When Todd and Kellie Kopischke decided to  tile their back yard a few weeks back, little did they know what they would find!  It wasn't long before some of the history of old Vernon Center was staring them directly in the face!

Their first find was a little brown jug!  On the face of it was marked: "Compliments of E.A. Barnes, Vernon Center, Minn".  It was most likely given out to his best customers as a token of thanks for their business.  I've talked to a local collector, and they believe this is a Red Wing.  Even though it's not marked, most of these little jugs were not and are rare.   The "wings and things" came later and would not have appeared on something like this. The applied handle was almost exclusive to Red Wing and not many companies did the "advertising jugs" except Red Wing.  Plus, it was found in southern Minnesota.....making it all the more likely to be a Red Wing.  I've found one other company that could have manufactured this item and that would be J.A. Bauer Pottery of Paducah, Kentucky.  While it is damaged a bit, it is still a great find!  Frankly I think it's in remarkably good condition for being under ground all these years, not be mention being run over by Todd's backhoe!

 Now....that would have been a great find all by itself, but what they found next is really amazing!   As they were finishing their tiling, and near the ravine leading to the Blue Earth River, they hit something.....something large!   It turned out to be the apparent burial site of one Mary Alice Warren, first wife of E.W. Washburn!  They immediately contacted the Blue Earth County Sheriff's Department, who came out to investigate.  What they hit and unearthed, was the headstone and marker.  The tomb lies beneath it.  Mrs. Washburn apparently died in 1896 at the age of about 43.  The Sheriff's office filed their report and gave Todd and Kellie the option of having her removed or left where she is.  They decided to not further disturb her rest. It was apparently where she wanted to be.....overlooking the Bluffs along the Blue Earth River.  So there she will stay.  The headstone was reburied where it was found.  Todd and Kellie have since placed a simple white cross to mark the location.  The Kopischke's have reported the find to the Blue Earth County Historical Society and Mary Alice's actual final resting place is now part of their official records.  Todd and Kellie wanted this information posted here, because it represents another piece of Vernon Center's colorful history.

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