In the old days when clothes were sewn and mended at home instead of bought ready-made, spools of thread were household essentials. You would see a spool cabinet in any country store, usually on the counter. They were shaped like a miniature chest of drawers, with lettering on ...

Circulation of “things” in the New Ulm Public Library of Things has been phenomenal this summer. Board games, musical instruments and educational toys are flying off the shelves. To meet this demand and to keep our offerings fresh and appealing, we are adding many more items. Soon a decibel ...

Antique advertising and store signs are popular collectibles and decorations. Sometimes, the makers are as interesting as the subjects. This butcher’s sign, made of painted cast iron, sold for $1,188 at an auction by Cowan’s (Hindman). It was made by the Bernard Gloekler company. The ...

In North America, summer, especially late summer, is butterfly season. Multiple generations hatch as caterpillars grow, pupate and emerge to pollinate flowers and lay eggs of their own. If you would prefer a butterfly that lasts longer, they often appear in decorative arts and jewelry, like ...

I was experiencing a bit of a reading slump, during which I was picking up my phone more often than a book. Luckily, these books helped me out of my slump. I hope that one or more of them might appeal to you. Wealthy Manhattanites flock to their beach homes on Fire Island each summer, spending ...

ST. PAUL — New Ulm has been selected as the site for the southwest regional headquarters of the Department of Natural Resources, DNR Commissioner Robert Herbst announced today. The department will construct an office building on a 117-acre site donated by the city and county along Highway 15 ...