August 20 is Ester’s only national holiday, the birthday of Ansgar Clausen, who, in 1974, built the log cabin located just off the village square at 3629 Main Street. Miner, explorer, and storyteller, he and his wife, Ida Lane, herself a formidable musician, cook and painter, were mainstays in the early days of Ester.
History of the Clausen Cabin
From 1974 to 1999, Ansgar and Ida Lane entertained the folks of Ester with their gardening, cooking and overall generosity. Sadly, Ida Lane passed away in 1989, but Ansgar continued living in the cabin until he, too, passed away in 2001, at which time his estate sold it to Lynn and Ray Kulp. The Kulps, retirees who came north to be near their grandchildren, lived in the village for another ten years and were known locally for their generosity to the community and their excellent ice cream. In 2013, the Kulps generously donated the cabin and surrounding properties to JTEL.
After Obtaining the Clausen Cabin
The book collection in the Clausen Cabin is growing week by week.
In early 2016, we developed a new plan to include an office, ADA-approved bathroom, and plenty of room for books, of course! Since then, the cabin itself has had the exterior walls insulated and sheetrocked, the floor structurally strengthened to take the weight of books and shelving, the roof was reinsulated and improved, the interior rewired, re-framed, painted and otherwise improved to use as an expanded library space. Eventually, we plan to have running water and a new septic system. The outbuildings include a white clapboard miner’s cabin and an old log sauna (both currently used for storage).
The Clausen Cabin was opened on a regular basis in December, 2017, and now serves as the Library’s headquarters, meeting area, library and Children’s library. Books are now being taken from storage, catalogued and added to the collection by a dedicated core of volunteers.
The grounds also include an outhouse, Ida Laine’s perennial gardens, a gazebo and a playhouse for children installed by the Kulps, and a small community garden available to library members.
Ruth Jasper Children’s Area:
Ruth Jasper was a well-respected Ester denizen who lived in the village for 40 years and was the Post Mistress for 30 of them. She is remembered for her purple cow collection and by the many village children she nurtured. She started Ester’s longstanding book exchange shelf at the post office while the post office was still in her home; the current post office still keeps the tradition going. She was a beloved fixture in the village of Ester until her passing in 2012. In her honor, the John Trigg Ester Library’s children’s area is dedicated in her memory. Donations to the Ruth Jasper Fund will be used for the children’s collection and in the new building to create an area dedicated to children’s literacy.
