Learn about those who are bringing MCHS into the 21st Century.
Executive Director: Lenny Tvedten
Lenny became the Executive Director of the Martin County Historical Society in 2001 following a 30-year career as an elementary teacher in the Fairmont Public Schools. He is a military veteran and was honorably discharged from the United States Coast Guard having served from 1968-1972. His Coast Guard basic training was held in Alameda, California. That was followed by 4 months on CGC KAW, an ice breaker on the Great Lakes. He was then transferred to the payroll office of the Ninth Coast Guard District Offices in the Federal Building in Cleveland, Ohio, where he spent the balance of his enlistment. During his career in education, he primarily taught 5th grade science, reading, and English. Since he spent his entire career in education in Fairmont, he has had the opportunity to interact with many of his former students now as adults, which he thoroughly enjoys. He met his wife, Carol, while attending college and they were married in 1967. They have one daughter and three grandchildren. They have also had 3 West Highland White Terriers. Their last one, Maisie, lived to be just 4 months short of 16.Lenny enjoys watching sports, and of course, especially the Minnesota Vikings. He is also a car enthusiast having had 3 convertibles: a 1974 MGB, a 2005 Nissan 350Z, and currently a 2020 Mercedes SLC 300. Carol retired from Avery Weigh-Tronix in 2018 and spends her time with grandchildren, volunteering, and creating new and delectable menu items for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Lenny considers himself blessed, very fortunate, to have had the opportunity to have had two careers that have both been very interesting and rewarding.
Curator: James Marushin
James is a lifelong Martin County resident who joined the Martin County Historical Society in the Fall of 2008. He graduated from Fairmont High School in 2004 and received his B.A. in History from Southwest Minnesota State in 2008. His love of history developed early in life through excellent social studies teachers, video games, board games, and books. While his original plan was to teach, he has since found a passion for the world of museums and enjoys being able to educate the public on Martin County’s interesting, unique, and rich history. At the MCHS he enjoys conversing with visitors, researching and writing articles, designing displays, giving presentations around the area, and helping to conduct the MCHS’ School Visitation Program.
James met his future wife Megan in 2013 and the two married in February of 2015. Megan works for the Fairmont Area School District as a Special Education Paraprofessional at the Elementary School. They welcomed their daughter Wilhelmina into the world in May of 2018. She is creative, rambunctious, hilarious, and loving who recently graduated pre-school and is looking forward to Kindergarten. They also have a very loud rough collie named Humphrey. James enjoys spending time with his family both indoors and outdoors, playing games, watching sports or enjoying a good movie/show.
Administrative Assistant:
Dona Paris
Dona from the Fairmont area. She graduated from East Chain High School and went into the work force following graduation. Her first job wasat Braun’s Shoes and she worked there until the store closed in 1995. She took afew years off to be home with her two young daughters, Casey and Jill. When her girls were in school, she was employed with the Fairmont School District working in the elementary department as a 2nd grade aide. In her spare time, she worked
on family history and also volunteered at the Genealogy department. In 2017, she landed a part-time job at the Historical Society. Dona is married to Jeff Paris, a plumber that has been with Day Plumbing for over 30 years. Their older daughter, Casey, will be married this September to Jesse Baier from Parkston, SD. Their youngest daughter, Jill, was married last June to Hayden Fast of St. James and will be expecting their first child in May.
Board of Directors
President: Liz Wheeler
Vice President: Harlan Gorath
Treasurer: Bob Millette
Secretary: Rhonda Rudolph
Directors:
Stephanie Busiahn
Jeff Rouse
Jen Saxen
Kathy Smith
Cindy Viesselman
Martin County Historical Society
304 East Blue Earth Avenue
Fairmont, MN 56031
Open Year Round
Monday through Friday
8:30am-12:00pm & 1:00pm-4:30pm
Phone: 507-235-5178
Email: mchsfairmont@gmail.com