Log Home, Livedalen
From the 1882 History of Freeborn County, Minnesota; Shell Rock Township chapter, page 529:This township witnessed the first actual settlement ever made in Freeborn County and contained for about one year the only inhabitant of the same. The settlement first began in the southwestern part of the town, the first man being Ole Gulbrandson. According to historical evidence, this log home was possibly the first built in Freeborn County in 1853. First settler arrives, Ole Kolbjorn Livedalen and his wife Astri. The Livedalen family lived in the log home until 1856 when it was purchased by the William Beighley family. Ole was also known as Ole Livedalen, Ole Hall, Ole Gulbrandson.) When the government surveyed the area in 1854, Ole had broken seven acres of land, put crops in and had it fenced. This plowed and cultivated field is the only one in the county entered onto the survey map.The log home was located ¼ mile east of Gordonsville and a historical marker commemorates the site. It was moved to the fairgrounds in 1909 through the foresightedness of the Territorial Pioneers Organization which followed the Old Settlers Association around 1892. Originally the log home was placed at the north end of the fairgrounds and was moved to its present site in 1957. It is constructed of rough-hewn logs with tapered ends.The floor was originally made of split burr oak logs and the roof was covered with sod. Beighley replaced the sod with cut shingles in 1856. The floor was replaced with oak boards.The log home was occupied from 1856 to 1904.This style of log home was meant to be a temporary shelter until a well-built home could be constructed (like our Village Post Office and Parsonage). You can see how the cabins are constructed when you look at the SE corner of the Parsonage. Sometimes, the temporary shelter would be turned into an outbuilding or farm building—storing grain or equipment, after the permanent structure was completed. Another option was for the temporary structure to be incorporated into the permanent home. Even today there are homes in the area with log homes on the interior, hidden behind plaster walls.
General Store
What was a general store like in the 19th Century? Certainly not anything approaching the modern grocery or department store. Most stores had at least one large display window, but inside they could be dark and gloomy -- and depending on their geographical location, probably damp and humid to boot. Most were crowded with shelving along every wall. The floors were also crammed with boxes, barrels, crates, and tables holding goods.The front counter held display cases for smaller items, as well as needed machinery such as a coffee grinder, scales for weighing merchandise, and a cash register. Surplus merchandise was stored in the cellar or basement, or possibly on the second floor (if that was not the living quarters of the grocer's family).Most of the items to be found in a general store would be familiar to us today. Food and consumables included coffee beans, spices, baking powder, oatmeal, flour, sugar, tropical fruit like oranges, hard candy, eggs, milk, butter, fruit and vegetables, honey and molasses, crackers, cheese, syrup and dried beans, cigars and tobacco.
Blacksmith/Wagon Shop/Woodworking
This building was a small garage from 737 Front Street (near Lincoln Avenue) in Albert Lea and it retains its original appearance. The forge and array of the blacksmith equipment have been assembled from all the parts of the county. This building was moved to the village in 1963. The building was owned by Edward Fretheim (3 April 1874—8 January 1958).The blacksmith was often a meeting place. People gathered around and shared community news while they waited. It was often a family business with the grandfather sharpening blades, the father was the blacksmith, and the son was the apprentice.In 1914 there were 22 blacksmiths in Freeborn County, one or more in every community. By 1950 there were only two. In later years, the blacksmith businesses often developed into welding and repair shops.
Post Office
Originally a log home, this building was moved to this site in 1965 from a farm north of Hayward. This log home was constructed of logs finished flat on four sides with dovetail-notched corners. No modifications were made to the building, however the interior has been furnished with items from the early post office in Clarks Grove.
Church, Norsk Evangelisk Luthersk Kirke (Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church)
Built in 1878 the church was once located southeast of Albert Lea. It was also known as the North Round Prairie Lutheran Church. The church was donated to HCFC by Dr. and Mrs. Ignatius Bjorlee in 1968 and the interior appears today as it looked in the 1870’s—completely furnished and ready for use.The cost of the church, originally estimated at $1,200, mounted to $1,380. The congregation held their first meeting in the church on May 28, 1878.
Winjum Log Home
This is a new installation, more details to come.
Hardware Store
The hardware store began as a tool and equipment storage shed built back in 1915 at the east edge of Graceland Cemetery. After outgrowing the space, the building was donated to HCFC in 1972. Other than the installation of interior wall paneling, shelving, electrical wiring, and the addition of a sign, the building appears as it did in its original location. Perhaps the most remarkable thing about this building is the excellent rigid construction as evidenced by the absence of any cracks in the stucco coated walls.
Cobbler
It’s hard to imagine this little shop was once used year after year on Broadway in Albert Lea as the little Santa Claus house. It was donated to HCFC in 1972.A family-owned business, the cobbler (shoe repairman) likely made and repaired harnesses, belts, purses and other leather items as well as shoes. The sign on the shop was in the shape of a shoe to make it easily recognizable by people from other countries.
Millhouse
Originally a single car garage, the Millhouse building was moved from a site on First Avenue in Albert Lea. It was converted in 1979 to an exhibit of millstones from the early wind-powered and water-powered mills in Freeborn County. It has an electric-powered working model to illustrate how a grist mill ground corn and wheat for the early settlers.The first mill in the county was on Channel near Bridge Avenue.
Agriculture
A variety of agriculture equipment.
Fire House
County Jail
An anti-cattle and horse thief society was organized early in 1862, with the following officers: President, Joshua Dunbar; vice-president, J. M. Drake; secretary, William Morin; treasurer, A. Armstrong; finance committee, George S. Ruble, F. P. Skinner and James F. Jones; vigilance committee, E. C. Stacy, A. B. Webber, John Brownsill and L. T. Scott.From 1905 local paper – An effort will be made to prosecute umbrella thieves on a more serious charge than simple petit larceny. There are far too many cases of thievery here.In 1921 orders came to carry guns to guard the mail between the depots and the post office. There had been many robberies and the orders were “shoot to kill.” A double guard was posted at the post office from 6 in the evening until 6 in the morning.
Medical Exhibit
This is an exhibit that is being developed.
Barbershop
A person could get a shave for only 15 cents and a haircut for 25 cents. On Saturdays, some barbers would run a special of a haircut and shave for 25 cents. If someone wanted to take a bath, they could do so inside of the barbershop. There was a public bath that anyone could use.
Bank
Railroad Depot
Today the county gains enormously from the intersection of Interstate Highways 35 and 90 north of Albert Lea – this profit is not only economic in nature but also in name recognition nationwide. Yet many forget that what put the county and especially Albert Lea on the map was the railroad network linking the area to the Twin Cities, Chicago, and points south.The Rock Island which took over the former Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railway (BCR&N) in 1902 had an extensive yard and depot in the east of Albert Lea where it mainly served the meat-packing industry. In later years it was important for its crack streamlined passenger trains such as the “Twin Star Rocket” through Kansas City to Houston and the “Zephyr-Rocket” to St. Louis. The last passenger train was dropped in 1967 which then ended all passenger service for this area. The company went into bankruptcy and was purchased by the C&NW.In 1919, 75 trains passed through Albert Lea every 24 hours. 24 were freight trains and 33 were passenger trains, others were special trains.In 1926 as the result of the potato production in the newly formed community of Hollandale, the Rock Island and the Milwaukee cooperated in building branch lines to that area to haul the potato crop. This was really the last of the railroad construction in the county.
History Center of Freeborn County
The Freeborn County Historical Society was established in January of 1948 at an organizational meeting held in the law offices of J. F. D. Meighen. Lester W. Spicer was elected president. Other officers were Dr. Andrew Gullixson, first vice president; Carl Lunde, second vice president; William H. Sykes, secretary and treasurer. Directors were Anna Frydenlund, J. F. D. Meighen and Bernard Johnsrud. These founding members organized the society with the intention of collecting and preserving the history of Freeborn County.In November 1955, FCHS purchased 42 steel lockers from the Jordahl plant in Manchester to be installed in the engineer's office in the old courthouse for storing documents. Had use of 3 rooms [meeting room and a 2-room fireproof vault] in the basement of old courthouse. Not requesting "relics" due to lack of storage space. On February 20, 1960, FCHS officially open its museum in the basement of the courthouse building. In 1966 FCHS constructed a museum building on land leased through the county located next to the Freeborn County Fairgrounds. We have had two expansions to the museum building, one in 1980 and the latest in 2013. In 2018, the Freeborn County Historical Society began doing business as the Freeborn County Historical Museum, Library and Village (FCHM). In 2024, the board of directors completed a five-year strategic plan and as a result began doing business as the History Center of Freeborn County (HCFC).HCFC is committed to building the future by preserving the past history of our county. From our staff and board of directors to our volunteers and members, we are eager to create long-lasting connections for everyone who interacts with our organization.The Freeborn County Historical Society dba the History Center of Freeborn County, is an independent, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization governed by members via a Board of Director. Each year we, together with volunteers, provide presentations, educational and outreach programs, special events, museum exhibits, and more. We currently own and operate the museum, village and the Itasca Rock Garden.
