Small Town Series

The Luck of the Irish; The Story of Maple Lake
The Luck of the Irish; The Story of Maple Lake
The Luck of the Irish; The Story of Maple Lake
Maple Lake is a town with a population of 2,159 located in northern Wright County in Central Minnesota. Highway 55 and County Road 8 are the main access points to the city. To help tell the story of Maple Lake I was joined by volunteer archivist Sue Sylvester from the Maple Lake Library and former Wright County Archivist Betty Dircks.
Pierz Wasn’t Always Known As Pierz; The Story of Pierz
Pierz Wasn’t Always Known As Pierz; The Story of Pierz
Pierz Wasn’t Always Known As Pierz; The Story of Pierz
Pierz is a small town in east central Morrison County in Central Minnesota. It is located along highways 25 and 27 with a population of 1,418. Pierz was settled in the 1860s when Father Francis Xavier Pierz came to Central Minnesota as a missionary to the native Ojibwe people.
Great Place to Visit This Spring… Learn More About Bowlus
Great Place to Visit This Spring… Learn More About Bowlus
Great Place to Visit This Spring… Learn More About Bowlus
Bowlus is a town of 279 people that was settled in the early 1900s, platted in 1907 and became incorporated in 1910. Bowlus has an operating post office since 1907, a lumberyard, meat market, hair salon, restaurant, gas station, liquor store, boutique, fire department, park with bike trail going through it, Legion, and Catholic Church.
A Forgotten Downtown; The Story of Clearwater
A Forgotten Downtown; The Story of Clearwater
A Forgotten Downtown; The Story of Clearwater
Clearwater is a town in northwestern Wright County with a population of 1,922. It can be accessed on Interstate 94 and Highway 24. The town is 12 miles southeast of St. Cloud, 16 miles northwest of Monticello and 16 miles north of Annandale. To help tell the story of Clearwater I was joined by local historian Elaine Paumen.
The Reason Foley Grew to the Town it is Today
The Reason Foley Grew to the Town it is Today
The Reason Foley Grew to the Town it is Today
Foley is a town of 2,603 people located where Highways 23 and 25 intersect in Benton County. Mary Ostby is the Executive Director of the Benton County Historical Society. She and Mayor Elect Jack Brosh joined me on WJON to talk about Foley.
Lakes and More: The Story of South Haven
Lakes and More: The Story of South Haven
Lakes and More: The Story of South Haven
South Haven is a small town located in northwestern Wright County along Highway 55 between Kimball and Annandale. The town has a population of 187 and was platted in 1888. South Haven is in southside township and is 2 miles south of Fairhaven which likely contributed to the name of the town.

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