Gordie Tindall
Age: 67
Occupation: Diner Owner, Cook

Why do you live in Lanesboro?

I grew up in New Jersey. My dad was a potato farmer. I spent a lot of years on the railroad tracks—it was one of the places I started cooking for people. I worked on trains. I always worked in diners too, and that’s how I got into owning this diner. I have owned three of them over the last twenty years (but this one is my favorite). I don’t have to do any heavy lifting (just a box of potatoes). I like it. I like the diner. It is very human. You are right with your customers.

I started working on rehabbing this diner when I lived in Pennsylvania. I ended up getting married to a woman who lived in Decorah, Iowa. She needed to get to Decorah two times a week. And I wanted to find a place where I wouldn’t have to work year round. My legs are hurt real bad. So I just work seven days a week for six months, and then I can rest the whole winter. So we landed in Lanesboro.

Bonnie Hulsing

Age: 65
Occupation: Historic Interpreter, Waitress, Pre-school Teacher

Why do you live in Lanesboro?

I enjoy Lanesboro because I enjoy being involved in the historical shows and the community theater. I work at the Minnesota Historical Society portraying Mary Maloney—a citizen who lived here in 1899. I met my husband while working there, about ten years ago. We got married in costume, on the Fourth of July, and we had 750 cash paying customers—some folks didn’t realize it was an actual wedding. The minister was a woman, but we dressed her as a man, because in 1899 they didn’t have women ministers—some folks couldn’t tell that she was a woman. And I also work at this lovely little diner. And that’s been a lot of fun.

I am here for the drama and for the friends.

Robbie Brokken

Age: 60
Occupation: Gallery Director
Time in Lanesboro: 10 years
From: New York

Why do you live in Lanesboro?

I moved from New York to Minneapolis with my husband, and then we moved down here. We actually live in Harmony—one town away—and that’s my husband’s ancestral home. We came down twenty-something years ago and raised our kids here and have really enjoyed living here. It’s great. And where else can you live in the country and have such a great arts job, which is the culmination of my entire career? Everything just came together.

On the urban/rural divide:

There is no difference between who we [Lanesboro Arts] serve. We try to present quality art experiences to promote the community for the community. Tourism is our financial engine. This is a very rural community, there are people here that would not have access to an art museum. But people from the community now have access to good, quality arts. Our passion is to continue to grow stronger for the community, and everyone else is total gravy. The ripple effect is phenomenal.

We have programs where people from the sales barn come, and the cattle farmers, and it changes people’s lives. Nobody here is getting rich. It is our passion. And it is very edifying. It really is.

Dave Hamann
Age: 63
Occupation: Manager at High Court Pub / “Jack of All Trades”
Time in Lanesboro: Born and raised here, just moved back from Dallas

Why do you live in Lanesboro?

Two things: My mother, who’s 94, wants me home. And this project. And I just wanted a change, y’know? And I missed Minnesota.

On his brother’s bar he is helping to build:

It’s going to bring a lot of people from the outside. I really believe it. And we’re really working on music venues too. We have a website up—just two days ago we got that.

Jim Iverson

Age: 57
Lived here: Born and raised
Time in Lanesboro: Owned the Saloon for 23 years, 25 years on ambulance service, 36 years in the fire department

Why do you live in Lanesboro?

I have lived here all my life. I’ve thought about leaving, but I can’t because of the people. I have a lot of friends here. I have known everyone my entire life.

On the shift in Lanesboro:

It’s a double-edged sword. There used to be more businesses in town: two or three grocery stores and a hardware store. The businesses now are not for the local people, and are tourist oriented. There are a lot of campers here. The bike trails put Lanesboro on the map. And the theater, too, is a draw. I have gone to fairs in other towns, and still there are more people here on a regular day than at the fair. In the saloon, we get some tourists—not the bikers, but the campers. In the fall, we get the party people, those stopping by to get a bloody mary. The tourists keep me going. They keep the bar open.

Kristin Eggen

Age: 24
Occupation: Store Manager, Beste Byen
Time in Lanesboro: 2 years

Why do you live in Lanesboro?

I came to Lanesboro almost exactly two years ago to be an intern at the art center. And once I was done with that, I graduated college, and had nothing else to do, so I stayed here in town. Long story short, I am now running this store. I have a house with some roomates. I bike to work every day. I see myself staying here for the foreseeable future, but probably not forever.

Catherine Glynn

Age: 47
Occupation: Actress, Communications Consultant, Co-Chair of EDA

Why do you live in Lanesboro?

I am in Lanesboro because I can craft my life at my own speed. I can be a part of the community and a part of its growth, with people I can really love and admire.