We have lots of chairs at the Hormel Historic Home.  Some are antique, some are more comfortable than others, and some aren’t really that comfortable at all.  In September of 1942, the YWCA felt they had a very special chair worthy of remembering in poetry.
 
The well-known Austinite Gertrude Ellis Skinner penned the following poem entitled To the YW Chair and shared it during an Art and Travel Club meeting.  At that time the Hormel Historic Home was the site of meetings for a variety of women’s clubs from the city and the county. The Austin Daily Herald reported that the groups all had the “same sentimental feeling toward the big rust-colored chair which stands beside the fireplace in the spacious living room.”
 
“If I were a gifted poet
With talents rich and rare,
I’d write an epic tribute
To this old Y.W. chair.
 
It has given so much protection.
So much of the courage we seek,
That just to stand behind it
Has given us power to speak.
 
It has been our desk and pulpit,
Our precious barricade,
It has been our stay in trouble,
Our fortress, our Ladies’ Aid.
 
If our shoes perchance are shabby
Or our slip is showing its nose,
If the hem of our skirt is uneven,
Or perhaps, there’s a run in our hose,
 
Don’t give these things a worry,
An anxious thought or a care,
Just take a bold position
Behind this kind old chair.
 
No critic’s eye can reach you,
To question your style or taste,
You are safe from observation
At least below your waist.
 
If your hand begins to tremble,
Or your manuscript to shake,
If your knees begin to buckle,
Or your voice begins to quake.
 
Just lean against this bulwark
And feel its sustaining grace,
Just swallow your heart a moment
And look your club in the face.
 
I know it will soon restore you
To confidence, poise and cheer,
When you see these friendly faces
And know you’ve naught to fear.
 
So we begin making changes
In this room we all revere,
Take away the couch and picture
Tho we hold these things quite dear.
 
Take away the clock and mirror
The piano if you dare,
Bur leave for our consolation
This kindly, staunch old chair.”
 
I don’t know the fate of that chair, but we do have a green one that might be worthy of prose.
 

There were several notable events or dates at the Hormel Historic Home in the past few weeks that make it hard for me to choose what to write about this week.  So, below is a recap of the highlights.
 
The garden is a peak color and many of you have enjoyed its pleasantness during a recent concert.  On July 1st the Austin Community Jazz Band played for the 7th year in a row.  With a jazz set that included Moondance by Van Morrison and The Beat Goes On by Sonny Bono and a lovely vocal by Laura Delke, the concert was a wonderful way to spend a Sunday evening. 
 
On July 10th, guests were entertained by Irish drummer Todd Menton and Galactic Cowboy Orchestra’s John Wright.  Menton played the Bodrun, the Tin Whistle, and Mandolin to the enjoyment of all.  The stories behind some of the Irish tunes made people chuckle and the tunes had toes tapping.  Menton will return in October to conduct a children’s workshop during our Music In Motion series.
 
Our 9th annual Circle of Friends Day Camp designed for elementary aged kids on the Autism Spectrum took place at the end of June, and 19 youth practiced social skills through planned activities, learned about our police department, and visited Oxbow Park in Byron.
 
The 8th annual All Access Community Explorations Camp kicked off on July 9th as did the 3rd annual Camp Just for Me.  These camps provide opportunities for young people to practice socially accepted behaviors and to become more confident and familiar within our community.  Dedicated and professional staff make these camps fun, educational, and impactful for area children on the spectrum striving find acceptance.
 
On the 17th, we wished Geordie A. Hormel II a happy 90th Birthday.  Born on July 17, 1928, the name sake of the George A. Hormel and Company founder, led a life pursuing music and entrepreneurial endeavors.  The HHH is grateful for the support of Geordie’s widow, Jamie, who has sent us several Hormel family artifacts that we now or will soon have on display.
 
Not by design, but through coincidence, we celebrated Geordie’s birthday with a day of music.  The musical duo, Jack & Kitty, known for their organic vaudeville and jug band style, conducted an instrument making workshop for 15 children.  They then performed for guests of all ages featuring Depression era songs on the cigar box guitar and the jug.  In the evening, guests heard a variety of songs performed in the Peace Garden.  It was a wonderful day and a busy few weeks. 
 
Upcoming Events:
 
Tuesday, July 24
Peace Garden Concert
Joey Leone, History of Blues in America
6:30 p.m. ~ FREE
An assortment of blues, from Pre-War to Texas & Chicago Electric Style Blues, as well as his own original blues compositions.
Kids ages 3-12 are invited to a special pre-concert set designed just for them from 5:30-5:50 for young music lovers to get up close and personal with the music and instruments. 
 
Friday, August 3
Peace Garden Concert
Dang Ol’ Tri’ole
6:30 p.m.
With unique experiences and common bonds, the group features their own sound that borrows from an array of styles including Traditional Folk, Progressive Rock, Salsa, Blues, Ska, Gypsy, and Classic Rock.

After writing last week’s column with excerpts of George Hormel’s letters to his son Jay while he served in WWI, I found a few more parental tidbits that you might enjoy and relate to.
 
George was very concerned that Jay, and all soldiers, would get enough rest in order to perform at their best.  Good advice for all of us was written on April 5, 1918.
 
“I am pleased to note the vein of good spirit that runs through your letters.  They do not indicate that you are despondent, even though things do not always run smoothly.  One surely must expect to put up with many disadvantages under war conditions and I am glad to have you take the attitude you do under the condition in which you are working.  The only thing I am afraid of is that you will overdo yourself.  There is a limit to what you can endure, and the redeeming feature of your while line-up is that you have all agreed to go to bed at a seasonable hour, which is the best rule you have adopted, providing you follow it out. You should do this for the best interests of your country; and men can endure lots if they can have plenty of sleep, under wholesome airy conditions, so they can be rested and full of energy for the next day’s work.  If you overreach yourself and take on more than you can stand, and should break down under it so that you would be laid up for a while, you would not be as successful as if you conserved your strength and lasted on through.”
 
On May 13, George suggested Jay work on his command of the French language.  This was probably good advice since Jay would soon meet and marry a lovely French lady, Germaine Dubois.  
 
“We were all very much amused at your French letter, and we come to the conclusion that your French was so punk that even though your friend can scarcely read or comprehend your letter in English, he figures he will be less persecuted if you omit the French.  It seems to me now ought to be an opportune time to learn French, and if I were you I would make it a point, all my spare hours, to get in touch with some genial Frenchman who will be good enough to tolerate your French.”
 
Each letter George and Lillian received from their son was a treasure, and they didn’t pass up the opportunity to continue sharing their parental wisdom with him from afar.
 
Upcoming Events:
 
Tuesday, July 17
Jack & Kitty Day
10:30 $3/$5 Instrument Making for pre- and elementary aged kids.  Please register at www.hormelhistorichome.org.
 
2:30  FREE  Sounds So Sweet! The History of American Jug Band Music of the ‘30s.  Perfect event for music lovers to reminisce over familiar tunes played in unique ways. 
 
6:30  FREE  Peace Garden Concert for all ages to enjoy.

As we have just celebrated our nation’s independence I thought I would print some correspondence we have from George A. Hormel to his son during Jay’s military service in World War I.  Typical parents, George and Lillian Hormel eagerly awaited word from their only child, who was 25 years old by the time he went overseas, and were sure to tell him to write more frequently and offer him wise parental advice.
 
Jay was stationed at Camp Merritt in New Jersey while he awaited sailing to Europe.  We don’t have copies of Jay’s responses to his father’s letters, but I am sure he was mostly happy to receive them, even when some of his father’s messages could have been perceived as more lecture than friendly greeting.
 
From January 3, 1918:
“I presume you are anxious to get over on the other side and get your work organized in whatever your duties are going to be.  I thought you were a little restless the day I was there because you were ready to go and daily looking for orders.”
 
“Mother has been waiting for a letter for the last three or four days, anxiously meeting the mailman at the door expecting a letter from you.  I think it would be well to write something a little oftener, if it is not more than a postal card.  Just anything from you will be satisfying.”
 
From January 7, 1918:
“Dear Jay: We received your good letter, which is the first since Christmas, and as usual was pleased to receive it, for as I have written you before, just something that would come more frequently would be a great relief to your Mother, as she is constantly concerned about you.”
 
On January 15, 1918, George, a concerned father, wrote to Jay of the importance of taking care of himself after he learned that a fellow soldier had succumbed to pneumonia.  “It is because of the exposure you are subjected to, and the necessity of extreme care in guarding your health that I have been urging you to take rubbers with you so that in case you are obliged to go out in the wet and mud you can keep your feet dry.  One can stand a lot of cold and exposure if they can keep their feet dry, but the moment anyone has wet feet they become chilled throughout the system.”
 
To all military families writing similar letters to loved ones serving today, I say God Bless You, and may you be comforted in your times of worry. 
 
Upcoming Events:
 
Tuesday, July 10
Peace Garden Concert
FREE ~ 6:30
Todd Menton, Edgy Celtic/eclectic folk and original music.  Joined by John Wright of Galactic Cowboy Orchestra on guitar, Todd will entertain and educate about the history and origins of the songs and instruments he is playing including the Bodhron (an Irish drum).
 
Tuesday, July 17
Jack & Kitty Day
10:30 $3/$5 Instrument Making for pre- and elementary aged kids
2:30  FREE  Sounds So Sweet! The History of American Jug Band Music of the ‘30s
6:30  FREE  Peace Garden Concert for all ages to enjoy.

In 1906 another person felt Austin had a lot to offer.  The following editorial was printed on August 1, 1906 in the Austin Daily Herald and described Austin of that time period.
 
“The city of Austin is 1190 feet above sea level; the fourteenth largest city in the state; the City of Homes and Business Combined; the metropolis of Mower County; the center of one of the richest agricultural districts in the northwest. 
 
Every acre is tillable and almost every acre is under cultivation.  Taking a radius of twenty miles it is the center of a population of forty thousand.
 
Austin has paved streets, thirty miles of concrete walk, three banking institutions, a million dollar pork packing plant, eleven churches, six school building.  Austin is not a ‘one idea’ city, but a place of diversified industry, embracing factories, mills, cement works, etc.  It is almost entirely surrounded by water where fishing and boating is excellent.  The pearls of the Cedar are of rare quality and frequently found.  Austin is a good railway center, has pure water in plenty, unsurpassed hotels, adequate fire protection, good government, public library, wholesale and retail business far above that usually found in cities of its size.  Everything that a well-regulated city of 10,000 is expected to have, Austin has.
 
If you are looking for a home or business, Austin has much to offer.  Don’t pass it by.”
 
Many attributes could be added to the list of amenities found in Austin and the surrounding area today.  We have miles of bike trails, a thriving arts culture, historical treasures, and people committed to helping others.  We were nice over 100 years ago, and we are still nice today.
 
Don’t forget to vote so the nation knows what ‘Nice’, and specifically ‘Minnesota Nice’ looks like.  Austin & Mower County have made the list of the Top 10 Nicest Places in America, 2018, sponsored by Reader’s Digest, Good Morning America, and 10best.com.  In a time when ‘nice’ stories are often overshadowed by negative criminal or political escapades or those of societal insignificance, our Mower County has been nominated and chosen to represent the image of NICE.  I believe it’s the people that make a community nice, so if you agree please go online and cast your vote for our people, our county.  You can vote daily until July 7 at https://www.10best.com/awards/travel/readers-digest-nicest/austin-and-mower-county-mn/
 
Upcoming Events:
 
Tuesday, July 10
Peace Garden Concert
FREE ~ 6:30
Todd Menton, Edgy Celtic/eclectic folk and original music.  Joined by John Wright of Galactic Cowboy Orchestra on guitar, Todd will entertain and educate about the history and origins of the songs and instruments he is playing including the Bodhron (an Irish drum).
 
Tuesday, July 17
Jack & Kitty Day & Concerts
10:30 $3/$5 Instrument Making for pre- and elementary aged kids
2:30  FREE  Sounds So Sweet! The History of American Jug Band Music of the ‘30s
6:30  FREE  Peace Garden Concert for all ages to enjoy.