Document - Historical Society Minutes - Historical Society Meeting Minutes - 1/3/2017MEETING NOTES/MINUTES
EAGAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY
TUESDAY
January 3, 2017
3:35 p.m. – Second Floor Conference Room
Members present: Chair Mary Ellen Voracek, Vice-Chair Kim Hazel, Ted Ringberg, Pat Geagan and Joe
Reid. Also present was Communication Coordinator Joanna Foote, and staff guest Communications
Director Tom Garrison.
TOWN HALL UPDATES
Donations
Communications Director Garrison provided an update on the $100,000 donation from John Nasseff and
Helene Houle. The donor wanted to recognize Tom Hedges for his years of service to the City of Eagan
and honor their relationship with Mr. Hedges. On December 5, 2016, Mr. Nasseff and Ms. Houle
presented a check to the City of Eagan to allow for the construction of a Plaza at Old Town Hall and
professional/changeable display cases and other display needs inside Old Town Hall.
Projects Planning
Foote asked the group to email her their ideas of other items needed.
CONSIDER “TOWNSHIP TALKS” AND 2017 EVENTS
Foote suggested this item be tabled for now until further discussions occur. Foote noted it would be
best to plan for one to two events in the year, in addition to Open Houses.
REPORT ON THOMAS SHIELDS, NATIONALLY KNOWN PRIEST EDUCATOR FROM EAGAN
Joe Reid shared the following information on Thomas Shields. He was born in 1862, the family owned
property on both sides of Pilot Knob Road. Thomas Shields was a great uncle of Joe’s. While growing up
Thomas was a good size child. At age 6 he started at the Catholic School. There was one child in first
grade and one in second so they combined the classes and he became a good reader. The combined
classes were then combined with the third grade and he had trouble keeping up and reading. At age 9
he didn’t like school so he dropped out and worked on the farm until age 13. He broke his arm when he
was 13. It was confirmation time and he went back to school and had an incident with a teacher and left
school again until age 16. He attended John Hopkins University and became a Priest. He studied Biology
and Psychology. He worked at a Catholic Education Press and published a book. He died in 1921 at age
60. He worked with Justine Ward who donated a mausoleum for Thomas’ remains. Recently, Joe read in
the St. Peters Church in Mendota Heights bulletin they are looking for descendants of Thomas Shield for
the hospital property where the mausoleum was found and they are working on getting a permit from
the city to remove his remains to a cemetery. Joe has been designated as “next of kin” for the permit.
(Joe – please correct any information we got wrong or add as you see fit)
Foote suggested the history of Thomas Shields be added to the list of Township Talks.
DCHS UPDATES & AFFILIATE NOTES
There were no DCHS updates and affiliated notes as Bernie and Gregg were not able to attend.
OTHER
Ted Ringberg noted he was able to access Eagan maps online from the University of Minnesota from
1937 & 1960 of Eagan/Cedar Grove.
Foote noted that she and Kern Houge attended the advisory group meeting on Thursday, November 3,
at Fort Snelling. The Minnesota Greenway is working on Riverway trails starting in the Lilydale area to
Black Dog area; a bike trail already exists or is in the planning along much of the route with a big portion
in Eagan that is almost complete. The area to the north has been approved for funding and development
in the spring.
Ted mentioned there was a story in the Mpls paper on Joe Frazer who was related to Chief Grey Iron.
Mary Ellen suggested this could also be another Township Talk.
NEXT HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEETING
The next regular meeting is scheduled for February 7, 2017 at 3:30 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 5:10 p.m.