Burial information:
Interred at the location of the monument for members of the Massopust family killed during the US-Dakota War. Her grave does not have a marker.
The Following Excerpt is from: Harkin's Store - Minnesota Historical Society
[On] January [9th], 1893, Alexander [Harkin's] daughter Catherine married Rudolph Massopust; for a wedding present he gave the newlyweds his store in West Newton. The Massopusts kept the store open until, their post office was replaced by Rural Free Delivery in 1901.
For nearly four decades, the store was quiet, no longer the bustling social center that it once was. Then in 1938, Janet Harkin Massopust, granddaughter of Alexander Harkin, reopened the store as a museum, keeping many of the original goods on the shelves.
In 1973, the Minnesota Historical Society bought the Harkin Store. Today, restored to its 1870 appearance by the Minnesota Historical Society and managed by the Nicollet County Historical Society, the Harkin Store offers a glimpse of a time when river towns prospered.
Remembering Miss Massopust and the Harkin's Store
I remember visiting the Harkin's Store one sunny, summer Sunday afternoon in the early 1960's, when I was still a youngster. I was there with my parents and some family friends. We lived quite close in a neighboring county, and were well aware of the Harkin's Store, but had never taken the opportunity to visit it until then. In fact it wasn't really known then as the Harkin's Store by us, or the local populace, but was always referred to as Massopust's. That day there didn't seem to be any posted signs telling the days or hours that the store was open for viewing. So someone from our group knocked at the house attached to the store, and the little lady that answered said that we could have a tour. At the time, I don't think she really kept any certain days or hours of operation, but would just accommodate people who expressed an interest in seeing the store, and charged only a nominal entrance fee for touring, what was then a private museum. She said that we should wait at the front door of the store, as she would enter the store through the back entrance that was connected to her house, and let us in. The lady who opened the door of the store to us that day, was Janet Massopust, a granddaughter of Alexander Harkin the original builder and owner of the store.
As an adult I have since revisted the Harkin's Store, after it was bought and restored by the Minnesota Historical Society to it's 1870's appearance, and I can appreciate their efforts, in it's look of authenticity for that time period. However, it will never be comparable with my experience, walking into that room on that Sunday afternoon. In retrospect it was truly surreal. It was like walking back into a moment frozen in time. And, that moment in time would have occurred on that day in 1901, when the then owner, Rudolph Massopust, with the store's merchandise and contents still intact, turned the key, locking the door, and quietly going out of business.
As I remember entering, there were only a couple of bare light bulbs hanging from the ceiling, and that they only dimly illuminated the room. The room was filled with all kinds of merchandise that represented all THREE decades that the store had been in business. The shelves on the wall behind the main counter and shelves on other walls were filled with items. There was merchandise displayed in the middle of the room with only a narrow aisle on either side. Old tin advertisements signs took up the remaining wall space. There were antique wooden display cabinets for spools of thread, and other small wares. Bolts of fabric long past their usability. Some of the remaining canned goods who's seals had long been compromised and now who's contents dried up, rattled. We were shown bottles of patent medicines, that at the time that they were produced, contained the yet to be outlawed drug, cocaine. And, then there was the large statue of Atlas carrying the world on his shoulders, and of which I'm happy to see, that he is still on display in present Harkin's Store museum.
Miss Massopust introduced herself, explaining how she was related to the original owner of the store, and that the house attached to the store had been her home since childhood. She told us some of the history of when there had been a thriving village of West Newton, with it's steamboat landing, and it's many businesses, three saloons no less! She also told us at that time, of how one would still be able to find the foundations of those former businesses. Miss Massopust is remembered by me, to have been a quite congenial lady. She was definitely most generous in her time that she spent with us, and very patient in answering our questions.
I'm glad I experienced Massopust's/Harkin's Store when I did, for obviously that version of the store can never be recaptured. It truly was like a moment frozen, and then lost again to Time.
Author - William Freyholtz, a former resident of Severance Twp., Sibley County, MN
Following information was collected by Mr. Freyholtz from the 1920, 1930 and 1940 U.S. Census Records.
Janet H. Massopust age 25, is listed in the 1920 U.S. Census, recorded between the 12th-13th of January, as living in the household of her father Rudolph, a farmer age 61, and her mother Catherine age 62, in West Newton Twp. Nicollet County, MN. Janet Massopust's occupation at that time, is that of a teacher at a district school. (In the 1940 U.S. Census, she is recorded as having a two year college education. This two year college education would have been, what was then known as Normal School, which was for the training and licensing of high school graduates, to become teachers for public schools at the elementary level.)
In the 1930 U.S. Census dated April 5th, Janet H. Massopust age 36, is found living in the city of Faribault, 3rd Precinct, Rice County, MN. She is titled as an Officer at the Minnesota School for the Feeble Minded, and her occupation there is that of a teacher. Also to be noted in the 1930 Census is the recording of, Tilda Granlund age 19 who is listed as an "inmate" of the aforementioned institution, and the record states she has been attending school there, and has no occupation.
Turning to the 1940 U.S. Census dated April 18th, Janet H. Massopust age 46, is back living in West Newton Twp. Nicollet County, MN, in the household of her father Rudolph age 81, who is a retired farmer, and a widower. (His wife Catherine having died the 25th of May, 1925.)
Janet Massopust's occupation is again recorded as that of a teacher. Also living in the household is their maid, Tilda Grandland [sic] age 29. A question on the 1940 census asks, In what place did the person live on April 1st, 1935? Both Janet and Tilda responded that at that time they were living in Faribault, Rice County, MN.
From the proceeding information, one can presume that Janet H. Massopust was a teacher at the school in Faribault as early as 1930 if not before, and maybe as late as around 1938, as it has been recorded by the Minnesota Historical Society, when she reopened the Harkin Store as a private museum. Tilda Granlund/Grandland must have been a former student of Janet Massopust, and who was thought well enough of, to be given employment and a home in their household.
Interred at the location of the monument for members of the Massopust family killed during the US-Dakota War. Her grave does not have a marker.
The Following Excerpt is from: Harkin's Store - Minnesota Historical Society
[On] January [9th], 1893, Alexander [Harkin's] daughter Catherine married Rudolph Massopust; for a wedding present he gave the newlyweds his store in West Newton. The Massopusts kept the store open until, their post office was replaced by Rural Free Delivery in 1901.
For nearly four decades, the store was quiet, no longer the bustling social center that it once was. Then in 1938, Janet Harkin Massopust, granddaughter of Alexander Harkin, reopened the store as a museum, keeping many of the original goods on the shelves.
In 1973, the Minnesota Historical Society bought the Harkin Store. Today, restored to its 1870 appearance by the Minnesota Historical Society and managed by the Nicollet County Historical Society, the Harkin Store offers a glimpse of a time when river towns prospered.
Remembering Miss Massopust and the Harkin's Store
I remember visiting the Harkin's Store one sunny, summer Sunday afternoon in the early 1960's, when I was still a youngster. I was there with my parents and some family friends. We lived quite close in a neighboring county, and were well aware of the Harkin's Store, but had never taken the opportunity to visit it until then. In fact it wasn't really known then as the Harkin's Store by us, or the local populace, but was always referred to as Massopust's. That day there didn't seem to be any posted signs telling the days or hours that the store was open for viewing. So someone from our group knocked at the house attached to the store, and the little lady that answered said that we could have a tour. At the time, I don't think she really kept any certain days or hours of operation, but would just accommodate people who expressed an interest in seeing the store, and charged only a nominal entrance fee for touring, what was then a private museum. She said that we should wait at the front door of the store, as she would enter the store through the back entrance that was connected to her house, and let us in. The lady who opened the door of the store to us that day, was Janet Massopust, a granddaughter of Alexander Harkin the original builder and owner of the store.
As an adult I have since revisted the Harkin's Store, after it was bought and restored by the Minnesota Historical Society to it's 1870's appearance, and I can appreciate their efforts, in it's look of authenticity for that time period. However, it will never be comparable with my experience, walking into that room on that Sunday afternoon. In retrospect it was truly surreal. It was like walking back into a moment frozen in time. And, that moment in time would have occurred on that day in 1901, when the then owner, Rudolph Massopust, with the store's merchandise and contents still intact, turned the key, locking the door, and quietly going out of business.
As I remember entering, there were only a couple of bare light bulbs hanging from the ceiling, and that they only dimly illuminated the room. The room was filled with all kinds of merchandise that represented all THREE decades that the store had been in business. The shelves on the wall behind the main counter and shelves on other walls were filled with items. There was merchandise displayed in the middle of the room with only a narrow aisle on either side. Old tin advertisements signs took up the remaining wall space. There were antique wooden display cabinets for spools of thread, and other small wares. Bolts of fabric long past their usability. Some of the remaining canned goods who's seals had long been compromised and now who's contents dried up, rattled. We were shown bottles of patent medicines, that at the time that they were produced, contained the yet to be outlawed drug, cocaine. And, then there was the large statue of Atlas carrying the world on his shoulders, and of which I'm happy to see, that he is still on display in present Harkin's Store museum.
Miss Massopust introduced herself, explaining how she was related to the original owner of the store, and that the house attached to the store had been her home since childhood. She told us some of the history of when there had been a thriving village of West Newton, with it's steamboat landing, and it's many businesses, three saloons no less! She also told us at that time, of how one would still be able to find the foundations of those former businesses. Miss Massopust is remembered by me, to have been a quite congenial lady. She was definitely most generous in her time that she spent with us, and very patient in answering our questions.
I'm glad I experienced Massopust's/Harkin's Store when I did, for obviously that version of the store can never be recaptured. It truly was like a moment frozen, and then lost again to Time.
Author - William Freyholtz, a former resident of Severance Twp., Sibley County, MN
Following information was collected by Mr. Freyholtz from the 1920, 1930 and 1940 U.S. Census Records.
Janet H. Massopust age 25, is listed in the 1920 U.S. Census, recorded between the 12th-13th of January, as living in the household of her father Rudolph, a farmer age 61, and her mother Catherine age 62, in West Newton Twp. Nicollet County, MN. Janet Massopust's occupation at that time, is that of a teacher at a district school. (In the 1940 U.S. Census, she is recorded as having a two year college education. This two year college education would have been, what was then known as Normal School, which was for the training and licensing of high school graduates, to become teachers for public schools at the elementary level.)
In the 1930 U.S. Census dated April 5th, Janet H. Massopust age 36, is found living in the city of Faribault, 3rd Precinct, Rice County, MN. She is titled as an Officer at the Minnesota School for the Feeble Minded, and her occupation there is that of a teacher. Also to be noted in the 1930 Census is the recording of, Tilda Granlund age 19 who is listed as an "inmate" of the aforementioned institution, and the record states she has been attending school there, and has no occupation.
Turning to the 1940 U.S. Census dated April 18th, Janet H. Massopust age 46, is back living in West Newton Twp. Nicollet County, MN, in the household of her father Rudolph age 81, who is a retired farmer, and a widower. (His wife Catherine having died the 25th of May, 1925.)
Janet Massopust's occupation is again recorded as that of a teacher. Also living in the household is their maid, Tilda Grandland [sic] age 29. A question on the 1940 census asks, In what place did the person live on April 1st, 1935? Both Janet and Tilda responded that at that time they were living in Faribault, Rice County, MN.
From the proceeding information, one can presume that Janet H. Massopust was a teacher at the school in Faribault as early as 1930 if not before, and maybe as late as around 1938, as it has been recorded by the Minnesota Historical Society, when she reopened the Harkin Store as a private museum. Tilda Granlund/Grandland must have been a former student of Janet Massopust, and who was thought well enough of, to be given employment and a home in their household.
Burial information:
Interred at the location of the monument for members of the Massopust family killed during the US-Dakota War. Her grave does not have a marker.
The Following Excerpt is from: Harkin's Store - Minnesota Historical Society
[On] January [9th], 1893, Alexander [Harkin's] daughter Catherine married Rudolph Massopust; for a wedding present he gave the newlyweds his store in West Newton. The Massopusts kept the store open until, their post office was replaced by Rural Free Delivery in 1901.
For nearly four decades, the store was quiet, no longer the bustling social center that it once was. Then in 1938, Janet Harkin Massopust, granddaughter of Alexander Harkin, reopened the store as a museum, keeping many of the original goods on the shelves.
In 1973, the Minnesota Historical Society bought the Harkin Store. Today, restored to its 1870 appearance by the Minnesota Historical Society and managed by the Nicollet County Historical Society, the Harkin Store offers a glimpse of a time when river towns prospered.
Remembering Miss Massopust and the Harkin's Store
I remember visiting the Harkin's Store one sunny, summer Sunday afternoon in the early 1960's, when I was still a youngster. I was there with my parents and some family friends. We lived quite close in a neighboring county, and were well aware of the Harkin's Store, but had never taken the opportunity to visit it until then. In fact it wasn't really known then as the Harkin's Store by us, or the local populace, but was always referred to as Massopust's. That day there didn't seem to be any posted signs telling the days or hours that the store was open for viewing. So someone from our group knocked at the house attached to the store, and the little lady that answered said that we could have a tour. At the time, I don't think she really kept any certain days or hours of operation, but would just accommodate people who expressed an interest in seeing the store, and charged only a nominal entrance fee for touring, what was then a private museum. She said that we should wait at the front door of the store, as she would enter the store through the back entrance that was connected to her house, and let us in. The lady who opened the door of the store to us that day, was Janet Massopust, a granddaughter of Alexander Harkin the original builder and owner of the store.
As an adult I have since revisted the Harkin's Store, after it was bought and restored by the Minnesota Historical Society to it's 1870's appearance, and I can appreciate their efforts, in it's look of authenticity for that time period. However, it will never be comparable with my experience, walking into that room on that Sunday afternoon. In retrospect it was truly surreal. It was like walking back into a moment frozen in time. And, that moment in time would have occurred on that day in 1901, when the then owner, Rudolph Massopust, with the store's merchandise and contents still intact, turned the key, locking the door, and quietly going out of business.
As I remember entering, there were only a couple of bare light bulbs hanging from the ceiling, and that they only dimly illuminated the room. The room was filled with all kinds of merchandise that represented all THREE decades that the store had been in business. The shelves on the wall behind the main counter and shelves on other walls were filled with items. There was merchandise displayed in the middle of the room with only a narrow aisle on either side. Old tin advertisements signs took up the remaining wall space. There were antique wooden display cabinets for spools of thread, and other small wares. Bolts of fabric long past their usability. Some of the remaining canned goods who's seals had long been compromised and now who's contents dried up, rattled. We were shown bottles of patent medicines, that at the time that they were produced, contained the yet to be outlawed drug, cocaine. And, then there was the large statue of Atlas carrying the world on his shoulders, and of which I'm happy to see, that he is still on display in present Harkin's Store museum.
Miss Massopust introduced herself, explaining how she was related to the original owner of the store, and that the house attached to the store had been her home since childhood. She told us some of the history of when there had been a thriving village of West Newton, with it's steamboat landing, and it's many businesses, three saloons no less! She also told us at that time, of how one would still be able to find the foundations of those former businesses. Miss Massopust is remembered by me, to have been a quite congenial lady. She was definitely most generous in her time that she spent with us, and very patient in answering our questions.
I'm glad I experienced Massopust's/Harkin's Store when I did, for obviously that version of the store can never be recaptured. It truly was like a moment frozen, and then lost again to Time.
Author - William Freyholtz, a former resident of Severance Twp., Sibley County, MN
Following information was collected by Mr. Freyholtz from the 1920, 1930 and 1940 U.S. Census Records.
Janet H. Massopust age 25, is listed in the 1920 U.S. Census, recorded between the 12th-13th of January, as living in the household of her father Rudolph, a farmer age 61, and her mother Catherine age 62, in West Newton Twp. Nicollet County, MN. Janet Massopust's occupation at that time, is that of a teacher at a district school. (In the 1940 U.S. Census, she is recorded as having a two year college education. This two year college education would have been, what was then known as Normal School, which was for the training and licensing of high school graduates, to become teachers for public schools at the elementary level.)
In the 1930 U.S. Census dated April 5th, Janet H. Massopust age 36, is found living in the city of Faribault, 3rd Precinct, Rice County, MN. She is titled as an Officer at the Minnesota School for the Feeble Minded, and her occupation there is that of a teacher. Also to be noted in the 1930 Census is the recording of, Tilda Granlund age 19 who is listed as an "inmate" of the aforementioned institution, and the record states she has been attending school there, and has no occupation.
Turning to the 1940 U.S. Census dated April 18th, Janet H. Massopust age 46, is back living in West Newton Twp. Nicollet County, MN, in the household of her father Rudolph age 81, who is a retired farmer, and a widower. (His wife Catherine having died the 25th of May, 1925.)
Janet Massopust's occupation is again recorded as that of a teacher. Also living in the household is their maid, Tilda Grandland [sic] age 29. A question on the 1940 census asks, In what place did the person live on April 1st, 1935? Both Janet and Tilda responded that at that time they were living in Faribault, Rice County, MN.
From the proceeding information, one can presume that Janet H. Massopust was a teacher at the school in Faribault as early as 1930 if not before, and maybe as late as around 1938, as it has been recorded by the Minnesota Historical Society, when she reopened the Harkin Store as a private museum. Tilda Granlund/Grandland must have been a former student of Janet Massopust, and who was thought well enough of, to be given employment and a home in their household.
Interred at the location of the monument for members of the Massopust family killed during the US-Dakota War. Her grave does not have a marker.
The Following Excerpt is from: Harkin's Store - Minnesota Historical Society
[On] January [9th], 1893, Alexander [Harkin's] daughter Catherine married Rudolph Massopust; for a wedding present he gave the newlyweds his store in West Newton. The Massopusts kept the store open until, their post office was replaced by Rural Free Delivery in 1901.
For nearly four decades, the store was quiet, no longer the bustling social center that it once was. Then in 1938, Janet Harkin Massopust, granddaughter of Alexander Harkin, reopened the store as a museum, keeping many of the original goods on the shelves.
In 1973, the Minnesota Historical Society bought the Harkin Store. Today, restored to its 1870 appearance by the Minnesota Historical Society and managed by the Nicollet County Historical Society, the Harkin Store offers a glimpse of a time when river towns prospered.
Remembering Miss Massopust and the Harkin's Store
I remember visiting the Harkin's Store one sunny, summer Sunday afternoon in the early 1960's, when I was still a youngster. I was there with my parents and some family friends. We lived quite close in a neighboring county, and were well aware of the Harkin's Store, but had never taken the opportunity to visit it until then. In fact it wasn't really known then as the Harkin's Store by us, or the local populace, but was always referred to as Massopust's. That day there didn't seem to be any posted signs telling the days or hours that the store was open for viewing. So someone from our group knocked at the house attached to the store, and the little lady that answered said that we could have a tour. At the time, I don't think she really kept any certain days or hours of operation, but would just accommodate people who expressed an interest in seeing the store, and charged only a nominal entrance fee for touring, what was then a private museum. She said that we should wait at the front door of the store, as she would enter the store through the back entrance that was connected to her house, and let us in. The lady who opened the door of the store to us that day, was Janet Massopust, a granddaughter of Alexander Harkin the original builder and owner of the store.
As an adult I have since revisted the Harkin's Store, after it was bought and restored by the Minnesota Historical Society to it's 1870's appearance, and I can appreciate their efforts, in it's look of authenticity for that time period. However, it will never be comparable with my experience, walking into that room on that Sunday afternoon. In retrospect it was truly surreal. It was like walking back into a moment frozen in time. And, that moment in time would have occurred on that day in 1901, when the then owner, Rudolph Massopust, with the store's merchandise and contents still intact, turned the key, locking the door, and quietly going out of business.
As I remember entering, there were only a couple of bare light bulbs hanging from the ceiling, and that they only dimly illuminated the room. The room was filled with all kinds of merchandise that represented all THREE decades that the store had been in business. The shelves on the wall behind the main counter and shelves on other walls were filled with items. There was merchandise displayed in the middle of the room with only a narrow aisle on either side. Old tin advertisements signs took up the remaining wall space. There were antique wooden display cabinets for spools of thread, and other small wares. Bolts of fabric long past their usability. Some of the remaining canned goods who's seals had long been compromised and now who's contents dried up, rattled. We were shown bottles of patent medicines, that at the time that they were produced, contained the yet to be outlawed drug, cocaine. And, then there was the large statue of Atlas carrying the world on his shoulders, and of which I'm happy to see, that he is still on display in present Harkin's Store museum.
Miss Massopust introduced herself, explaining how she was related to the original owner of the store, and that the house attached to the store had been her home since childhood. She told us some of the history of when there had been a thriving village of West Newton, with it's steamboat landing, and it's many businesses, three saloons no less! She also told us at that time, of how one would still be able to find the foundations of those former businesses. Miss Massopust is remembered by me, to have been a quite congenial lady. She was definitely most generous in her time that she spent with us, and very patient in answering our questions.
I'm glad I experienced Massopust's/Harkin's Store when I did, for obviously that version of the store can never be recaptured. It truly was like a moment frozen, and then lost again to Time.
Author - William Freyholtz, a former resident of Severance Twp., Sibley County, MN
Following information was collected by Mr. Freyholtz from the 1920, 1930 and 1940 U.S. Census Records.
Janet H. Massopust age 25, is listed in the 1920 U.S. Census, recorded between the 12th-13th of January, as living in the household of her father Rudolph, a farmer age 61, and her mother Catherine age 62, in West Newton Twp. Nicollet County, MN. Janet Massopust's occupation at that time, is that of a teacher at a district school. (In the 1940 U.S. Census, she is recorded as having a two year college education. This two year college education would have been, what was then known as Normal School, which was for the training and licensing of high school graduates, to become teachers for public schools at the elementary level.)
In the 1930 U.S. Census dated April 5th, Janet H. Massopust age 36, is found living in the city of Faribault, 3rd Precinct, Rice County, MN. She is titled as an Officer at the Minnesota School for the Feeble Minded, and her occupation there is that of a teacher. Also to be noted in the 1930 Census is the recording of, Tilda Granlund age 19 who is listed as an "inmate" of the aforementioned institution, and the record states she has been attending school there, and has no occupation.
Turning to the 1940 U.S. Census dated April 18th, Janet H. Massopust age 46, is back living in West Newton Twp. Nicollet County, MN, in the household of her father Rudolph age 81, who is a retired farmer, and a widower. (His wife Catherine having died the 25th of May, 1925.)
Janet Massopust's occupation is again recorded as that of a teacher. Also living in the household is their maid, Tilda Grandland [sic] age 29. A question on the 1940 census asks, In what place did the person live on April 1st, 1935? Both Janet and Tilda responded that at that time they were living in Faribault, Rice County, MN.
From the proceeding information, one can presume that Janet H. Massopust was a teacher at the school in Faribault as early as 1930 if not before, and maybe as late as around 1938, as it has been recorded by the Minnesota Historical Society, when she reopened the Harkin Store as a private museum. Tilda Granlund/Grandland must have been a former student of Janet Massopust, and who was thought well enough of, to be given employment and a home in their household.
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