Library Happenings
Henning School

The State of Minnesota from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the Minnesota Historical Society has awarded the Henning Public School Library a grant in the amount of $9,325. This grant will provide over 449 books to the Henning Public School Library.

This  grant helps provide a quality learning experience for our local Minnesotans by providing exemplary library bound (as much as possible) books that feature depictions of various aspects of the State of Minnesota.  Students will develop knowledge, skills, and understanding about many areas of Minnesota by reading about Minnesota, its geography, heritage, culture, people, landforms, arts, sports, and more. 

Books will be purchased for all ages of people who frequent the library. This grant will help represent diverse ethnicities and people as we are purchasing books that feature a wide variety of people who have contributed to Minnesota. In addition, because Minnesota history is a vital component of our middle school curriculum, we want a strong selection of books that depict Minnesota history, industries, contemporary Minnesotans, immigration, the contributions of indigenous people, Minnesota authors/illustrators, and state bird/fish/foods, etc. 

Our Library Happenings column will be featuring these books throughout the year. Our first book is Minnesota Place Names, a Geographical Encyclopedia written by Warren Upham. 

This book’s bio reads: “The names of places, the names that people give to the land, the rivers, the towns, and the cities, contain miniature history lessons, stories wrapped up in a few words. Naming a place is a way of connecting to it and making it more familiar. An important aspect of identity, place names honor the past, telling who came before us, and they speak to the future, telling of our hopes and ambitions. And sometimes, they’re simply products of our whimsy.”  

On page 424 is listed the following:  “Henning Township,  organized July 17, 1878, was at first called East Battle Lake, which was changed August 1, 1884, to the present name.  The City of Henning, incorporated September 24, 1887, had several years earlier received this name in honor of John O. Henning, of Hudson, Wisc., who during many years was a druggist there and died April 15, 1897.  The post office was established in 1881; it had a station of the Northern Pacific and Soo Line railroads.”  

If you would like to know about place names in the state of Minnesota, please come take a look at this brand new book.

“This project has been financed in part with funds provided by the State of Minnesota from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the Minnesota Historical Society.”