Like what you see?
and want a web site too?
Contact me and we will see
what will work for you!
Brought to you by:
Mike Web's | | Life in Wendell began in earnest in 1887 when the railroad tracks were laid through the southern part of Stony Brook Township. The site on which the depot was built was named Wendell, after a local judge, ‘friendly in the matter of rights of way’. Part of the land purchased was from Kittle Olson who homesteaded the land in 1879, and opened the first store.
Tuesday, March 1st 1904, was the day Wendell became incorporated and acquired an independent government. The first officers were: President: T.A.Boyd, Clerk: E.A.Dybdal, Treasurer: L.C.Bergan, Trustees: C.E.Stickney, Andrew Solom, and Ed Mobraaten, Constables: Fred Hungerford and Ole Olson, Chairman of the board of health: Dr. C.B.Heimark.
In 1913, a contract was signed with Ottertail Power Company, making Wendell one of the first communities in western Minnesota to be supplied with electricity. Also in 1913, construction of a sewer system began and cement sidewalks on the principal city streets were started. The pipes for the sewer system were 8” cement tile and cost 9 ½ cents/foot and were trenched and filled at 20 cents/foot. By the year 1918, the streets had been upgraded to gravel.
In the winter of 1915, the village purchased 2 – 40 gallon chemical engines with ‘full equipment’ for $750.00, and the Wendell Volunteer Fire Department was formed. More information can be found on the fire department page.
School District 34 began in 1885 just a short distance NW of Wendell, with a fall term of 17 students. 10 boys and 7 girls. Fall term lasted from Sept. 27th - Nov. 19th, and Spring term from May 2nd – June 24th. By 1901, there were 62 students, and the need for a new school arose. A new three room, two-story school was built on the property where the Odell Aamot home is. Downstairs were two classrooms and upstairs was a large hall, used for both school and community activities.
The first teacher was Miss Bertha Agern, who later would become Mrs. Lars Sand. Her salary being $40.00/ month less room and board. By 1902, another teacher, Gina Hoff, was hired as the student population has risen to 71 pupils. English was now the primary language, Norwegian could no longer be spoken in the school.
On Feb. 22, 1910, George Washington’s birthday, the school was totally destroyed by fire. By the end of March, architect A.H.Foss of Elbow Lake had drawn up plans for a new two-story brick structure with four rooms, and a full basement. Interior was Birch with White Maple floors and large slate blackboards on three sides of the rooms.
Once again, A.H.Foss was called upon. Stony Brook Evangelical Lutheran Church decided in 1909 to build a church on the Eastern edge of town. Officially dedicated in July of 1910, the building is still being used, remodeled a few times as the Trinity Lutheran Church. ‘And is still on the Eastern edge of town’...
Stony Brook Evangelical Lutheran Church had only two pastors from 1905 to the merger in 1922 with the United Lutheran Church. Rev Otto Juul served from 1905 – 1914, and Rev. Einar Wulfsberg 1915 – 1921. They also served churches in West Elbow Lake, Erdahl, and Elbow Lake.
Trinity Lutheran Church celebrated their 100-year celebration July 31, 2005.
United Lutheran Church was organized in 1891 in the home of Nels Ellingson. The congregation had a membership of 67. The first pastor was Rev. P.T. Peterson. In 1901, they purchased the old dist.34 school building, which they had been meeting in for ten years, and moved it into town. The schoolhouse was remodeled into a church and was used until 1922, when they merged with Stony Brook Evangelical Lutheran Church, to form Trinity Lutheran Church. The church was once again remodeled, this time into a home and is now owned by Victor Hanson.
First Presbyterian Church was formed in 1904. They first gathered in the schoolhouse on Odell Aamot’s property until it burned down. For the next two years, they met in the village hall, the Modern Woodmen Hall, and the home of Ole Larson. In 1912 they purchased the dissolved Methodist Episcopal Church of Hereford, a short lived community located a few miles S.W. of town. The building was moved into town, has now been remodeled, and is owned by Arlene McNellis.
The Wendell Band was formed by L.C.Bergan and Lars Sand who brought together some boys desiring to learn music. Making their first appearance July 4th 1899 at the H.P.Hanson farm south of Wendell, their popularity grew to the extent that not only did they play at many different county fairs, but also played at the State Fair for a number of years. They would hold annual concerts at Prohosky’s resort at Ten Mile Lake, at the concert in 1914, there were approximately 2000 people in attendance. In 1915, a new bandstand was built for the price of $300.00 and has since been moved to its present location in the Wendell Park. The band continued to give free concerts until the 1950’s. Wendell Baseball was more than a pastime – it was a passion! Sunday afternoons in the 30’s and 40’s, you were guaranteed that a baseball game was being played in a local city. Practicing most every night made Wendell a very good team.
Wendell had a team as early as 1888, only one year after the town was founded, In addition to playing in nearby towns as Ashby, Elbow Lake, and Tintah, they even ventured to Fergus Falls, Breckenridge, Wahpeton, and Hankinson. At a home game against Ashby, nearly 400 people were in attendance. The first diamond was located where the Cenex station is, then moved north of town, and finally moved to its present location by the water tower. John and Henry Skinnemoen introduced telephone service to Wendell in 1912 as the Wendell Telephone Central Company. They were responsible for installing poles, phones, and lines in town, and providing switchboard service. Financial problems plagued the service until 1923 when Carl A. Johnson became the owner. The Johnson’s were managing the Grant County Telephone Company, with exchanges in Herman and Elbow Lake. Carl and Helen continued operating the service until 1950. In 1950, the company was sold to Charles Severson. In 1956, the present owner purchased the company, Runestone Telephone Association, which also provides cable TV, internet and wireless service to Wendell and many surrounding communities. For the most part, life in Wendell is conducive to the welfare of almost all who choose to live here. Life is a bit slower and less complex, where most everyone knows and cares about each other. Happiness and contentment in life is what one makes of it, no matter what decade or area you live in. Excerpts from the book Prairie Village by Don Lilleboe. Wendell City Data: http://www.city-data.com/zips/56590.html |
