Episode 66: Dorothy Molter the Root Beer Lady with Jess Edberg
“She just holds a lot of that strength and perseverance that I think people can draw from and apply it to their own lives.”
In this episode, Jess Edberg, the Executive Director of the Dorothy Molter Museum in Ely, Minnesota, joins us to share the story of an incredible Minnesota adventurer, Dorothy Molter the Root Beer Lady, a well-known local who lived alone in the wilderness of the Boundary Waters serving root beer to travelers who passed through. Jess also discusses:
2:25 - About the Boundary Waters
5:35 - Who is Dorothy Molter
8:55 - What is a portage
12:40 - How Dorothy ended up living in the wilderness
15:35 - Influenced by the Great Depression
18:15 - The wilderness resort
20:55 - Dorothy’s experience in the wilderness
24:00 - Getting supplies
29:55 - How root beer plays part in her story
34:20 - The Wilderness Act of 1964
42:30 - The Boundary Waters Act
45:40 - What happened after she passed away
51:00 - The root beer experience
52:40 - What called Dorothy to a life of adventure
56:30 - What people should take away from Dorothy’s story
1:00:20 - Closing remarks
You can learn more about Jess and the Dorothy Molter Museum by visiting www.RootBeerLady.com.
See below for photos of both Dorothy and Jess. Photo credit: "Collection of the Dorothy Molter Museum"
Watch the Full Behind The Scenes Episode
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