Norwegian emigration, part 4 Although the Norwegian emigrant voyages to North America, as covered last week, were rife with misery, there were also pleasant and even celebratory experiences on board in the mid-to-late 1800s. When weather permitted, the passengers were usually up on deck for routine duties while there were might also be games and dancing. Some skippers … [Read more...]
Legion baseball Lions fall to Dover-Eyota, Chatfield
The Spring Grove American Legion team (ages 19 & under) did not give up any big innings and few big extra-base hits against bigger school district squads, but the Lions only once got out of an inning without giving up a run. The first team to 10 runs won both games at Blayne Onsgard Memorial Field as Dover-Eyota won 10-1 and undefeated Chatfield triumphed 10-4 on June 21 … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Some lives ended, some began, all changed with emigration voyages
Norwegian emigration, part 3 Ole Olsen Sandness assumed responsibility for his five-year-old niece during a cholera-stricken voyage from Norway to America in 1854. His father, brother and sister-in-law were buried at sea. Ole, a single man at age 37, and young Alava would complete the ocean crossing and eventually settle in Wilmington Township, Houston County. What was … [Read more...]
Spring Grove shooters place fifth at state
The Spring Grove trap-shooting team finished fifth among 67 Class 1A varsity teams at the Minnesota Clay Target Association championships at Alexandria on June 14. With a team score of 463, the Lions were only eight birds behind champion Groves Academy (St. Louis Park). The top five individual scores were used to tabulate the team score. Garrison Van Minsel was the team’s top … [Read more...]
Grinde repeats Most Valuable as Lion boys honor four cagers
Caden Grinde, for the second straight season, was voted Most Valuable Player by his 2021 Spring Grove basketball teammates. And the for the third consecutive year, he also received the Hustle Award, determined by his season total of hustle points. Tristan Hammel was voted the Lion Award while the Most Improved Player recognition was shared by Jaxon Strinmoen and Tysen Grinde. … [Read more...]
Eight runs not nearly enough for Lions in Legion loss at Lewiston
Eight runs had been enough for the Spring Grove American Legion boys in the 8-4 summer season-opening win against Lanesboro, but eight was far from sufficient in a deflating 29-8 runaway loss at Lewiston on June 14. A June 20 encounter with Mabel was rained out. The Lion Legion lineup is mostly the same as in the just-completed school season. SG Legion 8, Lewiston … [Read more...]
Cal/SG high jumper Pieper is All-State, places sixth at state
Chris Pieper, of Caledonia/Spring Grove, is an All-State track athlete by virtue of earning the sixth-place medal among 15 high jumpers at the Class A State Track and Field Championships on June 17-19 at St. Michael. The junior jumper cleared the bar at 6-feet, 2-inches, which was one inch higher than he had achieved while advancing at the sub-section (first place) and … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Plentiful, fertile and affordable – but an ocean away
Norwegian emigration, part 2 Before becoming a Houston County resident in Black Hammer, Gunhild Tiegen - after 16 years of marriage - had become a widow in Norway in 1860 with no money, no land, few skills and six children, ages 13 to 1. Before farming his own land near Riceford, Ole Gunderson Treangen had been a Norwegian tenant farmer and son of a tenant farmer, who saw a … [Read more...]
Legion baseball Lions open with win against Lanesboro
Seven days after closing the school baseball season, the Spring Grove boys launched their summer Legion schedule with an 8-4 home win over Lanesboro on June 10. The Burros out-hit the Lions 13 to 5, but the Grove guys did not get as many good pitches to hit, reaching base 12 times with walks. Meanwhile Lion pitchers, starter Jaxon Strinmoen and reliever Isaac Griffin, walked … [Read more...]
Pieper to represent Cal/SG in high jump at state track meet
Junior Chris Pieper of Caledonia/Spring Grove qualified for the Class A State Track & Field Meet as the section runner-up in high jump. Junior Reid Bjerke had advanced to section in three events, medaling twice and earning team points in all three. He earned the fourth-place medal in the 200-meter dash and the fifth-place medal at 100-meters. Junior Logan Banse claimed the … [Read more...]