Maggie Lee: Purple People-Pleaser

I still think that headline from last year is my favorite of all the “Historic Happenings” columns I have written for the since 2007: “Maggie Lee: Northfield’s Purple People-Pleaser.” Purrr-fect.

If you have ever enjoyed a walk along the Riverwalk or been impressed with our thriving , you can thank Maggie for envisioning and being part of the establishment of both. She has been a treasure trove of historical information of her hometown. She has often been the “go-to” source in my writings. She told Marie Gery in an oral interview for the Northfield Historical Society that she once knew the story behind every house in town—and, no doubt, of the residents within.

Maggie started as a bookkeeper for the Northfield News in 1944 but soon moved into reporting and was managing editor for 19 years, starting in 1967, sometimes working 90 hours a week. Former editor Scott Richardson wrote in his introduction to Maggie’s book Northfield Ink in 2005: “Maggie covered city council, school board, agriculture and business development. She wrote editorials, columns, obituaries; reviewed local concerts and plays; and roamed Division Street year-after-year promoting local businesses and the people who ran them. She has been the community’s historian, its promoter, its confidante, its ombudsman, its conscience.”

This Thursday, July 26, at 5 p.m. in  from the Showmobile, Richardson will lead the community in honoring Maggie, who is now at Three Links Care Center. Randy Ferguson and Chris Moen will provide guitar accompaniment for the song Richardson composed for Maggie’s 90th birthday party held last year at the Grand, “The Ballad of Maggie Lee,” sung to the “Rawhide” tune. Maggie’s close friend, professional singer Marilyn Sellars, will sing her popular hit “One Day at a Time.” Maggie followed with pride the career of Sellars, starting with a story about the one-room schoolhouse Sellars attended near Dundas. Sellars came to sing at Maggie’s 90th birthday party and told me at that time, “She’s a wonderful role model to women who love to write and aspire to careers in journalism, an unparalleled Northfield community backer, and I’m proud to have her as my friend.”

One line in Richardson’s song goes, “What’s the deal with purple? Why’s it always purple, Maggie?” Over many years, Maggie has been a familiar sight as she walked through the streets, always dressed in purple. In recognition of this, July 26 will be “Wear Purple for Maggie Lee Day” in town. For those with no purple attire, free purple yarn for adornment is available at , 314 Division St. There is also a workshop to make a purple flower pin to wear; stop by anytime between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 25. Maggie’s love for cats will be celebrated with Meows for Maggie cat adoptions from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on July 26 at the Northfield News Building, 115 5th St. W.

We are hoping to turn the town purple during this event, which takes place the same day as Crazy Daze Sidewalk Sales from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Taste of Northfield from 4-10 p.m.

In a 2009 production of “Bye Bye Birdie,“ I had a role as a reporter asking questions of teen idol Conrad Birdie (based on Elvis Presley). My costume: purple suit, wig, cat-shaped pin. What fun it was to portray Maggie in this way and she enjoyed the homage.

Maggie worked for the Northfield News for more than 68 years. Her last “Do You Remember?” column appeared last month on June 9. The very last item was from “10 Years Ago,” June 8, 2002. It was about a “foster mom” who cared for cats and kittens for the Rice County Humane Society. Maggie’s last words: “June is Adopt a Cat Month.”

How appropriate.