Pearl Harbor Program at Museum

Join us for an anniversary celebration with a military background. The Otter Tail County Historical Society Military Roundtable, now called Otter Tail County MP (for Military Past) is one year old. In December, the forum will take place on the 68th anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day, Monday, Dec. 7, at noon. As a special way to commemorate the anniversary of this historic day and our OTC MP, the Historical Society will present local historian Myron Broschat. Broschat is a retired employee of Otter Tail Power Corp. and himself a veteran of WWII, has published booklets on the military history of Otter Tail County and on the histories of Otter Tail Power employees. He will give a stirring presentation on the sequence of events that happened on the fateful day in 1941.

Bring your sack lunch or just come and enjoy the coffee, cider and holiday treats from the Historical Society. This program is given free of charge. Call 218-736-6038 for more information.

Rural School Christmas Program at Museum

The public is invited to travel back in time before 1971 and the consolidation of Minnesota’s rural schools, and experience a country school Christmas. Students from the Fergus Falls schools will help us relive this beloved tradition, the Christmas program performed in our one room school houses. With two performances at the Otter Tail County Historical Museum on Sunday, December 6, at 1:30 and 3:00 p.m., the museum can seat the many visitors that want to look back to a simpler celebration of Christmas.
The program’s guest director this year is Pam Torkelson, a teacher at Adams Elementary School. The students will deliver a touching Nativity play followed by recitations and holiday songs. Coffee, cider and cookies will be served.
Historical Society volunteers will also have a heritage bake sale set up with a tasty variety of holiday goodies.
Whether you attended country school or just wish you or your children had, please join us for a festive kick off to the holiday season. For more information call the museum at 736-3038.

HAUNTED MUSEUM (1 NIGHT–2 SHOWS)

In its May 28th, 1887 issue, the Fergus Falls Daily Journal reported that “news reached Fergus Falls that a bloody and inhuman murder had been committed in St. Olaf Township that was so horrific it made the blood run cold and caused one to wonder whether such a thing could be done by a human being.” While the reporter knew a terrible crime had been perpetrated, did he realize it would still be talked about today as one of the county’s most legendary acts?

This and other haunting stories will be told during the Otter Tail County Historical Society’s Haunted Museum on Friday, October 30, with programs at 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. As the museum takes on an eerie aura with darkened corridors, story tellers take to the stage to recount brutally realistic accounts of gruesome crimes and strange events from Otter Tail County’s past. As if the infamous Pig Farm Murder is not enough, there will be “new” stories this year including the ghastly acts of Carl Reher, the mysterious, unsolved murder of Mons Jacobson and the infamous house of ill repute on the Elizabeth road.

The Haunted Museum is not for the very young as there are vivid descriptions of violent events. So that parents can enjoy the stories and bring the kids, an age appropriate movie will be shown for $3 per child. Admission to the Haunted Museum is $5. For more information call the museum at 218-736-6038.

Annual Meeting at Mulligan’s Pub & Eatery, Perham, MN

We are a couple of hours away from the 82nd Annual Meeting of the Otter Tail County Historical Society. Because the county seat of Otter Tail is Fergus Falls and our historical society is located in Fergus Falls we host our annual meeting every other year in Fergus Falls. However… every other year we find a location outside of Fergus Falls to host the annual meeting. This year we are heading to Perham! We are excited to be going to what some may describe at the heart of East Otter Tail County. Yippee!

Haunted Museum October 30, 2009

In its May 28th, 1887 issue, the Fergus Falls Daily Journal reported that “news reached Fergus Falls that a bloody and inhuman murder had been committed in St. Olaf Township that was so horrific it made the blood run cold and caused one to wonder whether such a thing could be done by a human being.” While the reporter knew a terrible crime had been perpetrated, did he realize it would still be talked about today as one of the county’s most legendary acts?
This and other haunting stories will be told during the Otter Tail County Historical Society’s Haunted Museum on Friday, October 30, with programs at 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. As the museum takes on an eerie aura with darkened corridors, story tellers take to the stage to recount brutally realistic accounts of gruesome crimes and strange events from Otter Tail County’s past. As if the infamous Pig Farm Murder is not enough, there will be “new” stories this year including the ghastly acts of Carl Reher, the mysterious, unsolved murder of Mons Jacobson and the infamous house of ill repute on the Elizabeth road.
The Haunted Museum is not for the very young as there are vivid descriptions of violent events. So that parents can enjoy the stories and bring the kids, an age appropriate movie will be shown for $3 per child. Admission to the Haunted Museum is $5. For more information call the museum at 218-736-6038.

REMEMBERING THE 50S

Poster Remembering the 50s

Celebrate the Otter Tail County Historical Society’s 82nd birthday with a dinner, program and silent auction on Thursday, October 15 at Mulligan’s Pub & Eatery in Perham.

Under the theme Remembering the 50s, the evening features a homestyle pot roast dinner, silent auction and a nostalgia filled program with master storyteller Bob Gasch. Gasch will elicit memories from the audience while weaving together local and national events, places and people from the 1950s.

Social hour begins at 5:30 with dinner at 6:30. People are encouraged to slick back their hair and wear their favorite poodle skirts, saddle shoes and jeans. Elvis impersonators are also welcome.

Tickets are $25. For an additional $15, a coach bus will be taken from the historical museum in Fergus Falls with stops at the BP stations in Battle Lake and Ottertail. Enjoy snacks and a beverage on the bus and leave the driving to us. The bus loads at 4:15 and leaves the museum parking lot at 4:30, Battle Lake at 5:00 and Ottertail at 5:30.

Please call the museum at 218-736-6038 to reserve a seat for dinner and the bus.

Encounters of the 3rd Kind: Convergence of SCI FI Enthusiasts

Meet at 4:51 p.m at the NEW Kiosk at the “Great Continental Divide” (located by the Big Chief restaurant) Come as you are or as your favorite Alien. Later you will head over to Latitude: 46.28 Longitude 96.09 (Otter Tail County Museum) to view the opening of the Science Fiction exhibit and meet with others that are OUT OF THIS WORLD!!! All ages are welcome.

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This exhibit opens Friday, October 9, 2009, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Admission for non-members on opening night is $3.00 for adults (ages 12 to adult), $1.00 per child (ages 5 to 11), children under 5 years old and members are FREE. Refreshments will be served. The entire gallery is open for reviewal.

“Encounters of the 3rd Kind” brings together the personal treasures of Science Fiction lovers of our community and beyond.

The exhibit runs from October 9, 2009 to December 18, 2009 to coincide with the BIG READ and FERGUS FALLS READS.

General admission rates will be charged after October 9, 2009.

Final Stories from the State Hospital Tour

If you missed the first two tours there is one final chance to catch “Myths & Legends: Stories from the Fergus Falls State Hospital” on Friday, October 16, 5:30 p.m. Sponsored by the Otter Tail County Historical Society, the program guides you through a history of the State Hospital with stories and accounts that have never been told before. “Myths & Legends” delves into the murkier side of history that is often ignored. Tales include an area newspaper editor who paid the price for taking on powerful financial interests. The deadly case of mistaken identity involving an escaped state hospital patient and a threshing crew. Or the unfortunate incident involving an escaped patient, a chicken coop and dynamite. These are just a few of the stories that have become the stuff of local legend and mystery.
Please park in the Government Services Center parking lot and proceed to the West Detached section of the state hospital complex where the tour begins. Most of the tour is held outside so please dress appropriately. The cost is $5, call 218-736-6038 for more information.