The information in this section has been researched, compiled and written by Herb Murphy who served on the Baldwin Town Board for 24 years and retired in 2002. He and his wife, Corrine, who have 5 children and 13 grandchildren, have lived in the township for 30 years. During this time he has collected some interesting facts and stories about Baldwin Township and the surrounding area.
After graduating from Bethel College, Mr. Murphy taught senior English at Foley High School for 6 years while he earned a Master’s degree in Counseling from St. Cloud University. During his 22 years as the Director of Student Services at Anoka Technical College he earned a doctor’s degree in Vocational Education Administration at the U of. M. He also taught classes and did research and writing for the Vocational Department at the University.
While searching for his own family’s roots, he discovered that his great grandparents had lived near Foley in the late 1800’s and are buried in the Maywood Cemetery. From there, his search has led to trips to Germany, Ireland, England and Denmark to visit the lands of his ancestors.
This avocation developed an interest in “stories” that some of the local old timers had to tell and he decided they were worth writing down. He also discovered interesting articles in old newspapers and books that he thought would be worth sharing.
Because Baldwin is a township with no major city, Princeton has been the primary place where many residents went to shop, to eat, to attend church and to find entertainment. Over the years, Baldwin residents have also connected with such places, as the Sherburne Wildlife Refuge, Zimmerman, Blue Hill and Blue Lake. Therefore, our histories are intertwined.
Our plan is to continue to collect historical data, maps, photos, etc. and include them on this website as they become available. The goal is to provide some interesting reading, and to help people learn to appreciate the experiences of the past.
When the town hall burned in 1968, the township lost many records that would have helped to better define its history. We would appreciate receiving news articles, photos, records, documents or stories about Baldwin residents, country schools, churches, etc. that could be included on this site. If you have anything you would like to share, please send it to Baldwin History, 30239 128th St NW, Baldwin Township, MN 55371.
Early Settlers
Maria Hannah Nutting Knapp Letters
Oral Histories
Baldwin Town Hall
Past Baldwin Township Board Members
The Rum River
Battle Brook
Gold Stories
Trapping Fur Animals
The Broad Bill Duck Call
NAN Conifer Company
Blue Lake's Steam Boat
Historic Events
Great Northern Railway
Logging White Pine
Prehistoric Finds in the Baldwin Area
Country Schools
Area Churches
Baldwin Blue Hill Telephone Company 1912 - 1955
A Taste of Livonia's History
Zimmerman - The Town with Two Names
Little Elk Lake Pavilion
Growing Ginseng
Princeton History
Princeton Area Fire Department
A Short Account of Brickton
Sherburne County's Conservation Story
Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge
History of Sherburne County Surveying
The 1917 Winnipeg-St. Paul Dogsled Race
Tornado of July 27, 1967