Interview with Anne Nordstrom Fremberg. Fremberg discusses growing up on her family's farm inside Sibley State Park, including her memories of the Great Depression. Her daughter Lorraine Danielson conducted the interview.
Interview Description: Lorraine talks about early life on the prairie of Sibley State Park and her family's history. Her stories take us back to earthen homes, or dug outs and what it was like to be a young woman working in the cities during World War II.
This first addition of storytelling from Dave Lais developed back in 2005 as part of a class at Ridgewater College. This interview details stories of homes lived in by generations of the park's first homesteaders.
This interview from 2005, captures the spirit of Lois Wohlin, who passed away in 2013. She tells stories of the Great Depression and a baseball field in the middle of dried up Lake Andrew! This a treasured interview by her daughters, grand-daughters and great granddaughters that still live nearby.
This interview was conducted as part of a class project at Ridgewater College. It captures the descriptive story of Ralph Howell, born in Willmar in 1935. Howell grew up in the outdoors and has a talent for describing a landscape and the animals he saw that paints a picture. He also tells of a moving story of gifting a boat to a friend.
Another interview we are lucky to have from a class in 2005 at Ridgewater College, this interview collects the story of a family that stretches back to original 1860 homesteaders. Richard give us a unique glimpse that starts to connect the many names that are rooted in the immigrants of this land, from Lindahl to Swan Fremberg, a Civil War veteran.
The life of growing up in New London in the 1950s and 60s are told by Cindy Newstrom whose child's eye view of adventures in the creamery milk truck, a tricycle on main street and braving the grocery dog.
Interview with Wally Newstrom. Wally relates his experiences growing up in West Central Minnesota. Note: Wally, in addition to several others in the New London Oral History Project, use the term "gypsy." The term was historically used to identify people of Eastern Europe or Romanian decent. Today the term Roma is more widely accepted.
Betty Nelson colorfully describes being a child growing up visiting Sibley State Park. She includes tales of biking to Sibley, what her parents thought of the "hippie" youth pastor, and an annual Father's Day picnic at Cedar Hill.
Gary grew up in Chicago, was married in Sundburg where his wedding party was mistaken for gangsters. Gary's legacy includes years of dedicated work with Water Search and Rescue.
From a family that immigrated here in 1868, Dahlberg brings a true "Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn" and "Sandlot" existence growing up in New London. A whistle from a cousin signaled time to go fishing and a life time of swinging papers to neighbors, this is life in New London.
Troy grew up biking to Sibley and skating on and swimming across local watering holes. And have you ever heard of the Loch Ness of Lake Andrew? Well, you will after this interview!
Phil Iverslie tells the story of a family cabin on Como Beach. As a child he spent nights listening to the music flowing across the water from Como Beach to it being the place of his honeymoon with his wife Florine.
Bryna describes the many artistic happenings of New London in the summer of 2016 from friends sitting on blankets watching a movie projected by the dam, to the friendly atmosphere of Goat Ridge and releasing a duckling at Sibley State Park.
A country kid who drove a tractor to Sibley State Park, played basketball on a hay covered court, and now reminiscent of the evolving Main Street of New London, Darrel tells his story from the comfort of Lake Affect coffee shop, where he meets every morning with other retired school teachers.
Our very own local Princess Kay from the Milk Way tell that once in a lifetime story about getting her bust carved out of butter- a story for every Minnesotan- in addition to what it is like to be an independent, female business owner in 2016.
Ken Gravely served his country in WWII, and tells a colorful story of the VJ announcement to servicemen in Okinawa as well as his post-war work on western movies scenes in Hollywood!
Kylie is a true rooted New Londoner who really brings to life the spirit of thriving New London in 2016 and reminds us what we have to be thankful for.
Mark tells a cheerful tale about memories at an uncle's farm in Spicer from riding pigs to getting away with mischief. He also includes his first impressions on the town of New London.
Hear stories of what kept kids busy (and in trouble!) in New London and what is was like to be a teenager graduating in 1967 in politically turbulent times.
Dick Clayton saw the changes of Parks and Trails through 35 years of service working at the Naturalist at Sibley State Park. Meaningful history of the Department of Natural Resources in Minnesota and Sibley State Park are told.
Roger is the definition of a "local" - having lived in the area his entire life. Walsh is able to describe the landscape during the Dust Bowl, cracked soil and dried up water beds. The history of land use and natural resources in this interview is intriguing to anyone familiar with the landscape and lakes today.
