History is…

Published 12:00 am Saturday, January 24, 2004

What has living in Albert Lea meant to you?

By Bev Jackson, Tribune columnist

“Albert Lea Remembers” &045; what a delightful opportunity for everyone to share their stories about our community. This book, sponsored by the Friends of the Library, and edited by Joan Graham, has an advisory committee represented by the Public Library, Community Education, the Constant Reader, and the museum, and at a recent meeting, the room was abuzz with ideas about what might go in the book and how to encourage people to submit their stories. The enthusiasm for the project reminded me of how important it is for people to get their stories in print.

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As wonderful as technology is, we know that before long, our current systems will be obsolete, and that a new format will be in use. But the printed word will go on and on. Our library archives is proof of that. We have oral histories on reel to reel tapes and cassette tapes. and we know that it won’t be long before the equipment to transfer these stories will no longer be available. I also know that, if my parents were still alive, I would have a thousand questions to ask them, but I am wandering…

I want to talk about why we are celebrating 2006 as a special moment in our city’s history. It has been almost a hundred and fifty years since Charles C. Colby, surveyor, registered the Albert Lea city plat at the office of Register of Deeds in Dodge County. On Oct. 29, 1856, our city became more than a hamlet with a mill and a few log cabins sitting on a hill.

Colby had surveyed and platted out several city blocks, and land was set aside for a public park, Central park, and court square, where our courthouse still stands. Some of the street names you will recognize and some you will not &045; Broadway, Main, Newton, Elizabeth, Lake, River, Washington, St. Mary’s, Pearl, South, Williams, Clark, Water. West, and College. It was a little square town, with about eight blocks in each direction.

It was an exciting time for the residents of Albert Lea. More and more people were moving into the area, and the competition was stiff for the location of the county seat. St. Nicholas, on Lake Albert Lea, and Bancroft and Itasca, north of the city, were all adamant in their desire to incorporate as the governmental center of the county. Albert Lea residents were just as determined to keep that honor.

Lots of things were happening here in 1856.

The first election in the county was held on Nov. 3. The home of Oliver Andrews, situated on the line between the townships of Hayward and Shell Rock was the polling place and the entire voting population turned out &045; 44 men. At that time, post offices were being established in various parts of the county, and William Rice was bringing the mail to our settlers from a post office in Mitchell County, Iowa. He was caught in a snow storm on Dec. 3, lost his way, and died from exposure.

In 1857 (I don’t have numbers for 1856) the population of Albert Lea was 285.

Spring Lake was a considerable body of water, bordered by William Street on the north, College Street on the south, and Washington on the east. Main Street ended at the lakeshore.

The Clark building stood on the site of Lorenzo Merry’s cabin which had burned in 1865. (It was on Clark Street in between Broadway and Washington.) It was 14 x 16 feet and had a few shelves with some “goods” for sale. Squire Clark used to hold court there, and in a Jury case, the public would be sent outside where they listened to the discussions through the cracks in the walls. Marriages were performed there, and it is reported that the first sermon was preached, and the Sabbath School Convention was held there.

According to the “History of Freeborn County” written in 1882, the first child was born in March of 1856. the daughter of Mr. Walford and his wife Mary. The child’s name was Louisa.

“In the summer of 1856, the stage line commenced running through Albert Lea, and the people began to feel that they must very soon begin to put on some style, for this brought in settlers in a rapid manner.” 1882 History excerpt.

Many things have changed in those 150 years, and yet how many things have stayed the same. People are still people, with their enthusiasm, needs, and grumpiness all affiecting our city and its growth.

Think about your connection to the town &045; what has living in Albert Lea meant to you? Plan to attend one of the workshops that will be held this spring, call the library for the schedule (377-4350), and have your story published in the book, “Albert Lea Remembers.”

(Bev Jackson is the executive director of the Freeborn County Historical Museum.)