John Runk took his movie camera with him everywhere to capture everyday life in Stillwater after World War II, producing what's been described as a "scrapbook in film" of his hometown.
From 1947 to 1954, he filmed celebrations in downtown parks, ice-cutting on the St. Croix River, baseball games and day-to-day activities such as young people jumping off diving boards.
Several years ago, the Washington County Historical Society took parts from 48 of Runk's film reels to make a video called "An Ode to Stillwater: The John Runk Films." The 30-minute video will be shown at 7:30 p.m. Saturday on the front lawn of the Warden's House Museum, 602 N. Main St., Stillwater.
"He was trying to make a promotional piece for Stillwater, there's no question about it," said Brent Peterson, the historical society's executive director. Runk wanted to show insight into everyday life, he said.
When Runk died in 1964, he left behind decades of still photography, too — an immense collection spanning more than a century. He collected photos as well as took them, often borrowing a negative to make two prints, one for himself and another for the lender. As a commercial photographer, he advertised his motto — "Square Deal" — on the awning of his Stillwater studio.
"He was quite the character, he was unique. He saved images up until he died," Peterson said. "He was always kind of a loner. He would walk around with his camera equipment," which he sometimes hauled in a baby buggy.
More than 4,000 images that Runk photographed and collected are stored at the Minnesota Historical Society, possibly the largest collection by a single person in the state, Peterson said.
Once Runk bought his movie camera, he began filming up and down the St. Croix Valley, and then in St. Paul and Minneapolis. Some of his most captivating movies show the Minnesota State Fair, including a plane crash that killed teenage wing walker Kitty Middleton and her pilot.
