HOT PURSUIT

At a celebration marking the community’s 125^th anniversary, it shouldn’t come as any big surprise that Ellendale’s vibrant history group was busy peddling bricks on the street corner.

That’s where I found Lloyd Kaplan and Jo Lerberg of the Ellendale Area Heritage Society (EAHS) last Saturday afternoon during Ellendale Days. They are two avid history buffs that have chronicled Ellendale’s past for years.

Their message is pretty simple: “Show your heritage, donate a brick.” They said if Ellendale has been a part of your life in some way, an engraved brick is a special way to recognize the heritage for years to come.

EAHS is using the brick fundraiser for the second phase of the Gathering Place Plaza located between the large mural and community garden in downtown Ellendale. They are selling two bricks—4 by 8-inch for $50 or 8 by 8-inch for $100. Symbols can be added for an additional cost.

They are hoping to sell at least 400 bricks. As of last weekend, during the peak of Ellendale Days, they had sold around 100.

Lerberg has already purchased three bricks, one representing the Class of 1968 which she graduated in, another representing her family’s long history in the community and to top it off, one for her service dog, Gladys. Her grandparents, Andrew and Charlotte, started Lerberg’s Foods in 1901. Andrew died in 1928. Her parents, Art and Marge, kept things going and assumed ownership in 1940. Her brother, Andy and his wife Mary, took over the store years later. The store remains open in Ellendale, though under a different owner who has kept the Lerberg name.

Jo Lerberg left the area for 34 years before returning several years ago. She said her initial intention was to spend just summers on Beaver Lake where her parents had bought a cabin in 1938. After returning, she winterized the place and now it’s her full-time residence.

“To me this is my home even though I was a way for a while,” said Lerberg. “I know so much history of this town,” she said, adding that sadly so much of that history has been lost in recent years.

Kaplan is also putting his money where his mouth is. He has purchased two bricks, one for the Class of 1954 and another for the last graduating class of Ellendale High School in 1990 before it merged to become NRHEG.

Dan Nelson is leading the fundraising campaign. He also has deep history in Ellendale. His great, great grandparents, Elling and Auna Ellingson, sold land to the railroad to build Ellendale in 1900. They immigrated from Norway and settled in Berlin Township.

“There are a lot of different ways to put something on the bricks,” Nelson pointed out. He added the bricks will be uniquely laser engraved and guaranteed for life.

The history group hopes to build the brick display later this year. Nelson said an interpretive sign will be added to let people know about the early settlers. The project is expected to run about $9,000.

It’s special to see that there are people who care enough to preserve the history of where we came from.

Anyone interested in donating a brick can go to www.bricksrus.com/donorsite/eahs. Folks can also call Nelson at 507-390-5213.

It’s pretty easy. You can go in hot pursuit of showing your heritage by simply donating a brick.