Lake County Past

Talk about it

1912

DISASTROUS FIRE DESTROYS PROPERTY

One of the most disastrous and spectacular fires recorded in the annals of our city occurred on Monday evening, when the Nelson block on the corner of Cedar Street and Second Avenue along with the Olson building adjoining and one residence were totally destroyed and several other buildings suffered damage. The fire department responded promptly but with the rapid spread of the fire and water pressure pitifully inadequate, much was lost. The D.&I.R. tug Torrent was pressed into service and a line of hose was run from that vessel to assist. The loss included Chas. Falk drug, the Anderson millinery and a furniture repair shop on the lower level; Dr. H.C. Hamilton dental and residences were on the second level of the Nelson block. The Olson building housed a grocery store owned by A.E. Haugan and a dwelling on the upper level.

‘BABY SIX’ PATHFINDER

The Baby Six 47 HO car was chosen by the officials of the MN State Automobile Association to lay out the route for the fifth annual reliability run, which goes this year from the Twin Cities to Winnipeg and returns. There are many difficulties on a pathfinder trip. Correct road information has to be secured in every town and village; the best roads are sought, but at times the car has to proceed over very poor roads in order to get the exact mileage for the tour book to be issued later. In spite of these many delays, the “Baby Six” covered the 1,195 miles, being on the road nine days only.

1937

GOOD PROGRESS AT HIGH SCHOOL

Construction of the new annex to the Two Harbors high school, which will provide a gymnasium, shower baths, additional classrooms, manual training room and office, has progressed rapidly with 60 men employed at present time.

DOCTOR WILL MAKE FOOD TEST

Dr. Paul Monroe will be a patient in his own clinic after paying off to the foursome who played a hat tournament at Lake View golf course. The other players included B.Q. Helgeson, Philip Patterson and J. R. Lindgren, who have played this tournament for the past five years. Having made the boast that if he did not make the lowest score he would eat the battered derby, Dr. Monroe’s competitors have arranged with the Two Harbors clinic to have a stomach pump ready after the hat is eaten.

1962

NORGE VILLAGE GRAND OPENING

A three day event will be observed this week by the new Norge Laundry and Cleaning Village located on Highway 61 West next to the Voyageur Museum. Owners Wayne and Arden Dahl and Russell Nelson have constructed a modern building that will meet the needs of those who wish to take their laundry needs to this new business which is equipped with 6 16-pound washing units, 12 1-pound and 1 25-pound unit along with 10 huge dryers and 8 coin operated dry cleaning units. Free coffee and donuts too!

SHIP TAKES 24,225 TONS OF IRON ORE

The largest single load of iron ore ever shipped from the docks aboard the Shenango No. 2 boat of the Shenango Furnace Co. here the night of July 11. A total of 24,225 tons of northeastern MN real estate was loaded into the boat that night and taken down lakes to the mill. The previous record load was 21,951 tons of ore hauled from here into the holds of the Fitzgerald in 1960.

1987

STATE CUTS SILVER CLIFF PROJECT AS EROSION CUTS INTO PAVEMENT

While state highway crews were busy last week putting a temporary patch of Highway 61 that was sliding into Lake Superior hundreds of feet below Silver Cliff, the state Department of Transportation was announcing that it was canceling plans to completely rebuild the controversial curve. It is maintained that the Legislature had taken away money for the projects and totaled 36 cut projects to be left without funding.

MASTER VACCINE SOLD TO MAJOR COMPANY

Local mail order seller of supplies and vaccines for dogs, cats and horses, Master Vaccine, has recently been sold to Gander Mountain, Inc. but plans to keep the headquarters in Two Harbors. Wayne Nurmi, who started Master Vaccine four years ago, will remain in Two Harbors as vice president and general manager of the firm. It is Nurmi’s hope that adequate room will be found to allow for the growth that Gander Mountain wants to see for this local business.