Three interesting videos will be shown at the Taylors Falls Historical Society meeting on Thursday, Sept. 7, at the Memorial Community Center Old Depot in Taylors Falls. The meeting is free and open to the public.

The three videos include a variety of topics from 1941 to 2006. The first is a 16mm film, shot by a professional cameraman, that was found by John Johnson. The date on the film box indicates it was taken in 1941 by Arthur Higgins, who in the late 1930s and early 1940s went around the country taking many short 16mm films of communities, concentrating on the schools and downtowns.

He would develop the films and then return later to the towns, charging a nickel admission to the townspeople to see themselves on the screen. It was probably a way to make money during and just after the depression. Johnson has named it ìDelightful Children and Friendly Folk, Taylors Falls, MN, 1941.î

The film is mostly of children, elementary up to older students, with all age groups and teachers represented. Many children are playing on the merry-go-round, playing football and baseball, some are in shop, typing and math class. Other shots are of students eating lunch and posing smartly for the camera. Downtown shots depict many businesses and their owners. There is the grocer in front of the grocery, the barber at the barbershop, a taxi cab driver, and many others. In addition, there are also some shots of Osceola. Higgins made sure not to spend too much time on any one subject. They move right along with many different scenes shown.

The second video is ìThe Big Moveî of the 1852 Fox House from Bench Street, with good views of downtown, to Angels Hill in 1952. The third is Channel 5ís July coverage of Pioneer School showing shots of children and interviews with the 91 year old teacher Dorothy Berntson and others.

This program will directly follow the 15-minute annual meeting of the Taylors Falls Society.

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