March 2002

www.dakotahistory.org

New Trustees on

Board

Lawshe Fund Drive

A Success

Public Health in

Dakota County

Curator’s Corner

“Quarantined!”

Dakota County

Cabinette Exhibit

Now Open at the

Hastings

Government Center

Dakota County

Genealogical Society

Annual Meeting

March 21 7 p.m.

New Phone

(651) 552-7548

Public Health in Dakota County

Dakota County HistoryFebruary 2002 Volume 23 Number 1

Dakota County Historical Society & Museum130 Third Avenue North, South St. Paul, MN 55075

651.552.7548 Fax 651.552.7265e-mail: dchs@mtn.org

www.dakotahistory.org

Board of Directors:Steve Larson, PresidentMaureen Geraghty Bouchard, Vice President

& Rosemount ChapterBill Wolston, SecretaryLois Puckett, TreasurerMary Kaliszewski, Past PresidentDan Greil Hugh GuscettiLu Stoffel Jackie KozaGary KuhnBill Lanoue, South St. Paul ChapterPam Thorsen, Hastings ChapterSharon Bruestle, Mendota/W. St. Paul ChapterRichard Thill, Genealogical Society

Staff:Mark Reidell, Executive DirectorRebecca Snyder, Librarian/Associate DirectorSteve Werle, Education CoordinatorWilliam Ersland, Curator of CollectionsEleanor Clubb, Administrative AssistantHelen Waldoch, ReceptionistJim Abicht, Research Assistant

Newsletter Editor:Bill Wolston

We are a membership organization:

Membership is open to all interested in history. TheSociety offers a research library; displays and exhibits ofhistorical artifacts, documents and photographs; lecturesand presentations; and educational programs for students.

Society members also receive:Over the Years, a semi-annual magazine.“Dakota County History”, a quarterly newsletter.Discounts in the museum’s gift shop.

Memberships:Individual ..........$20 Family....................$35Sustaining..........$50 Corporate .............$250

News from the Director

The Museum has been a very active place the last couple ofmonths. Unfortunately, it started with a mini-catastrophe. Aheavy rainstorm that occurred overnight in early Decemberwhile the museum roof was being replaced ended up floodingand damaging all three floors of the building. The result hasbeen a flurry of workers installing new ceiling tiles, cleaningcarpets, and replacing light fixtures while the roofing contrac-tor eventually made us water proof again.

On the bright side, the Society produced two publications thathave been well received. The most recent “Over The Years”,written by Wayne Gannaway, highlighted the LeDucMansion at a point in time when the State Legislature is con-sidering a $1 million asset preservation bond that will enablethe site to be opened to the public. “The 1851 Treaty ofMendota”, transcribed and edited by Rebecca Snyder, con-tains a wealth of primary source documents on the treaty withthe Dakota Indians that culminated in the southern half ofMinnesota being opened to settlement.

Over 100 members attended our sixty-third annual meeting tovoice their approval for the election of Dan Greil, Hugh

Guscetti, Gary Kuhn and Lu Stoffel as new trustees. CountyCommissioner Don Maher was on hand to present certificatesof appreciation to departing trustees Dick Darsow, Dick

Guyer and Arlyn Lamb. The annual meeting programincluded a presentation by crime historian Paul Maccabee onthe local gangster era and a musical performance by Charlie

Maguire, the Singing Ranger, that featured songs from hisrecent CD, “Great Mississippi”.

The Dakota County Star Quilters seventh annual exhibitopened on February 5. The exhibit continues to be the mostwell-attended event at the Museum which is a direct reflectionon the quality of the quilts produced by the women in thisorganization. This year’s featured quilters were Betty

Wygant, Jolene Graham and Jackie Grinde.

Researchers now can use a computer workstation in theMuseum’s research center to access and print out almost all ofthe records contained in the Historical Society’s growing num-ber of databases on Dakota County censuses and obituaries.

The Society has also created two new computerizedPowerPoint presentations. One is “A Brief History of DakotaCounty”, and other is “Digging Up Your Past,” a presentationon the resources and services available from the DakotaCounty Historical Society. Both presentations are availablefor community showings.

Finally, the Museum acquired a new telephone service whichhas changed our telephone number to:(651) 552-7548.

Special thanks to our corporate organizations

Dakota Electric Bremer BankWakota Credit Union Cenex/Harvest States

1st State Bank of RosemountCity of Mendota Heights City of Apple Valley

Lockheed Martin Dakota County Government

Thanks to Howard Epstein, Dakota County Public HealthDepartment for gathering data and photos and to Linda OlsonKeller, Minnesota Department of Health, for preserving whathas become history; records and photos.

March 2002 Page 1

2001 Lawshe Fund Drive

Last fall’s Lawshe Fund Drive was another great success. The Societyraised over $5,500* to underwrite educational programming, a vital part ofthe mission which Mr. Lawshe founded in 1939. We extend our thanks tothe following members for their contributions.

Up to $25.00

Frank A. Dehrer Charlotte G. AndersonDonald F.& Jane M. BohrerMary J. CavanaghFrank X. EdgellElmer N. JohnsonRuth M. MatsonLudmilla MilnarMartin H. MollenkampThomas F. StanekDavid E.& Roseanne ByrneFrank LavacotCalvin J. LermanFay E. WaltherElsie M. BahnemannGeorge A. & Phyllis BetzoldMr. and Mrs. William BeyerJohn P.& Cindy M. BodgerJohn T. Brandberg Jane M. BrennaArthur A. BrodersonSharon BruestleCharlie BzoskieJames E. & Dorothy CashmanKevin ChamberlainEdith J. ChamberlainDavid L. ChristophersonDorothy M. EnglundLaurie Hess ErdmanRalph & Marian L. Geddes

Hugh GuscettiRichard C. GuyerRobert E.& Susan HansenMerlin HansenE. W. HorstGerald W. KalinaKaren E. KapphahnLois M. KingJackie T. KozaDona LannonRobert G. LockwoodRose Marie MickelsonRichard N. NightengaleThomas G. NovitzkiRobert L. PoolLois I.& Geoffrey G. PuckettMrs. Albert J. SchroederGladys SchumacherRoger B.& Mary R. ShepardKathleen SmithRichard M. SperleChester D. Taylor, Jr.Clifford W. TimmHelen E. VujovichJohn VujovichRussell F. WithrowElizabeth Witt

$25 to $49.99

Albert W. Lindeke, Jr.Roger S. TonderumM/M Richard Guelcher

Josephine B. TeareJoy A. CurtinAnn Esta DotyMarti GrowHoward M. GuthmannMary & Tom KaliszewskiGary G. KuhnIantha LeVanderMr. Thomas G. MairsBarbara McMorrowMr. & Mrs. Thomas PughM/M Michael SmebyEthel J. Warweg

$50 to $100

Richard B. DarsowMartha Jo BruyerOlivia I. DodgeSusan MayRichard VoorheesThomas A. WildeWilliam G. & Tish B. Wolston

$100 to $500

Hazel Jacobsen-TheelJames S. Whittier Duncan H. BairdMark & Ann Reidell

Over $500

US BancorpSteven J. & Margaret Larson

*An additional $2,000 donation has been pledged to the drive.

Page 2 Dakota County History

Public Health in Dakota Countyby Bill Wolston

If you are old enough you might recall when you became immunefrom measles, you stepped out the front door and removed the “quaran-tine” sign. Or, when the old and poor, lacking a loving family might goto the poor farm. Or, when movie theater house lights came on betweenthe cartoon and feature for a “March of Dimes” polio collection. Allwere part of our evolving Public Health heritage.

Minnesota Public Health took a major step forward in 1976 with pas-sage of the Community Health Services Act. The act lead to the creationof the Dakota County Public Health Department and its mission to “helpbuild healthy families and a healthy community.”

Following are moments in Dakota County’s “Public Health” heritage.

Dr. Charles Nathaniel Hewitt arrived in Red Wing,

Minnesota to practice medicine. The year was 1867.In six years Hewitt, a New Yorker, Civil War battlefield doctor, and disease prevention advocate,became Minnesota’s first public health leader.

On the spot to meet the challenge

A year after arriving in Red Wing, Hewitt madehis public health mark in a surprising way. AMississippi River steamboat captain approachingRed Wing discovered he had cholera victims onboard. His solution was to dump them off on Red

Wing’s levee. Fearful city citizens refused to aid thevictims. Learning the situation Hewitt went to thevictims, quartered them in a house on a nearbyisland, and secured city funds for their care.

The incident gave Hewitt the respect his actiondeserved and an opportunity to bring public healthmeasures to the attention of city and state. Hebelieved each community should have a medicallyqualified public health officer.

By 1873 Dr. Hewitt persuaded the MinnesotaLegislature to pass an act providing for Boards ofHealth in all communities. The Legislature also cre-ated a State Board of Health naming Hewitt thedirector to support and coordinate local boards.

When Hewitt retired he was pleased Minnesotahad 1,780 local health boards. However, he notedthe lack of sufficient nurses and health officers tocarry out public health measures.

Public health nursing is different

The public health nursing concept started at aNew York City settlement house in 1877. In 1904the Red Cross Christmas seals financed the firstpublic health services. The influenza epidemic of1918 led to the 1919 local government authorizationto provide public health nursing services.

“Nurse taking care of baby and mother in bed.” Circa 1925.Minnesota Historical Society. From A History of the Black Bag

in Minnesota.

Dr. Charles N. Hewitt

In 1915 Henry Bracken, Minnesota Health Boarddirector, proposed a staff of state nurses to train localnurses in public health practices. The legislature didnot fund the proposal. However, the board appoint-ed Frances V. Brink to the position of superintendentof nurses when funded in 1918. She had publichealth experience and helped several communitiesuntil her resignation in 1921 .

State authorizes, counties organize,

and all hope Red Cross seals sell

A Minnesota legislative bill in 1919 authorizedcities, villages, and counties to employ public healthnurses. The bill prompted Dakota County represen-tatives to organize an association at Hastings, citing,“The County is in a much better position to say whatpublic health work is most needed. Since 1915, pub-lic health nurses have demonstrated the detectionand correction of defects.” The quote actuallyreferred to Red Cross Nurses.

In 1918 the University of Minnesota offered itsfirst course in Public Health Nursing.

The first Dakota County public health nursingservice was established in 1919 by the Red Crosswho administered the service until 1923. Nurseswere Helen Stevens (1919-20), Agnes Renneke(1920), Marian Pilling (1922-23). The countyfinanced services for several months in 1922.

1926, a landmark year

Minnesota 1926 legislation established the “certi-fication” of public health nurses, advisory commit-tees to local public health nursing services, uniformrecords and reports, and state sources for advice.

The county administered public health servicesfrom 1926 until nurse Margaret Casey’s resignationin 1929. Casey was not replaced. A board majoritywas not convinced of the value of the service.

During this period, Dakota was one of 56 coun-ties offering nursing services. The office was inSouth St. Paul until 1927 when nurse Casey workedout of her Farmington home until she shared spacewith the county agricultural agent in Farmington.

Public health in 1920s schools

Eighty-five percent of students have defects,reported County Nurse Helen Stevens. “Systems”and “defects” were terms used for 1920s schoolinspections to detect contagious diseases such asmeasles, scarlet fever, diphtheria, whooping cough,chicken pox, mumps, etc. Also checked were para-sitic diseases such as scabies and impetigo.

When County Nurse Stevens examined 399school children during three weeks, she found only62 (15 percent) were free of “defects.” “Defects”noted included 224 teeth, 102 throat, 62 eyes, 40nose, 27 ears, and 17 skin conditions.

Nurse Agnes Renneke’s activity report included150 children examined, three baby clinics, 83 chil-dren’s teeth checked, and 18 house calls.

The public school was a natural place to holdclinics for both children and adults. Public healthnurses in the 1920s concentrated on schools forsigns of defects and communicable diseases. Abooth at the County Fair also provided an opportu-nity to make health checks.

March 2002 Page 3

If you visit today’s Dakota County Public Health office youwill meet a large poster of this visiting nurse. I was also told aCounty nurse made some calls on horseback. I believe it. Backthen rural roads were often impassable after a winter snowstorm or spring rain. -Bill Wolston

Dakota County public health in the 1930s

During the 1930s Depression, communities madesevere cuts in services including public health.However, Dakota County and 17 other counties con-tinued to provide basic health care services.

Dakota County had a public health nurse most ofthe decade. Financing public health services camefrom several sources including the County PublicHealth Association, Civil Works Administration(CWA), State Emergency Relief Association(SERA), Red Cross, and Social Security.

Mary Schmalzbauer 1930 - (3 mos)Fern Larsen 9/30 - 12/30Dorothy Hutchins 1/34 - unknown Jesse Lende ? /34 - unknownLaura Becker 11/34 - 3/35 Margaret Lindquist 12/35 - 12/36Eulalia Earlewine 9/39 - 9/44

The County Public Health Association adminis-tered the services. CWA and SERA nurses wereunder a Relief Administrator and advisory group.

County appoints nursing board,

Establishes full-time nursing service

In 1936, County commissioners appointed aPublic Health Nursing Board and established a full-time Nursing Service. The Nursing Service was alsoused for field training of public health nursing stu-dents. The office was located in Farmington.

State board defines a “Public Health Nurse”

In 1938 the Minnesota Board of Health created aDivision of Public Health Nursing. A Public HealthNurse was defined as a “graduate nurse, registered topractice nursing, who teaches public health practicesto individuals, and demonstrates home nursing care.Besides an interest and ability to work with peopleshe has completed special courses in public health.”

In the summer of 1930, nurses follow-up visits tofamilies considered “at risk” for tuberculosis by theMineral Springs TB sanitorium in Cannon Fallswhich provided services to Dakota County.

Tuberculin testing was extended in 1936 to maketesting an annual event in high schools. The CountyPublic Health Board paid toward the cost of chest x-rays for positive reactors. When the sanatorium wasunavailable to conduct the tests, a physician wasassigned from the Minnesota Tuberculosis andHealth Association.

In 1937 the University of Minnesota beganassigning public health students to field experienceworking with nurses in Dakota County. The late1930s also introduced blood donor programs.

Public Health a wise expenditure

In an attempt to sell the investment return ofPublic Health Nursing to the public and legislators,Olivia T. Peterson, Minnesota Director of PublicHealth Nursing, issued a paper in February 1941.She pointed out it cost a township $266.40 to carefor a family of three with small pox, including bur-ial costs of one victim. For only $100 the entiretownship could have been protected by vaccination.

Mothers learn by helping with health checks

A 1941 article noted the county nurses visited thecountry schools in September and October while theroads were still in good condition. Mothers wereoften invited to participate in health inspections.Beside helping with the children, the nurses knewthe experience helped the mothers check other chil-dren at home. Rural school inspections were usuallyscheduled every other year.

Page 4 Dakota County History

Public Health Nurses Lila Watson and Edith Lake, lower left,with members of the Dakota County Nursing Advisory Boardmeeting at home of Mrs. Emery Kulenkamp in West St. Paul.

The 1940s challenges of war

Public health nurses during the1940s were:Eulalia Earlewine 9/39 - 9/44Fern Larsen 7/42 - 3/43Lila Watson 4/43 - 10/48Edith Lake 8/45 - 5/50Margaret Dowd 6/47 - 9/47Mary Skirball 9/48 - 5/49Thelma Berger 9/48 - 5/49Mildred Morovec 11/48 - 1/52

Financing health care was a combination ofCounty Public Health Association, Social Securityfunds, and State Aid. During World War II nursesEarlewine and Watson divided county coverage. Ifthere was a shortage of nurses before the war due tofinances now a shortage was due to the war. Theproblem of providing public health service increasedas mothers replaced men in farm fields, offices, andindustry. A 1944 newspaper article, “The Citizen’sWar at Home,” asked small town women to stayhome and volunteer for needed community services.

Nurses Watson and Earlewine organized andtaught Home Nursing Care classes. Nurse Earlewinealso worked with the County Civil Defense trainingwomen as volunteer health assistants.

Construction of Rosemount’s Gopher OrdnanceWorks prompted hiring Mrs. Fern Larsen, a regis-tered nurse, to assist at the new war-time facility.The Works increased Rosemount’s population ten-fold. Mrs. Larsen served the county in 1932 and hadpost graduate studies at the University of Minnesota.

When Nurse Edith Lake replaced Nurse

Earlewine in 1945, she was based in Farmington.Nurse Lila Watson officed in West St. Paul.

When canceling a clinic is an understatement

This was an era of organizing vaccinations inschools for small pox, diphtheria, and whoopingcough and often required selling the benefits to areluctant parent. Imagine Nurse Lake’s thoughtswhen she had to cancel a pre-school screening clin-ic due to a developing polio epidemic.

State aid for County nursing services.

A 1947 bill signed by Governor Youngdahl pro-vided state aid for county public health nursing ser-vices. Counties were encouraged to increase thenumber of nurses to one per 5,000 population.Dakota County had two nurses and a 45,000 popula-tion.

The County Nursing Board divided the county inthree sections with nurse Lila Watson in South St.Paul and Rosemount, Margaret Dowd, a new nurse,in West St. Paul, Lebanon, Burnsville and part ofLakeville, and Edith Lake covering the rest of thecounty. Miss Dowd resigned and was replaced byMrs. Mary Skirball.

For about two years in the early 1940s countynurses reported to the County Welfare Board and theNursing Committee served as an advisory to theWelfare Board. The arrangement was discontinuedwhen a legal opinion cited state law did not providefor the administration by the Welfare Board.

March 2002 Page 5

The public health nurses booth at the 1948Dakota County Fair featured “FightCancer by Teamwork.” Far left is nurseLila Watson, at right is nurse Edith Lake,and seated is Mrs. Ralph Reisinger, chair-man of the County Nurses AdvisoryBoard. Board members looked forward tothe annual opportunity to talk “PublicHealth” to fair-goers. The booth wasshared with Red Cross nurses.

The heritage of Christmas Seals

In 1947, the Minnesota Public Health Associationworked with the Dakota County association to over-see the annual tuberculin testing in schools.

The Red Cross seal drives of the early 1900s werenow the Christmas seal drives, which funded tuber-culosis research and testing throughout counties inMinnesota. On April 15, 1947, Dr. Kathleen Jordanof the Minnesota Public Health Association arrivedto begin Mantoux testing in the southern half of thecounty. From April 15th - 22nd tests were given in11 locations. The chest x-ray survey was carried outduring 1946 - 1947. X-ray follow-ups were one ofthe reasons a third nurse was needed.

From Tuberculosis to Polio

A report noted the tuberculosis mortality ratedropped from 25% in 1938 to 14% in 1948. As TBdecreased polio increased. Public Health NursesWatson and Lake were nationally recognized for“Control of Tuberculosis.”

The cost for 37 polio cases in 1948 was $14,923,paid by the March of Dimes office.

1949 Public Health Nurse Services

Newspapers carried this article listing Countypublic health nurse services and a number to call. 1. Assist expectant mothers prepare for childbirth.2. Teach young mothers how to care for themselves

and their babies.3. Help school children by physical examination

and vaccinations.4. Give instruction in bedside care and how family

can help care at home.5. Visit people who may have communicable

diseases and urge family to contact a doctor.6. Teach proper isolation measures to parents of

children with communicable diseases.7. Assist doctors in immunizing children and

adults against preventable diseases.8. Help prevent spread of tuberculosis by assisting

in testing and x-ray services, and by visiting cases and their contacts.

9. Give talks, distribute literature, show films, arrange exhibits, teach people of the communityhow to protect and preserve their health.

Call GArfield 5221

All-out effort to conquer Tuberculosis

Nurse Mildred Moravec said, “We’re hoping fora 100% turnout for the test since it is recognized asone of the best ways of detecting the presence of TBgerms in the body. Children found to be infected willbe chest x-rayed to make sure the germs are notcausing trouble.”

The 1950 drive commenced the last week of Julyand ended in early November with 47,000 peopletested.

Dr. Jordan, who also participated in the 1947campaign, joined the 1950 effort giving Tuberculintests to 1,000 West St. Paul students.

The TB mobile x-ray trailer supplied by theMinnesota Public Health Association, covered thesouthern section of the county during August. Themajor costs for the drive were financed by Christmasseal sales.

Page 6 Dakota County History

We don’t know if Sharon is hiding from camera or the needlein Dr. Kathleen Jordan’s hand in this news photo. Mantouxtests were underway at the Emerson School in West St. Paul.

Nurses in the 1950s.

Financed by the county and state aid.Mildred Morovec 10/48 - 1/52Esther Watson 7/50 - 4/51Alene Maas 10/50 - 1/51Faye Svaere 4/51 - 7/51Dorothy Melvin 3/51 - 4/52Lucy Sontag 7/52 - 7/53Ruth Wilkinson 4/52 - 8/54Frances Trite 2/54 - 9/55Laverne Detlefson 6/54 - ?/62Ester Tessman 9/55 - 9/59Katherine Kelly 9/59 - ?/62

By 1955 licensed practical nurses could be hiredto assist public health nurses in home health care.

Mid-1950s focus on polio and civil defense

By the fall of 1953, County Polio cases reached atotal of 62. Nurses visited the Sister Kenny institutein Minneapolis and the County was very supportiveof the Kenny campaign.

The Cold War fostered emergency assignmentsfor all public services. A Rosemount civil defensemeeting made assignments for both the county pub-lic health and Red Cross nurses.

A Public Health report advocating hiring morenurses pointed out that five school nurses serveabout 6,000 students, whereas the two county nurs-es have the remaining 40,000 people in the county,

“First Polio Shots Given Here”

It was a four column May 1955 headline in aHastings newspaper. A shipment of the highly publi-cized Saulk polio vaccine arrived. Innoculations forapproximately 125 students were given each day.

Hastings recognized for TB testing

Hastings earned national recognition in 1958 forits effective Mantoux testing promotion campaign.Over 85%, or 5,433, Hastings citizens were tested.

Public Health Nursing Director

The first identified Dakota County NursingDirector was Emily White in 1964. At the time therewere only three nurses and a clerk on the staff.

In 1965, Karen Nelson joined the department asdirector. Karen had been hired in 1964 by theMinnesota Department of Health and was placed inDakota County on a demonstration project to see ifHome Health care was feasible. The next year shewas hired by Dakota County.

In 1968, the South St. Paul United Way trans-ferred its Homemaker caseload to the County after itwas determined 100% of the caseload was ill per-sons needing nursing assessment and management.The State of Minnesota and Dakota County werepioneers in setting standards for Home Health ser-vices provided under the Medicare program.

Services and staff added in 1960s

A third nurse position was filled again in January1966 by Mrs. George Shears. The position was firstopened in 1947 but within two years was vacant.

In 1966 County commissioners also authorizedPublic Health Nursing to set up a fee system for at-home bedside nursing. Physical therapy was addedin an effort to become certified as a provider ofHome Services under Medicare.

The Dakota County Public Health NursingService was certified by Medicare in 1967. Homenursing services began in 1967, home health aideservices in 1969, and homemaker services in 1972.

In 1975, a contractual agreement was made withthe St. Paul Rehabilitation Center for physical,speech, and occupational therapy.

March 2002 Page 7

Members of the Dakota County Public Health Nursing Staff in1969. From the left: Marilyn Weber, Janice Peterson, KarenNelson, and JoAnn Petersen

1960s public health nurses

The number of nursres listed looks large becauseit includes temporary home health care nurses.

Laverne Detlefsen Katherine KellyMary Louise Krall Sharon O’NeilMarjorie Mack Emily WhiteKaren Nilsson Kathryn LarsenJanice Trotter Ann ShearsPatricia Berdan Mary FergusonShirley Giles Janice PetersonMyrna Sens Marilyn WeberKaren Nelson Elizabeth OjalaPricilla Osborn JoAnn PetersenHelen Behrens Connie DickersonLeAnn Karnes Patricia KoehnSandra Matuska Barbara RutzDianne Zeider

Time for a major change

In 1873, when Dr. Charles Hewitt, MinnesotaHealth Board director, urged authorizing communi-ties to form local health boards, he could never haveexpected the result. By the time Hewitt retired therewere 1,780 local boards and by 1976, 2,100.

The boards and their appointed officers werecharged with: 1) assessing their community’s health,and reporting live births and deaths with the cause,2) local policies and action to limit the spread ofcommunicable disease; and 3) assuring sanitary con-ditions for a healthy community.

By 1976 the number of boards became unman-ageable for the state and no longer effective.

“1978”Birth of today’s modern

Dakota CountyPublic Health System

In 1976 the State of Minnesota passed the

Community Health Services Act (CHS). The CHSact and subsequent 1978 Local Public Health Actwere designed to overcome the current local boardcomplexity and to establish an improved publichealth partnership between state and local govern-ments. In 1977 the Minnesota Department of Healthhad replaced the former state health board. The actallowed county and city boards of health to organizethemselves as Community Health Boards, providingthey met certain population and boundary require-ments. Meeting these requirements, the boardbecame eligible to receive a state subsidy. The newcommunity health board could also preempt alltownship and city boards within their jurisdiction.

The 2,100 local health boards were reduced to 23single county boards, 23 multi-county or county-city boards, and 4 metropolitan city boards, for atotal of 50 boards. Dakota County is a single countyboard.

Circumstances point to a county board

The option to create a single county health boardwas natural for Dakota County. In 1976 the countywas experiencing population growth and changinglocal governments. A 1950 population of 49,019 hadsoared to over 150,000 in 1976. Nine new citieswere organized with some inviting new residentsand others desiring to be small. The County commu-nity included 20 cities or villages and 14 townships.

Dakota County was in a unique position, if notresponsibility, to provide public health leadership toits diverse and growing County community.

Page 8 Dakota County History

Public health nurse Jo Ann Petersen, right, giving a new moth-er tips on her baby’s development and health care.

Forming the

Dakota County Health Board

In October 1978, Dakota County established aCounty-wide Community Health Board. The boardwas charged to protect and promote health, and toprevent disease and disability within Dakota County.

The Dakota County

Public Health Department

The Public Health Department was formed tocarry out the Community Health Board’s mission byassessing community health needs and dangers,preparing and implementing required plans and ser-vices, and promoting and assisting citizens in the useof services.

The new department included the functions of theformer Public Health Nursing Department.

The new department also assumed functions forimproving county communities’ environmentalhealth through regulation, monitoring, and service.

First Public Health Department Director

Donna Anderson was selected in 1979 to beDakota County’s first Public Health Departmentdirector. Her actual title included “and administratorof community health services.”

Kathy Higgins became director of the PublicHealth Nursing section of the department.

Donna would direct the department’s develop-ment and services for 22 years, retiring in 2001.

In December 2001, Donna was recognized by theState of Minnesota with the Health Commissioner’sDistinguished Service Award. At the ceremony thecommissioner said, “Anderson built both the credi-bility and the influence of Dakota County’s PublicHealth Department moving it from primarily nursingservices to a full-spectrum agency, including healthprotection, emergency medical services, and envi-ronmental health, in addition to direct health careservices.”

CHS Advisory Committee

An Advisory Committee was established to rep-resent the range of county communities in the plan-ning and review of the Public Health Departmentprograms. In 1979, each of the five Dakota Countyelection polling districts was represented by threecommittee members including health serviceproviders and citizens.

Community Health Services

The seven primary service areas outlined in the1979 plan were:

Community NursingHome HealthDisease Prevention and ControlEmergency Medical ServicesHealth EducationEnvironmental HealthCommunity Health Services AdministrationThis list included two additional areas of direct

responsibility: Emergency Medical Services andEnviromental Health. In the past public health hadfocused primarily on nursing services; DakotaCounty’s CHS plan signified a major expansion ofthe scope of local public health services.

March 2002 Page 9

Donna Anderson, Dakota County’s first Public HealthDirector, center, at the year 2000 Public Health Week celebra-tion with Jan Malcolm, Minnesota Commissioner of Health,and County Commissioner Michael Turner.

Emergency Medical Services

This area received early attention by an AdvisoryBoard task force committee. The goal was a coordi-nated county-wide emergency services system thatimproved response time, that saved lives, and thatsaved dollars.

Environmental Health

This addition included primary responsibilitiesfor water quality, solid waste regulation, and publichealth nuisance control. Originally staffed by threespecialists in the mid-1980s, service demands led toan expanded staff of 15 by 1992. Prompted by pop-ulation and commercial growth, the County createda separate Environmental Management Departmentin 1992. The Environmental Management andPublic Health Departments continue to work togeth-er to address common community health problems.

Family and Community

Today’s County Public Health Department hasfive family and community centered program areas:

Emergency Medical ServicesDisease Prevention and Control ServicesFamily Health ServicesLong Term Care ServicesHealth Promotion Services

Working with people to make their lives betterand longer is the reason for a public health effort.Today’s public health professionals, like the publichealth nurses of 50 years ago, visit mothers andbabies, grandparents, coordinate with schools,police and city officials, and community groups. Thedifference today is our advanced knowledge, ourincreased skills, and our resources to do more.

Examples of projects include reducing sales oftobacco and alcohol to underage youth, drug useeducation, and coordinating emergency prepared-ness and response with police and fire departments.

Another example is the great strides in providingoptions for the elderly to continue living in their ownhomes and communities.

The Longest Long Term Case

A major focus of the Public Health Departmenthas been services to assist seniors live outside thenursing home, such as transportation, adult day care,congregate dining, housekeeping, and recreation.

In 2001 Dakota’s Long Term Care Programclosed its longest case, a client who has received ser-vices since 1967. He was severely physically dis-abled, and the public health nurse and home healthaides worked with him and his family to providehome health services. He was able to live in a com-munity and setting of his own choice with anincreased quality of life for the past 34 years.

Current services in the five areas

provided by the public health staff

Immunization services to children and adultsCommunicable disease prevention and controlImmigrant and refugee servicesWomen, Infants, and Children (WIC) nutrition

clinics for low-income pregnant and breastfeeding women, infants and children to age 5 years

Well-child health screening clinics for uninsured and underinsured children to age 21 years

Home visiting services to pregnant and parenting families to promote healthy pregnancies in low- income women; to promote child growth and development; and to prevent child maltreatment

Assessment, case management, case consultation and direct home health services to frail elderly and disabled persons to prevent or delay nursinghome placement

Alcohol, tobacco, and other drug prevention services for youth; violence prevention

Youth development; parent supportMental health promotion servicesHealth services to adults incarcerated in County’s

jail and youths sentenced to the County’s Juvenile Service Center

Emergency medical services coordinationDisaster and emergency response planning and

preparednessCommunity health needs assessment & planning

Page 10 Dakota County History

“In the 21st century, Dakota CountyPublic Health Department’s missionremains the same as it was a century ago --prevention of disease and promotion ofhealth for all citizens of the County. Whilethat core mission remains essentiallyunchanged, the issues facing society and thePublic Health Department have changedimmensely.

“The new Americans in Dakota Countynow reflect global cultures -- Latino, EastAfrican, Eastern European, Asian and oth-ers, all of which adds to the richness ofDakota County and its communities.

“The advancement of technology hasmoved Public Health from a pencil andpaper era to an electronic era in which staffuse laptop computers in homes and commu-nities to support their work.

“The terrorist threats to the nationdemand a local public health response toassure that we can protect the health andwell-being of our citizens.

“Communicable diseases are still of con-cern. The availability of antibiotics had amajor role in extending the longevity of lifein the 1900s, but resulted in the develop-ment of new strains of bacteria which havebecome resistant to antibiotics creating newpublic health challenges.

“The focus on disease prevention broad-ened from communicable diseases toinclude diseases and conditions resultingfrom personal health choices - overeating,smoking, misuse of alcohol and other drugs,stress, lack of exercise, personal and familyviolence.

“Despite the technological changes thathave been seen over the past century, thesoft skills used by public health profession-als in the past decades to communicate andsupport good health behaviors are still need-ed today to achieve an improvement in indi-vidual, family and community health.”

March 2002 Page 11

Pat AdamsPublic Health Director

Pat was named Dakota County PublicHealth Director in 2001. Pat previouslyserved as the County’s Director of PublicHealth Nursing for 15 years.

We asked Pat to share her view ofPublic Health in Dakota County.

Page 12 Dakota County History

PinPoints in

Dakota County History

A Public Health Problem

in the County before it was a County

In the Fall of 1819 Col. Henry Leavenworthwith 97 soldiers and 20 boatmen arrived at thesite of Fort Snelling. Their assignment was toassemble materials for construction of the fortwhich at that time was called Fort St. Anthony.Colonel Leavenworth’s Company built a stock-ade in today's Mendota Heights across the riverfrom the construction site. The location is nowPicnic Island in Fort Snelling State Park. Thestockade was called Cantonment New Hope.

As it grew colder men complained of illness.They were suffering from scurvy. Major EdwardPurcell, the surgeon in the command, recog-nized the problem but did not have the neededmedicine. Winter had set in and so many menwere sick garrison duty was suspended. It wasproblem enough to tend the sick and bury themounting dead.

Col. Leavenworth and a crew set out toacquire the necessary remedies. They obtainedspruce in the St. Croix and Chippewa River val-leys and vinegar at Prairie du Chien. Nearly halfthe company died that winter. The illnessreturned again the next winter but was handled.

As a Public Health problem half was solvedwith the medications to fight back. The othermore desirable half, eliminating the cause, wasdetermined and handled after the second year.

It was discovered the St. Louis salt pork sup-plier purposely drew off preserving brine fromthe barrels to lighten the load, cutting shippingcosts. The barrels were refilled with river waterat the end of the trip before delivery atCantonment New Hope.

Curator’s CornerPublic Health Warnings

“QUARANTINED!”

Notice of “SMALLPOX, DIPTHERIA,MEASLES, TYPHOID FEVER, or WHOOPINGCOUGH” when posted on a neighbor’s house allwould’ve struck a note of fear into the lives ofDakota County residents as recently as just a fewgenerations ago. These were all serious threats topublic health, and quarantine notices, in the formof eight by ten inch printed cards, issued by theMinnesota Department of Health to those infectedwas a standard practice. All but physicians wereallowed to visit the infirm, and all personal itemswere not allowed to leave the premises for fear ofspreading the virus.

Historically, the smallpox virus, to cite oneexample, had had devastating affects on the nativepopulation throughout the mid to late nineteenthcentury. Like many contagious illnesses though, itand many others have been successfully eradicatedthrough the use of vaccines. Ironically, a few sam-ples of these once deadly contagions, are keptunder strict security for study by the NationalDisease Laboratory in the United States, and thescientific community internationally do as well.

Six of the old quarantine signs came to themuseum in 1977 by way of Mr. Hilman Leine,when he was Town Clerk at Eureka Township.

March 2002 Page 13

Preserving Publishing. Promoting

History around the County

Lakeville Historical Society

holds annual meeting

The Lakeville Society is going strong with anactive membership and local sponsors. On Monday,Feb. 18 the Society held its annual meeting in the"Historical Society" building ( the former All SaintsRectory).

David Schreier put on a PowerPoint presentationof the history of the Brandtjen Farm on 170th Street.Once 840 acres today's 800 acres will most likely beopened for development in the coming years. Untilthen the farm buildings are classics.

A short business meeting was held. Agreeing totake positions on the Lakeville Historical Society'sboard of directors were Tolly Swan, President; VernJensen, Vice President; Wally Potter, Treasurer;Betty Weichselbaum, trustee; Dianne Lamb, trustee.

David Kuykendall has volunteered to develop aweb site for the Society. He recently developed onefor the Rosemount Society. A continuing project ofthe Society is providing Area History kits toLakeville schools and to the Lakeville, Farmington,and Burnsville libraries.

South St. Paul Chapter

elects new officers

At the South St. Paul Chapter's annual meetingin December the year’s activities were reviewed andnew officers elected. Bill Lanoue was elected presi-dent with Virginia Lanegran vice-president. EdHorst was re-elected to the Treasurer's post as wasMary Kaliszewski to Secretary. Trustees electedwere James Cashman, Tom Kaliszewski, andJeanette Birnstengel.

Mendota / West. St. Paul Chapter

Remembering neighborhood stores

The chapter's quarterly newsletter the "LittleHistorian" is devoting a page or two each issue toremembering the neighborhood stores of yesteryear.These are the mom and pop groceries, candy storesand the like that were within walking distance andon the streetcar line. Many let you use their tele-phone for a nickel, sold stamps, and were authorizedto receive telephone and electric payments. Someeven rented books and magazines.

The chapter welcomes "they deserve to beremembered” candidates for the list as long as thestore was in the West. St. Paul, Mendota Heights,Mendota, Lilydale, Sunfish Lake, or the West Side.

I tried writing this in the third person

but it didn’t work

Mark Reidell said, “People ask about your 90Seconds of Local History videos and broadcasttimes. Why don’t you tell them in the newsletter.”

For sometime I have presented moments oflocal history on Northern Dakota CountyCommunity TV (NDCTV). The “90 Seconds”appear on “Insight 7” which has a community newsmagazine format. At first they only appeared in thenorthern tier cities except during the county’s 1999anniversary year.

Now “Insight 7,” with the “90 Seconds” appearthroughout the six county metropolitan area onCommunity Cable Channel 6 at 6 PM on Mondays.On NDCTV the program is aired on Channel 14every day at 9 AM, 3 PM and 7 PM. Two different“90’s” appear each month. The current subjects are:“The Brandtjen Farm in Lakeville” and “PercivalBarton” of old Inver Grove. Bill Wolston

Page 14 Dakota County History

130 Third Avenue NorthSouth St. Paul, MN 55075

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South St. Paul, MNPermit #45

Museum HoursTuesday .........................9 am to 5 pm

Wednesday ....................9 am to 5 pm

Thursday........................9 am to 8 pm

Friday ............................9 am to 5 pm

Saturday ......................10 am to 3 pm

Sunday .....................................Closed

Monday....................................Closed

Upcoming Events

Cabinette Exhibit

Opens Tuesday March 12

Visit the Hastings Government Center to see the newly installed Cabinette.The first exhibit features Serbian immigration to Dakota County.Displays rotating every 8 - 10 months will tell stories of people whomigrated to Dakota County over the last 150 years.

DCGS Annual Meeting

Thursday March 21 7 p.m. History Museum

Professor Harold Hinds will speak on adding historical context to yourgenealogical research. Dr. Hinds is a noted publisher and lecturer on his-tory and genealogy.

International Baccalaureate Art Show

May 2002 History Museum

The Annual South St. Paul High School International Baccalaureate Art Showwill present exciting art by up and coming artists.