Polk County MN Historical Society

Polk County MN Historical Society The Polk County Historical Society is dedicated to the preservation, study, and education of the history of Polk County Minnesota.

Making our region’s robust and diverse history come alive for current and future generations. Donate online at https://www.givemn.org/organization/polkhistorical.

Do you love fire trucks? We know children do. The Polk County Museum has an entire building full of vintage fire trucks....
06/15/2026

Do you love fire trucks? We know children do. The Polk County Museum has an entire building full of vintage fire trucks. The Crookston Fire Department maintains the building and displays.

It is rare to have something in a collection at a Museum that is over 100 years old, and to have a photo of it in its time.

In 1923, the Crookston Fire Department purchased two Stutz pumper trucks. They were state of the engineering art and strikingly beautiful. We are so fortunate that one of them was preserved for history.

Come and visit the Museum, with over 25,000 sq ft of displays!

1931 on Thompson Ave (Main Street) in Fisher. Farmers line up their Model T converted to tractors for sugarbeet work. Th...
05/29/2026

1931 on Thompson Ave (Main Street) in Fisher. Farmers line up their Model T converted to tractors for sugarbeet work. They are hooked to six row planters, and were used with six row beet cultivators.

The Model T was reliable (if you knew its quirks) and tough. Likely in the 1930's farmers could buy a used Model T and convert it for far less than a 20 horsepower tractor.

1905 Hamilton Brothers hardware in Fisher. Three generations of Hamiltons operated a hardware store in the village.A min...
05/22/2026

1905 Hamilton Brothers hardware in Fisher. Three generations of Hamiltons operated a hardware store in the village.

A mini-Meanards/Lowes/Home Depot with a few extras, wagons, buggies plows. And something the big box stores don't offer today: Undertaking.

The Opera House was on the second floor. Not that opera was that popular, but an events center for the community.

Hamilton Brothers

Hardware, cutlery, glass, paints, oils, wallpaper, shades, furniture, lumber, sash, doors, lime, cement, wagons, buggies, plows, etc.

The 1930's are known as the "Dust Bowl". The Red River Valley was significantly drier than normal, but most years at lea...
05/21/2026

The 1930's are known as the "Dust Bowl". The Red River Valley was significantly drier than normal, but most years at least a sparse crop was managed. Annual precipitation (only have Fargo data) for 1930-1939 ranged from 14" - 19", "normal" being about 24".

Except 1936 where the total precipitation for the year was 8.87".

July 1936 was the month that doomed all hope. Drought and searing heat caused a total failure of almost all crops. Swarms of grasshoppers ate what little survived.

The Farmer's Voice, of Bagley, penned an editorial that described the disaster so prevalent across the Midwest. Farms were lost, unable to make land payments or financial obligations.

The schools of the past from McIntosh Heritage & Arts Center.
05/19/2026

The schools of the past from McIntosh Heritage & Arts Center.

Some Polk County "blasts from the past." From the Minnesota Digital Network, respective attributions captioned.
04/25/2026

Some Polk County "blasts from the past."

From the Minnesota Digital Network, respective attributions captioned.

Address

719 E Robert Street
Crookston, MN
56716

Opening Hours

Tuesday 12pm - 4pm
Wednesday 12pm - 4pm
Thursday 12pm - 4pm
Friday 12pm - 4pm
Saturday 12pm - 4pm
Sunday 12pm - 4pm

Telephone

(218) 281-1038

Website

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