September zest by Big Fish Works

Zest For 50+ living

SEPTEMBER 2015

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Finding lost towns

In her three books, Minnesota author Rhonda Fochs documents cities that thrived decades ago, including some in McLeod and Meeker counties

GSL High School gives honorary diploma to 96-year-old woman

Giving a grand thanks to nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

grandparents Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not too late to boost

retirement savings

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS September

‘Faces of the Past’ exhibit: Sept. 7-Oct. 15 The Hutchinson Center for the Arts is partnering with the McLeod County Historical Society to present: “Faces of the Past,” 19th-century crayon portraits from the museum’s permanent collection. The exhibit will be on display Sept. 7 through Oct. 15 at Hutchinson Center for the Arts. In addition, a free public reception and gallery talk will be at 2 p.m. Sept. 13 at the Center, 15 Franklin St. SW.

Dassel Red Rooster Days: Sept. 4-7 Labor Day weekend is time to celebrate, with an ambassadors coronation, parade, Minnesota’s largest chicken barbecue, and other activities.

Minnesota Brain Injury Force: Sept. 17 Minnesota Brain Injury Force offers free brain-boosting workshops at 6 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month (May through October) at Hutchinson Health, Room F. In September, the focus will be on sleep solutions and stress management.

October Meeker County Senior Expo: Oct. 13 Meeker County Senior Expo, with a theme, “A Walk in the Park,” will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 13 at Church of St. Philip. Gary Tyson, a comic/magician/stage hypnotist, will perform. Terry Nelson will provide musical entertainment. A catered lunch will be provided. Advance tickets only will be sold until Oct. 5 for $9 and are available at Home State Bank in Cosmos, St. Anthony Manor in Watkins, Grove City Area C.A.R.E., Papa D’s in Dassel, and in Litchfield at Mary’s Jewelry Emmaus Gift Shop, Community Education office, and Meeker Council on Aging office. For more information, call 800-669-6714.

McLeod County Senior Expo: Sept. 22 McLeod County Senior Expo, with a theme, “Let the Good Times Roll,” will be from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sept. 22 at Hutchinson Event Center. The expo will offer educational opportunities and resources for people over 55, as well as a catered lunch. Workshop topics include: Downsizing & Decluttering, Healthy Cooking, Advance Directives, and Social Media. Keynote speaker David Jones will talk about “Prohibition: A Grand Misadventure.” Advanced tickets only will be sold until Sept. 16 for $8. Tickets are available in Hutchinson at Hutchinson Event Center and Peace Lutheran Church; and in Glencoe at Glencoe Regional Health Services and First Lutheran Church. For more information, call 320-864-7798.

Have a calendar item to submit? To be included in this free listing, send information and a contact person’s name and phone number. Email information to Juliana Thill at thill@independentreview.net or call 320-593-4808 or 320-234-4172.

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CONTENTS

Zest For 50+ living

SEPTEMBER 2015 Vol. 6 No. 7

PUBLISHED BY Litchfield Independent Review P.O. Box 307, Litchfield, MN 55355 320-693-3266

story: Author Rhonda Fochs, who has written 10 Cover three books about lost towns in Minnesota, including towns in McLeod and Meeker counties, shares her own story

Hutchinson Leader 170 Shady Ridge Road NW, Suite 100 Hutchinson, MN 55350 320-587-5000 PUBLISHER Brent Schacherer schacherer@hutchinsonleader.com 320-234-4143 EDITOR Juliana Thill thill@independentreview.net 320-593-4808 Litchfield office 320-234-4172 Hutchinson office CONTRIBUTING WRITER Kay Johnson ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Kevin True true@hutchinsonleader.com 320-234-4141

SUBSCRIPTION OR ADDRESS CHANGE Michelle Magnuson 320-234-4142 magnuson@hutchinsonleader.com PRINTED BY Crow River Press 170 Shady Ridge Road NW Hutchinson, MN 55350 Zest is published monthly by the Litchfield Independent Review and Hutchinson Leader newspapers. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior consent of the publisher.

the news: Meeker Council 5 onIn Aging surprises Jeanie Doran and Jerry Reckdahl with Volunteer of the Year awards at the County Fair

6 Senior spotlight: At 96,Verda Templin receives her honorary high school diploma

In the news: Grandparents play important role in society

Money matters: Tips to boost your retirement savings

Medicare: Employed? Medicare enrollment will depend on what your employer provides for health insurance

14 Recipes: This fall, incorporate fresh, seasonal flavors into traditional, comforting dishes such as Thyme-Scented Roasted Vegetables & Beets; and for dessert, a Rustic Apple Tart SEPTEMBER 2015 | ZEST

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A WARM WELCOME

he three-room school house I attended in St. Paul during my first years of learning, and the old boxcar that served as a warming house for the iceskating rink outside the school are long gone. Yet, I still have fond memories of Desnoyer Park Elementary School, my classmates and teacher Edna Mudge. She retired in 1974, when the school closed. It was torn down two years later, as St. Paul consolidated its schools. All that are left are memories, much like what Rhonda Fochs found as she researched lost towns in Minnesota, including many in McLeod and Meeker counties. She has given presentations recently in Litchfield and Eden Valley, and she is our cover story this month. Fochs has published three books, “Minnesota’s Lost Towns: Northern Edition,” “Minnesota’s Lost Towns: Central Edition,” and “Minnesota’s Lost Towns: Northern Edition II,” which chronicle hundreds of once-thriving communities. The Central Edition features 19 lost towns in McLeod County and 14 in Meeker County. My story touches on a few of these towns and explains how Fochs was inspired to become an author in retirement. Also in this magazine, we have stories about three remarkable people. Meeker Council on Aging recently recognized two of them for their volunteer efforts that span decades. Jeanie Doran and Jerry Reckdahl received Volunteer of the Year awards. Read about some of the

work they’ve been involved in over the years. We also have a story about Verda Templin who received an honorary diploma from Glencoe-Silver Lake High School at the age of 96. Read about why she wasn’t able to attend high school and what she did to ensure her siblings did.

Juliana Thill Editor In other news, this year, Social Security celebrates its 80th anniversary. Social Security provides benefits to more than 60 million people. A majority of seniors receive more than half their retirement income from Social Security. This year also is the 50th anniversary of the enactment of amendments to the Social Security Act that established the Medicare and Medicaid programs. President Johnson signed legislation to establish Medicare for the elderly and Medicaid for low-income adults, children, pregnant women, and people with disabilities. And one final commemoration — Minnesota’s state song turns 70 years old this year. In 1945, “Hail! Minnesota” became the state song. Two University of Minnesota students wrote it in 1904 and 1905, so it also became the university’s official song.

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IN THE NEWS

Meeker Council on Aging honors Reckdahl, Doran for volunteerism By Juliana Thill EDITOR

or two Meeker County residents, volunteering is a way of life. Jeanie Doran, 81, and Jerry Reckdahl, 80, have been volunteering in their community for decades. As a result, Donna Whitcomb, coordinator for the Meeker Council on Aging, honored Doran of Litchfield and Reckdahl of Grove City with the respective female and male Meeker County Volunteer of the Year award during a ceremony July 31 at the Meeker County Fair. Doran has spent most of her life entertaining people. Her musical interest started at age 7 with piano lessons and expanded to include guitar, autoharp, ukulele and pipe organ. “She has always been committed to serving in her community,” Whitcomb said. “Whether helping at church with devotions, weddings, funerals, singing in the choir, playing music, or hymn sings, everyone around enjoys her talents.” “She has an extensive background, including traveling across the U.S., being a teacher, a resort owner, clerical worker, life enrichment coordinator for persons with disabilities, and most recently an activities specialists. After retirement, she stayed on as a volunteer and continues to serve others daily,” Whitcomb said. “She has a love of history, and spends some of her time working at the G.A.R. Hall.” Even when Doran, a Litchfield native, lived in the Twin Cities, she was involved in the Litchfield community, she said. She retired at age 65, and moved back to Litchfield in 1999. She volunteers, she said, “because I enjoy it.” Reckdahl taught math at Grove City High School for 29 years, and then at Ridgewater in Hutchinson and Willmar for 10 years. He said he volunteers because “it makes me feel happy. It makes me enjoy life more.” Reckdahl “can be found out and about in his community helping others every day,” Whitcomb said. He serves on his church council, and is a member of his local Lions Club, of which he was a charter member. Reckdahl served as a city council member and mayor of Grove City, and currently is chairman of the Development Corp. and Economic Development Authority, “both of which he helped to found to better his community,” Whitcomb said. Reckdahl works at pancake breakfasts and assists with selling Christmas wreaths. He delivers meals on wheels, plants trees in the community, provides rides to seniors when needed, and and cleans up at his church cemetery. He also assists his wife with coordinating blood drives. “It’s wonderful; I really appreciate it,” Reckdahl said of the award. “I feel grateful that they considered me worthy enough to receive it.”

PHOTO BY JULIANA THILL

Meeker Council on Aging selects Jeanie Doran as female Meeker County Senior Volunteer of the Year and Jerome Reckdahl as male Meeker County Senior Volunteer of the Year. As recipients of the awards, during a ceremony July 31 at Meeker County Fair, Doran and Reckdahl are in the running for Minnesota State Fair’s Minnesota’s Outstanding Senior Citizen award. Enjoy

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SENIOR SPOTLIGHT

High school gives honorary degree to Glencoe woman Templin couldn’t attend high school because it was too far away By Kay Johnson CONTRIBUTING WRITER

erda Templin, 96, realized a lifelong dream in June when she received an honorary diploma from Glencoe-Silver Lake High School. A ceremony June 28 took place at the site of Koniska School in District 6 where Templin attended. A sign also was unveiled marking the site of the schoolhouse, which now is in the Rich Valley Wildlife Management Area-Virgil Voigt Tract. Templin never attended high school because after eighth-grade graduation at Koniska School, she stayed home and worked on the family farm near Biscay. She wanted to attend high school, but it was 10 miles away and no transportation was available. “It’s pretty late but it’s an honor,” Templin said of the honorary diploma. All through her life, she said, her lack of a diploma made her feel inferior. “I always felt my lack of knowledge because I didn’t go on to high school,” she said. “I regretted it.” Even by eighth grade, Templin knew the value of an education. She was passionate about her younger siblings having a high school education, so she made a deal with her father, Herman Graupmann. She would stay home and work on the farm if he would make it possible for her three younger siblings to go to high school. “I told my father, ‘Not another one is staying home,’” she said. Graupmann honored the promise he made to his daughter. He worked with area farmers to obtain rural school busing. As a result, Templin’s younger brother and sisters graduated from high school. And her two younger sisters graduated from college. Templin was born in Glencoe but moved with her family to a farm near Biscay when she was 2 weeks old. Graupmann and his first wife, Sophie (Proehl), had three chil-

ZEST | SEPTEMBER 2015

dren. After she died, he married again. He and his second wife, Emma (Behlers), had five children of which Verda was the second oldest. Templin grew up speaking German at home until she went to school where she spoke English. Templin and her siblings walked about two miles to school. “In the winter, they rode on a horsedrawn slab,” Templin’s daughter Beverly said. “Mother envied children who rode in a grain wagon because they weren’t exposed to the wind.” Verda married Henry Templin in 1940. He, like his wife, had to quit school at an early age. “My dad said of mother, ‘She’s beautiful and she was smart,’” Beverly said. They bought the Templin family farm near Plato in 1949. A lack of education didn’t stop them from making a success of their dairy business, for which she did the financial record-keeping. Through their efforts, the couple gave their children what they didn’t have — an education. The four Templin daughters — Beverly, Jenny, Deborah Jean, and Elizabeth — attended First Lutheran Parochial School, graduated from Glencoe High School, and graduated from college.

Just One Wish program Templin makes her home today at Long Term Care at Glencoe Regional Health Services. Templin’s honorary high school diploma was made possible through Glencoe Long Term Care’s Just One Wish program. “We grant our long-care residents with a special wish whether it be a basic need or something on their bucket list,” said Melanie Krulikosky, director of nursing for Long Term Care. In this case, a staff member reached out to Templin’s family to find out if there was anything Verda wanted. Once Templin’s wish of a high school diploma was known, activities director Lisa Carter contacted Glencoe-Silver Lake School District to make it happen. “I’m very blessed to be right here,” Templin said. “Everyone is so dedicated.”

Glencoe-Silver Lake High School recently gave Verda Templin an honorary diploma as part of Glencoe Long Term Care’s Just One Wish program.

Country school marker Although Koniska School is gone, a few foundation stones mark the spot where it once stood. The area is now known as Rich Valley Wildlife Manage-ment Area-Virgil Voigt Tract. During a ceremony June 28, a sign was unveiled marking the site of the school house. The sign contains a QR code for visitors to scan and learn more about the school, as well as watch a video interview with Verda Templin, who attended the school. Lori Pikell-Stangel, executive director of the McLeod County Historical Museum, said the project was a cooperative partnership. Pheasants Forever McLeod County Chapter paid for the sign.The museum designed and researched the information for it, and Templin provided historical context.

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IN THE NEWS

Nation honors grandparents in September

his year, Grandparents Day falls on Sept. 13. Marian McQuade of West Virginia initiated a campaign in 1970 to establish a day to honor grandparents. In 1978, President Carter signed a proclamation, declaring the first Sunday after Labor Day as National Grandparents Day. This day has been celebrated every year since to honor grandparents. The Census Bureau presents statistics about their role in society:

7.2 million

2.7 million

The number of grandparents whose grandchildren under 18 years old were living with them in 2013.

The number of grandparents responsible for the basic needs of one or more grandchildren under age 18 living with them in 2013. Of these caregivers, 1.7 million were grandmothers and 1.0 million were grandfathers.

1.9 million The number of married (including separated) grandparents responsible for caring for their grandchildren.

1.6 million The number of grandparents in the labor force responsible for their own grandchildren under age 18. Among them, 354,464 were 60 years or older.

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MONEY MATTERS

Over 50? Boost your retirement savings

Building a retirement fund after age 50 is challenging, but not impossible. Estimates vary, but generally, after age 50, it’s best to direct at least 10 percent of your gross income in savings and investments to cover living expenses when you stop working.

f you’re over age 50 and not sure whether you’re going to be able to retire, it’s time to focus, get advice and build a realistic plan. You’re not alone. The U.S. Government Accountability Office recently reported that most households approaching retirement have low savings, adding that nearly half of households led by individuals or couples aged 55 and older have no retirement savings accounts at all. The first step is to define where you really stand financially. Consider speaking with a qualified financial and tax adviser to define your present financial circumstances. Such a conversation should take into account your household income, tax situation, debt and retirement assets in any form. Reviewing these factors can help shape your decisions about supersizing your retirement plan for maximum safe returns. While a customized plan is generally the best way to approach shortfalls, here are some general approaches.

Reevaluate your budget Take time to reevaluate your budget. To accelerate retirement saving and investing, you need to find the money first. Non-mortgage debt is a major retirement savings obstacle. Better budgeting can help you find the money to pay off debt quicker. Adjust your spending across the board so you can accomplish this while adding more money to savings over time.

Accelerate your savings Know that you’re going to need to accelerate your savings. Estimates vary, but generally, after age 50, it’s best to direct at least 10 percent of your gross income in savings and investments to cover living expenses when you stop working. If you are employed, review your contribution and income limits for the most popular self-directed and tax-advantaged retirement savings vehicles. Those include: 401(k), 403(b) and most 457 plans, which will have a maximum annual contribution limit of $18,000 in 2015 Individual Retirement Accounts — both traditional and Roth — which will have maximum “catch-up” contribution limits of $6,500 (the regular $5,500 limit plus $1,000 for taxpayers aged 50 or over by year-end 2015)

Boost your income If after all this effort you’re still not able to find enough money to put away, consider making a greater effort on the income side. Many individuals boost their savings through a second job or freelancing from home. Consult qualified financial and tax professionals to make sure you’re handling this extra income correctly from a tax perspective and putting it in investments that make sense for you.

ZEST | SEPTEMBER 2015

Downsize Downsizing to a smaller home or an apartment in a lower cost-of-living destination or deciding to move in with friends or family at minimal costs might also provide additional savings for retirement. But first, consider Nathaniel Sillin what you might get for your home. If you Director of are able to sell a priVisa’s financial mary residence at a education significant profit over program your purchase price — above $250,000 for a single taxpayer and above $500,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly — speak to a tax professional about ways to avert a significant tax liability.

Plan for the unexpected Finally, put proper financial safety nets in place. Make sure you have an emergency fund set up so you won’t be forced to dip into savings to cover unexpected expenses. And don’t forget insurance — having the right amount of property and casualty, health and disability insurance can protect your retirement nest egg from significant risk. Bottom line: Building a retirement fund after age 50 is challenging, but not impossible. Get solid tax and financial advice, start downsizing immediately and don’t forget critical financial safety nets.

Enrollment in Medicare depends on what employer provides for health insurance Dear Marci, I turn 65 soon, but I still plan on working for a few years. My employer gives me health insurance. Do I have to enroll in Medicare if I am still working? — Bruce Dear Bruce, You might have to enroll in Medicare while you are still working, but it depends on what type of coverage you have from your current employer and how it works with Medicare. Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) is premium-free if you or your spouse worked in the United States for 10 years or more. Many people choose to enroll in Part A when they are first eligible, since they do not have to pay a monthly premium. If you qualify for premium-free Part A, you can enroll in Part A at any time. However, everyone has to pay a monthly Part B premium, which is $104.90 for most “Dear Marci” people in 2015. When you sign up for Medicare, you are automatiis a service of the cally enrolled in both Medicare Medicare Rights Parts A and B. However, you have Center, the largest the option to turn down Part B, independent but you should use great caution source of Medicare before delaying your Part B coverinformation and age. assistance in the You should only consider delayUnited States. For ing Part B coverage if you confirm more information, two things. First, you must have go online to www. health insurance from a current medicarerights.org. employer (or a spouse’s current employer). If you have coverage from your (or your spouse’s) current employer, you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period to enroll in Medicare Part B later and will not face penalties or periods without coverage. If your insurance does not come from your or your spouse’s current work, you do not qualify for this SEP. Second, you should only consider delaying Part B if your employer coverage does not change how much it pays for your care after you qualify for Medicare. If you are 65 or older, health insurance from your (or your spouse’s) current employer pays first if the organization has 20 or more employees (note that if you are under 65 and disabled, the organization must have 100 or more employees). On the other hand, you should enroll in Medicare Part B when you first qualify if your employer coverage only pays for your care after Medicare pays. If Medicare pays first and you fail to enroll, your employer coverage can reduce its payment or refuse to pay anything for your health care. Medicare usually pays first if you work for an organization with less than 20 employees. — Marci

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Minnesota author Rhonda Fochs documents lost towns across the state, including some in McLeod and Meeker counties. Her books document the once-thriving communities that dotted the rural landscape years ago.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MEEKER COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM

Rosendale, near the intersection of Meeker County Roads 28 and 4, once was home to many businesses, including a tavern, Danielson Creamery, Rosendale Creamery, the Farmers Store, Rosendale Store, and a mill.

Telling tales of towns silenced over time R

those stories.” honda Fochs admits she didn’t have Now in her 60s, Fochs has combined her much interest in history when she By Juliana Thill appreciation for history with her passion for was young. Instead, her passion for EDITOR story-telling to become an author in retirement. lost towns evolved over time. She has published three books, “Minnesota’s “When I was very young, my grandmother Lost Towns: Northern Edition,” “Minnesota’s would try to tell me stories about her days in Montana in the 1910s when she was a homesteader. My Lost Towns: Central Edition,” and “Minnesota’s Lost grandparents lived in a town in Montana that doesn’t exist Towns: Northern Edition II,” which chronicle hundreds of anymore. She used to try to tell me the best stories, but once-thriving cities and villages. The Central Edition feawhen you’re a young child and your grandmother is telling tures 19 lost towns in McLeod County and 14 in Meeker you stories, you really couldn’t care less,” Fochs said. “I just County. She describes how these towns were created, why they wanted her to quit talking, I think, because that was a long time ago. Now, I would give to hear her tell me those stories. boomed, how they came to be considered “lost,” and what “Same thing with my mother. She would try to tell me remains if people were to visit. “The Meeker County Historical Society there was great,” about some of the towns, and by that time I was a teenager and I wanted to listen even less. So I missed all those sto- Fochs said. The McLeod County Historical Society also “did ries, and she’s long gone now, so I can’t go back and get a good job of documenting their community.”

ZEST | SEPTEMBER 2015

Gerry Moen of Forest City brought Fochs on a tour of Meeker County’s lost towns. “She drove me around and told me the stories and found some research,” Fochs said. “Meeker County has a lot of (lost) towns that have a lot of standing buildings left. That was a lot of fun to see. So many lost towns have barren land.” By visiting lost towns, “you get a sense of the community. Rosendale, I was there, and the old store is there but shuttered up,” she said. Still, “you can kind of get a feeling for what the community was.” The rebuilt Forest City stockade, “was another impressive thing about Meeker County,” she said. “Meeker and McLeod counties played an important role in the Dakota Conflict. There’s so much history there, and it’s right in our backyard. We’re so busy going on vacation that we forget there’s so much right here to see.” Fochs’ books include information from historical societies, documents and books, as well as current and former residents, who share recollections. “All the narratives are based on historical references. That doesn’t mean I got everything right. Sometimes the records are wrong. Sometimes people’s memories are little different than other people’s memories,” she said. In addition to writing about lost towns, Fochs also includes stories in her books about people who lived in these towns. One resident Fochs wrote about was Lucy Ann Lobdell, who settled in Manannah in 1856. “She was from New York. She was a sharp-shooter. It’s been said that no one could shoot better than Lucy could. But Lucy liked to dress in men’s clothing. That’s the way they worded it then. Some folks thought that was not the way she should be living — women should be women and men should be men,” Fochs said. The Meeker County attorney filed charges against her for impersonating a man, Fochs said. The court dismissed the case and said, “she can certainly dress in men’s clothing if she wants to dress in men’s clothing. But what happened is that, she was branded the ‘Wild Woman of Manannah.’ She was ostracized and, eventually, she had to go back to New York because she was so bullied and berated. She just couldn’t live here anymore.”

Narrowing her focus In gathering information about lost towns, Fochs quickly discovered that some people didn’t understand what she was researching. One woman told Fochs there were no ghosts in their town. Fochs said she was looking for ghost towns or places of the past, not ghost stories. So, Fochs decided she needed to come up with a definition and criteria for lost towns.

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COVER STORY

In Forest City, a flour mill was in operation by 1865. Forest City was the county seat of Meeker County from 1857 until 1869, when Litchfield received the designation after the railroad was laid through Litchfield. PHOTO COURTESY OF MEEKER COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM

PHOTO COURTESY OF MCLEOD COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

People living in St. George, about six miles north of Glencoe, built a dam on the river that powered the town’s grist and saw mills. Other businesses included a general store, blacksmith, shoe shop, creamery and three saloons. The town came to an end after the railroad bypassed the community. “It had to be a once-thriving place that no longer is thriving. It had to be vibrant. It had to have some kind of commercial district, where people went to town to get their mail, or get their supplies, or to go to church or school. There still could be a few homes there. There still could be a lot of corner bars or little convenience stores, but it’s not a town anymore. It doesn’t have the feel of when people came to congregate. Now, they stop and go by,” Fochs said. “It’s a town that’s completely or nearly completely abandoned. It may or may not have physical remains. Some of the towns are (now) just barren land. Nature reclaims very quickly.” There are two types of towns, she said, boom-and-bust towns, and towns that developed over time and slowly died. Boom-and-bust towns existed for one purpose or industry such as logging or mining. They rose overnight and died just as quickly, she said. “Towns built on this model were doomed from the beginning because you can’t put all your eggs in one basket.” Yet, each boom-and-bust town had its own personality, she said. “But there was a pattern to every town’s existence. The only difference was how fast a town moved through that.” The second type of town is one that developed over time and declined over time, like agriculture towns built up

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COVER STORY

along rivers for transportation and to harness water power. “As we got away from water power and go to electricity, you don’t have to put those towns by those water conditions,” she said. In addition, depending on what path a railroad followed, some towns declined, died or were absorbed by a neighboring town. South Silver Lake in McLeod County experienced such a fate. “Building a line through the area in 1886, the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway, routed three miles south of Silver Lake, through the 1881 platted town of South Silver Lake. A bustling community grew around the depot and included a livestock shipping yard, saloon, two general stores, a millinery shop, and livery. When the Luce Line established a station to the north of Silver Lake, it was only a matter of time before South Silver Lake ceased to be. Eventually, the businesses and residents moved to the new railroad town,” Fochs wrote in her book. Logering — in Stearns County, adjacent to Meeker County — also was a thriving town with a saloon, diner, butcher shop, feed store, livery and church. In the mid1880s, railroad officials wanted to buy the land, but some residents opposed the idea. The railroad company found a farmer one-half mile south of Logering willing to sell his land. Soon, two miles down the tracks, a new village, Eden Valley, sprouted up and within a few years, Logering’s businesses and residents moved to Eden Valley. Logering became a town of the past, she said.

Documenting history After writing her first book focused on lost towns in Northern Minnesota, where she lives, she discovered there were hundreds of these lost towns scattered across the state. Fochs is now working on her fourth book in the series, a Southern Minnesota edition. After she publishes that one in

PHOTO COURTESY OF MCLEOD COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Komensky once had the Luce Line Railroad, a store, elevator, creamery, stockyard and ice house. the spring, she plans to work on a Wisconsin version. “I retired last year, and I still haven’t missed (working). I don’t think I will. I’m kind of having too much fun,” she said during a presentation she gave recently at Eden Valley Public Library. She has been traveling the state talking about Minnesota’s lost towns. “That’s kind of why I wanted to do the books,” she said. “I wanted to leave the stories behind because I thought, ‘I don’t have any children, and these stories are too good not to let people know.’” She encourages people, to write down Rhonda Fochs their memories “because someday, the stories are going to be lost if we don’t write them down. That’s why I love these books, being able to leave those stories behind. It was hard to find information now, so in 50 years, it’s going to be even harder to find information.” I

‘Minnesota’s Lost Towns: Central Edition’ In her book,“Minnesota Lost Towns: Central Edition,” author Rhonda Fochs highlights a number of local lost towns: McLeod County Acoma, 1892-1905 Bear Creek, 1870s Bear Lake, 1899-1903 Brush Prairie, 1867-1883 Cedar City, 1859-1863 Clear Lake, 1912-1963 Collins, 1871-1879 Fernando, 1899-1903 Fremont, 1856-1867

Karns City, 1857 Komensky, 1899-1903 Koniska, 1860-1882 Lake Addie, 1856 Rocky Run, 1860-1874 Sherman Station, 1917-1950s South Silver Lake, 1881-1890s St. George, 1870-1880 West Lynn, 1883-1900s West Winsted, 1900s-1960 Meeker County Acton, 1857-1904 Collinwood, 1869-1878 Corvuso, 1898-1953 Crow River, 1867-1909 East Kingston, 1860s-1930s

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Forest City, 1857-1907 Greenleaf, 1858-1906 Lake Stella, 1899-1940s Lamson, 1870-1903 Manannah, 1857-1907 North Kingston, 1900-1940s Rosendale, 1871-1906 Strout, 1896-1904

“Minnesota’s Lost Towns: Central Edition” by Rhonda Fochs is 212 pages and published by North Star Press of St. Cloud Inc. It can be purchased on Amazon.com, Northstarpress.com or at www.rhondafochs.weebly.com.

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COVER STORY

Lost towns of McLeod and Meeker counties

elow are abbreviated stories that author Rhonda Fochs collected about a few of the towns in McLeod County and Meeker County:

McLeod County Fernando Approximately six miles north of Stewart “Named for the buttermaker, Ferdinand Fenske, the community was born out of the need for a church. Needing a place to worship, the German settlers built one in 1890. Eight years after the construction of the church, the creamery started operations. A general store was built in 1901 and closed in 1975, and is now a private home. The post office was short-lived, operating from 1899 to 1903. St. Matthew’s Church and a few buildings remained.”

Komensky Hutchinson Township “Community involvement was important to the early Czech settlers in Komensky. One of the very first things they did was organize the Bohemian Reading and Educational Society ... the society purchased Czech books, established a Czech choir and built the Bohemian Hall. The hall hosted meetings, school events, weddings ... and dances. Komensky also had the Luce Line Railroad, a store, elevator, creamery, stockyard, ice house, several homes and a beet dump/scale house. As transportation modes changed, the rail line in Komensky closed. Business slowed. Komensky’s buildings were moved or torn down.”

Lake Stella At county roads 33 and 14 “The little community was platted in 1899, and was located on the border of Darwin and Ellsworth townships. Lake Stella was sometimes called the Crossroads or Casey after the family that lived nearby. The creamery closed in 1937 when it consolidated with the Darwin Creamery. Dances were held, first at the store, and later in the old creamery building. ... Improved transportation caused the decline of the once-vibrant community. Today, the creamery still stands and is a private home.”

Rosendale At County Road 28 just west of County Road 4 “The Danielson Creamery, named for the township, was established in 1890. From the beginning, it was focal point in the community. The original building burned in 1917 and was rebuilt. That second building stands today. The community’s first store was called the Farmers Store. Many area residents sold eggs, chicken, and hides to the store. That building also stands today, and if you look closely, you can make out the faded ‘Rosendale’ on it. Rosendale did have a mill that ground feed. ... There are a few homes in the area,” Fochs wrote in her book. I

Sherman Station Approximately halfway between Winsted and Silver Lake “Sherman Station’s dance hall was considered the place to go for a good time in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. Many a wedding dance was held in the hall, as were other events. Free movies were also shown. Established in 1917 as a station on the Luce Line, Sherman Station was a four-block town with a store (moved in from Pleasant Hill) and a few station buildings. ... As dependence on the railroad dwindled, so did Sherman Station.”

Meeker County Acton At County Road 23 between county roads 1 and 4 Acton had a log parsonage in the early 1860s and didn’t develop into a community until the late 1860s. “The first store opened in 1867. A co-op (Hope Lake) creamery was established in 1899. ... The Acton Telephone Co. began operating in the early 1900s and discontinued in the late 1940s. Obscured by brush and foliage, the buildings (are) nearly indiscernible to the auto traffic speeding by.”

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FOOD & FUN

This fall, incorporate fresh, seasonal flavors into traditional, comforting dishes of the season Thyme-Scented Roasted Vegetables & Beets 1/2 pound baby carrots 1 medium onion, cut through core into 1/2-inch wedges 1/2 pound shallots, peeled, halved if large 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves* 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 garlic clove, minced 1 jar (16 ounces) whole pickled beets, drained, halved Heat oven to 400. Scatter carrots, onion

wedges and shallots in 15-by-10-inch jelly roll pan. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle thyme, salt and pepper over vegetables; toss to coat. Roast, uncovered, in oven 15 minutes. Add garlic to vegetables; toss well. Return to oven and continue roasting 10 minutes. Add beets; return to oven and roast until vegetables are tender, about five minutes. Makes four servings. (*1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme may be substituted. Sprinkle over vegetables just before adding beets.)

SOURCE: WWW.CULINARY.NET

Crossword puzzle Across 1. Small ornamental ladies’ bag 5. Rock music with mournful lyrics 9. Neon, e.g. 12. Capital of Switzerland 14.Acquiesce 16. Back, in a way 17. Extremely popular books 19. Churchill’s “so few”: Abbr. 20. Common sense 21.Vision test (2 wds) 23. Curse 25. Carpet type 26. Persons who hold title to property for others’ benefit 30.Affirmatives 32. Dusk, to Donne 33. Overthrow, e.g. 35. Slender, delicate things 37. Bogus 39. Batman and Robin, e.g. 40. Bell the cat 41. Dravidian language 43. Dome-shaped Buddhist shrine 46. Grassland 47. Greek letters 49. Helpful partner 51. Medical advice, often 52.“Buona ___” (Italian greeting)

Crossword puzzle answer on Page 15 53.Tailor’s tool 57.Wine container 61.Anita Brookner’s “Hotel du ___” 62. Negligence 64.Victorian, for one 65. Like “The X-Files” 66. Begin working energetically (2 wds) 67. Cyst 68.Arid

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69.Aggravate

Down 1. Declines 2.Abound 3.“Major” animal 4. Emcees’ lines 5.“For Me and My ___” 6. Eye 7. Deuce topper 8. Unorthodox opinion

9. Selling used items at one’s home (2 wds) 10. Biology lab supply 11. Delicate 13. Heir’s concern 15.Avoid 18. Banana oil, e.g. 22. Member of a Jewish mystic movement 24. Range rovers 26. Makeup, e.g. 27. Doctor’s order 28.Against U.S. interests 29. Pole position? 31. Bender 34. Dissolute men 36.Accommodate 38.Acarology subject matter 42. Famous TV collie 44. Newbie, of sorts 45. Green perimeters 48.The Rolling ___, band 50. Concern 53. Knocked off, in a way 54.Attention 55. Pink, as a steak 56.Ado 58. Josip Broz, familiarly 59. French novelist Pierre 60. Carbon compound 63. Short-sleeved, pullover shirt

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FOOD & FUN

Corkboard Corkboard ads are only $37 a month for 12 issues!

Rustic Apple Tart CLOCK REPAIR

1/2 cup unsalted butter, cool room temperature 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature 1 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 3 large apples, peeled and thinly sliced 4 and 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 1/4 cup orange juice 1/3 cup packed brown sugar 1/4 cup apple or apricot jam/jelly, warmed In a small bowl, beat together butter and cream cheese until completely combined and smooth. Slowly add flour, beating just until the dough starts to form a ball. Cover and SOURCE: WWW.CULINARY.NET refrigerate for one hour. Meanwhile, peel, core and slice apples into thin slices. Place in a large bowl. Combine cornstarch and spices in a small bowl, and stir in orange juice until smooth. Add brown sugar and salt and stir to combine. Pour this mixture over the apple slices and toss to coat. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Remove dough from the refrigerator and divide in half. Roll each half into a large circle. Transfer circles to the baking sheet, and spoon the filling over the dough. Fold the edges of the pastry up and around filling, leaving the center uncovered. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly. Remove from oven. Heat the apple/apricot jelly in the microwave to liquefy. Using a pastry brush, brush the crusts generously with the melted jam.

Answer to Crossword Puzzle published on Page 14

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We offer rides to VA medical appts at the

Minneapolis (even days) and St. Cloud (odd days) VA Medical Centers. To schedule a ride call 320-693-5445

Don Dufner

Are you aware of your beneﬁts?

Meeker County Veterans Service Ofﬁcer

320-693-5445

Federal and State Beneﬁts May Include: • Compensation • Pension • Vocational Rehabilitation • Dependent’s and Survivor’s Benefits • Home Loans

• Medical Care • Education • Burial Benefits • State Dental and Optical Care • Special Needs Grants

Donald.Dufner@co.meeker.mn.us Please call Don or Linda Meeker County Family Services Bldg. 114 N. Holcombe Ave. Suite 120 Litchﬁeld, MN 55355

*Beneﬁts subject to approval the Department of Veterans Affairs

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