It was a blitz of big plays that propelled state-ranked No. 6 Spring Grove well past visiting No. 9 Mabel-Canton, 56-14, on Friday night, Sept. 16. The Lions scored four times on scrimmage plays that covered 46 yards or more plus a 60-yard Elijah Solum non-scoring pass to Tysen Grinde. And then there was Grinde’s74-yard kickoff return touchdown. Spring Grove improved to 3-0 … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Getting to court – by canoe, by wagon, on foot
In 1887, Judge Flandrau appeared before the Ramsey County, Minn., bar, where he delivered a lecture on the practice of law in the early days after statehood in 1858. “To give the younger members of the bar some idea on the difficulties attending the practice in early days, you must allow me to relate a few instances connected with my own experience. Mr. Brisbin called me down … [Read more...]
Spring Grove girls hurry through the Hurricanes
The Spring Grove volleyball girls overwhelmed visiting Houston 3-0 in a home match (25-14, 25-13, 25-8) on Sept. 13. The Lions outscored the Hurricanes at the net 36-15 and 21-0 from the service line. Each team had a similar number of attacks, but Spring Grove was far more successful in converting opportunities into kills. Spring Grove served 92% with five … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Falling cows among fallen apples
A standard large cow herd had 16 cows, according to Anita Lee (Hartman) Palmquist while describing her childhood chores on the Hartman family farm in Pleasant Valley near Hokah during the late 1920s and early ‘30s. Cows were milked by hand, and milk was carried by hand in pails from the barn to the milk house to be separated. Someone kept the separator tank full of milk while … [Read more...]
Lions lash Lyle/Pacelli, 48-20
SG 48, @ Lyle/Pacelli 20 Spring Grove improved to 2-0 with a convincing 48-20 road win over Lyle/Pacelli on a rainy, storm-interrupted night at Lyle on Sept. 9. It was 48-6 before the Athletics tacked on two late touchdowns. It was the 12th straight loss for L/P over the last three seasons. Spring Grove has won the last 15 games versus the Athletics. However, the … [Read more...]
Lion netters pass big test against Burros
Spring Grove improved to 4-0 while passing its first competitive volleyball test with a 3-0 road win at Lanesboro (25-20, 25-9, 25-22) on Sept. 8. The state-ranked No. 9 Lions racked up 15 more kills and 10 more service aces than did the home team, while the Burros’ only statistical edge came in scoring blocks, 4 to 2. Superior passing led to 108 attacks for the Lions, compared … [Read more...]
Grove girls coast past Schaeffer Academy
SG 3, Schaeffer Academy 0 25-19, 25-10, 25-15 Spring Grove improved to 3-0 while rolling to a third straight lop-sided volleyball win versus an overmatched conference rival. The visiting Lions poured in 18 service aces to only one for the host Schaeffer Academy Lions who had seven service errors. Schaeffer (0-4, 0-4 SEC) was the first Spring Grove foe to record more … [Read more...]
Spring Grove crushes Hurricanes in football opener, 60-30
The highest-scoring football game ever played between Spring Grove and Houston had the Lions leading 47-0 in the third quarter while the teams combined to score 57 points in that period alone. Spring Grove ultimately prevailed 60-30 in the September 2 season opener for both teams and the Lions’ 17th straight win in the series. Starting quarterback Elijah Solum (8 for 13, … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Overall, there were plenty of pockets
With an emphasis on function, bib overalls were the everyday fashion on the farm for men and boys during the mid-20th century (1900s). Nine or more pockets were available for whatever basic tools might be needed at a moment’s notice. That attire allowed a farmer to be a “walking tool bench,” concluded David Beckman, recalling his youth on a Houston County farm. The bib would … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Aprons: yesteryear’s coverups, carryalls and facecloths
Nowadays, few remember them. But in a previous century, aprons were an everyday essential in every woman’s wardrobe. With an overhead strap and tied in back, they were worn to protect a lady’s dress, “because women couldn’t afford to ruin the few dresses they had,” recalled David Beckman from his 1940s upbringing in rural southeast Minnesota. Compared to a dress, an apron … [Read more...]








