To the Editor:
Regarding your article in the Septem-ber issue of the Victoria Gazette, "Solicit-ing St. Boni Mackenthun's," the last paragraph inadvertently refers to a quote I supposedly made.  Please be advised that I was not present at the EDA meeting when Mr. Crowe and Ms. Mackenthun were presenting their request for TIF assistance.  Perhaps this was information that Mr. Urbia had passed on from a prior meeting with the city's TIF consultant.
Best regards,
Jylan Johnson
Finance Director
City of Victoria, Minnesota

EDITOR'S NOTE:  It was, in fact, infor-mation passed to city councilmembers from Administrator Dave Urbia.  I guess it sounded like information from you and I therefore lapsed.  Thank you for your astute reading of the Victoria Gazette.

To the Editor:
I need to find out how to get Voices Are Calling by Jesse Coghill for my sister as a birthday gift, by this Saturday morn-ing if possible.  I was just in Victoria for an anniversary party.  My nephew owns Schmitty's Bar in Victoria.  Can you please call my cell phone to discuss how I could purchase the book quickly?  If not, I might just have to order it from your com-pany and give it to her later.  Thanks.
Laurie Hage
Mankato, Minnesota

To the Editor:
When I was doing some research regarding a write-up about the history of the Moravian Church of Lake Auburn, as requested by The Rev. Jane Harberg, I re-read a rather touching story that was part of an article written by Florian Henry Fink, which was subsequently edited by his son, Thomas Arthur Fink, and my son, Rickard Ronald Holtmeier.
I am quoting Florian H. Fink as he wrote it:  "My stepmother, Christina Holtmeier Fink, told about how the ceme-tery at the Laketown Church [now the Moravian Church of Lake Auburn, aka Lake Auburn Moravian Church], where so many of our family and friends are now buried, had its beginning.
"A year or two after the church had been organized, a wagon loaded with household goods stopped at the Holtmeier home.  The occupants of the wagon, prob-ably a typical covered wagon, were a young man and woman.
"They explained to the Holtmeiers that they had a seriously sick child, and had been referred to them as people who possibly could help them.  They took the family in, fed them, and did what they could for the child, but it was too late and the child died.
"Of course, they needed a grave.  John Hotmeier took the young man to a ridge end across the road from the Holt-meier and Gerdsen house [the road is now called Victoria Drive].  They selected a site among the maple and oak trees that grew upon the gentle slope.  They placed the child to rest there in an unmarked grave.
"Later, a marker that surpassed any-thing mere humans could have provided, was placed there.  The next spring a maple seed sprouted right next to the little grave and subsequently grew into a beautiful tree with spreading branches that each fall bore thousands of brilliant crim-son leaves.
"The tree remained the focal point of beauty for about 100 years.  'Unknown" marks the child's grave on the cemetery plat, but we know that it is not far from where the gigantic maple tree stood all those years.  God watches over little children, with compassion, even in death.
"This event was the factor which decided where the church would be built.  John Holtmeier and Henry Gerdsen gave 17 acres, including the site of the little grave, for church purposes.  Not only did this land provide a place for a church building and cemetery, but later provided pasture and hay for the pastor."
Ron Holtmeier
Victoria, Minnesota

To the Editor:
I have been following your detailed Victoria Field House stories in the Gazette for a couple of months now.  A friend in Victoria (Heather Charette) turned me onto the story, knowing my passion for community challenges.  Please take a couple of moments to review the attach-ments and possibly direct me in the right direction of a contact who could help expose my beliefs.
Thank you very much.  I have enjoyed your articles.  (The attachments are very broad strokes of direction.)
Dirk Volsted
Precision Appraisals of Minnesota
Bloomington, Minnesota

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