Column - 1985: Lund is first woman to receive an artificial heart

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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

December 1910

The owners of Interurban Telephone will disconnect service between Holmes City and Alexandria unless they can sell their interests to others on the line… Brandon Council voted that public dances would end at 1 a.m. Those gathering holes have been disturbing too many townspeople who do not want their children to stay up all night and be ruined of their health. If anyone needs to dance, 1 a.m. ought to be late enough… C.H. Larson will auction off Hart’s Store building in Nelson, the “Largest Village on Earth of its Size”… There is nothing prettier than one of the velvet Moorish rugs at Gregorsen’s. They are perfect to grace the library table or piano bench and are priced at only $3.

50 YEARS AGO

December 1960

While in New York City for medical treatment, Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Larson had the thrilling experience of being contestants for four days on the television game show Play your Hunch… Congratulations are extended to VFW Post 936 on their formal dedication of their new clubhouse on Third Avenue East… The Golden Gophers will battle it out with Washington in the Rose Bowl on January 2… Pictured was an artist’s sketch of how the Knute Nelson Memorial Home addition will look upon completion. Cost of construction is $125,513… A letter to the Park Region Echo revealed facts that Professor A.P. Donaldson, who later became editor of the Alexandria Post, was an expedition botanist for Custer’s Black Hills expedition of 1874.

25 YEARS AGO

December 1985

A Congressional Award recognizes young Americans for their personal development and volunteerism. 1985 winners are David Abers, silver, for campaign public service and fitness; bronze winners are Paul Hunt for making signs for the Engelbrecht wildlife farm, Greg Martin who took part in the Cadet Civil Air Patrol and earned a higher rank and Denise Breitkreutz, who volunteered at the Douglas County Hospital information desk and gift shop… Mary Elizabeth Lund of Kensington remains in critical condition following a heart transplant. She is the first woman ever to receive an artificial heart. A campaign to raise funds to help defray the costs of the emergency procedure has been started… An armed robber got away with an undetermined amount of money from Alexandria Fish and Bait Sunday afternoon.

10 YEARS AGO

December 2000

A song written by Parkers Prairie 11th and 12th graders was published in the anthology Give me Your Hand. They wrote the song featured in the book Three Hardworking Squatting Swedes, while working with musician-in-residence Charlie Macguire… Continental Bridge Company has been purchased by Contech Construction of Middleton, Ohio. The bridge company has built more than 10,000 bridges since its beginning in 1974… Everything you ever wanted to know about the history of money and markets may be found in The Sea of Markets and Money, written by Allen M. Blair of Alexandria… Fire destroyed the structure at the Hillside Pet Cemetery southwest of Alexandria. The loss is estimated to be $35,000… JHS juniors Taite Anderson and Melissa Jones have been nominated for the Minnesota State High School League’s Excellence in Communications Award.

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

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