1920, 100 years ago: Men’s work shoes, one lot of $5 values/now $3.98; one lot of $6.50 values/now $4.98 at Herberger’s Cruse Co.
Will plow stubble land for $3 an acre where board is furnished. Albert Stoecker, Route 5, Osakis.
1970, 50 years ago: Effective Oct. 1, 1970, room rates at Douglas County Hospital will be increased by $3.50 per day. Private rooms will be changed from $37 to $40.50 per day and semi-private from $33.50 to $47. No general increase has been made to the room rate structure since October 1969. The new rate structure is expected to handle operating costs for 1971 as well as provide funds for the new hospital.
In spite of a cold, rainy and generally miserable Tuesday, more people turned out for a primary election in Douglas County than ever before, 6,646 of them. The previous high recorded in a primary election dates back to 1954 when 5,951 voters turned out. Locally, the biggest vote-getter was Hazel Holt of Alexandria who swamped her four rivals for the post of clerk of District Court. She amassed a total of 4,572 votes which was nearly four times the combined total of her four challengers (1,969).
1995, 25 years ago: A saddle and western-wear store in downtown Alexandria will soon become a restaurant as the Alexandria City Council agreed to give $20,000 from its Revolving Loan Fund to Jerry Rapp of Alexandria. Rapp plans to renovate the Kalpin’s Boots and Saddles building at 504 Broadway into a restaurant. The project is expected to cost $40,000 and add 10 new jobs, according to City Planner Mike Weber. There was one snag to the loan request – the city’s Revolving Loan Fund has been depleted this year so the money won’t be available until next year.
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Sales of Minnesota State Lottery tickets reached an all-time high in Douglas County during the past year (July 1, 1994 to June 30, 1995). A total of $2,548,022 worth of instant-win scratch-off games and tickets for Powerball, Gopher 5, Daily 3 and DATO! were sold in Douglas County – a 7% increase from the previous fiscal year – and the biggest year for sales in the county since the Lottery started five years ago.
Rainbow Rider, a new general public transit system serving all ages in Douglas, Grant, Pope, Stevens and Traverse counties, is ready to roll. The system is designed to help people travel from one general place to another in and around the five-county area.
2010, 10 years ago: Alexandria is one of four Minnesota cities that have been certified for the “Shovel Ready” program through the State Department of Employment and Economic Development. This means the city has prime sites for businesses to move in virtually hassle free. The planning, zoning, environmental studies, title work, public infrastructure and other pre-construction activities have already been completed.
An opening celebration was held for “The Legacy” apartment complex along 34th Avenue in Alexandria south of Bridgewater Estates. The $10 million project offers one-, two- and three-bedroom units. Twenty percent of the units are designated for low-income families.
Just for fun 1970 – 50 years ago: Mrs. Holt, in winning the primary, became the first woman to seek an office in Douglas County since Mrs. Dulce Lommen ran against Hans Hanson for the treasurer’s post 12 years ago.
Sports Trivia 1995 – 25 years ago: Andy Cavers led the Cardinal cross-country runners to a fourth-place finish in the Princeton Invitational. About 35 teams took part in what is believed to be the biggest cross-country race in the world. Cavers placed 10th among the 700 competitors in the Class AA Division with his clocking of 16.39, his best ever. Two other Cardinals, Erik Quam and Jeremy Schultz cracked the top 25 finishers, placing 21st and 24th respectively.
Rachel Barduson of Alexandria is a regular contributing columnist to the Echo Press Opinion page.
