We’ve added photos of “Jesse’s board” to the photo gallery page. The board is attached to the wall above the cash register. It reads:
Jesse Woodson JamesThis old board was salvaged by Bob Jacobsen from a building that was dismantled in September of 1976. It stood directly to the east of Jacobsen’s Store at 419 South Division Street. The building was originally built as a livery stable and was subsequently used as a barn, garage and then a warehouse. It was less than 200 feet from the site of the Northfield bank raid of September 7, 1876. Some have questioned if Jesse James was there participating in that raid. The finder submits this as proof that Jesse was present, explaining:
JWJ – Initials of Jesse Woodson JamesSep. 5 1847 – Jesse’s birth dateSome surmise that Jesse was hunkered down in this shelter while “celebrating” his birthday and plotting the gang’s raid on the First National Bank of Northfield.
Special Thanks to Bob Jacobsen for this generous historic donation.
