Column - 1959: New Chevy Biscayne can be delivered for $2,175

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

The Board of Education purchased 10 acres of the Letson farm, five blocks south of the high school. It will be used as an experimental farm in connection with the agriculture course that was added to the curriculum. Planting will begin at once… Someone stole the brass cuspidor at the Great Northern depot… A contract has been let for construction of a Swedish Lutheran Church on 6th and D Street. The 40x40 foot building of Menomonee sand and mold brick with full basement will cost $6,345… The Commercial Club has appointed a committee to consider ways and means of obtaining a sewer system for Main Street… John Rice has moved his lath mill from Rose City to Eagle Bend.

50 YEARS AGO

May 1959

David Carlson, son of Dr. and Mrs. C.E. Carlson, was awarded a scholarship in mathematics at St. Olaf College by the National Science Foundation… Dwight Wagenius and Bob Divine Jr. were voted into the American Legion Boys State… The Douglas County Fair Board voted to discontinue the Sunday grandstand shows… A new building to replace the burned out Woolworth Store is expected to be completed July 1… A sign of progress is under way at Seiling Oil Station on 3rd and Nokomis as workmen remove the back portion in the first step in expansion of the Texaco site… A new 1959 Chevrolet Biscayne four-door sedan equipped with heater, defroster and signal lights in your choice of color can be delivered to you for $2,175 from Minnesota Motors.

25 YEARS AGO

May 1984

The Swedish shot-put champion, Per Nilsson, visited the city of Alexandria. His brother, Magnus, had lived with the Trumm family as an exchange student five years ago… The second annual Baby Olympics was held at Viking Plaza. Babies were judged as crawlers, walkers, runners, or for doing summersaults… Eight hundred six students will graduate from Alexandria Technical College this month… Judges from the Dispatch/Pioneer Press World’s Largest Walleye Contest rated Lake Carlos in 10th place among lakes that produced the biggest walleyes… Doug Kobs, local potter and stoneware designer, has opened a studio/shop at 7th and Nokomis… Tom Lehman picked up his third PGA check. He tied with three other players with scores of 294, 19 strokes behind the leader.

10 YEARS AGO

May 1999

The new Runestone Museum exhibit entitled “Protecting and Serving: A Tribute to Our Volunteer Firemen” featured history and equipment of Douglas County’s 11 fire departments… The robber of the Stearns Bank National Association in Evansville had possession of $875 for only a few hours before he was apprehended… Steven Henning, local artist, wants to incorporate some art on the “white blank canvas” walls of the newly renovated Douglas County Court House… Edna Doebber’s Exploding Star quilt, her 15th donation to the Make-a-Wish Foundation, raised $350 in the recent annual auction... Nutritional Services, Inc. is looking to dining sites to provide Meals on Wheels service in the county… Aleesha Jantzen was crowned New Star Discovery’s Most Beautiful Baby at the state competition, and will advance to the nationals in Chicago in August.

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

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