Grocery Store History

This great blog from the Smithsonian about the way containers and grocery stores have changed over the years is very interesting.

http://blog.americanhistory.si.edu/osaycanyousee/2011/10/food-culture.html

However, it seems to focus mainly on the conversion of convenience food in the late 20th century. I think an even more drastic transformation in food shopping happened in the late 19th century when we went from cracker barrels to Uneeda Biscuit individual boxes and when Ivory Soap first advertised itself as 99 44/100th percent pure. There a number of museums with a general store display that help tell this story (a particularly good early one being in Forestville State Park near Spring Valley, Minnesota and find the hands on version at Walnut Grove), but few actual grocery store museums. One that does exist is the Watson Grocery Store in State Center, Iowa.

State Center is in the center of Iowa. Watson Grocery Store was used by the town from 1895 until it closed in the 1981. However, its snapshot is earlier than its closing date. Its owner didn’t like change and while a few things were added, you can definitely still see the early 20th century grocery store there today. I recommend that if you ever get a chance to stop and see it you do.

Information about visiting the Watson Grocery Store:
http://www.silosandsmokestacks.org/attraction/watsons-museum

Information about the historic site including general store in Forestville State Park near Spring Valley, Minnesota (It’s the one in the southeast corner south of Rochester):
http://www.mnhs.org/places/sites/hf/

UPDATED March 3, 2016: I pulled a dead link and swapped another out. I made a small clarity edit. I added the photo of the general store in Historic Forestville. Plus I added my current signature block.

Sarah S. Uthoff is the main force behind Trundlebed Tales striving to bring the History, Mystery, Magic and Imagination of Laura Ingalls Wilder and other greats of children’s literature and history to life for a new generation. Uthoff is a nationally known Laura Ingalls Wilder authority and has presented at five of the Wilder homesites, many conferences and numerous libraries, museums, and events around the Midwest. Attend one of her programs, schedule one yourself, watch her videos, listen to her podcast, and find her on  Facebook,  Twitter,  Google+, LinkedIn, and Academia.edu. Professionally she is a reference librarian at Kirkwood Community College and director of the Oxford (Iowa) Public Library.

Spring Valley on Trundlebed Tales

The latest episode of Trundlebed Tales Radio was  Episode 19 Spring Valley Wilder Connection. Join us as we talk about one of the less known Laura Ingalls Wilder sites, Spring Valley, Minnesota. We’re going to talk about both the history of the connection and what you can see in Spring Valley today. We’ll talk to Julie Mlinar and Mary Jo Dathe who literatlly wrote the book on Spring Valley.

It originally aired Monday, October 24, 2011.

Find it here
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/trundlebedtales/2011/10/25/ep-19-spring-valley-wilder-connection

Or on iTunes
http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/trundlebedtales-blog-talk/id412309121

Last Updated July 22 2016: I added my signature block and a photo.

Sarah S. Uthoff is the main force behind Trundlebed Tales striving to bring the History, Mystery, Magic and Imagination of Laura Ingalls Wilder and other greats of children’s literature and history to life for a new generation. Uthoff is a nationally known Laura Ingalls Wilder authority and has presented at five of the Wilder homesites, many conferences and numerous libraries, museums, and events around the Midwest. Attend one of her programs, schedule one yourself, watch her videos, listen to her podcast, and find her on Facebook, Twitter,  Google+,  LinkedIn, and Academia.edu. Professionally she is a reference librarian at Kirkwood Community College and director of the Oxford (Iowa) Public Library.

And One More On the Way Post List

As part of the countdown for the Laurapalooza conference I began a series of travel posts of places “on the way” to the conference or that you might add to any Laura trip. The series has been very popular, but with this last post I’m going to suspend it until the countdown for the next conference in 2012 gets closer. I have a lot of ideas of all new places for next time. In the meantime, here is a list of these posts in case you missed one.

And One More on the Way: Jolly Green Giant
http://beyondlittlehouse.com/2010/06/13/jolly-green-giant

And One More on the Way: Music Man Square
http://beyondlittlehouse.com/2010/06/17/on-the-way-music-man-square

And One More On the Way: Decorah, Iowa
http://beyondlittlehouse.com/2010/06/20/one-more-decorah-iowa

And One More on the Way: South Troy MN
http://beyondlittlehouse.com/2010/06/24/and-1-more-south-troy-mn

And One More on the Way: Brookings, SD
http://beyondlittlehouse.com/2010/06/26/and-one-more-brookings-sd

And One More on the Way: Lake Benton Windfarm
http://beyondlittlehouse.com/2010/07/01/on-the-way-lake-benton-windfarm

And One More on the Way: Trains
http://beyondlittlehouse.com/2010/07/03/and-one-more-on-the-way-trains

And One More on the Way: Fond Memories
http://beyondlittlehouse.com/2010/07/08/and-one-more-fond-memories

And One More on the Way: Native American Sites
http://beyondlittlehouse.com/2010/07/09/on-way-native-american-sites

And One More on the Way: McCone Sodhouses
http://beyondlittlehouse.com/2010/07/10/on-the-way-mccone-sodhouses

And One More on the Way: Outside of Windom MN
http://beyondlittlehouse.com/2010/07/11/outside-of-windom-mn

And One More on the Way: Spring Valley MN
http://beyondlittlehouse.com/2010/08/16/1-more-on-way-spring-valley-mn

Laurapalooza Video List

The first Laurapalooza burst onto Laura fandom July 14-17, 2010. This video blog is intended to share memories with those who did attend and give those who could not attend a glimpse into what it was like to attend. The Laura Ingalls Wilder Legacy and Research Association hopes that you will join us in Mankato in 2012.

For each part of the video below, I’ve added links and additional to the post, which in many cases has extra information, to the video itself, and give enough information that if you’re looking for something you can hopefully find it.

Day 1 – July 13, 2010

http://beyondlittlehouse.com/2010/07/14/video-of-day-1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ip0azwSImqY

Includes Decorah and Burr Oak, Iowa, Spring Valley, Minnesota, and Ferneva Brimacomb.

Day 2 – July 14, 2010

http://beyondlittlehouse.com/2010/07/15/laurapalooza-video-diary-day-2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_GYx0wJ4J0&feature=related

Includes Maude Hart Lovelace in Mankato, Minnesota, a look around the University of Minnesota-Mankato campus, and the ice cream social with welcomes from Amy Lauters, the Betsy-Tacy Society, John E. Miller, and Dean Butler.

Day 3 – July 15, 2010

Part 1

http://beyondlittlehouse.com/2010/07/16/laurapalooza-video-diary-day-3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYktSlqeKAg

Registration, Amy Lauters, Sandra Hume, Kelly Ferguson, Ann Dahl, Museum Staff Greetings, Michelle McCellan, Kristina Sukalski, and Dale Cockerell.

Part 2

http://beyondlittlehouse.com/2010/07/22/video-diary-day-3-part-2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGEql8BdMNo&feature=related

Author/illustrator Cheryl Harness, John E. Miller, Jenna Hunnef, Jim Hicks, the Harvey Dunn Plein Aire Event, and the Manchester Tornado.

Part 3

http://beyondlittlehouse.com/2010/07/22/video-diary-day-3-part-3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doOQfXlMYqY

Pepin contingent with Kitty Latane, Barbara Mays Boustead, Lynn Urban, Homesite Panel, Author Panel, and Dale Cockerell.

Part 4

http://beyondlittlehouse.com/2010/07/23/video-diary-day-3-part-4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtWcn6rNHsU&feature=related

Connie Neumann at Laura Ingalls Wilder Legacy and Research Association Booth, Sue Duggan, Author Reception with Nancy Cleaveland and Penny Linsenmayer.

Day 4 – July 16, 2010

Part 1

http://beyondlittlehouse.com/2010/08/01/video-diary-day-4-part-1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gannNdk8v1k&feature=related

Old car, Connie Neumann, Amy Lauters, Linnea Mattson, (Quilts, Sewing, and Crafts), and Betsy-Tacy events.

Part 2

http://beyondlittlehouse.com/2010/07/24/video-diary-day-4-part-2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fe0OCnrevU&feature=related

Pamela Smith Hill, Make and Take Crafts, Sarah S. Uthoff , Bookstore Display, Suzanne Falck-Yi, College Library, Kay Weisman, Gayle Abrahamson and Jane Palmer.

Part 3

http://beyondlittlehouse.com/2010/08/01/trip-video-diary-day-4-part-3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEW92_ftqHw

Emily Wooster, Osage Indian Responds, Charles Lewis, and Mavis Richardson.

Day 5 – July 17, 2010

Part 1

http://beyondlittlehouse.com/2010/07/25/laurapalooza-video-diary-day-5-part-1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXkRNpGuO4Q

Laura Ingalls Wilder Documentary, Wendy Corsi Staub, Barbara Mays Boustead, John Fry, Ann Dahl, Gayle Keresey, and Loving Laura panel.

Part 2

http://beyondlittlehouse.com/2010/07/25/video-diary-day-5-part-2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmN9BuUlwH0

Judy Green, Tin Pail Luncheon/Spelling Bee, and Farewell Mankato.

Sleepy Eye

http://beyondlittlehouse.com/2010/07/28/video-diary-sleepy-eye

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FkuOJ5zFcs&feature=related

Walnut Grove – Part 1

http://beyondlittlehouse.com/2010/07/30/video-diary-walnut-grove-pt-1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEao0NLEq14&feature=related

Pa’s church bell, actual walnut grove town is named for, and pageant grounds.

Walnut Grove – Part 2

http://beyondlittlehouse.com/2010/07/30/video-diary-walnut-grove-pt-2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COlpfK8T2n8&feature=related

Dugout Site, pageant supper, and downtown Walnut Grove.

Day 6 – July 18, 2010 – Last Day

Part 1

http://beyondlittlehouse.com/2010/07/31/video-blog-last-day-part-1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3a36QyngVo&feature=related

We look around Walnut Grove. Walnut Grove Museum, Dugout Site Memorial and Dugout Site.

Part 2

http://beyondlittlehouse.com/2010/07/31/video-blog-last-day-part-2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buJQ2LGNSII&feature=related

The drive home. Thanks for watching!

Sarah S. Uthoff blogs at TrundleBed Tales; look for her on Twitter and YouTube.

Laurapalooza Video Diary – Day 1

It’s a little rougher than my normal videos, but it’s my first attempt at a video diary and my first attempt at uploading from the road. I think it worked OK. It covers my trip to Mankato, MN including stops in Decorah and Burr Oak, Iowa and Spring Valley, Minnesota.

Burr Oak – Spring Valley – Pepin

As I often advise people, Burr Oak, Iowa, Spring Valley, MN and Pepin WI make up a real nice Wilder weekend. I took myself up on my own advice this weekend on my way to Laura Days in Pepin. I hadn’t been to Burr Oak yet this summer or met their new director, as of March.

Burr Oak Tour in Masters Hotel

He led the tour himself and it was one of the better tours I’ve gotten there. Still using the “Sleep tight” myth, but other than that really good. The Masters Hotel looks like it’s gotten more love and attention this year in little things. The June Hawley card which had partially fallen apart had been fixed. The things about William Reed were put together in a notebook, not just piled up, and someone had added a couple of framed and matted informational displays. The museum itself hadn’t changed much, but they have found a strawberry butter mold,

Strawberry Butter Mold

like Ma’s in Little House in the Big Woods which was a very nice addition. They have totally rearranged the gift shop. They now have all the books in series order along the brick wall that makes up part of the vault. The ceramics display that was previously there is all gone. It seems like  they had fewer things than  before, but since it changed so much it’s hard to tell. The new item I found was a beautiful wooden bookmark with a Burr Oak tree on it. The letters are moved back to the corner and the named bricks display moved up higher on the wall. A simple device of adding Almanzo and Laura’s heights along the wall has proved very popular. The letters place in the front area has been filled by historic photos of Burr Oak. I was running late by then, so I didn’t stop anywhere else in town.

Chicken Salad Meal at Tea and Tarts

I had taken time earlier to eat at Tea and Tarts in downtown Decorah who I recommend as worth the drive to anyone. I had the chicken salad and the house tea. It’s two and a half hours from Burr Oak to Pepin by the fastest route and a little under an hour between Burr Oak and Spring Valley directly.

I’ll save Pepin for tomorrow and skip to my stop on the way back in Spring Valley. I didn’t stop at the museum because I’m hopefully going to get to see that when I come back later in the month. I can report that the barn is STILL standing and, praise be, they moved the stupid boat so you can get a decent photo. Royal’s grave was still in shadow. I had lunch with James Wilder family expert Sharon Jahn which was great fun and I learned a lot about Wilder family and Spring Valley history. Including the distant Wilder connection of why you might want to visit Howard, South Dakota, just to say you’ve been there. 😉 I hope to get a look at her notebooks and all the good research she and the Spring Valley Historical Society have put in researching the Wilder family.

UPDATE 2014: Things have changed in Burr Oak since 2008. They have once again changed directors, they have redone several of the displays. They’ve opened up the pantry so you can see more of it. They have sent the Jane Hawley dolls back to their creators family. Lots has changed, but most of the good things and improvements I mentioned in the post are still there.

Also the Tea and Tarts Tea Room that I think you can tell from the post that I simply ADORED is no longer in operation. Their menu board was even at the What’s New Antique Shop the last time I went through, so it is well and truly gone. My allegiance had switched to Tea and Tarts after the Victorian Rose shut down. There are quite a few interesting restaurants in Decorah, but not one of them has become my current favorite. Let me know if you find one you especially love.

Sarah S. Uthoff is the main force behind Trundlebed Tales fighting to bring the History, Mystery, Magic and Imagination of Laura Ingalls Wilder and other greats of children’s literature and history to life for a new generation.Attend one of her programs, schedule one yourself, watch her videos, listen to her podcast, and find her on Facebook, Twitter, Google+,LinkedIn, and Academia.edu. She is currently acting President of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Legacy and Research Association. Professionally she is a reference librarian at Kirkwood Community College and director of the Oxford (Iowa) Public Library.