By John Haymond,  Mower County Historical Society Executive Director

The annual meeting of the Mower County Historical Society was held Thursday, Nov. 5 in the Historical Society’s newly renovated Pioneer Building.

After a dinner catered by Cedar Valley Services, Society President Glenn Medgaarden called the meeting to order. Executive Director John Haymond gave a report on the projects, renovations and programs that the Society has undertaken in the previous year, noting that the Society had set new records in both fundraising and donations.

Two current members of the Board of Trustees, Ardis Jensen and Pat Kitchings, were reelected to second terms, and four new board members — Diana Witt, Gene Anderson, Jeff Ollman and Milly Burroughs — were elected to first terms. A departing board member, Jackie Holst, received a Board Service Award for her six years of dedicated service to the Historical Society.

A discussion was held about the upcoming Christmas in the County event which the Society will hold on Dec. 11 and 12, before the evening’s presentation. Hayes Scriven, the Director of the Northfield Historical Society, delivered a very interesting talk about the 1877 robbery of the First National Bank in Northfield by the James-Younger Gang.