What I Found in 3000 Photos

Back in October 2024, MCHS enlisted me to create a comprehensive database for their Uncommon Focus collection. The project began in 2003 with the goal of collecting photos of places and objects in Morrison County that were not already represented within the archives. It was up to volunteer photographers, called Special Agents, to decide which subjects they felt were historically significant and deserving of documentation. I was living near Fergus Falls at the time, so I’d drive to Little Falls every couple weeks to pick up a batch of pictures and return the ones I indexed and organized. When I began, we weren’t sure how long this was going to take since there were over 3,000 pictures to sort through, but I finished the index just before the winter holidays. In two months, I became one of a few people to have seen every single picture from the project, getting a glimpse of the nooks and crannies of a place I’d soon call home. The photographers of Uncommon Focus introduced me to Morrison County, showing me what they valued and what they believed was important to hold onto and remember.

View more Uncommon Focus pictures on its online exhibit page

While going through the pictures, I would often think about why the Special Agents chose the subjects they did, what value they saw in them. What would I learn about Morrison County and the people who live there through the photographers’ eyes?

Railroad tracks over Mississippi River, Little Falls by Gwen Berg, 2003

By far the most popular subjects were farms and churches, which isn’t surprising. Churches especially received special treatment, with photographers often getting shots of the same place. Coming from a rural area myself, these are pillars of their communities, so multiple people getting pictures of them was expected. Still, each photographer had distinct styles and subject preferences that made their specific collection distinct from the rest.

Their mission was to capture the unseen or ignored places and things, so the Special Agents wouldn’t just capture the front of a church; they documented the sides and backs of parishes, the pews, the foyers, and the unfinished basements. Common gathering areas usually don’t get recorded or represented, despite being where people choose to spend considerable time together.

South side of ‘old’ Bethel Lutheran Church in Little Falls by Dee Wielinski, 2003

Southeast side of ‘old’ Congregational Church in Two Rivers by Jolene Pasch, 2003

Basement of St Johns Lutheran Church in Royalton by Gwen Berg, 2003

Portrait and windows over front door of ‘old’ Bethel Lutheran Church by Dee Wielinski, 2003

The farm photos featured a range of focal points, which include the homestead, barn, vehicles, yard decorations, gardens and fields, livestock, and even farmers in action. Some of the photographers were related to or were farmers themselves, so their access and knowledge of these places led to some great pictures. They’d include the younger members of the family, showing how skills are passed on through the next generations. With pictures of these recognizable locations and familial moments, people can look back fondly at the places and traditions that shaped their community.

Don Carlson repairing water pipe in milk barn, Royalton by Deb Collis, 2003

Old barn built in 1918 on Hallberg farm, Little Falls by Alissa Hallberg, 2003

Frank Wilczek, age 10, square baling hay by Tammi Wilczek, 2003

Carl and Linda Thesing’s elk ranch by Tammi Wilczek, 2003

Another fascinating aspect of these and other photos of rural buildings was the inclusion of dilapidated and sometimes abandoned structures. Throughout the project, Special Agents captured outbuildings and sheds in disrepair and reclaimed by nature, either on a family farm or found in some field. You’ll also find places referred to as the “old” versions and “new” versions, for example the Lakin Town Halls in Hillman or Bethel Lutheran Church in Little Falls. What would inspire them to get pictures of buildings that were left to waste, or already had replacements lined up? Is there significance in something that is deteriorating today that will be gone tomorrow that makes their documentation worth it? That maybe these structures long-outliving their purpose are saying one last time “This place mattered. Someone was here.” I like to think so.

Front view of abandoned gas station near Cushing by Robert Girtz, 2003

Abandoned building across from Hippe’s Resort and Bar on Cedar Lake by Dan Hovland, 2003

These photos have come in handy in bringing a community together. In February 2025, we posted on Facebook asking for help identifying individuals whose full names were not provided in their descriptions. The pictures in question were taken in Swanville, so we shared the post to their community page, and within the hour, we learned all their names. One of a man sitting on a bench with two chihuahua puppies turned out to be Art Mortenson sitting in front of his barber shop. Another, labeled “Peggy and Pooch,” was identified as Peggy Dragseth walking her dog. The last photo depicts two young girls, Brittany and Ashley, aged about 7 to 11 years old, walking their dogs together. Fortunately, Brittany (Poegel) Vodak and Ashley Kircher found the post and confirmed that it was indeed them! In real time, we were able to witness these pictures bring folks together to reminisce on the past, and help us in making a more accurate index.

Art Mortenson sitting in front of his barber shop in Swanville holding two chihuahuas by Pamela Wolters, 2003

Young Brittany Poegel and Ashley Kircher walking their dogs together in Swanville by Pamela Wolters, 2003

Now, these pictures aren’t just nice for locals to look back on. As a stranger to the area, these snapshots became my first real look into Morrison County. I would drive past the empty Crowder’s Station, then I’d get home and find a photograph of it from 21 years ago. The Special Agents put me in Pierz for an Oktoberfest parade and showed me trails to witness some of the county’s hidden gems. I walked the streets of Upsala and Swanville before ever stepping foot in them. It makes for a surreal experience to see these places today and somehow remember how they looked in 2003, two decades before I arrived in the county.

Coborn’s float in Pierz Oktoberfest parade by Tammi Wilczek, 2003

The Uncommon Focus collection holds a very special place in my heart. It’s where I learned about the MacDougall homestead, where I first saw the Little Falls dam, Treasure City in Royalton, and Pete and Joy’s Bakery before it became the Little Falls Bakery. It acquainted me with the area before I moved here, and that’s all thanks to the talented Special Agents who sought out places that most people would take for granted. These pictures, these time capsules, captured the residents’ perspective of Morrison County. They highlight the importance of community and tradition while uplifting the forgotten or disregarded corners of the county.