From left: Ardith Kane, Emma Hendrickson, Mary Beth Woodrow, Mary Ellen Moriarty, and Bob Boese are proud of the new library building in Aitkin in 1994. Founded in 1959, ECRL is the oldest existing regional public library system in Minnesota. Headquartered in Cambridge, it is a consolidated library system with 14 libraries and Outreach Services and serves residents in Aitkin, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine counties.
Turnblad mansion used as headquarters for the American Swedish Institute. Completed in 1908, the Swan J. Turnblad mansion was built in the French Chateauesque style. The house became the American Swedish Institute in 1929.
Art Nouveau style bedchamber on the second floor of the Turnblad mansion, also known as the Blue Room. Completed in 1908, the Swan J. Turnblad mansion was built in the French Chateauesque style. The house became the American Swedish Institute in 1929.
This room was originally a guest bedroom, and has housed many exhibits on Swedish life, including weaving, over the years. Completed in 1908, the Swan J. Turnblad mansion was built in the French Chateauesque style. The house became the American Swedish Institute in 1929.
Side table and two chairs against one wall of the breakfast room in the Turnblad mansion. Completed in 1908, the Swan J. Turnblad mansion was built in the French Chateauesque style. The house became the American Swedish Institute in 1929.
View of the Turnblad mansion dining room, looking toward the carved sideboard. Completed in 1908, the Swan J. Turnblad mansion was built in the French Chateauesque style. The house became the American Swedish Institute in 1929.
Phil Meyer (right), hired to implement East Central Regional Library's automation system, and a Dynix system representative in the headquarters computer room in Cambridge, Minnesota on the first day of automation, April 1, 1996. Founded in 1959, ECRL is the oldest existing regional public library system in Minnesota. Headquartered in Cambridge, it is a consolidated library system with 14 libraries and Outreach Services and serves residents in Aitkin, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine counties.
Three men are pictured with railroad steam engine 716 at Thief River Falls, Minnesota. They are Fred Gram, William Churchill (1881-1965), and Peter C. Peterson (1881-1949).
Exterior detail of the Turnblad mansion. Completed in 1908, the Swan J. Turnblad mansion was built in the French Chateauesque style. The house became the American Swedish Institute in 1929.
Marcia Ledin, Acquisitions/Registration Aide, and Mark Ranum, Reference Librarian, are testing the new automation system at the circulation desk of East Central Regional Library's headquarters in Cambridge, Minnesota, April 1, 1996. Founded in 1959, ECRL is the oldest existing regional public library system in Minnesota. Headquartered in Cambridge, it is a consolidated library system with 14 libraries and Outreach Services and serves residents in Aitkin, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine counties.
Microfiche readers, shown at the Aitkin Library, replaced East Central Regional Library's card catalog in the branches in 1988. The fiche cards were updated every six months. Founded in 1959, ECRL is the oldest existing regional public library system in Minnesota. Headquartered in Cambridge, it is a consolidated library system with 14 libraries and Outreach Services and serves residents in Aitkin, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine counties.
In the picture, Leona (Isadore's sister-in-law) and her daughter Anita, are in the backyard of the Mike Gordon's Ely store: the steps in the background lead to the family home upstairs. Mrs. Rosenbloom, another Jewish Ely resident, is at the right of the picture. The Gordon family was one of the first Jewish families to settle in Ely. Isadore Gordon left Lithuania and traversed Canada before arriving in Duluth. He worked in the shipyards, and peddled the Range. His customers liked him so well that they loaned him money to open a clothing store in Ely. The Rosenblooms raised seven children in Ely, and most of them continued on to college at the University of Minnesota. When the Rosenblooms moved to Minneapolis in 1943, the family store became the Ely American Legion Hall.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Interior view of the library, with library table and Kakelugn. Completed in 1908, the Swan J. Turnblad mansion was built in the French Chateauesque style. The house became the American Swedish Institute in 1929.
The Mille Lacs Lake Community Library became East Central Regional Library's 13th branch in 1985, and moved to the Isle City Center building in 1991. The library is in the left side of this building, and the city hall and police are located on the right, with a meeting room in the back, Isle, Minnesota. Founded in 1959, ECRL is the oldest existing regional public library system in Minnesota. Headquartered in Cambridge, it is a consolidated library system with 14 libraries and Outreach Services and serves residents in Aitkin, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine counties.
View of the grand piano and fireplace in the music room, Turnblad mansion. Completed in 1908, the Swan J. Turnblad mansion was built in the French Chateauesque style. The house became the American Swedish Institute in 1929.
A banner says, ""National Library Week. ECRL Automation - a look to the future."" Money jars were introduced in all East Central Regional Library branches during National Library Week in 1994, part of a fund-raising program for $100,000, offering library users the opportunity to contribute to East Central Regional Library's automation project. Founded in 1959, ECRL is the oldest existing regional public library system in Minnesota. Headquartered in Cambridge, it is a consolidated library system with 14 libraries and Outreach Services and serves residents in Aitkin, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine counties.
The new McGregor Public Library was completed and opened in September 1989, McGregor, Minnesota. Founded in 1959, ECRL is the oldest existing regional public library system in Minnesota. Headquartered in Cambridge, it is a consolidated library system with 14 libraries and Outreach Services and serves residents in Aitkin, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine counties.
Mary Jane Bridge, Branch Librarian in Milaca, and Mary Johnson, Assistant Director, hold giant ""plugs"" to celebrate four new services made possible by Telecommunications Access Grants from the state of Minnesota: the electronic database Infotrac, public internet access at the library, East Central Regional Library's own website and toll-free telephone number. Feb. 1997. Founded in 1959, ECRL is the oldest existing regional public library system in Minnesota. Headquartered in Cambridge, it is a consolidated library system with 14 libraries and Outreach Services and serves residents in Aitkin, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine counties.