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Antiques & Collecting: Coal scuttles were part of home heating systems

A fireplace takes a lot of watching and “feeding” if it is going to keep a room warm. Today’s wood-burning fireplaces use logs cut to the right size to fit into the fireplace. A metal basket holds the logs behind andirons, and a fire screen blocks the ashes and cinders from spilling out into the room. The poker is a tool used to turn or move burning logs. The shovel removes the ashes when the fire is put out. But what is the use of the big box with a lid that is on the floor next to the fireplace? The box is called a coal scuttle. They were first used in the 18th century to hold ...

In Appreciation

As the Heart of New Ulm (HONU) begins 2022, the HONU Leadership Team would like to thank all the community sponsors who have generously pledged financial support to continue the work of HONU as a community-owned health initiative. These sponsors include: The City of New Ulm, New Ulm Area Community Education, New Ulm Area Chamber of Commerce, New Ulm Medical Center Foundation, Allina Health and the City of Springfield. HONU thanks these sponsors for their commitment to helping HONU truly achieve its goal of helping everyone in the New Ulm and Brown County area improve their health.

Off the Shelf: Coming soon to the Children’s Room

Happy New Year! Here are some great new books that will be coming soon to the Children’s Room. Zoey Abbott examines what it’s like to be young and experience fear and anxiety in “The Pig and Horse and Something Scary.” Pig is afraid of something but doesn’t want to talk about it yet. Horse stays by her side trying to distract her from her thoughts. Pig is finally able to find some relief by talking to Horse about her fears. Children suffer from anxiety and fear from time to time and need guidance on how to deal with it. This book is an excellent starting place for a ...

Antiques & Collecting: Betty Lamps lit our way before electricity

Think how difficult it was before 1800, when you had to have light to work at night and there were only candles or several kinds of oil lamps. By the 1850s, it was easier. There were kerosene lamps, gas lamps and finally electric lamps. Today, we get a hint of what that was like when the electricity goes out and we must find a flashlight or candle to use until repair crews fix the power. Many collectors and campers who want light use old types of lighting like lanterns when there is no electricity. The Betty lamp is one of the earliest portable light sources. It usually is made of ...

Off the Shelf: Reading out loud for yourself

Reading has been around for as long as the written word, but did you know that for most of reading’s history it was a pretty loud experience? Early decrees, laws, and letters included instructions to listen to them. That’s right, not see or read, but listen! Many parents and grandparents of small children are aware of the benefits of regularly reading out loud to a child. It provides enormous benefits for the child’s cognitive development, indicators of future school success, developing a lifelong love of reading and learning, and fosters better communication and bonds with the ...

In Appreciation

New Ulm Community Education The Grand Center for Arts & Culture would like to thank New Ulm Community Education for their continued support of our Summer Creativity Camps for youth. During the summer of 2021, The Grand held two Creativity Camps, one in June and one in August, which served 75 students between the ages of 5 and 13. Students are instructed on a variety of art forms including ceramics, acrylic painting, weaving, cake decorating and more. Community Ed’s financial support and resources help make this opportunity available to more youth in the New Ulm area. Red Cross ...