Column - 2002: Members of 4-H celebrated 100th birthday

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

AUGUST 1912

George Campbell has installed a new feed mill in his 6th Avenue building. Its 20- horsepower kerosene engine will grind 100 bushels per hour… The post office set a rate of 1-cent per ounce for packages weighing no more than 4 ounces. A package cannot contain anything that is liable to hurt any employee or office equipment… In a new law passed by Congress, not the post office, all first and second class post office windows must close on Sundays. Patrons will continue to have access to their lock boxes on that day… All 350 rooms at the Minneapolis Radisson Hotel have circulating and refrigerated water. Daily rates are as follows: With running water- $1.50; toilet and water, $2; bath and toilet, $2.50.

50 YEARS AGO

AUGUST 1962

Attendance at the Douglas County Fair totaled 21,910 paid attendees, which includes an estimated 10,210 pass holders and children younger than 12. This is down from last year’s attendance of 26,000… Carol Johnson of Brandon was named Dress Review Queen and received the Archer Daniel Midland award and a Herberger’s $10 gift certificate. Leonard Winkels of Millerville was named Champion Butter maker. Other county fair champions were Roger Thompson of Kensington with his gilt and Jerry Engelbrecht with his ewe lamb. He also received the sheep showman championship award… William Williams, former Alexandria High School football coach, has been named operations manager of the Metropolitan Stadium… Bursch Travel and Greyhound Bus Lines are offering five economy-class trips a day to Minneapolis for $3.98, including taxes.

25 YEARS AGO

AUGUST 1987

Signs were recently changed in the Holiday Inn to show a switch in the hotel’s affiliation to Park Inn International… At the Rose City Threshing Festival, Irene Lundquist sauntered down a farm lane and sat under a canopy where she enjoyed her 70th with a cup of London tea while being serenaded by two fiddlers… The total number of people attending this year’s county fair is estimated at 44,500. Good weather and the free Dottie West concert were considered to be a factor in the huge count. Shrieking fair-goers on the Midway felt the pull of centrifugal force as they swooped in circles on the “Cobra,” the favorite ride at the fair… Tammy Dittberner of Parkers Prairie was named Miss Minnesota America Pre-Teen and also chosen Miss Personality by her peers in state competition.

10 YEARS AGO

AUGUST 2002

Members of 4-H celebrated their 100th birthday at the 2002 Douglas County Fair, where the attendance was estimated at 51,350. Beth Freeman of the Nelson 4-H Club received the prestigious silver pitcher Thornton Trophy, given to the outstanding junior leader… Janel Spaeth, stylist at Salon Alexis, was one of 600 bicyclists to complete the 500-mile trek across Europe to raise money for AIDS. About 70 percent of the ride was uphill, and it rained five out of seven days. The trek from Amsterdam to Paris averaged 80 to 100 miles per day… Several thousand decaying fish floated atop light-brown snarls of algae on Lakes Agnes and Henry, their white bodies resembling soda crackers in pea soup. It has been determined to be the result of inadequate oxygen in the shallow waters.

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

Tags: opinion, columns