Henderson, MN Forums History Henderson History Red Feather Bar

Hi! My name is Mike Zschunke. My mom was Myrtle Nye daughter of Carl Nye. She met my Dad Don Zschunke at the Red Feather in Henderson I believe around 1946. I think it was across the street from Benders. My Dad ran the place with someone else at that time. Do you guys any information who else it might have been that ran the place? Do any pictures exist of the Red Feather? Any information would be helpful. Thanks, Mike

"Henderson Then and Now", the official history of the community lists your Dad's partner as Ordel "Lefty" Herrian. Lefty apparently bought out "Chunky" in 47. The History has a few paragraphs and a picture of the Red Feather and quite a few references to the Nye family.

Thanks for the fast reply. Is it possible to get the book thru the web or mail? Thanks, Mike

Mike Zschunke!! I haven't seen you since the dorm days at Southwest State. How are you and where are you?

Mike, You can order it from Doris Wigand, 32987 300th St, Henderson, MN 56044. Phone number is 507-248-3500. Cost with shipping is $45. Or you can buy it at Bender's True Value, Bittersweet or Toodies Sweet Treats for $40. It is a 700 page book with all names in the index saying what page(s) they are on.
Lots of pictures. Just don't know if the one you would like to see, is in there.

The Sibley County Historical Museum which is in Henderson may have some help for you too. They're open Sundays from 2-5 until the end of October. Call 507-248-3434 and leave a message.

JCL

Denny, it's only been what? 30 years! I am doing great. Been living in Rochester since 1975 working at the Mayo Clinic. How about yourself? I was doing a liitle research on mom and dad and came upon this sight with SauerKraut Day links and the pictures of the 1965 flood. I've got a lot of memories of Henderson. About the only time we get there now is for funerals. I think I am going to order the Henderson book to see what you guys been doing all this time. Keep in touch! Thanks Mike

Mike, There's a good picture of the front of the old Red Feather on this site. Click on Forums, then click on Sauerkraut Days and then click on Owl Parade circa 1964 and there's a great shot of the crowd(all sober, of course) at the old bar. Drop me an email-dgraham@frontiernet.net
Denny

Is your father the Don Zschunke who was my teacher (music, I think) in Redwood Falls?

Hey frogwoman1995, yes that was my Dad who taught music in Redwood Falls. He used to bring the band down for Sauerkraut days. We used to get a laugh because the parade route was so short. I remember one year when the Henderson Volunteer Fire Department used their hoses to wash the Hell's Angels motorcycles into the river. What year did you graduate and what instrument did you play? Thanks, Mike

Hey Mike,
I was in the class of 1972 but we moved to Henderson halfway through my senior year. I started out playing trumpet but dropped band. My sisters were in band though. My sisters Pat graduated in 1970 and Bev in 1971. My maiden name was Keech - there are 9 girls in my family so people sometimes remember us.

Cindy Keech Reinitz

Hi there - I'm late to the party, but I just ran across this site when I googled Red Feather Cafe. My dad was your dad's business partner in the cafe. Ordell "Lefty" Herrian. Our dad's served together during the war. Their unit was stationed on Kodiak Is. Alaska. They were members of the band (my dad played trombone). I believe they were part of a National Guard Unit from the area - Dad and several of his high school buddies were from New Ulm, including Don Veigel, owner of the Kaiserhoff. My mom had a beauty salon in the back of Bender's Pharm., and also did some of the cooking in the cafe. They later bought out "Chunkie" in the restaurant, and ran it for several years before selling and moving up to Mpls. Lisa

Great to hear from you Catwoman!

Here is a photo from the past!

Is that Dick Collins leaning against the car? Man that guy is ageless!

I'll bet Cactus is in there somewhere.

Thanks for the info. My dad also played trombone and was at Fort Greely on Kodiak island. If you go out to the Kodiak WWII history site there is a picture of the gopher band. They were with the 215th coastal artillery. Donny Veigel is still alive. We eat at the Kaiserhoff whenever we can. Famous for their ribs. I showed him a lot of my dad's WWII pictures, but he has macular degeneration so he cannot see too much. My dad was born and raised in New Ulm and after the war went into business with your dad and met his future wife Myrtle Nye. Thanks Mike

Its really surprising for me to know this that it was your dad who thought music in Redwood Falls.