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Annandale, Minnesota

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HOME > History > History Club > Jill Bishop - Annandale Online

History Section of Annandale Online Website
Presentation to the Annandale History Club
April 2, 2007
Jill Bishop

Jill Bishop started the Annandale Online Website in 1999 while studying for a Master of Liberal Studies. She had considered ethnography of the Annandale area for her project when she came across another city's community website. In March 1999, Annandale Online became part of the internet after the City of Annandale okayed it. Now eight years later, Jill is still the website administrator of the site, which is sponsored by the City of Annandale. The website has grown from 50 pages when it was introduced to 600 pages of information. (A page can include many screens of information.)

Jill said that the mission of the website is very important. The mission of Annandale Online is as follows:

The purpose of a community website is to strengthen and increase connectedness within the community by providing a directory of accurate and timely information about, by, and for the Annandale community.

While the internet can provide access to all corners of the globe, the focus of content for Annandale Online is local. The target audience is not only the local population, but also the Second Community, people who live away from Annandale but have ties here, such a AHS Alumni, expatriates (former residents), seasonal residents, and friends and family of local residents.

The Annandale Online home page features a picture which is changed every week or two. Currently, it features a 1945 Annandale street scene. The sections include Events, Government, Library, School, Business, History, Advocate, Civic Groups, Religion-Spirituality, Health, Visitors, Other, and Weather.

The Events section includes the what, where and when of what's going on each month in Annandale. All Civic Groups in Annandale are included, and some of them maintain their own pages. Government is included at the local, township, state and federal level. Some townships have their own websites. Religion includes links to several churches and the church schedules from The Advocate. Annandale Schools maintain their own website. Jill maintains the AHS Alumni information including class lists and class reunion information.

The Business section includes a list of area businesses that have websites. The Chamber of Commerce site is maintained by Steve Bergesch.

The goal is to be inclusive. Jill would appreciate information, corrections, and everyone's help in keeping Annandale Online current. Her address is webster@annandaleonline.com.

In 2006, a History section was added to the website. The History section includes the following:

History Club
Area Cemeteries
Obituaries
Century Citizens
Minnesota Pioneer Park (external link)
Wright County Historical Society (external link)
Minnesota Historical Society (external link)

The Annandale History Club started in 1991. Jill attended the May 2006 meeting and asked if the secretary's notes of Annandale History Club speakers could be included on the Annandale Online website. This project is underway. It will take time to type and in some cases recreate the notes, but the effort will most certainly be a worthwhile addition to the historical record of the Annandale area.

A list of Annandale cemeteries is online as well as burial lists for several cemeteries.

There is also a link to a website in Finland listing Annandale area cemeteries and an alphabetical listing of burials in those cemeteries. This is a project completed by Ernest S. Lantto.

Annandale Online includes most everything a person would want to know about Annandale.

Secretary, Annandale History Club

Annandale Online

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