Jesse James at Northfield MN

On our recent trip into Minnesota and Wisconsin, we stopped in Northfield MN to visit the site of the Jesse James gang bank robbery of its First National Bank. The city likes to celebrate its victory of good over evil with its annual “The Defeat of Jesse James Days.” When some of the robbers entered the bank local citizens realized what was happening and armed themselves, something noticed by the robbers standing guard outside. Shooting started, men were killed or wounded, some robbers escaped only to be hunted down. The original bank building still bears scars of bullets, one of which I’m pointing at. Dad told the story of how his grandfather visited Northfield the day after the robbery, and the town was abuzz with news and gossip.