Waseca City Organizations - BPOE (Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks). Wearing the elk teeth as decorations by BPOE Lodge members may even have been appropriated by west-bound Elks upon seeing the ceremonial clothing worn by American Indians in various touring Wild West shows bedecked with hundreds of teeth, adopting the practice as a fashion fad. In the early 1900s, Elk members then had to defend themselves from charges of decimating western elk herds just for teeth, and easily did explain that the supply from Indian trading and a vast stockpile existing long before the Order came into being precluded killing a single animal for decorative purposes.
Collection: Bernie Bierman was a football coach at the University of Minnesota for the Golden Gophers. Bernie Bierman was the grandson of a Waseca County pioneer, Heinrich F. Bierman. In 1855, Heinrich made a claim in sections 13, in Wilton and 18 in Otisco where he lived until December 22, 1882, when he was accidentally killed by a fall from a wagon. His wife and five children lived in Waseca after his death. Luella and Marguerite Herbst are the granddaughters of Mr. and Mrs. Heinrich Bierman, and the daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Herbst. Mrs. Herbst was Elizabeth Bierman. They also donated items from Mr. and Mrs. D.E. Perrin. Mrs. Perrin was Emma Bierman.
