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>> PRODUCTION FUNDING FOR COMMON
GROUND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE
MINNESOTA ARTS AND CULTURAL
HERITAGE FUND.
HI AND WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S
EDITION OF "COMMON GROUND."
I'M YOUR HOST, ASHLEY HALL.
"COMMON GROUND" IS A NEW WEEKLY
SERIES THAT HIGHLIGHTS NORTHERN
AND CENTRAL MINNESOTA CULTURE.
WE'LL EXPLORE THE UNIQUE PEOPLE,
PLACES AND EVENTS THAT ARE AN
IMPORTANT PART OF OUR REGION.
EACH WEEK "COMMON GROUND"
VIDEOGRAPHERS, EDITORS AND
MYSELF WILL TAKE VIEWERS ON A
JOURNEY OF EXPLORATION INTO THE
WORLDS OF ART, HISTORY AND
CULTURE.
THIS WEEK WE'LL INTRODUCE YOU TO
MIKA NORTHBIRD FROM CASS LAKE
WHO DEMONSTRATES NATIVE AMERICAN
FEEDING TECHNIQUES.
DUANE SHOUP SHOUP CREATES RUSTIC
FURNITURE FROM THE FOREST
SURROUNDING HIS WOODSHOP IN
SHEVLIN, AND CATCH A GLIMPSE OF
CROW WING COUNTY HISTORY AS WE
TAKE A VISIT TO THE CROW WING
COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM
& LIBRARY.
>> I CAN DO ANYTHING IF THEY
COME TO ME WITH AN IDEA ABOUT
WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR OR A
SPECIFIC COLOR PATTERN OR
WHATEVER.
I'LL JUST WORK WITH THAT AND
MAYBE SUGGEST SOMETHING IF
THEY'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING
MORE TRADITIONAL, LIKE THEY WANT
TO USE THEIR CLAN.
LIKE THIS PERSON'S CLAN IS THE
BEAR CLAN, SO I PUT THE BEAR
CLAWS ON HERE AND JUST ADD SOME
OF HIS FAMILY COLORS.
RED IS SORT OF A SACRED COLOR,
SO I JUST KIND OF ADD STUFF JUST
TO MAKE IT MORE SPARKLY.
SO WHEN HE COMES, HE DOESN'T
KNOW THEY E-MAIL PUTTING THESE
ON THERE.
SO RHINESTONES.
THOSE ARE FAIRLY NEW.
THEY DIDN'T REALLY USE THAT KIND
OF THING A LONG TIME AGO.
AND NO ONE HAS THOUGHT DO IT.
AND THEN ONCE MAYBE A FEW PEOPLE
HAVE SEEN IT ON ONE PERSON'S
OUTFIT, THEY WENT AHEAD AND
SAID, OH, LET ME FIND SOME OF
THOSE.
WHERE DID YOU GET THOSE?
A LOT OF THINGS ARE SHARED, TOO,
BETWEEN FAMILIES.
WHEN I LEARNED, I DIDN'T
ACTUALLY DO IT, JUST PICK IT UP
ONE DAY AND START.
I ACTUALLY LEARNED BY WATCHING
MY GRANDMA DO IT.
AND THEN AFTER SHE WENT AWAY,
SHE HANDED ALL OF HER STUFF DOWN
TO ME, AND THEN I JUST... I JUST
LOOKED AT SOME OF THE STUFF
SHE'D DONE AND WENT FOR IT.
YOU CAN'T BE SCARED.
YOU CAN'T BE SCARED TO TRY.
THEN EVENTUALLY YOU GET REALLY
GOOD, AND THEN PEOPLE START
WANTING TO BUY.
I WANTED TO FOLLOW IN WHAT MY
GRANDMA LEFT ME.
I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT
I CARRIED ON WHAT SHE DID
BECAUSE SHE WAS... SHE JUST WAS
AWESOME AT IT.
SHE DID IT FOR PLEASURE.
SHE DID IT BECAUSE IT MADE HER
HAPPY TO SEE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE
SOME OF HER STUFF.
SHE COULD WALK AROUND TOWN OR GO
APOLLO AND SEE SOMEONE WEARING A
PURSE THAT SHE MADE.
SHE'D GO, "LOOK AT MY PURSE."
IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO KEEP
THAT GOING.
NOW I'VE TAUGHT MY DAUGHTERS.
AND I'LL BE TEACHING MY YOUNGEST
WHEN SHE GETS OLDER, TOO.
NOWADAYS IT'S MORE CONTEMPORARY.
PEOPLE WILL ASK FOR THINGS THAT
THEY JUST MORE OR LESS LIKE.
I REALLY LIKE PURPLE.
I WANT WHATEVER THE DESIGN IS.
CAN YOU MAKE SURE I HAVE A
PURPLE BACKGROUND.
OR MY DAUGHTER REALLY LIKES
BUTTERFLIES, SO I'VE MADE THAT
IN KEEPING WITH SOME OF THE
TRIBAL STYLE BY ADDING TRIBAL
FLOOR BUT A CONTEMPORARY
BUTTERFLY WITH A LOT OF
DIFFERENT COLOR, A LOT OF
RHINESTONES REALLY, NOT OUTRAY
JAUSS, BUT FURTHER OUT THAN WHAT
YOU WOULD EXPECT ON A
TRIBAL-STYLED OUTFIT.
IT'S PRETTY OPEN.
SOME PEOPLE WOULD PREFER IT
BEING LEFT ALONE, BUT THAT'S
MORE RESERVED FOR THE DANCE,
AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LITTLE
BIT OF CONTROVERSY ABOUT STAYING
OLD SCHOOL, WELL, OLD-STYLE
JINGLE IS VERY NOT... I DON'T
WANT TO SAY PLAIN, BUT VERY
RESERVED, VERY... JUST DONE A
CERTAIN WAY.
AND NEW STYLE CONTEMPORARY DRESS
DANCERS ARE REALLY OUT THERE
WITH THEIR OUTFITS AND MORE,
BIGGER, BETTER, MORE, YOU KNOW,
COLORFUL, EXTRA, APPLIQUE
DRESSES, YOU KNOW, THAT SORT OF
THING.
PEOPLE JUST PREFER ONE OR THE
OTHER, BUT IT'S REALLY FUN TO
WATCH.
AND THAT'S WHERE I COME IN
BECAUSE I'LL MAKE ALL THE
BADWORK -- BEADWORK THAT THEY
ASK FOR.
MY DAUGHTER IS CONTEMPORARY, SO
SHE DOES HAVE THE WHOLE THING --
LEGGINGS, MOCCASINS, LONG ***
STITCH ROPE, BIG FLUFFY PLUMES,
HAIR ACCESSORIES AND THE WHOLE
THINGS, AND SHE LIKES IT.
THIS IS ONE OF HER LEGGINGS.
AND WHEN IT COMES AROUND, IT
WRAPS AROUND SO THAT'S WHAT YOU
SEE IN THE BACK.
THAT'S THE BACK OF HER LEG.
AND THEN IN THE FRONT, AND LIKE
I SAID, THIS IS PRETTY WELL
WORN.
SHE IS STILL PRETTY YOUNG, SO
SHE STILL PUTS A GOOD BEATING ON
HER OUTFITS.
AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE JIST
OF IT AND HOW IT LOOKS IN THE
FRONT.
WHEN YOU PUT THAT ON TOP OF
THERE, IT MATCHES UP.
IT MATCHES UP ON THE BOTTOM.
THIS ONE HERE ACTUALLY IS
BECAUSE MY HUSBAND IS OF THE
EAGLE CLAN, AND HE HAS A REAL
STRONG PERSONALITY, AND HE... IT
FITS HIM WELL.
IT FITS HIM, AND THE COLORS ARE
JUST MORE OR LESS BECAUSE THAT'S
WHAT I SEE IN HIM.
AND THAT'S WHAT'S A LOT OF MY
WORK.
IF I SEE SOMEBODY WHO TO ME
LOOKS REAL SOFT, THEN I'LL ADD A
LOT OF SOFT COLORS IN THERE.
I'LL ADD A LOT OF PRETTY THINGS
IN THERE.
THIS IS ACTUALLY MY
GRANDMOTHER'S WORK, REAL FLAT,
REAL SOFT I GUESS.
AND SHE TOOK A LOT OF TIME ON
THAT.
AND THAT'S THE ONLY THING I HAVE
LEFT REALLY OF HER BEADWORK
BESIDES ANOTHER ONE OUTFIT.
WHEN I'M WORKING ON OUTFITS, IF
I AM WORKING ON IT FOR A LONG
PERIOD OF TIME, I'LL HAVE TWO
OUTFITS GOING, AND THAT'S KIND
OF WHERE THIS COMES IN WHERE
IT'S PARTIALLY MADE, BECAUSE
I'LL SWITCH FROM THIS ONE TO A
DIFFERENT ONE IF I START GETTING
TIRED OF LOOKING AT IT.
THIS GOES TO THE OUTFIT THAT MY
GRANDMOTHER MADE, SO IT'S BEEN
IN MY FAMILY FOR A WHILE, AND
IT'S PRETTY WELL WORN.
AND IT WILL STAY IN MY FAMILY,
SO BY THE TIME IT GETS DOWN MY
DAUGHTER, I'LL HAVE ADJUSTED IT
AND AIDED TO IT LIKE I DID HERE.
THESE ARE MY GRANDMOTHER'S.
WELL, THIS IS WHAT MY
GRANDMOTHER DID, AND I WENT
AHEAD AND ADDED THE BACKGROUND
TO IT AND ADDED MORE COLOR TO IT
SO THAT IT STICKS OUT.
AND SHE WAS SO AWESOME AT A LOT
OF THE STUFF THAT SHE DID, SO
WHEN SHE DID THESE, SHE WAS ABLE
TO ADD THE FRINGE ON THERE AND
THE LEATHER.
SO BY THE TIME IT GETS DOWN TO
MY DAUGHTER, I'LL HAVE ADDED THE
BACKGROUND AND MAYBE MADE HER
SOME NEW LEGGINGS TO GO WITH IT,
AND SHE DID A LOT OF THIS, A LOT
OF THIS STUFF THAT'S ON
MATERIAL.
I'M NOT THAT GOOD YET.
LIKE ALL THE STUFF THAT YOU SEE,
THE MATERIAL UNDER, SHE DID
THESE.
THIS IS ALL HER WORK.
AND IT WAS REALLY... I WAS SO
TOUCHED WHEN I GOT THIS OUTFIT
BECAUSE IT WAS PRETTY MUCH ONE
OF THE VERY LAST THINGS THAT SHE
WORKED ON.
SO FOR ME TO HAVE IT AND TO HAVE
MY DAUGHTER WEAR IT IS JUST...
IT'S JUST SOMETHING ELSE
ALTOGETHER.
IT'S LIKE MY GRANDMA'S WITH ME
AND HER.
WHEN SHE PUTS THIS ON, SHE'S
DANCING WITH MY GRANDMOTHER AND
MY GRANDMA'S WATCHING.
THAT MAKES ME HAPPY.
IT MAKES ME VERY HAPPY.
AND THAT GOES WITH A LOT OF
PEOPLE, A LOT OF THING GET
PASSED DOWN TO WHERE THEY GO OUT
THERE AND THEY'RE DANCING AND
THEIR STUFF LOOKS REALLY OLD OR
WELL WORN.
IT'S BECAUSE IT'S PROBABLY BEEN
PASSED DOWN FROM GRANDMOTHER TO
GRANDMOTHER TO DAUGHTER AND THEY
TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN WEARING,
THAT AS WELL THEY SHOULD.
STAYING IN TUNE WITH WHAT MY
GRANDMA WAS DOING, SHE WAS
PRETTY MUCH MY MOTHER MY WHOLE
LIFE.
AND OUT OF RESPECT FOR HER AND
HER MEMORY, I REALLY WANTED TO
KEEP DOING THAT JUST TO HONOR
HER, AND THAT WAS MY WAY OF
HONORING HER.
IT MAKES ME GOOD TO SEE MY
STUFF, MY BEAD WORK OUT THERE IN
DANCING AND HAVING FUN AND BEING
WORN AND BEING LOVED BECAUSE
THERE'S A LOT OF PRIDE THAT GOES
>> WELL, I'M DUANE SHOUP SHOUP,
AND I DO FURNITURE AND CUSTOM
WOODWORKING.
FOR A LOT OF MY FURNITURE, I
LIKE TO GET THE BARK PEELED OFF
BECAUSE I GIVE PEOPLE DIFFERENT
LOOKS, BARK ON, BARK OFF, SO
THIS WOULD BE THE BASIC WAY THAT
I GET THE BARK OFF.
I'VE BEEN DOING RUSTIC CUSTOM
WOODWORK FOR A LITTLE OVER 20
YEARS.
MY DAD WAS A CARPENTER.
MY GRAND GRANDFATHER WAS A
CARPENTER.
I ALWAYS LIKED BEING IN THE
WOODS AND I JUST HAVE A LOVE OF
WOOD.
I MOVED FROM THE CHICAGO AREA TO
NORTHERN MINNESOTA, AN I'M
LIVING IN THE WOODS.
AND I HAD TO DO SOMETHING TO PAY
THE BILLS.
SO I STARTED PLAYING AROUND WITH
MAKING SOME RUSTIC FURNITURE.
TODAY WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A
RUSTIC END TABLE.
IT'S GOING TO BE RED OAK AND
MAPLE LEGS WITH THE BARK ON.
THESE TWO PIECES OF WOOD ARE
GOING TO BE OUR TOP.
FIRST I'LL CUT THEM TO LENGTH.
I LIKE MAKING THIS FURNITURE
BECAUSE PROBABLY BEING MY OWN
BOSS AND JUST BEING ABLE TO DO
MY OWN THING AND HAVE THE
CREATIVE FREEDOM TO, YOU KNOW,
CRUISE AROUND THE WOODS AND
GATHER SOME RAW MATERIAL AND
ACTUALLY BRING IT TO MY SHOP AND
MAKE SOMETHING OUT OF SOMETHING
THAT BASICALLY HAS NO VALUE.
I'M PROBABLY RIGHT INTO THE
GREEN THING BEFORE ANYBODY ELSE
EVER WAS BECAUSE A LOT OF MY
PRODUCT IS MADE OUT OF RAW
MATERIAL THAT JUST GOES TO WASTE
IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY.
HOW LONG HAVE I BEEN DOING THIS?
WELL, IT'S ABOUT 1987 I THINK IS
WHEN I FIRST REALLY GOT STARTED
DOING FURNITURE, BUT I DID
SOME... I ACTUALLY DID SOME
BENTWOOD PIECES BACK IN THE
MID-'70s.
I HAD A MOTHER EARTH NEWS THAT
HAD A LITTLE ARTICLE IN THERE ON
HOW TO MAKE A BENTWOOD WILLOW
CHAIR.
AND I MANAGED TO FOLLOW THOSE
DIRECTIONS AND PUT ONE TOGETHER,
AND IT LOOKED PRETTY GOOD.
SO THAT KIND OF WAS MY FIRST
EXPERIENCE MAKING FURNITURE.
AND I MADE A FEW PIECES.
AND I DIDN'T REALLY GO ANYWHERE
WITH IT UNTIL I MOVED TO
MINNESOTA SOME YEARS LATER.
I GOT A NICE LITTLE CURVE THAT
I'LL HAVE THAT CURVE GOING OUT A
LITTLE BIT.
GIVE OUR TABLE A LITTLE
CHARACTER.
THIS IS JUST A WOOD-RICH
COUNTRY, AND IT... I EXPECT... I
THINK THAT THE NORTH WOODS
ATMOSPHERE, LIVING HERE KIND OF
WAS AN INSPIRATION TO ME, TOO.
WITH ALL THE TREES AND LUMBER
AROUND HERE, IT'S LIKE IT'S AN
INEXHAUSTIBLE SUPPLY OF RAW
MATERIAL, THAT AND THE FACT
THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF AROUND
HERE THAT'S JUST WASTE AS FAR AS
THE LOGGING INDUSTRY AROUND
HERE.
THEY RUN OVER A LOT OF STUFF
THAT I CAN USE TO MAKE FURNITURE
OUT OF, SO I'VE INCORPORATED A
LOT OF THAT KIND OF STUFF INTO
MY PRODUCT.
THE NEXT THING I'M GOING TO DO
IS I'M GOING TO PUT A LITTLE
BEVEL ON THIS SHARP EDGE OF MY
PIECE, AND THE WAY I'M GOING TO
DO THAT IS JUST WITH THE MY --
MIKITA GRINDER WITH A COARSE
DISK ON IT.
I THINK I CONTINUOUSLY TRY THE
CHALLENGE MYSELF TO MAKE NEW
PIECES, NEW HIGH-END PIECES OUT
OF VERY, YOU KNOW, LIKE WALNUT
AND CHERRY, HARD MAPLE.
I'M ALWAYS CHALLENGING MYSELF TO
DO BETTER, TO DO SOME AWESOME
STUFF.
WILL, SOME OF THE FAVORITE
THINGS I'M DOING NOW IS SOME OF
THE HEAVIER SLAB WORK WHERE I'M
USING WIDE PIECES OF SLAB THAT
COME OUT OF PRETTY GOOD-SIZED
TREES THAT HAVE NATURAL EDGE ON
THEM, SOME INTERESTING FIGURE
OUT OF THE CROTCH PIECES AND
JUST DIFFERENT COLORS AND GREEN
PATTERNS AND THERE'S A LOT OF
THING GOING ON IN A LOG OR A
PIECE OF WOOD THAT SOMETIMES YOU
GOT TO LOOK FOR.
AND I'M ABLE TO INCORPORATE THAT
INTO A PIECE OF FURNITURE.
THAT'S PART OF THE FUN OF
ACTUALLY SAWING WOOD, WHICH I
DO, TOO, BECAUSE I TAKE IT RIGHT
FROM THE FOREST.
I HAVE COMPLETE CONTROL OVER THE
WHOLE PROCESS.
I'M GETTING A LOG OUT OF THE
WOODS, AND I'M SAWING IT UP.
AND THAT'S A REALLY FUN
EXPERIENCE, TOO, BECAUSE YOU'RE
ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WHAT TREASURE
IS BURIED OR HIDDEN INSIDE THAT
LOG.
AND YOU FIND SOME REALLY NEAT
STUFF.
THEN THE WHEELS GET TURNING AND
YOU START THINKING ABOUT, WELL,
HOW AM I GOING TO APPLY THIS TO
A PIECE OF FURNITURE?
WHAT IS IT GOING TO BE?
IT DOESN'T ALWAYS JUST JUMP OUT
THERE AND TELL ME WHAT IT'S
GOING TO BE RIGHT AWAY, BUT
SOMETIMES I MIGHT LOOK AT A
PIECE THAT'S STANDING UP AGAINST
A WALL IN THE SHOP FOR SIX
MONTHS, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT
JUST SOMEHOW KIND OF TALKS TO
ME, AND I KNOW WHAT I WANT TO DO
WITH IT THEN.
WELL, I SELL OUT OF MY STUDIO,
ONLINE, I DO A FEW ART CRAFT
SHOWS, AND I GET A LOT OF
BUSINESS FROM SATISFIED
CUSTOMERS THAT HAVE BOUGHT A
PIECE FROM ME BEFORE.
THEIR FRIENDS SAW IT AND WHERE'D
YOU GET THAT, AND THEY SEND THEM
TO ME.
I'D LIKE TO THINK JUST ABOUT
100% OF MY CUSTOMERS HAVE BEEN
HAPPY FOR WHAT I'VE MADE FOR
THEM.
IT'S ALWAYS A FUN EXPERIENCE,
NOT ONLY JUST FOR ME, BUT FOR
THE CUSTOMER ALSO.
AND I DON'T THINK A LOT OF
PEOPLE ACTUALLY THINK ABOUT
HAVING SOMETHING CUSTOM MADE FOR
THEMSELVES FOR THEIR OWN SPACE.
OKAY.
NOW OUR TABLETOP IS SET AND TO
THE TABLE.
JAPANESE-STYLE SAW THAT YOU CUT,
AND THOSE TYPES OF SAWS, BECAUSE
YOU'RE NOT COME PRESSING THE
BLADE BY PUSHING FORWARD, YOU'RE
ACTUALLY PULLING THE PLAYED BACK
TO YOU, YOU CAN MAKE A LOT
THINNER BLADE AND YOU CAN MAKE A
NICER, FINER CUT FOR DOING FINE
WORK.
AND THERE'S OUR TABLE.
NICE LITTLE RUSTIC TABLE.
I DO, DO COMMISSION PIECES.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, THAT'S ONE
OF THE THINGS I ENJOY MOST IS
WORKING WITH PEOPLE TO CREATE
SOMETHING FOR THEM THAT'S MADE
FOR THEM SPECIFICALLY FOR THEIR
SPACE.
I LIKE TO INVITE PEOPLE TO COME
OUT AND ACTUALLY I HAVE A LARGE
QUANTITY OF RAW MATERIAL HERE
COME OUT AND PICK OUT YOUR OWN
PIECE OF WOOD THAT YOU WANT TO
HAVE SOMETHING MADE OUT OF.
AND IN THE END, THE END PRODUCT
IS YOU GET FOR YOURSELF IS IT'S
SPECIAL FOR YOU.
I MADE IT FOR YOU.
YOU KNOW, I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT
MY PASSION IN LIFE.
IT JUST KIND OF, YOU KNOW, IT'S
WHAT I LIVE EVERY DAY.
AND WHAT I'VE CREATED MY OWN,
YOU KNOW, PLACE HERE AND MY OWN
BUSINESS AND MY OWN PRODUCT, AND
I'VE KIND OF CREATED MY OWN
LITTLE WORLD HERE.
IT'S KIND OF MY VERSION OF THE
SIMPLE LIFE, IN THE COUNTRY,
DOING YOUR OWN THING, BEING YOUR
>> I'M MARILYN ANDERSON,
ADMINISTRATOR AND EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR FOR THE CROW WING
COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM
AND RESEARCH LIBRARY AND
RESTORED SHERIFF'S REDS.
OUR BUILDING IS ON THE NATIONAL
REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.
WE HAVE A WONDERFUL CONEY MUSEUM
AND A RESEARCH LIBRARY OPEN TO
THE PUBLIC AND THE SHERIFF'S
RESIDENTS, WHICH WAS CONNECTED
DIRECTLY TO THE JAIL IN THE SAME
BUILDING WHERE THE SHERIFFS
LIVED WITH THEIR FAMILIES FOR
THE MOST PART.
IT'S A BEAUTIFULLY RESTORED
BUILDING.
IT'S ALL RESTORED TO EARLY
1900s WITH LOTS OF COUNTY
ARTIFACTS AND FURNITURE THAT'S
BEEN DONATED.
THIS HOUSE WAS VERY MODERN FOR
ITS DAY IN 1917 WHEN IT WAS
BUILD.
IT HAD ELECTRICITY, CENTRAL HEAT
AND GAS HEAT AND HOT AND COLD
RUNNING WATER, WHICH WAS KIND OF
NOT THE NORM.
AND IT IS A BEAUTIFUL HOME.
THE FLOORS ARE HARDWOOD MAPLE,
AND THE WOODWORK IN THE LOWER
LEVEL OF THE SHERIFF'S RESIDENTS
IS OAK, AND UPSTAIRS IN THE
BEDROOMS IT'S MAPLE.
WE'RE IN THE KITCHEN OF THE
HISTORIC SHERIFF'S, AND THIS
KITCHEN IS MY FAVORITE ROOM.
THE CABINETS ARE OAK, AND
THEY'RE ORIGINAL.
AND THE SHERIFF'S WIFE HAS A
LOVELY JOB OF COOKING FOR ALL
THE PRISONERS, TOO.
SO THEY DID GET A STIPEND FOR
THAT OR OBVIOUSLY FOR BUYING
FOOD AND COOKING AND SERVING ALL
THE PRISONERS.
THERE'S ACTUALLY THREE FLOWER
BINS ASSIGNED TO ME THAT SHE DID
A LOT OF COOKING.
THE JAIL, WHICH IS ATTACHED TO
THE SHERIFF'S RESIDENCE, IS
DIRECTLY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF
THE WALL.
THE WALL BETWEEN THE JAIL AND
THE SHERIFF'S RESIDENCE ARE 18
INCHES OF CONCRETE, SO THE
FAMILIES WERE PRETTY SAFE, AND
THERE WAS BARRED DOORS WHERE
THEY WOULD HAVE CAME IN OR OUT
OF THE RESIDENCE INTO THE JAIL.
THIS IS WHERE THE WIFE AND/OR
COOK IN THE LATERRIES WHENCE THE
SHERIFFS DID CHOOSE NOT TO LIVE
HERE, THEY PASSED THE TRAYS OF
FOOD TO THE PRISONERS.
AND WALKING IN FROM THE KITCHEN
OF THE SHERIFF'S RESIDENCE, AND
IT HAD A REALLY COOL SWINGING
COOR INTO THE DINING ROOM OF THE
SHERIFF'S.
AND I LOVE THE BUILT-IN BUFFET.
IT'S BEAUTIFUL LEDDED GLASS AND
THE TULIP STAINED GLASS THAT'S
IN THE BUFFET AND CARRIED OVER
INTO THE TRANSOMES OF THE
WINDOWS IN THE PARLOR AND THE
DINING ROOM AND THE FRONT PORCH
THAT GOES ALMOST THE FULL LENGTH
OF THIS HOUSE.
ON THE MAIN STREET, LAURELL
STREET, WHICH WE FACE.
WE'RE NOW IN THE PARLOR OF THE
SHERIFF'S RESIDENCE.
AND THE PARLOR IS PRETTY LARGE,
AND IT'S GOT REALLY NICE
WINDOWS.
THE PIANO IN HERE IS A STEINWAY
GRAND PIANO, BUT IT'S A
RECTANGULAR GRAND PIANO, WHICH I
HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKE TO
SHOW, ESPECIALLY TO THE KIDS, I
ALWAYS ASK THEM WHAT'S IN THIS
BIG GUILDED FRAME OVER HERE.
IT'S HAIR WOVEN, AND IT WAS REAL
POPULAR IN THE VICTORIAN ERA,
AND A LOT OF TIMES IT WAS DONE
IN MEMORY OF A LOVED ONE THAT
HAD PASSED AWAY.
A LOT OF TIMES THEY MIGHT HAVE
TAKEN SOME OF GRANDMA'S OLD
JEWELRY AND WOVEN IT IN, LIKE
PEARLS OR PIECES OF EARRINGS OR
PINS OR BROACHES.
AND IT REALLY CAN BE QUITE
INTRICATE.
IT WAS A PRETTY INVOLVED
PROCESS.
STANDING IN THE UPPER LEVEL IN
THE HALLWAY, ALL THESE HALLWAYS
IN THIS HOUSE WERE JUST SO WIDE.
THERE IS A NURSERY UP HERE, TOO,
WHICH IS RALLY UNIQUE.
IT HAS TWO DOORS ON IT, ONE
GOING FROM THE HALLWAY AND THEN
ONE FROM A BEDROOM.
AND ORIGINALLY THERE WAS ONE
SMALL WINDOW THAT YOU COULD PEEK
IN, AND WE HAVE MADE THE WINDOWS
LARGER NOW BECAUSE WE'RE USING
IT FOR EXHIBIT SPACE.
AND DOWN THE HALL IS ANOTHER
BEDROOM AND A BATHROOM.
THE BATHTUB IS LONG.
I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH AN
OLD-FASHIONED, LONG BATHTUB.
SOME VISITORS SAY, WASN'T IT
ORIGINALLY... DIDN'T IT HAVE
CLAW FEET?
NO, IT NEVER DID.
IT ALWAYS SAT ON THE FLOOR.
LIKE I SAID, 1917, AND THEY DID
HAVE HOT AND COLD RUNNING WATER,
SO THEY HAD FANCY BATHROOM WITH
A HUGE BATHTUB.
WHERE I'M STANDING ACTUALLY USED
TO BE TWO SMALLER BEDROOMS AT
ONE TIME.
THE BEDROOM ON THE RIGHT WOULD
HAVE BEEN THE MASTER BEDROOM.
THE BEDROOM ON THE LEFT WAS
WHERE THE CHILDREN WOULD SLEEP
AND/OR LATER ON A MATRON BECAUSE
ON THE WALL WHERE THE HEADBOARD
IS WAS THE WOMEN'S JAIL CELL SO
THAT SHE COULD HEAR THEM OR BE
CLOSE TO THE WOMEN PRISONERS.
THIS DESK THAT I'M STANDING BY
HAS SOME SIGNIFICANCE BECAUSE IT
WAS DONATED BY MR. LUM, WHO
ACTUALLY STARTED THE CROW WING
COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY IN
1923.
HE GAVE $500 AND HIS DESK.
AND SO IT'S GOT HIS INITIALS
CARVED IN THE UPPER PART, AND
IT'S GOT SOME LITTLE SECRET
COMPARTMENTS IN IT.
AND SO THIS IS HOW THE
HISTORICAL SOCIETY GOT STARTED.
$500 AND A DESK.
WE'RE NOW IN THE TWO JAIL CELLS
THAT WERE WOMEN JAIL CELLS WHEN
THIS WAS AN ACTIVE JAIL.
LIKE I SAID, 1917 THROUGH THE
LATE '60s.
AND EACH JAIL CELL HAD A WINDOW,
AND I BEN -- IN BETWEEN THE TWO
JAIL CELLS WAS THE SHOWER WITH
IN LIGHT.
IT LOOKS KIND OF LIKE A LITTLE
DUNGEON, BUT THERE IS A SHOWER
HEAD BACK THERE BUT NO LIGHT
BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED THOSE
CRIMINAL WOMEN WOULD HAVE USED
THAT LIGHTBULB AS A WEAPON.
SO THERE IS NO LIGHT IN THERE.
JUST LIKE I SAID, IT WAS A JAIL
WITH 13 JAIL CELLS, SO WHEN IT
CLOSED IN THE LATE '60s, THEY
WERE GOING TO TEAR IT DOWN WHEN
THEY BUILT A NEW COUNTY JAIL.
BUT SOME CITIZENS GOT TOGETHER,
AND THANK GOD THEY SAVED IT.
SO IT TOOK A LONG TIME, BUT IT
WAS GUTTED.
THE CELL AREA WAS GUTTED FOR THE
MUSEUM.
AND SO IT'S ALL RAMPED AND
THERE'S DIFFERENT LEVELS OF CROW
WING COUNTY STREET.
THE FIRST LEVEL IS LOGGING,
WHICH WAS LIKE THE FIRST BIG
SETTLEMENT, INDUSTRY.
AND THE NEXT LEVEL UP IS THE
RAILROAD, WHICH WAS HUGE.
IT WAS SUPPOSED TO GO THROUGH A
DIFFERENT SMALL TOWN, AND THEY
WERE ALL EXCITED AT OLD CROW
WING WHERE IT WAS GOING TO...
THEY THOUGHT FOR SURE THE
RAILROAD, THE NORTHERN PACIFIC
WAS GOING TO BUY LAND THERE, AND
LO AND BEHOLD, NO.
THEY PICKED BRAINERD.
SO OLD CROW WING ENDED UP TO BE
A DYING TOWN, AND IT'S NOW CROW
WING STATE PARK.
AND BRAINERD WAS THE HOLD OF
NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD, AND
WE STILL HAVE SOME SHOPS HERE
THAT ARE ACTIVE AND IT'S ALSO ON
THE NATIONAL LIST.
SO THE NEXT LEVEL IS RAILROAD
EXHIBIT.
THE NEXT LEVEL UP IS MORE OF A
COMMUNITY LEVEL WITH LOTS OF
ARTIFACTS.
WE HAVE A HUGE ROOM UP THERE.
WE HAVE FARMING ARTIFACTS, AND
ON THE RAMPS BECAUSE IT IS ALL
RAMPS, REALLY WIDE RAMPS WITH
LOTS OF WALL SPACE, WE HAVE
WONDERFUL HISTORIC PAINTINGS AND
A NATIVE AMERICAN EXHIBIT WITH
SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL
BEADWORK I BELIEVE THAT I'VE
SEEN.
ON ONE OF THE RAMPS IS A MINING
EXHIBIT BECAUSE FIRST CAME THE
LOGGING TO THE COUNTY, THEN THE
RAILROAD, WHEN THE LAST PINE
TREE WAS CUT, THANK GOODNESS
THERE WAS IRON ORE DISCOVERED.
SO THERE WAS MINING.
CAN'T FORGET ABOUT OUR RESEARCH
LIBRARY, WHICH WE GET A LOT OF
VISITORS THAT ARE DOING
GENEALOGY OR ANY KIND OF
HISTORIC PROJECT, WHETHER IT'S A
WRITER FOR A LOCAL PAPER OR
ANYTHING.
WE HAVE NEWSPAPERS ON MICROFILM,
AN HISTORIC PHOTO COLLECTION.
PEOPLE CAN GET REPRINTS OF
PHOTOS AND JUST A LOT OF WEALTH
INFORMATION.
WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF WHAT WE'VE
DONE AND WHAT PEOPLE BEFORE ME
HAVE DONE.
WE RELY HEAVILY ON VOLUNTEERS
AND THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN MORE
THAN SUPPORTIVE IN DONATING
ARTIFACTS, WHICH WE CONTINUE TO
ACCEPT, APPROPRIATE FOR CROW
WING COUNTY, AND WE JUST THINK
THAT THIS IS A HIDDEN JEWEL, A
HIDDEN GEM IN CROW WING COUNTY
IN THE LAKES AREA.
WE'RE VERY PROUD OF WHAT HAS
BEEN DONE AND WHAT WE CONTINUE
>> WE HOPE THAT YOU ENJOYED
TAKING A STEP BACK IN TIME AND
LEARNING ABOUT ALL THE POCKETS
OF CREATIVITY RIGHT HERE IN THE
NORTH LAND.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US, AN WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING
YOU NEXT WEEK RIGHT HERE ON
"COMMON GROUND."
IF YOU HAVE A SEGMENT IDEA FOR
"COMMON GROUND," PLEASE CONTACT
US AT LEGACY@LPTV.ORG.
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Caption Associates, LLC
>> TO ORDER INDIVIDUAL SEGMENTS
OR COPIES OF "COMMON GROUND,"
PLEASE CALL 218-333-3020.
PRODUCTION FUNDING FOR "COMMON
GROUND" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE
MINNESOTA ARTS AND CULTURAL