The Shakopee Heritage Society offers one-hour presentations on a variety of topics related to the history of Shakopee. The presentations are $100, with the money used to make books available for students. Presentations are free for school groups and community organizations. Supporting the Shakopee Heritage Society with money and other donations are always welcome.
Powerful Names
This introduction to the history of Shakopee discusses the eight names for this town, along with eight people who lived in early Shakopee, including Ṡakpe II, Mahala Conklin Shumway, Joseph Godfrey, Pelagie Eliza Faribault Manaige, and others in early Shakopee.
Mnisota Wakpá: The Minnesota River in Early Shakopee
The river flows through downtown Shakopee. Learn about the floods, the drownings, the steamboats, the ferries, and the bridges that make Shakopee the place to live.
Mitakuye Owasin! Indigenous Nations in Early Shakopee
Information about Dakota Leaders Såkpa I, Sakpa II, Ṡakpedaŋ (Little Six), Minnie Otherday Weldon, Wakan Yaŋke Wiŋ, and others will be discussed. Also, please visit the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community exhibit, at Hoċokata Ti-The Lodge at the Center of the Camp at 952-233-9151.
Indians and Immigrants: Dakota People and Settler-Colonists in Early Shakopee
Dakota Indians, who were here first and are still here now, and settler-colonists from the east and north, and then from other countries who arrived after, are discussed in this presentation.
Cata Wambli and the Dakota Alphabet: The Story of Reverend Samuel W. Pond
Reverend Samuel W. Pond, who moved to Prairieville (later Shakopee) in 1847, according to Gary Clayton Anderson, “knew more about the Dakota than any other white person in the mid-nineteenth century. He spoke their language more fluently, and he was an especially keen observer of Dakota economic, social, and religious institutions.” Learn about Cata wambli, and the documentation of the written Dakota language.
Thomas Andrew Holmes and Ety-shah Red Face William Bill Quinn in Holmes Landing 1851
When Thomas A. Holmes and William Louis Quinn arrived in the area called Holmes Landing (later called Shakopee), the area was called Tínṫa Otuŋwe, a village of 600 Dakota Indians. Learn about the white people who moved into the area over the next few years, and the Indians who were already here for 175 years before the white people arrived.
“We Were Here, Too!” African Americans in Early Shakopee
Discover the stories of 17 African-Americans who lived and worked in 1800s Shakopee, including an African American who was enslaved and escaped from Shakopee; an orderly in the Civil War; a carpenter; an African-American man who headed to Montana territory with Thomas A. Holmes; and a servant whose spirits still lingers in downtown Shakopee.
For the Good of the Woman: The Minnesota Correctional Facility in Early Shakopee
The woman who convinced a group of men to build a reformatory for women, the place as it looked then and now, a few stories about growing up near the reformatory, and the prisoners who lived here, and those who escaped, are discussed in this program.
The Battle of Shakopee in 1858
On May 27, 1858, the Battle of Shakopee happened on the north side of the Minnesota River near Shakopee. While people in Shakopee watched the action on the south side of the river, about 150 Anishinaabe warriors entered the Minnesota River valley near Shakopee hoping to ambush a nearby group of Dakota and leader Ṡakpedaŋ. Anishinaabe warriors fired gunshots and killed a Dakota man fishing in the river around 5 a.m., starting the Battle of Shakopee. It lasted for five hours, until the Anishinaabe retreated and moved north toward Lake Minnetonka. Learn about the Indians and white people who were there.
“Let’s Go Shopping!” Stores in Early Shakopee
Early stores in Shakopee, including August Abel’s Tailor Shop, Gutenberg’s Meat Market, Nathan McDowell McMullen’s Hardware Store, H.P. Jewelry, August Scherkenbach & Bros. Marble Works, Miss Hill’s Millinery, and Samuel Hiller’s Bookstore will be discussed, along with other stores in the late 1800s.
Home Sweet Home: Dwellings in Early Shakopee
From the tipi tanka (bark lodges) of the Dakotas, to the Faribault Trading Post, to the Pond Mission House, to the beginning houses of early Shakopee, this presentation will describe some of the shanties, hewed log cabins, to houses with board floors and shingle roofs that became the town of Sha K’ Pay, Minnesota Territory.
“This is a most beautiful place!” Writers in Early Shakopee
Diaries, letters, and books written by people in Shakopee are presented, including Florence Courtney Milton, Eleanor Gates, Susan Maria Hazeltine Adams, and Daniel M. Storer. Examples of some of the writing will be discussed.
Wa Maka Ska and the People in Early Shakopee
This presentation shares stories about wa maka ska (wah mah-sahn shkahn), or animals, and the people who lived in early Shakopee, including tataŋka (oxen) and Samuel Pond, hogan (fish) and Condé G. Raquet, kéya (turtle) and Pat Thielen, and wakiyela (pigeon) with Rip Schroeder, among others.
Instigate, Inflame, and Ignite! Fires in Early Shakopee
The fires helped change the landscape in early Shakopee. Stories about the the Great Fire of 1879, the fire at the Ferdman Store in 1934, the fires at the St. Paul House in 1965, the Riviera Supper Club fire in 1952, the fire at Page and Hill in 1957, and the deadly Chevrolet garage fire in 1959, along with others, will be discussed.
Now and Then! Pictures from the Shakopee Heritage Society
Have you ever looked at a building in Shakopee and wondered what used to be there? In this presentation, the Shakopee Heritage Society will look at pictures from the past, and the pictures from today at the same place.
Honor, Respect and Sacrifice: Military in Early Shakopee
From the Civil War to the world wars, to the war in Vietnam to the Iraq crises, this presentation will talk about some of the people who were involved in military in early Shakopee.
A+ for Teachers: Educators in Early Shakopee
Everyone has a favorite teacher. In this presentation, the Shakopee Heritage Society will discuss some of the teachers from the past, including Grace Elizabeth Lehmann Sweeney, Dale Vaughan, Esther Theresa Theis Weinzierl, and other educators who make Shakopee a great place to live.
“We Were Fierce!” Women in Early Shakopee
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“We Were Strong!” More Women in Early Shakopee
More discussions of women, including Hapstiŋna Makaakaniwankewin Black Flute Lucy Otherday, Maasnawin Iron Women Rosalie Freniere Mooers, Winona Nancy McClure Faribault Huggan, Melinda Perry Apgar, Sarah Butts Wakefield, Ellen Marie Oleson Jorgenson, Isabel Davis Higbee, Alice Briggs, Ruth Gardner, and Marilyn Laddusaw Lang.
“We Were Smart!” Even More Women in Early Shakopee
Shakopee had many fascinating women in early Shakopee, including Pelagie Eliza Faribault Menaige, Na-he-no-Wanah (Spirit of the Moon) Prescott, Elizabeth K. Ries, Isla Lindmeyer, Dr. Lizette Schmitz Entrup, Ida Gjerdrum Buck, Sarah-Irene Faribault, Rose Ann Spencer Spencer, and Katherine Seibenaler Marschall. These women, along with others, will be discussed.
“Stay Strong. Stand Up. Have a Voice.” Clever Women in Early Shakopee
Interesting women in Shakopee, including Sean Touch, Katherine Frehaut Reis, Gina Morales, Inyaŋka Wiŋ Runs Bringing Huckleberries, and Helen Elizabeth Lizzie Everling King, among others, will be discussed.
“Astute, Adept, and Adroit!” Amazing Women in Early Shakopee
Marpiyawecasta Mary Wabashaw Hahah Cloud Man Thompson, Zillah Worsley Jackson, Antoinette Marie Ann Strehlow Carpenter, Tai Doris Shigaki, Darleen Betty Kopitzke Schesso, and others will be discussed.
“Bold, Bright, and Brainy!” Brilliant Women in Early Shakopee
Some of the brilliant women who lived in early Shakopee, including Elizabeth Clarke Mawney Cole, Lucy Prescott Pettijohn, Jannette Elizabeth Sykes DeCamp Sweet, Elizabeth Koeper Human, Susan Xian Jeung, and Yesenia Soto, among others are discussed.
Now and Then! Pictures from the Shakopee Heritage Society
Have you ever looked at a building in Shakopee and wondered what used to be there? In this presentation, the Shakopee Heritage Society will look at pictures from the past, and the pictures from today at the same place.
2,416 People and 27 Bars…I’ll Drink to That! Shakopee in the 1930s
In the 1930s there were 2,416 people who lived in Shakopee. And in that same town, there were more than 27 bars! In this presentation, the names and locations of the various bars in Shakopee, and some of the stories of the people who lived in Shakopee during Prohibition and beyond, will be discussed.
Murder, Mayhem, and Mystery in Early Shakopee
From the bank shooting in 1929 to murders in 1890; from robbing the dead in 1883 to infanticide in 1869; from the man who had two wives in 1879, to the man killed at the water tower in 1985; from the 30 infants and children killed during a whooping cough epidemic to the brothel in Shakopee…this presentation will focus on some of the murder, mayhem, and mystery in early Shakopee.
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: Transportation in Early Shakopee
After the use of canoes, ships, and horses, the beginning of the 1900s included planes even in Shakopee, trains, which switched the focus from the Minnesota River to the railroad tracks, and the cars that overtook the roads over time. This presentation will discuss some of the stories about transportation in the 1900s.
In the Shadows: Servants and Other Workers in Early Shakopee
The servants who worked in some people’s homes, the nurses who took care of others, the nuns who worked in school, and other workers in Shakopee are discussed in this presentation.
Old Town, New Town: Shakopee in the Last 50 Years
The town of Shakopee fifty years ago is quite different than the city of Shakopee today. This presentation will look at some of the buildings, including those on the north side of First Avenue, and some of the newer places that are here today.
¡Hola! Latino/a and Hispanics in Early Shakopee
Shakopee has many Latino/a, and some of them, including Aurelio Marin Mendez Jr., Paula Morales Johnson, Luis Canchari, Mari-Luz Palacios, Mathias Antonio Soto-Elgueta, and Angelica Maria Arevalo-Contreras, among others, will be discussed.
Hospitals, Doctors, and Patients: Healthcare in Early Shakopee
Learn about the four hospitals in Shakopee, the doctors and patients, the nurses and candy stripers, and those who are often remembered by others in Shakopee.
Disease, Decrepitude, and Death: Darkness in Early Shakopee
Stories of people in early Shakopee who were involved in robberies, auto accidents, fires, escapes from the Women’s reformatory, and people who died too young are discussed in this presentation.
The Bricks: The People and the Workers in Early Shakopee
The brick companies in Shakopee, including the Schroeder Brick and Lime Manufacturing Company, the families, the grandson, the lime kiln accident, the children who worked there at 4 cents an hour, and the well-known potter who all worked along the river.
A Place to Belong: Civil War Veterans in Early Shakopee
During the Civil War, many men in Shakopee and the area joined in the war. Learn about the people, those who lived and those who died, and the stories about the veterans from Shakopee.
Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives: Restaurants in Early Shakopee
Some of the restaurants in early Shakopee are discussed. Uptown Cafe, Wampach’s, Gerlach’s Cafe, Hauer’s Drive-In, Pablo’s Restaurant, A&W Restaurant, Clem’s, and many more will be discussed.
Glory Hallelujah! Churches, Mosques, and Holy Places in Early Shakopee
The early churches in Shakopee, the holy places of the Dakota Indians, and the mosque in Shakopee are discussed.
Sparkling! Industry in Early Shakopee
Most people know about Amazon and Shutterfly, but long ago, Shakopee had many industries starting in the 1800s. Besides Rock Spring Bottling Company, the mills, the breweries, the soap factory and the brickyards were all part of early Shakopee. Learn about some of the early industry in early Shakopee in this presentation.
Wunderful! German Americans in Early Shakopee
From 1853 up to the outbreak of World War I in 1914, German was spoken, written, and heard in Shakopee as much as English. Many of the county’s early settler-colonists came from the German-speaking regions of Europe, and they brought their native language to the new country. Because so many spoke German, the language was reinforced in local churches, schools, books, and newspapers. Learn about some of the German-Americans in Shakopee.
On the Streets Where We Live: Streets in Early Shakopee
Shumway. Holmes. Marschall. Faribault. Fuller. Apgar. Somerville. Mooers. Murphy. Spencer. Wakefield. Learn about the names behind the streets of Shakopee.
So Jazzy! Shakopee in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s
The first woman mayor was elected in 1925. Holmes Street Bridge was completed in 1927. A bank robbery was prevented in 1929 by the Paul Revere of Shakopee. Bill’s Toggery started in 1931, and Rahr Malting was built in west Shakopee in 1936. But, according to Hilary Drees, “Shakopee was a wide open town.” During Prohibition, learn about stories about drinking, bootlegging, slot machines, and gangsters that roam downtown Shakopee.
Nǐ hǎo and Kon’nichiwa! Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Early Shakopee
Learn about the Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in early Shakopee, including the first evidence of a Chinese laundry that opened in the 1890s, and other people including those who arrived more recently.
So Groovy! Shakopee in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s
This presentation will discuss some of the experiences of people growing up in the 50s, 60s, and 70s, including the Little Store, the Puppet Show, and the swimming pool, along with other memories.
Weird and Wonderful in Early Shakopee
Martha Tamazawiŋ Toboska War Eagle Wamadeduda Otherday and the 1897 County Fair, the 1918-1920 Flu, the gunman who went to the electric chair in 1937, the rat-tail bounty in the 1930s to 1950s, the barbershop who collapsed in 1931, and the Cambodian-American who arrived in Shakopee in 1987, and other weird and wonderful things that happen in early Shakopee are discussed in this presentation..
About the Presenter
David R. Schleper received his B.A. in deaf education and English at the University of Northern Colorado and his M.A. in deaf education at Gallaudet University. He also completed post-graduate studies on teaching writing at the University of New Hampshire.
Schleper has traveled throughout the United States to lead workshops at residential schools and mainstream programs. He has also presented in Australia, Canada, Guam, and Puerto Rico, United Arab Emirates, and the Virgin Islands.
Schleper has taught at all grade levels, from elementary to graduate school, at the Kendall Demonstration Elementary School, the Hawai’i Center for the Deaf, the Model Secondary School for the Deaf, Kapi’olani Community College, and Gallaudet University.
Schleper is an avid reader and the author of several articles on reading and writing with deaf students. He has written several manuals, and originated and developed the Shared Reading Project, a program to teach hearing families how to read with their deaf and hard of hearing children.
Since moving back to Shakopee a few years ago, David has spend his time researching about the people in Shakopee, and enjoys learning about the variety of people who lived in this area. He is the president of the Shakopee Heritage Society.