Some teens think their parents are strict about dating, but the different rules couples had in the 1800s might make them think twice.

The Mower County Historical Society is showcasing two new exhibits, just in time for the Mower County Free Fair, which officially kicks off on Tuesday. Historical Society curator Jaimie Timm put together an exhibit about courting since the mid-1800s called “Buggy Rides and Parlor Visits, a History of Courting,” and an exhibit about women on the farm in Mower County.

“We want to change our exhibits so that it’s not just the same thing every time,” Timm said. “Because for many years the exhibits were not changed.”

The courting exhibit will be in the Rahilly Building, also known as the “buggy building,” and will focus on courting throughout history. Timm hopes people will be interested in the exhibits and said she was excited to learn about all the rules and expectations people had to follow in the early days. She listed expectations throughout history such as men had to initiate the relationship, yet they couldn’t show emotion, whereas women were expected to make decisions based on their emotions. Many times, couples had to have a chaperone on outings as well.

“It’s lots of really interesting stuff, I think,” Timm said. “I hope people find it interesting; I find it cool.”

Timm said the idea of courting came up at a committee meeting, and though it’s going to be a smaller exhibit, she hopes that paired with the buggies in the buggy building, people will make more connections about the items in the building to their historical purposes.

“We’re really trying to find ways to get local stories into the exhibits,” she said. “Trying to find ways for people to connect with them.”

Though the exhibit will be added to the building, most of the exhibits already in place will remain the same.

“So the favorite display that people want to come see every year, the bulk of it won’t be changing,” she said. “We’re just going to give them a little more to look at and maybe show them a way to relate to the objects in the building.”

The exhibit about women on the farm will replace the Civil War display in the Administration building and will also show many local stories. This exhibit tells the stories of the women on farms in Mower County and the many roles they took on.

“It’s more than just cooking, cleaning and that sort of thing,” Timm said. “Especially here in Mower County, they’ve really taken on everything. And we’re trying really hard to tell stories of local, Mower County women.”

The stories and photographs for the exhibits were found in the Historical Society’s archives as well as brought in by the community.

“They’re from the local community, so hopefully people recognize some faces,” Timm said.

She noted the historical society is always looking for more local submissions, with hopes to preserve Mower County history and connect more objects with stories. Timm will also give a more in-depth presentation about courting at the Hormel Historic Home in October, since there isn’t enough time or space to tell everything about the topic.

Timm already has ideas for more new exhibits through the year 2020, and she said exhibits will be rotated depending on the building they are in, how large they are and how long they have been on display, among other things. Many exhibits will be on display for at least two to three years, such as the two new exhibits this year. Larger displays may be out for five or six years.

“I hope that people will appreciate the new information and enjoy the new stories and photographs,” she said.