This digital story recording was created in conjunction with the Smithsonian's Museum on Main Street program and its Stories from Main Street student documentary initiative, called "Stories: Yes." The project encourages students and their mentors to research and record stories about small-towns and rural neighborhoods, waterways, personal memories, cultural traditions, work histories, as well as thoughts about American democracy. These documentaries are then shared on Smithsonian websites and social media.

This moving story explores why people settled in Lanesboro originally in the 19th century, contrasted with a deeply personal and local perspective on what it takes to sustain a small town in the Twenty-First Century. An intimate portrait of community, economics, Main Street and the future of rural America emerges through the lens of the filmmaker, her peers, local business owners, and the town’s decision makers. Produced by Mai Linh Gjere in conjunction with Lanesboro Arts, Minnesota, with technological support from Erin Dorbin.

Mai Linh Gjere (00:00): My name is Mai Linh Gjere. I'm a city transplant, and I'm a prime example of a millennial living in a small Midwestern town also known as Lanesboro, Minnesota. Lanesboro was created by joint stock company owners in New York with the starting population of about 600 people. The time it was founded is very much disputed, some saying 1869 and others saying 1868. In the early years, Lanesboro was just like any other small Midwestern town. Lanesboro had everything its residents needed. Somewhere to eat, somewhere to drink, somewhere to worship, and a hotel. Lanesboro grew quickly adding a flour mill, a hardware store, general stores, and eight saloons. That's two more than what we're allowed by law. In 1876, Lanesboro was at its peak with over 1,600 residents. My family moved here to Lanesboro from St. Paul in 2004 when I was only two years old. My parents, Mike and Kirsten Gjere, saw opportunity and potential here. They made the decision to relocate for several reasons. Now, 12 years later, they talk about those reasons, difference between a small town and a bigger city, and what lies for Lanesboro and its future.

Mike Gjere (01:05): We spent all of our summers in the country and we liked being here so we just decided we would like to live here full time. When I was younger, we had a farm near Lanesboro that we'd spend the summers at. We had the opportunity to buy a farm here in Lanesboro so we bought a farm and we decided to move down here.

Kirsten Gjere (01:25): All our activities were bicycle riding and we did some fishing and canoeing and we liked all that out here so we decided to move.

Mike Gjere (01:35): Oh, that was a lot of work. Yeah.

Kirsten Gjere (01:35): We bought this place at an auction, which was nerve wracking.

Mike Gjere (01:39): Yeah. We bought the farm at an auction and the barn was falling down, the house was falling down.

Kirsten Gjere (01:46): The windows were rotted out.

Mike Gjere (01:47): There were no fences.

Kirsten Gjere (01:49): Carpets smelled like mold.

Mike Gjere (01:51): It was rough.

Mai Linh Gjere (01:52): In 2016 during the spring and summer months, Lanesboro streets are bustling, people everywhere, eating, tubing and sightseeing. With a population of just 740, one would think Lanesboro doesn't have a lot going on. But by looking at Main Street, that is clearly untrue, sort of. For three months, Lanesboro is a cheerful, quaint and busy town, but it wasn't always that way. In fact, some describe it as more of a ghost town year round.

Asset ID: 8676
For a complete transcript, please visit www.museumonmainstreet.org

Small Town, Big Changes, Minnesota

This story was collected, edited, and produced by students in Lanesboro, Minnesota, for the Museum on Main Street program at the Smithsonian Institution. It is part of the "Be Here: Main Street" collection, intended to capture Americans' stories about their neighborhoods, waterways, towns, traditions, and personal experiences. #bHereMainSt

The story explores why people settled in Lanesboro originally in the 19th century, contrasted with a deeply personal and local perspective on what it takes to sustain a small town in the year 2016. This intimate portrait of community life, economy, Main Street and the future of rural America is uniquely told through the lens of the filmmaker, her peers, local business owners, and the town’s decision makers.

Farming and Agriculture in Lanesboro, Minnesota

This digital story recording was created in conjunction with the Smithsonian's Museum on Main Street program and its Stories from Main Street student documentary initiative, called "Stories: Yes." The project encourages students and their mentors to research and record stories about small-towns and rural neighborhoods, waterways, personal memories, cultural traditions, work histories, as well as thoughts about American democracy. These documentaries are then shared on Smithsonian websites and social media.

Recorded in conjunction with Houston County Historical Society, Minnesota. Produced by Stories: Yes curator Olivia Obritsch, with support by Erin Dorbin and Olivia Hoff. 

Kelly Asche (00:05): With the data I look at in the history that I know and the things that I've learned, I see communities constantly and consistently evolving and changing. And so I tend to think about small towns in a little bit more positive light that it has changed a lot, it has evolved from where it has been 20, 30, 40, or 50 years ago. I know not everything's positive. I know there are problems and challenges, but I believe we need to nuance the narrative a little bit more away from just negative or revitalization, but more towards look at all these interesting things happening at all of these interesting places.

Olivia Obritsch (00:37): Nowhere could this be more applicable than Lanesboro, a small town with a plethora of experience with change gleaned from the events that have taken place here in the last 40 years. This is that story.

Jennifer Hungerholt (00:59): When I think back to the '70s, I lived in Rochester and I'd come down here and visit my grandparents on weekends. Town was just dead. I mean, it was nothing going on

Robin Krom (01:10): Lanesboro was a beautiful town, but it was pretty well closed up.

Marc Sather (01:16): Lanesboro was like many small towns. It was somewhat abandoned, boarded up.

Olivia Obritsch (01:23): So what caused the transformation in Lanesboro from its semi neglected state to the vibrant town it is today?
Robin Krom (01:31): The trail was the first huge factor, I think, that really brought Southeastern Minnesota as well as Lanesboro a lot of growth.

Olivia Obritsch (01:47): The railroad first entered the area in 1868 with the construction of a new portion of rail line that originally stretched from Rushford to Lanesboro. The railway was first christened The Root River Railroad but changed names several times in rapid succession until 1880, when it was absorbed into the preexisting Chicago, Milwaukee and St.. Paul Railroad Company, often referred to as simply The Milwaukee Road.

Asset ID: 8671
For a complete transcript, visit www.museumonmainstreet.org

The Rebirth Of Lanesboro, Minnesota

"It was a magical place. My wife and I said, we're going to live here sometime."

Lanesboro resident Blake Coleman on his very first visit to the town he now calls home, and what he loves about Lanesboro.

Visiting Lanesboro for the first time

A project created by residents of Lanesboro, Minnesota in conjunction with Be Here: Main Street, a digital storytelling initiative of the MuseWeb Foundation, the Smithsonian Institution's Museum on Main Street program, and Minnesota community partners.

Visiting Lanesboro for the first time

Be Here: Lanesboro

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