In 2024, the Rushford Area Historical Society embarked on an oral history project to capture history through personal stories. Journalist Wanda Hanson was enlisted to interview residents to get their first-hand experiences. Personal recollections of 31 people were captured. Most were in their 80s and 90s, although several were much younger. Below are links to recordings and transcripts that capture their recollections.

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Ambulance Service in Rushford - 44 Years (1970-2014)

           BRUCE HOVLAND           audio (20:24 min.)          transcript

Aviation in the 1930s, the Rushford Airport, Ace Telephone

           ROB BUNKE          audio (15:33 min.)          transcript

pictured with Independent Telephone Pioneer Association Hall of Fame Award

Artist and Arts - 1930s to Today

           Ethel Yonts           audio (19:47 min.)          transcript

pictured with porcelain paintings and rosemaling

Bottling Works - 1867 until around 1960

           Mike Ebner          audio (7:06 min.)          transcript

bottles, packing crates and bottle caps from Rushford Bottling Works

Ace Telephone and farming experience starting in early 1960s

           CLAIRE OLSTAD          audio (17:09 min.)          transcript

Building Houses and Businesses in Rushford - 1957 into 2000s 

           JOEL JOHNSON           audio (19:27 min.)          transcript

City and Private Practice Attorney from 1970 into 2000s

           DALE EVAVOLD          audio (12:40 min.)          transcript

City Government from an Elected Official / Woman Business Owner 

           NANCY BENSON           audio (12:50 min.)          transcript

City Government from an Employee’s Experience

           KATHY ZACHER          audio (24:26 min.)          transcript

Farming 

           DONNY & BARB HOEGH           audio (25:11 min.)          transcript

Flood of 2007 from three perspectives

CITIZEN - ROGER COLBENSON          audio (20:21 min.)        transcript

     FIREMEN - MIKE EBNER & DAVE LOMBARD          audio (21:47 min.)          transcript

      PUBLIC WORKS - JEFF COPLEY          audio (38:37 min.)          transcript

HART COUNTRY STORE 

      MARY & JANE WOLFRAM       audio (32:22 min.)     transcript      pictures from store

HUNTING & FISHING 

      MARVIN & SCOTT BESTUL          audio (18:35 min.)         transcript

NORMAN’S ELECTRIC SERVICE - from electrifying farms in 1946 to industrial automation today 

      GLEN KOPPERUD          audio (20:15 min.)         transcript

TOM KOPPERUD          audio (10:50 min.)         transcript

JERRY KOPPERUD          audio (5:05 min.)         transcript

NORSLAND LEFSE - from its beginning in 1981 to a successful e-commerce business today 

      JIM HOINESS    audio (20:07 min.)   transcript

     LORI MCDONALD          audio (24:00 min.)          transcript

Left to Right: Becky Stocker, assistant manager; Zach Lind, manager;

Lori & David McDonald, owners; Anne Baker, cafe manager.

TEACHING IN COUNTRY & TOWN SCHOOLS 

      IRENE OVERLAND          audio (12:21 min.)         transcript

TRANSITION FROM COUNTRY TO TOWN, CATHOLIC CHURCH, 9 KIDS 

      DOROTHY O'DONNELL          audio (18:45 min.)         transcript

TRI-COUNTY ELECTRIC - working for the co-op 1958-1995 

      DARRELL ERICKSON          audio (15:43 min.)         transcript

VETERAN OF KOREAN WAR 

      WALTER LEE        audio (19:37 min.)       transcript        pictures of Korean deployment

VETERANS DEPLOYED TO MIDDLE EAST 

      EMILY HIGHUM          audio (7:12 min.)         transcript
LUKE HIGHUM          audio (20:37 min.)          transcript

Emily & Luke; Emily; Emily; Luke (in blue); Luke (3rd from left); Luke (in center)

WOOD CARVING IN NORWEGIAN STYLES 

      RAY KJOS          audio (18:22 min.)         transcript          woodworking pictures