This is a black and white photograph mounted on a gray and brown cardboard frame. There is a label paper clipped to the front which reads: "Baseball Team 1911 Top Row: Helge Bly, Mr. Sutton, Ed. Kelly, Corellan Lende, John Kolhei 2nd Row: Clarence Dahl, Alex Kolhei, and Henry Arneson Seated: Roy Gibb and Wilbur Lines. Welcome Home 75th Anniversary". The item was donated by the Endre Barstad-Anderson Family Association, which disbanded in 2013.

America’s national pastime, baseball, originated before the Civil War, but grew in popularity during the war. In 1871, the first professional baseball league was formed, and by the beginning of the 20th century, most large cities in the eastern United States had a professional baseball team. As settlement increased in the west after the Homestead Act of 1862 and after the Civil War was over, people brought their love of baseball to their new communities.

Very early in Cottonwood’s history, a baseball team was formed. Some of the team members on that first team were George Munroe, John Munroe, Will Garry, Joe Garry, J.C. Lines, and Alf Noble. The first official Cottonwood baseball team was organized in 1899 and included: Harry Russell, Lauritz Kolhei, Alex Lowe, Alf Noble, Archer Adams, B.C. Schram, Julius Anderburg, Hjalmer Hogren, and Oscar Brenna.

According to the Cottonwood Jubilee book, published in 1938, an all-time record for gate receipts was set in 1919, when at the end of the season, a sum of $2,000 was in the team’s treasury. The $2,000 was divided among the players, and a balance of $200 remained to start the next season. The record in gate receipts shows the enthusiasm for baseball during this time. For example, all the places of business were closed for every home game, and most everyone in town attended the games.

The photograph featured this week from the Lyon County Museum’s collection is the 1911 Cottonwood baseball team. The players are identified as: Top row: Helge Bly, Mr. Sutton, Ed. Kelly, Corellan Lende, John Kolhei. 2nd row: Clarence Dahl, Alex Kolhei, and Henry Arneson. Seated: Roy Gibb and Wilbur Lines.

The Lyon County Historical Society (LCHS) is a nonprofit, member-supported organization. LCHS operates the Lyon County Museum at 301 West Lyon Street in Marshall. The Lyon County Museum is open year-round to visitors. To contact us, visit our website: www.lyoncomuseum.org, call: 507-537-6580, email: director@lyoncomuseum.org, or on our Facebook page.