Finding History in Niagara

After the 9AM worship service and Power point slide show at St Andrew Lutheran Church for the 120 th anniversary of the church,  all were invited and many chose to take a brisk walk to the South West part of Niagara for a tour of the Historical 

Log Cabin and the old restored and refurbished Pioneer school house. The old Niagara elevator is just to the left of where we are walking and if you look just left of the tall pine, you will get a glimpse of the old log cabin and the school is directly in back of the tall pine tree.  The Niagara Elevator is the tallest thing in Niagara and built about 1965

 This is the old log cabin that was moved into Niagara from North of town by the Historical society.  Pastor Dennis Neels is part of the society and he along with help from others, including my Nephew Jamie Hanssen have spent many hours repairing and replacing windows and logs, all this to preserve a bit of long ago history.  Many families lived in this little log home when first arriving at Niagara area until they could build their own home.  

 The inside of the Log home is furnished with old authentic furnishings that more then likely would have been used in that era.  Most of the items have been donated.



Below you can see the small wood stove.  Yes, there was a fire in that stove to make the log home warm and comfy as it would have been in those long cold ND winters.

Many people crowded into the Log home as Pastor Neels described the home and items inside.


Below you can see Dr Rev Herbert Mueller and to the right, my cousin pastor Paul Krueger intently listening to the information given by Pastor Neels.  Just being in this little one room Log home makes one very thankful for the many blessing bestowed on our nation in the past 100 years.

As we left the Log Home, just to the West stands the old Niagara Jail.  I surly wouldn't want to be locked up in there for very long.  I sure it was a big deterrent to any crime or misdemeanors in that small community.    

On to visit the old pioneer school house.  It certainly is a beauty,

 and many reminisced as they went through the doors. 

The children found it hard to believe that there was no technology, running water or bathroom.  

As you look at the pictures, you can see how the children enjoyed sitting in the old wood desks with the ink well and bench seat.   

On to look at the old school house museum.

 Pastor Neels encouraged much conversation by asking interesting questions like,  why did the stove pipe turn and go along the ceiling before venting out?    Well, of course it was to produce more heat on those cold -30 degree winter days.  

Good friends and cousins sharing memories.

A couple young boys take advantage of the heat produced by the old wood stove.  Notice the handle on the stove has been replaced by a old automobile door handle, whatever works! 

My husband Jeff, towards left, back view,  My Nephew Jamie with the big smile. 

I loved the old pictures in the school house.  All black and white and each told a story of history for the area.
I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. 

Anyone remember these old pull down world maps? They were hung neatly in a wood box on the wall and rolled up much like a window shade. 

Rev Herbert C Mueller Jr. looking through one of the old county books that was on display. I am sure he did not remember much of the Niagara area since he was only 2 when he and his parents moved away to pastor another church..

Old wood baby buggy. 

A pull down globe and below, big picture of our first US President , an old flag and of course the green letters to teach cursive writing.  I remember those same letters in the big square brick Niagara school that I attended for first 8 years of school. It was located just to the South of where St Andrew church is now.

I look at these old double wood desks and I always remember a story told me by my parents.  They went to the same county school and even shared a double desk like these.  One day my father, then a little boy, probably 8 or 9 yr old,  put his pocket knife under my mothers side of the desk leg causing it to be off balance.   My mother remembers laying on her stomach on the long bench looking down to see what was wrong and got in trouble by the teacher.   I guess they already liked each other way back then and that was my dad's unique way of teasing my mom.  

An old organ, not sure if this was one of the original furnishings or just on display in the school museum. 

Here is the teachers desk with the bell that would be rung for lunch or recess time. and also when school was to begin.  Old record books, readers and other books were on display.  
It was a great day to learn of the Niagara History and imagine myself in years gone by.  What fun. Thank You Niagara Historical society for preserving all this history for the generations to come.