A literal view of a camping weekend at Sibley State Park through a child's eyes. Elise tells us about night time stories, tubing and fishing during her visits here with her family.
In this second interview of Wally Newstom with his granddaughter he talks about the changes his "Greatest Generation" has seen. His interview highlight below brings to light what diversity in the 1930s looked like in West Central Minnesota.
Roger Strand spent summers on Green Lake, growing up for a love for west central Minnesota. Some may know Roger as Dr. Strand, but if you knew him as kid you may have known him as the keeper of the Snake Den! Listen and learn more about adventures of a little Roger.
Three young cousins tell stories of camping at Sibley with the excitement that only young voices can capture. A wave consumes the pontoon, a shoe is washed out to sea and a story is told through laughs and cousins finishing each other's sentences.
Born and raised with the statutory boundary Justin is a baby of the 1980s who loves visiting the park with his own little one, Lucy. This a great tale of the simplicity of childhood and how that water draws you back into it.
A New London transplant, Joe Rooney, is here to stay. The draw of the waters and friendly folks he talks about all help paint the picture of our little town on the pond.
Andy tells the story of the family traditions and natural beauty that drew him to move to west central Minnesota where he built a stone home out of hand and dreams of the possibilities life has to offer.
Roger is the definition of a "local" - having lived in the area his entire life. Walsh is able to describe the landscape during the Dust Bowl, cracked soil and dried up water beds. The history of land use and natural resources in this interview is intriguing to anyone familiar with the landscape and lakes today.
Hear stories of what kept kids busy (and in trouble!) in New London and what is was like to be a teenager graduating in 1967 in politically turbulent times.
Mark tells a cheerful tale about memories at an uncle's farm in Spicer from riding pigs to getting away with mischief. He also includes his first impressions on the town of New London.
Kylie is a true rooted New Londoner who really brings to life the spirit of thriving New London in 2016 and reminds us what we have to be thankful for.
Ken Gravely served his country in WWII, and tells a colorful story of the VJ announcement to servicemen in Okinawa as well as his post-war work on western movies scenes in Hollywood!
Our very own local Princess Kay from the Milk Way tell that once in a lifetime story about getting her bust carved out of butter- a story for every Minnesotan- in addition to what it is like to be an independent, female business owner in 2016.
A country kid who drove a tractor to Sibley State Park, played basketball on a hay covered court, and now reminiscent of the evolving Main Street of New London, Darrel tells his story from the comfort of Lake Affect coffee shop, where he meets every morning with other retired school teachers.
Bryna describes the many artistic happenings of New London in the summer of 2016 from friends sitting on blankets watching a movie projected by the dam, to the friendly atmosphere of Goat Ridge and releasing a duckling at Sibley State Park.
Phil Iverslie tells the story of a family cabin on Como Beach. As a child he spent nights listening to the music flowing across the water from Como Beach to it being the place of his honeymoon with his wife Florine.
Troy grew up biking to Sibley and skating on and swimming across local watering holes. And have you ever heard of the Loch Ness of Lake Andrew? Well, you will after this interview!
From a family that immigrated here in 1868, Dahlberg brings a true "Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn" and "Sandlot" existence growing up in New London. A whistle from a cousin signaled time to go fishing and a life time of swinging papers to neighbors, this is life in New London.
Gary grew up in Chicago, was married in Sundburg where his wedding party was mistaken for gangsters. Gary's legacy includes years of dedicated work with Water Search and Rescue.
Betty Nelson colorfully describes being a child growing up visiting Sibley State Park. She includes tales of biking to Sibley, what her parents thought of the "hippie" youth pastor, and an annual Father's Day picnic at Cedar Hill.
Interview with Wally Newstrom. Wally relates his experiences growing up in West Central Minnesota. Note: Wally, in addition to several others in the New London Oral History Project, use the term "gypsy." The term was historically used to identify people of Eastern Europe or Romanian decent. Today the term Roma is more widely accepted.
The life of growing up in New London in the 1950s and 60s are told by Cindy Newstrom whose child's eye view of adventures in the creamery milk truck, a tricycle on main street and braving the grocery dog.
