Birthplace of Minnesota prepares to party

Minnesota isn't the only one celebrating a big birthday this weekend.

John Runk, Stillwater's legendary photographer who documented the early life and times of the St. Croix Valley, would have been 130 years old on Saturday.

To celebrate, the "Friends@Stillwater Public Library" organization is throwing a birthday bash in his honor on Saturday while also giving a nod to another significant birthday -- Minnesota's.

Sunday marks the state's sesquicentennial anniversary. And Stillwater, which proudly stakes its claim as the birthplace of Minnesota, is hosting several special events to mark the 150-year milestone. A partial list follows this story.

Runk is being honored for his prolific career and contribution to the area's history.

Born in Menomonie, Wis., on May 10, 1878, he came to Stillwater in the early 1880s with his family.

Like many young men at the time, he worked in the lumber industry, said Brent Peterson, executive director of the Washington County Historical Society.

But Runk was a photographer at heart.

One of his first professional gigs was taking mug shots at the local prison, Peterson said. In 1899, Runk started his photography business and shot the faces and places of Stillwater and the St. Croix Valley for 65 years.

He also collected photos from other local photographers, building a historic archive that numbers in the thousands.

"It wasn't until after he died that people realized what he had done and the significance of his collection," Peterson said. "What he gave to this community will live on forever, and always, the question is: Who's going to be the next John Runk? Who's going to illustrate the next 20, 40, or 50 years?"

As part of the celebration of his life and work, the Stillwater City Council is expected to proclaim Saturday as "John Runk Day."

The John Runk Birthday Party will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Johnson Terrace of the Stillwater Public Library. Guides will give tours of the library's collection of Runk photographs, and there will be cake, old-fashioned games and music.

The party also will kick off a special photo contest, named after Runk and sponsored by Images of the Past, a photo studio in Stillwater.

A panel of local photographers will judge the entries for adults and children. The contest will recognize exemplary photography of the St. Croix Valley region in several categories: architecture, people at work and play, landscape, and transportation. For the adults, there will also be a historic category in which entrants may submit their historic photos.

Carol Marie Parendo, one of the party organizers, said winners will be announced at 2:30 p.m. June 21 at the public library. Organizers are still determining what the prizes will be, she said.

Parendo, a Stillwater artist, also is the coordinator of a special sesquicentennial art show being held in conjunction with the Runk birthday party.

The opening reception for "Reflecting Minnesota's 150 Years" will be held from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday at the Stillwater Public Library's art gallery.

Works created by 20 artists from the Stillwater Art Guild will be on display at the exhibit, which will run through May.

Allie Shah • 651-298-1550.