Housecleaning appeared more appreciated by the livestock than by the humans. Some older cows jumped and pranced when they were returned to stalls that had just been cleaned. “Envision these animals sticking their noses in the fresh straw and with udders waving, leaping from ecstasy,” recalled Warren Lange in 2015 about cleaning the barn as a boy on a Houston County farm in the … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past With Awe and Reverence, Remembering Captain McIntire
He visited classes at Houston School to talk about the Battle of Gettysburg. He was knowledgeable because he had been there, in uniform, as a combatant. Born in Dedham, Mass., in 1838, Samuel Bates McIntire (sometimes spelled McIntyre) moved as a young man with his parents, Edmund and Sarah McIntire, to Minnesota territory in the early- to mid-1850s. First settling in Yucatan … [Read more...]
Lions close with Five-Set Section Loss to Alden-Conger
The Spring Grove 2023 volleyball season ended on Halloween at Rochester with a 3-2, five-set Section 1A quarterfinal setback to No. 5 seed Alden-Conger. With the No. 4 seed, the Lions evened the match by taking the second set 25-16 and the fourth set 25-20 after the Knights had won the first set 25-15 and the third set 25-16. The back-and-forth momentum held as A-C won again in … [Read more...]
Spring Grove Sails Past Southland in Section Volleyball Opener
Spring Grove’s 39 kills were three times that of visiting Southland in the Section 1A Round of 16 volleyball match-up on Oct. 26. With the No. 4 section seed, the Lions improved to 22-6 by routing the Rebels, 3-0 (25-13, 25-13, 25-16). No. 13 seed Southland (16-8) had defeated No. 20 Schaeffer Academy, 3-0, to advance to the Round of 16. Spring Grove has won all four matches … [Read more...]
Football: Lions Return to 9-Man Finals, Oust ‘Cougs and Cards
Section 3-seed Spring Grove, last year’s state runner-up, returns to the 9-man section title game after avenging a regular-season loss to Mabel-Canton in the quarters and then upending LeRoy-Ostrander 27-20 in a snowy semi-final. At home in the 32-6 win against 6-seed Mabel-Canton (4-4), the Lions (6-2) scored on its first possession in each half and its first four … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past: Lonely and Secluded, but Crowded and Cramped
The wayside tavern/hotel was so small, it was nicknamed the “Seven by Nine.” It was often so crowded that the innkeeper and his wife slept in their chairs while renting out their own bed. About six miles west of Brownsville, on the old Brownsville-to-Caledonia portion of the Territorial Road in Union Township, Houston County, it was a welcome stopover in the 1850s for weary … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past: Flour, Fruit, Fabric and Lots of Stockings
Part three of a series During the Great Depression decade of the 1930s, families were often large while money and employment were scarce. The United States government purchased relief food, clothing and supplies and gave it to the Red Cross for distribution to those in need. Flour was the primary food staple with other foodstuff added when possible. The distribution center … [Read more...]
Lion Girls Win Five, Drop One to Finish Regular Season at 21-6
Spring Grove closed the 2023 volleyball regular season with a 21-6 record after winning four matches and dropping one for a third-place finish at the Goodhue Tournament and then a 3-0 conference road romp at Austin versus Lyle/Pacelli (25-11, 25-10, 25-6). The lone tournament loss came against Class AA state-ranked No. 3 Chatfield. The Lions, at 12-2 in Southeast … [Read more...]
Spring Grove Girls Coast Past Wolverines, Burros
The Spring Grove volleyball girls celebrated 2023 Homecoming with a 3-0 whipping of Glenville-Emmons (25-17, 25-10, 25-13) before completing an SEC sweep at Lanesboro, 3-0 (25-13, 25-10, 25-13). Both opponents struggled to return serve and initiate an offense. Overall, the Lions outscored the Wolverines, 75-40, and the Burros, 75-36. West Division G-E went home with a 6-18 … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past: Congress Held Her Responsible in Houston County – Part two of a series
Part two of a series It was September 1932 when Mathilda (Mrs. Knute) Lee of Spring Grove traveled by bus to Rochester to meet with Minnesota congressman Paul Quale from Benson, the top regional official of the Red Cross, C. M. Roland, that organization’s Assistant National Director of Disaster Relief, Henry Baker, and other volunteers from other Minnesota counties. Her paid … [Read more...]