Column - Housen wins trailer in 1962 bowling tournament

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

The German Lutheran Church was organized 25 years ago with seven families in the congregation. The Rev. A. Bartz has brought the membership to 400… Eggs at North American Storage are priced at 30 cents a dozen. Some slightly broken eggs that would not stand shipping over the railroad are 20 cents. At those prices, bring your own containers… Eighteen girls and 12 boys make up the Alexandria High School roster this spring. Among the graduates are Hugh Robards and Archibald Unumb… The first floor of the Odd Fellows building has been remodeled and equipped with opera chairs for the presentation of motion pictures. There are now three theaters in Alexandria… The U.S. Congress is considering a pension bill for veterans payable monthly at age 62.

50 YEARS AGO

MAY 1962

Keith Wallace will present the history of the Runestone to Governor Eagan of Alaska at the Governor’s Conference. He will stop at the Seattle World’s Fair en route home to promote Alexandria and the Runestone documentary comic book… Tom Housen of Alexandria beamed happily as he posed with a $1,800 Rolite trailer after averaging 198 in 24 lines of competition to win the WNAX Bowling Tournament… The northwest’s newest ballroom “without a name” is slated to open this week when Tommy Tomek and “his golden saxophone and orchestra” will sound the first note of the first number of the first dance… With the addition of three connecting rooms, two family rooms and one single room, the Skyline Hotel now has a total of 12 rooms.

25 YEARS AGO

MAY 1987

“Buds,” a Chinese pug belonging to Loren Lee, won the dubious honor of being the Ugliest Dog in the Pet Fair held at Runestone Community Center. Seven-year-old Rollin Janssen’s 14-pound cat sleeked its coat of gray and white fur to become the Showiest Cat of the fair… The Douglas County sheriff’s department is still seeking clues two weeks after the disappearance of Vicki Sundgaard… Rotary Club members planted two flowering crabapple trees and one ash tree inside the Fort Alexandria part of the Runestone Museum. Last year a 10-foot evergreen was planted beside the country schoolhouse… Alexandria Christian Television received two nominations from the American Christian Television System for “Broadcast Affiliate of the Year” and for” Community Event,” two weeks after the 2-year-old station went off the air because of lack of funds.

10 YEARS AGO

MAY 2002

Only a handful of Miller Brewing Company’s 8,500 suppliers are singled out for their prestigious “Partners in Excellence” award for providing the best possible product at the best possible price. Douglas Machine was so honored for their excellence in manufacturing… Fillmore Park has been renamed Dean Melton Park to honor the man who dedicated his life to the improvement and expansion of Alexandria’s parks… Brady and Justin Haak are two happy Garfield brothers. Their winning Outdoor News contest essay earned them the right to participate in the Governor’s Fishing Opener on Rainy Lake… The Alexandria Elk’s Club presented Chuck and Donna Rae Pugh its “Citizen of the Year” award. They were instrumental in getting the humane society off the ground.

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

Tags: opinion, columns