Column - 1912: Douglas County has 150 car owners, 50 in clud

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 1912

There are 150 car owners in Douglas County, 50 of whom are members of the Automobile Club… G.A. Gorstch marked off 12 routes for potential scenic drives throughout the county… The firm of Lang and Atwood are financially embarrassed and will close their doors… The City Council has asked permission to plant a hedge of willows along the shore of Lake Agnes… Charles Lux arrived from Washington and has started to set up the merry-go-round for the summer… Frank Schraufnagel opened up a pool hall in the Miller building on 6th Avenue… N.N. Akesson opened a flour and feed store in the Brown Building on 6th Avenue… North American Storage needs 25 young men in the egg and mailing department for $1.25 to $1.50 per day.

50 YEARS AGO

MAY 1962

Mayo Johnson and Oliver Olson were pictured looking over the land recently purchased by Ludke and Co. for a new office and warehouse… Ten plays will be produced throughout the Theatre L’Homme Dieu season this year, including Arsenic and Old Lace, Harvey, Dial M for Murder and Picnic… High school math teacher Josephine Hokanson has been nominated for president of the Minnesota Educational Association… Commander Win Lange proudly announced that Post 87 now has 924 members… Carl’s Fireside Steakhouse has joined a select group of state restaurants listed recommended as “good and satisfactory in every way” by the new Mobile Travel Guide… The area technical school’s practical nursing program is set to receive applications for class to start September 4.

25 YEARS AGO

MAY 1987

Two years ago, the Pioneer Heritage Conservation Trust was formed by four men with love and respect for the land. Dean Elmer, George Larson, Vern Ostrom and Carl Madsen raised funds and created wildlife areas, all to make people aware of the importance of caring for the land. They are to be commended… In Alexandria on a two-week law enforcement exchange program is 6’ 7” Percy Mather, chief inspector of the Northumbria Police Force in England… The Land O’ Lakes dairy production plant will soon be shut down because of declining milk production in Central Minnesota… BACH Partnership is negotiating with the city of Alexandria for the purchase of the Bellanca building at the airport… Larry Novotny and Larry Fimon each rolled a 300 game during their regular league play.

10 YEARS AGO

MAY 2002

Volunteers put together the “Snorri” Viking Ship in the Runestone Museum. The ship, valued at $100,000, was purchased for $15,000 from the American Museum of Natural History. It had been broken down in pieces from a display in Texas and trucked here to become a part of the museum… Gerry Geris, the first driver to win five outright point championships and Franki Herzog, the first flagman, were inducted into the Viking Speedway Hall of Fame… Jefferson High School students performed 7,000 hours of community service so Superintendent Ric Dressen lost another bet and shouted from the rooftops… Lack of snow this past winter and extremely mild weather caused extensive damage to dozens of launching ramps throughout Minnesota… The Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians named Dr. Randy Peterson the Family Physician of the Year.

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

Tags: opinion, columns