Back Roads

This week’s Back Roads is the work of The Land Correspondent Tim King. Photos by Jan King. Historic works of stone

In eastern Todd County, in central Minnesota, there are two stone bridges that cross the Turtle Creek as it meanders toward the Long Prairie River. Both bridges are recognized as historic and, as such, receive a degree of protection.

The bridge photographed here is on Oak Ridge Road, in Turtle Creek Township, and is known as Bridge L7069. The County Highway Department describes it this way: “Overall aesthetic treatment as seen in the roughly coursed granite fieldstone wingwalls, headwalls, arch ring, and parapets reflects the highway beautification and craftsmanship promoted by New Deal policies.”

Todd County is rich in stone work craftsmanship. From Bridge L7069 drive west into Browerville. You’ll see a stone facade, dating to the 1940s or earlier, on the modern looking municipal liquor store on U.S. Highway 71. That work is said to have been done by Browerville stonemason Tom Scharnoski.

Just a block north from Scharnoski’s work on the liquor store are two large sculptures created in 1932 by Browerville artist Joeseph Kiselewski. The sculptures, known as the Comforting Angel and Christ Prays in Gethsemane, are surround by

Todd County

stone walls. Next to the sculptures is this interesting stone tower. It’s not known who created the tower or stone walls. Further north on Highway 71, in the town of Eagle Bend, is a house built entirely of stone by Tom’s father Frank.

West of Browerville, on County Road 14, are numerous houses with stone facades and even a stone silo. South of Browerville, down Highway 71, is Long Prairie. There, the courthouse on a hill is surrounded by a large retaining wall of cut stone. Elders say that was built by Tom and Frank. Elders also say Frank made the pretty little WPA culvert that’s photographed here, in 1941 or ’42. It’s on 3rd Avenue Southwest in Long Prairie. Unfortunately, the city plans to tear it down and replace it with a concrete culvert. Tom and Frank built fire places in private homes around the County. Tom built one that can be seen by the public at the Long Prairie golf course club house. Below is part of a poem P.L. Ostrom, one of Tom’s customers, wrote about his work:

We call him an artist; this stone laying man

He creates from God’s waste; of rock and of sand

He makes an honest living by the sweat of his brow

His tools are his hands, his hammers and trowel

But tell me this Tom; Do you understand

That the Lord made you a special man?

Most people think it a waste; God’s rock and sand

But You, create something beautiful with the work of your hands.

You can learn more about bridge L7069 at dot. state.mn.us/historicbridges. You can learn about Joseph Kiselewski’s work at www.kiselewskisculpture.com v