Last week, we mentioned delays in the Austin Acres project, a subsistence homestead project developed in Austin in the 1930s. Here is a story of one homesteader, impatient with the process. From the Mower County News on Sept. 13, 1934: “Homesteader Provides Himself with a Home.”

“At least one of the homesteaders who has been waiting for the government to make good its promise has decided to do something about it himself, for Hans Voss has arranged with Martin Bustad, Austin’s road contractor to move a little building on his property that he and his family might have a home while waiting for government plans to materialize.

Mr. Voss was so confident that his home should be ready for him when first promised that he gave his landlady notice that he would move Sept. 1, and she in accordance with his notice provided herself with a new tenant and when Sept. 1 rolled around and no houses were yet on the federal land Mr. Voss found himself without a home. He went to Mr. Bustad who has arranged to have a small bunkhouse moved on his property until the government builds the permanent dwelling place.”

The construction was not complete on the Austin Acres site until a year later, in the fall of 1935.

Tuesday: Business After Hours at the Hormel Historic Home, hosted by Mayo Clinic Health System — Austin (formerly Austin Medical Center) and Hoversten, Johnson, Beckmann&  Hovey, LLC, 5 p.m.

Saturday: Austin Family Fun Day: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Attractions of Austin, Austin Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, and the  Austin Area Chamber of Commerce present Austin Family Fun Day. These attractions will be open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with free admission: Mower County Historical Society, Paramount Theatre, Hormel Historic Home and The Hormel Institute. The SPAM Museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with free SPAM Samples. The Jay C. Hormel Nature Center is offering free “Summer Solstice Ecoblitz” from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pre-registration is required for Ecoblitz activities. Forms for registration are available at the Nature Center. For more information or questions contact the Austin Convention&  Visitors Bureau at 437-4563.

Sunday, June 19: Family Traditions Father’s Day Brunch, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

We will be serving a special brunch buffet including: Hawaiian bread French toast, hash browns, scrambled eggs, hormel breakfast meats, fresh fruit salad, warm mini cinnamon rolls, coffee, milk, juice and water. Advance Tickets are available at the HHH office. Cost is $10 for adult, $5 for kids (5 to 12). Kids under 5 are free. Tickets will be available at the door for $12 adult, $6 for kids (5 to 12).