Our Mission
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The Golden Valley Historical Society was established in 1974. Its mission is to find, preserve, and disseminate historical knowledge about the City of Golden Valley, Minnesota.
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The original Golden Valley City Hall, left, and the current city hall, right.
FEBRUARY 12 GVHS HISTORY PROGRAM
Past and Future: 2003 “Celebrate Golden Valley!” documentary viewing, discussion, and sharing
Learn more about Golden Valley’s ongoing heart and history at Golden Valley Historical Society’s (GVHs) Thursday, February 12, 2026 program: “Past and Future: Celebrate Golden Valley!” GVHS will screen a nearly forgotten 2003 documentary -- produced by Golden Valley Historical Society, Rotary Club of Golden Valley, and Curtis Laine of Studio 23 – followed by a moderated discussion of the city’s past and future.
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The presentation is at 7pm at the Golden Valley Historical Society, 6731 Golden Valley Road. It is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is not required.
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The 30-minute video, produced 23 years ago, features stories about local landmarks, community leaders, and the evolution of Golden Valley.
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The documentary will shine a light on how the city developed; the discussion will hopefully surface ideas for continued vibrancy, success, and innovation in the future.
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“We think you’ll discover that some topics continue to be relevant today,” said Lin Nelson-Mayson, GVHS board president, “including public works, human rights initiatives, and fostering community spirit.”
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After the film, attendees will have the opportunity to share their memories, ask questions, and connect with other participants as we reflect on the city’s continuing journey and celebrate its vibrant spirit.
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Discussion on Golden Valley’s past and future is timely as it will follow the January 26 City of Golden Valley Town Hall, said GVHS board member, Nick Thorson. “Whether you’re a longtime resident or new to the area, this is an opportunity to talk about and Celebrate Golden Valley!”
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Denise LaMere-Anderson, whose 2021-2025 term of office on the Golden Valley City Council recently ended, will moderate the discussion. “I am grateful for the opportunity to have served on the council,” Denise recently said, reflecting on her tenure, “and I remain deeply optimistic about Golden Valley’s future.” She was also the council’s liaison to the Golden Valley Historical Society during this same period.
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The Golden Valley History Museum (same address) will be open from 6:00 – 7:00 pm, prior to the program.
Monday, JANUARY 26
GOLDEN VALLEY TOWN HALL: OVERVIEW OF CITY OPERATIONS, UPDATE ON “BUILDING FORWARD,” Q & A
Golden Valley Historical Society is one of the sponsors of a City of Golden Valley Town Hall event on Monday, January 26, 6:30 pm, at Brookview. Mayor Roslyn Harmon, city council members, and city staff will be present at an event featuring an overview of city operations and an update on the “Building Forward-Civic Center Campus” facilities project.
A question-and-answer session, moderated by Mayor Harmon, will follow.
Other Town Halls will be scheduled during the year.
Regarding these events, in a recent CCX Media interview, Mayor Harmon shared: “This is definitely a vision that’s coming to fruition to really have a community engaged, to ask questions, and to be informed. If you want to know what’s happening in our city, if you want to know why we make the decisions, or how our government is processed. It’s really important to come to these town halls to ask questions about issues taking place in our city.”
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Other sponsors are the City of Golden Valley, League of Women Voters–Golden Valley, and Rotary Club of Golden Valley.
Photographer Cassandra Roy (Anishinaabe), our January 8 presenter, created this image of David Wilson (Dakota), a participant in the ÈžaÈŸá WakpádaÅ‹ / Bassett Creek Oral History Project, at the headquarters for the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization near where the creek connects with the Mississippi River.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026 PROGRAM
Celebrating ÈžaÈŸá WakpádaÅ‹ (Bassett Creek) Through Indigenous Photography
On Thursday, January 8, the Golden Valley Historical Society (GVHS) will host a talk by Cassandra Roy (Anishinaabe), an Indigenous artist who’s photographing ÈžaÈŸá WakpádaÅ‹ (Bassett Creek) in all four seasons. This event will feature her winter photography, portrait photography, and other artistic projects.
The presentation is at 7pm at the Golden Valley Historical Society, 6731 Golden Valley Road. It is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is not required. The presentation is at 7pm at the Golden Valley Historical Society, 6731 Golden Valley Road. It is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is not required. (The Golden Valley History Museum, same address, will be open from 6:00 – 7:00 pm, prior to the program.)
The creek’s watershed has been home to Dakota people for thousands of years. The creek begins its journey at Medicine Lake in Plymouth and winds its way through Golden Valley before being routed underground in Minneapolis. Historically, the creek connected with the Mississippi River above Owámniyomni (St. Anthony Falls). In 1992, the creek began running through a new tunnel that was built under downtown Minneapolis. It now discharges into the river downstream of the falls.
Since 2021, local community groups have been raising awareness of ÈžaÈŸá WakpádaÅ‹, the Dakota name for Bassett Creek. Roy has partnered with these efforts to create beautiful photographs of Indigenous people and events related to the creek.
In fall 2025, Roy’s portrait photography was featured at The Loppet’s Trailhead in Theodore Wirth Park as part of the exhibit “Native Voices: Stories from ÈžaÈŸá WakpádaÅ‹.” The photographs were paired with quotes from the ÈžaÈŸá WakpádaÅ‹ / Bassett Creek Oral History Project. They highlighted Indigenous connections to the creek and the importance of maintaining good water quality.
To learn more, you can access the oral histories on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. This 2-minute video provides guidance on how to pronounce ÈžaÈŸá WakpádaÅ‹.
The creek photography project is supported by a Community Grant from the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization. Additional support is provided by Valley Community Presbyterian Church, Golden Valley Historical Society, Hennepin History Museum, The Loppet, and others.
Annual Holiday Open House at the Golden Valley Historical Society is Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025
​Golden Valley Historical Society’s Annual Holiday Open House is Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. The public is invited to visit the Golden Valley History Museum and Historic Church, 6731 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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Never visited or not for a long time? You’ll find the Historical Society decked out in festive holiday finery; discounted vintage Golden Valley street signs for sale; tours of the award-winning history museum; free Lunds and Byerly’s cookies from “Byerly’s Peggy;” a chance to visit and learn more about the Historic Church and its 1882 chapel; details on rental of the chapel for weddings; vow renewals, and memorial services; discounted Golden Valley Historical Society memberships; and a variety of volunteer opportunities.​​​​
​​Golden Valley History Museum
Open since Sept. 2018, the Golden Valley History Museum features an immersive exhibition that traces the history of Golden Valley from the ice age and pre-European contact to today.
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The exhibition, “Golden Valley: No Place Like Home,” also explores the former Golden Valley High School, the first Byerly’s Foods, Golden Valley Garden Club, Ewald Brothers Dairy, Golden Valley Police and Fire Departments, civil rights, human rights, and leadership.​
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The museum will be open, and volunteers will be on hand to answer questions.
​​At the Museum: Cookies from "Byerly's Peggy" Nelson
Also in the museum, from 11 am to 3 pm, will be beloved former Byerly’s employee Peggy Nelson (now a museum greeter), who will hand out cookies and treats courtesy of the Golden Valley Lunds and Byerly’s store. Peggy will also answer your questions about the museum’s Golden Valley Byerly’s exhibit highlighting the first store in the locally loved chain, one which introduced the Twin Cities and Minnesota to “Glamorous Groceries.”
SPECIAL ONE-DAY SALE​​
Discounted Vintage Golden Valley Street Signs
Thanks to the City of Golden Valley, the Historical Society is the repository of over 800 decommissioned, mainly vintage Golden Valley street signs, some dating back to the 1940s. Stop by (use the museum entrance) and peruse, they could be perfect for last-minute holiday gift shopping. Signs will be discounted to $20 and can be purchased by cash, check, or PayPal. Proceeds from the sale of signs support GVHS programs and operations
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SPECIAL ONE-DAY SALE​​
Discounted Historical Society Memberships
Sign up to become a Historical Society member at a discounted cost of $20 for an individual and $40 for a family annual membership. Members are the first to know about upcoming events and opportunities. We rely on our members to help sustain our programs and maintain the Historic Church.
​​Inside the Historic Church is this 1882 Chapel
If you’ve never visited before, make a point to visit this Historic Church, a Golden Valley Road landmark. Inside is the 1882 chapel which in 1890 weas pulled by horses and mules almost a mile over rolling logs to its current location. We’ll share its complete history with you at the Open House.
Historic, Memorable, Intimate Weddings
Built in 1882, the chapel is the oldest church and one of the oldest buildings in Golden Valley, a charming and intimate venue for up to 80 guests – and just east of downtown. Stop by the Open House for a look. We’ll also answer your questions about the chapel’s rental for weddings, vow renewals, and memorial services.
Visit, Enjoy, Learn, Join, Volunteer
Historical Society board members and volunteers will be on hand throughout the day to welcome you and answer your questions, including a variety of volunteer opportunities.
November 13 History Program
History of Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute and Rotary International’s Role in Eradicating Polio
A Golden Valley Historical Society and Golden Valley Rotary Club program on Thursday, November 13 will explore how two remarkable organizations— Golden Valley’s Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute and Rotary Clubs—played and continue to play vital roles in the fight against polio. ​
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The “History of Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute and Rotary Clubs’ Role in Eradicating Polio” program will be from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Golden Valley Historical Society, 6731 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley.
Learn how local Golden Valley institutions helped shape international progress toward ending one of the most devastating diseases of the 20th century.
It is free, open to all, and no preregistration is required.
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Come with questions or stories to share about your experiences with polio for the moderated question and answer part of the program.​​
Iron lung patient and staff. Minnesota Historical Society.
Sister Kenny Institute, Minneapolis. c.1942
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Erika Schuld, Director, Post-Acute & Community Services from Allina Courage Center–Sister Kenny Institute, will share the history of the organization from its beginnings in 1928 as well as the groundbreaking rehabilitation work that began in Minnesota and transformed care for those affected by polio. In her current position, Erika supports recovery, independence, and quality of life for patients. Her background includes work in mental health, geriatrics, hospice, and palliative care.
Tim Mulcrone, Polio Eradication Chair for Rotary District 5950, will share Rotary International’s mission to eradicate the disease and how Rotary Clubs continue to make a difference around the world. A colleague said: “Tim can always be counted on for the latest data and progress on Rotary’s flagship initiative, the worldwide eradication of polio.” He is the last remaining charter member of Chanhassen Rotary founded in 1987, serving three times as President and on numerous Club and District committees. Since 2012, he has served as the Polio Eradication Chair for Rotary District 5950 which encompasses 71 Rotary Clubs in Minneapolis and Central Minnesota.
Following the presentation, attendees will have an opportunity to make a donation that would go towards polio vaccinations around the world via Rotary International and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. Golden Valley Rotary has pledged to match all contributions up to $2,000 so that those in attendance can make even more of a difference.
[The Golden Valley History Museum, same location as the program, will be open for interested attendees from 6:00 to 7:00 pm.]
photo by Jessica Stobel
The History of the LGBTQ+ Community in Golden Valley: Oct. 9 Roundtable Discussion for LGBTQ+ Month
October is LGBTQ+ History Month, a time to honor the rich history and contributions of this community throughout the country. To celebrate and document the storied LGBTQ+ history in Golden Valley, three sponsors - Golden Valley Historical Society, Golden Valley Pride Festival, and the City of Golden Valley’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commission - will host an open forum-round table discussion titled, “The History of the LGBTQ+ Community in Golden Valley” on Thursday, October 9.
The event is at 7:00 p.m, at Brookview Golden Valley, 316 Brookview Parkway S. It is free, open to all, and no pre-registration is required.
Golden Valley, a historic suburb in the Twin Cities Metro, has long been a beacon of human rights initiatives. With a vibrant LGBTQ+ history dating back to the 1970s and boasting more LGBTQ+ households per capita than any other city in Minnesota, Golden Valley was the first suburban Minnesota city to hold its own Pride Festival.
Stories will be shared, the past honored, and hopes and plans for an even more inclusive future will be presented. The panel will feature community members who are pledged to keeping alive the rich 50-year history of the LGBTQ+ community in Golden Valley, and who have also contributed to the development and support of this community.
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Panelists will include:
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Jonathan Burris, longtime lawyer, service on advisory boards and human rights commissions, recognized for service by Outfront Minnesota and the Minnesota Aids Project
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Seth Kaempfer, City of Golden Valley’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Manager
Peter Knable, GV Pride Founding Member and Board Chair
Christopher Robinson, GV Pride Immediate Past Board Chair
The moderator will be Nick Thorson, Currently the GV Pride Board Chair and Golden Valley Historical Society Secretary
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Despite the flourishing LGBTQ+ community, the city has faced moments of controversy and tension. From the push for Gay Rights in the late 1970s, through the AIDS crisis of the 1980s, to marriage equality in the late 2000s and early 2010s, Golden Valley residents have held diverse opinions regarding the LGBTQ+ community.
The Golden Valley History Museum, 6731 Golden Valley Road, has displays on LGBTQ+ history in the city and is open each Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
LGBTQ+ History Month was founded in 1994 by Rodney Wilson, the first openly gay public-school teacher in Missouri. This month includes National Coming Out Day on October 11 and commemorates significant LGBTQ+ marches on Washington in 1979 and 1987.
A1956 article by Cedric Adams, and an undated photo of original Cootie game,
Illustrated history talk - Wednesday, September 10, 2025
COOTIE! ANTS IN THE PANTS! A ROBBINSDALE AND GOLDEN VALLEY TOY STORY
Remember “Cootie,” the game that was a favorite of kids since it hit the shelves in 1949. Cootie has strong local roots. It started out on a porch in Robbinsdale, became a huge success, and led to a manufacturing plant built in Golden Valley in 1969. It also led to the creation of a popular, namesake park (with Cooties to play on) in the same area of Golden Valley.
On Wednesday, September 10, 2025, Robbinsdale Historical Society President Pete Richie, a published author and popular public speaker, will present an illustrated talk about the evolution of Cootie, its beginnings, and its rise to fame.
The 7:00 pm event, co-sponsored by the Golden Valley and Robbinsdale Historical Societies, takes place at the historic chapel of the Golden Valley Historical Society, 6731 Golden Valley Road.
From humble beginnings, entrepreneur William Herbert “Herb” Schaper guided his company into a major corporation with headquarters in Golden Valley at 650 Ottawa Avenue North. The building held Schaper’s
Thunderbird Plastics, which manufactured game pieces, and Highlander Sales, where marketing kept the sales high year after year.
Cootie was the first game produced by Schaper, but not the last. He invented many others, including “Ants in the Pants” and “Don’t Break the Ice,” two of the toy industry’s biggest sellers in 1969. Twenty years later, Schaper Toys was acquired by Tyco, which then sold the rights for Cootie and three other Schaper games to Hasbro, a division of Milton Bradley. Hasbro’s updated Cootie game is still sold in stores today.
Shortly before his death in 1980, Herb Schaper and his wife, Frances Schaper, donated a portion of land from the Schaper Manufacturing facility to the City of Golden Valley.
The city developed the land at 631 Ottawa Avenue North for recreational use. Schaper Park today is home to Minnesota’s first outdoor fitness challenge course, installed in 2017. The park also offers an all-inclusive play structure as well as two softball fields and a shelter building for programmed activities.
Another portion of the property was dredged for drainage and is known—of course—as Schaper Pond.
The event is open to the public and free of charge.
Golden Valley Historical Society
6731 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley, MN 55427
www.goldenvalleyhistoricalsociety.org
gvhistoricalsociety@gmail.com
Leave a message at 763-308-5059
Robbinsdale Historical Society
4915 42nd Avenue North, Robbinsdale MN 55422
www.robbinsdale.orgmuseum@robbinsdale.org
763-260-1183
photos by Stan Waldhauser and Jim Elert
Don Anderson, Mr. Golden Valley, Mr. Golden Valley Historical Society, passes away at age 95
Don Anderson, a leader with the Golden Valley Historical Society for over 30 years, passed away peacefully on August 1, 2025 at the age of 95. Don was a remarkable community builder, humanitarian, and cherished member of the city of Golden Valley.
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Our September newsletter has extensive coverage of Don’s legacy, impact on his beloved Golden Valley, as well as his own reminiscences. To access, click here.
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Don Anderson’s Obituary
To view Don' obituary, click here.
Celebration of Life - Open House
Thursday, Sept. 25
4:00 to 7:00 pm
Brookview – Golden Valley
316 Brookview Pkwy S, Golden Valley, MN 55426
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​We were humbled to learn that Don's family prefers donations to the Golden Valley Historical Society to continue his legacy in lieu of flowers or memorials. If you wish to donate, click here and be sure to add “In Memory of Don Anderson” in the memo box.
GRAESER PARK, 1941 Courtesy of Minnesota Historical Society; Graeser Park’s “Beehive” Fireplace, 2024 Courtesy of Restore Lilac Way; MnDOT’s Andrea Weber at work in the park.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2025: HISTORY WALK-AND-TALK
The Amazing Restoration of Highway 100/Lilac Way’s Graeser Park Historic Wayside Rest
On Wednesday, May 7, Golden Valley Historical Society (GVHS) and Robbinsdale Historical Society (RHS) will cosponsor a 6:00 pm walking tour of the restored Graeser Park, located at 4400 Lakeland Ave N in Robbinsdale. The event is free and open to the public; no pre-registration is required.
The tour will be led by MnDOT Historic Roadside Property and Waysides Program Manager Andrea Weber, who oversaw the park’s restoration.
“Graeser Roadside Park is a true hidden gem of the Twin Cities,” Weber noted. “It was believed to be lost after the Highway 100 reconstruction when it suffered heavy impacts due to construction and staging, but there it sat, covered in a layer of soil with parts stored offsite for another day.”
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The walk-and-talk presentation will showcase the work done during MnDOT’s three-year historic preservation project. A nomination for National Register of Historic Places is in process. Weber will point out specific features that have been restored, as well as some of the challenges, such as stabilizing existing features, making accessibility improvements, and matching the original rock garden plantings.
The tour will include standing and walking on turf areas and some uneven stone steps and pathways. Anyone using a mobility device will be able to stay on accessible paths.
In case of severe weather, the Wednesday, May 7, event will relocate to inside space at the Golden Valley Historical Society, 6731 Golden Valley Rd, Golden Valley. A notice of change of location will be posted on RHS and GVHS websites and Facebook pages
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A BRIEF HISTORY: CONSTRUCTION OF HIGHWAY 100 AND ITS ROADSIDE PARKS
Highway 100 was constructed between 1934 and 1941, during the Great Depression. Starting in Shakopee and ending in Robbinsdale, it was the first highway in Minnesota to have a cloverleaf interchange. The 12-mile section from Highway 5 in Edina to Highway 52 in Robbinsdale, was known as “Lilac Way.” The Highway Department planted 7,000 bushes of twelve varieties of lilacs along the highway.
Seven roadside parks, including Robbinsdale’s Graeser Park, were built by laborers and skilled masons were paid through President Franklin Roosevelt’s federal relief program, the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The parks were designed in a rustic style, with distinctive fireplaces, rough-cut stone tables, and unique rock gardens.
NEARLY LOST TO HIGHWAY 100 RECONTRUCTION
With the reconstruction of Highway 100 starting in the late 1990s, most of the wayside parks were eliminated. Graeser Park, the largest, most elaborate, and last to be built, was spared, but tables had been removed, and the beehive was crumbling, damaged by years of excessive fires.
THE COMMUNITY STEPS UP
“The community had not forgotten the park and had already begun to unearth it,” said Weber. “When I first saw it in 2021, I was amazed with its potential. Since then, we have been working to restore it to its intended use and bring a spotlight on this important historic roadside park.”
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Graeser Park has been a focus of the Robbinsdale Historical Society (RHS) since 2018.,” said Kristi Gibson, a board member and Graeser Park enthusiast. “The Robbinsdale Lions began working in 2013 to uncover the park’s rock garden, and once MnDOT committed to preservation, RHS came alongside to help raise awareness and support. Starting in 2022, RHS helped recruit volunteers to pull weeds left by years of overgrowth, and later to water and tend the perennials and bushes that MnDOT planted.
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When Graeser Park became eligible for National Register listing in February 2024, Robbinsdale City Manager Tim Sandvik stated, “The City of Robbinsdale remains grateful for the work of our volunteer community members and direction from assisting agencies including MnDOT. It’s a tremendous amount of work to reach this point, but we look forward to continued efforts to preserve such a wonderful amenity in our community.”
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MnDOT plans to pass ownership of the park to the City of Robbinsdale in the near future.
Andrea Weber is a licensed Landscape Architect and has been the manager of the MnDOT Historic Roadside Property and Waysides Program since 2018. She has also held positions at Dakota County in Capital Project Management, as a Landscape Architect/Project Manager at the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, and as the City of Shakopee Park and Landscape Designer. She enjoys working in preservation, uncovering the unique history of each site, and finding creative ways to share it with the public through design, interpretation, and community events.
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Pictured: The cover of "This Game is for the Girls," and presenter Bob Mattison.
OUR THURSDAY, APRIL 10 HISTORY TALK
This Game is for the Girls: The 50-Year Story of Golden Valley Girls Softball
On Thursday, April 10, Golden Valley Historical Society will host a talk by Bob Mattison, a long-time Golden Valley resident who quite literally wrote the book which chronicles the 50-year history of Golden Valley girls’ softball.
Founded in 1974 with six teams, at the beginning of the revolution in girls’ and women’s sports, the Golden Valley Girls Softball (GVGS) league grew - at one time fielding 42 teams - into one of the state’s premier slow pitch leagues by promoting athletic, sportsmanship, and teamwork skills for generations of girls.
The presentation, “This Game is for the Girls: The 50-Year Story of Golden Valley Girls Softball,” is at 7 pm at the Golden Valley Historical Society, 6731 Golden Valley Road. It is free, open to the public, and pre-registration is not required.
Mattison writes that GVGS is a prime example of a youth athletic organization that really works – for its players, parents, families, and community. “I wrote the book because I was impressed with the league, eager to learn about how it started, and curious what it took to develop into the success it is today,” Mattison said, “It took a lot of digging to find the founders and the leaders through the years, and to put it all together. It turned into a pretty big project but was a lot of fun.”
The presentation will focus on the founding of the league by a group of women who wanted their daughters to have the opportunity to play a fun team sport – something that was only available to boys at that time - and how the league grew and developed over the years into the great community asset it is today. It will highlight the support the league has had from the Golden Valley Parks and Recreation Department, especially the efforts during the last decade to provide the girls with facilities comparable to boys’ baseball.
Mattison had many perspectives: He coached in the league with his daughters for 13 seasons. He served on the league’s board, was the sponsorship director, umpired for 14 years, and served as umpire-in-chief.
With no proceeds going to the author, the book is the property of the league and is sold as a fundraiser. It is available on Amazon in both eBook and paperback form, under the title “The Game is for the Girls.” League members will have copies of the book available for sale on April 10 and Mattison would be happy to sign copies.
The Golden Valley History Museum, same location, will be open before the program, from 6 - 7:00 pm.
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History Matters! Do You Want to be a Part of Making a Difference in Golden Valley?
Golden Valley Historical Society (GVHS) is an all-volunteer organization. For over 50 years, Golden Valley citizens have stepped up to make the case for preserving and sharing the history of our community by contributing their time, talent, and treasure to create GVHS.
Perhaps you have “time, talent, or treasure” to share – let’s find out if there’s a match. We have current openings for museum greeters and the board of directors; we would also welcome volunteers interested in event planning, communications, and more. History matters, and you can be a part of making a difference for Golden Valley! Contact Lin Nelson-Mayson at gvhistoricalsociety@gmail.com with your questions or to indicate your interest.
Presenter Mary Agnes Ratelle (right) and a magazine illustration from the "More Than a Housewife" presentation (left).
WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH PROGRAM
More Than a Housewife: The Image of Post-War Women in Magazine Illustrations
For Women’s History Month, Golden Valley Historical Society (GVHS) will explore the changing image of the 1950s housewife in post-war America, primarily utilizing visual representations found in magazine illustrations. On Thursday, March 13, the society will host a talk by Mary Agnes Ratelle, Interim Executive Director of the Edina Historical Society (EHS). It is at 7 pm, 6731 Golden Valley Road. It is free, open to the public, and pre-registration is not required.
The 1950s housewife has been a mainstay of American visual culture, used to embody both the hopes of postwar economic opulence and the limitations of the domestic sphere that second wave feminism pushed against.
“In the March 13 presentation, I will offer the visual representation of the 1950s housewife,” Ratelle said, “by analyzing her representation in magazine illustration in the context of postwar marketing practices and psychological theory.”
Through a primary focus is on American magazine illustration, she added, “I will also explore its deeper connection with American economic development and psychological research.”
Ratelle held numerous positions at the Edina Historical Society prior to becoming its Interim Executive Director. “I was raised in Edina,” she said, and the city's historic sites have always had a profound impact - inspiring my love of history since childhood.” She is a graduate of the Art History and Museum Studies MA program at the University of St. Thomas. Much of her research focuses on historical fashion, women's history, and the impact of the visual arts on society.
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​The Golden Valley History Museum, same location and with permanent displays appropriate to the story of women’s history of leadership in Golden Valley, will be open prior to the panel discussion, from 6-7 pm. The sale of vintage Golden Valley street signs will also be taking place during this time.
Panelists Mayor Roslyn Harmon, Mayor Nadia Mohamed, Chief Virgil Green, and facilitator Rose McGee
FEBRUARY 19 BLACK HISTORY MONTH PANEL DISCUSSION
Moving the Needle Forward: Equality, Equity, and Progress in Challenging Times
On Wednesday, Feb. 19, GVHS will present “Moving the Needle Forward: Equality, Equity, and Progress in Challenging Times,” a Black History Month panel discussion. Panelists will include Golden Valley Mayor Roslyn Harmon, St. Louis Park Mayor Nadia Mohamed, and Golden Valley Police Chief Virgil Green. As important trailblazers in the story of the western Twin Cities suburbs, these three Black leaders will engage in a discussion facilitated by entrepreneur, author, and playwright Rose McGee.
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As Golden Valley and Saint Louis Park have joined forces in the “Westopolis” (West of Minneapolis) marketing venture, the panel will explore the area’s changes, needs, challenges, and achievements.
The program will be held at 7:00 pm at the GVHS Historic Church, 6731 Golden Valley Road. It is free and open to GVHS members and the public. It will be recorded for future replay. Note that it is a different day and week than most GVHS programming.
Roslyn Harmon took the oath of office as Golden Valley’s mayor on January 2, 2024. She is executive director of the Dispute Resolution Center in St. Paul and the first Black person to be mayor of Golden Valley. Harmon says she brings her dispute resolution skills to the office. A pastor and the daughter of Golden Valley icon Rose McGee, Harmon was included in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal’s 50 Black Leaders and received a 2024 Black Woman Entrepreneur Award.
Nadia Mohamed became this country’s first elected Somali American mayor in 2023. Similar to Mayor Harmon, Mohamed’s political philosophy centers on bridge-building. She is a recipient of the 2024 Emerging Leader Award from the League of Minnesota Cities, and the Centennial Under 40 Impact Award from the National League of Cities.
Virgil Green became the first Black police chief of the Golden Valley police department in 2022 following a law enforcement career in New Mexico, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. He's a chief who wears the uniform, responds to calls, and visits residents in their yards, homes, and businesses through his “Chat With The Chief” initiative.
Rose McGee is a facilitator, author, and founder of the Sweet Potato Comfort Pie racial justice and equity organization. She is the author of Story Circle Stories, the play Kumbayah: The Juneteenth Story, and the children’s book Can’t Nobody Make a Sweet Potato Pie Like Our Mama. She was named Golden Valley Citizen of the Year and has received Golden Valley’s Bill Hobbs Human Rights Award twice.
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The Golden Valley History Museum, same location and with displays appropriate to the story of Black history in Golden Valley, will be open prior to the panel discussion, from 6-7 pm. The sale of vintage Golden Valley street signs and drop-off of warm weather clothing for PRISM will also be taking place during this time
THURSDAY, JANUARY 9 AT THE GOLDEN VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
“The History of Ordinary Things” will be no ordinary program!
The holiday season can be overly busy, so to start the new year on a calmer note, Golden Valley Historical Society’s (GVHS) January program will be light, fun, and informative. On Thursday, January 9, GVHS will present “The History of Ordinary Things” by David Kuball, 7:00 pm, Golden Valley Historical Society, 6731 Golden Valley Road. It will be free, family-friendly, and open to the public.
“The presentation will celebrate a number of ordinary things,” David said, “and we will have fun learning about how they came into our lives. We may think of history as limited to events such as the moon landing or the life of a famous person. It’s easy to understand that the Statue of Liberty, George Washington, a World War II battle, or the Great Wall of China has a place in history.
“But there are things we encounter daily,” David continued, “and each has a fascinating story. These are common things we’ve known most of our lives, ordinary things that we take for granted but would miss if they went away. Each has a history.” The presentation will be fun for all ages. “For example," David shared, "potato chips were invented almost 200 years ago and have a great story.”
A long-time Golden Valley resident, David has loved history most of his life. He grew up on a dairy farm near Faribault, MN, earned a journalism degree from the University of Minnesota, and has had an information technology career with Optum, a health services company. He is on the board of the Golden Valley Historical Society and is a director for the Golden Valley’s Crime Prevention Fund.
