The RCHS Research Library has been gathering family history info for over 50 years. They collect everything from obituaries to graduation announcements about families in Renville County. If you want to help by donating items or if you’re looking for a specific name, hit up Nicole at the museum. They’re looking for more volunteers too!
Category: Bandon Township, Beaver Falls Township, Birch Cooley Township, Bird Island, Bird Island Township, Bird Island Union, Buffalo Lake, Buffalo Lake News, Cairo Township, Crooks Township, Danube, Donations, Fairfax, Fairfax Standard, Franklin, Franklin Tribune, Funeral, Geneaology, Graduates, Hawk Creek Township, Hector, Hector Mirror, Henryville Township, Historical Society, History, Military, Military Veterans, Minnesota, Morton, Morton Enterprise, Morton, Minnesota, Museum, Obituary, Olivia, Olivia Times, Olivia Times Journal, Olivia, Minnesota, Renville, Renville County, Renville County Journal, Renville County, Minnesota, Renville Star Farmer, Sacred Heart, Sacred Heart Journal, Sacred Heart News, Wellington Township Tags: Bird Island, Buffalo Lake, danube, Franklin, Geneaology, Hector, minnesota, morton, Renville, Renville county, renville county historical society, Sacred Heart, world war i
Guess where you can sit down, have a cup of coffee or a bottle of water, and listen to the MN State Tournament game between the Hector Bulldogs and the Hibbing Huskiesin 1954? Why at the Renville County Historical Society, of course! The audio file was donated in 2019 by annual member James, who graduated from Renville in 1955. Stop by during business hours, and we can set up the audio for you!
Be sure to check out Henry David Thoreau’s, “The First and Last Journeys of Thoreau”, edited by Franklin Benjamin Sanborn, pages 44 – 62, Thoreau writes about his journey on the Minnesota River (sometimes referred to its original name, St. Peter, to the Fort Ridgely, Redwood Falls, and the Lower Sioux Agency.
An index of the Cemeteries of Renvile County by Township.
Category: Bandon, Bandon Township, Beaver Falls Township, Birch Cooley, Birch Cooley Township, Bird Island Township, Cairo Township, Renville County, Swedlanda Cemetery, Wellington Township Tags: Bandon Township, Beaver Falls Township, Bird Island Township, Boon Lake Township, Cairo Township, Camp Township, Crooks Township, Flora Township, Hawk Creek Township, Hector Township, Henryville Township, Melville Township, minnesota, Palmyra Township, Renville county, Sacred Heart Township, Wang Township, Wellington Township, Winfield Township
Grover Cleveland Jaehning was the first subject Reverand Leroy Lothert wrote about in the “Profiles of the Past” published in the Morton Reminder. Rev. Lothert’s book, “Profiles of the Past”, a collection of his articles is available on… Read More
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
I came to Fairfax about September 10, 1882. There was absolutely nothing there, except a crowd of men working on the R.R. track, west of town. There was no side-track, not a building, nothing but a stubble field… Read More
Had a Good Start before Discovered–22 Below Temp Weather and Dep Snow Hampers Firemen–School to Resume Work Monday Morning. The Birds Island Public school building was totally destroyed by fire last Wednesday night. The fire was discovered by… Read More
Category: Bird Island, Bird Island Union, Fire, History, Minnesota, Renville County, Uncategorized Tags: Bird Island, Bird Island Union, Fire, history, minnesota, Renville county
Published in the Morton Enterprise on November 26, 1915. Belview and this Time on Opponents Home Floor—Score 46 to 23 Friday night brought out another victory for the local high school team, a second winning over the town… Read More
Published in the Morton Enterprise on March 31, 1916. Neighboring Towns Asking for Dates and Expecting Us to Again Have a Strong Winning Team While all the neighboring towns are writing to Morton trying to schedule games, we… Read More
Tag: minnesota
Surname Files in the Renville County Historical Society’s Research Library Updated 6/02/2026
Last Updated: June 9, 2026 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
The RCHS Research Library has been gathering family history info for over 50 years. They collect everything from obituaries to graduation announcements about families in Renville County. If you want to help by donating items or if you’re looking for a specific name, hit up Nicole at the museum. They’re looking for more volunteers too!
Share this:
Category: Bandon Township, Beaver Falls Township, Birch Cooley Township, Bird Island, Bird Island Township, Bird Island Union, Buffalo Lake, Buffalo Lake News, Cairo Township, Crooks Township, Danube, Donations, Fairfax, Fairfax Standard, Franklin, Franklin Tribune, Funeral, Geneaology, Graduates, Hawk Creek Township, Hector, Hector Mirror, Henryville Township, Historical Society, History, Military, Military Veterans, Minnesota, Morton, Morton Enterprise, Morton, Minnesota, Museum, Obituary, Olivia, Olivia Times, Olivia Times Journal, Olivia, Minnesota, Renville, Renville County, Renville County Journal, Renville County, Minnesota, Renville Star Farmer, Sacred Heart, Sacred Heart Journal, Sacred Heart News, Wellington Township Tags: Bird Island, Buffalo Lake, danube, Franklin, Geneaology, Hector, minnesota, morton, Renville, Renville county, renville county historical society, Sacred Heart, world war i
Renville Indians Boys’ Basketball 1954
Last Updated: February 4, 2026 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
Guess where you can sit down, have a cup of coffee or a bottle of water, and listen to the MN State Tournament game between the Hector Bulldogs and the Hibbing Huskiesin 1954? Why at the Renville County Historical Society, of course! The audio file was donated in 2019 by annual member James, who graduated from Renville in 1955. Stop by during business hours, and we can set up the audio for you!
Share this:
Category: Basketball, Hector, High School Basketball, High School Sports Tags: 1954, Basketball, Hector Basketball, Hector Bull Dogs, minnesota, Tournaments
Henry David Thoreau’s: The First and Last Journeys of Thoreau”
Posted: January 26, 2026 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
Be sure to check out Henry David Thoreau’s, “The First and Last Journeys of Thoreau”, edited by Franklin Benjamin Sanborn, pages 44 – 62, Thoreau writes about his journey on the Minnesota River (sometimes referred to its original name, St. Peter, to the Fort Ridgely, Redwood Falls, and the Lower Sioux Agency.
Share this:
Category: Historical Society, History, Minnesota, Minnesota River, Steamboats Tags: Henry David Thoreau, history, minnesota, minnesota river, Renville County MN, st peter river
Cemeteries and Gravesites of Renville County
Last Updated: November 18, 2025 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
An index of the Cemeteries of Renvile County by Township.
Share this:
Category: Bandon, Bandon Township, Beaver Falls Township, Birch Cooley, Birch Cooley Township, Bird Island Township, Cairo Township, Renville County, Swedlanda Cemetery, Wellington Township Tags: Bandon Township, Beaver Falls Township, Bird Island Township, Boon Lake Township, Cairo Township, Camp Township, Crooks Township, Flora Township, Hawk Creek Township, Hector Township, Henryville Township, Melville Township, minnesota, Palmyra Township, Renville county, Sacred Heart Township, Wang Township, Wellington Township, Winfield Township
Grover Cleveland Jaehning, Morton Pharmacist 1908-1958
Posted: October 22, 2021 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
Grover Cleveland Jaehning was the first subject Reverand Leroy Lothert wrote about in the “Profiles of the Past” published in the Morton Reminder. Rev. Lothert’s book, “Profiles of the Past”, a collection of his articles is available on… Read More
Share this:
Category: Morton, Pharmacy Tags: Business, minnesota, morton, pharmacy, Renville county
The Importance of Main Streets: Bird Island, Olivia and Willmar FINAL
Posted: February 12, 2021 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
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
Share this:
Category: Bird Island, Main Street, Olivia, Renville County Tags: Bird Island, Economic Development, Main Street, minnesota, olivia, Renville county
Henry Hauser’s speech given at the Fairfax-Minneapolis Club in 1929 in Minneapolis
Posted: July 18, 2020 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
I came to Fairfax about September 10, 1882. There was absolutely nothing there, except a crowd of men working on the R.R. track, west of town. There was no side-track, not a building, nothing but a stubble field… Read More
Share this:
Category: Fairfax, History, Minnesota, Speech Tags: Fairfax, minnesota, Speech
Fire Destroys Public School Building Last Wednesday Night published in the Bird Island Union March 9, 1916
Posted: April 9, 2020 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
Had a Good Start before Discovered–22 Below Temp Weather and Dep Snow Hampers Firemen–School to Resume Work Monday Morning. The Birds Island Public school building was totally destroyed by fire last Wednesday night. The fire was discovered by… Read More
Share this:
Category: Bird Island, Bird Island Union, Fire, History, Minnesota, Renville County, Uncategorized Tags: Bird Island, Bird Island Union, Fire, history, minnesota, Renville county
BASKETBALL TEAM KEEPS ON WINNING
Posted: April 6, 2020 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
Published in the Morton Enterprise on November 26, 1915. Belview and this Time on Opponents Home Floor—Score 46 to 23 Friday night brought out another victory for the local high school team, a second winning over the town… Read More
Share this:
Category: Minnesota, Morton, Morton Basketball, Morton Enterprise, Renville County Tags: minnesota, morton, Morton Enterprise
SHALL WE HAVE A BASEBALL TEAM AGAIN
Posted: April 6, 2020 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
Published in the Morton Enterprise on March 31, 1916. Neighboring Towns Asking for Dates and Expecting Us to Again Have a Strong Winning Team While all the neighboring towns are writing to Morton trying to schedule games, we… Read More
Share this:
Category: Baseball, Minnesota, Morton, Morton Baseball, Morton Enterprise, Renville County Tags: minnesota, morton, Morton Baseball, Morton Enterprise, morton high school