10 Years Ago · Dec. 17, 2001
Last summer sled dog racers and mushing enthusiasts were disappointed when the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa canceled the 330-mile Grand Portage Passage Sled Dog race. After three years, the Passage was arguably the biggest and best sled dog race in the lower 48. However, disappointment has been replaced by raves as it has been announced that the smaller eight-dog 120-mile race would continue this winter. The event will be run on Jan. 19, with the first musher leaving the casino at 2 p.m. Currently 62 teams have signed up; the race will be capped at 75 teams.
Joanne Krause has been named as the new director of the Johnson Heritage Post. She takes over for Doug Anderson, who resigned to pursue other interests.
Grand Marais City Council unanimously accepted the Harbor Park schematic plan Dec. 12. The plan will be used to create a park on the site of the old Standard station on the harbor. Among the park’s amenities are a moveable performance tent, possible sculpture garden, seating for hundreds of people on seating walls and benches, beautiful planting areas, and an excellent view of the harbor. The next step is for the design firm to begin the process of detailing the schematic by choosing materials and planning the park more meticulously.
20 Years Ago · Dec. 16, 1991
A proposal to rezone 23 acres of countyowned Lake Superior shoreline from general commercial to residential was delayed by the board of commissioners. The 23 acres lie just west of the proposed development of a harbor of refuge at Sugar Loaf Cove near Schroeder. The county got the property in a land exchange. There is a total of 1,200 feet of shoreline.
The Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist for the Chicago Tribune, who also draws the Dick Tracy comic strip, wants to display original examples of his work at the Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery here during Fisherman’s Picnic. In a letter to the city, Dick Locher wrote: “I have been coming to Grand Marais for 17 consecutive years to canoe and fish along the Gunflint. It is my haven away from the vigors of journalism.” The exhibit includes a two-week episode of Dick Tracy in which there are 15 daily strips and two Sundays, all original art. City and gallery administrators said they are “very excited” about the offer.
50 Years Ago · Dec. 14, 1961
A charcoal burner was blamed for a blaze that damaged a North Shore Fish and Freight truck here Tuesday, just before noon. Groceries for Matt Johnson’s and S.H. Backlund and orders for Canada were destroyed.
The village ice skating rink will be ready at the Bear Tree Park for vacation time skating. There will be a warming house and a caretaker in charge.
While the rest of the state slogged about in deep snow, Grand Marais had but 6 to 8 inches that came down Sunday night.
The jolly old man with the white whiskers, otherwise known as Santa, will be here on schedule Saturday afternoon. Somehow he will squirm down a chimney at the high school and make his way to the social room, where school and preschool children will gather. There’ll be a movie and there’ll be candy, and lots of fun!
90 Years Ago · Dec. 22, 1921
The dance at east Colvill was postponed on account of the deep snow until Friday night.
The children of the Congregational Church met at the home of Mrs. Axel Berglund Thursday night to practice their Christmas program.
Frank, whose father is bald, caused much merriment by asking his mother, who was entertaining friends, “Mother, was Daddy baldheaded when we married him?”
Miss Helen Anderson was petting her cat the other day when the cat became aggravated and made a grab for her finger, sinking its fangs deeply into the flesh. It made an awful hole. The doctor was consulted immediately and the wound was painted with iodine.
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