Welcome to Ellendale Exhibit features unique history

Now through the rest of 2015 visitors to the Steele County Historical Society can learn more about one of the towns that makes up Steele County, Ellendale. 
The display, which opened April 15, is put on by the Ellendale Heritage Society in conjunction with the SCHS and is sponsored by Andy and Mary Lerberg. 
Although this is a first-time exhibit, this is by no means the first partnership between the two organizations. 
“We’re thrilled to again partner with the Ellendale Heritage Society on this unique exhibit. They have done a wonderful job with the Gus’s Station restoration, the Beaver Lake Pop Stand and now, this look at the community of Ellendale. We have so much rich history throughout the county and it is great to have people like the members of the Ellendale Heritage Society that make this important history available for our visitors to enjoy.” said former SCHS Director Laura Resler. 
The Ellendale Heritage Society was formed in 1989 after the University of Minnesota project “Project Future” encouraged the community to do all it could to preserve their sense of community. 
“We formed at a time when we noticed that our community was shrinking. We are a farming community and our businesses on Main Street were shrinking,” said Heritage Society Chair Barb Mrotz. “It was formed to record and share Ellendale’s history and heritage. It is what we believe in, accomplished and stood up for and how we helped and shared with others. It is all the events and things in Ellendale that have made us proud and what we want to pass on to future generations.” 
The Heritage Society has been gathering information along with photos and artifacts since it formed, but in order to prepare for the display members had to track down additional information and get everything organized into a presentable manner so visitors could more easily follow along. 
Mrotz was not sure exactly how many items are on the display, but she was very pleased with the amount of items they were able to incorporate as she was hoping for half the size. 
“We just want Steele County to know about our beginnings. We have a sense of community here which we don’t want to loose. Even though our business street is not as full as it once was, we are still a vibrant community,” Mrotz said. “There have been many businesses that have come and gone… barber shops, grocery stores and restaurants, and still we survive. We still have most of those things here available although in a different form.” 
The display not only tells about the towns beginnings but also has stories, photos and artifacts from a range of areas including business, school, church, medical, social, sports, newspaper and government. 
Ellendale’s story began in 1900 after Thomas Brown, a railroad agent, was charged with finding a good commercial center in between Owatonna and Albert Lea. The village of Cooleyville, which is located just a half-mile east of present day Ellendale, saw the advantage of being near the railroad and all the businesses started moving to the new thriving community. 
One thing Mrotz thought some people may not know about Ellendale’s beginnings is that the town was actually named after a woman with the maiden name Ellen Dale who was good friends with Brown. 
“He suggested that name because she was such a good woman. In those days before there were any sort of human service programs for workers, she saw to it that if there was an illness in the family or a sick child that those families were taken care of. She also used her own horse and carriage to bring groceries to the families or to stay with them until they could get back on their feet,” Mrotz said. 
Mrotz added some other unique items incorporated into the display include stories and artifacts from a thought-to-be goldmine, Lerberg’s, Red Snapp’r (now known as Woodstream), Truth Tool (now known as Amesbury Truth) and Groth Furniture and Flooring. 
Mrotz added she enjoyed watching all of the pieces come together in the display. 
“To see and be aware that we have this much history and pictures gathered together to preserve the memories of our town and the heritage. It is not just the businesses, it is the people, the whole farming community that makes up our community and we don’t want to lose it,” she said. 
This display can be viewed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursdays 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. or Saturdays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission to the History Center is free for SCHS members and $5 for non-members.