Column - 1912: Former Alexandrian dies on Titanic; wife survives

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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

APRIL 1912

Former Alexandrian Oscar Holverson was a casualty on the Titanic. He once lived at the Letson Hotel. His wife survived the disaster… In 1911, Douglas County hunters brought in 4,764 wolves, for which they received bounties of $29,356.50… Miss Alice Holverson, a graduate of the School of Pharmacy, is on the short list of feminine pharmacists at the University of Minnesota… William Jenson opened a meat market in Forada… Alexandria High School School Board approved $1,445 for a new agricultural classroom. It will have a lab, office, recitation room and a coal bin… F.M. Stevens purchased two 30-horse 1912 Regal cars for his livery stable… Enrollment has begun for classes at the Snow School of Dressmaking, which is located above the restaurant across the street from the post office.

50 YEARS AGO

APRIL 1962

The Post Office Department has approved a special mail cancellation mark, “600th Anniversary Runestone, Alexandria, Minnesota” to be used to cancel all local mail for the next six months. Alexandria is indeed privileged to be one of only 15 special communities to be authorized each year… The Minnesota Railroad and Warehouse Commission has given permission to the Great Northern Railroad to discontinue the eastbound Red River No. 12 run from Moorhead to the Twin Cities via Alexandria, effective May 26… There were 235 senior citizens attending as special guests at the Runestone Museum on Saturday. Each received gifts from local businesses… Eine Siiri, along with his family, will go to Somali to serve as deputy director of agriculture for the American agricultural mission there.

25 YEARS AGO

APRIL 1987

“Read and Watch Your World Grow” was the theme for National Library Week. Mrs. Margaret Leuthner was honored during an open house at an autograph party for her book, Mystery of the Runestone… Recent changes in Alexandria businesses include Runestone Medical Building’s expansion of 5,800 square feet and a name change to Broadway Medical Center, the remodeling in Herberger’s 36,000-square-foot store, a new Super America on South Broadway, and the recent re-opening of Walmart with its new look… Auctioneer Wayne Whiting helped students learn about math and money by holding an auction in Judy Skramstad’s second grade class in Washington School… Lisa Kluver Grimes earned $2,550 for her first Future Golf Tour win.

10 YEARS AGO

APRIL 2002

The building that houses Bon Jos and Scandinavian Gifts, built in 1876, is being faced in brick and decorated with decorative awnings over the windows. Alexandria’s revolving loan fund is being used to fund a portion of the project… J.C. Penney employees in Alexandria helped 270,000 nationwide employees in celebrating the company’s 100th anniversary on April 14… Dr. Bryan Bymers recently returned from California and opened Cornerstone Chiropractic on North Nokomis… Out of 4,700-plus kids enrolled in School District 206, about 3,700 ride a bus on one of the 55 routes… The phosphorus-free fertilizer bill designed to keep Minnesota lakes clean and clear of algae passed the house on a 116-16 vote… Since its beginning, the publication Minnesota Law and Politics has continued to designate Thomas J. Reif as a “Super Lawyer.”

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

Tags: opinion, columns