According to the 1991 Albany Heritage Centennial book, “Albany, the Heart of Minnesota,” by Jeanette Clancey Blonigen, the first high school organized in Albany was in 1914 by the …
“I open up my sleepy eyes and see the morning just the way that it should be,” sings Jeff Brooks in his song “Minnesota Morning.” The church of the Immaculate Conception …
Those playing the card game skat, a three-handed, trick-taking game, are playing one of the few card games where the origins are known. It came to this area with German immigrants in the late …
Improvements in heating, piping and insulation have helped mitigate cold weather effects in the area. Granted, it still gets cold, sometimes dangerously so. A century ago, those …
We receive all kinds of Christmas cards each year, and we cherish every one of them — including the ones we were surprised to get. Some contain the Hallmark-type sayings that are simply signed. …
For weeks, ingredients for my Christmas baking have sat in bags in my spare room. I figured I had plenty of time to get the deed done. Well, it was now or never — Dec. 15 — time for …
For the past few weeks, we constantly heard various seasonal songs. Some are Christmas-themed, others winter-themed and some holiday-themed. Surprisingly, many of the songs, while considered …
Just two weeks removed from using this space to lament the degree of complaining and whining we see all around us on a daily basis, I have experienced something that has put me in those shoes. …
It’s just not Christmas if I don’t watch “White Christmas” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” There is no need to delve into the Hallmark movies that already …
Easter was, at one time, a tradition for fashion shows of a sort. Still, a century or so ago, merchants were not adverse to promoting looking good at Christmas time. At least one Albany …
The holiday season is upon us. From myself and my staff, happy holidays to you and your family. During this time of year, though, we know the holiday season isn’t always joyful for …
Those thinking the commercial push for Christmas sales is of recent origin are somewhat mistaken. Admittedly, it has kind of made Thanksgiving Day weekend a kickoff of sorts, but for well over …