Woodbury Heritage Society

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Woodbury Heritage Society

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Preserve and document Woodbury’s history and to help residents of our community learn about Woodbury’s early years.Learn more...https://woodburyheritage.org/

11/06/2026

Roads: Tower Drive (County Road 13A)

Why the dickens was Tower Drive in Woodbury named Tower Drive—especially since its original name was Buttermilk Road?

Long before it received its current name, Tower Drive, (named after the former airplane navigation tower located near the street), the route was affectionately known as Buttermilk Road.

Blame the farmers! It was built primarily to shorten the distance for local agriculturalists who hauled their whole milk down to Newport for processing and then brought back the skim milk to feed their animals.

These historical roads were established to serve the areas where residents traveled most frequently, creating that vital east-west connection stretching toward the Town of Newport.

Along the way, Tower Drive was home to so many foundational local names—including the Nippoldts, Thees, Flohrs, Schillings, Donaths, Stutzmans, Heinbuchs, and Metzgers, to name just a few.

These were the powerhouses and hard workers behind the scenes who helped make the town of Woodbury rock!

See these amazing historic places along Tower Drive back then.

11/05/2026

Giving Voice – Radio Documentary Coming Up!

Freelance producer Michelle Bruch from KFAI Radio (90.3 FM) arrived in Woodbury yesterday to interview local expert Dr. Bill Schrankler.

Dr. Schrankler possesses a deep knowledge of Minnesota’s Orphan Train history—a story close to his heart, as both his mother and grandmother arrived in Minnesota from New York on the Orphan Train.

Given their family’s intriguing history, it is no wonder Producer Bruch reached out to interview him.

Dianne Sandford was also interviewed for the project. Together, Bill and Dianne had a wonderful time diving into the topic, serving as superb ambassadors for adoption. Both expressed how engaging and enjoyable the experience was.

Stay tuned for details on when the episode will air!

Be sure to check out the photos from yesterday’s interview below.

Thank you to Dianne for sharing them—we look forward to sharing more updates soon!

11/05/2026

What is a Case Steam Tractor?

It's a heavy-duty, steam-driven machine used in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to pull massive plows, drive threshing machines, or operate sawmills.

This one is so interesting. It's on the farm of Francis Oehlke (RIP) on Manning Avenue South. Beautiful picture of the tractor and the Oehlke home located still at Manning Avenue South was built by Clarence Oehlke, then Frances Oehlke.

Steve Oehlke, Board Director of the Woodbury Heritage Society still operates this working farm.

The second picture if of a Case Steam Tractor on the Tractor Parade in Hastings this summer, 2026. The Little Log House Antique Power Show is part of the Pioneer Village Days held each July in Hastings.

They were wonderful iron beasts saving the animal and the human of a lot of back-breaking work.

11/04/2026

These pictures bring back wonderful memories of University Avenue!

The history of Porky's—from its original home - of classic red-and-white checkered building to those iconic signs finding a permanent home at the Little Log House Pioneer Village —is such a beloved piece of Twin Cities lore.

Here is the Porky's Sign this past summer 2026, now resting at the in Hastings, along with an older picture of the sign and drive-in restaurant in days past.

It was originally located on University Avenue in St. Paul. The drive-in’s red-and-white checkered building closed on April 3, 2011, after 58 years of serving the Twin Cities and countless tourists and was later moved six miles south of Hastings to become part of the Bauers' 160-acre collection of more than 45 restored historical buildings.

While the restaurant's iconic neon sign of a pig in a top hat wasn't part of the sale at the time it's noted were two signs and the billboard, including the light-bulb-festooned "Porkys" sign, from the Truelson family who owned and ran the restaurant in St. Paul.

The Little Log House Pioneer Village...

Alongside the Porky's building, Steve and Sylvia Bauer and their family have saved numerous historical structures, including three town halls, a jailhouse, a Church (is the Historic St. Boniface Church), a general store, (which is gorgeous) a post office, a train depot from Federal Dam, Minnesota, and a 1950s-era root-beer stand from Newport.

There is a replica of the Hastings Spiral Bridge and gardens galore.

A favorite activity are The Reenactments by Cannon Old West and a tractor pull parade as well as the meeting the soldiers from all the wars and conflicts.

Once-a-year, the Bauer Family opens the village to the general public to tour over three days. The Little Log House Antique Power Show is always held during the last full weekend in July.

'Tis the place to be each summer.

Follow link for more about this fabulous place: https://www.littleloghouseshow.com/

11/03/2026

The farmers trusted the general store like the way it trusted the sunrise.

We will not let the Lineman General Store be a ghost like so many mom-and-pop stores of the past.

See this treasure of a shop...

Here is a most beautiful General Merchandise Store, owned by Ed Lindeman in Lake Elmo in 1919.
Beautiful wood counters, glass counters, shelves, pyramid of fruit or potatoes, rolls of oilcloth for tablecloths, spotless floors & the merchandise organized so orderly - so lovely. And the shopkeepers dressed to serve you well.

In this picture --Beautiful wood counters, glass counters, shelves, pyramid of fruit or potatoes, rolls of oilcloth for tablecloths, spotless floors & the merchandise organized so orderly - so lovely.

11/02/2026

Inherited from one generation to the next are the characteristics of this family – hard working, visionaries and Woodbury community leaders.

Here we have a very handsome couple - Bill and Helen Brown. A picture of their first home in Woodbury that was located at 4146 Woodbury Drive. Bill and Helen lived there from 1940-1944.

And, pictures of Bill and Helen’s home when they lived on Upper Afton Road, Woodbury from 1944-1972.

The First Development was developed close to the Brown homestead – Woodbury Heights.

Upper Afton Road was the home of the First Woodbury Fire Station. Angie’s Pizza and Century Hardware was located on Upper Afton. This road was a main road to town – St. Paul.

10/31/2026

It was amazing...The Mega Storm of 1991.

10/31/2026

The Big Snows

The Megastorm of Halloween was 35 years ago - 1991. We all remember it or remember where we were.

But whatabout The Big Snow in Woodbury - March 1963. See the snow on beautiful DALE ROAD in this adorable picture.

Sandi Sorenson Potter, a former Woodburyian, shared a fantastic photograph of the drift the children tunneled through in March of 1963 approx.

The showcased snow tunnel was built at 8317 Dale Rd -- Bud and Betty Sorenson farm.

L to R: Sheila Sorenson, Donn Sorenson, Sandi Sorenson Potter.

In the tunnel: Bruce and Duane Sorenson, Kathy Sorenson Ryan and their mom, Aunt Susan Sorenson.

This property was lived in by pretty special folks from Woodbury - Andrew and Bertha (Krueger) . Walter lived at 8317 Dale Road, Section 23, as well as the Kruger's and then Sorenson's.

10/31/2026

Here is someone we really love and admire for her kindness, skillset, and endless passion for our community.

(And yes, Wayne, we love you too!)

Meet Ann Schweisguth, Executive Director of TrueLens Community Media!

For the last 25 to 30 years, Ann and her team have been telling the stories of Woodbury—back when they still needed a whole alphabet just to say their name (formerly known as SWCTCC-TV!)

We are so grateful for all they do to keep our community connected on screen.

Photos taken by TrueLens on Thursday at the Welcome to Woodbury Annual Event.

TrueLens: https://truelensmedia.org/woodbury/
TrueLens Community Media

10/30/2026

Welcome to Woodbury! The annual event was held last night at Fairview Sports Center.

It's an opportunity for new and existing residents to connect - learn about what the City of Woodbury departments offers to all, and it showcases what many non-profits have to offer.

Thanks to Wayne Schilling, Pat Edlund, Rick Osborn and Manali Shah for representing the Woodbury Heritage Society. The society really enjoys this event and wouldn't miss it for the world.

Thank you so much Pat for taking all of the photographs and to Commissioner Stan Karwoski for a great shot he took.

Address

8301 Valley Creek Road
Woodbury, MN
55125

Telephone

+16517143564

Website

http://www.woodburyheritage.org/

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