Column - 2002: Douglas County Hospital named Best Small Community Hospital
December 1912 At its recent meeting, the W.C.T.U. Council discussed moving the piano from their hall and into the new Kensington school, which is anxious to have the use of it.By: Marge VanGorp, Alexandria Echo Press
The following is a collection of stories and other items that were included in Alexandria newspapers over the years.
100 YEARS AGO
DECEMBER 1912
L. Luckert is arranging for the opening of Ludke-Luckert Company, Wholesale Grocers… Dell Shippey is showing off his new $50 Howard gold watch, inscribed: “Presented to A.E. Shippey for his faithful service on Route 5 by his patrons”… The post office received maps from Washington, D.C. indicating the divisions of zones and units relative to the new parcel post rate system… The weight of last week’s Alexandria newspapers sent through the post office was 608 pounds. Of that, 214 pounds were distributed throughout the city and rural routes. The remainder was sent to other villages… At its recent meeting, the W.C.T.U. Council discussed moving the piano from their hall and into the new Kensington school, which is anxious to have the use of it. They agreed to buy a library table and some chairs for the school.
50 YEARS AGO
DECEMBER 1962
Margaret Sargent of Osakis won second place in the National Teenage Baking Contest by making the Cherry Nut Bread that won for her in Fergus Falls. At age 13, she was the youngest of 14 contestants. Among her prizes were a $500 gas range and travel expenses to the national contest. Another Minnesotan won top honors… The camera caught little Mark Pappenfus giving a peppermint candy cane to Santa at the Andria Theater… The architect for the new Municipal Liquor Store is Richard “Bud” Peterson, son of the Alexandria superintendent of schools, H.N. Peterson… Ten-year-old Steven Sibell of Osakis was presented the State Fire Marshal Award of Merit for risking his life to save that of his 2-year-old sister last September.
25 YEARS AGO
DECEMBER 1987
Seaman Bob Cassell was standing on the deck of a frigate in California when he was hit by a piece of steel attached to the end of a nylon tow rope. He suffered severe chest injuries and was hospitalized for weeks in California. He is now recuperating at home… The Jingle Bells program raised $24,500 for charity, well above their goal of $20,000. Included in the distributed 737 baskets were 1,200 toys from Washington Federal Toys for Tots drive and 600 toys from the Marines… Robert Evenson shared his hobby of wood carving with fellow Sons of Norway members. He was pictured standing beside a sideboard that took about 500 hours to carve… Larry and Vicki Carlson of Evansville were presented the Outstanding Conservation Cooperator award.
10 YEARS AGO
DECEMBER 2002
A recently refurbished North American T-28 Trojan plane, the type of aircraft used to train pilots during WWII, crashed near Villard, claiming the lives of Eberhard Engel of Alexandria and Edwin Jungst of Glenwood… Douglas County Hospital was named the best “Small Community Hospital” in the prestigious 100 Top Hospitals – National Benchmarks for Success analyses… In spite of the sluggish economy, the Jaycees’ Jingle Bells Telethon raised well over their $75,000 goal. More than 200 Santa’s helpers delivered more than 600 baskets of food and toy baskets… Social Services Director Michael Woods was among Alexandrians who dressed up as the 1980’s Village People at Pete’s County Market as part of Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota.
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Marge Van Gorp of Alexandria is a regular contributing columnist to the Echo Press Opinion page.
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