Column - 1986: Halley's Comet spotted by Ron Unruh of Alexandria

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

January 1911

Since production began at the Rose City Creamery in 1905, its highest production was 36 tubs in one week. At the end of its third year, they were debt free and paid 8 percent interest to its stockholders. The $1,400 balance was used to build a six-room house for the butter maker. At the end of five years, they had produced 589,896 tubs of butter, for which they received $152,583.66… Herman Mattke of Miltona has two wives petitioning for his estate. The hearing has been postponed to allow the Oklahoma wife time to secure a copy of her marriage certificate. He had failed to divorce her before he married the second one… In 1910, there were 121 marriages and 10 divorces in Douglas County.

50 YEARS AGO

January 1961

Forty-three Minnesota communities will receive natural gas service this year from Northern National Gas Company. Construction of 275 miles of pipeline  will begin early this year by the Omaha-based transmission firm, with a completion date of the 1961-62 heating season… The grand opening of the newly-opened Schwartzwald Plymouth, Chrysler Imperial and Valiant car dealership is set for this weekend… James Langaas, office manager of Northwest Mortgage Loan Company, has been named “Outstanding Young Man of the Year” by the Jaycees. Archie Ziethamer was selected as “Outstanding Young Farmer of the Year”… The reorganized city council discussed the proposal for a new fire hall and police station. A hearing was also held on the rezoning of the south corner lot of 15th and Fillmore, the construction site of the Elk’s Club.

25 YEARS AGO

January 1986

Anxious fishermen Will Hardy and Keith Wilson fished in open water on the Long Prairie River recently. They had some luck, catching a couple of large northerns… Pictured was the new BMRA/Life One Minnesota medical helicopter that serves area communities… JHS Marching Band under the direction of John Anderson will begin rehearsing in the spring for their appearance in the 1987 Cotton Bowl… In December, Ron Unruh spotted Halley’s Comet through his binoculars from his back yard on Lake Darling… Mary Lund has been removed from the critical list and moved from intensive care unit after three weeks.

10 YEARS AGO

January 2001

General Motors plans to phase out Oldsmobile – Alexandria’ oldest car company – within the next two years. Despite decreased sales nationally, the cars continue to be top sellers at Lee Motors… Students at Miltona Science Magnet School designed and built a fish house that will be raffled off. The proceeds will be used to repay a bank loan and to help finance a geography field trip to Duluth and Ely in May… Rachel Barduson has been hired as assistant director of Douglas County Historical Society… REA Director DeWayne Rosell was honored for 20 years of dedicated service to the Runestone Electric Board of Directors… In honor of Veterans Day, readers of Echo Press and Doolittles Air Café have been asked to write an essay about a World War II veteran/hero. From the entries, the top three vote getters will be placed on the “Wall of Honor” of the new restaurant, scheduled to open next month.

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

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