Historical Fiction | Minnesota Iron Range | Minnesota History
Iron Lake Burning by Minnesota author Marty Duncan is historical fiction rooted in the people, communities, and history of Minnesota’s Iron Range, bringing the region’s past to life through fictional characters and historical events.
“They are bringing baseball bats,” said the anonymous voice on the phone. “They are extremely angry with your teachers,”
My teachers? thought Tom Harant. “My teachers?” he said to the gruff voice on the phone. This was the third caller, insisting they talk to the school superintendent, insisting it was an emergency. There was no response to Tom’s query; Mr. Gruff Voice hung up.
“When there is a problem, it is my problem,” said Tom out loud. He was facing a serious decision. Should he alert the county sheriff that angry parents are likely to come into Iron Lake armed for a confrontation with the striking teachers? Should he advise the Board Chairman, knowing the man would waffle with indecision?
It was a Friday in December. The evening’s basketball game between Iron Lake and Cherry Grove would make Minnesota history. It would be the first game held during a teacher strike with replacement coaches on the sidelines for Iron Lake. The game would be the first where student athletes crossed a picket line. Iron Lake Schools was already the first to replace its entire teaching staff during a strike.
Iron Lake Burning is the story of one man’s struggle to understand the power and prejudice that leads to personal tragedy during the enflamed passions of a teacher strike in a small farming town.
Marty Duncan’s years living and working on Minnesota’s Iron Range helped inspire his interest in the region and its history—an influence reflected in Iron Lake Burning. Interested in more Minnesota Iron Range historical fiction? Explore Gold …then Iron by Marty Duncan.
Historical Fiction | Minnesota Iron Range | Minnesota History
Iron Lake Burning by Minnesota author Marty Duncan is historical fiction rooted in the people, communities, and history of Minnesota’s Iron Range, bringing the region’s past to life through fictional characters and historical events.
“They are bringing baseball bats,” said the anonymous voice on the phone. “They are extremely angry with your teachers,”
My teachers? thought Tom Harant. “My teachers?” he said to the gruff voice on the phone. This was the third caller, insisting they talk to the school superintendent, insisting it was an emergency. There was no response to Tom’s query; Mr. Gruff Voice hung up.
“When there is a problem, it is my problem,” said Tom out loud. He was facing a serious decision. Should he alert the county sheriff that angry parents are likely to come into Iron Lake armed for a confrontation with the striking teachers? Should he advise the Board Chairman, knowing the man would waffle with indecision?
It was a Friday in December. The evening’s basketball game between Iron Lake and Cherry Grove would make Minnesota history. It would be the first game held during a teacher strike with replacement coaches on the sidelines for Iron Lake. The game would be the first where student athletes crossed a picket line. Iron Lake Schools was already the first to replace its entire teaching staff during a strike.
Iron Lake Burning is the story of one man’s struggle to understand the power and prejudice that leads to personal tragedy during the enflamed passions of a teacher strike in a small farming town.
Marty Duncan’s years living and working on Minnesota’s Iron Range helped inspire his interest in the region and its history—an influence reflected in Iron Lake Burning. Interested in more Minnesota Iron Range historical fiction? Explore Gold …then Iron by Marty Duncan.
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