Murder mystery parties shed light on MN history

Quick Read

It's a lot of dairy and cattle farms with fields of alfalfa, corn and soybeans today but less than a century ago, Steele County used to be home to a lot of mink farms. The local historical society is hosting "Clue"-like murder mystery nights to help residents experience what those long-ago days were like.

About 20 people gathered in the Victorian-era parlor room of the historic 19th century Dunnell House in Owatonna — about an hour south of the Twin Cities — on a recent Saturday night. They came here to solve a murder.

Amy Lowery, the Steele County Historical Society’s archives and collections manager, sets the scene for her guests:

“We're transporting you back to the 1940s. Oct.17 is the rehearsal dinner for the wedding of Eunice and Wayne C. Lydell. They are getting married shortly after the untimely demise of Eunice's husband, Everett Boucher, also known as Fred.”

Fred wasn&rs...