Roots & Riddles

In this episode of Roots & Riddles, Preston and Lenora revisit a startling chapter in Fillmore County’s past: the earthquake of 1877. Though Minnesota is far from the seismic hotspots of the nation, residents of Fillmore County felt the ground shift beneath them in a rare and unsettling event.

Drawing from historical accounts, they explore how the tremor rippled through southeastern Minnesota, leaving communities both shaken and fascinated. What did people believe was happening at the time? How did newspapers and local storytellers capture the moment? And what does this unusual quake reveal about the hidden geology beneath the Midwest?

Sources

History of Fillmore County, 1912

Fillmore County Journal, September 1, 2025

College of Sciences and English

Database.earth

The Great Ceneral US Shakeout

Chatfield Democrat, December 8, 1877

Preston Republican, November 22, 1877

In this episode of Roots & Riddles, Preston and Lenora trace the surprising local ties of Richard Sears — the man whose mail-order empire reshaped how Americans shopped. Long before catalogs and department stores, Sears was a boy in Fillmore County, surrounded by the rhythms of rural Minnesota life.

This episode blends local history with national legacy, showing how Fillmore County’s landscapes and communities shaped the imagination of a future retail pioneer. Whether you’re a history buff or simply curious about the roots of everyday institutions, join Preston and Lenora as they uncover the Minnesota chapter of Richard Sears’ remarkable journey.

Sources

Western Progress, Aug 23, 1871

Harmony News, July 13, 1904

Preston Times, August 18, 1909

In this special Thanksgiving episode of Roots & Riddles, Preston and Lenora set aside the mysteries and dive into something just as meaningful: gratitude for the place they call home. Fillmore County isn’t just a backdrop for their stories — it’s a living archive of resilience, creativity, and community spirit.

Whether you’ve lived here your whole life or are just discovering its stories, this episode invites you to pause with Preston and Lenora, look around, and appreciate the deep roots and enduring riddles that make this corner of Minnesota so special.

In the spring of 1915, Preston was shaken by a near-tragedy that unfolded behind closed doors—and made its way into the pages of the Preston Times. This episode of Roots & Riddles unpacks the haunting story of Dr. Harrington, a respected dentist and entrepreneur whose return from illness took a dark and unexpected turn.

Was this a case of post-illness delirium, untreated trauma, or something more sinister? Lenora and Preston explore the fragile line between recovery and madness, the early 20th-century understanding of mental health, and the community’s response to a man unraveling in plain sight.

This isn’t just a tale of violence—it’s a window into the fears, sympathies, and silences of a small town grappling with the unthinkable.

Sources

The Preston Times

Wabasha County Herald

Caledonia Angus

Chatfield News-Democrat

In this episode of Roots & Riddles, we uncover the story of Fillmore County’s sons who marched off to war as part of the 2nd Minnesota Infantry, led by Colonel J.W. Bishop. From the rolling hills of Bluff Country to the battlefields of the South, these men carried the hopes of their community into one of America’s darkest chapters. We explore how Fillmore County rallied behind the Union cause, the sacrifices made by local families, and the legacy of the regiment that fought with courage and conviction. Through letters, records, and local memory, we trace the journey of ordinary men who became part of extraordinary history. This is Fillmore County’s Civil War story — rooted in loyalty, tested in battle, and remembered in blue.

In this episode of Roots & Riddles, we journey to Spring Valley. Twice, in 1928 and again in 1933, the First National Bank was robbed in bold, daylight heists that left the community stunned and the authorities scrambling.

Who were the culprits behind these daring crimes? Were the robberies connected, or was Spring Valley simply unlucky? We dig into dusty archives, trace the getaway routes, and uncover the ripple effects these robberies had on a town that still remembers. This is the story of Spring Valley’s twin crimes — and the riddles they left behind.

This Halloween, Roots & Riddles takes a spectral stroll through the shadows of Fillmore County’s forgotten towns. Elliota, Waukopee, Belleville, Clear Grit, and Beldena—once bustling with blacksmiths, millers, and hopeful settlers—now linger only in maps, memories, and moss-covered cemeteries.

In this chilling episode, Lenora and Preston unearth the rise and fall of these vanished communities. From fires and floods to railroad bypasses and broken dams, each town met its end in a different way—but all left behind whispers of ambition, resilience, and mystery. What remains when a town disappears? And what stories still echo through the fields where they once stood?

Gather ‘round for tales of pioneer dreams, eerie silences, and the ghostly footprints of Minnesota’s past.

📚 Sources Referenced
Preston Republican, January 27, 1876 — “Around the County” feature on John Kaercher and Clear Grit (multi-column article)

• Chatfield Democrat, January 3, 1874 — Advertisement for Clear Grit Store (John Kaercher)

• The Preston Republican, February 19, 1880 — Notice on Bellville Post Office name change to Mabel

• The Rushford Star, February 19, 1880 — Report on Postmaster General’s standardization of town names

• The Minneapolis Morning Tribune, July 22, 1920 — Letter by Solon J. Buck on Waukopee name origin (“Wakapeya,” meaning “to excel”

  History of Fillmore County, Minnesota (1882) — entries on Beldena, Elliota, Waukokee, Carimona Township, and early settlements

  Fillmore County History Book (circa 1858 edition or earliest printing) — early organizational records and settlement notes

  History of Fillmore County

  (1984 ) — modern community histories and township recollections

  
  

When the 18th Amendment outlawed alcohol in 1920, Fillmore County didn’t just dry up—it got inventive. In this episode of Roots & Riddles, Lenora and Preston uncork the hidden history of Prohibition in southeastern Minnesota, where moonshine flowed through barn basements, backroads became smuggling routes, and small-town saloons went underground.

But here’s the twist: Did Al Capone, the infamous Chicago mob boss, ever visit Fillmore County? Rumors say yes. Evidence? That’s what we’re chasing. 

Whether it was a jug of homemade wine or a truckload of Canadian whiskey, Fillmore County found ways to keep the spirits alive—and the stories even livelier.

Sources 📚

Rushford Star-Republican, January 8, 1920.

Winona Republican-Herald, January 27, 1933.

Long before tailgates and turf fields, the Minnesota Vikings traded helmets for softball gloves—and headed to Ostrander, Minnesota. From 1970 to 1973, the Vikings made an annual summer pilgrimage to this small Fillmore County town, playing charity softball games to raise funds for the Ostrander Park.

In this episode of Roots & Riddles, Lenora and Preston step onto the diamond of memory, revisiting the years when NFL legends like Alan Page, Carl Eller, and Fran Tarkenton drew crowds not for touchdowns—but for home runs. Through newspaper clippings, eyewitness accounts, and local lore, they explore how a big-league team helped a small-town dream take root, and why those games still echo in the hearts of those who watched from the bleachers.

Sources📚

The Lime Springs Herald, July 15, 1971

The Lime Springs Herald, July 13, 1972

Event Posters, 1970 & 1973 curtesy of the Hovey family

Interviews with attendees

In the quiet town of Fountain, Minnesota, the clink of glasses and hum of conversation were shattered one night by a bold and unexpected crime. A local saloon—once a hub of frontier camaraderie—became the scene of a robbery that left residents stunned and rumors swirling.

In this episode of Roots & Riddles, Lenora and Preston dig into the dusty newspaper archives to reconstruct the events of the heist. Who was behind it? What was taken? And why did the story fade from memory? With colorful characters, period details, and a touch of theatrical flair, they explore how one small-town crime reveals the tensions and temptations of life on the edge of the frontier.

Sources

• The History of Fillmore County, 1882.
• Chatfield Democrat, October 19, 1878
• The Winona Daily Republican, October 19, 1878
• St. Charles Union, October 23, 1878.
• Dodge Center Press, October 25, 1878.
• The St. Paul Globe, November 26, 1878.