First of a two-part series Hundreds of years before paved roadways, there was an extraordinary prehistoric trail near present-day Spring Grove and Houston. Before statehood, Spring Grove Township named one early road Indian Trail Road, which is now part of Houston County Highway 8 where it meets Highway 44. “While most Indian trails were only narrow footpaths through the … [Read more...]
Decades of sports, mostly spectating Enjoying the 21st Summer Olympics in Montreal, 1976
Hearing the “Star-Spangled Banner” played while standing on foreign soil was unexpectedly emotional. I had heard the national anthem at sporting events countless times, but for me, it was different at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. That anthem was played 34 times, once for each gold medal. At the 21st modern Olympiad, the United States won the third-most gold … [Read more...]
Soccer (9/14 – 9/18)
(B) Dover-Eyota 6, Cal/SG/Hou 1 (Again, the Warrior boys gave up an early goal to the visitors, two minutes, 49 seconds into the match. Late in the first half, undefeated D-E (5-0, 5-0 TRC) added a pair of goals within 38 seconds to take a 4-0 lead into intermission. Down 6-0, C/SG/H received a goal from sophomore Austin Meyer to close the scoring with 24 minutes remaining.) … [Read more...]
Decades of sports, mostly spectating Most famous football play; I will never forget “not” seeing it
It has been called the “most famous play in college football history.” Surely, it was the most bizarre tackle in all of football history, an official “non-tackle” that interrupted an official 95-yard touchdown run that ended 42 yards away from the goal line. Dubbed ‘the 12th man tackle,” it occurred on a big football stage, a New Year’s Day bowl game, and continued on a … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past 1936 “cream can” caper increases Eitzen bank heist total
Yikes! – yes, another one. I thought my August 3 column covered all of the bank thefts in Eitzen (1964, 1986, 1991). But alert readers with good memories have since pointed out that I was at least one heist short of a quartet. Lifetime Houston County resident Glenn Buxengard recalled the “cream can crime” – but was not sure of the exact year. Carol Ann Burtness, the … [Read more...]
Soccer 9/10 & 9/12
(G) Cotter 13, Cal/SG/Hou 0 (The visiting Cotter girls scored just 12 seconds into the match. About seven minutes later, the Ramblers scored twice within 35 seconds to make it 3-0. A penalty kick goal made it 6-0 a half-minute before halftime. Cotter (4-0, 4-0 TRC) scored again just a minute and 49 seconds into the second half. Cotter, the conference and section favorite, had … [Read more...]
Ed Asner featured during film festival in Spring Grove
There were 50 films introduced, but at age 90, the main attraction to many was seven-time Emmy Award winner Ed Asner. The acclaimed guest of honor flew halfway across the country for the first annual Spring Grove International Film Festival. The three-day event experienced rain during the mostly indoor showings on Friday and Saturday (September 11 and 12), but on Sunday, a … [Read more...]
Decades of sports, mostly spectating; Wish I had asked him more about Amberoid’s Triple Crown upset
Just me and a multi-millionaire in my compact rental car. His horse had once pulled off a Triple Crown upset. Wish I had asked him more. After last week’s introduction to this column, I did not expect to begin a nearly seven-decade remembrance of spectating with a sport about which I know little and with which I have little experience – horse racing. I have enjoyed a few days … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past: County commitment, caring couple create home, family for unfortunate
Last of two-part series This farmhouse was a residence to which few aspired. However, many unfortunate citizens were indeed fortunate to find a “home and family for 45 years” with Cyrilla and Valentine Esch at the Houston County Poor Farm. In 1901, the county decided to replace a condemned “poor house” near Hokah with a spacious replacement near Caledonia — built in 1903 with … [Read more...]
I am older than the 3-point basket, the 2-point conversion
Decades of sports, mostly spectating Lonnie Morken, Hall of Fame volleyball coach at Mabel-Can¬ton, once suggested I should write about all of this. I dis¬missed any c o n s i d e r ¬ation of add¬ing anything to an already c r o w d e d sports writ¬ing sched¬ule. But now - with high school sports interrupted by a pandemic - there is time to challenge my sports memory. If this … [Read more...]