Column – 1909: Thieves steal woolen underwear on clothesline

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The following is a collection of stories and other items that were included in Alexandria newspapers over the years.

100 YEARS AGO

April 1909

The Alexandria Fire Department ordered 65 uniforms of blue wool pants with double-breasted, square-cut coat and nickel buttons at a cost of $10 to $15 each. Partial payment will be withdrawn from department funds, the remainder from its members… The Minnesota State Legislature approved $2,250,000 for the construction of a state prison. Also approved was a bill legalizing Sunday baseball and another prohibiting the sale, manufacturing of, or giving away of cigarettes… Bids on constructing a new Swedish Lutheran Church were considered too high and no contract was let. The congregation is urged to attend Sunday’s service for further discussion on the matter… Keep your eye on your woolen underwear! Thieves stole all that was hanging on Michael Kudlan’s clothesline.

50 YEARS AGO

April 1959

Nobody was hurt but a lot of damage occurred when a Great Northern train and a box car being switched got tangled up on the tracks on North Broadway… David Carlson, a Jefferson student, came within a half-point of leading all Minnesota students in a national mathematics contest… When it became apparent there would be no West Central Class A baseball this summer, local players of the 1958 Clippers formed their own independent league… Alexandria native Lloyd Watters, an 18-year veteran of the Minnesota game and fish division, is the newly appointed game warden for this area… Helen Krassas is currently playing in “The Man Who Came to Dinner” at the Edyth Bush Theater in St. Paul and will soon appear in Noel Coward’s “Hay Fever.”

25 YEARS AGO

April 1984

Murrae Freng, former Alexandria music director, resigned as executive director of the Minnesota State High School League. The most gratifying memory in his 19-year tenure was in March 1969 when the league adopted the program for girls interscholastic athletics… Braun’s Bakery was recognized by Minneapolis Star and Tribune for its quality whole wheat English muffin bread. The bakery ships a dozen loaves at a time to other states, including New York… Wanda Carlson of Garfield is a candidate in the Minnesota Miss Teen Pageant. The pageant recognizes outstanding teenagers who have made significant contributions to their community… The Alexandria Newspaper’s Crimebusters is a program that pays rewards from tips leading to the arrest and conviction of lawbreakers. An estimated $50,000 worth of stolen goods has been recovered in the past 10 years.

10 YEARS AGO

April 1999

A plan to widen the channel between Lakes Victoria and Geneva has gained support, even though funds are uncertain and the present tunnel may have historic value… Former Alexandrian, Mark Erickson, master chef and member of the gold-medal winning United States Culinary Olympics team in 1980, 1984 and 1988 and the 1985 Culinary World Cup, was named executive director of the Culinary Institute of America… Jake Bristow’s carved wooden replicas, skillfully crafted with moving parts, were featured in Lifestyles. He modeled his first project, a semi-truck with a trailer pin that swivels, at age 15… Joanna Bursch, former Alexandria athlete currently studying broadcasting in Connecticut, has been hired at ESPN for the summer… The Cardinal Girls posted 85 season bests as their track team won the triangular team title.

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Marge Van Gorp of Alexandria is a regular contributing columnist to the Echo Press Opinion page.

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