Fellows Family Museum offers a fascinating peek into Tenstrike-area history

Joan (Fellows) Pomp.jpg — Joan (Fellows) Pomp stands next to the 65-horsepower stationary steam engine, twin engine, and two steam hoist engines, all used in the early to mid-twentieth century operation of the R.W. Fellows sawmill on Gull Lake.

By Jennifer Parker

August 30, 2024 at 10:15 AM

TENSTRIKE 鈥� Next week the Fellows Family Museum will open its doors to the public, promising a walk through the history of Tenstrike and the families who have lived there 鈥� with three buildings of pictures, household items, tools, a replica of the village of Tenstrike from the 1940s and 50s, a World War II display, machinery and more.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7, the Fellows Family Museum will welcome guests to view all of the displays along with a working blacksmith shop and enjoy the wares of multiple vendors with crafts, baked and canned goods, and fresh produce.

Fellow & Jenkins General Store, circa 1915. Peter Maule, Rhupert Stechman, Jimmy Taylor, John Stechman, Frank Jenkins, R.W. Fellows, Percy Maule and John Bryant.

Those who stop in can learn about the families who occupied the streets of Tenstrike, including the Fellows, Wilds, Joneses, McPhails, Liepolds, Lindgrens, Pembles, Herrmanns, Halvorsons, Greggs, Goodriches, Hasses, Haluptzoks, Kruses, Cyrs, Cronks, Dunns, Whitings, Crippens, Bryants, Booths and Cluffs.

A world of antiquities 鈥� both domestic and industrial 鈥� will also be on display from the lumber/sawmill equipment of generations, a Soo-Line railroad car, salvaged gauges and whistles from both industries to the well-maintained furniture and household items dating back to the early 20th century.

R.W. Fellows with Banker Joe Herrmann at the Beltrami County State Bank circa 1912. Goldie (Epler) Fellows worked at the bank from 1906-1912.

There is also a room dedicated to the memory of Norman Gladen, a close friend of the Fellows family, who was at one time a part-owner of Land O Lakes Wood Preserving Company and a decorated World War II veteran.

Joan (Fellows) Pomp, the current matriarch of the Fellows family and caretaker of the Fellows Family Museum, said that the museum is a tribute to her grandmother, Goldie Fellows.

The surrounding buildings may be gone, but the baseball field remains, now dedicated to the memory of Babe Fellows.

鈥淭he museum was her dream,鈥� Pomp added. 鈥淪he always tried to impress upon her family and anyone who would listen, the importance of remembering and documenting our family and community history.鈥�

In the late 1970s, Goldie convinced her youngest son Babe (Joan鈥檚 father) to build a building in which to house the memorabilia so it could be preserved, and she hoped to be able to dress up in some of her old clothes and welcome guests that would come to the museum.

Goldie and Roland Fellows are pictured in 1939.

鈥淲e didn鈥檛 progress nearly fast enough,鈥� Pomp recalled, as Goldie passed away in 1984, just shy of her 98th birthday.

Many of the items on display in the buildings originated from the home of Goldie and Roland and hold special memories for those who have carefully maintained them.

While the Fellows family and the village of Tenstrike are the heart and soul of the Fellows Family Museum, the greater area is well-represented with photos and displays from Blackduck, Hines, Bemidji, Turtle River and more.

Charlie and Esther Hill at their store on the north end of Gull Lake.

The Fellows encourage community members not to miss out on this once-a-year opportunity to spend a few hours exploring the fascinating gem of historical preservation.

The museum is located just east of the Babe Fellows Baseball Field in Blackduck.

Ray O鈥橞rien and Oscar Hill at the Tenstrike Liquor Store with a photo of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt hung above the bar.

By Jennifer Parker

Jennifer Parker is a contract reporter for the Blackduck American, a branch of the Bemidji Pioneer, covering a range of topics in the Blackduck, Northome and Kelliher regions.

She is a longtime Blackduck-area resident and teacher with the Blackduck 歪歪漫画 District.

To submit a story idea, email bldknews@blackduckamerican.com.

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Fellows Family Museum offers a fascinating peek into Tenstrike-area history

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7, the Fellows Family Museum will welcome guests to view all of the displays along with a working blacksmith shop and enjoy the wares of multiple vendors.