Museum Blog June 2018

Lonsdale Bank about 1927

Photo in Old Trondhjem Museum Collection

Starting when the railroad came through in the first years of the 1900’s, Lonsdale was founded and replaced the village of Trondhjem as the commercial center for the local farming community. Farmers shipped their livestock to market by railroad, the Lonsdale Bank provided mortgages and loans to finance farm work, and other businesses sold hardware, grocery staples, and, of course, alcohol. The bank evolved over the years as the State Bank of Lonsdale and today is Frandsen Bank and Trust housed in a modern brick structure with a large staff. The 2010 census shows Lonsdale has a population of 3,674. The village of Trondhjem has disappeared.

Notice in the photo, the kerosene lantern on the post serving as a street light, the wooden board walk, and the screen door entry. The man sitting in the window is not identified.