EDITOR’S NOTE
One of the best reasons to enjoy fall is the opportunity to get creative. After all, what other season has a holiday where it’s OK for you to dress up in costume? Halloween was always a fun time for my family. I spent much of my childhood living in an apartment in Burnsville, which meant we would go to the Burnsville Center every Halloween and nab a bathtub full of candy — or at least that’s how it seemed to me when I was small. Yet getting creative and dressing up is something I guess I never quite outgrew, as I’ve participated in theater productions and attended various science fiction conventions in costume. That’s why I was excited to hear about photographer Eric Johnson’s vision for this fall issue — a 1920s-style photoshoot featuring local models in imaginative costumes and great imagery. This is one of the greatest creative projects we’ve taken on at Austin Living, and we’re excited to show how, with a little bit of creative magic, our area can transform into an astounding artistic depiction. You can admire Johnson’s work starting on pg. 34. Donald and Jane Rysavy were certainly inspired when they worked with a local architect in 1980 to design their longtime home. A stylish, cubism-inspired, open air haven for the Rysavys was the result. This unique house is a rare treasure to find, but it proves there are all sorts of hidden gems to find in Austin. Read more about the Rysavy home on pg. 14. Speaking of hidden gems, Austin has more than a few in its wonderful amount of volunteers. Many of these hard workers run their own businesses or have found success in their careers, but they still take the time to give back to the community. We’ve highlighted a few volunteers who work to improve our city, but we know there are plenty of people out there who don’t receive the kind of recognition they deserve. You can learn all about these wonderful people starting on pg. 22. This issue is filled with inspiring stories and creative tips, from details on how to make throwback cocktails for your next party to the incredible, life-changing trip Dan, Carla and Steven Conradt took to Europe this summer. Fall is the perfect time to get inspired and create your own opportunities, and we hope a little Austin Living will help you do just that.
Got ideas?
We at Austin Living magazine want to hear what you think, and we need your brightest ideas for coming issues. Favorite musicians? Finest artists? Goofiest pranksters? Best storytellers? Local nightlife? We are open-minded. Call Trey Mewes at 507-434-2214. Feel free to pen a letter, too. Our address is on the right.
EDITORIAL Editor Trey Mewes Contributing Writers Trey Mewes Jason Schoonover Jenae Hackensmith Eric Johnson Rocky Hulne Alex Smith Photographer Eric Johnson ART Art Director Colby Hansen Graphic Designers Susan Downey Colby Hansen Eric Johnson Kathy Johnson Kim Ehrich SALES & PROMOTION Advertising Manager Jana Gray Sales Representatives Heather Ryks LeAnn Fischer Brenda Landherr Merry Petersen SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER 2015 Volume 3, Number 5 EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE: Editors, Austin Living 310 2nd Street NE Austin, MN 55912 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reprinted or reproduced without written permission. For comments, suggestions or story ideas call 507-434-2214. To purchase advertising, call 507-434-2220 © A Minnesota Publishers Inc. publication
Trey Mewes, Editor 2 | Austin Living | September–October 2015
PUBLISHER Jana Gray
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September–October 2015 | Austin Living | 3
WHAT’S INSIDE
on the cover
SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER 2015
Blast from the Past Austin Living showcases the Jazz Age with these five inspired characters from the 1920s
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SEEN 6 FREEDOM FEST PARADE
A look at Ausitn’s July 4 parade
8 FREEDOM FEST CELEBRATIONS
Celebrating Independence Day in style
10 MOWER COUNTY RELAY FOR LIFE
Hundreds of volunteers came together to walk for cancer research
12 TASTE OF MOWER COUNTY
This year’s event drew plenty of people to support the Arc of Mower County
4 | Austin Living | September–October 2015
HOME & HEARTH 14 OPEN LIVING
An area couple created a heaven out of a home
20 SURE KNOWLEDGE
A look inside The Hormel Institute’s summer internship program
OUT & ABOUT 22 THE BUSINESS OF GIVING
These businesspeople take pride in volunteering for Austin
30 AT THE SPEAKEASY
Have a taste of some popular 1920s-style drinks
TRAVEL 46 EUROTRIP
Dan, Carla and Steven Conradt had the adventure of a lifetime in Europe
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extras
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52 WHAT’S IN STORE
Grab a book with these Austin Public Library suggestions
24 LOOKING BACK
Educating Mower County in the 19th century
56 BEHIND THE SCENES
A look at the making of some of this issue’s stories
28 AUSTIN LIVING MARKETPLACE
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60 AREA HAPPENINGS
The biggest upcoming events in Austin
62 BOOK REVIEW
“The Killdeer: And Other Stories From The Farming Life,” By Michael Cotter
64 WHY I LOVE AUSTIN
Its giving nature shows from small projects to United Way programs
September–October 2015 | Austin Living | 5
SEEN | Freedom Fest Parade The Austin Area Chamber of Commerce, area businesses, nonprofits and other organizations pulled out all the stops for this year’s Fourth of July Grand Parade. Hundreds of residents turned out for what turned out to be the perfect day for a parade. Organizers found the 2014 parade route, which started at the Austin Utilities building rather than at the Hormel Corporate Office South, so popular they decided to continue the route this year. Dozens of floats passed by residents young and old starting at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 4, beginning the day’s festivities.
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(1) Tyler Reed, 7, Caleb Manders, 4, Jens Manders, 6, and Walker Reed, 3, watch the parade on North Main Street (2) Chris Anderson walks to promote the Water Festival (3) Audrina Attleson, 1, and her dad, Travis, watch the parade (4) Vanessa Pettitt of Austin celebrated her 22nd birthday by taking in the Freedom Fest parade with her nieces Cece, 8, and Arianna, 2 (5) Enterprise 4-H member Riley Hetzel holds out a rabbit for children to pet (6) First District U.S. Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn., reaches out to give a boy a high five (7) Sisters Annette, 10, right, and Adriana Gavaldon, 6, wave to a float (8) Austin Bruins mascot Bruiser give two thumbs up (9) Austin High School band director Brad Mariska walks ahead of the band (10) Vadda, 10, and Liam, 6, Qvale of Golden Valley eat Freezees (11) Dr. Ted Hichcliffe walks with The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota float (12) Grace Heimsness and Rochelle Perleberg walk in the parade with the Austin Area Commission for the Arts float 6 | Austin Living | September–October 2015
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September–October 2015 | Austin Living | 7
SEEN | Freedom Fest Celebrations Austin was ready for the 30th anniversary of its Freedom Fest celebrations this year. From July 3 to July 4, thousands of residents visited Bandshell Community Park for plenty of entertainment for children, teens and adults. The old classics, like the Little Mis Sparkler and Mr. Firecracker contests, took place alongside new booths, new rides and plenty of activities during this year’s party. Of course, dozens of exercise enthusiasts took part in the annual Dan Ulwelling Bike Race and the Hog Jog at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center. About 58 people competed in the jog, while 60 participated in the ride. 2
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(1) Olivia Duffy, left, and Adilynn Cline jump on an inflatable during family day at Bandshell Park (2) Enrique and Mariana Camarena with their son Pablo (3) Right to left: Jo Hull; Claire Lagervall; Norah Diekman; Olivia Duffy; Mason Diekman; Ava Hull. (4) Rebekah Echols (5) Emily Billings, Hannah Burkhart, Sara Burkhart (6) Megan Johnson, left, and Ashley Harrington (7) Tabatha Trevino, Mckenzie Beckel, and Mikayla Finney (8) Andrew Belden, from left, Chris Fischer, and Trevor Pazurek, all 12 and from Austin, at the Morning Lions Fly-In Breakfast at Austin Municipal Airport (9) Lion Mike Biedermann serves food as Sara Hecimovich, 13, Seanna Kubas, 9, and Hannah Hecimovich, 11, go through line at the Morning Lions Fly-In Breakfast (10) Kaye Nemec of Austin takes a fishing pole her 3-year-old daughter Lyla won at the Kids Fishing Contest at East Side Lake Park (11) Lucy Otto and Kolyn Amick Ruhter, both 7, stand on stage after being crowned Little Miss Sparkler and Mr. Firecracker at Bandshell Park (12) Tim “Chuck” Norrie cheers back at the crowd as he finishes the Dan Ulwelling Bike Race outside the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center (13) Jessica Orth of North Dakota holds a sign for her sister, Jennifer DeKok of Blooming Prairie, before they ran the last stretch of the 5-mile Hog Jog (14) Thor Berg and his son, Collin, 9 (15) Bonnie Rietz and her husband, Tim (16) Gary Vickler, 64, of Austin reaches out to family as he nears the finish of the Hog Jog 8 | Austin Living | September–October 2015
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September–October 2015 | Austin Living | 9
SEEN | Relay for Life More than 400 people walked for cancer research Saturday, July 25, at the Mower County Fairgrounds for this year’s Relay for Life. The 2015 ambassadors were Carter Simonson, 7, and Elliana Leopold, 2, both of whom got to share their stories and lead Relay for Life teams on their annual walk. Relay teams raised more than $75,000 for this year’s walk, despite the sweltering heat and a threatening thunderstorm which forced Relay for Life teams to quit walking at 1 a.m. the following day instead of 6 a.m.
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(1) Seven-year-old Carter Simonson leads the survivors walk during the Relay for Life at the Mower County Fairgrounds (2) Jessica Wilde, Stephanie Holland, Jerry Wilkinson, Becky Delhanty, Dan Holland and Amy Hamilton (3) Andy Belden, Allen Belden, Tad Belden, Kim Belden, Colin Belden and Rocky (4) Marsha Wilson and Melanie Miland (5) Dagna Simmons and Tabitha Hoffman (6) Jane and Jeff Peterson (7) Two-year-old Elliana Leopold says hi to the Relay for LIfe crowd at the Mower County Fairgrounds. She was with her parents Tyler and Mandy (8) Charlie Heimerman comes out of the line to play during the Stix of Fury drumline’s performance during the opening ceremony (9) Survivors and supporters let their balloons go following the surivivors walk (10) Wayne Rustad, a four-year cancer survivor, walks down the line of luminaries (11) Relay for Life organizers bow their heads during the benediction (12) People stand for the National Anthem (13) Melissa Greseke-Kuehl blows up balloons (14) Lori Anderson, Sophia Hutchinson, Barbara Dudley 10 | Austin Living | September–October 2015
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September–October 2015 | Austin Living | 11
SEEN | Taste of Mower County Look no further for a taste of local treats than the Taste of Mower County, the annual food competition put on by the Arc of Mower County. The fifth annual Taste of Mower County was a smash hit this year at the Holiday Inn in Austin, as hundreds of people attended to get a taste from top area chefs dedicated to giving a delicious sampling of local cooking. Best of all, the proceeds went toward Arc programs.
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(1) Sweets Hotel, LeRoy (left two) second place; Holiday Inn, Austin (middle) third place, Austin; and HyVee, Austin (right two), first place (2) Home Chef Allison Witiak serves people at the Taste of Mower County (3) Hy-Vee of Austin chefs serve a long line of hungry people (4) Crystal Steinbach and Susan Huffman (5) Al Smith and Wendy Arnett (6) Arc supporters stand in line for cupcakes (7) Captain Jack Sparrow and Amy Kvam (8) Renae Goskeson, first place; Allison Witiak, second place; and Ardis Jensen, third place 12 | Austin Living | September–October 2015
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HOME & HEARTH
By Trey Mewes by E ric J ohnson
Open Living Photos
Donald and Jane Rysavy’s dreams came true when they designed this amazing, unique home
Donald and Jane Rysavy could tell the seasons by the sunlight that flooded into their stunning second-story master bedroom each morning. From a gaze out a window, they could figure out how the weather would change. It’s easy to do so with a beautiful, unique, cube-inspired home in southwest Austin. The Rysavys designed it that way — an open, airy home with high windows and sun lights across the top, a huge array of windows to the north, and an 14 | Austin Living | September–October 2015
opportunity to soak up as much nature as anyone could want. “The clear story windows are set up at the right angle and compass so that the sun rises at each season in a different window,” Donald said. “It is so fun to watch it, because the trees, you’re seeing it on one side and the sun is peaking out with no leaves in the winter, but then as the spring comes the sun switches to another pane, and the trees light up. It’s fascinating.”
The 3,000-square-foot home, nestled between trees overlooking the Turtle Creek, was constructed in 1980 after Donald and Jane bought the property. “We had purchased the plot well before we actually broke ground,” Jane said. “That’s when interest rates were very high. We saw a little dip in the market and pounced on it.” The Rysavy home was one of three constructed by local architect Charles
French around the same time in the neighborhood, which French dubbed “The French Connection,” according to Jane. Yet French approached designing the home in a unique way — he asked Donald and Jane to fill out an exhaustive questionnaire on the things they liked in a home, from the kind of dining room they wanted to how they like to entertain guests. Continues on page 16 September–October 2015 | Austin Living | 15
A central fireplace highlights the main floor of the Rysavy home.
Continued from page 15 “You’re married to someone for quite a few years and suddenly you get to find out you both don’t see things the same,” Donald said. “It gave us an opportunity to kick those things around and really come to some agreements.” The open floor design wasn’t without its challenges, however, as much of the former Rysavy home is angular and almost cubic in nature. Yet the home has a luxurious feel, from a built-in aquarium to gorgeous bow windows and sky lights. One of the home’s most unique elements is its walkway located just before the living room. That walkway, supposedly Donald’s idea after he saw it in an architecture magazine, leads to the couple’s second-story master bedroom. Most if not all of the second story is open-air, where beautiful high windows and skylights surround the home. Tucked behind the master bedroom is a series of well-designed closet 16 | Austin Living | September–October 2015
“When you’ve got a lot this beautiful, you’ve got to have a lot of glass.” spaces, along with a private bathroom and a gorgeous sun room featuring a jacuzzi. Originally an outdoor deck, the Rysavys quickly converted the space in the early ‘80s after they found they hardly used the second-floor deck. The sun room soon became the perfect place to relax after a tough day’s work. “We really used that a lot in the winter,” Jane said. “You’d come home and it’s like ‘Oh my goodness, into the jacuzzi.’ It just really was something.” That master bedroom’s rail overlooks the dining room and living area, which made the room the perfect place for jazz bands to play whenever the Rysavys entertained guests from
the area, or from the Miss Minnesota pageant, which the Rysavys were part of for many years. Night-time parties aside, perhaps the biggest draw of the house is the view. The home is on high ground overlooking Turtle Creek, which means lots of vegetation, trees and plenty of wildlife to see every day. “As Chuck said, when you’ve got a lot this beautiful, you’ve got to have a lot of glass,” Jane said. “The lot itself, the hill, everything is just so spectacular.” Aside from the open living room, which connects to the dining room and kitchen, the home also has two office rooms on the south side. At times, those office spaces were converted to bedrooms whenever overnight guests visited, but the rooms themselves were crafted for work spaces. Yet it was the windows that made the home for the Rysavys. Their bedroom was the perfect place to watch the stars or to see the weather change. Continues on page 18
The Rysavys’ main bathroom located on the second floor of the home.
September–October 2015 | Austin Living | 17
The former home of Judge Donald Rysavy takes on many interesting appearance including unique angles.
Continued from page 16 The Rysavys decided to donate their home after Donald retired as a Mower County District Court Judge in 2014. Donald and Jane left Austin for Point Sceana, Florida, in February, but not before they gifted the house to the Salvation Army, which will collect the profits from its sale. “I guess I’ve always felt that Austin has been very good to us, our careers worked out well for both of us,” Donald said. “During the course of mine, especially as a judge, I was aware of how many needs the Salvation Army fills in Austin. Both of us agreed that donating it would be a fitting way to leave the town.” The home they built together is a treasure the Rysavys left, but they’re not leaving the memories behind. “How could you not love living in that house?” Jane said. 18 | Austin Living | September–October 2015
A unique route leads over the living room on the second floor to a small alcove with a couch and reading area.
September–October 2015 | Austin Living | 19
HOME & HEARTH
By The Hormel Institute
Sure Knowledge
2014 SURE Interns
The Hormel Institute’s summer internship program has helped many students over the years Emily Qin makes her way daily from her Austin apartment to The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, where she puts on a white lab coat and steps into one of its state-of-theart laboratories to learn and study cancer. A native of Richmond, Indiana, Qin sought a summer internship at The Hormel Institute to enhance her skills and knowledge as she pursues a double major in microbiology and sociology at Indiana University. She wants to become a medical doctor. Qin works with mentors Drs. Tianshun Zhang and Qiushi Wang, who are scientists in the Cellular & Molecular Biology research section led by The Hormel Institute Executive Director Dr. Zigang Dong and Associate Director Dr. Ann Bode. According to Qin, her internship helps to develop her ability to analyze and use research findings and techniques. 20 | Austin Living | September–October 2015
“I’ll need these skills as a doctor to interpret research published in medical journals and communicate with patients and other healthcare professionals to ensure my patients get the best care possible,” Qin says. “This is the perfect opportunity for my career path.” Qin is one of 10 interns in the Institute’s SURE (Summer Undergraduate Research Experience) program that provides a paid, 10-week internship in a cancer research section with a mentor. Part of the Institute’s educational outreach efforts, SURE is for college undergraduates majoring in the sciences and entering junior or senior years. Interns work on projects to expand their basic research knowledge and learn about cutting-edge techniques and equipment not generally available in undergraduate academic programs.
Adams native Maria Noterman researched prostate cancer during her 2012 SURE internship in Dr. M. Saleem Bhat’s Molecular Chemoprevention & Therapeutics section. A biochemistry major at the time, she got to extract proteins from tumor samples to analyze differences between cancerous and normal cells for a difficult form of prostate cancer. “My internship gave me the molecular skills to start my capstone project at Winona State University and showed me what a research career is like — I haven’t stopped doing research since,” Noterman said. Maria She’s enrolled in the University of Iowa’s Noterman neuroscience graduate program and works in a laboratory investigating ways to treat neuropsychiatric disease. She regularly uses techniques learned in her SURE experience, and would like to teach and do research at a college. John Harringa, a 2013 SURE intern from Yale University, said he learned much through his lab work, calling the internship a “rich and fulfilling experience.” The Hanlontown, Iowa, native working to become a physician is an associate research specialist for the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health’s Department of Emergency Medicine. “The base of lab knowledge I developed at The Hormel Institute now serves as the foundation of the way I frame research questions and think about medical problems,” he said. Kul Karanjeet also found his 2008 SURE internship highly rewarding. It led to a full-time role as a junior scientist at The Hormel Institute for more than six years, mostly working in Dr. Ted Hinchcliffe’s Cellular Dynamics section.
While a biochemistry major at Minnesota State University — Mankato, Karanjeet was impressed by the positive energy and dedication of the Institute’s team and its high-quality research. “As an intern, the science being done at the Institute was at a much higher level to me and clearly above my understanding at that moment,” says Karanjeet, who is researching Alzheimer’s disease at the University of Minnesota’s Memory Clinic in Minneapolis. Hanna Middlebrook worked with Dr. Hinchcliffe as a SURE intern in 2011 while studying at the University of WisconsinMadison, where she’s now a registered nurse at UW Hospitals & Clinics. The Austin native, who plans to become a nurse practitioner, gained hands-on experience and extensive knowledge as an intern studying molecular mechanisms that regulate cell division. Her SURE internship provided skills that helped her in advanced college courses and to become a better critical thinker. “I was introduced to very advanced imaging techniques and research processes, such as fluorescence microscopy, microinjection and microsurgery,” Middlebrook says. “The experience I gained in just one summer was remarkable — it was challenging but in a very good way.”
About the SURE Internship Students interested in applying for the 2016 SURE Internship can visit www.hi.umn.edu (full applications due March 1, 2016). For questions about the program or to donate to the Orville S. Privett Scholarship fund for the students, please contact 507-437-9601 or email info@hi.umn.edu.
SURE intern Emily Qin works on an experiment in late July as one of her mentors, Dr. Qiushi Wang, observes in a lab at The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota. Qin and Wang work on cancer research projects in the Cellular & Molecular Biology section led by the Institute’s Executive Director Dr. Zigang Dong and Associate Director Dr. Ann M. Bode.
Photo provided September–October 2015 | Austin Living | 21
OUT & ABOUT
Randy Kramer works from his office at Ameriprise Financial, but your just as likely to seem him in the community.
Business Giving The Of
By Jason Schoonover • Photos
by
Eric Johnson
These area professionals have made volunteering their job and passion in life
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A
ustin is a giving community, and it has no shortage of giving people. Several residents, many of them businessmen and businesswomen, give their time and money to support the community each year. “So many volunteers do a lot of work out there and there are hundreds of people in Austin who volunteer their times and don’t get a lot of recognition,” frequent volunteer Randy Kramer said. “People need to understand that no organization would get very far without the work of volunteers.” Many of these volunteers serve a vital role in the operations of many community organizations and clubs. Austin Living is highlighting five of those volunteers who are representative of Austin’s giving spirit. They credited the many other community volunteers and encouraged others “Make the initiative to step forward and get on a committee, meet people, learn about the community,” Accentra Credit Union’s Terri Stough said.“We have to encourage them to do that.”
Kramer Randy
During the first Saturday night concert of the Austin ArtWorks Festival with Cloud Cult and Martin Zellar in 2013, Randy Kramer took the stage to welcome people to the show and help celebrate Pacelli Catholic Schools’ hundredth anniversary. “That show was fun,” he said. “We’re going to look back at that as a high point for quite a while.” While center stage may not be a place Kramer is used to, he’s a fixture behind the scenes and has helped raise money for several organizations. After living in Austin for about 23 years, the Ameriprise Financial advisor tallies a long list of groups he’s supported. “It’s rewarding to be involved in your community. … But it’s a responsibility that we have to play a role in the development, and the direction of the community is everybody’s responsibility,” Kramer said. With two sons who are juniors at Pacelli, Kramer has been active at the school and chairs the Pacelli Catholic School Foundation. He was heavily involved in the 2013 hundred-year anniversary, which was celebrated during ArtWorks and drew about 600 alumni back to Austin. That committee co-sponsored the Saturday ArtWorks concert. Funding is key for many organizations, and Kramer helped lead the charge for the 2010 Pacelli capital campaign that raised more than $3 million. He also helped lead the Hormel Historic Home’s fundraising drive to build its event center, which was opened in 2009.
“It’s just a lot of, we’ll call it drum beating,” Kramer said. For many years, he’s supported the March of Dimes — he's been on the local board since 1993 and served many years as local chairman. But Kramer has been involved in new groups too. Along with ArtWorks, he’s served Vision 2020 and knows what it’s like to help an organization form and get its mission statement out to the public. While volunteering takes time, Kramer noted there’s never any shortage of energy or worthy causes to support. “The actually generates more energy than it absorbs, because doing something good for the community generates energy,” Kramer said. Kramer plans to keep working, as it’s great working with people to accomplish goals to better the community. “It’s never really done,” Kramer said. “There’s always something going on in this city where an organization needs some help.”
It’s rewarding to be involved in your community. ... But it’s a responsibility that we have to play a role in the development, and the direction of the community is everybody’s responsibility.” September–October 2015 | Austin Living | 23
Stough Jim & Terri
After Jim and Terri Stough moved to Austin in 2000, Jim was playing a round of golf at Austin Country Club when Richard Knowlton, the former CEO of Hormel Foods Corp. approached Stough, introduced himself and welcomed him to Austin. Though Jim rarely crossed paths with Knowlton after that, he appreciated the sentiment. “That’s the kind of people that you want to cross paths with,” Jim said, But Jim and Terri never left their acclimation into the Austin community to chance. Jim, a funeral director at Worlein Funeral Home, and Terri, a mortgage loan officer at Accentra Credit Union, quickly became involved in several groups around town. Both have been ambassadors with the Austin Area Chamber of Commerce and, after serving more than 11 years, are now honorary ambassadors and continue to serve the chamber in various ways. “It’s just a way of being involved and getting a chance to meet people that otherwise outside your normal business you wouldn’t meet on a day-to-day basis,” Jim said. “And it’s a chance to give back. You know because it is home; this is where we raised our family, and so you want to be part of that.” Before moving to Austin, the Stoughs lived in several communities, and getting involved introduced them to each one. “The networking is so big and you cross paths with so many people,” Terri said. The Stoughs also active members of St. John’s Lutheran 24 | Austin Living | September–October 2015
Church, where Jim was on the board of elders for six years and Terri was on the youth board and served as teller, which helps run collections — just a few of the ways they’ve been involved. The two have also volunteered to pickup trash at ditches, as the church sponsors a two-mile stretch east of Austin on Interstate 90. Along with serving on the country club board of directors, the couple has been involved with Noon Lions, they’ve had a Relay for Life team several years, and they help out or support various other Austin organizations and groups. “It does take volunteers to do a lot of these things,” Jim said. “Without it, these projects or committees just don’t function.” To Terri, getting involved is easy. It’s often harder to say no when asked to join another group. “It’s much easier and rewarding to give than to receive. … I’d rather be on the giving end than the receiving end,” Terri said.
It’s much easier and rewarding to give than to receive. ... I’d rather be on the giving end than the receiving end.” Terri Stough Continues on page 26
September–October 2015 | Austin Living | 25
Gillard Tom
A hat in Tom Gillard’s office signed by PGA golfer Rickie Fowler has a simple message: “Don’t stop believing.” After fighting prostate cancer for five years, Gillard hasn’t stopped — he hasn’t stopped fighting or being involved in the community. “I just want to help out where I can,” he said. Gillard, a Farmers Insurance agent, continues to organize an annual bowling fundraiser. But that fundraiser changed in 2015, from the March of Dimes-supporting Bowling for Babies to the cancer-bashing Bowling for the Battle. “It’s gotten bigger every year by leaps and bounds,” Gillard said. The bowling events have raised more than $45,000, but the March 7, 2015, event took a major jump forward. The bowling event brought in $3,500 in 2012, $6,000 in 2013 and $9,000 in 2014 before it jumped to $26,000 this year for The Hormel Institute. “I think when the money was going to the Hormel Institute, which is local, it touches a lot of people and people are willing to donate more,” Gillard said. But Gillard isn’t alone. His wife, Doreen, a personal banker at Home Federal, and their daughter, Laura Maschka, who works for her father, help organize a lot of the Bowling for the Battle event. Many friends help organize the event, especially people like Jim Benson and Chase Raymond. Treatments have kept Gillard’s cancer at bay, and he still gets 26 | Austin Living | September–October 2015
a shot every 90 days. “Because of advancements and everything, things are going real good for me,” he said. Gillard moved to Austin in 1983 after growing up in Glenville and attending Hamilton Business College in Mason City. To Gillard, being involved is a good way to give back and to stay visible in the community. He supports Paint the Town Pink, the Lyle Area Cancer Auction and is a member of the Austin Lions. He also donates to post-prom parties and to various area groups and schools. “I help out where I can, because it’s a good community,” he said. Gillard plans to keep the bowling event focused on cancer. The 2016 Bowling for the Battle is planned for March 5. And Gillard shows no signs of letting cancer slow him down. “I’ll stay involved, I know that,” he said.
I help out where I can, because it’s a good community”
Continues on page 28
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14 7p / Paramount Theatre Featuring
Har Mar Superstar
“I’d travel to the edge of the earth to hear that man sing.” —SF Weekly
Reina del Cid
“Infectiously folksy and fiendishly fun.” – Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune
and the Peter Jacobs
Jazz Combo
September–October 2015 | Austin Living | 27
Irish Barry
Barry Irish first got involved with Habitat for Humanity thinking he’d polish of his carpentry skills, but he soon found himself in a more familiar role. “Unfortunately my gift is more on the administrative side, so I don’t spend very much time swinging a hammer as I do looking at financials and those kinds of things,” Irish said. Irish moved to Austin in April 2001, when he became loan officer at Sterling State Bank, where he now serves as bank president. Irish, a native of the La Crosse, Wisconsin, area, studied at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa before returning to Wisconsin to start his banking career. Once he moved to Austin, he quickly joined the Austin Lions, which he called his introduction to the community. “For me, I was brand new to the community, so it was a great way to start meeting people,” he said. Irish hasn’t slowed since. He’s still on Lions, and he’s been involved with the Austin Public Library board, the Rotary Club of Austin, The Eagles Club, The Moose Club, and the bank is involved with the Development Corporation of Austin. In 2007, Irish participated in the inaugural Leadership Austin, which also got him more involved with the Austin Area Chamber of Commerce, though he finished his time on the board in October. He later became a year leader for leadership Austin. “You’ve got a skill set, and if you have some time, you can help other people,” he said. 28 | Austin Living | September–October 2015
But that doesn’t mean Irish doesn’t need his own support system. Irish credited his family and bank ownership for being open to him being involved in the community. Irish’s wife, Debi, works at Hormel Foods Corp. and their daughter, Sydney, is studying occupational therapy at Concordia University in Wisconsin. “It does take time either from work or from family time,” Irish said. “One way or the other, you’re putting your time, some of your resources, into those groups.” Irish has served Cedar Valley Services as the treasurer on the board, but he’s aging off the board now. In fact, Irish is starting to age off other boards, so next year he may look into what’s next. However, he’s still planning to give back to Austin and the surrounding communities, which he described as very giving and supportive. “For me personally it was a matter of, I’ve got some skills, what can I do?” Irish said.
For me personally it was a matter of, I’ve got some skills, what can I do?”
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September–October 2015 | Austin Living | 29
OUT & ABOUT
Old Fashioned – 1882 •Rye Whiskey •Sugar cube •Bitters, two dashes •Splash of soda water –Muddle and garnish with an orange and a cherry
30 | Austin Living | September–October 2015
Gin & Sin
Manhattan
•Gin •Lemon juice •Orange juice •Grenadine –Shake
•Bitters •Sweet Vermouth •Rye Whiskey, 2 oz. –Stir over ice, strain and garnish with cherries
Martini •Sweet vermouth, 3/4 oz. •Gin or vodka, 2 1/2 oz. –Stir over ice, strain and garnish with a lemon
Luke Harrington mixes drinks that can be traced back to the 1920s.
By Jason Schoonover • Photos The Hormel Historic Home offers many chances for Austin to take a step back in time. Along with more than 140 years of history and a longrunning slate of history-themed programming, the home can also offer up the tastes of a bygone era. To match Austin Living’s throwback photoshoot on pages 34 to 43, HHH bar banquet/bar manager Luke Harrington mixed up classic prohibition era cocktails: an Old Fashioned, a Gin & Sin, a Manhattan and Martini. The drinks are primarily made of liquor without much in the way of mixers and deterrents from the traditional flavor and with little ice. An old fashioned is often served with ice, but it’s often a large ice cube that will melt more slowly. “They are very strong, high-concentrate,” Harrington said. “They were pretty much before the era of soda, so their mixes were simple and they had a real taste for the actual flavor.” Such drinks contrast with more modern drinks, which
by
Eric Johnson
are often heavily mixed to mask the flavor of the alcohol. Residents get monthly chances to sip some drinks at History Happy Hour, an event added to the home’s slate of day programming. Each month, the vent starts with a 5:30 p.m. social time and 6 p.m. history program. Light refreshments and a cash bar are offered. The Oct. 12 History Happy Hour will offer the perfect chance for speakeasy drinks as Dean Ulland from Riverland Community College will speak about prohibition in Mower County. Peter Ausenhus from Worth Brewery in Northwood, Iowa, will also attend. The event is free for members of the HHH, Friends of the Public Library and the Historical Society and $5 for non members. Along with his work at Hormel Home, Harrington is no stranger to throwback drinks as he followed a speakeasy theme at the the 2014 Best Bartender Contest at the Hormel Home. The event is slated to return again this year on Oct. 21 with doors opening at 5 p.m. and the competition starting at 6 p.m. with live music from JT Thompson. September–October 2015 | Austin Living | 31
The Gala Returns! A 16-year Albert Lea favorite triumphantly returns as the crowning event of Riverland Community College’s 75th Anniversary celebrations. Hors d’oeuvres, drinks, dancing, silent auction, and more are highlights of this elegant evening. With performances by Bob and The Beachcombers and the Austin Big Band, this tribute to Riverland is something you won’t want to miss!
Saturday, September 26, 2015 Northbridge Mall, Albert Lea 7:00 PM to Midnight Tickets: $75
TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
Gala Albert Lea Magazine Ad.indd 1
Available at Hy-Vee stores in Albert Lea, Austin, and Owatonna, Albert Lea Chamber of Commerce, Albert Lea Convention and Visitors Bureau, Marketplace Foods, by calling 433-0630, or visiting riverland.edu/tickets
7/28/15 11:03 AM
September–October 2015 | Austin Living | 33
Model Erin Dankert is The Siren, adding a bit of old-time soul to the Austin ArtWorks Center. 34 | Austin Living | September–October 2015
Blast Past from the
Models take a step back to the 1920s and ‘30s to revive one of America’s most energetic times
Photos by Eric Johnson The merest mention of the period spanning the 1920s and ’30s instantly brings to mind one of the most flamboyant times in our country’s past. Gangsters and dames, singers and starlets — the time period was a party America would never forget and to this day looks back on with fascination and wonder. Photographer Eric Johnson presents a peak into the age of Jazz with The Starlet, The Gangster, The Siren, The Private Eye and The Moonshiner.
September–October 2015 | Austin Living | 35
The
Starlet Model: Hattie Stadheim
36 | Austin Living | September–October 2015
The Starlet was the star of both stage and screen and off. The center of attention, she was always a person people wanted to be around whether in the guise of a character, or at local speakeasy. Location of the shoot was the Paramount Theatre, which provided the perfect backdrop to what The Starlet was, all the way from the vaudeville dressing room to the theater’s romantic stage.
Stylist: Lindsey Hainey
“
My model Hattie was the Starlet. The look I was going for was flapper girl faux bob meets avant guarde texture. I micro crimped all of Hattie's hair before I set it with a Sam Villa texture iron. This gave her faux bob a very modern look. My starlet could not go with out a head piece. So I called on a very talented friend, Anna Otto. Anna owns an Etsy shop called Ruffle Couture. She hand-makes beautiful accessories like head pieces, and scarves. Anna made two custom pieces for Hattie. Both were perfect. For my Starlet’s makeup, I used all bareMinerals makeup to create a traditional flapper girl look. I gave
Hattie a darker more dramatic eye, and contoured her lips to look smaller but fuller.
The
Gangster Model: Jaci Miller
They were more the devil than angel, and Robin Hood wasn’t to be found. The era was defined by The Gangster. Prohibition opened the door for organized crime that put these ne’re-do-wells on the front page of the country’s newspapers. This shoot took place in the back alleys of Dillinger and the back roads of Bonnie and Clyde and even showed off a little contemporary flare.
September–October 2015 | Austin Living | 37
“
For Jaci’s look I wanted to keep it simple, yet have a point of interest at the same time. The traditional
finger wave and pin curl provided the simplicity and interest I was going for. 38 | Austin Living | September–October 2015
Stylist: Kirsten Albino
The
Siren
Model: Erin Dankert
The smokey lounge or the lauded stage, The Siren could soothe the crowd with her voice as easily as blow her audience away with the depth of her voice. The Siren provided a soundtrack to the period, singing in front of a jazz quintet as easily as a full band. The second floor of the Austin ArtWorks Center provided The Siren’s stage in Austin, lending the shoot that old time background and an environment that could easily have doubled as the platform of a jazz show.
September–October 2015 | Austin Living | 39
Stylist: Sarah Wolfe
“
My model came in with gorgeous thick blond hair. My inspiration for her was to be a ‘siren’ had envisioned very voluminous hair, dark, smokey eyes and a pop of lip color. She was already gorgeous and I was very excited to take it to the next level. A ‘siren’ to me is someone who demands attention and with the outcome for this model ... everyone was looking!
The
Private Eye Model: McKenzie Hanson
There were more than just gangsters in the time of the Roaring ‘20s. There were those who held the scales of justice, prowling the shadowed places looking for that next clue. The Private Eye was always on the hunt, agreeing to cases from behind a small desk, in a dingy second-level room. A bottle of bourbon on one corner next to a halffilled glass. Our Private Eye investigated the inside of Dusty’s Bar & Lounge, filling her notebook with observations and keeping her “piece” handy.
40 | Austin Living | September–October 2015
“
My inspiration for the look was a 1920s private eye meets modern day undercover spy. I started with her hair, going back to the ‘20s, with a modern finger wave created with a curling iron. Along with makeup, we kept it simple and elegant to maintain the appearance of what a 1920s private eye would have looked like. Keeping the
Stylist: Katlyn Nielsen
soft colors of the makeup allowed her to play up the makeup in her own way with different angles of the camera and using different ways to position herself. September–October 2015 | Austin Living | 41
The
Moonshiner Model: Rochelle Perleberg
If you wanted the real good, strong stuff you went to The Moonshiner, who had a still set up in a remote location. Bottles, pipes and kettles were the tools used by The Moonshiner, who was always one step ahead of the police. It was into the woods of the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center which gave the perfect backdrop for The Moonshiner to ply her trade.
42 | Austin Living | September–October 2015
“
The inspiration for my model was vintage moonshiner. So we wanted her hair to be retro and a little ‘undone.’ Did a really cool
Stylist: Chelsea Duvall
French twist to get the hair up and fancy and left the back long and natural to show off her length.
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to all who’s donation of time and resources helped make this project come to life: The Style Lounge and stylists: Lindsey Hainey Chelsea Duvall Katlyn Nielsen Sarah Wolfe Kirsten Albino Models:
Hattie Stadheim Jaci Miller Erin Dankert McKenzie Hanson Rochelle Perleberg The Matchbox Children’s Theatre and Riverland Community College Theatre Jennifer Weibrand Carley Carranza Anna Otto, Ruffle Couture
Lindsey Williams Mark Bliese Craig Patrick Dylan Nagel and Dusty’s Bar & Lounge Jennie Knoebel and the Austin ArtWorks Center/ Paramount Theatre The Jay C. Hormel Nature Center Todd Clennon
September–October 2015 | Austin Living | 43
44 | Austin Living | September–October 2015
September–October 2015 | Austin Living | 45
TRAVEL
By Trey Mewes Photos Submitted By The Conradt Family
46 | Austin Living | September–October 2015
A visit to reconnect turned into an amazing experience for the Conradt family Dan Conradt felt humbled by the Mona Lisa. He had seen her before, more than a decade ago at the Louvre in Paris, but this time was special. Dan, his wife, Carla, and son, Steven, were gazing at one of the most influential pieces of artwork in all of history. The picture of a mysterious woman, painted by Leonardo Da Vinci centuries before. This was the painting that inspired so many artists. This was the painting stolen in the 1920s by a brazen, if not too bright, thief. This was the painting you can see in thousands of movies, stories, pop culture quizzes and more. Of the millions of copies out there, this was the original Mona Liza. “I was just left in awe of it,” Dan said. Awe may be the best way to describe the Conradt’s monthlong vacation to Europe this summer. With six counties and 30 days, the Conradts found a breathtaking adventure among friends and acquaintances this June and July. “It’s going to be really hard to top this one,” Carla said with a laugh. The Conradts usually like to go on a vacation each year, but this summer was a bit different. Carla had always wanted to go back to Spain, where she had lived and worked in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s as an English teacher, to visit with the people who took her in during her time there. Dan likes to joke Carla booked the vacation more than a decade ago, but they didn’t seriously consider a longterm European vacation until earlier this year. “Steven isn’t quite old enough to drive and have high school commitments, and so we figured it was the perfect time,” Dan said. Karla booked the grand European vacation on her own — she likes to say Priceline.com was friend — where she found lodging and sights to see across Spain, France, Austria, Switzerland, Prague and even Germany. The Conradts left in mid-July for Spain, where they visited with several friends Carla hadn’t seen in more than two decades. In one memorable visit near Bilbao, Spain, the Conradts shopped in a bodega literally carved into the side of a hill — they traveled through caves and ate lunch underground. Continues on page 48 Top right: Steven at Real Madrid stadium; middle right: Carla and Steven on promenade in Ribadesella, Spain beach resort; bottom right: Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, Spain (black and white). Opposite page: Conradt family at Eiffel Tower, Paris, France.
September–October 2015 | Austin Living | 47
Continued from page 47 In another amazing stop, the Conradts were invited by the daughter of a widow Carla had roomed with to dine at a tennis club in Oviedo, Spain. The widow’s daughter, by then a grandmother, doted on the Conradts and invited her extended family to dine with their American visitors during a Father’s Day celebration. “To me, that was the most touching thing they could have done,” Carla said. “It was just so sweet for them to all come together so we could meet them. It was just so nice.” Steven, a passionate photographer, found plenty of sights to snap pictures, but none quite like the gorgeous red Porsche he rode in during their visit to Oviedo. Carla’s friend noticed Steven gawking at the Porsche in the parking garage near their home, and revealed it was her sonin-law’s company car. Though Steven didn’t know it, Carla’s friend arranged for her daughter to pick Steven up from a hike up a mountain so he could ride back home in style. “It’s probably the most beautiful car I’ve ever seen,” he said with a smile. Of course, the Conradts spent a little time in Madrid during their Spanish sojourn, where they visited plenty of sights including the Real Madrid stadium, which was a highlight for Steven, the soccer fan. From there, the Conradts left Spain for Paris, where they traveled the city’s well-known sights: Notre Dame, the Louvre, the base of the Eiffel Tower, etc. They even found the cafe and nearby streets depicted in one of Steven’s favorite video games, “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.” One of the best moments came when Dan and Carla, wandering down a side street, found a cafe that looked all too familiar. “I said ‘Hey, isn’t that the cafe we ate at 20 years ago?’” Dan said. “And it was! So 20 years later, Carla, Steven and I sat down to lunch at the same cafe.” The Conradts had many similar memorable moments throughout their time in Europe. In Switzerland, Dan was shocked at how expensive a value meal at McDonald’s was — about $16 for a burger and fries. Dan went hungry that night out of principle while Carla and Steven ponied up the dough, too tired after a long day of exciting sights. The Conradts even took a day trip into Germany at one point, just for Dan’s sake. “I’m German, and I always wanted to say I was in Germany, just because,” he said. Trips down the Danube River, a visit to the Guggenheim Museum in Spain, the gorgeous sights of Prague and more were all part of the schedule. Continues on page 50 Top left: Steven at Louvre Museum, Paris, France; bottom left: People on benches in Bilbao, Spain (black and white).
48 | Austin Living | September–October 2015
Opposite page, top: Oviedo, Spain tennis club with Carla’s friends; bottom left: Conradt family close up from hotel room window, Ribadesella, Spain; bottom right: Dan and Steven in City Hall, Basel, Switzerland.
September–October 2015 | Austin Living | 49
Continued from page 48 It was, in short, an indescribably fun trip. “I don’t really have the basis to appreciate a lot of it,” Steven said. “Like, my mom and dad probably could appreciate a lot more of it because they knew about some of these things, but I haven’t learned about them yet.” Though the Conradts came back in mid-July, they still treasured their time in Europe. Carla wants to visit Prague once more, to really explore the city and its rich cultural history. Steven really enjoyed the slice-of-life pictures he got wandering through the cities, even through Switzerland, which he thought was “quaint.” “There was a lot of modern, Americanized stuff, but at the same time they had a lot of older things around,” he said. Dan simply enjoyed the time he got to spend with his family traveling through Europe. Yet it’ll be difficult to beat such an experience in the future. Of course, there’s always next year’s trip. “You know what they say,” Dan said with a laugh. “The best time to plan a vacation is right when you’ve come back from vacation.”
Top left: Astronomical clock tower in Old Town hall, Prague, Czech Republic; top right: Conradt family under pyramid entrance to Louvre Museum, Paris, France; bottom right: Interlachen, Switzerland. 50 | Austin Living | September–October 2015
September–October 2015 | Austin Living | 51
WHAT’S IN STORE
Fall into a good book By Jenae Hackensmith • Photos
by
Eric Johnson
The Austin Public Library has a few good books to suggest as the weather turns colder
G
rab a warm mug of hot chocolate and a great book this fall as you curl up by the window to watch the weather get chilly. This list of great reads will fill any extra space in the schedule, keeping the mind churning with stories and ideas. Don’t let the fall get you down as you can continue to enjoy hot summer days and trips to the lake with adventures in the pages of a good read, recommended by the Austin Public Library.
APPETITES FOR ADULTS “Yes, Please” by Amy Poehler Learn more about Amy Poehler through this collection of stories, thoughts, ideas and lists. This book lets readers get an insight on Poehler’s thoughts on everything from her “too safe” childhood outside of Boston to her early days in New York City, her ideas about Hollywood and her joy at being told she has a “face for wigs.”
“The Escape” by David Baldacci Meet John Puller, a trained combat veteran and special agent with the U.S. Army, whose next assignment is to track down the most formidable and brilliant prey he has ever dealt with: his brother. Puller’s brother Robert escaped an unescapable prison, making him the most wanted criminal in the country. As Puller tracks Robert, he finds partnership with another agent who may have her own agendas, meets others who see Robert as nothing more than a traitor and want him dead, and uncovers troubling details about his brother’s conviction that many will stop at nothing to keep hidden. 52 | Austin Living | September–October 2015
“Brave Dragons” by Jim Yardley Follow the Shanxi Brave Dragons, one of China’s worst professional basketball teams, as it gets an American coach who struggles to help the team amid many roadblocks. Former NBA coach Bob Weiss tries to Americanize his players by teaching them “advanced basketball culture,” fighting against a clash of cultures — one that doesn’t allow the team members the freedom and individual expression necessary to change their game. Follow the team on a road trip across modern China.
“Hunted – The Iron Druid Chronicles” by Kevin Hearne Atticus O’Sullivan, a 200-yearold Druid, is in trouble for messing with someone close to two goddesses of the hunt — Artemis and Diana. Dodging their arrows, Atticus, Granuaile and his wolfhound Oberon make a mad dash across modern-day Europe to seek help from another friend. Norse god Loki has plans of his own — get rid of Atticus and unleash the apocalypse. Atticus and Granuaile have to outsmart the Olympians and contain the god of mischief if they want to make it out alive.
CHOSEN READS FOR CHILDREN “A Rock Can Be” by Laura Purdie Salas, illustrated by Violeta Dabija Children are always picking up rocks and showing them off as valuable treasures. This book shows how rocks are more exciting than many people think. It shows how rocks can spark a fire, glow in the dark, and decorate and strengthen the world around them.
“Grasshopper and the Ants” by Jerry Pinkney Children learn a lesson about procrastination as they read about a playful grasshopper who wonders why the busy ants won’t play with him instead of working during the warm seasons. When winter comes, the grasshopper learns a lesson about hard work, and the busy ants learn the value of sharing.
“28 Days: Moments in Black History that Changed the World” by Shane W. Evans, illustrated by Charles R. Smith Each day of this book features a different, important figure in African-American history. Learn about Crispus Attucks, the first man shot in the Boston Massacre which sparked the Revolutionary War, or Madame C. J. Walker, who became the first wealthiest black woman in the country after years of adversity. Learn about Barak Obama, the country’s first African-American president.
“Little Green Peas: A Big Book of Colors” by Keith Baker This book lets young readers experience the world through the eyes of a crew of little green peas. Inside a colorful, rainbow world, the playful peas experience red kites, yellow buses, purple mountains and more.
TOP PICKS FOR TEENS “Nimona” by Noelle Stevenson This graphic novel, based on a web comic by author Noelle Stevenson, takes the reader through nemeses, dragons, science and symbolism as they follow Nimona, an impulsive young shapeshifter with a knack for villainy. With villain Lord Ballister Blackheart at her side, Nimona sets out to prove the kingdom that Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin and his friends aren’t the heroes everyone thinks. Through small acts of mischief and a vicious battle, Lord Blackheart begins to realize Nimona may be more dangerous than he is willing to admit.
“The Boy in the Black Suit” by Jason Reynolds Readers follow 17-year-old Matt, who’s been through a lot in his short life. When he meets a girl who’s dealt with more in her life than he has, she might be able to teach him how to rise up when life continues to knock him down. Matt wears a black suit every day for his job at the local funeral home. While he gets $15 an hour and helps support his household, as his dad puts all his money into whiskey, Matt meets Lovey, who seems to understand his loneliness and he can’t help but be drawn in. September–October 2015 | Austin Living | 53
LOOKING BACK
Educating Mower County in the 19th century All
By Jaimie Timm, Mower County Historical Society Mower County Historical Society
photos courtesy of the
In Mower County’s early years, some of the hardest working individuals were the rural, one-room school teachers. In 1884, almost 30 years after the first recorded school class was held in Mower County, 183 teachers worked in 119 schools with 4,353 registered students. That averages out to about 37 students per school. These teachers not only taught a range of classes and prepared lessons for students ages 4 through 16 or 17, but they also served as the school nurse, janitor, record keeper, program coordinator, recess monitor and counselor. Their day began with a ride by buggy or horse or a walk to the school, where they started the fire in the stove, made sure the room had been properly cleaned at the end of the previous day (floor swept, slates wiped clean, and wood or coal brought in from outside), and glanced over lesson plans for the day – all 54 | Austin Living | September–October 2015
before the actual school day even started! Even more impressive is many of these teachers (143 women and 40 men) were probably quite young (late teens or early 20s) with very little formal training. Before 1880, there were no standards in place for teachers. Many young women simply started teaching in the very school they attended after the passed eighth grade. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, standards for teacher training began to appear as laws passed requiring teacher licensing and formal training. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, normal schools (and even some high schools) taught new teachers and provided certification. The teachers passed a battery of tests to prove they understood a variety of subjects in order to provide their students with a basic education. Rural school teachers
Opposite page: School District 46 Hawkins School students in Windom Township. The school district was organized in 1869. Top of page: School District 46 Hawkins School students in Windom Township in 1900. Right top: Teaching students at Southern Minnesota Normal College, ca. late 1800s. Right Bottom: School District 51 in Pleasant Valley Township with teacher Gladys Murphy.
Life wasn’t always easy for rural school teachers in Mower County taught everything from arithmetic, reading, writing, grammar, composition, spelling, singing, art, science and even basic agriculture. Some rural school teachers could not attend normal schools. In that case, county superintendents sometimes offered teaching workshops during the summer where instructors from nearby normal schools provided shortened classes that focused on the subject matter with only a brief introduction on how to teach. Austin’s own normal school, the Southern Minnesota Normal College, began operation in 1897. Many future Mower County teachers passed through its halls to earn their own teaching certificates. The school also taught other courses including school administration, stenography, engineering and penmanship. The school closed in 1925. September–October 2015 | Austin Living | 55
INSIDE INSIDE AUSTIN AUSTIN LIVING LIVING
Behind the scenes Contrary to popular belief, photoshoots do not simply come together. Photographer Eric Johnson spent more than three months putting together this issue’s grand 1920s and ‘30s-inspired photo spread. Yet he wasn’t the only one to put in the work, as the models who graciously agreed to be part of the project transformed into their characters with the help of the stylists at the Style Lounge. In this photo, Rochelle Perleberg of the Style Lounge is getting ready to “shine” as the Moonshiner for Johnson’s project, which was shot using the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center as background. Johnson was ecstatic with the way the shoot turned out. Our work is always fun, however. Writer Jason Schoonover certainly enjoyed himself during the 1920s-themed drinks photoshoot at the Hormel Historic Home. He got to have a taste from each drink bartender Luke Harrington created — they were all fairly strong, in keeping with the age, according to Schoonover. Better yet, the shoot took place inside George Hormel’s study, which lent the perfect atmosphere for a historically inspired photoshoot. “George Hormel would have been proud,” Schoonover said.
56 | Austin Living | September–October 2015
The Style Lounge stylist Chelsea Duvall works on the dreadlocks of model Rochelle Perleberg before her 1920s shoot for the Moonshiner.
Luke Harrington begins mixing drinks that could have been found in the 1920s.
September–October 2015 | Austin Living | 57
EDUCATION (CONTINUED) RIVERLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE: Riverland Community College is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. Riverland is a regional comprehensive community college inspiring learning for living through a personalized educational environment. www.riverland.edu 2200 Riverland Dr., Albert Lea, MN 56007 (507) 379-3300 1900 8th Avenue NW, Austin, MN 55912 (507) 433-0600 965 Alexander Drive SW, Owatonna, MN 55060 (507) 455-5880 AUTOMOTIVE COLLISION SPECIALISTS: 1410 21st Ave. NW, Austin, MN (507) 437-2837 www.csiaustinmn.com Open Monday-Thursday 7:30am5:30pm, Friday 8:00am-Noon. Collision Specialists is one of the most advanced collision repair facilities in southern Minnesota. WIth inside estimating, exceptional waiting area, and a state of the art facility, along with ongoing education for our technicians, and the latest in equpiment and technology, we will provide service to any vehicle on the road today. DENTAL NELSON DENTAL: 205 6th Pl. NW, Austin, MN (507) 433-9515 www.thenelsonsmile.com No matter how simple or complex your needs may be, you want a compassionate and caring team. You want a dentist who is highly skilled, exceptionally trained and trusted in the community. You want a dentist who makes you feel comfortable as a patient and who is knowledgeable about the latest techniques to provide the most advanced care as well as supported by a top-notch professional team. If you are looking for a dentist, you want Dr. Sean Nelson and his team at Nelson Dental Exceptional Smiles. DRS. ELROD, GREEN & HYLAND, DDS: 800 1st Ave. SW, Austin, MN (507) 437-8208 www.yoursmileperfected.com Drs. Elrod, Green & Hyland is a modern, state-of-the-art practice offering patients a full-range of general and cosmetic dental services, from routine check-ups to complete smile makeovers. The doctors practice conservative, proactive dentistry utilizing the latest in dental technology. Our office works with numerous Insurance Carriers. For your convenience, we offer a variety of payment options. Call today to schedule your appointment. DINING & ENTERTAINMENT APOLLO LIQUOR: 903 Oakland Ave. W., Austin, MN. (507) 433-1300 STAR LIQUOR: 205 11th Street NE, Austin, MN. (507) 434-7756 Great service, great selection, and great prices. Two locations to serve you better. Check out our vast array of wines and our large selection of imported and domestic beer and liquor. AUSTIN AREA COMMISSION FOR THE ARTS envisions a vibrant and successful community enriched by diverse arts, entertainment, and cultural activities. We oversee the Historic Paramount Theatre, Austin ArtWorks Festival, and the Austin ArtWorks Center. The Historic Paramount Theatre is a high quality performance venue. The Austin ArtWorks Festival is a city wide event to celebrate the visual, performing, media, and literary arts created and cultivated in our area. The Austin ArtWorks Center is a place to cultivate our creative community through education, creation and exhibition. HORMEL HISTORIC HOME: 208 4th Ave. NW, Austin, MN (507) 4334243 www.hormelhistorichome.org The Hormel Historic Home is the home of Hormel Foods, Inc. founder George A. Hormel, now restored to early 1900s splendor and open for tours and events. Perfect for business meetings, conferences, receptions, wedding ceremonies, holiday parties, and more. Hosting an event at the Hormel Historic Home offers you flexibility, charm, and convenience and promises you a successful happening! TORGE’S LIVE: 1701 4th St. NW, Austin, MN (507) 433-1000 www.torgeslive.com Torge’s has the best regional entertainment and the coldest beer in Austin! Enjoy 22 flat screen HDTV’s, a large outdoor patio with fire pit, live music, and daily food and drink specials. Torge’s Live Sports Bar and Grill is Austin Minnesota’s best nightclub! EDUCATION NIACC: 641-422-4245 1888-GO-NIACC www.niacc.net NIACC has a history of providing quality post-secondary opportunities. Ranked #14 in the nation for student success, NIACC offers a long list of opportunities: Adult/ Developmental education, Career/Technical education, the first step to your bachelor’s degree, & Workforce development. 58 | Austin Living | September–October 2015
FINANCIAL ADVISORNET: 329 North Main, Ste. 104-L, Austin, MN (507) 434-2299 There are many financial products available, and so choosing the one that best meet an individual client’s needs can be complicated. We are determined to remove this complication and advise you towards the right product to fill your need. As an independant advisor we will not be swayed by specific company or proprietary products. What is best product or service suited for you is our only concern. FIRST FARMERS AND MERCHANTS: 128 N. Main St., Austin, MN (507) 433-3473 www.ffmbank.com First Farmers & Merchants Bank is a financial institution serving a number of southern Minnesota communities. We provide premium banking services, including agricultural and consumer loans, mortgage lending, mobile and online banking, small business banking, and deposit products. HOME IMPROVEMENT AREN’S HEATING: 103 3rd St. SE, Austin, MN (507) 433-5652 www.arensheatingandcooling.com Steve and Penny Arens working hard to make “Our Furnace Company Your Furnace Company” for 32 years since 1983. Selling “Top Rated” Bryant Equipment. We will service any make or model. 24 HR Emergency Service. Free Estimates. BRICK FURNITURE: 504 North Main St., Austin, MN (507) 433-8833 www.brickfurnitureaustin.com Locally owned. Specializing in great quality. Low sale prices every day. Top service after the sale. Name brands such as La-Z-Boy, Smith Brothers of Berne, Sealy, and Daniel’s Amish. Lots of wall decor. Many other varieties of decor to choose from! BUDGET BLINDS: 310 1st Ave. S., Albert Lea, MN (877) 373-8535 www.budgetblinds.com/AlbertLea We proudly serve the local community by offering high quality and stylish window coverings for any occasion. Our lavish selection of window treatments includes shutters, blinds, draperies, shades and even window film. Call us today to schedule your free in-home consultation. Looking forward to helping you beautify your home! FREEBORN LUMBER COMPANY & DESIGN CENTER: 971 Plaza Street West, Albert Lea, MN www.freebornlumber.com (507) 377-4284 A family owned business that began in 1946. Stop in and visit their new facility and design showroom. Freeborn Lumber features quality building materials, new home design, kitchen remodels, cabinet design, agricultural buildings and outdoor living spaces. INSURANCE LISA HINES AGENCY - AMERICAN FAMILY INSURANCE: 701 W Oakland Ave. Austin, MN 55912 (507)433-2160 As your American Family Insurance agent, I believe there’s more to insurance than the policy itself. It’s about providing dependable protection and service. That’s why earning your trust is my policy. Stop in for a free insurance quote. SERVICES AUSTIN AEROFLIGHT: 710 21st St NE, Austin, MN www.austinaeroflight. com Austin Aeroflight, Inc. is a full service FBO located at the Austin Municipal Airport. We offer both Jet A and 100LL fuel services. We provide flight training and ground instruction. We also offer a complete line of CATS computerized testing. All FAA or FCC written tests can be taken here. Your major or minor aircraft repairs may be completed by our professional maintenance personnel. Austin Aeroflight also has the heated hangar space you need to protect your aircraft in all weather conditions. We’re here to meet all your aviation needs in Southern Minnesota.
SERVICES (CONTINUED) AUSTIN DAILY HERALD: 310 2nd St. NE, Austin, MN (507) 4338851 www.austindailyherald.com An award-winning daily newspaper that prides itself on its accurate and timely hyper-local news coverage. NEW DIMENSION ELECTRONICS: (507) 433-2122 Having been in business for over 35 years, providing your home entertainments needs with Dish Network, Directv, Antenna Service, and Home Theater. Visit our website at www..Newdimensionelectronics.net or Come See our showroom located next to Jim’s Super Valu at 209 11th St NE, Austin Mn. SMYTH COMPANIES: 1201 27th Ave. NW, Austin, MN (507) 4345918 Smyth offers full-service design and prepress services to our commercial clients. From simple two-color flyers to complex layouts for annual reports or product brochures, we can do it all. Eight station presses enable the application of a world of colors along with gloss or matte coatings. Digital printing is also available for short run and prototype work. UNITED WAY: 201 South Main St., Austin, MN (507) 437-2313 www.uwmower.org The United Way of Mower County works to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities. We fund programs in four critical areas: Education, Income, Health and Basic Needs. Giving to the United Way is the best way to help the most people in need in our community. SHOPPING NORTHBRIDGE MALL: 2510 Bridge Ave., Albert Lea, MN (507) 377-3185 www.northbridgemall.com Conveniently located just off the intersection of I-35 and I-90, Northbridge Mall features an arcade, movie theatre, book store, toy stores, and many dining and shopping opportunities. Open Monday-Friday 10am-9pm, Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday 12pm-5pm. Some business hours may vary. September–October 2015 | Austin Living | 59
Sept. 14 There’s plenty to do this fall as students go back to school, the leaves start to change color and there’s a slight chill in the air. With tons of fun in fundraisers, watching the stars, a national barrow show, and a Halloween Warm-Up, be sure to get out and enjoy the fall. —All dates, times, and locations subject to change
Aug. 27
Lunchbox History Series
When: 12-1 p.m. Where: Pioneer Building, Mower County Historical Society Learn the story of a survivor of the United States Dakota War of 1862, a woman who lost her entire family except for two sons. The event will be presented by John Isch. Bring lunch and a friend for some good history. For more information, call 507-437-6082.
Sept. 1
Bizarre Life of Austin Girl in Japan in the 1960s
When: 10 a.m. Where: Hormel Historic Home The installment of the Home and Hearth series will feature author Peggy Keener discussing her book “Potato in a Rice Bowl” and her interest in Austin history.
Sept. 9
Izaak Walton League Steak Cookout
When: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Where: Izaak Walton Cabin, Todd Park The Austin Izaak Walton League will host a Steak Cookout Fundraiser. The menu includes a 10-ounce sirloin steak, baked potato, coleslaw, a bun and fresh veggies. Tickets are $12 and available at the door. The event is open to the public. For more information, call 507-433-4654.
Sept. 12
5K Our Way
When: 8 a.m.-12 p.m. Where: Hormel Foods Corporate Office North, 1 Hormel Place This 5K Run/Walk is a chip-timed race with medals to the overall male and female winners, and top three male and female participants in each age group. There will also be a 1-mile Fun Run/Walk for kids. The entry fee also includes a bounce house, obstacle course, dunk tank, and more. Live music will be played by Spare Parts and a free beverage with a race bib at the B & J Bar and Grill. There will be over $20 value in Hormel coupons, a Dri-Fit T-shirt if registered by Aug. 24, and a raffle drawing. To register, go to 5kyourwayregistrationform.pdf. The event is organized by the Hormel Foods Corporation Employee Resource Group: Women Our Way and the Austin YMCA. All proceeds go to the Women Leadership Initiative of Mower County. For more information, contact Lori Kelly at lkelly@hormel.com.
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AMIGO Day
When: 1-8 p.m. Where: Meadow Greens Golf Course This event is the annual All Member Invitation Golf Outing Fundraiser. A fourperson “best shot” tournament begins with a 1 p.m. shotgun start. Lunch and beverages will be provided during the day, followed by a buffet dinner and awards program. The cost is $125 per golfer; $30 for the 6:30 p.m. dinner. Registration deadline is Sep 9. For more information, call 507-437-4561.
Sept. 14
History Happy Hour
When: Doors open at 5:30 p.m., program begins at 6 p.m. Where: Hormel Historic Home Tim Ruzek will speak about the development of the Mill Pond area, looking at the past 150 years as the area transitioned from a swamp to a state park to a highly valued commercial/industrial sector with flood walls. Cost is free for members of the HHH, Friends of the Public Library and the Historical Society and $5 for non members.
Sept. 18
Music @ the Bank: Evan Koehler
When: 7:30-9:30 p.m. Where: Austin ArtWorks Center, This event will feature folk musician Evan Koehler, an Austin native. For more information, call 507-434-0934.
Sept. 19
Minnesota Southbound Rollers vs Ames Roller Derby Association When: 6-9 p.m. Where: Packer Arena The first-ever flat-track roller derby team from Austin and Albert Lea invites everyone to their last bout of the season. An after party will follow at Torge’s Live.
Sept. 24
Lunchbox History Series: The Inventor of the Maytag Washing Machine
When: 12-1 p.m. Where: Pioneer Building, Mower County Historical Society Learn about the inventor of the Maytag Washing Machine, who happened to be from LeRoy. This event will be presented by Tom Hoover. Bring lunch and a friend for some good history. For more information, call 507-437-6082.
Sept. 26
Fall Harvest Celebration
When: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Where: Mower County Historical Society The annual celebration featuring arts and crafts, wagon rides, demonstrations, kids activities, a thresher’s dinner, a bake sale and more will take place Sept. 26. Outdoor exhibits will be open, including a railroad car, a log cabin and a blacksmith’s shop. The event is free and open to all ages. Call 507-437-6082 for more information.
Oct. 3
Terry Dilley Symposium
When: 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Where: Austin ArtWorks Center This free symposium on evolutionary biology will be presented by Dr. Mark Borrello from the University of Minnesota. For more information, call Rick Herreid at 507-219-6535.
Oct. 4
Dad’s Belgian Waffle Fundraiser
When: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Where: The Arc Mower County This fundraiser donates the proceeds to children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities including Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Autism and Epilepsy. One in 10 families has a member with a disability. For more information, call 507-433-8994.
Oct. 5
Austin Artist Series: The Piano Men When: 7-9 p.m. Where: Knowlton Auditorium, Austin High School This event is part of the Austin Artist Series. The fall membership campaign runs from Sept. 1 to 15. Series tickets are $45 for a single adult, $95 for a family, $15 for a student. For tickets or more information, call Nancy Dolphin at 507-433-9387.
Oct. 6
Oct. 10
Second Annual Superhero Dash
When: 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Where: Lafayette Park Put on the capes and masks and show off the super powers at this event cosponsored by the Community Against Bullying (CAB) and the Austin Police Officer Association. The course will be marked with signs and volunteers will be on the route. Please wear appropriate footwear and ensure costumes don’t inhibit vision and movement. For more information, call 507-440-8857.
Oct. 12
History Happy Hour
When: Doors open at 5:30 p.m., program begins at 6 p.m. Where: Hormel Historic Home Dean Ulland from Riverland Community College will speak about prohibition in Mower County, along with special guest Peter Ausenhus from Worth Brewery in Northwood, Iowa. Cost is free for members of the HHH, Friends of the Public Library and the Historical Society and $5 for non members.
Oct. 16
Comedy Night
When: 7:30-9:30 p.m. Where: Historic Paramount Theatre Get ready for a night of comedy and laughter. For more information, call 507-434-0934.
Oct. 17
Country Music Spectacular
Cotillion Social Dance Club
When: 7-9:30 p.m. Where: Knowlton Auditorium, Austin High School This year’s Austin Police Officers Association Country Music Spectacular will feature the 2014 “The Voice” winner Craig Wayne Boyd, with special guest Van Lears. Proceeds will be used for youth and community organizations throughout Mower County. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. For tickets, call the ticket line: 507-513-2324. For more information, call 507-437-9400.
Oct. 6
Oct. 21
When: 10 a.m. Where: Hormel Historic Home The second installment of the Home and Hearth series will feature Mower County Historical Society curator Jaimie Timm discussing courting in early Mower County.
When: doors open at 5 p.m., program starts at 6 p.m. Where: Historic Hormel Home Bartenders in the area will show skills by mixing up drinks at the Hormel Historic Home. Judges will rate the drinks, and the public will get a chance to taste the drinks as well. Cover charge is $5.
Oct. 7
Oct. 24
When: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Where: Izaak Walton Cabin, Todd Park The Austin Izaak Walton League will host a Steak Cookout Fundraiser — menu includes a 10 ounce sirloin steak, baked potato, coleslaw, bun and fresh veggies. Tickets are $12, available at the door. The event is open to the public. For more information, call 507-433-4654.
When: 7:30-9:30 p.m. Where: Historic Paramount Theatre Listen to the unique sounds of Charlie Parr. For more information, call 507-434-0934.
Oct. 9-10
And That’s My Story
When: 6-10:30 p.m. Where: Austin Country Club The Cotillion Social Dance Club will provide a night of company, food, live music and dancing. The club is fast approaching its 100th year and actively looking for new members. For more information, contact Rachel at 507-475-0641.
Buggy Rides and Parlor Visits: A History of Courting
Izaak Walton League Steak Cookout
Halloween Warm-Up
When: 5:30-8 p.m. Where: Jay C. Hormel Nature Center This annual kid-friendly Halloween event will take place Oct. 9 and 10. Dress in warm layers and get ready to have some Halloween fun.
Best Bartender Contest
Charlie Parr
Oct. 30-31
When: 5-11 p.m. Where: Hormel Historic Home Storytellers from the tri-state area will gather at the Hormel Historic Home to share their stories and experiences. This Austin storytelling event will feature dinner followed by a “concert” by nationally-known storytellers. The cost is $30 for dinner and a show, and the event is co-sponsored by The Cedars of Austin. For more information, call 507-433-4243. September–October 2015 | Austin Living | 61
Local life, large tales
BOOK REVIEW
As the Austin Page Turners committee plans for the 2016 Page Turners author, committee members are taking time to share some of their favorite Minnesota books with Austin Living. Bonnie Rietz is a Page Turners committee member and is reviewing “The Killdeer: And Other Stories From the Farming Life,” By Michael Cotter “I looked over at that little girl sitting beside me. It was an older face now than it had been just a few weeks ago. There was hurt in those eyes. In the silence I realized I had just seen a love die, and it was no one’s fault.” These words end “The Story of Rose” from the book “The Killdeer: And Other Stories From the Farming Life,” written by Michael Cotter, local storyteller and farmer. Cotter has been telling stories for years, and now we are able to sit down in the quiet of our own home, read his stories one at a time and reflect back on stories of our own. Cotter has the ability in telling his tale to bring out memories for us. Cotter’s book is one we are considering for our 15th annual Austin Page Turners citywide book read in 2016. We started our project of promoting Minnesota authors in 2002, and for 14 years we have featured a different book and then the author has come to Austin for a presentation. It is always exciting to consider a local author. We have featured two others who were born in Austin – Tim O’Brien with “The Things They Carried” in 2003 and Larry Engelmann with “Daughter of China” in 2006. Michael has deep local roots growing up on the farm his grandfather purchased in 1876 and taking over that very farm after his high school graduation when his own father was 73. Cotter’s stories bring laughter and tears. One chuckles when reading the story about how his father was hoodwinked
62 | Austin Living | September–October 2015
By Bonnie Rietz, Austin Page Turners
by a traveling group of gypsies in “Horse Trading,” and then tears come when reading about the pain of his divorce in Wounded.” His stories slow us down in this fast-paced world and allow us to remember times of laughter and tears in our own lives. Many of life’s difficulties, tragedies and challenges are brought out in Cotter’s stories, and then he brings the situations around to show how these all build memories and make life worthwhile. Cotter was asked to speak to a graduation class and he had no idea what to talk about. He thought and thought but nothing came to mind.Then he decided to tell a story and in doing that, in “Graduation Story,” he told about his son Tom being adopted. When he mentioned that, an electric foreman who had been very angry because of a cut electric line told Cotter about his daughter who was soon traveling to Russia to adopt a baby. Michael helps to show how these common life experiences are what draw us together and the cut electric line seemed less of an issue to get upset about. Cotter ends his book with a charming story where he reminisces about the fact that he first ran a combine in 1949 when he was 18. Thus one would expect that at 77 he would be able to handle a combine just fine. Hold on! Check out his last story, “Dodging Retirement,” and see what happens. Be ready for a good chuckle. Pick up Cotter’s book, find a comfortable chair, have a cup of coffee and be ready to relax and let the memories flow as you read his stories. “The Killdeer” is one of many books by Minnesota authors that we as Page Turners will be reading and discussing to find a special book that will be featured for our 15th annual city-wide book read in 2016.
September–October 2015 | Austin Living | 63
WHY I LOVE AUSTIN
By Cameron Johnson
Its giving nature shows from small projects to United Way programs A project at work recently landed me at Pickett Place Apartments, where I was able to meet some of the residents who benefit from Semcac’s Senior Dining Program, a United Way-funded program in which individuals 60 years of age or older are provided a well-balanced meal at little to no cost. I struck up a conversation with a gentleman and mentioned that my husband and I lived in Albert Lea. He joked that I needed to go over to the hospital because they have pills there for people like me. So I don’t live in Austin … but I work here. And I love it. Unfortunately I don’t have the ability to haul my house down I-90 and transplant it here, although I have to confess that I would if I could. Instead, I happily make the short commute. I love pulling into town, driving down tree-lined Oakland Avenue every morning and wondering what the day ahead has in store for me. 64 | Austin Living | September–October 2015
Working at the United Way of Mower County allows me the opportunity to be out in the community experiencing firsthand the programs United Way supports and the things that are great about Austin. It’s one of the favorite parts of my job. What I’ve come to be the most impressed with is the generosity of our community as a whole. Through the success of United Way’s annual campaign and our several initiatives, like Day of Caring and the Coat Drive, it’s clear to me community members have a heart for one another. In my time at the United Way, I’ve learned of several areas of need in the community in which individuals and organizations have stepped up and made it their mission to see those needs being met, United Way included. And when those needs change, they recognize it and adapt. I’m thankful to work in a community like Austin that supports the United Way like it does. And I look forward to discovering many more reasons to love this town.
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