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Shoreview: A history
A book/DVD on Shoreview’s history hits the shelves in October
by Stephen Harding
Staff Writer
SHOREVIEW — It's been a vast wilderness area, a part of the James Hill estate and a quiet haven for Chicago-area gangsters.
Now, in honor of Shoreview's 50th anniversary, the city has compiled and produced a 188-page book — and an hour-long DVD — on the area's local history. Proceeds from both will benefit the Shoreview Historical Society.
"Shoreview Reflections" begins in 1957, when the city's population was about 5,000, and ends in the present day, a time when the area is nearly fully developed.
The book uses a chronological history and accounts from area residents along with 80 photographs to tell its story. In all, 55 people were interviewed.
One resident who retold his story passed away two weeks later. Mary Hilfiker of the Shoreview Historical Society said that situation is becoming common among many of Shoreview's longtime residents. She initiated the book, she said, after noticing that her ancestors in Switzerland have routinely published detailed books about their villages' histories every 50 years.
The book's author, John Koblas, is a Minneapolis native who now lives in Northfield. He has written about 50 books, most of which are historical and many which involve Old West stories about the Sioux uprisings or the James-Younger gang.
Koblas, who plans to make six pre-Christmas promotional appearances in the area, will be at the Shoreview Harvest Festival and the eighth annual Festival of Fine Crafts and Arts. Both will be taking place Oct. 13. At both events, he will be signing copies of the hardcover book, more than 200 of which have been printed at a price of $40.
Local volunteers were recruited to proofread the book, including Don Follett, Doris Claeys, Mary Hilfiker, Terri Hoffard, Tom Simonson and Virginia Lundren. Shoreview photographer Lance Hill created the artistic rendition on the front cover.
Soft-cover versions of "Reflections" are also in the process of being printed and will be available for sale at the Shoreview Community Center and at Koblas' six book signings. Ten special leather-bound books were created to be used as donations.
The Shoreview Historical Society is publishing the book itself. It owns all the rights, and Hilfiker said there could be a second printing.
Local business owner, Shoreview resident and producer Jim Radford wore many hats while filming the hour-long DVD "Shoreview Reflections: The Video," which will be sold for $15. He worked the cameras, interviewed some of the 25 subjects, edited, directed and narrated. Some of the subjects shared their own stories while others shared stories that were passed down to them.
The DVD is shot in a documentary style using a combination of live interviews, archived photos and music to tell the story. Radford was able to recruit the Shoreview Northern Lights Band, a Shoreview-based orchestra, to play the background music.
Several great stories came from the interviews, Radford said — and several were stories he had never heard.
One story recounted from the early 1970s had a former mayor climbing to the top of recently rebuilt television towers to show the people of Shoreview that they were safe.
"When he climbed to the top, he looked out and said that he could see till tomorrow," Radford said.
He said profits from the two historical projects will be used to update the society's Web site, upload more historic photos, increase the database and add the capacity for geneological searches.
"The time to preserve Shoreview's past is now," he said "Every month someone with a story to tell about Shoreview is passing away."
Now, in honor of Shoreview's 50th anniversary, the city has compiled and produced a 188-page book — and an hour-long DVD — on the area's local history. Proceeds from both will benefit the Shoreview Historical Society.
"Shoreview Reflections" begins in 1957, when the city's population was about 5,000, and ends in the present day, a time when the area is nearly fully developed.
The book uses a chronological history and accounts from area residents along with 80 photographs to tell its story. In all, 55 people were interviewed.
One resident who retold his story passed away two weeks later. Mary Hilfiker of the Shoreview Historical Society said that situation is becoming common among many of Shoreview's longtime residents. She initiated the book, she said, after noticing that her ancestors in Switzerland have routinely published detailed books about their villages' histories every 50 years.
The book's author, John Koblas, is a Minneapolis native who now lives in Northfield. He has written about 50 books, most of which are historical and many which involve Old West stories about the Sioux uprisings or the James-Younger gang.
Koblas, who plans to make six pre-Christmas promotional appearances in the area, will be at the Shoreview Harvest Festival and the eighth annual Festival of Fine Crafts and Arts. Both will be taking place Oct. 13. At both events, he will be signing copies of the hardcover book, more than 200 of which have been printed at a price of $40.
Local volunteers were recruited to proofread the book, including Don Follett, Doris Claeys, Mary Hilfiker, Terri Hoffard, Tom Simonson and Virginia Lundren. Shoreview photographer Lance Hill created the artistic rendition on the front cover.
Soft-cover versions of "Reflections" are also in the process of being printed and will be available for sale at the Shoreview Community Center and at Koblas' six book signings. Ten special leather-bound books were created to be used as donations.
The Shoreview Historical Society is publishing the book itself. It owns all the rights, and Hilfiker said there could be a second printing.
Local business owner, Shoreview resident and producer Jim Radford wore many hats while filming the hour-long DVD "Shoreview Reflections: The Video," which will be sold for $15. He worked the cameras, interviewed some of the 25 subjects, edited, directed and narrated. Some of the subjects shared their own stories while others shared stories that were passed down to them.
The DVD is shot in a documentary style using a combination of live interviews, archived photos and music to tell the story. Radford was able to recruit the Shoreview Northern Lights Band, a Shoreview-based orchestra, to play the background music.
Several great stories came from the interviews, Radford said — and several were stories he had never heard.
One story recounted from the early 1970s had a former mayor climbing to the top of recently rebuilt television towers to show the people of Shoreview that they were safe.
"When he climbed to the top, he looked out and said that he could see till tomorrow," Radford said.
He said profits from the two historical projects will be used to update the society's Web site, upload more historic photos, increase the database and add the capacity for geneological searches.
"The time to preserve Shoreview's past is now," he said "Every month someone with a story to tell about Shoreview is passing away."
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