Nobles County Minnesota Historical Society

Nobles County Minnesota Historical Society Nonprofit organization devoted to preserving and interpreting the artifacts and history of Nobles Co

The Nobles County Historical Society is now located in the historic 100-year-old Worthington Armory building. Its mission is to collect, preserve, exhibit and interpret the history of Nobles County MNand its people. In fulfilling its mission, the society collects documents, manuscripts, photographs and three-dimensional objects, including those from contiguous areas that interact with the county.

The Society also operates a Pioneer Village typical of small communities in the Midwest at the beginning of the 20th Century.

ISN'T THAT SOMETHING?This column by the late Ray Crippen was originally published May 15, 2010, in the Daily Globe.
05/15/2026

ISN'T THAT SOMETHING?

This column by the late Ray Crippen was originally published May 15, 2010, in the Daily Globe.

THROWBACK THURSDAY!The 2026 Trojan Relays happened Tuesday night at Trojan Field, and that inspired me to find a couple ...
05/14/2026

THROWBACK THURSDAY!

The 2026 Trojan Relays happened Tuesday night at Trojan Field, and that inspired me to find a couple photos from the 1956 Relays -- 70 years ago. The results were in the Thursday Globe, which leads me to believe that the relays were on Wednesday back then. The sports page headline read, "666 Athletes Compete in Fourth Annual Trojan Relays." Twelve records fell during the event.

Did you know there was a Queen of the Trojan Relays in 1956 (and for a number of years)? I never found out who actually got crowned in 1956, but the third photo that was published the day before the 1956 Relays shows the candidates

Here are the captions:

HIGH HURDLE WINNERS
George Nasers, Worthington; Williams, Pipestone; Lucken, Madison, S.D.; Knudson, Westbrook; and Talley, Spencer, Iowa, left to right, grabbed the five placings in the open high hurdle event of the Trojan Relays. Lucken established new records in both the highs and lows in winning both events. (Daily Globe photo)

TROJAN RECORD BREAKERS
Worthington's prep quartet of Jim Hutton, Don Tyron, Bob Braun and Marv Osterkamp, left to right, established new 880 relay marks for the Trojan Relays and for the local school in a winning time of 1:34.6. (Daily Globe photo)

CANDIDATES FOR QUEEN
Queen of the 1945 Trojan Relays will be picked from the group shown above. Left to right, they are: Barbara Schuur, Bonnie Boyer, Mary Jane Newman, Norma Lindemann and Paula Larson. The winner will be crowned at the field tonight at 7:25. (Daily Globe photo)

PROGRAMMING ALERT!Here's what is on the agenda for JUNE! Erin gave a presentation based on her first novel last year tha...
05/13/2026

PROGRAMMING ALERT!

Here's what is on the agenda for JUNE! Erin gave a presentation based on her first novel last year that was awesome! If you'd like to brush up on your American Revolution history to celebrate our country's 250th birthday, this program is a great way to do it. I can promise you will learn some things that you didn't get from your shool textbooks.

TUESDAY TREASURES!Today's treasure is a handmade apron. A handwritten note saved with it reads, "This was my grandmother...
05/12/2026

TUESDAY TREASURES!

Today's treasure is a handmade apron. A handwritten note saved with it reads, "This was my grandmother Matilda Meier (1860 - 1928) 'everyday' apron. She used it to gather eggs, apples or garden vegetables. She and her husband, John Meier lived on a farm near Brewster and had 13 children. Two of their sons lived in Worthington and had Meier Bros. Pool Hall. They were Bill and Dutch. -- Eleanor Ebling."

Do you have a special apron that belonged to your mother or grandmother?

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT!This advertisement was in the Daily Globe on May 8, 1976. Buysse Motors was located on Oxford Street,...
05/11/2026

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT!

This advertisement was in the Daily Globe on May 8, 1976. Buysse Motors was located on Oxford Street, next to where First State Bank Southwest is now (east of the "Big Corner").

Which of these used cars would you choose? I've always been partial to a Mustang, but the VW Bug might be fun, too.

ANNALS OF LOCAL HISTORY!Happy Mother's Day! For many years, a woman was always selected to as Nobles County's Mom of the...
05/10/2026

ANNALS OF LOCAL HISTORY!

Happy Mother's Day! For many years, a woman was always selected to as Nobles County's Mom of the Year. In 1966, the honoree was Freda Groenewold of Adrian. She and her husband, Francis, opened their home to five motherless children, after raising their own son. You can read all about her in the clipping here.

ANNALS OF LOCAL HISTORY!Prom was actually last weekend for current Worthington High School students, but we didn't want ...
05/09/2026

ANNALS OF LOCAL HISTORY!

Prom was actually last weekend for current Worthington High School students, but we didn't want to miss the boat on finding a historical prom photo from 60 years ago.

This photo of Worthington High School prom appeared in the May 7, 1966, Daily Globe. The caption read, THEY COULD HAVE DANCED ALL NIGHT -- Formal dance started off all-night prom. Other activities included bowling, a drive-in movie, swimming, a "snack" at Ehlers Steakhouse and a pancake breakfast at Chautauqua Park.

ISN'T THAT SOMETHING?This column by the late Ray Crippen was originally published May 4, 2013, in the Daily Globe.
05/08/2026

ISN'T THAT SOMETHING?

This column by the late Ray Crippen was originally published May 4, 2013, in the Daily Globe.

TODAY!Come on down to Forbidden Barrel for some hops and history!
05/07/2026

TODAY!

Come on down to Forbidden Barrel for some hops and history!

THROWBACK THURSDAY!It's a week to celebrate mothers (hint -- Mother's Day is Sunday, for those who haven't looked at a c...
05/07/2026

THROWBACK THURSDAY!

It's a week to celebrate mothers (hint -- Mother's Day is Sunday, for those who haven't looked at a calendar recently), so let's start it off with a photo from a pre-Mother's Day Tea from 1951 -- 75 years ago!

The photo was printed in the May 10, 1951, Daily Globe. Here's the caption:

BROWNIE SCOUTS TURN TABLES ON MOM WITH PRE-MOTHER'S DAY TEA

Colorful May flowers on every table, Brownie-made nutcups, place cards and lovely wallpaper table mats were troop pre-tea projects for Mother's Day tea party, held by Troop 9 at their meeting place in the basement of the Presbyterian Church. Sugar Cookies, Almond Crescents, Molasses Cookies and Ribbon and Rolled Sandwiches starred on the Mother's Day tea menu, planned and prepared by the Brownies and their leaders, Mrs. Bob Albinson and Mrs. Earl Sliver (Daily Globe photo).

BE THERE OR BE SQUARE!We are trying something new -- taking history across the street to Forbidden Barrel Brewing!Join N...
05/07/2026

BE THERE OR BE SQUARE!

We are trying something new -- taking history across the street to Forbidden Barrel Brewing!
Join Nobles County Historical Society Executive Director Beth Rickers for a short program (along with a tall beverage?!) on some of Nobles County's first settlers and learn how Forbidden Barrel got its name!

TOMORROW AT 5:30 P.M.!

Address

225 Ninth Street
Worthington, MN
56187

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4am
Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 4pm

Telephone

+15072955397

Website

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