Chisago County Historical Society
The Chisago County Historical Society (CCHS) is located in Lindström, Minnesota (651-257-5310) on the corner of Third Avenue North and Olinda Trail, just northeast of downtown Lindström. Regular hours are Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and by appointment. The library has a vast collection of local history books, pioneer family histories, cemetery information, early frontier history, and newspapers on microfilm. All materials are for reference use in the library only and can not be checked out.
Although none of the information is online, there is a wealth of family history information in the library, especially true of the pioneer Swedish immigrants and their families. Most of the cemeteries in Chisago County have been indexed. Earl Leaf, Chisago County historian has compiled books and books of information about the early Swedish settlers and some of the other early residents as well. County obituaries for the past several years are also indexed with the original newspaper clippings on file. The library also has on microfilm most of the county’s newspapers. Other holdings include general history books, Minnesota histories, local histories for both towns and churches and family histories donated by locals.
If you’re researching Chisago County, Minnesota residents be sure to call and come and visit this truly incredible library.
The CCHS also owns/oversees many local historical sites such as Gustaf’s, a bed and breakfast on Main Street in Lindström, the Moody Barn, a historic round barn. Two additional buildings are located on the County Fairgrounds in Rush City–a pioneer home originally built in 1869 in Nessel township by Irish immigrants and the main lodge from the first YMCA camp in Minnesota originally built in 1902 by Green Lake near Chisago City. Another building, the 1880’s Clover Blossom School, later used as the Shafer Township Hall, is now located on the Almelund Threshing Grounds between North Branch and Taylors Falls.
If you have Chisago County roots, please consider becoming a member of the CCHS and if you live in the area ask how you can volunteer to help this organization with its many preservation projects.