About The Chaska Historical Society
The Chaska Historical Society is an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to preserving and sharing Chaska’s history since 1981. Inspired by the U.S. Bicentennial celebration, founders Tracy Swanson, Shirley Bruers, and Luke Melchert established the Society’s articles of incorporation and bylaws. The first membership meeting was held on March 25, 1981, with 43 members and a nine-member board.
For more than 40 years, the Society has worked to connect people to Chaska’s past in ways that are accessible, relevant, and community-focused. Support from memberships, donations, event proceeds, merchandise sales, the Chaska Lions Club, and the City of Chaska make possible the History Center’s public hours, annual exhibits, publications, genealogy workshops, artifact and photograph archiving, and local history tours. Publications include Chaska: A Minnesota River City (two volumes), View from a Bench by Jim Faber, and ChaskAlphabet, an illustrated introduction to Chaska’s history.
In its early years, the growing collection had no permanent home—stored in garages, basements, and public buildings around town. That changed in 1981 when the Society moved into the third floor of City Hall, then later into the historic Christian P. Klein house. As the collection expanded, the need for a larger space became clear. In 2003, with support from the City of Chaska and donors John Klingelhutz and Marcie Klein, the Society moved into the restored 1890 Brinkhaus Livery Stable at 112 Fourth Street West.
Today, the Chaska Historical Society continues to collect, preserve, and share the area’s history—from its Dakota roots to the present. With expanded archives, a growing reference library, and an active volunteer team, the Society remains dedicated to keeping Chaska’s heritage alive and welcoming all who wish to be part of its story.
The Chaska Historical Society supports the City of Chaska’s values of:
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Citizenship
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Environmentalism
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Generosity
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Human Worth and Dignity
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Integrity
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Learning
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Respect
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Responsibility
In addition, the Chaska Historical Society believes in:
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Educating Through Stories – Helping community members see their place in Chaska’s story and inspiring them to preserve its history.
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Openness – Embracing new people, ideas, and traditions within the city.
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Innovation – Using creative approaches to carry out the Society’s mission.
Our Generous Annual Supporters
City of Chaska
Community Foundation for Carver County
Chaska Lions Club
American Legion Post 57
Chaska Historical Society Board Members
Lisa Oberski, President
A transplant to Chaska with deep Chaska roots, Lisa has been involved with the History Center since 2000. Fond of gardening, crafting, educating and sharing history, Lisa became President in 2015. At the History Center she does a little bit of everything but thoroughly enjoys helping people discover their own history.
Ruth Travis, Vice President
Though she lived in Eden Prairie for 23 years, Ruth has been connected to Chaska through membership and championship leadership roles at Hazeltine National Golf Club since 1988. Since retiring from nursing and moving to Chaska in 2010, she has become involved in the Chaska Curling Center - playing, teaching, and officiating curling events. The 2023 Hauntings and History Tour drew Ruth the Chaska History Center. Volunteering and historical research has become a passion for her.
Doris Coghill, Treasurer
Doris was born and raised in three different houses along Walnut Street in downtown Chaska. She spent her corporate career as an accountant, auditor, programmer and IT professional before starting her own web mail order business. She is currently the Treasurer and resident "Geek" at the History Center.
Barb Van Eyll, Secretary
Barb moved to Chaska 45 years ago but was very familiar with Chaska growing up as her mother attended high school and her grandmother did her farm business in Chaska. Barb inherited the interest in history and genealogy from her dad who researched his family background and instilled the importance of documenting the past for future generations. Volunteering at the Chaska History Center has always been on her bucket list.
Jeanette McGillicuddy, Board Member
Jeanette moved back to Minnesota from New Hampshire in 1997 to change careers and then moved to Chaska in 1998. She spent her career in the military,(US Air Force) university education and corporate IT. Jeanette also serves on the Exhibits team working on the WWI and WWII exhibit and the recent Why Chaska exhibit. She looks forward to continuing her work at the History Center in IT.
Bill Johnson, Board Member
While pursuing a graduate degree at Mankato State, Bill brought a group of high school students on a field trip to Chaska. The new town, Jonathan, was their focus. Students were especially awed by the abundance of trails and open spaces. Walking the trails, the thought never occurred to Bill that soon he would be completing his first year of teaching at Chaska High School, along with buying his first home on a Chaska trail. Old and new buildings have been of great interest to Bill for a long time. Presently, he has been visiting many of Frank Lloyd Wright’s structures. Volunteering at the History Center has been well aligned to his interests.
Connie Jacobs, Board Member
Connie Jacobs is a retired attorney. While she is not a native Chaskan she has lived in Chaska since 1995. Connie is passionate about history and enjoys historical research, re-enacting, historical interpretation and cooking. She also enjoys talking with people about history and listening to their stories.
Jayne Oddan, Board Member
Jayne and her husband fell in love with the Chaska area when they were in college. They made Chaska their home for 44 years. Jayne has recently retired from her job as an x-ray technologist. Always eager to learn, Jayne completed her Master in Art History with a certificate of Museum Studies in 2021. She hopes to apply all she has learned in her work at the Chaska Historical Society.
Carrie Drephal, Board Member
Carrie has been helping people explore and learn about genealogy for over a decade. She enjoys researching family histories, with special interests in local history and World War II. Carrie brings a variety of skills to her volunteer work at the Chaska History Center, combining her passion for history with creativity and problem-solving to support the Center’s programs and projects.
