Part seven of a series (part six published a year ago in February 2022) Houston County and Fillmore County were established, broken off from Wabasha County in 1854. An 1882 history of Houston County reviewed some newsworthy events in the county during its first three decades. For additional historical perspective, the following – except for editorial notations in parentheses … [Read more...]
Lanesboro to host Filthy 50 Bike Race again in 2023
Filthy 50 event coordinator Trenton Raygor was present at the February 6 Lanesboro City Council meeting via Zoom to ask the council’s approval to host the event in Lanesboro again this year. The date of the bike race will be October 14, with the same street closures and plans as previous years. Council member Chase Bakke noted that he had received complaints from farmers that … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Children warned about peril in the sand pit
In one respect, sand saved the city, but it could be deadly. Houston, located just west of where Highway 76 meets Highway 16, was first located east of that intersection. Starting in the 1850s, the village prospered with a flour mill, a sawmill, a shingle factory and a cooper who made barrels for the flour mill. However, with the proximity of the Root River, high water and … [Read more...]
Roll On – A Tribute to Alabama Calling ALL Alabama fans!
Enjoy this top-notch group of musicians having fun with the great hits of the iconic country band, Alabama. The harmonies and instrumentation of Roll On create memories of some of the greatest songs of all time. All will enjoy the American country and southern rock sounds that made Alabama music hit the charts with over 40 number one hits! The event will be held 7 p.m. on … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past In a hurry? Avoid the “milk runs”
Butter was a staple for the early settlers of southeast Minnesota. Before cooking oil, there was lard and butter for cooking and baking. Butter was on every dinner table for use with many foods. However, butter did not become a major commercial enterprise until dairying became a major agricultural pursuit in the 1880s. Raising hogs was the first large-scale livestock operation … [Read more...]
Winter carnival being held in Wykoff on Saturday, January 28 St. Johns Lutheran Church & School hosts annual carnival as part of National Lutheran Schools Week
St. Johns Lutheran Church and School invites the community to its annual Winter Carnival on Saturday, January 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Wykoff Commons in Wykoff. The youth-oriented event will offer fun, games and activities, featuring multiple inflatable bouncy units and a balloon artist. St. Johns is hosting this event as part of National Lutheran Schools Week (NLSW), … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Watchdog a better solution than a train ticket to North Dakota
Second of a series Referred to as vagrants, bums or tramps, these men on the move often moved through southeastern Minnesota during the early years of settlement in the mid-to-late 1800s. Some were heavy drinkers, disheveled in appearance and possibly ill mannered. Even some who were obviously well bred and highly educated preferred an existence through charity rather than … [Read more...]
Late surge lifts Lions past West Lutheran
The Spring Grove girls scored the last dozen points of the game to win by 15 against West Lutheran, 58-43, on Dec. 28, the second day of holiday double headers at Rushford-Peterson. West Lutheran is located in Plymouth, just west of the Twin Cities and plays in Class A, Section 4. Lion freshman Kylie Hammel had an outstanding stat line with 18 points, 8 rebounds, 2 … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Rosy cheeks and recess at the skating rink
Fifth of a series “Fox and Geese” or “Crack the Whip” or “Pom-pom-pullaway“ or even a hockey game might break out. It was all impromptu as Spring Grove youngsters organized games on outdoor ice during the 1950s and ‘60s. Nature provided ice skating locations in lower elevations with rivers, lakes and sloughs. Farm youth, after shoveling off snow, could skate on frozen ponds, … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Icy and fiery, a Christmas like no other
It was a Christmas never to be forgotten by those who experienced it or heard about it from older family members. The temperature was teens below zero, but stationed on every nearby roof to the southeast, people guarded against airborne embers. It was about 10:30 Friday night, December 19, 1924, when on his way home, Owen Onsgard smelled smoke. Several hours after the start of … [Read more...]
