The Beginning of a Dream Come True!
The vote is in!  We're moving to a permanent place. We've committed ourselves to building serious support for our community history museum dream.  Can we sustain it?  Can we build a cadre of volunteers and sponsors, gather our community's stories which are fading with the older generation, sufficiently communicate that there is something--visual & virtual--worth visiting and supporting at our museum?

We think we can.  We need your support.  Join us and help us! 

The boxes are packed.  The shelves are empty and moved.  Now the job of organizing the new space begins.   We could always use help.  We have so many events planned and we're very anxious to get started.  We will host an "Open House" on Saturday, June 15th from 10:00 to 2:00 for everyone to come and see our new space.  Keep coming to this web page to see pictures of the progress...
A short video of the history of The Big Island Park on Lake Minnetonka: http://youtu.be/z4I3x8gE3CI

A short video of the Streetcar Boats on Lake Minnetonka during the tourism heyday of the late 1800s and early 1900s: http://youtu.be/3uUk4jOYvJo

A two-minute blast video of the History of the Westonka Area: http://youtu.be/vKOr03tv8f 

KARE 11 did a great story about our new future.  If you missed it - Press the link!

We lost a member of our community -
Bill Gillespie
Bill Gillespie passed away on April 22, 2013 after a valiant fight with cancer. Bill was born in Minneapolis to Elliott and Ellengene Gillespie. Bill was a veteran of the US Army. Following his honorable discharge, he became a Hennepin County Deputy Sheriff. Along with his partner Bill Barry, Bill was chosen to start the first Hennepin County Crime Lab (CSI). Bill was selected to be a WCCO Good Neighbor on several occasions, but nowhere was he a good neighbor more than in our community. He was a Mason. Bill was a talented woodworker, fixer of bicycles and toys, mentor of children, friend to the schools and many local organizations, including the Westonka Historical Society. He was influential in the lives of many generations of neighborhood kids; he was even known to subsidize a prom dress, school trip or laptop in exchange for chores. One of his greatest gifts to his community was the creation of The Gillespie Center in Mound. When the senior citizens were in need of a venue, Bill's donation made the Center a reality. Bill loved his family and dogs, the Lake, time spent at the cabin, crossword puzzles, "putzing", cars and gadgets. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, sister and best friend, Gloria Gillespie Anderson and brother-in-law Richard Anderson. He is survived by his niece and her husband Carol and Jim O'Connor and great-nephew Adam O'Connor. A Memorial Service will be held Monday, May 20, 2013 at St. Martin's by the Lake Episcopal Church at 3:00 PM, followed by reception to celebrate his life at the Gillespie Center. Wear yellow! It was his favorite color.

Picture
Bill Gillespie and that great welcoming smile!

RIP Gerald "Gerry" Dodds
Our community also lost Gerry Dodds in March of 2013.
To see a video of a little history of the 5-generation Dodd's family involvement in the Hardware business in Mound - go to: 
http://youtu.be/hmlbCUi5Eo4