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...]
Spring Grove girls cannot contain Cobras, ‘Canes
The Spring Grove girls suffered a third straight lopsided loss to a larger school with a 70-38 setback against Class AA Triton at Dodge Center on Dec. 7. Two nights later, it was back to Class A competition, but the Lions could not contain defending conference champion Houston in a 58-32 road loss. It was the first-ever meeting with the Cobras but the 102nd clash with the … [Read more...]
Grinde is Spring Grove MVP, among four Lions named All-District football
Tysen Grinde was voted Spring Grove football Most Valuable Player, one of four Lions named to the 2021 coaches All-District Football Team along with two receiving Honorable Mention. Sophomore Elijah Solum was All-District and the Lions’ Defensive Player of the Year. All-District senior Carson Gerard was both the Lion’s Lineman of the Year and the Rookie of the Year. Jaxon … [Read more...]
Lion boys coast past ‘Canes, fall to top-ranked Iowa team
Daylight and darkness, rags and riches – there was considerable contrast between the Spring Grove boys’ two opponents and outcomes last week. It began at home on Dec. 7 against Houston, a team suffering through a losing streak that was extended to 24 games. The week ended Saturday on the road against the top-ranked Class 1A team in Iowa (the smallest enrollment class). North … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Muskrats, milkweed and bismarks brought much-needed income
Part two of a series Making money with milkweed? Well, not all that much money, but children all over the United States, including some in southeast Minnesota, once harvested milkweed pods as either a patriotic duty or a source of badly-needed family income – or both. During the Great Depression of the 1930s and during the citizen rationing of World War II (1941-45), economic … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Peddling while pedaling provided some money, plenty of hard work
Following World War II in the late 1940s and 1950s, the United States economy boomed, but not for many family farms and some farm communities. The business of family farming depended on all family members old enough to do chores. Sometimes, kids in town also had to help support the family. If the family did not have a business in town, the first childhood chore could be finding … [Read more...]
Grove girls open with win versus Schaeffer, followed by two losses to Iowans
The Spring Grove girls won once and lost twice as they opened the 2021-22 basketball season with three games in five days – first on the road, then at home and at a neutral site. Neither of the three contests were closely contested at the end. The Lions (1-2, 1-0 SEC) prevailed, 60-27, in a Nov. 3 battle with another young Lion team. After that conference conquest over … [Read more...]