HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Preservation - 06/17/2024APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION
MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2024 7:00 P.M. Meeting
Heritage Rooms, City Hall
HPC COMMISSION MEMBERS: Steve Schumacher (Chair); Paul Thorp
(Vice-Chair); Rod Fisher; George Maxwell;
Robert Bowes; Andy Ludowese; Catherine
Lau
COMMISSION STAFF: Beth Novak-Krebs, Staff Liaison
Kristin Harley, Recording Secretary
I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
Chair Schumacher called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. All commission members
were present.
II. READING OF LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT STATEMENT
Lau read the land acknowledgement statement.
III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION: Ludowese moved, seconded by Maxwell to approve the agenda. Motion
carried 7-0.
IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION: Fisher moved, seconded by Bowes to approve the minutes of the May 20,
2024 meeting. Motion carried 7-0.
V. NEW BUSINESS
A. UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF THE INTERVIEWS REGARING
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Novak-Krebs explained the interviews had been transcribed and nearly all had
been edited. When completed, they would be uploaded to the website. Each
would have a standard written introduction. Schumacher suggested launching a
campaign with each posting, and spacing them out so that each oral history would
get attention. Novak-Krebs stated she would bring up this idea with the
Communication Department. Discussion followed on the format of the
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June 17, 2024
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introduction. Novak-Krebs also suggested loading them to the Historical Society
interviews webpage as well.
B. ORGANIZING INFORMATION ON THE NATIVE AMERICAN
HISTORY OF EDEN PRAIRIE
Schumacher thanked Thorp for all his work. Thorp distributed a hard copy
summary and displayed digital images of his inventory, including photographs of
the Otherday family members and maps of the Otherday (now Peterson) property.
Discussion followed on the locations and history related to the Otherday family
and the geography. Otherday originally purchased 18 acres in 1871. John
Bluestone, great-grandfather to Sheldon Wolfchild, purchased 145 acres near
Prior Lake in 1866, which the government either bought or took and it was split
up. The Otherday family was the only documented Indigenous family in Eden
Prairie. Thorp summarized the history of the Otherday family on the current
Peterson property and property south of the river now owned by the
Mdewakanton Tribe known variously as The Village, Little Sixes Village,
Tentawon, et cetera. Thorp explained where the 1858 battle occurred on his map.
Discussion followed on the history of the steamboat on the Minnesota River.
Schumacher explained the disconnect between wanting to tell a coherent story
and imposing non-indigenous concepts of place on the story. Thorp explained the
expulsion of Indigenous families from Eden Prairie, whereas the Otherdays
returned. Discussion followed on the Otherday property parcels.
[Devyn Stanton arrived at 7:41 p.m.]
Lau asked if the history would focus on the Otherdays, and Thorp replied he only
intended to show the information he had; crafting the story would come after an
inventory was made. Thorp stated the location of the Red Rock through time had
been adequately documented before it was offered to the Lower Sioux nation.
Discussion followed on locations on the maps such as the ferry, the Oxcart Trail,
the fire ring, and the river crossing.
Discussion followed on hiring a historian and putting out an RFP to hire someone
to write a book about the Native American history in Eden Prairie.
Schumacher stated the next steps would involve the subcommittee meeting and
returning to the commission with a proposal with a budget, and also take it before
the Historical Society. Bowes suggested including Kathie Case in the
subcommittee meeting.
VI. OLD BUSINESS
A. UPDATE ON TOURING MARCIA KOLB AND JOHNNY SEVERSON’S
HOME
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Schumacher stated Kolb, who had won this year, reached out. Novak-Krebs stated
the tour would be held August 19, the night of the regularly scheduled HPC
meeting, at 6:00 p.m. It was located at the south frontage road and Highway 5 in
the house built by Moran (Moran House). There would still be a short HPC
meeting that night.
VII. REPORTS OF SUBCOMMITTEES
A. NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY OUTREACH
B. NEW HERITAGE PRESERVATION SITE DESIGNATIONS
C. RENOVATION/MAINTENANCE DEVELOPMENT
D. DOCUMENTATION/HISTORICAL RECORDINGS/OUTREACH
VIII. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF
IX.. REPORTS OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Bowes stated there would pop up events in July 24 and August 14, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on
Lake Riley at the Dorenkemper House.
Thorp stated he had received the permit to cut buckthorn at the Depot site. He would
involve the Eden Prairie Scouts.
X. FYI ITEMS
Schumacher stated he would not attend the next two HPC meetings.
Novak-Krebs announced the new student representatives would be appointed by City
Council tomorrow (Tuesday) night and would start in September. Schumacher push for
including more juniors than seniors in the future. Lau suggested having a designated
member of the commission contact the student representatives before the first meeting.
She volunteered to do this.
XI NEXT MEETING
The next HPC meeting will be held on Monday, July 15, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. in the
Heritage Room.
XII. ADJOURNMENT
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MOTION: Bowes moved, seconded by Fisher to adjourn. Motion carried 7-0. The
meeting was adjourned at 8:24 p.m.