Lake County Past: Dec. 31

Talk about it

From Lake County newspaper archives.

100 years ago, 1910

Work on the Lincoln school, Fourth and Cedar, is progressing fine and will be ready for use in early spring. According to those in the know, it will be an up-to-date and finely equipped building when finished.

New year

The first of January and the New Year are so inseparably connected today that one has almost to force himself to realize that there was a time when the new year began in March.

The fact remains in the names of the last four months of the year – September, October, November and December – are seventh, eighth, ninth and 10th months from March. Julius Caesar, who arranged the calendar named after him, changed the beginning of the year to January. Janus, from whom January gets its name, was a Greek deity who was supposed to open the gate of each year.

75 years ago, 1935

Laura Ingalls, former vaudeville star, establishes women’s west-east transcontinental air non-stop record – 13 hours, 34 minutes, 5 seconds. A mark the persistent flyer had twice before attempted and failed. The record was formerly held by Amelia Earhart Putnam. Her food on the record-breaking flight was only a banana.

Food shipped

With Executive Officer Ransom in charge, the Crawford took a cargo of supplies and medicine for the conservation workers who are making a study of the moose on Isle Royale this winter. A supply of diphtheria, scarlet fever and tetanus antitoxin was supplied for those engaged in the work on the island along with the last mail delivery for the winter. The only means of communication until spring for the islanders will be by amateur radio stations.

50 years ago, 1960

The stork, as well as Santa, was busy the day before Christmas and Christmas Day as six babies were born on the two dates.

Arriving first was Sherry Evanstad on the day before Christmas; Lon Church on Christmas Eve; Margaret McCurdy, the first to arrive on Christmas day; Julie Hoover, was next at 1:27 p.m. ; Jon Flanagan, arrived at 8:10 p.m. and Wanda Brander arrived during the last hour on Christmas Day. The New Year’s first baby will start off life a comparatively wealthy youngster thanks to the 16 Two Harbors merchants participating in the Fourth Annual Chronicle and Times First Baby Contest.

3,000 vets

According to Roger Pegelow, county veterans service officer, the majority of county veterans served in World War II and Korea, but there is also one living Spanish-American War vet and one surviving widow of a Civil War veteran.

25 years ago, 1985

Reserve Mining Co. completed the sale of 77 acres of property near Lake Superior to the Lake County Board, which plans to establish an industrial park on the site. The closing of the transaction culminates nearly three years of discussions.

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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