Jim Hang describes his family’s experience crossing the Mekong River as part of their immigration journey. This crossing, especially for non-swimmers, is perilous. 

How is water part of the story of your journey to this place?

Transcript:

Jim Hang: When I think of water, it draws me back to when my family coming and  crossing the Mekong River into Thailand. And, as a non-swimmer, it's awfully  dangerous to cross. Now, people say the Mekong River is not as deep, like people  mentioned. But at the time, it seems like it was really deep. And, in fact, if you are  a non-swimmer many people died in crossing the Mekong from Laos into  Thailand. 

And crossing the Mekong River and how we go through a night and be a non swimmer and, just thinking back, because they tie a rope from one end to another  end. And non-swimmer, like myself and my mom, at the time were just me and  my sister, actually three sisters. My mom would carry one, and one in the front  and one in the back, and my father would have me, and then swim by myself, and  then carry another sister. 

So there were three of us. My mom takes two. My father takes two and then  some baggage too. And then we would just held on to my parents, would just  held on to the rope, and crossing from one end to another end.  

And it was so lucky that we made it across. But there are some people who, when  the rope brokes off or slipped and it fell off, couldn't hold on to it, and it fell off  and the water just kind of flushed or washed them out, down. And many have  died of that reason. 

So water it's really unique in one way that it give us, help us to drink, allow us… 

Chong Sher Vang: Yog koj tsis txawj luam dlej tes poob tuag hab os. 

Jim: Yeah. And if you can't swim then you can drown and die. But water, it's a  basic need. Without water, it's really difficult to survive.

Chong: Txawm yaam ntawd tseem ceeb heev dlej nas 

Jim: So, in whichever route, water is important.

Jim Hang

Fourth grader Mason Parry, who lives on Sibley Lake, explains his love of fishing and the day he caught the big one on Red Lake!

How do you enjoy your local lakes and streams in summer? In winter?

Transcript:
My name's Mason and I'm nine years old and I'm in fourth grade. I spend my time fishing and kayaking and swimming. 

So I live on Sibley Lake and on the shore it's very rocky. Then when you get out deeper it's sandy, but it gets really deep, really fast. And then left of my dock, there's a big patch of weeds. We call it the death pile because it tries to take you down, so we try to avoid that. But we fish on the other side and we catch big walleyes and bass and different kinds of fish. 

I just like fishing by myself because it’s peaceful and quiet. I feel relaxed and sometimes I do it with my dad, but I don't like fishing with my sister cuz she complains a lot about like, bugs and stuff.  

I like open water fishing and ice fishing the same. Ice fishing, it's just cold and you just get cold really fast and you need a really warm shelter if you want to stay out there for a while. 

When we sleep out on the ice, we have bunk beds in an ice house that we rent and it just has a few holes and a few rattle reels. A rattle reel is where it has a bunch of line on this reel. When the fish bites it takes the line out and it makes the rod rattle.

My favorite day of fishing was when I was on Red Lake and I caught my 24 inch walleye. It was 3:00 AM and we were sleeping and then we heard a giant rattle reel go off so we ran to the rail reel and we pulled it up and as a 24 inch walleye. 

We let it go because we already had our limit from fishing all day long.

Mason Parry

From growing up without running water to building a career in the drought-prone southwest, Barry Welch’s life experiences have shown him the importance of access to water. 
Have you ever felt that water was scarce? 
What experiences have helped you appreciate the value of water? 

Transcript:
I’m Barry Welch, I'm from SMSC Community, and I was raised first 10 years in Redwood Falls, Minnesota, near Lower Sioux. That's where my mom is from, and my dad, he's Oneida Brothertown and Stockbridge-Munsee. These are immigrant New York Indians that were moved to Wisconsin. 
We lived there in Redwood Falls in a little house that - we had electricity, but no running water. We had to go over to my grandpa's house, which is maybe 60 yards away or so was the water. And of course, that's where we got our water to drink, take baths in and wash, so we'd have to go over there and haul it, bucket by bucket. Didn't have to do it until I was probably about six or seven. And my mom would say, “go get some water.” So I’d have to go get water over there. 
And I hated wash day, because then you had to bring a bunch of water. My sister Brenda, we'd go over and we'd haul it together. And mom had one of those old Maytag Wringer washers. Not only did you have to put water in the washer, but then when it was done, you had to take it out and throw it away. 
We hauled water a lot. We'd take our weekly bath by the stove in one of those old galvanized wash basins, and then we'd get her bath first. Then it was either Pat or I, or at that time, there was just the three of us that ran barefoot a lot. My mom would use one of those old stiff brushes used for doing the floor to scrub our feet because our feet looked dirty. 
I got my Bachelor of Science from the University of Minnesota in 1965. I was about the only Indian kid that ever got a degree in forestry up to that time. While I was at the University of Minnesota, one of my professors wanted to know if I'd stay and get my Master's in watershed management here, so I started to go that way. And then I decided, no, I need to get a job and make money. So I went - the Forest Service hired me up at Cass Lake. I get drafted in the army. Go in, we're two years there in Vietnam. I get out, get married, come back up to Cass Lake, working for the Forest Service. 
I was in Phoenix for a couple of years as a trainee to become an agency superintendent for a reservation. And you got to learn that there's different water laws for the west than there is here. Here it's all riparian water rights - if the water goes across your property, that's yours. Out west, it's whoever used it first. So they passed that type of law because of mining, the guy wants to do some sluicing, finds a stream, brings it down in some aqueduct of some kind or canal, to wash the dirt away, to get at his gold. If he got it first, it's his. Even if farmers move in and want to take some for farming, no, it's whoever got it first. So with the Indian tribes out west, we said, well, they've been using it since time immemorial. So they have it first. 
Of course, as the west grew up, the Bureau of Reclamation built all these irrigation systems and basically stole the water from the tribes. As the state engineer of New Mexico, Steve Reynolds, said one time, “Just give them money, not water, pay them off.” Those type of water fights we were having, both in Arizona, with the Gila River, Northern Arizona, San Juan River, Little Colorado River, and then all the Pueblos down the Rio Grande. You almost have to be there to really get the picture of that water is so scarce and so valuable. I don't know if kids here would ever understand that concept, unless you go and live it.

Barry Welch

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

Glen Nyenhuis shares a story about hunting along the railroad tracks that used to run through Lanesboro, Minnesota ~ hopping the train back to town in exchange for a bird; And finishing each hunting trip with a steak dinner at the White Front cafe. Glen and his wife Yvonne eventually moved to Lanesboro and bought the White Front, which they ran for many years.

Glen Nyenhuis on hunting In Lanesboro

"No matter what happens to the town, people have to eat!"

Yvonne Nyenhuis shares the story of her time running the White Front Cafe with her husband Glen. An important gathering place in Lanesboro for locals and tourists alike, Yvonne talks about how she saw her role as a business owner being one of service to the community.

The White Front Cafe

Area resident David Hennessey's reaction to a major fire downtown as described in an email he wrote a day after the event.

Lanesboro's Infamous Fire 2002

Charlie Ruen describes watching his  cows protect their calves as they cross the Root river,

Calves Crossing

The Minnesota Humanities Center offers a new way to think about our future—grounded in the humanities. Our state is rapidly changing and growing even more diverse. Look around. In case after case, in community after community, we too often choose not to listen to each other. As a result, we experience gaps and breakdowns.
 
The Humanities Center’s approach affirms we’re all in this together—using philosophy, literature, art, music, history and language—we focus on what unites us not divides us.

Barry Welch

Minnesota Humanities Center

Related tracks