Minneota might be in a severe drought this summer, but in 1943 the farm of Dr. William Merritt, the town’s veterinarian, was under water due to severe flooding.

From the Mascot Files: 100, 75, 50 or 25 Years Ago

100 Years Ago
(August 5, 1921)

Lootens' family hurt
when car rolls over
Cyriel Lootens was driving home Thursday of last week when his car turned turtle and he and his wife and child were thrown out. Mr. Lootens suffered a broken collarbone and some cuts and bruises. Mrs. Lootens had one of her hands badly cut and the child received a scalp wound.

Non-partisan picnic
planned for Aug. 14
There will be a non-partisan picnic at the home of Albert Kvanbeck, two miles north and one-half mile west of Minneota. This will be one of the biggest picnics held in this part of the state for some time. The speakers will be Prof. O.B. Anderson and Miss Lily Anderson. The Swede Prairie Choir will furnish music for the occasion and there will be a number of other attractions that will be very entertaining.

Johnson returns from
Faribault School for Blind
Ernest Johnson of Minneota returned home from Fairbault last Sunday, where he had been for four weeks attending Faribault State School for the Blind. Johnson took a course in basket making and is now quite proficient in that art.

75 Years Ago
(August 9, 1946)

Ligneel farm home
destroyed by fire
The farm home of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Ligneel, and all of their furniture and clothing, were destroyed by fire shortly before noon last Saturday when a gasoline stove exploded. The small house, built this spring, was located on the farm of Mr. Ligneel's father, Propser, about eight miles southwest of Minneota. No one was in the house when the fire started. Mrs. Ligneel had put some food in the oven of the stove and had gone out to the field to take lunch to threshers. By the time the fire was noticed, the house was a mass of flames. The Minneota Fire Department was called but when it reached the farm there was nothing left of the house.

Youths admit to setting
fire to barn, corn crib
Three Minneota youths, ranging in age from 9 to 12 years, have admitted starting the fire that destroyed a barn and corn crib east of here on July 27. The buildings belonged to H.R. Hanson of Minneota. The youths had been seen playing around the buildings a few hours before the fire started. The buildings burned to the ground. When the boys were first questioned about the fire, they refused to admit starting it, but conflicting stories they told to authorities soon brought out admission of guilt. No legal action will be taken for the offense, but they are being watched and will be punished if they get into another "scrape".

Minneota ball club
goes 8-7 this summer
The Minneota ball club was defeated by Hansonville on the Porter diamond last Sunday afternoon by a score of 6-1. Minneota hitters got but four hits off Ringer, Hansonville's hurler who struck out 14 men and walked two. Minneota players committed seven errors in the game. Minneota won game, lose seven and tied one this summer.

50 Years Ago
(August 5, 1971)

Fair demonstrators
named last week
Eleven 4-H members were selected by Lyon County Fair judges as winners of Minnesota State Fair trips, and six of them were from this part of Lyon County. Karen DeMartelaere, Island Lake Township; Cernard DeCock, Grandview; John Moorse, Westerheim; Bob Stassen, Eidsvold; Jolynn Buysse, Westerheim; and Darlene Eisenmenger, Island Lake, will all represent Lyon County at the State Fair. Alternate trip winners from this part of the county were Roberta Larson and Renee Larson, both of Island Lake.

97 pints of blood
donated last week
Mrs. Bernard Tillemans, chairman of the local Red Cross blood program, reported after the bloodmobile visited Minneota on July 28, that a total of 97 pints of blood were donated by people of the area. She said the 10 new donors came to give blood and that 15 persons were turned down. Hanard Lien and Merlyn Oakland, both of this village, have now given three gallons through the years.

Double funeral held
for Johnson brothers
A double funeral was held here Monday afternoon at Hope Lutheran Church for two brothers, M.D. Johnson of Minneota who died at the hospital in Marshall at the age of 92, and Walter Johnson, 80, a former resident of this community who was fatally injured in an auto accident in Hudson, Wisc. last Thursday morning. The latter had lived in Minneapolis for many years. Both men were buried in the Hope Lutheran Cemetery south of town. The two brothers were the last members of their immediate family.

25 Years Ago
(August 7, 1996)

Lightning strikes post
office; corner blown off
Minneota residents, both those attending church on Sunday morning as well as those still "bed bound", likely heard a lightning bolt that struck the flagpole of the post office building as well as the adjacent "Powderhorn" building where the flagpole was anchored with a tripod. The corner of the brick was blown off and the debris fell in a heap on the sidewalk near the post office door.

Council to negotiate
with North Medical
The Minneota City Council decided, on the recommendation of City Attorney Brian Murphy, to enter into negotiations with North Medical Ambulance. This action also follows the vote taken some time ago by the Minneota Ambulance crew recommending that the City Council proceed with negotiations with North Medical. Members of the Minneota Ambulance squad, both for and against entering into a "Management Proposal" with North Medical, were present at the meeting and gave their input to the Council.

Chamber plans button
promotion for Bug Days
The Minneota Area Chamber of Commerce is planning a Boxelder Bug Days button promotion to encourage everyone to purchase their buttons before the town celebration is here. On Aug. 14, 15 and 16, anyone who purchases a button will be able to sign up for prizes. The Chamber is offering a 1996 Boxelder Bug Days t-shirt. five winners for $5 in bonus bucks, two coffee mugs and two writing cubes. The buttons will be needed for admission into the dance on Friday night, the beer garden on Saturday, the Variety Show, the Queen Coronation, and the dance on Saturday night. The price is $3 for a button now and $5 on Saturday.

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The Minneota Mascot
Address: 201 N. Jefferson
Minneota, MN 56264

Phone:(507) 872-6492