From the Mascot Files: 75, 50, and 25 years ago
75 Years Ago-October 6, 1944
Firemen’s Dance
Residents of this community are reminded that the Minneota Fire Department is staging another of their dances at Dr. Kerr’s new hatchery building nest week.
Board for Future
Just about 40 years ago, on October 15, 1904, while work was being done on the Icelandic Lutheran church basement, seven young men wrote their names on a board and left it under the flooring there. That little piece of board was found last week by Norman Olafson while he was repairing the flooring in the basement. On one side of the board was written: “Whoever finds this please read it, and remember me.” Below that were the signatures of the following: Bjarni Anderson, Eddie Geiwitz, John Geiwitz, Sigurd Peterson, Sigurd Erickson, F. Peterson, and P. Peterson. On the reverse side of the board, the boys had written the Minneota school song at that time: Speak to me my darling, O speak, spike, spoke, Oh why is that tear on thy Cheeke, chike, choke? Oh give me your answer I speke, sike, soke Or I’ll throw myself into the lake, like, loke. Below this, Bjarni Anderson had printed his name and address and the date, October 15, 1904. Of the seven men who wrote their names that day, only two are living in Minneota at the present time, Eddie and John Geiwitz. Bjarni Anderson and F. Peterson have died. Sigurd Erickson is now living at Blue Earth, Minn., Sigurd Peterson lives in Corvallis, Oregon, and Frank Peterson resides in California.
Personals
A son was born to Pvt. and Mrs. William Arends at St. Joseph’s hospital in St. Paul.
50 Years Ago-October 9, 1969
Married 50 years
Mr. and Mrs. Renil VanHyfte, of this village, observed their 50th wedding anniversary last Sunday when they were honored at an open house held at Marshall’s Club 59. Three sons were born to the couple: Henry, killed in the service in July of 1944, Francis, living at Osseo, and Leonard, who lives in the Porter community. The two have 10 grandchildren.
Mayor Dero Says He Won’t Run Again
Mayor L.A. Dero, who is completing his third term as mayor of Minneota, said after the council meeting that he would not seek the office again. His term and that of Reuben Obe, councilman, and Leon Ousman, justice of the peace, run out at the end of this year.
$606,400 Public School Budget Approved
A budget of $606,407 for the 1969-70 school year was approved by the local school board at its regular monthly meeting. The figure means about a 10 percent increase over last year’s budget.
25 Years Ago-October 5, 1994
Sarah Verschelde Wins Beauty Pageant
Sarah Ann Verschelde was the regional winner of the New Star Discovery Beauty Pageant held on Saturday, October 1, at the Holiday Inn in Mankato. Sarah won in her age group of 0-7 months. She is the seven-month-old daughter of Denise and Roddy Verschelde of Lake Crystal and formerly of Minneota. Sarah will compete in the state finals in May in the Twin Cities. Sarah’s grandparents are Ron and Muriel Verschelde of Prestonburg, Kentucky and Ann Marie and Thomas Kendrick of Virginia beach, Virginia. Great-grandparents are Sam and Agnes Severson of Minneota.
Saint Edward Marathon
The students of St. Edward’s Catholic School held their annual Walk-a-thon to raise money for their school last Friday. The students solicited donations from family, friends, and townspeople, and them walked to raise the funds. A correction in this - the teachers also went on the walk.
Not a very “pleasant place” to be
Roofers from the firm of Northwest Roofing Sioux Falls, S.D., are replacing shingles on the steeple of St. Edward’s Church. The Church, as well as the Convent building, sustained hail damage in the summer of 1993.
Poster Winners
The Lyon County Environmental Office has just released the 1995 calendars that are centered on recycling. Stefan Sontag, son of Michael and Yvonne Sontag, and Nicole Teigland, daughter of Larry and Pat Teigland both had their drawings featured in that calendar.