441 North Park Drive, Morton, MN 56270 info@renvillecountyhistory.com 507.697.6147

Preserving Renville County’s History since 1940!

The Renville County Historical Society seeks donations for their Shelving and Archival Boxes Fund to preserve local history. They utilize acid-free archival boxes from Gaylord, ensuring long-term preservation. Additionally, specific shelving and everyday supplies are needed for museum operations. Donations and purchases can be made via specified links or checks.

The Importance of Main Streets: Bird Island, Olivia and Willmar FINAL

This publication was shared by Rick Bonlender, Economic Development Professions of the Mid-Minnesota Development Commission on 1/28/2021. He requested anyone to feel free to use it as a template to write up your own Op-ed and post/circulate in… Read More

Basketball Results Prior to 1960

Found in the scrapbook for the 1960-1961 Danube Hawks basketball, belonging to Rod Black was a none dated clipping listing the basketball results from 1931-1959. Year —- Champion —– Runnerup 1931 Glencoe Brownton1932 Buffalo Lake Glencoe1933 Brownton Norwood1934… Read More

Wilkinson honored for World War I Duty

Published in the Redwood Gazette November 11, 1993, written by staff writer Vicki L. Gerdes FRANKLIN – Seventy-five years ago today, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, an historic treaty… Read More

BASKETBALL BOYS TWICE DEFEAT OLIVIA

Published in the Morton Enterprise on February 25, 1916. First Victory Here Friday Night With 65 to 15 Score. Tuesday Evening at Olivia Armory Morton Wins With Fine Score of 23 – 18 After a successful victory over… Read More

The New Renville County Court House published in a Minnesota Newspaper circa July 1901

Editor’s Note: While organizing in the Research Library I located this newspaper clipping. See below for the letter submitted by Mr. Gilbert in 1974. The letter shows how much pride we can have in our hometowns and counties…. Read More

County Records Gone published in the Morton Enterprise on May 10, 1895

Arab like, the county officials have broken camp at Beaver Falls and pitched their tents in Olivia. They claim they had no right to transact business in Beaver Falls, after the dissolving of the injunction which held them… Read More

BIRD ISLAND MUST WIN! DELEUDA EST OLIVIA! published in the Renville County Union newspaper on October 5, 1900.

Editor’s Note: Deleuda est Olivia translation: Olivia must be destroyed! The Renville County Union was published in Bird Island and would later on November 20, 1903, would be named the Bird Island Union. To the People of Renville… Read More

We NEED Renville County School Yearbooks (Annuals)! UPDATED 11/09/2025

The Renville County Historical Society needs your help to add to the Research Library’s Yearbook Collection. Yearbooks, platbooks, and phonebooks are key pieces of preserving the history of who lived in the area and when.

Samuel R Miller, Olivia Times, January 18, 1931

Capt. Samuel R. Miller, Aged 90, Died Monday, Funeral Rites Today War Veteran and Pioneer Attorney Dead Olivia’s Oldest and an Esteemed Citizen Answers Last Bugle Call on January 12th S. R. Miller, Olivia’s oldest and an esteemed… Read More