Cook County News Herald

Down Memory Lane





10 Years Ago · Aug. 16, 1999 • The prospect of increasing the amount of offhighway vehicle (OHV) trails in Cook County drew a crowd to the Community Center in Grand Marais last Wednesday evening. The preliminary plans on view were the result of a local committee’s work with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Division of Trails and Waterways.

Bruce Highland, DNR Trails and Waterways staff based in Lake County, was the principal agency spokesman taking the heat from those attending the open house.

Despite letters, ads and news stories aimed at making the OHV committee representative of the entire community, only one anti-OHV person came forward to be on the planning committee. • With several rounds of litigation behind them the state agency in charge of building a trail that will be used primarily by snowmobiles from Grand Marais to the Canadian border is stalled again.

According to county commissioner Wes Hedstrom, the state DNR must secure trail easements through Hovland before the U.S. Forest Service will finalize its part of the project.

The DNR and Forest Service have an agreement that no construction may occur on state or federal property until the latter agency completes the required environmental review.

20 Years Ago · Aug. 14, 1989 • Only exterior finishing touches remain to be completed at the recently expanded Clearview complex in Lutsen.

From the original, turn-of-the-century Hansen’s General Store to the current Clearview General Store erected in the early 1930s, with additions as recent as 1984, this expansion marks the final extension of the complex.

Two deluxe apartments have been added to the existing two, plus work space for a retail operation. • A fire that began Monday evening and lasted until early Tuesday morning destroyed the dry kiln at Hedstrom’s Lumber Company on Maple Hill just one week prior to the company’s 75th anniversary celebration.

Firemen were called at about 10 p.m. Monday. By the time they arrived the blaze was too large to extinguish, so efforts were focused on containing the fire in the dry kiln building and preventing it from spreading to other portions of the lumber mill.

Losses of the building, equipment and lumber totaled about $700,000. • TheGrand Marais Dairy Queen set a company record by selling 2,600 hot dogs on the Saturday of Fisherman’s Picnic.

50 Years Ago · Aug. 13, 1959 • Thousands of spectators lined the downtown streets for the various events during the four-day Fisherman’s Picnic held last weekend. Except for the water parade, the weather cooperated beautifully!

A new Miss North Shore was chosen to reign over the festivities — Diane Peterson received the royal crown from Mrs. Charles Tice, last year’s queen. • The general public will see the fourth annual rock show sponsored by the Cook County Gem and Mineral Society Saturday evening at the high school social room.

The three former displays have drawn large crowds and it is expected this one will be even larger, since more and more interest is shown in rocks. • At Gateway Lodge another guest has been added in the form of a beagle hound who is vociferous in his roamings through the woods.

90 Years Ago · Aug. 13, 1919 • The North Shore Fisherman’s Association at its meeting held last spring appointed a committee to secure the assistance of Senators Nelson and Kellogg and Rep. Carss in the effort to obtain from the federal government some measure of protection for the North Shore fishermen during the hazardous season.

The committee obtained from the State Game and Fish Commission the promise of assistance and data of value in presenting the fishermen’s plea.

A bill has been introduced by Senator Nelson to provide for the establishing of a U.S. lifesaving station for Cook County. In order to secure favorable action by Congress it will be necessary to furnish satisfactory evidence that a station is needed for the protection of life and property engaged in traffic on the waters of Lake Superior along the shore of Cook County. • John P. Paulson of Two Harbors, former county auditor of Lake County, now state oil inspector, was in town today. • Theroad crew who have been working at Carriboo Point have finished their work and broken camp.


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