Waconia in Carver County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Oh Shocks!

Photographed by Connor Olson, December 25, 2020

1. Oh Shocks! Marker

Inscription. There was a time, not long ago, that harvesting meant long hours of hard manual labor. The process of harvesting grain meant first cutting the grain with a cradle scythe. The stalks were then gathered by hand and tied into bundles. Groups of 15-20 bundles were collected and stood on end, all leaning into each other. A final bundle is placed over the top to protect it from the weather. The earliest known method for removing the grain from the stalk is called flailing. Two large sticks are tied together (think nunchucks) and used to beat the grain from the stalk. By the early 1900s, threshing machines were in use. The grain bundles were fed through one end of the machine, the straw and chaff came out the other. The grain kernels were deposited in a bag. Farmers had thrashing bees that would last for long, hard and dusty days.

Did you know?
Today's multi functional machinery cut and thrash the grain, all while the farmer sits in the air conditioned combine cab. New combines can easily cost $350,000 to $500,000. The high cost of the machine has many farmers hiring someone to combine for them.

Did you know?

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

This log building was never a cabin. Franz and Maria Borchardt built the granary, on their farm, in Camden Township, about 1887. It was moved to the fairgrounds in 2007.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1887.

Location. 44° 50.745′ N, 93° 47.839′ W. Marker is in Waconia, Minnesota, in Carver County. It is on Burandt Boulevard, on the left when traveling south. Located on the Carver County Fairgrounds near Partridge Cir. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Waconia MN 55387, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Minnesota River Valley

and in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured

Borchardt Cabin Interior image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Connor Olson, December 25, 2020

2. Borchardt Cabin Interior

as the crow flies: Civil War Monument (approx. 0.7 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.7 miles away); World War I Monument (approx. ¾ mile away); "Golden Buckle of the Dairy Belt" (approx. 4.7 miles away); Commemorating Wendelin Grimm (approx. 4.8 miles away); Grimm Farm Historic Site (approx. 4.8 miles away); Clearing the Land, Making a Home (approx. 4.8 miles away); St. Bonifacius: A Cold War Battlefront (approx. 4.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Waconia.

Borchardt Cabin image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Connor Olson, December 25, 2020

3. Borchardt Cabin

Credits. This page was last revised on December 27, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 26, 2020, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 362 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 26, 2020, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.