My Northfield
2019, photography
For many, Northfield, MN is a place of transition. As a college town, students come and go freely. For me, Northfield never seemed more than a necessary municipality to accommodate hungry college students. However, many call Northfield home. These photographs present the people who have shaped my experience of Northfield while the captions offer an insight into why they consider Northfield to be their home. By looking anew at this small midwestern town and the people who call it home, I start to wonder in what ways Northfield has been my home all along.
John
Though my parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents all came from the Midwest (Michigan), I have never felt at home here. I grew up in Utah, Idaho, and Colorado (and now live part-time in Montana) where everyone seems to be a transplant - usually from the Midwest. I moved to Northfield 24 years ago from graduate school in Colorado to teach art. Though I truly love my job at St. Olaf, I long to be back in the West. I need to return to the dry air, open wild spaces, and clean cold water.
Heather
I feel privileged to call Northfield home for the past 24 years. It’s where I’ve raised my family, where I work, shop, eat – essentially where I LIVE! I love the traditions including the Defeat of Jesse James Days (food, yum!), craft shows and book fair. I enjoy the historic downtown area with the shops, walks, library and waterfall. It offers so much variety, from buying a unique gift at a shop where the owner knows your name, biking the many trails, or getting involved within the community.
Jorge
I feel that Northfield is my home because my family is here, all my friends live around here.
I can say that Northfield is my world.
Everything I do is here.
My job, my hobby and my passion( futbol )are here.
After 20 years I have met so many people in Northfield and develop relationships all over the city.
Coaching kids, watch them grow and become adults have been a great experience.
This town is full of good people that appreciate the things that I do.
The relationships I have developed with people like you make me a better person.
I can say that Northfield is my home.
I only wish my mom be closer on distance.
Elaine
I have lived in Northfield over 50 yrs! I have worked a few jobs in town and made many friends. The downtown has many unique shops. There are always events going on with the Arts Guide, schools, and colleges. Shopping locally is a plus too. It still has a "small town" feeling to me.
Charles
For me, Northfield is a site of hospitality, hosting, entertainment, and learning with scholars and students. In all, Northfield is about friendship. Northfield does not feel like home when it is a site of friction, perilous weather, and leaving.
Jose
Yo siento que Northfield es mi home town por que aquí he vivido por mas de 22 años y mis hijos aquí han crecido también por que aquí esta mi trabajo y ya estoy acostumbrado al Town, siento aveces que no es mi home town por que vengo de otras culturas soy de El salvador y tengo mi madre y mi demás familia allá.
Translation: I feel that Northfield is my home town because I have lived here for more than 22 years and my children have grown up here. Also, because my job is here and I feel comfortable with the town. I sometimes feel like it is not my home town because I come from another culture. I am from El Salvador and my mother and the rest of my family are still there.
Kali
I declared the studio art major in the spring of my junior year, and it was the best decision I ever made. Since then, my time in Northfield has been shaped by an incredible succession of opportunities that helped me find confidence and traction as an artist. I have always known that my time here is impermanent—but the more I threw myself into the creative process, the less that seemed to matter.
Bob
Northfield is a town that has a big heart and a very big mind. It’s the kind of place where people know you and care about you. You can’t ever go to a dull social event in Northfield. The people are fascinating, world traveled, open-minded, accepting, caring and self-sacrificing.
I could go on and on. I was once waxing philosophically about Northfield with a friend and he stopped me short and said “Bob, it’s not Brigadoon. The imaginary little town in Scotland where life is always perfect, even if only for a day.” I know what he means, but I don’t think it’s West Side Story either. Maybe it’s Music Man.
Peter
I feel a strong sense of community in Northfield with many friends who also have young kids and are going through many of the same life stages as my family. We feel very supported by our friends and family in the area.
That being said, I'm acutely aware of how unwelcoming Northfield may be to people who don't fit into the straight/white/nuclear family model. That's not right.
Kurt
I have lived here longer than any other place in my life. My children were raised here. They were 2 and 3 years of age when we moved here. They attended Northfield schools and St. Olaf College. I worked at St. Olaf College for 30 years. I have many colleagues who are friends with whom I do thing outside of the activities at the college. I have been a member of two churches in Northfield and have many friends who were fellow members. I also have a large number of Christian friends who attend other churches with whom I have done activities. I have many professional friends through soccer coaching and baseball coaching who live in Northfield and around the state of MN.