Column: Pat Mulso, Preserving the Past

We attended the 50th anniversary celebration at St. John’s Lutheran Home recently. It was a beautiful afternoon and a lovely open house. We are so blessed to have such a great organization within our community, and it is exciting to see their plans for their future campus to be located on part of the old country club golf course site.

It was the vision and determination of the Rev. Melford Knutson back in the 1950s that lead to the construction of St. John’s Lutheran Home. The construction was possible with a grant from the Hill-Burton Fund and pledges from 28 Lutheran Church Congregations to match the $168,500 grant. This is a perfect example of a community working together. The first resident was admitted on Jan. 2, 1962, and the rest is history.

Lately I have been watching the old Perry Mason Show on Me TV, channel 47-2 that airs at 10:30 p.m. weekday nights. When I was growing up it also aired on late night TV, and I watched it quite often with my dad. Most episodes are familiar, since I have probably seen every show at least three or four times. It is amazing how story lines are still entertaining because I love mysteries, because I shared that love with my dad and how I remember certain attributes about my dad as I remember a simpler time in my life and how I loved the quiet time spent with my dad. I also remember how I enjoyed playing cards with my dad and how he could remember every card played. As I was cleaning this past week, I was sorting through some old games and it brought to mind the time spent with our grandchildren when they were very young and how they loved to play games. The simple things in life are sometimes the best memories and I hope that as my grandchildren grow up they will remember the times we spent on the living room floor playing cards and games or sorting through jewelry or looking through pennies to find the years needed to fill a folder or watching their favorite movie or cartoon over and over again. One of the most precious gifts we can give our loved ones is to spend time with them. Whether they are young and in our care or older and look forward to our visits, make the most of the time you have together and make a lasting memory today!

September will be another busy month at the museum. We are hosting a four-hour refresher defensive driving class from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday in the lower level of the museum. The cost is $19, and you must pre-register for the class. Our annual “Autumn in the Village” will take place from noon to 4 p.m. Sept. 16. Plan to join us for the afternoon; there will be good food, fellowship and activities for all ages. The cost is $5 for adults, $1 for students and members and children 11 and under will be admitted free. Take a walk back in time as the historical village comes to life. Then Sept. 20 join us for a Historical Mystery Bus Trip. The cost is $50 for members and $55 for non members. The bus will leave the museum at approximately 8:30 a.m. and return between 4:30 and 5 p.m. The village will continue to be open during the month of September and then will be closed for the season and reopen on May 1. The museum and library are open year round.

Continue to watch the progress on our building expansion and if you have questions or would like to make a donation, please don’t hesitate to stop by the museum during our regular business hours:  Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Help us to continue preserving the history of Freeborn County and its people. Remember what happens today is history tomorrow!

 

Pat Mulso is the executive director of the Freeborn County Historical Museum in Albert Lea.