Lake County Past:: Nov. 26

Talk about it

From Lake County newspaper archives.

100 years ago, 1910

Dr. Chefley of St. Paul has commenced his work of taking cultures from the throat of every scholar attending the public schools. The cultures as fast as taken will be sent to St. Paul and will be tested for diphtheria germs. All children showing signs will be excluded from the schools until such time as it is absolutely certain that there is no danger from the suspect coming down with the disease. These drastic measures have been made necessary for the reason that so many cases have been developed in the schools.

New post office

The lease on the present building expires next April and a new site must be provided affording better accommodations for the public. Bids are open for a new room for the post office from Nov. 18 until Dec. 18, 1910; either a five or ten year lease will be accepted. Specifications are at the post office and can be seen any time by inquiring of the postmaster. Now is the time for some enterprising citizen to take action.

75 years ago, 1935

Farmers and members of the Lake County Cooperative Power, attended the city council meeting with a proposal for contracting for electric current for distribution in the rural areas. 300 have already signed up for the government loans to cover lines along the North Shore beyond Beaver Bay, Silver Creek, State Road No. 2, Knife River and Stanley districts. The approved loans would cover the cost of building transmission lines, wiring homes and the purchase of appliances.

Bobcat killed

According to the law of averages, Allen Brown did something Saturday night he will be unlikely to repeat in the next million years. Driving toward Silver Bay he slowed momentarily to avoid striking what he thought was a dog. Having struck the animal he backed up to make an investigation. He found a beautiful bobcat weighing about 78 pounds. He has been offered $25 for the pelt for mounting. The animal was evidently engrossed in tracking a deer for it paid no attention to the approaching car.

50 years ago, 1960

F. J. Voss, president of the DM&IR railroad, had the honor of pressing a button which activated the infrared plant at Two Harbors on Nov. 10. The ore thawing facility was used on a limited scale this season, but because of its success, the company plans to use it to thaw ore in the future.

Nest of kettles

The 18 brass copper kettles of the fur trade era recently discovered in the water below Horsetail Rapids at the head of Saganaga Lake can now be seen at the Minnesota Historical Society. Recovered by Dr. E. W. Davis, and three divers, Dennis Dalen, Curtis Anderson, and Don Franklin all of Silver Bay. According to Woolworth never before has such a rare find been made in this area of North America.

Woolworth concludes that the kettles are probably French in origin of a pattern made in the 17th or 18th century. It is possible that these items are from the French period (1688-1760).

Want more history? The Lake County Historical Society is a good place to start. It’s at the Depot in Two Harbors, 834-4898 or visit lakecountyhistoricalsociety.org. There’s also the Bay Area Historical Society in Silver Bay, 226-4534; the Finland Minnesota Historical Society, 353-7380 or 353-7550; and the Historical Committee of the Isabella Community Council, 323-7644.

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