The Superior Express -

Strand Hill is familiar to many, especially those living or growing up in the Randall area. The long sloping hill lies immediately south of Randall and is situated in both Allen and Prairie Townships. Today's 250 Road traverses the hill. 

Because of the location of Randall, on the township line, the W 1⁄2 of both Sections 6 and 7 were taken from Allen Township and added to Prairie Township. Thus, much of Strand Hill lies in Prairie Township.

The hill is named for the Strand Family.  Joseph N. Strand and his wife Johanna Katrina Tondel Strand were early homesteaders in the Randall area. The patents for the S 1⁄2 of the NW 1⁄4 of Section 7 of Town 5 South Range 6 West and the N 1⁄2 of the SW 1⁄4 of Section 7 of Town 5 South Range 6 West were granted on 1 June 1878. This homestead lies on Strand Hill, on the east side of 250 Road.

Joseph and Johanna Strand were both born in Norway. They, and their oldest daughter, Jorgina Augusta, arrived in the United States on June 15, 1869. The family first lived in Junction City where, in 1871, their son, John, was born. 

The growing family headed further west to Allen Township, Jewell County. Christopher was added to the family in 1873. Jens Peter, Josephina and Martin Luther completed the Strand family.

A small item in the Feb. 13, 1886, Randall Register informed readers that "Homestead Yeast" had "gained a wide reputation in this neighborhood." The yeast was patented and manufactured by Johanna Strand who "resides just south of town." 

Then, according to the Nov. 20, 1889, Jewell County Republican, Joseph and Johanna were divorc-ed. Johanna was granted custody of the minor children. Joseph moved to Washington State but Johanna remained on the homestead.

The 1900 U. S. Census finds a "widowed" Joseph Strand living in Pierce, Washington and a "divorced" Johanna living in Allen Township. Joseph died in 1923 and is buried in Snohomish County, Wash.

Johanna lived on the homestead with her children. Three sons, John, Martin and Christopher, eventually lived and farmed in Jewell County. Around 1900 is when Johanna and Augusta moved to Mankato. There she worked as a dress maker. The March 16, 1900, Jewell County Republican noted she purchased Lots 4, 5, and 6 in Block 16 of Mankato. She died in Mankato in 1916 but is buried in the Randall Cemetery.

The 1921 Jewell County Atlas shows the Strand Homestead as being owned by John Strand and Jorgina Strand Rosland. Currently the old Strand homestead is owned by Robert "Bob" and Mary Ann Kibbe.

Bob's family home was behind the Strand home on Strand Hill. They had to drive through the Strand yard to get to their home. He remembers the last Strand to live on the hill, Ruth Strand, raised canaries, lots of canaries. 

Bob "mostly farmed" the hill but does acknowledge riding down it on his bike. He noted "it is a lot easier going down than going up!"

But there are more stories about Strand Hill, stories about bike rides and sled rides. Jeannette Dow went biking down the hill and recalls her mother, Marylee Hockett Rohla, telling of sledding down Strand Hill. Ron McMillan also remembers sledding down the hill in the pasture. They would come out on the road at the bottom of the hill. "It was quite fast."

Fred Anderson tells of a Christmas his family still talks about. He and his sister, Sharman Anderson Callahan, took their small children and went sledding on Strand Hill in the pasture on the west side of the road. "It was a blast."

There were many ways to go up and down Strand Hill according to Jim Johnson. Bikes, motorcycles, three wheelers, four wheelers and cars. He also remembers running the hill in middle school track practice. There was also walking and hiking up Strand Hill.

Many items in early 1900's newspapers tell of picnics, wiener roasts, toasting marshmallows and playing games on the hillside after a hike to the top.  Harold Mahin enjoyed "regularly" walking the hill. According to his May 6, 2004 obituary in the Jewell County Record, he walked it on his 91st birthday.

The stories about riding bikes down the hill abound as do stories of wrecks. Mark Baxa admits to riding down the hill and wrecking "once." Wayne Cooper rode down the hill for several years in the 40s and 50s but there is no mention of wrecks. Fred Anderson recalls Brian Robinett breaking his wrist on a ride down the hill.

David McMillan biked down the hill as did Stephanie Bigham Barrett. Barrett's sister, Allison Bigham Carlgren, also made trips down the hill but broke her collar bone on one ride. According to Maureen Sheahan, "Once was enough for me!" and Gloria Shamburg Hanson didn't ride down Strand Hill as she just wasn't "a daredevil."

Ron McMillan recalls his sister Linda McMillan Seaman wrecking her bike on the hill. But stories of wrecks go back at least to 1905. A group went coasting on the hill in January of that year with the sled loaded "to the limit" according to the Jan. 26, 1905, Randall News. The sled overturned near the bottom and Charley Vance broke his lower leg in three places – one of breaks resulted in a protruding bone.

Ferris Barrett summed up the wrecks on Stand Hill as "Who didn't?" Bill Spiegel commented that riding down the hill and "avoiding the myriad potholes" should be an Olympic Sport!  But, IF you went fast enough, you could get to the railroad tracks "without pedaling!" That Strand Hill bit of history is from Curt Goff who rode his bike down "many, many times."

Sharman Anderson Callahan rode down the hill "many times" and she recalls "the worst bike ride." She was with her cousins, the late Kay Rhodes and Gary Applebee (McPherson). They had been warned not to go to Strand Hill. On the way down Rhodes went "head first over the handlebars" skinning up her face, hands, arms and legs. After she was cleaned and bandaged up, the trio was in "a lot of trouble."

Nyla Hockett Slate marveled "No helmets!" Fred Anderson advised, "Parents, don't let your kids ride down the hill!"  Sounds like very good advice.