Bagpipes play at Harkin Store

In honor of founder Alexander Harkin

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- William Dobbs of St. Peter admitted he wasn't really sure if Alexander Harkin really liked Scottish bagpipes, but he played them anyway to honor Harkin's memory Sunday afternoon at the Harkin Store along the Minnesota River northwest of town.

Growing up in Mapleton ,which was settled by Scots on the banks of the Maple River in 1956, Dobbs said early settlers didn't have much to do during the winter so they curled on the frozen river and played the bagpipes when they could.

The Scots often played bagpipes in Mapleton and Winnebago decades ago on the birthday of Scottish poet Robert Burns, usually in the opera house of each community, according to Dobbs. The tradition continued for decades. Dobbs got interested in playing the bagpipes after seeing a band and dancers perform a half century ago.

Bagpipe players don't begin by picking up bagpipes and playing them. They usually begin on a practice charter, a wooden instrument similar to a flutophone, Dobbs related.

Despite state budget cuts that affected historical sites run by the Minnesota Historical Society, the Harkin Store -- which is funded by Nicollet County -- will continue to be open as it has been in the past, through the first two weekends of October, to accommodate visitors at New Ulm's Oktoberfest.

Site Manager Opal Dewanz of New Ulm said the store's concertina party on the second Sunday in October -- which is its last event of the year -- is often its biggest draw of the year. Attendance at that event will depend heavily on the weather.

"It could be beautiful with the leaves turning gold and warm weather or it could be windy with sleet or snow falling," Dewanz said.

The Harkin Store, located eight miles northwest of New Ulm, is all that remains of the little town of West Newton which served early settlers in the pioneer days.

Today, the general store still smells of cinnamon, clove and camphor. The staff dresses as they did in 1870. Coffee sold for 35 cents a pound. The grasshopper bounty was five cents per quart.

West Newton was comprised of several businesses including a hotel, blacksmith shop, boarding houses, a dance hall, saloons and the store.

Alexander Harkin came to America in 1850. After living in Massachusetts for six years, he and his wife Janet moved to West Newton.

Determined to stay on a farm despite hardships, he was appointed postmaster for West Newton in 1867. He built a new home and used one room for the general store and post office.

The present store was built next to his house in 1870. It was a source of staples, clothing, impromptu discussions and mail for the thriving town.

By 1873, steamboat traffic on the Minnesota River began to decline due to the railroads. Grasshoppers plagued the area. Janet Harkin died in 1874.

Harkin gave the store to his newly-married daughter Catherine and her husband Rudolph Massopust in 1893. They operated the store until 1901 when rural mail service replaced the store's post office.

Harkin's great granddaughter reopened the store as a private museum in 1937 with much of the original merchandise still on its shelves. The State of Minnesota bought the store and re-opened it as a state historical site in 1973.