The Spring Grove girls rallied past visiting Schaeffer Academy with a 10-point run midway through the second half and went on to win by eight, 49-42. The Grove girls had trailed early by as many as 10 points (17-7) before coming to back to take the lead just nine seconds before halftime. But they would be back down at intermission, 23-21, after Gabriella Buehler sank all three … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past “Just gravity” and the electrified stool in Black Hammer
The Black Hammer Store, part two The first gasoline pump at the Black Hammer General Store would pump only one gallon at a time. In the store’s second machine, gas was pumped by hand from an underground tank into a tall above-ground, five-gallon glass globe. Whatever amount of gas the customer wanted would be pumped and then be dispensed through a hose into the automobile. “No … [Read more...]
Spring Grove guys fall to R-P, get past D-E
It was the fewest points in a win for the Spring Grove boys in a dozen years. Most of the Lions’ 44 points were the career-high 25 by sophomore Elijah Solum. The 44-33 victory came over Class AA Dover-Eyota on the second day of the Dec. 27-28 Rushford-Peterson Christmas Basketball Invite. A day before, a brief second-half ball-handling collapse had meant defeat versus host … [Read more...]
Spring Grove defense deprives Burro boys
The first few minutes provided no indication that Spring Grove would coast to a convincing 70-34 victory. It was a hot-shooting start for the Lanesboro boys who hit three of their first four shots, while the home team was going 1 for 8. The Burros led 7-2. But then, Spring Grove changed defenses and took complete control. Lanesboro managed only two more field goals before … [Read more...]
Spring Grove girls buried by Burros on the backboard, scoreboard
The Lanesboro girls dominated the game because they dominated the glass with a huge 47-to-18 rebounding bulge over visiting Spring Grove on Dec. 21. Both teams came in with only one league loss. With the 58-35 win, the Burros (6-3, 3-1 SEC) remained atop the SEC East Division standings. While the Lions (3-6, 3-2 SEC) remain numerically alive in the loop race, but they had no … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Bottles of pop awaited – beneath the trap door
The commencement of commerce in the Houston County hamlet of Black Hammer dates back to the 1860s when blacksmithing and storekeeping became a business plan. Gunder Mathison owned a blacksmith shop while also operating a general store before selling it to Bernt Hanson, another blacksmith. Thrond Jacobson, who purchased the store in the 1880s, restocked the shelves by carrying … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past It was not always a “man” manning Root River traps
Caledonia took pride having one of the best markets for raw furs in southern Minnesota, according to the Caledonia Journal in 1911. Houston County native Dell Stewart, launched his fur-buying business about 1899 and was well known by every trapper and hunter in the county. He paid the same commission price as would any fur house. He was credited with always giving “a man a … [Read more...]
Lile voted top Spring Grove net award; Lions honored for academics
Maggie Lile was voted the Impact Player award, the highest team honor, by her 2021 Spring Grove volleyball teammates. She was also the choice for the Hustle Award for the second straight season. The Heart Award went to Brielle Neeley. The Most Improved honor was shared by Kenadee Gerard and Lydia Solum, who are both repeat recipients. Gerard was also the MIP in 2020 and Solum … [Read more...]
Lion girls get past Cougars, Rebels, overtaken by Saints
All three home games were decided by single-digit margins; the Spring Grove girls won both conference contests - a 43-38 decision against Mabel-Canton and a 54-45 escape versus Southland – before dropping a 48-39 non-conference clash with St. Charles. The Lions came from behind to subdue the Cougars on Monday (Dec. 13), but Spring Grove lost a huge 21-point lead before … [Read more...]
Second-half surge sends Spring Grove boys past Southland
The Spring Grove boys (3-1) improved to 2-0 in Southeast Conference play with a 59-37 road rout of Southland on Dec. 17 in Adams. The ultimate point spread was somewhat surprising after a first half that saw six-lead-changes, three tie scores and the Lions’ modest 26-22 halftime lead. But the Lions then revved up the running game and quieted the home crowd by tallying 26 of the … [Read more...]