1st Lady of Clearwater County 2026 Announce at Brunch

The Clearwater County Historical Society held the 47th Annual First Lady of Clearwater County presentation at the Bagley American Legion Saturday April 12, hosted by ladies of the Auxiliary.  There were over 60 ladies in attendance.  Each guest was treated to a delightful light brunch which included fruit pizza, charcuterie cup of a variety of meats and cheeses, crackers, coffee and an assortment of fruit juices.  Guests also took home adorable treats the ladies assembled.  It was a beautiful festive spring scene.

Tamara Edevold, Executive Director, Clearwater County History Center, was the speaker for the event.  This was the 20th Anniversary the CC History Center has organized the event. 

In recognition of Women’s History Month activities, the theme for the program  “Women Who Put Their Stamp on History”.  Tamara spoke about famous women in history who have been honored by having their likeness on a US postage stamp.  Martha Washington was the first to be memorialized in 1902 for her role as First Lady and “mother of the nation”. Pocahontas was the third and the first Native American to be pictured on a stamp.  Over the years many women who have made great accomplishments in various fields have been memorized on US stamps.

Tamara shifted the program to shined a light on local women who literally “Put a Stamp on It” here in Clearwater County.  The job of Postmaster most often went to men, however there are several women in our county who served in the position.  

Tamara began with the very first female Postmaster Annie Gunelius who served as the Teckla Post Office February 1897.  Martha Whiting soon followed opening Lake Itasca Post Office May 1897.  Joanna Wegman followed Whiting.  In February 1889 Maggie McCarty was appointed Postmaster of the “newly established town of Bagley”. In Alida Anna Olson served as Postmaster from 1898 until 1949. Moonlight was a post office in Eddy Township. Mrs. Carrie Olberg was the postmaster for Moonlight beginning in 1904. Moonlight operated until November 1910. 

Between 1904 and 1907 there was a post office about 8 miles southeast of Bagley, in Nora township. The postmaster was a tiny lady named Blix, so the post office was called Blix Post office. Mrs. Blix had three sons to raise on her own. Her youngest son Irvin enlisted in the Navy in World War I.  He was a radio operator on the U.S.S.Herman Frasch, which sunk in a collision with the U.S.S. George G. Henry on October 4th, 1918.  The Irvin Blix Legion Post 16 in Bagley is named for him.

Emma Jones became the Gonvick Postmaster in 1935. Emma remained in the position until she retired in 1962.  In 1937 Vera Hegg Eldevick was appointed postmaster at the Shevlin Post office. She would serve as Postmaster for over 30 years, retiring in 1969.  Evelyn Johnson was appointed the Ebro Postmaster in 1943. and remained there until she retired on June 20, 1975

The last woman Tamara featured was 1981 First Lady Dorothy Katzenmeyer. She was appointed the postmaster at the Lake Itasca post office in 1972 and retired in 1992.

Tamara shifted the program to the reason everyone gathered together, naming First Lady of Clearwater County 2026.  Each year the Historical Society receives a number of nominations for first lady. Each year a different selection committee reads through the nominations, deliberates, re-reads and then makes the really tough decision. There is never a woman nominated who doesn't deserve it.