In August 1887, a newspaper correspondent known as Henry from The Advance Sun out of Red Wing, Minnesota, paid a visit to Litchfield and reported to his readers the joys of the western city.

“Litchfield is the most beautiful city west of Minneapolis. It contains six elevators, six churches and six hotels...we met a good many old acquaintances and made a good many new ones.”

One of the first people Henry met was Litchfield’s Music Man, O.A. Olson, a former resident of the Red Wing area. Olson acted as Henry’s host and tour guide for much of his visit.

After visiting Olson’s musical instrument and sewing machine store, the tour continued north on Sibley Avenue. At the Nelson, Johnson & Larson general store, Henry saw Ed Norelius. He used to live in Red Wing, and Henry found him to be “jolly as ever.” Two other people Henry knew from their time in Red Wing included Mr. Nelson, now a barber on Sibley Avenue, and Charles Strobeck. Henry was impressed with the recently built Meeker County Courthouse where Strobeck worked as Judge of Probate.

When the tour came to Litchfield’s Central Park, Henry was impressed and declared that “Minneapolis cannot boast of a nicer park.” There was also the G.A.R. Hall with its “fine large oil painting of Abraham Lincoln” above the door.

Next, Olson took Henry for a country drive. “We passed the beautiful Lake Ripley on the east side and enjoyed the music of small waves dashing against the sandy beach.” The farmers were busy plowing the fields, and the wheat harvest was expected to bring in fourteen to sixteen bushels per acre.

Henry spent the night with the Olson family in their home on Marshall Avenue. In the morning, Henry inspected Olson’s wagon shed that was constructed out of shipping crates used to transport the Estey organs Olson sold in his shop.

Henry then paid a visit to the “very cordial” Tibbitts Soule, the Meeker County School Superintendent. To wrap up his western excursion, the newspaperman visited Litchfield’s three papers, The Ledger, The Independent, and The Saturday Review. While at the Review office, Henry noticed that the Litchfield paper had included something from Red Wing’s Advance Sun that included a translation error, making it appear that a German man was selling his freund (friend) instead of selling his pferd (horse).

It wasn’t until after the eleven o’clock train left the Litchfield Depot that Henry recorded his one complaint about his visit. The summer weather had made a turn, and he concluded his article with a humorous warning, “Don’t go west young man. It’s too cold.”