NEW RICHLAND – The New Richland area has a heritage and tradition that runs deep but, until recently, not a whole lot has been done to preserve it.

Thursday, November 29, 2001

NEW RICHLAND – The New Richland area has a heritage and tradition that runs deep but, until recently, not a whole lot has been done to preserve it.

A group of townspeople aims to change that, and they’ve already got a good start.

The New Richland Area Historical Society was formed in October, securing a prime spot on Broadway Avenue, with a goal of creating a living history of sorts for visitors in time for next year’s Farm and City Days celebration.

&uot;With the 125th anniversary of New Richland (in 2002), we thought somebody should be doing something to preserve the history of this town,&uot; said Anita Staloch, one of the museum’s organizers.

The museum is located in the historic Washburn House on New Richland’s main street and the space is donated by the building’s owners, Rev. David and Lynda Laechel of Harmony. It opened unofficially for this year’s Farm and City Days, but an official grand opening is planned for next spring.

Several objects have been donated, but one key item was purchased at auction in what turned out to be a bidding war. It’s a depot desk, hard to find in any case but especially precious to New Richland because this was originally its home. It finally made its way back.

&uot;It was in Bruzek’s Hardware, and the guy from Hope who bought it had it on loan to Heritage Hall in Owatonna,&uot; said Staloch. &uot;We were bidding with the Steele County Historical Society, and we knew if they got it we would never get it back.&uot;

Concerned about the possible price tag, Staloch talked to Bernie Anderson at the State Bank of New Richland and he agreed to finance the purchase.

One recent donation was a pump organ given by Alfred Schmidt.

&uot;We’ve gotten items from several people,&uot; said Staloch. &uot;What we’re in the hunt for right now is pictures of New Richland, all the way up through the 1960s and ’70s, to put together a book for the 125th anniversary of New Richland.&uot;

Gary Strenge is president of the historical society, though Staloch and Barb Wildgrube do much of the leg work, including purchasing the depot desk. The organization plans to kick off a membership drive early next year.

For more information on the New Richland Area Historical Society, contact Anita Staloch at 507-465-8260 or Barb Wildgrube at 507-463-8454.