Column - 1986: Fingerhut gets computerized mail sorter

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

Four carloads of emigrants from Russia, Germany and Prussia arrived at the Forada depot. They came from Kansas, along with their household goods, cattle and 50 horses. They will live on the Fredenberg, Strang, LeRoy and Taylor farms in Douglas County…Canada has asked for reciprocity with the United States and free trade with Great Britain on horticultural, agricultural, animal products and farm machinery.

50 YEARS AGO

January 1961

A driverless transport loaded with perishables rolled out of the Shell Station on 3rd and Broadway, crossed the highway and rammed into the Francis Hotel and Gilmer Monument Company on North Broadway…Great Lakes Pipeline is the top taxpayer in Douglas County with a total bill of $29,953. Runner-up is the Ottertail Power Company…The city council and the city planners continue their debate as to whether to build a new city hall and fire station, or to remodel the old Geske building for its use.….Six-hundred and ninety-two Douglas County persons filed for unemployment last week, a increase of 43 over the corresponding period last year…Wayne Whiting, 32, was named Regional Manager of the Year in a contest sponsored by the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State Department of Education. At age 15, upon the death of his father, he became manager of the family farm. Within seven years, he had purchased the machinery and bought the farm before he was 30.

25 YEARS AGO

January 1986

An architect from the Minnesota Historical Society reported that the Knute Nelson House in Alexandria is “extremely structurally sound” and strongly suggests preservation of the site…Excerpts from Minnesota Volunteer was the source from which Jon Haaven answered all questions one may have about that little knob that juts northward on the Minnesota-Canada border known as the “Northwest Angle.” This small area – 123 square miles – was established as the official boundary with Canada after several treaties and 170 years of negotiations.…Jimmy the Dip, who went out in style after winning his final race, will retire to stud in Alexandria after being purchased by Jim and John Watkins. …A computerized mail sorter installed at Fingerhut has enabled the sorting of 135,000 pieces of mail an hour and required the hiring of 35 additional employees.

10 YEARS AGO

January 2001

Craig Damstrom was hired as an agricultural trade consultant by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. His position is to develop a market for the state’s domestic and international agricultural markets. He will continue to operate his Douglas County farm and to supervise the e-commerce trading company he and his son are involved with in Mexico…A state-wide poll indicated that the Minnesotans believe that Paul Wellstone should retire when his second term ends….Jane Westin, a stone epigrapher and recognized authority on researching stone carvings, will examine the Runestone with a microscope and present her findings to the public….A debate that has been smoldering for more than a year came to an end when the city council unanimously approved a new fire protection agreement with Alexandria Township.

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

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