A portion of Lamberton’s Main Street shows this to be a strong agricultural community.
LAMBERTON. Just another small town on the southwestern Minnesota prairie, so you would think if you’re driving on U.S. Highway 14, The Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Highway.
But this community some dozen miles east of Walnut Grove, destination for fans of “The Little House” books and television series, is worth at least a drive-through if not a stop.
I’ll admit that up until my middle brother moved onto acreage north of Lamberton several years ago, I hadn’t spent much time in this town of 822 except to visit an uncle and aunt who once lived and ran a furniture store here.
I still haven’t explored this agricultural community like I should. But I’ve seen enough to know that I need to look more in depth. Let me show you why, via photos I took, mostly along Main Street, during a brief stop two months ago.
The once-popular corner gas station still stands in downtown Lamberton.
Most small towns once had creameries like this one.
Hanzlik Blacksmith Shop, dating to 1895, was gifted to the city and preserved by the local historical society. With the original wood floor and tools, it’s been called “a warehouse of a long ago lost art” by locals. The community celebrates this piece of history with an annual Hot Iron Days, this year set for September 7 – 8.
It’s the old buildings—from the cute corner gas station to the stout brick creamery to the old wood-frame blacksmith shop—that appeal to me. Some 30 miles to the northwest in my hometown of Vesta, which like Lamberton sits in Redwood County, the old buildings are mostly gone. But not in Lamberton. Here you’ll find plenty of historic buildings to please your artist’s eye and your historian’s heart.
Now all I need is someone with keys so I can take you inside these old buildings.
Vintage signs hold a certain historic charm.
The Music Mart supplies most major brands of band and orchestral instruments. Sales staff reach out to 100-plus schools in southern Minnesota, according to online information. Who would expect to find this type of business in a small town of less than 1,000 residents? Not me.
The Lamberton Antique Peddler is a must-see for anyone who is into antiques. This place is packed with merchandise in the former furniture store once operated by my uncle and aunt, Merlin and Iylene.
The Sewing Shoppe next to the creamery. Love the architecture.
An old Farmall is parked next to a building just off Main Street.
“The locker.”
A low-slung brick building, perhaps a former garage, caught my eye.
© Copyright 2012 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Love little towns like this. Wish those buildings could tell us their stories. 🙂
Yes, I bet they could spin a lot of interesting stories.
Thanks again for the wonderful photos. The Gas Station of course, is my favorite, as I am a classic car nut. Also the Creamery is right up there in interest. All the buildings are great and should be preserved. How I wish some Billionaire would take interest in these small towns and restore them and cherish them as we have over the years. I can not stress enough how I love Southern MN, and hope someday to retire in one of these story book towns. If I had my way, I would buy the Gas Station to restore and live in, but my Wife has other visions of dwelling. lol. She also loves Southern MN and old buildings, so who knows, one day we might be SO. MN residents! Nice change from the ever growing Twin Cities and Surrounding counties. Way too many people in the metro area for me.
Thank you, Allan. You know how much I love southern Minnesota. And I’m with you on the metro. Even Faribault is too big for me. But it is my home and has been for 30 years.
Love small little towns with all the old buildings! I love the creamery and the blacksmith shop. Last year my dad took me to the old creamery that his dad hauled milk too, I just love that kind of stuff!
What fun that must have been to explore the old creamery. I bet your dad had lots of stories to share passed along by his dad.
What gorgeous old buildings. Isn’t it sad to see the decline of these old towns that were once thriving. But, not much work around for blacksmiths these days! xx
Lamberton actually seems to have a lot more going for it than many small towns. When society started becoming more mobile and chain stores began replacing home-grown businesses, Main Street in small towns really changed. My mom has to drive 20 miles to buy even a gallon milk or a loaf of bread because my hometown does not have a grocery store.
This is awesome, Audrey! I loved seeing these old, familiar buildings through your eyes. It gave me a greater appreciation for my hometown.
Lamberton does still have a lot going for it. My mom just recently said how she does the majority of her grocery shopping at Griffiths because she knows how important it is that Lamberton still has a grocery store. We make sure to visit it, too, each time we’re in town. My kids love the Griffiths frozen cinnamon rolls. If you ever make it there, order some broasted chicken and hojo potato wedges and head over the Central Park a block off main, or to Kuhar Park by the Cottonwood River for a picnic! Lunch at the American Legion would be another great choice.
The Music Mart – the owner, Martin Meidl, taught me how to play the alto sax, and since I’m still playing it 35 years laters, he gets visits from me to buy reeds, etc., and he also services the alto sax my dad bought from Martin 30 years ago.
I could go on and on…Our Own Hardware, the antique store, US Bank, the dentist, Dr. Danielson…I love that my children can ask me “Can we go shopping downtown?” when we visit my parents.
We’re headed to Lamberton this weekend to take my almost 90-year-old dad to the WWII air show in Granite Falls. I’ll bend his ear about where you could possibly find keys to these buildings. 🙂
I read that your son will be going to ND for college. If you have the chance (and haven’t done so yet) take a 20 mile excursion off the beaten path (I-94) and visit Pelican Rapids. My husband is from Pelican and this is the small town I’ll be living in some day. (Lamberton would be a choice, but my husband is a fisherman and Redwood County, with its 0 lakes, just isn’t an option!)
Sara, thanks for all the tips on Lamberton and on Pelican Rapids, which could easily be a diversion on the road trip to or from Fargo.
I’ve heard great things about the Legion in Lamberton and am determined to play BINGO there some night.
As for Kuhar Park, my brother lives just north of there. My grandma used to call it the “Gypsy Park,” perhaps because gypsies once camped there. You never know with Grandma and her tales.
If you track down anyone with keys, do let me know and I can e-mail you privately for the names.
Enjoy your weekend in Lamberton and Granite. How wonderful of you to take your dad to the air show.
You’re welcome!
I just realized your brother runs the ethanol plant! I’ve seen his picture in the Lamberton News. Speaking of the Lamberton News – Joe Deitl, the editor and owner, is the guy to give you lots of info on Lamberton and the surrounding communities.
I am lucky to still have my dad around! My 6 year-old son is a WWII fan (fanatic?), especially the airplanes. We’re hoping to bring along a fellow 90 year-old Legionnaire friend of dad’s who was a WWII fighter pilot. When my son first met him, he was as excited as having met a celebrity! If you like MN-filmed movies, watch the newly released Memorial Day, produced by Jeff Traxler of LeCenter and filmed in LeCenter, Mankato and St. Paul. I think you’d enjoy it!
I so enjoy your blog and the trips down memory lane it gives me! 🙂
You are good at connecting dots. Yes, my brother Brian is the CEO/general manager of Highwater Ethanol.
I love that your son appreciates veterans as he does. I have heard of the Memorial Day film. Where can I see it? Anywhere near Faribault?
Also, thanks for pointing me to a good source of info about Lamberton. Always good to know of a go-to person.
We rented Memorial Day last weekend from Redbox. I just checked and it’s available at both the Hy-vee and Wal-mart in Faribault.
Do you happen to know the Ochs family in Faribault? My aunt is Melva (Toots) and cousin is Randy – formerly of the Cheese Caves. Southern Minnesota sure is a small world!
And if you’ve ever heard of Stan the Clown, that’s my dad. 🙂
Our world keeps getting smaller. I do not know either of the Ochs you mentioned. But I love Cheese Cave cheeses. My oldest daughter purchased an Ochs Department store coat at a Faribault thrift store in February. It is soft suede with a fur-lined collar and has the original Ochs label and was hanging on an Ochs hanger. I persuaded her to buy it because it looked so lovely on her and I consider it part of local history. here’s a link to that post: https://mnprairieroots.wordpress.com/2012/02/03/an-historic-fashion-find-in-faribault/
Stan the Clown? No, I have not heard of him. Tell me more.
Thanks for doing the legwork on the Memorial Day film. We will definitely watch it some rainy evening and you can likely expect a post here.