The Base Ball Champions of Minnesota are back!  That is right, everyone’s favorite vintage base ball team, the Northfield Silver Stars have announced their 2012 schedule.

• Saturday, June 23 — versus St. Croix Base Ball Club in Stillwater. This will be a combination of base ball and beer tasting. We each have our own label now.

• Wednesday, July 4 — versus St. Croix in Northfield. I p.m. St. Olaf College, Old Main Field

• Saturday, July 28 — Rochester Exhibition, Olmsted County History Center, three 50-minute matches, all day.

• Saturday, Aug. 18 — versus Rochester Roosters at the Rice County Fairgrounds in Faribault, 1 p.m.

• Saturday, Sept. 8 — versus St. Croix at Old Memorial Field, 1 p.m. Defeat of Jesse James Days.

The rules of 1860 have some very interesting differences to today’s game. The players do not wear gloves; if the ball is caught on the first bounce the batter is out; there are no balls or strikes called by the umpire – although a batter can still strike out if he swings and misses three times; foul balls are not considered strikes; and the base runners can be tagged out if they over run first base.

The last few weeks, I have received many calls and emails asking for the Jim Machacek presentation on the history of trains he gave a few months ago.

Here it is,  and enjoy!

On May 22 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.  we will host an open house to honor our two Volunteers of the Year, Devyn Gardner and Debby Larsen!

Student Volunteer of the Year

This year’s youth volunteer of the year, Devyn Gardner, has been contributing to the Northfield Historical Society’s mission since she was in seventh grade. She entered as a member of the Junior Curator program, went on to serve as a tour guide, helped edit “Caught In A Storm” and most recently collected and organized photos for the “History of Northfield,” a textbook written for elementary students.

Earl Weinmann, director of the NHS Education Program, calls her his “go-to girl.”

Competent and conscientious, he can count on her to follow through and get things done.

Now looking back as she finishes a stellar high school career, Devyn said it was a Civil War road trip with her Dad that laid the foundation for her interest in history. She was in sixth grade when, over a spring break, they visited a number of key Civil War battlegrounds and presidential libraries. Then, a class with Mr. Weinmann opened the door to NHS, and Devyn found a place to cultivate her new passion.

Her six years with NHS has given her an appreciation for local history, the commonplace as well as the dramatic.

“I’ve just really gotten an appreciation for even small pieces of history,” she said.

Devyn is the daughter of Ron and Becky Gardner. She plans on attending college next year — campus still to be determined — and explore a degree in economics and international relations.

Adult Volunteer of the Year

For Debby Larsen, this year’s Adult Volunteer of the Year, volunteering at Northfield Historical Society has been a journey of discovery.