Civil War Focus of Township Historian Program

 The Otter Tail County Historical Society's annual Township Historian program is Thursday, April 10, at the Ottertail Community Center. A potluck dinner begins at 6 p.m. with a program on Otter Tail County's Civil War veterans to follow. The dinner and program are free and open to the public. Please bring a dish to share.
 
Nearly 1,000 Civil War veterans called Otter Tail County home. Some had been stationed at Fort Abercrombie and Fort Pomme de Terre during the Dakota War of 1862. After the war many accompanied or followed relatives to Otter Tail County including those who had a connection to the Cutlerite settlement in Clitherall township, the St. Lawrence colony in Rush Lake township and Otter Tail City. It was the Homestead Act of 1862 that had the greatest impact on settlement which many Civil War veterans took advantage of. Although Otter Tail County was not officially formed until after the war, its veterans impacted the agricultural, educational, business and political development of the county.
 
As the nation commemorates the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, join us for this fascinating look into how the war influenced the development of Otter Tail County. For more information on this program call the Otter Tail County Historical Society at 218-736-6038.