July 8, 2025 – The Cook County Historical Society (CCHS) is excited to announce several upcoming events in honor of its Centennial anniversary this year.
A speaker series will kick off on July 15 with local author Staci Drouillard at the Chippewa City Church from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. (this event will take place outdoors, so please bring a chair or blanket to sit on). Drouillard’s presentation, titled, They Had a Big Feast: Chippewa City and Ojibwe Food Knowledge at the Turn of the 20th Century, will include stories from her book Walking the Old Road and other related texts regarding community foodways and the influence of Ojibwe culture on the foods we still eat and enjoy today.
In addition to the presentation, we will be hosting a pie social! Attendees will have the opportunity to sample various pies and are encouraged, but not required, to bring a pie to share.
On July 31, CCHS is bringing back a local favorite, Stories that Matter: Women of Cook County, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery. CCHS will honor three women: Eleanor Woods, Eleanor Waha, and Hazel Belvo. Eleanor Woods, who lived in the lighthouse keeper’s house (now the current History Museum) and was involved in the local community and the public library. Eleanor Waha, a native of Cook County, Minnesota, contributed her time and effort to various organizations, including the cancer screening clinic, the North Shore Nursing Home, the Maple Hill Fire Department, 4H, and the Cook County Historical Society. Hazel Belvo is an artist and educator known for her role in the feminist art movement, including co-founding the Women’s Art Registry of Minnesota, which aimed to highlight women artists during the 1970s.
CCHS is excited to share that Hazel Belvo will speak during the event.
The third presentation features Steve Hoffbeck, a Minnesota author who recently released the book, Colvill Smiled: The Legend of the 1st Minnesota Volunteer Regiment at Gettysburg. Hoffbeck’s presentation, titled Never-Forgotten: Col. William Colvill, Minnesota’s Magnificent Civil War Hero, will explore why Minnesotans love and admire the 6’ 5 Civil War hero Colonel William Colvill, and why he had a homestead located east of Grand Marais. A Q&A and book signing will follow the presentation. The event will be held at the Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery on August 19, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Save the date: On September 23, CCHS will be hosting a Centennial Anniversary Celebration and Fundraiser! Information will be released soon, so stay tuned for updates at cookcountyhistory.org.
