Historical Fiction from Benton County, MN
In memory of Mary Ostby (1962-2025), former Executive Director of Benton County Historical Society, who initiated this project.
Welcome to a collection of short historical fiction inspired by the Benton County Historical Society and Museum archives. Written by a cohort of seven adult writers facilitated by Tracy Rittmueller (September–November 2025), these stories transform real historical records into vivid, accessible “living history.”
Publisher’s Note
The stories in this series are works of historical fiction. They are inspired by archival records and may reference real people, places, and historical contexts; however, the narratives, dialogue, scenes, and interpretations are products of the authors’ imaginations. These stories are not oral histories and are not intended to represent verified factual accounts. Readers seeking historical documentation should consult Benton County Historical Society records and related primary sources.
Purified Words
by Tanamá Kao
In 1853 Minnesota, a wax-sealed letter and a vanished husband leave Mathilda Warren guarding a dangerous inheritance—words that could protect a legacy or ruin it.
Walter Purdy
by Mari Olson
After a tornado shreds Rice Station in 1868, Walter Purdy rides into the wreckage with bandages and resolve—only to find there is no doctor, and no time to wait.
The Sunday Drive of Miss Mamie Podowiltz
by Kelly Travis
In 1918 Sauk Rapids, Mamie Podowiltz grips the wheel of a Model T and drives toward Minneapolis—while the town’s doubts cling to her like grease.
One Bullet
by Dana Botz
A month before the WWI ends in 1918, Earl Howe stands at the edge of the trench with a pocket watch in his palm, listening to a silence that feels louder than gunfire.
A Comfort Made of Secrets
by Tracy Rittmueller
In 1922 in St. Cloud, a mother and daughter stitch a comfort coverlet from old suits and an army blanket while the cloth becomes witness to the cost of respectability.
Something Old
by Chinyin Cheu
On a 1945 train bound for California, Rosemary Phillipi’s wedding journey turns uncertain when an heirloom is left behind—and a stranger offers a silver comb that feels strangely fated.
Untitled by Jackie Peterson
Coming Soon
The Girl the Hymns Couldn't Hold
by Chenel Sanders
In 1960s Sauk Rapids, a farm boy finds his voice in choir and falls for Janey, a girl too adventurous for his small rural world--until love tests what he’s willing to keep.
This activity was made possible through a grant from the Central Minnesota Arts Board, thanks to funds provided by the McKnight Foundation.
