilitate a project
commemorating the World War I era (1917-1919) in Dakota County.
Carter discussed potential partnering with local communities, including Eagan. Each of the DCHS
locations and several affiliated historical societies in various cities would have an exhibit focusing on
their own community and/or specific content area during WWI.
Content areas may include:
• Those who served from Dakota County
• Life on the home front
• Victory Gardens
• Rise of Nationalism
• Suffrage Movement
• Influenza
Ringberg and Hough noted Eagan Historical is looking to start Township Talks, bringing in people to talk
historically about Eagan or an era. This could be considered well within that format.
Recap October Open Houses and Commons on Marice Presentation
Foote gave a recap of the October open houses and events noting that 12 Open Houses or events were
held with more than 300 people visiting/participating overall.
Recap Sentencing in Town Hall Arson
Foote provided Victim Impact Statements she submitted to the courts in advance of sentencing and
gave an update on the sentencing of the first of two perpetrators of the Old Town Hall arson.
Consider “Township Talks” and Potential Winter Events
Hough noted considerations for township talks such as Breakfast at Starks, Eagan’s earliest
people/Native American Uprising, Eagan Farming-what we grew here, Fire history (spring 2017), etc.
Foote noted several years ago near Halloween the Town Hall was opened and a guest author was invited
to tell stories about hauntings in Minnesota. This same person has books on gangsters in St. Paul, some
of whom hung out at Starks. Contact could be made to be incorporated into the breakfast at Starks, if
members wish. Foote may also have a potential speaker related to the Native American uprising. Carter
also recommended the author John Hamman (sp?), on this topic.
Discuss December Meeting/Outing
Hough suggested a holiday event at the Town Hall, and/or perhaps getting a group together to
Christmas carol? Also, suggested something with food (several topics included in attachments). Eagan
has a variety of nationalities in the city and recipes could be gathered on what they do differently for the
holidays. He also suggested tree trivia and/or hot cider and history of different trees.
The group discussed and decided these were good ideas for consideration next year. Hazel noted it
would be nice to hang a wreath and garland on the building and she is willing to purchase if staff can
coordinate having it hung.
Foote noted the Historical Society Holiday gathering will be on Tuesday, December 13 at Lori Tripp’s
house in lieu of a formal December meeting.
Other
There were no further items for discussion.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 5:20 p.m.
Next Meeting
The next regular meeting is scheduled for January 3, 2017 at 3:30 p.m.