Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Snellman, Minnesota




My friend Aune owns a little shop in the "town" of Snellman.   Now Snellman is one of those towns in Minnesota where if you blink..you might just miss it.  There is a Store/ Gas Station, Aunes Kauppala (Shop) and on the hill there is a Lutheran Church. There are about four houses.   Snellman population might be about 10 people.  In late June the Lady Slippers bloom their hearts out on the hills before and after Snellman.



Years ago Violet owned the building that Aune now occupies.  It was a "beer joint", I was in there a few times..all I remember is the knotty pine walls.  She also had some of those weird jars..with pickled pigs feet.. Kids I knew used to buy beer there, I never did.  Far Guy bought some there..underage illegal beer..probably underage illegal cigarettes too.  By the time I was old enough to drink it would have been the last place I would have stopped for a beer..I really didn't like the taste of beer anyway.  Now I wish that I had stopped there before she closed..so that I would have had an adult view to share.


The general store used to be owned by Alvin and Hilma, they had the best summer sausage and when times were good my Mother would pick out  a huge chunk, Alvin would wrap it in white butcher paper and put a piece of beige tape on it and mark the price on it with a red pencil.  He always had something fun to talk about..they lived in the back of the store..they had a son Carlton.. if the door between the living quarters and the store was open I could stand in the doorway and watch their TV while my Mother shopped.  Years later Far Guy and I rented a place on the narrows that connect up Straight Lake and the Mill pond.  We rented it for forty dollars a month in 1972 ..when Far Guy was drafted..Alvin said "I will sell you kids that property, just send me money when ever you can."  He wanted $2,000 dollars for it..it had a garage and a nice trailer house and 150 feet of "lake-shore"  it was well worth the money he wanted for it..it was just that we could not afford it on a serviceman's salary.

Snellmans claim to fame was the beautiful Laurie..she was Miss Minnesota in 1982  and was a semi finalist in the 1983 Miss America Pageant.   For years there was a sign that said "Snellman Home of Miss Minnesota 1982"  I hope she eventually got that sign."  Everyone including me..sat on the edge of our seats that night of the Miss America Pageant..she sang a wonderful song for her talent and her evening gown was gold and very heavy..she made it into the top ten!  Her mailing address may have been Osage, Minnesota..but she lived on the hill opposite the church in Snellman.

More about my friend Aune another day..she and her shop deserve their own entry.  I will take you inside!! :)





17 comments:

L. D. said...

Small towns have so much history, even as the building disappear, it is interesting to hear of what it use to be. One drives through a lot of towns like that in Minnesota. Miss Minnesota is quite a success story from small town Snellman.

Emma Rose said...

Ten people? Wow. And I thought our town was small with 2552 :)

We are looking forward to reading about Aune and seeing inside.

Kisse,
Emma Rose and The Duchess

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

This Ozarks chick has actually been through Snellman while we still had the trucking company. I would make a couple, three trips a year with Hubby. I don't sit still well so I didn't go often. Heehe!

Thanks for the great read. Many of these blink in the road towns have sadly become ghost towns.

Have the best day!!!

Jan said...

I love that story. I remember a candy store I used to go to that was in a woman's house. When you walked in a bell went off and she would go from her living room into the candy store to sell you penny candy. When I think back on it, it seems strange but that is how it was when I was a little kid in a small town.

Nancy/BLissed-Out Grandma said...

I've never seen lady slippers blooming in the open like that! Very beautiful.

Rae said...

It sounds like a perfect place to spend time with some friendly people. I love small towns...even those with a population of 10. The people that live in them are 'real' folks and the best kind to live near. It is too bad you and Far Guy weren't able to buy that piece of property. It would certainly be nice to be living on that lake front now.

Gail said...

Wonderful memories. A great story, I can't wait to hear about the shop.

Michelle said...

Oh, a glimpse of snowless days...

I am a small town girl, and love all small town stories!

carolina nana said...

LOVE THE LADY SLIPPER PIC. THE TOWN I LIVE IN USED TO BE A SMALL TOWN AND THE PART ABOUT THE MEAT AND THE WRAPPING BROUGHT BACK MEMORIES. I STILL LIVE IN THE SAME TOWN,UNFORTUNATELY IT IS NOT A SMALL TOWN ANY MORE.I MISS THAT SMALL TOWN LIVING. HOPE YOU ARE HAVING A GREAT WEEK.

LadyFi said...

Great story! And it seems such a pretty town, probably because it is so small.

Leah said...

Good story about good ol' little Snellman!

DJan said...

I never had a chance to bond in a small town like that, and I think I might have missed something important in life. Thank goodness you can take me along and soon I'll get to go inside that store. Yayy!

Patsy said...

Great to read about small town America.
Patsy

The Retired One said...

Nice post. This reminds me of some of the tiny hamlets in the U.P. of Michigan.

Pamela said...

nice post. I don't have anything important to say - I just hate to leave without saying hi

Anonymous said...

Never knew Snellman is a place name in USA. Usually Snellman is considered as a family name. Snellman comes originally from Finland. Since there are a lot of finnish emigrants in MN area, it might be possible one of these gave his/hers name to Snellman Town.
Greetings from Finland !
O. Snellman

visitor said...

I wanted to see the history of Snellman. Hilma was my aunt and I remember going to Snellman with mom to visit Hilma and Al. I remember exploring the store and looking for a piece of candy that Al would let us have. I always thought it would be so neat to have your house connected to your store. Then we would go over to visit Hilda's sister Jennie, who also had a store but I don't remember where-- but it was close to Snellman. Her house was also connected to her store. Oh the memories from so long ago.