Latest Cook County Historical Society News

Historic Cook County is pleased to introduce Catherine Mägi as its new executive director. Catherine started her professional career as a lawyer in Washington D.C. before changing her trajectory towards her passions, writing and history.

“I am humbled to be joining Historic Cook County during its centennial year. I look forward to working with our staff, board, volunteers, and community partners to craft special experiences that spark interest in our past and hope for our future.”

In 2025, Historic Cook County will be celebrating our 100th year of collecting, preserving, and sharing the history of Cook County and Grand Portage, Minnesota. Next year, we have exciting new events and features in the works, and we can’t wait to share those with you. Until then, we’re inviting you to start the celebration early with us with our 100-year calendar!

We went through hundreds of photos looking for ones we felt captured the area over the past 100 years (and let us say, it was very difficult narrowing them down). One thing we do know is that we wouldn’t have many photo options if it weren’t for people like you sharing them with us for the past 99 years, and supporting the Historical Society in other ways.

The calendar is available in person at the Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery during regular business hours, or online here (you can even order a copy and pick it up in person in time for those holiday gifts).

Additionally, any donation of $50 and over through December 31 will receive a *free* calendar. You can learn more here: https://www.cookcountyhistory.org/2025calendar

Your support has helped us collect, preserve, and share the rich stories of Cook County and Grand Portage over the past 100 years, and will ensure we can continue to do so for the next 100.

 2024 ANnual Meeting: Cookies, Cocoa, and the cook county historical society

Thank you to everyone who made it out to the 2024 Annual Meeting! The grey, rainy day made it feel extra cozy inside the Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery, where attendees sipped on hot cocoa (with a variety of toppings), and snacked on cookies (many homemade by our wonderful Lois Clay!).

During the meeting, Renee Riemersma, a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), presented the wonderful Alta McQuatters with the Excellence in Historic Preservation Award. Those who know Alta and her work know she is more than deserving of this award, and we are honored to have been able to be part of this wonderful celebration.

Media coverage of the new public art project biota borealis

A huge thank you to WTIP North Shore Community Radio and Boreal Community Media for their great coverage of our new public art project Biota Borealis by Minnesota-artist Maeve Gathje.

2024 Fall Updated Hours

As we head towards the first day of Autumn, the leaves change and so do things at Historic Cook County. To effectively manage the transition of several staff members into new, exciting positions in the community, we are re-evaluating our approach to maintaining the well-being of our team while preparing for our centennial celebration in 2025. This will allow us to continue effectively sharing the stories of Cook County’s history.

Historic Cook County Announces Public Art Project Biota Borealis Unveiling

 Historic Cook County is excited to announce a date for its Public Art Project Unveiling and corresponding Artist Talk with Maeve Gathje.  Join us on Saturday, September 28th at 4 pm at the Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery (115 W Wisconsin St, Grand Marais, MN) to be among the first to see this incredible work of art.

Historic Cook County Prepares for Centennial Year with New Interim Director

A message from Executive Director Katie Clark:

As Historic Cook County (HCC) approaches its centennial in 2025, the organization continues to thrive, celebrating 100 years of preserving our rich history. Over the years, countless individuals have dedicated themselves to safeguarding the personal stories, experiences, and artifacts that define our community. Through their efforts, a treasure trove of documents, photographs, oral histories, and historical sites has been carefully curated and protected.

As we look to the future, I am excited to announce that after five fulfilling years with CCHS, I will pursue long-awaited creative endeavors. During the transition to a new director, Aliya Marxen, our current Gallery Manager at Johnson Heritage Post (JHP) Art Gallery, will step in as our Interim Director.

Around 100 people came out to enjoy a historic method of cooking fresh fish

Around 100 people gathered on Saturday, August 17, to partake in good food, community, and learn about a historic method of cooking fresh fish. A huge thank-you to all of our volunteers, staff, and those who attended the event for creating a wonderful evening.

Over 60 people gathered to hear the stories of women in Cook County

Earlier this month, our second annual STORIES THAT MATTER: Women of Cook County event was a huge success. Over 60 people gathered at the Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery to learn about influential women in Cook County. For those who couldn't attend, or want to revisit the stories of Darragh Aldrich, Andrea Peterson, and Betsy Bowen, you're in luck. We recently released the presentation and accompanying audio for all to enjoy. Click on the link below for more information.

Savor the Past: Community-Favorite Planked Trout Dinner Returns to Cook County

Planked fish has been around for centuries. Historians widely accept that the first records of planked fish came from the Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest, where they would attach salmon to cedar planks and cook by a fire. European settlers quickly adopted the practice, incorporating it into their own culinary traditions. As westward expansion brought more people into contact with abundant freshwater fisheries, planked trout dinners became a staple of outdoor gatherings and celebrations. These communal meals fostered a sense of community and shared heritage.

This year, the event is making its return after a hiatus due to COVID on Saturday, August 17 in the Grand Marais RV Park Recreation Hall from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. Along with delicious plank-cooked lake trout, potatoes, salad, bread, dessert, and beverages will be served.

 COOK COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY WILL CELEBRATE ITS CENTENNIAL BIRTHDAY IN 2025!

The Cook County Historical Society (CCHS) was established in the fall of 1925 and is a county- and member-supported organization dedicated to the preservation and dissemination of the county’s storied past. 

In its early days, the historical society stored its initial collections in scattered locations (including the old leaky jail), managed a smattering of records, and relied on a shifting volunteer base. 

As we celebrate our 100th year, we will be welcoming members to new benefits and membership levels, showcasing a centennial exhibit, and sharing new stories on a variety of platforms. Stay tuned for announcements of more events and happenings – and celebrate with us!

GRANT RECEIVED TO HELP CONTINUE TELLING STORIES FROM THE PAST

The Minnesota Historical Society recently awarded CCHS an $8,300 Minnesota Historical & Cultural Heritage Grant for the Digitization of Recorded Oral Histories and Interviews. CCHS is using designated funds previously received for our Oral History program as a match for the grant.

Clarence J. Krotz, WWII Bomber Pilot and Founder of the First Airport in Cook County to be Inducted into the MN Aviation Hall of Fame

On June 11, 2024, the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame announced that Clarence J. Krotz, a WWII bomber pilot and founder of the first airport in Cook County, will be inducted in 2025. Inductees are part of a distinguished group of aviators and aerospace pioneers whose contributions have significantly shaped Minnesota’s rich aviation heritage.

SUMMER HOURS START MAY 24 AT ALL HISTORIC COOK COUNTY SITES

MAY 24 - SEPTEMBER 28

History Museum: Mon-Sat 10 - 4 pm, Sun 12-4.

Letteracy Deck @ the Museum Tue-Sat 10 - 4 pm, Sun-Mon 12-4.

JHP Art Gallery: Wednesday - Sunday 10-4

Bally Blacksmith & Metal Shop: 7/12-13, 8/2-3, 9/27-28, 1-4 pm (Demos on those Saturdays)

Chippewa City Church (St. Francis Xavier): Fri - Sun, 12-2 pm

Replica 1930s Fish House/Fishing Tug Nee-Gee: Open daily in the Grand Marais Recreation Park

HISTORIC COOK COUNTY LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT STATEMENT

Cook County occupies traditional, ancestral, and contemporary lands of the Indigenous community. These lands were ceded to the U.S. Government by the Chippewas of Lake Superior in the Treaty of 1854, including the tribal lands of the sovereign nation of the Grand Portage Band of Anishinaabe.

The Cook County Historical Society (CCHS) acknowledges the historic and cultural impact of colonial practices. We are committed to creating an accurate and inclusive history of Cook County and all of its inhabitants.

To do this, we plan to take action on an ongoing basis in several ways:

❖   We will work to preserve the Chippewa City Church/St. Francis Xavier building and property.

❖   We will focus on sharing updated and accurate historical interpretations of the Chippewa City Church and surrounding area.

❖   We have begun the process of consultation with the Grand Portage Anishinaabe on our inventory of Native American artifacts per the new federal regulations related to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA).

CCHS will revise and strengthen our action plan each year - soliciting collaboration and feedback from our community. We will share this action plan with our partner organizations.

RFP for a Historic Structure Report

***The deadline to complete the RFQ has passed. MacDonald & Mack Architects is currently working on the historic structure analysis, which has been completed and is currently being reviewed.

THE COOK COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY SEEKS FINAL PROPOSALS FROM QUALIFIED ARCHITECTURE FIRMS TO DEVELOP A HISTORIC STRUCTURE REPORT (HSR) FOR ST. FRANCIS XAVIER/CHIPPEWA CITY CHURCH.

CCHS seeks final proposals from qualified architecture firms to develop a Historic Structure Report (HSR) for St. Francis Xavier/Chippewa City Church.

St. Francis Xavier/Chippewa City Church is on the National Register of Historic Places and has been owned by CCHS since 1998 and used for a museum of history, public tours, and event space. Through the creation of this HSR, CCHS seeks to gain further knowledge and insight into its historic nature, an updated evaluation of its existing condition, and guidance in our short- and long-term preservation efforts.

Funds for this project have been secured through recently received state funding dollars. See below for a link to the RFP. For questions or more information, please contact Operations Director Katie Clark at history@boreal.org. (Posted 7/21/23)

2024 PROJECT UPDATE

RESOURCES: Cook County Historical Society (CCHS) received $700,000 in appropriations from the State of Minnesota in September of 2023. These funds are intended to be used on the restoration, repair, and enhancement of our five historic properties as well as on a new archival collections storage facility. CCHS appreciates the legislative support as well as the continued support from Cook County, our members, the community, and our partner organizations of the Historical Alliance of Cook County. Preserving the heritage of this area provides cultural, sustainable, and economic benefits to the community and future generations. 

PROJECTS: CCHS has a goal of adding to the life and utilization of all of our sites. To date, current and scheduled projects focus on improved accessibility and safety, upgraded electrical and heating, preservation, and replacement of outdated components. We are also pursuing a needs assessment and analysis of long-term solutions for secure, climate-controlled storage of our collections. In addition, we commissioned a historic structure analysis of the Chippewa City Church from MacDonald & Mack Architects which will be completed in the spring of 2024 and enable CCHS to more closely define both the direction and the extensive scope of the restoration.

FOCUS: Our focus is on the restoration and preservation of the Chippewa City Church. We are building partnerships to assist with research and interpretation of the Church and surrounding area as a site of public learning, contemplation, and enjoyment. We are pursuing grants from federal government sources and private foundations to help us complete this work in the coming years.

VALUE: CCHS is committed to promoting the recognition of the historical, cultural, and emotional significance of the Chippewa City area and the critical role played by the individuals and families who were born, lived, and died there. We would like to further expand on the restoration of the Chippewa City Church by creating rich programming that celebrates the culture of Native Americans in Cook County and communicates solidarity with their experienced injustices. Chippewa City was home to many Anishinaabe families and CCHS applauds the transfer of the beach area property near the Church from the Minnesota Department of Transportation to the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa in 2022.

FUTURE: As we work to finalize the scope, logistics, and additional funding for the Chippewa City Church and our Archival Storage needs, CCHS has projected that future support will be necessary in order to accomplish our preservation and outreach needs in Cook County.

A CELEBRATION OF THE LAUNCH OF THE BOOK CHASING THE NORTH WIND

On Saturday, January 27, the Cook County Historical Society hosted members of the Krotz family, the community, and aviation lovers at Johnson Heritage Post in Grand Marais, to celebrate the launch of the book Chasing the North Wind, by Kathy Krotz-Finn.

Click here to learn more, and see photos from the event.