Kandiyohi County Historical Society

06/18/2026

The Historical Society will be closed on Friday, June 19 in observance of Juneteenth. We will reopen on Saturday, June 20 between 10am-2pm.

06/17/2026

We have another blood drive coming up on Friday, July 31 between 9am-3pm. Make your appointment today!

To sign up:
☎️ Call 1-800-733-2767
💻 visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter Kandiyohi County
➡ scan the QR Code below

06/16/2026

Another sad day at the Historical Society, longtime volunteer and lifetime member, Bill Hallberg passed away. Most recently, Bill had been coming every Wednesday with the genealogy group and making the coffee. He volunteered at the County Fair and also worked on the weekends here. He was a lifetime member since 1981.

His gentle nature and smile will be missed greatly. He was a talented wood carver and below is one of his donations to the Historical Society. He will be missed. RIP Bill

https://www.hafh.org/obituary/WilliamBill-Hallberg?fbclid=IwY2xjawSeNSRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe7KVVEMPrmOn_zxiOa_B0nLyaHnfbeEnxQXHQom1jDLKi4enojIPcQ0SK-8M_aem_JaDjZRl0ReF5za6qgbI5NQ

06/08/2026

Grab your crew and come enjoy a night of trivia at Intuition Brewing on Friday, June 26 at 5:30pm. KCHS will be hosting trivia that night and it will focus on early American history and a little bit of Kaffe Fest. We hope you can join us to help kick off celebrating the American 250 here in Kandiyohi County!

06/05/2026

Take a listen to what we have going on for the America 250 here is Kandiyohi County!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CxxQj4gzZ/

06/03/2026

🎥Cemetery Walk Videos🎥

We have the videos up on of the last three cemetery walks. We thank you for your patience and hope you enjoy what you see!
The cemeteries are Tripolis Lutheran Church, Holland Township Cemetery, and Svea Lutheran Church.

Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

06/02/2026

Good Luck to the BOLD Softball as they play in the state quarter finals today! First time in school history the softball team has made it to the state tournament. Way to go ladies!

Lake Lillian (the L in BOLD Public Schools) is known in our county history for their softball teams and their successes.

Here is a photograph of the 1966 Lake Lillian Softball Team, Minnesota State Fastpitch Softball Champions.

Back row, left to right: David Lundquist, Don Klimstra, Myron Flann, Roland Boll, Bruce Magnuson, Marlin Flann, Steve Flann, Jerry Van Den Einde, Chuck Flann. Front row: Gary Bjur, Bruce Anderson, Dick Bjur, Jerry Norine, Dick Erickson, Howard Flann.

Lake Lillian

05/28/2026

📣There is still time to sign up for our blood drive this Friday, May 29 between 9am-3pm.

To sign up:
☎️ Call 1-800-733-2767
💻 visit to sign up: https://tinyurl.com/May29blooddrive

Photograph of the Red Cross Parade in Willmar on May 17, 1918, which was held to inaugurate the Second Red Cross War Fund Drive.

05/26/2026

Then & Now
Sperryville

The Sperry House was built on Foot Lake near Willmar in 1893, and by 1898 Albert Sperry had platted the surrounding land, naming streets like Havana, Hawaii, Manila, and Porto Rico after Spanish-American War locations as he developed the neighborhood known as “Sperryville” (also called Homewood Park). With new homes, a well-known pedestrian bridge, and easy access to town, the area quickly grew into a desirable residential community—much of which still surrounds the Sperry House today.

First photograph is taken by John Sames on September 6, 1946.
Second photograph is taken by Gregory Harp May 24, 2026, 80 years later.