WHITE BEAR LAKE AREA 
About Us
Our Mission
The White Bear Lake Area Historical Society connects our community to its past, fostering an understanding and appreciation for our history.
We fulfill our mission by:
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Gathering and maintaining historical information and artifacts.We are safe keepers of our heritage
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Educating the community about our history.We are the community storytellers
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Encouraging personal and community responsibility for preserving our physical links to the past.We are advocates for historical preservation
The 2011 Board of Directors includes:
President
- Jo Emerson
Vice President/Treasurer - Tracey Montgomery
Tracey
joined the board as our Treasurer in 2009
after an extremely successful run as chair of
the
2008 Historic House Tour. Tracey’s excitement
about the more recent history (the past fifty years
or so!)
of the White Bear area brings a spotlight to that segment
of our program and collecting efforts. In addition
to her
role as treasurer, Tracey is our newest Vice President. Secretary - Jenni Corbett
Jenni joined the board in 2007 and ascended to the position
of Secretary in 2008. She is a relative newcomer to Mahtomedi
with her husband Ben and brings great enthusiasm and talent
to her many roles on the WBLAHS board. In addition to her
duties as Secretary, Jenni jumps in to help with events
and projects throughout the year. Her fabulous talents
as an artist have enhanced many of our recent projects. Birchwood Liaison - Scott Freeberg
Scott’s role as Village Historian for the City of Birchwood Village makes him a natural fit for the WBLAHS Board. His endeavors to date have included articles for The Lake Area Preserver, our quarterly newsletter and representing the board at our various events and projects.
Education Liaison - Christy Gutt
Christy brings her experience as
a teacher to the WBLAHS board in the role of
Education Liaison. In
this position she has been instrumental in guiding
the roll out of our new elementary school curriculum
and
working with other key WBLAHS volunteers and staff
to continue to enhance our ever-growing outreach
offerings.
Christy has significant experience with the Historical
Society’s special events and will bring that
knowledge to her role on the Spring Event committee
as well. Community Liaison - Keith Hisdahl
At-Large - Chris Johnson
Chris has returned to the board after a hiatus and brings a sense of organizational history to our group. Her experience with non-profit development and volunteer programs is a valuable asset to an organization like the WBLAHS.
At-Large - Shana Karle
Shana joins the board
as a new member in 2009 representing the community
of Mahtomedi. Her experience as a corporate
event planner will come in handy with all of the programs
and events coordinated by the WBLAHS.
At-Large - Jan Holtz Kraemer
Jan returns to
the WBLAHS Board after serving several previous terms
including a presidency. During
her “down time” Jan has coordinated the annual
Pops on the Porch concert at the Fillebrown House and
along with her husband, Doug Kraemer has continued a
long-time family tradition of providing, installing and
removing the fabulous Christmas tree at the Fillebrown
House each year. It is with great pleasure that we welcome
Jan back “officially”. Out-House - Lin Lindbeck
Lin is a lifelong area
resident who brings his great passion for this community
to the WBLAHS board.
Having grown up in White Bear Lake and currently
being a resident of Dellwood, Lin has double the insight
into the constituents we serve around the lake. His
enthusiasm
and willingness to roll up his sleeves and get down
to work are a huge asset for the Historical Society
and
the community as a whole. Asst. Out-House - Billl Matschke
Bill Matschke is a new member of the WBLAHS board in 2009, but has been a long-time area volunteer. Bill has jumped in quickly and provided assistance on many projects at both the Depot Museum and the Fillebrown House.
At-Large - Tom Rice
Tom’s interest and
expertise in matters of a historical nature stem from
the research aspect
of our mission. He is a certified genealogist who volunteers
regularly at the Minnesota Historical Society Genealogical
Help Desk. These skills and experience are an important
addition to the WBLAHS board as we move forward in
creating our online database of resources.
Membership & Promotion - Meg Todd
Meg joined the WBLAHS board after getting
to know the organization through
her position as a depot volunteer. In addition to
scanning and entering
countless photos to enhance our
photo database, Meg has been a diligent volunteer
at our Marketfest booth
and contributes greatly in promoting
our organization and developing new members. During
2008 those talents
were put to good use as we celebrated
White Bear Township’s 150th anniversary and introduced
ourselves to many new people. Executive Director - Sara Markoe Hanson
Sara Markoe Hanson was raised in White
Bear Lake and left for a short
period to attend college at St. Cloud State University
where she received a
BA in American Studies and
a MA in Public History. After college she married
and moved out of state for
a few years, but has returned
to the area and is excited about her position with
the WBLAHS. Her love of history
and the opportunity to return
home could not have blended more smoothly with the
needs of the Society. 