July 13: Kasson, Northfield, Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport

Yesterday evening we arrived at our BnB in Kasson, Minnesota to lowering skies, a fitful wind, continual flashes of lightning, low rumbles and bumping percussions of thunder, so we quickly brought our luggage to the 2nd floor while our landlord and landlady went off to do the night shift of watching over injured criminals in the hospital.  So we were all alone, and when we heard sirens, we began looking where we might take shelter in case of a tornado.  Maureen had the presence of mind to call a non-emergency number to ascertain that a severe thunderstorm would be the more likely scenario for the evening.  We did some emails, I attempted to do a blog entry, but then inadvertently erased it, so I was in no mood to be toyed with.  Later, becalmed, I wrote a much truncated version of the first narrative and attached my pictures of the day to that.  Regard that entry as one of those loser blogs—sometimes they fall apart, and that was one instance of that happening.  Hopefully, the narrative today will be more satisfactory.  

Later in the evening we took showers and attempted to pack and then sleep.  Winds and rain whipped up again at around 2:15 a.m., with major thunder bumpers that left no doubt that sleep would not come.  I had a very fitful sleep, but woke up at 7:00, stowing luggage by 8:00 a.m. and saying goodbye to our landlord and landlady.  We were at Daniel’s for breakfast a little later, enjoying scrambled eggs, bacon, toast, and coffee, and then, with more promise, since skies were beginning to brighten, we sailed out of Kasson and towards Northfield, our last stop before the airport.  Northfield is about 45 minutes from the airport and was therefore appropriate as a final stop.  It is a small town platted in 1856 and founded by immigrants from New England known as “Yankees” as part of a New England colonizatiom of what was then the far west.  It was an early agricultural center with many wheat and corn farms.  The town also supported lumber and flour mills powered by the Cannon River.  As the “wheat frontier” moved west, dairy operations and diversified farms replaced the wheat-based agriculture.  The region has since moved away from dairy and beef operations.  Today it produces corn and soybeans, and hogs.  The local cereal producer Malt-O-Meal is one of the few remnants of Northfield’s historic wheat boom.  

The city’s motto is “Cows, Colleges, and Contentment” and reflects the influence of the dairy farms as well as its two liberal arts colleges.  Carleton College was founded in 1866 on the northern edge of town by the Minnesota Conference of Congregational Churches.  These were people descended from the English Puritans who settled New England in the 1600s.  St. Olaf College was founded in 1874 on the western edge of town by Norwegian Lutheran immigrant pastors and farmers who were eager to preserve their faith and culture by training teachers and preachers.  These two institutions which today have more than 5,000 students, make Northfield a college town.  

Photographs 3-10 have as their subject Carleton College, and photographs 15-21 deal with St. Olaf College.  Both are highly esteemed colleges, but I found St. Olaf’s architecture to be especially homogenous in establishing a unified theme.  St. Olaf, also, has an incredible choir program.  

After a soup and bagel at a downtown bagel emporium, we crossed to the First National Bank to be apprised of a fascinating story told by a very good guide who took us through the bank building.  On September 7, 1876, eight bandits rode into Northfield intent on robbing the First National Bank.  Three entered the bank and announced there was a holdup.  The desperadoes ordered the three bank employees to open the safe but were told that the door was locked and couldn’t be opened.  Meanwhile, out on the street, local people began to arm themselves when one of their merchants discovered the robbery in progress.  Upon this discovery, two of the gang members sprang to their saddles and began firing their pistols and yelling for all to leave the area or be shot.  This forced the three remaining robbers to enter the fray.  The first to fall was a Swedish immigrant named Gustafson, who remained on the street, not understanding English.  He was wounded in the head and died two days later.  

This whole incident lasted 7 minutes!  When it was over, two of the robbers were dead on the street, with two more badly wounded.  As the remaining robbers fled to the south and the west, the largest manhunt in the history of the US was being organized.  Frank James and Jesse James were not caught after the botched raid, but the Younger brothers were captured and Charlie Pitts was killed after a gun battle near Madelia, Minnesota two weeks later.  Amazing story!  Yesterday we were at the Shrine of the Virgen de Guadalupe, and today a bank robbery!  You never know.  

At about 2:00 p.m. we left Northfield and drove to the airport, where Maureen dropped me off at Terminal 2.  She returned the car and has just emailed me to let me know that she has gotten to her gate, and that all is well.  

And so goes anothern great trip, and I am attaching my usual photos.  No more blog or photos until July 20-28, when I will be in Boston and points north.  Tune in again then!  As ever, SV.