Cook County News Herald

Down Memory Lane




10 Years Ago · July 16, 2001

With fire conditions rated at “high to extreme” across the Northland, all campfires will be banned in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness until further notice. Until the area gets some rain, campers in the BWCAW and some parts of the Superior National Forest will be regulated to using gas and propane camp stoves to cook their meals.

The realigned Gunflint Trail will be a true North Shore project. County Engineer Chuck Schmit told the county commissioners last week that the bituminous to top off the curvaceous new road comes all the way from Lake County. “We almost lost it,” Schmit said, explaining that a Lake County edict against exploring gravel had to be overcome. “But they like us, so it’s okay,” the engineer said.

Local law enforcement officers are investigating the recent spray-painting of Artist Point. On the evening of July 5, some person or persons painted graffiti on the rocks leading to the scenic point in Grand Marais. The community hopes that the “idiot artists” can be caught and charged.

20 Years Ago · July 15, 1991

The body of a 16-year-old St. Martin boy was discovered near the top of Mackey’s Bluff, four miles west of Grand Marais on the morning of July 4. The youth disappeared from his home in Stearns County last Nov. 19, when he was seen driving a family-owned pick-up truck. Cook County authorities discovered the pickup abandoned in the woods alongside the Bally Creek Road on Dec. 9. The truck was about three-quarters of a mile north of Mackey’s Bluff. The body was discovered July 4 by a local resident who was looking at property, on a narrow ledge 6 feet below the summit of the bluff. A .22 caliber rifle identified as missing from the family home was discovered next to the body. The Hennepin County coroner ruled that the cause of death was a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

Construction of Cook County’s first 18-hole golf course is virtually finished, and the new links — Superior National at Lutsen — will open for limited play on Aug. 15.

A Wisconsin man was killed last Wednesday night when his eastbound vehicle struck a moose near Paradise Beach, 13 miles northeast of Grand Marais, on Highway 61. Officials say the 61-year-old man was killed instantly and the car burned after the collision shortly after 11:20 p.m.

50 Years Ago · July 13, 1961

The first camp at Mink Lake Wilderness Bible Camp will begin on July 16, with a junior boys camp for ages 8-11. The camp is located in the Superior National Forest on the north side of Mink Lake about 14 miles from Grand Marais.

The lady slippers, Minnesota state flower, are in bloom at the wildflower sanctuary on the Gunflint Trail.

This being the Civil War centennial year, the Grand Marais Garden Club chose as its theme “Gone With the Wind” for the annual flower show to be held July 28.

At press time, a fire was reported in the Fletcher home east of Poplar River. It is not known at this time whether the house burned, but the fire department from Taconite Harbor was called.

90 Years Ago · July 21, 1921

A.G. Odell of Minneapolis is working for the state game department, assisting Mr. Savor in marking the boundary line of the state game preserve.

Friends at Tofte presented Rev. Johnson with a purse of $33 last Sunday to help pay for repairs on his car. While going to Duluth to attend the convention, a party from Two Harbors, in passing from the rear, drove into Johnson’s car.

Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Setterstrom and four children of Superior drove to Grand Marais Saturday. Mr. Setterstrom came to inspect the electrical work of the Grand Marais Light and Power Co. They found everything in perfect order and the poles which were set in the winter are all solid.

The Cutlers of Minneapolis are camping in the western edge of the village. They gave a unique dinner party Tuesday evening at their tent.



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