A BRIEF HISTORY OF ROSEMOUNT DVD

$10 (27 MIN)

DVDS

GOPHER ORDNANCE WORKS DVD

$10 (29 MIN)

For Sale

The Rosemount Area Historical Society, is pleased to announce the long out of print book CHURCH ON THE SEVEN MILE PRAIRIE subtitled “An Early History of St. Joseph’s Parish and The times and lives of its first Parishioners including A history and records of the Highland Cemetery” is again  available. The book was published by author Gerald Mattson in 1982 and 1983 in limited numbers and quickly sold out.

The book chronicles early settlement of the surrounding area and the founding of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Lakeville on what the early settlers called the “Seven Mile Prairie” extending from western Rosemount through Lakeville. The book mainly covers the period from 1854 - 1880 when the first church building was destroyed by a tornado. A new church was soon erected in Rosemount where the parish remains today.

The history is divided into five sections. They cover a general history of the area including Lakeville, Rosemount, Lebanon (Apple Valley) and Empire; parish histories of St. Joseph’s and to an extent, All Saints Catholic Church; 180 biographical sketches of the families and pastors who were members of the early parish; a history of the Highland Cemetery; and the death records of those buried in the cemetery.

About 2 years ago Mattson received a call from Kathy Peterson who is descended from John and Mary Alton, one of the families included to the book. After learning that copies were no longer available, Peterson said she wanted to work with him to get the book reprinted.

After talking with people who were familiar with the book the unanimous opinion was that the book should be kept as close to the original as possible. Therefore, the format, photo’s and hand drawn maps all appear just as in the original book. A special section was added at the end of the book which contains all the corrections and additions.   These new books are hard cover and Kathy Peterson’s husband, Jay, designed a beautiful full color cover for the book.

The RAHS has given invaluable support to the project. The effort to again make this book available again has taken over two years and involved more effort than anyone realized. Special thanks must go to Kathy Peterson whose dogged perseverance, especially with several computer scanning problems and programs, and her dedication to this project has brought it to completion.

The book, 327 pages, in hardcover retails for $26.95 and is available through the Rosemount Area Historical Society and the Dakota County Historical Society.

Cost: $26.95

Add:   $1.93 sales tax. (Minnesota residents only)

Total: $28.85

Please make out checks or money orders to: Rosemount Area Historical Society 

Mail orders please add $4.00 in Minnesota or $5.00 out of state for shipping & handling. More than 1 copy may be slightly higher.

To order please contact:

Gerald Mattson

15335 Danbury Ave. W.                               

Rosemount, MN 55068                       

Phone: 651-423-4570

e-mail: gmatts@frontiernet.net

Or:

Maureen Geraghty Bouchard                               

3130 145th St. W

Rosemount, MN  55068              

Phone: 651-423-4603

e-mail: rosemounthistory@charter.net