Column – 1999: Dr. Lowell Gess wins humanitarian award

Talk about it

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

100 YEARS AGO

May 1909

Ed Thompson has closed his meat market, leaving Alexandria with only one such market to serve the residents… The Oriental Limited Train on the Great Northern is now lighted by electricity produced from a generator in the baggage car and run by steam from the locomotive… The temperatures had warmed to 67 degrees by noon before an afternoon windstorm blew in and caused it to drop down to 14 degrees by nightfall… Senator Knutson will be shown in a motion picture exhibit in his home country. Norwegian photographers were in Washington to film the action, which also includes President Taft… The U.S. Postal Department has issued a stamp to commemorate the purchase of Alaska Yukon Pacific Territory. The red 2-cent stamp features a portrait of William Seward with the date of 1909.

50 YEARS AGO

May 1959

Jefferson School mathematics teacher Viola Halverson watched as David Carlson demonstrated a problem-solving skill, which won him second place in statewide competition. His score, combined with those of Karl Jesness and Wayne Brezina, earned Alexandria seventh place… Thirty resort and Chamber of Commerce people assembled to discuss the possibility of forming a West Central Resort Association… An inch of rain fell, breaking an all-time record heat wave that brought a high of 97 degrees on May 1… A ground-breaking ceremony was held at the site of the $100,000 addition to First Congregational Church… There were 155 kindergartners and six 1st graders registered at the annual Summer Round-up this week… “Once you try ’em, you’ll always buy’em” is the slogan for the new D-Q- Jet, priced at two for 39 cents at Dairy Queen.

25 YEARS AGO

May 1984

Alvin Hedstrom stood among the tornado- shattered wreckage of his son’s home near Hoffman. The barn and house were smashed, but all eight people survived. They had huddled in the southwest corner of the house, the only part of the basement not smashed by heavy beams, bricks or furniture. The same storm damaged the roof of the Runestone Center for the second time… A 1973 refurbished Ford Grand Torino, donated by Juettner Motors, will be the grand prize for the Jefferson High School graduation party… Lincoln School students learned the Maypole dance and other English customs from John Alton, a British exchange teacher from Devon, England… St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, in its 15th year in Alexandria, had a groundbreaking service for its fellowship and education addition.

10 YEARS AGO

May 1999

While participating in a Best of the Class event at Alexandria Technical College, Kristin Kalina, a Jefferson High School senior, won a television set donated by KSAX-TV… Nevin Brede, a member of the Alexandria junior high boys golf team, got the first hole-in-one of the season while playing at Nordic Trails… Jim Odden, 5th grade teacher at Garfield, was honored with letters of appreciation from his students during National Teacher Week… Dr. Lowell Gess was awarded the 1999 Outstanding Humanitarian Award by the Minnesota Academy of Ophthalmology. He is highly commended for his missionary and volunteer medical work in Sierra Leone… Alexandria won the 8AAAA True Team championship for the fourth straight year.

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

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