One Austin neighborhood was built by a federal aid program in 1935. This is the story of Austin Acres.

“Thirty-five families have moved into trim, modern Cape Cod dwellings erected at the Austin subsistence homestead project and the majority are for the first time experiencing the thrill of living in their own homes.

Moving days will continue this week and it is expected that all 44 dwellings constructed by the government will be occupied by Oct. 1…

A new start in life is virtually given the homesteaders in this project which is one of the few in the U. S. Cost of the homes with their tracts of land will run about $3,500 each. The owners pay for them at the rate of $4.22 a month for each $1,000 investment making the average monthly payment about $15.00. This small payment will take care of both interest and principal over a period of thirty years…

The subsistence homestead project was started several years ago when a group of Austin citizens obtained the assistance of the federal government and purchased 200 acres of land three miles southeast of the city… The entire project was financed by the federal government appropriating $160,000 for the purpose and the colonists have not yet been required to pay anything toward their purchases. The outlay by homesteaders will be entirely through the very reasonable monthly payments.” (From the Austin Daily Herald, Sept. 24, 1935)

More next week on Austin Acres.

For the final Social Concerns presentation of 2010-2011, the HHH is working with the Mower County Historical Society and the Austin Public Library to present a special program as part of our celebration of Minnesota’s Greatest Generation.

We have invited a special speaker, Wayne Quist, to come to Austin and present the story of Private Joe Haan, a World War II veteran and Wayne’s uncle.

A taste of the story: “Growing up poor in St. Paul, Minnesota, orphaned at seven years of age, Joe Haan was very much alone in the world. He survived by riding the rails, then enrolling in Roosevelt’s CCC program, eventually emerging as a private bound for Europe where he fought the Battle of the Bulge in Patton’s Third Army, before returning home a decorated war hero.”

Because of this special speaker, we will offer the same session both at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 17. Lunch will be served after the 11 a.m. presentation and light refreshments will be served at 7 p.m. To attend, please RSVP to the HHH office at 433-4243 by Friday, May 13, so that we have an accurate count for the lunch. The program is free and everyone is welcome.