Lake County Past: March 25

Talk about it

From Lake County newspaper archives.

100 years ago, 1911

The train arrived on schedule and while the weather was anything but favorable, the cars were crowded to capacity during the three-hour stop in this city for the lectures provided by C. E. Brown on potato culture, O.W. Olson on soils, and N.E. Chapman on poultry raising. The deep interest in the “Potato Special,” with hundreds showing interest in the subjects and a sampling of progressive farmers of the northland, gave the greatest satisfaction to the promoters of the idea.

75 years ago, 1936

People re-mailing the Chronicle have difficulty understanding why it costs less to mail the paper with than without the comic sheet included. The rate for a complete newspaper is 1 cent for 2 ounces or fraction. The rate for a partial paper is 1 ½ cents. The Chronicle without the comic sheets weighs slightly over 3 ounces and therefore costs 3 cents to mail. The Chronicle with the comic sheet weighs slightly over 3 ounces but as it is a complete paper, it only costs 2 cents to mail. Please be governed by the above order and avoid discussion and explanation at the post office window and avoid delays.

Dennis Dwan, Postmaster

50 years ago, 1961

The Knife River was on a rampage Monday as rains and melting snow swelled it far over its normal size. Above the town the river was a turbulent stream of white water while a large ice jam stopped its flow in the town itself, causing flooding of basements and roads. Ice cakes caused water and ice to cross Highway 61 Monday night and were left stranded in the river bed Tuesday as the river subsided.

Closing shop

Joel M. Magnuson, 72, Two Harbors barber, closed up his shop on Second Avenue last Friday, which has been his place of business since 1923. Magnuson recalled that he served his barber apprenticeship in a four-chair shop at the present site of the Salvation Army building. Although he ran his shop alone for several years, his shop was normally a two-chair shop and estimated that approximately 15 barbers had been associated with him over the years. He recalled that hours used to be much longer in the barbering business, with Saturday and Saturday nights generally the busiest times.

25 years ago, 1986

Clifford Ahlgren, a 1941 graduate of THHS, and wife, Isabel, donated a copy of their book, “Lob Trees of the Wilderness,” to the THHS library. A lob-tree, according to the book, is a landmark designed by the voyageurs to guide them through the maze of lakes, rivers, streams and wilderness in which they traveled. A nimble member of a crew would climb a tree and lop off branches in the middle of the tree creating a distinctive appearance on the tall pine or spruce to serve as a navigational guide for return journeys.

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).

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