Lake County Past: Feb. 4

Talk about it

From Lake County newspaper archives.

100 years ago, 1911

Those who believe in the popular superstition are hoping that the weatherman will keep the sun obscured by heavy clouds all day so that the ground hog may by no chance see his shadow when he emerges to take a peek at the weather conditions. If he does see his shadow he will return to his hole to remain for six weeks and the rigors of winter will continue unchecked. Best of luck to the ground hog after the biggest blizzard of the winter was on tap yesterday.

Population count

Two Harbors was not named in the list of cities of 5,000 population in the state and yet it is an absolute certainty our population exceeds that figure. No one is worrying seriously over the discrepancy, however, and the city’s growth will make all the better showing in 1915.

75 years ago, 1936

The new speedometer now appears in three colors. It is blue up to the 30 mph mark, orange from 30 to 50, and bright red from 50 on. The idea is to keep your speedometer needle out of the red. Sounds like a good scheme, however, for drivers who consistently push their cars over the 50 mph mark, they are usually too busy tearing past man and beast to watch the speedometer.

Schools close

Schools in Lake County were closed Wednesday when the thermometer registered 35 degrees below zero at 8 a.m. A 25-mile an hour wind blew Tuesday night and then died down at midnight, lessening the effect of the cold wave which was general and caused closing of schools in Duluth, Superior, Ashland, Cloquet and Iron Range cities. Wed-nesday marked the 22nd below-zero day.

50 years ago, 1961

About 2,600 attended the grand opening of the First National Bank Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Some of the winners of the drawings included George Svee, $75; Steven Gordon, $50; and Walter Western, $25. Bank president, Edw. J. Nauha said the crowd exceeded all expectations and expressed appreciation to all who attended.

Battaglia files

Mayor David Battaglia was the first city official to file for re-election Tuesday when filings for city offices opened. Filing for seven council posts, mayor, municipal judge, and city treasurer close Feb. 28 at 5 p.m.

25 years ago, 1986

Fishing doesn’t appeal to you? The Silver Bay Area Chamber of Commerce is planning a winter golf tournament and Lax Lake is the place to be this Saturday. The nine-hole course will be set up on the lake and is the second year for the golf outing. Last year’s edition got some national television news coverage.

At the movies

“Young Sherlock Holmes,” Harbor Theater.

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 Historical Society (353-7380 or 353-7550), and the Historical Committee of the Isabella Community Council (323-7644).

Tags: lake county, lake county past, community