A Cook County Historical Society favorite returns for the third year in a row! Stories that Matter: Women of Cook County will be back at the Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery on July 31, 2025, at 5:30 p.m.

Join us in learning more about influential Cook County women, including Women of Cook County, honoring Eleanor Woods, Eleanor Waha, and Hazel Belvo. The Historical Society is excited to announce that Hazel Belvo will be presenting during the event along with CCHS staff.

Eleanor Woods lived in the lighthouse keeper’s house (now the current History Museum along with her husband, John Wood (who was the Grand Marais lighthouse keeper between 1902 and 1921.), and who was active in the local community, specifically with the public library.

Eleanor Waha was born and raised in Cook County, MN, and was an incredibly instrumental and active volunteer for a variety of organizations, including the cancer screening clinic, the North Shore Nursing Home, the Maple Hill Fire Department, 4H, the Cook County Historical Society and more. She won Citizen of the Year in 1979 from the Grand Marais Lion’s Club. After graduating high school in 1941, she attended weather bureau school and worked in places such as the US Weather Bureau in Alaska.

Hazel Belvo is a well-known artist and educator who has been influential in the feminist art movement, including as the co-founder of the Women’s Art Registry of Minnesota, which helped bring women artists to the forefront of the art community during the feminist movement in the 1970s. Hazel spent time in Grand Portage during her marriage to George Morrison, where she painted several versions of Spirit Tree, which she is well known for. She was also an artist in residence and eventually mentor and teacher at the Grand Marais Art Colony.

To see past Women of Cook County presentation recordings, visit our YouTube channel here. https://www.youtube.com/@historiccookcountymn