What did the Fourth of July look like in Fillmore County 150 years ago?

In honor of America’s 250th birthday, we’re stepping back to 1876—the nation’s Centennial—to uncover how communities across Fillmore County celebrated one of the biggest holidays in their history.

Using newspaper accounts, advertisements, and firsthand descriptions from Preston, Spring Valley, Chatfield, Lanesboro, Rushford, and beyond, we’ll explore midnight bell ringing, brass bands, horse races, baseball games, balloon launches, fireworks, dancing until sunrise, and the patriotic spirit that united a county just 23 years old.

Along the way, we’ll place these celebrations in historical context, examining what life was like for the immigrants, Civil War veterans, and pioneer families who called Fillmore County home during this remarkable year.

Join us for a journey back to the summer of 1876—and discover how past residents celebrated America’s first 100 years.

In January 1901, a routine stagecoach run into Preston nearly ended in tragedy.

As the Preston–Isinours stage approached town on Engle Hill, a loose piece of paper spooked the horses. Within moments, the team bolted, the driver was thrown from his seat, and the coach overturned as it raced down the hillside. Miraculously, no one was killed—but the accident left behind a dramatic newspaper account and a glimpse into the challenges of travel in Fillmore County at the turn of the twentieth century.

In this episode of Roots & Riddles, we follow the forgotten story of Preston’s stagecoach scare, explore the history of stage travel in southeastern Minnesota, and uncover what happened on that windy January afternoon when disaster came frighteningly close.

For nearly a decade, Fillmore County farmers believed they had discovered the future of Minnesota agriculture: Early Amber Sugar Cane. Newspapers praised it, county fairs awarded premiums for it, local mills were built to process it, and hundreds of acres were planted across the county.

In this episode of Roots & Riddles, we uncover the forgotten story of Minnesota’s sugar boom. From towering 16-foot stalks grown in Jordan Township to sugar mills near Spring Valley, amber cane promised farmers a sweet fortune. But despite the excitement, the industry vanished almost as quickly as it appeared.

What happened to Fillmore County’s sugar fields? And why did a crop once hailed as “The Great Sugar Producer of the North” disappear from our landscape?

Join us as we explore one of the sweetest—and most overlooked—chapters in local history.