Dinner Cruise to Celebrate Mondale's Love of Scandia and the St. Croix

220 South Street,Taylors Falls MN 55084

08 June, 2023

Description

When they were first dating, Walter "Fritz" Mondale took his future wife Joan canoeing down the St. Croix River, meandering along the shores of Scandia. "We were in that canoe an hour and a half, and it worked," said Mondale later. "We were married ... a month later." Such began Mondale's 60+ year commitment to protecting the St. Croix, where he and Joan later shared a cabin overlooking the river on the bluffs of northern Scandia. Join us for a dinner cruise -- including some of Mondale's favorite recipes -- to celebrate Walter and Joan's love of Scandia and the St. Croix River. Mondale friend and colleague Peter Gove will present -- sharing stories, history, photos, and art of the St. Croix River. Event proceeds support programs of Scandia Heritage Alliance, whose mission is to preserve and celebrate Scandia's rich history, culture, arts, and rural character. ____________________________________ Thank you to our event sponsor XCEL ENERGY!! Mondale photo courtesy Craig Blacklock from the book "St. Croix and Namekagon Rivers: The Enduring Gift"_______________________________________ BACKGROUND: In 1968, Minnesota Sen. Walter "Fritz" Mondale -- who later became U.S. Vice President under Jimmy Carter -- sponsored the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 with Sen. Gaylord Nelson, protecting much of the St. Croix and all of the Namekagon River. The Lower St. Croix River Act of 1972 extended federal protection to the areas north of Stillwater - including Scandia - and added cooperative federal-state management to the confluence of the St. Croix with the Mississippi River at Prescott, Wisconsin. Fritz and Joan owned a cabin overlooking the St. Croix River in Scandia just north of Cedar Bend for over 30 years. Every summer, they would explore the river on their pontoon. Their Scandia cabin displayed many of the pots and artwork created by Joan, a lifelong arts advocate who was lovingly nicknamed "Joan of Art." Mondale spoke of his love of the river and the importance of protecting it for generations to come in an essay he wrote in Craig Blacklock's photography book, "ST. CROIX & NAMEKAGON RIVERS — The Enduring Gift," which was published in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the protection of the St. Croix River. Blacklock's book and images will be on display for the boat tour. FEAST LIKE MONDALE: According to Joan, Walter's second-favorite hobby, after fishing, was cooking. "He loves to cook as relaxation because it's so consuming," said Joan at a press conference during Mondale's Presidential Campaign in 1984. Feast like Mondale on the boat tour, enjoying some of Walter's favorite recipes from the "Mondale Family Cookbook," published as a gift for volunteers for the Presidential Campaign. According to Joan, Walter liked to write down recipes on scraps of paper or backs of envelopes and would stuff them into a card file. His first culinary success was fried fish, mastered while on fishing trips. PRESENTER PETER GOVE: Peter Gove worked with Walter Mondale from the early 1970s until Mondale's passing in 2021, both in state and federal government and as fellow river advocates. Gove will present on Walter Mondale, sharing stories, history, and photos. EVENT SCHEDULE: MINGLE - 6pm. Start the evening with a reception on the River Rock Patio near the boat entrance, with light snacks and an open bar. DINNER CRUISE - 6:45pm - 9pm. Board the Taylors Falls Princess at 6:45 for a 7pm cruise. FEAST - 7pm. Enjoy a casual buffet consisting of favorite Mondale recipes shared in the Mondale Family Recipe Book -- Fettuccine a la Pimento Mondale, wild rice casserole, salad, and a selection of Mondale sweets. Chicken will be served on the side. Tickets include one beer or wine, and an open bar will be available on the cruise. PRESENTATION - 7:45 pm. After dinner, enjoy the presentation by Peter Gove, which will be broadcast from the lower deck of the Princess (and can also be heard from the outside deck upstairs) ______________________________________ Tickets: Tickets include the cruise, dinner, and a glass of wine, beer or soda. Fettuccine will be offered as a vegetarian option or with chicken on the side. Event Proceeds: Proceeds will support the Water Tower Barn: Scandia Arts & Heritage Center, the Scandia Heritage Trail, and the Scandia History Series -- projects of the Scandia Heritage Alliance. For more information, visit us at ScandiaHeritage.org. Payment by check: If you prefer to order tickets and pay by check, contact Susan Rodsjo at 651-233-0267 to reserve your space. Send your payment to Scandia Heritage Alliance, PO Box 159, Scandia, MN 55073. Deadline for orders by check is May 25. ______________________________________ PHOTO CREDITS & CAPTIONS: TOP PHOTO: Walter Mondale viewing the St. Croix River from the deck of his cabin in Scandia, Minnesota. Photo by Craig Blacklock from the book "ST. CROIX & NAMEKAGON RIVERS — The Enduring Gift." LOWER PHOTOS: 1. President Lyndon B. Johnson shakes hands and gives a signing pen to Senator Mondale of Minnesota following a signing ceremony for legislation that included the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act on October 2, 1968. Chief Justice Earl Warren and others look on. Photo courtesy Minnesota Historical Society. 2. Walter and Joan Mondale wave to the Democratic Convention where Mondale accepted his party’s nomination for Vice President, Thursday, Aug. 14, 1980, New York. Associated Press Photo printed with permission. 3. Vice President Walter Mondale and wife Joan with Pres. Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter. Alamy Stock photo printed with permission. 4. Walter Mondale enjoys the St. Croix River from his pontoon boat. Photo courtesy Ted Mondale. 5. Walter Mondale with Scandia-Marine Lions at the 2016 Scandia Taco Daze Parade, when Mondale was Grand Marshal of the parade. Photo courtesy Scandia-Marine Lions Club. 6. Walter Mondale waves to onlookers at the 2016 Scandia Taco Daze parade. Photo printed with permission from The Scandia-Marine Country Messenger Newspaper. 7. Walter Mondale waves to onlookers at the 2016 Scandia Taco Daze parade. Photo courtesy John Kaul Photography. 8. Walter Mondale photo courtesy John Kaul Photography.