Freeborn County (pop. 31,255) is east of Faribault County. It was named for William Freeborn, a member of the first Minnesota Territorial Legislature.
The county seat is Albert Lea (pop. 18,016), named for Albert Miller Lea, who surveyed southern Minnesota and northern Iowa in 1835.
Fountain Lake, one of six lakes in Albert Lea
The Marion Ross Performing Arts Center is named for actress Marion Ross, who lived in Albert Lea as a young girl.
Marion Cunningham on “Happy Days”
Early rock ‘n’ roller Eddie Cochran (1938-60) was born in Albert Lea.
He died in a traffic accident at age 21.
Myre-Big Island State Park is just east of Albert Lea.
A causeway attaches Big Island to the mainland.
The paved Blazing Star State Trail connects central Albert Lea with the state park.
Six miles long
The town of Hayward (pop. 250) claims the record for the longest game of horseshoes, set in 1930 between the postmaster and the train station agent.
It lasted five months and four days.
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This is an especially colorful and interesting (in photos and subject matter) entry, dear jpdodds II. I’ve enjoyed them all but Albert Lea has been in my life for 80+ years and it’s great to know more about what we whooshed past.
The station agent and postmaster must have had a lot of time on their hands. I wonder if they worked in adjoining buildings. Beautiful state park. I wouldn’t cross that dog though.