Written and Submitted by Nicole Elzenga, Renville County Historical Society Executive Director.
On January 19, 1940, a group of Renville County citizens met to discuss preserving historical documents and artifacts for future generations. The outcome was the formation of the Renville County Historical Society.
A committee was formed to meet with the officers of the Old Settlers Association to propose combining the organizations and to decide on a place for the annual Old Settlers Reunion. This committee consisted of J. R. Landy, Ben Determan, and Commissioner Rudolph Musil.
The articles of incorporation were developed at the next meeting on February 10, 1940, and the Renville County Historical Society became incorporated on March 23, 1940. The first exhibits were placed in the Renville County Courthouse in Olivia.
On Friday, March 21, 1942, the Society’s first annual meeting was held at the Courthouse in Olivia. The focus was on increasing membership and expanding the museum’s collection of historic relics and documents. Those in attendance brought in many articles. Included were a silver tray with a serving pitcher, a finger bowl, a cigar holder, and a service bell, given by Mrs. Joe Haggett and bearing the inscription from the army regiment to which her late husband belonged in the Civil War. Other items donated were German marks by L. D. Barnard; a book of poems by a Renville author; a book of the county history of World War I; and several other books, donated by J. R. Landy. Mr. Les Norskog also donated several relics. Mrs. Frank Murray donated the History of Renville County in two volumes. Andrew Davidson contributed many photographs, ancient utensils, and articles. Membership dues remain a key source of financial support for RCHS. If you are not a member, please consider becoming one today! Visit our website www.renvillecountyhistory.com or stop by the Museum in Morton!
The second meeting of the Historical Society was held in Franklin in the Community Building on April 15, 1942. It was decided that the program for the year would be to introduce the history of the individual towns and areas. This meeting dealt with the events, places, and things of Franklin. Pictures shown by Mr. Arthur Larson, a businessman in Franklin since 1908, were shown. Mr. Larson had reproduced many of his photographs on slides to improve viewing quality. Meetings would be held across the county to inspire and interest more people in the county’s history.
The U.S. entered World War II by declaring war on Japan on December 7, 1941, and then declaring war on Germany and Italy on December 11, 1941. The citizens of Renville County shared a duty to their country, and the Renville County Historical Society was put on temporary hold.
Twelve years later, the Minnesota Historical Society Field Coordinator, Arch Graham, called for a meeting in the Commissioners’ Room of the Courthouse in Olivia on November 2, 1953. Odean Enestvedt was the temporary chairman, and the other elected officers were Blaine Whipple of Renville, President; Ralph Blume of Sacred Heart; Christine Bunker of Olivia, Secretary; William Buckley of Morton, Treasurer and elected Trustees: Vern Greenslit of Morton, William McManus, Ed Shiere, Andrew A. Davidson of Renville, Pete Bakke of Fairfax, and Villa Collyer McDowell of Olivia. Villa was the daughter of T.H. Collyer, who was the previous Register of Deeds for Renville County. Villa took over the position from her father.
On March 25, 1955, a large group met in Franklin to discuss “important matters.” The primary concern was the location and building on the River Road near Franklin, donated to the Society by Mr. and Mrs. E. O. Dresser. The road was known as the Minnesota River Scenic Highway, and the buildings were at the site of Finn Town. Finn Town consisted of the old log building or hotel, and the Finnish Bath. RCHS had also acquired two Norfolk Township schoolhouses, which were to be moved to this location: one to serve as the former school and the other as a museum or possible caretaker’s house. Also discussed were finances: money needed to repair and move the schoolhouses, the collections, and a caretaker.
The Annual meeting was held in Olivia in November 28, 1955. Wm. Buckley called the meeting to order. A committee was appointed to investigate the acquisition of Finn Town. The committee consisted of Sen. Oscar L. Olson, Paul Schmechel of Fairfax, Marvin O’Neil of Morton, Everet Dresser, and Art Larson of Franklin. A membership drive was pushed with Oscar L. Olson as chairman. Elections for positions were held, and William Buckley (Morton) was re-elected President, Carl Bethke (Franklin) was re-elected Vice President, and Christine Bunker was re-elected Secretary-Treasurer. Fred Daun replaced Herman Lussenhop, and Paul Schmechel replaced A. E. Melvold, who had passed away.
At the June 6, 1956 meeting, it was voted to accept the site in Morton, and at the June 13 meeting, they measured the lots for the appropriate settings of the buildings.
The two schoolhouses, Norfolk Schoolhouse #28 and Norfolk Schoolhouse #36 were moved to Morton. Much work was needed to make them useful. Schoolhouse #28 would be renovated as a pioneer county school, and Schoolhouse #36 would be used as the museum. Eino Wepplo, William Buckley, Art Wilt, and Paul Schmechel were appointed as a committee to dig the basement and walls under the school buildings. A volunteer committee of Mrs. Berth Erickson of Olivia and Mrs. E. Voelz of Danube, labeled the artifacts, and Mrs. E. R. Sheire furnished cards of various sizes for the work. The cupboards from the courthouse and the artifacts were moved to Morton. Nels Brixen, Andy Ruhland, and Don Becke moved them. It cost nearly $800 to move the schoolhouses.
Over the years, other buildings have either been moved onto the Museum Grounds or built. The 1869 Lerud Log Cabin from Sacred Heart Township was moved to the grounds in 1961.
The Suland Sentinel, the Museum’s first newsletter, was prepared by Linda Dunsmore for the 1974 Renville County Fair. RCHS continues to publish quarterly newsletters for its members under the new title, The NEWS, implemented in 2016. If you are interested in receiving a digital copy of the last newsletter, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Nicole at the Museum.
On July 20, 1975, a dedication ceremony was held for the pole shed (32’ x 54’x 10’) that was constructed on the Museum Grounds and named the “Machine Shed” as it holds agricultural equipment and tools. This building is a favorite for many!
In 1979, an old shed was converted into a blacksmith shop. Unfortunately, the building was in disrepair in 2015 and was removed at the same time the land south of the Main Museum was cleared.
In 1980, a 560-page book of Renville County history was published. Many dedicated volunteer hours went into preparing the book. Over 800 books were sold before printing. This book contains over 1,400 family histories. This book is out of print, but can be viewed at RCHS in the Research Library.
A building fund was started with a $400 donation by Arnold Johnson, a former Fairfax resident. RCHS’s goal was to build a new museum in Renville County someday, and these funds would be used for that purpose. The Bill Yonetz house, which was on the future museum grounds, was put up for auction on April 18. Barry Corder purchased the house and moved it to North Redwood. The official groundbreaking for the new museum building was held on July 15, 1988. Board members taking part in the activities were Dean Jakes, Don Franzee, Clark Calef, Ann Van Zee, June Lehman, Marie Schumacher, Ray Isaacson, Bill Sather, and Clifford Holien.
On June 25, 1989, a dedication ceremony and an open house for the new museum building were held. Marie Schumacher placed the granite cornerstone, assisted by Ron Degner, the contractor. This stone reads 1988, the wrong year, but no one complained, and it is marked in history.
A 250 ceramic relief tile mural was planned for the new museum building. Gary Butzer and Dennis McLauglin, mural and ceramic artists, constructed it. It was made of 6-inch ceramic tiles in a seven-by-nine-foot mural. A grant from the Southwest Minnesota Humanities Council funded it. They financed 80% of the project. The balance had to be raised in a matching grant by RCHS. Many local people and organizations donated to the fund, including the Morton Improvement Club, the VFW from Olivia, the Franklin Lions, and AAL from Morton, Franklin, and Olivia. This mural is on the front of the Main Museum building today, a perfect selfie location.
The 1990 RCHS board was Marie Schumacher, President; Ralph Richardson, Vice-President; Lois Isaacson, Treasurer; Les Norskog, Secretary; Agnes Draheim; Dean Jakes; Wilma Frazee; Stella Case; Clifford Holien; Anna Van Zee; Willard Sather; Eino Wepplo; Ralph Novotny; Lyla Williams; Doris Jensen; Gary Woltjer; Vincent Werner; and Vernon Fousek.
In 1993, the parking lot was blacktopped, with the city of Morton assisting with funding. The Lutheran Brotherhood helped paint the schoolhouses and donated $400 toward the paint. Linoleum was put in the kitchen and both bathrooms by the efforts of Alvin and Doris Jensen.
In 1997, Olivia gave the St. John’s Episcopal Church, which had initially been built in Beaver Falls, Minnesota. When the church was moved from Beaver Falls to Olivia in the winter of 1908/1909, it took over 3 months to cross the prairie. In 1997, it took the church two hours to move down the hill to Morton. The church is available for weddings and other services. Were you married or confirmed at the St. John’s Episcopal Church when it was in Olivia? Please share your photographs with RCHS!
In 2013, it was decided to build a pole barn over the 1869 Lerud Log Cabin. The building would be used for storage and exhibits. The 2014 Board consisted of Dave Torgelson of Olivia, President; Mary Lee Black of Danube, Vice President; Jeanne Wepplo or Franklin, Treasurer; Linda Balk of Renville, Secretary; Ken Anderson of Buffalo Lake, Ralph Novotny of Hector, Ron Degner of Franklin, Colleen Freitag of Franklin, Kurt Valentin of Franklin, Gary Abraham of Bird Island, Marcia Dworshak of Renville, Rosemary Glesener of Bird Island, Diane Arndt of Fairfax, and Derick Schultz of Bird Island.
Nicole Elzenga was hired as the Executive Director on February 23, 2015. She is originally from upstate New York (Syracuse/Buffalo area), graduated from Marshall, Minnesota, and attended Southwest State University. Before RCHS, Nicole worked for 15 years at the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum in Walnut Grove. To this day, she is still trying to get the Ingalls family across the Minnesota River into Renville County.
The 2026 RCHS Board consists of David Torgelson of Olivia, President; Kurt Valentin of Franklin, Vice President; Colleen Freitag of Franklin, Treasurer; Dorothy Boerboom of Olivia, Secretary; and Board Members Dawn Bleick of Fairfax, Ron Keller of Morton, Mark Koenig of Buffalo Lake, Molly Schweinfurter of rural Morton, Barb Squibb of Bird Island, and Doug Toreen of Bird Island, and Commission John Robinson, District 2, is the Renville County rep. The RCHS Bylaws state that three people from each of the five districts of Renville County will make up the board, and that you must be a Renville County resident to serve on the board. We need additional board members, especially from Districts 1 and 5. The board meetings are on the 3rd Tuesday of each month (excluding August & December) at 5:30 PM at the Main Museum in Morton. If you are interested in applying to become a board member, please get in touch with Nicole at the Museum 507-697-6147.
Almost 76 years later, RCHS continues to be a vital part of Renville County, located in Morton, Minnesota. Renville County has approximately 987 square miles (4 of the miles include bodies of water). Who can say they have traveled on every road in Renville County, visited each city, and Renville County has been their home for their whole life?
Help RCHS preserve Renville County’s history today. RCHS continues to seek out donations of Photographs (cities, schools, churches, events, residents, weddings, births, anniversaries, family shots, etc.); Business advertising pieces and histories of Main Street, school items (uniforms, yearbooks, etc.), church bulletins, anniversary booklets and anniversary items, organization items (Legions, Lions, VFW, Boy/Girl Scout, FFA, 4-H, etc.), collection of names of area artists, authors, and other significant people; items for the Research Library: scrapbooks, obituaries, wedding announcements, birth announcement, yearbooks, and more for the Family Research Files.
RCHS is seeking yearbooks from the Renville County schools. Sacred Heart is the 2026 featured city in the Main Museum, and unfortunately, the only Sacred Heart Viking yearbooks we have are 1967-1972, 1978, and the Renville Sacred Heart Raiders Yearbooks: 1982, 1983, 1988. RCHS NEEDS YEARBOOKS from the consolidated school systems of DRSH, BDRSH, BOLD, Cedar Mountain, GFW, and RCW! After reviewing the yearbooks in the collection, we are missing several years from all the schools, especially Buffalo Lake 1960, Sacred Heart before 1966. You can find a list of the yearbooks in the research library on the RCHS BLOG page on the website.
The Main Museum and Research Library are open year-round, currently Monday – Friday 10 AM – 4 PM. If you would like to make an appointment with the Research Library, please call 507-697-6147. We look forward to helping you with your family history. Thank you to all our ambassadors of Renville County history; you know who you are.
