Evansville Historical Foundation preserves history for all generations to enjoy

• Evansville Historical Foundation preserves history for all generations to enjoy

Office hours are 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday from April 1 to October 31.

Talk about it

Alf R. Thompson, an independent oil producer and philanthropist, was the founder of the Evansville Historical Foundation (EHF).

The non-profit corporation is located on the original Thompson homestead, which serves as the main office and headquarters of the Evansville Historical Foundation, Mound Grove Cemetery Association and the Pioneer Heritage Conservation Trust.

The Thompson house also houses a research library for those interested in genealogy or historical research of the Evansville area.

Thompson’s purpose was preserving the history of Evansville and the surrounding community for current and future generations to enjoy.

The archives provide a wealth of information on the history of Evansville, as well as a wonderful resource for those interested in genealogical research.

If you are ever in the Evansville area, take some time to visit and experience all the EHF has to offer. There are several buildings on the site, which encompasses nearly a two-block area.

The Johanson house stands across the street from the EHF main office. It was built in the late 1800s by the Williams family. Exhibits in the Johanson house include the Veteran's Exhibit, a display of wedding gowns from various eras, and the George Partridge display. Partridge, the owner of one of the original brickworks in Evansville, was a prominent member of the community.

This one-room brick schoolhouse, Douglas County District 90, was moved from its original location east of Evansville. Many area schools have scheduled tours, including holding actual classes at the schoolhouse, to experience first-hand a day in the life of a pioneer student.

The log cabin was built near Lake Ida in 1892, then moved to the Selmer Holte farm near Brandon before being relocated to its current site at EHF.

The replica of a traditional sod house demonstrates the typical first dwelling of area pioneers. The root cellar represents what pioneer families used as their only means of cold storage for a variety of foods, including produce, canned goods and dairy products

The pioneer church is a replica designed to represent a typical West Central Minnesota church. The church has been used for, and is available upon request for weddings, baptisms and confirmation ceremonies.

Next door to the church is the Johnson house, which houses a variety of information and artifacts used in a number of area churches.

The town hall is an original structure moved from Eagle Lake Township. Among the exhibits are memorabilia from a number of Evansville organizations and businesses.

The prayer chapel is one of three that stood on the cemetery grounds of the Church of the Seven Dolors in Millerville.

Office hours are 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday from April 1 to October 31. The office is open Tuesdays from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. from November 1 through March 31. Other hours are by appointment. Call (218) 948-2010, e-mail ehf@gctel.com or visit the website www.evansvillemn.net.

Tags: evansville historical foundation, life, features