Steve Hoffbeck delivers talk on root beer stands

Steve Hoffbeck delivers talk on root beer stands

Steve Hoffbeck, History, delivered a presentation entitled “The Barrels: Root Beer Stands of the Upper Midwest” at the Browns Valley Public Library Sept. 15. The illustrated talk explored the history of drive-in restaurants, both nationally and regionally, and focused on the story of the Barrels Drive-In restaurants which began in 1929 in Great Falls, Mont., and spread to eight locations in Minnesota and North Dakota during the decade of the Great Depression in the 1930s.

Professor Hoffbeck is a member of the Speakers Bureau of the Legacy Project, which provides presentations about Minnesota’s history at various regional libraries. He started delivering these kinds of programs in the summer of 2010. The Legacy Project in Minnesota presents “an array of arts, cultural, literary, and Minnesota history programs in collaboration with arts and cultural organizations, independent artists, historical societies, and community organizations.

Programs are funded in part with money from Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.  In November 2008, Minnesota voters approved a constitutional amendment to dedicate funds for Minnesota’s Outdoor Heritage, Clean Water, Parks and Trails, and Arts and Cultural Heritage.  Under the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund (ACHF) Minnesota’s 300+ public libraries receive funding distributed through existing formulas to the 12 Minnesota Regional Library Systems to provide programs and services in four areas: arts (visual, performing and media), culture, literary and Minnesota history. The law states that these funds are intended “for regional programs and working with arts and cultural partners.” The program receives $1,362,900 per fiscal year (FY1 July 2009-June 2010 and FY2 July 2010-June 2011).”