Physically strong, self-sufficient men realized they were capable of taming the frontier but not always able to save the lives of their children and wives. During the last half of the 1800s, the first white settlers in southeast Minnesota had strategies for protection during Indian raids, but these hardy pioneers were defenseless against their most formidable enemy – disease. … [Read more...]
Girls drop soccer decisions to Cotter, Dover-Eyota
The Caledonia/Spring Grove/Houston soccer girls (1-2, 1-2 TRC) came up short in both games last week, a decisive 12-0 loss at state, top-10-ranked Winona Cotter on Sept. 7 and then two days later at home, a slim 2-1 decision against Dover-Eyota. Cotter 12, C/SG/H 0 “They (the Ramblers) were one of the best teams last year, and I didn’t know how they could get any better - … [Read more...]
Warrior soccer boys tie one, fall twice
The Caledonia/Spring Grove/Houston soccer boys (1-2-1, 1-1-1 TRC) played thrice last week, starting with a 1-1 tie versus visiting Winona Cotter followed by a 3-0 setback at Dover-Eyota and a non-conference 3-1 home loss against Holmen (Wis.). C/SG/H 1, Cotter 1 Austin Meyer came through with a second half score for the Warriors. Dover-Eyota 3, C/SG/H 0 The Eagles … [Read more...]
Grove girls go to 3-0 with runaway win at Schaefer
Addyson McHugh served a dozen aces as undefeated Spring Grove (3-0, 3-0 SEC) coasted past a third straight winless conference volleyball rival. The visiting Spring Grove Lions defeated the Schaeffer Academy Lions 3-0 (25-4, 25-12, 25-11) at Rochester on Sept. 7. With McHugh serving, the first 19 points, it was 18-0 before a Schaeffer kill ended the run. Spring Grove attacked … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Fillmore, Houston were among top tobacco-farming counties
Fillmore County, more than once, was the top tobacco-producing county in Minnesota. Houston County ranked seventh in 1860, third in 1870 and then second in 1880, according to U. S. Department of Agriculture statistics. Fillmore vaulted to number one in 1890 with five acres yielding 7,158 pounds of tobacco. In 1900, Fillmore was still on top with 86 acres producing 105, 420 … [Read more...]
Grove girls dominate all three sets at Lyle/Pacelli
It was the Spring Grove girls’ second runaway win in as many matches against overmatched competition as the Lions overwhelmed Lyle/Pacelli 3-0 (25-2, 25-8, 25-14) on Aug. 31 at Lyle. Overall, the Lions outscored L/P 75-24 with the Athletics scoring only 10 points on their own play while receiving 14 points from Spring Grove errors. The Lions were considerably more efficient … [Read more...]
Spring Grove opens with 14-0 shutout at Houston
On a foggy, soggy Sept. 3 at Houston, defenses dominated Spring Grove’s lowest-scoring game in 22 years, but the Lion offense came up with enough big plays for a 14-0 victory, which extended the Lions’ winning streak against the Hurricanes to 16. Sophomore Elijah Solum, in his first varsity start at quarterback, completed 12 of 18 passes (one interception) for 189 yards and a … [Read more...]
Soccer girls rally past P-E-M, 3-1
The Caledonia/Spring Grove/Houston soccer girls snapped an 11-game, scoreless losing slide with an exhilarating, season-opening 3-1 home win over Plainview-Elgin-Millville on Sept. 2. It was the Warriors’ first conference victory in three seasons. Senior Hailey Alfson put a 20-yard free kick inside the far post to tie the score at 1-1 during the 34th minute of play. That … [Read more...]
Soccer boys shut out P-E-M in season opener, 2-0
The Caledonia/Spring Grove/Houston soccer boys opened with a 2-0 shutout road win at Plainview-Elgin-Millville. While Warrior goalkeeper August Allen made five saves, Austin Meyer and Lyle Myhre scored unassisted goals. Both C/SG/H scores came during the first half of the Sept. 2 conference matchup. It was the boys’ first shutout win since last year’s season opener. The boys … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Some stomped, others popped those large tobacco pests
Minnesota is not often associated with tobacco farming - more likely, Virginia or Kentucky. But there were tobacco fields in Houston County. Local historian Georgia Rosendahl wrote about her tobacco experiences after her father Oscar Kroshus, one day in the mid-1940s, announced he was going to grow tobacco on the family farm just southwest of Spring Grove. “He had told the … [Read more...]