10 Years Ago · Sept. 6, 1999 • A memo from City Street Department Head Bob Mattson and a list of recent infractions which resulted in repair work by the department compiled by the city forced the issue of police patrol in the city at the recent meeting of the Grand Marais City Council.
Grand Marais disbanded its city police department in the summer of 1998, opting instead to contract with the Cook County Sheriff ‘s Department for city police services. Under the contract, Grand Marais receives 16 hours of random police patrol every day.
The list includes theft from the city garage, trespassing, damage to numerous street signs, the removal of two stop signs, litter, and a number of forms of vandalism including turned over park benches and excessive tire marks on the roadways. The incidents all happened over the weekend of Aug. 20-22.
Sheriff Dave Wirt said he will attend the next meeting and see what the city wants him to do. • About two dozen people who wanted to learn about wild mushrooms set out on a hike led by an instructor from the North House Folk School along the Kadunce River in Colvill.
At about noon, one of the class members on his way back from the upper reaches of the trail found a cane in the path next to a broken and rotted birch stump. In the river below, a mushrooming basket floated. When the man clambered down the undercut bank, he found one of his classmates face down in the shallow stream.
A 63-year-old Northfield woman had apparently fallen over the bank and died as a result. Rescuers speculated that the victim, who was handicapped, leaned up against the rotted birch tree to rest and fell off the 10-foot ledge.
20 Years Ago · Sept. 4, 1989 • The Northwind Quintet will be performing at the Grand Marais Playhouse on Sept. 9. It is the tenth year of classical chamber music the wind ensemble has given the community.
The group has been together for 10 years, and is comprised of Everett Bushman, Deb Orris, Jim Johnson, Philis Anderson; Barb Lavigne, on flute, is the group’s newest member. They have performed at the Playhouse four times, including a memorable pre-concert performance with Frank Gillis and his Superior Jazz Band. • Margaret “Skip” Joynes, RN, was the recipient of the “Minnesota Nurse that Made a Difference.”
Margaret works at the North Shore Hospital and Convalescent Home in Grand Marais. Her smiles, love and attention calm the fears of prospective and long-term residents. • At Golden Eagle Lodge a mother merganser duck has a brood of 17 trailing her wherever she leads. It is one of the largest families seen in many years.
50 Years Ago · Sept. 3, 1959 • Back to school!
That’s probably what’s on every student and teacher’s mind these days, and Tuesday marks the opening of the new school term.
A workshop for the teachers is being held at the high school Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of this week, with the new superintendent Walter Hard, and Principal Leonard Sobanja, in charge. Forty-five teachers are attending.
Also, it was announced that students will pay the same prices as last year for lunches and milk served at school: 20 cents for elementary students and 25 cents for high school students, and 2 cents per half-pint of milk. • TheVillage Library is closed as of Sept. 1.
This ruling came as the result of a meeting of the local library board last week, when those members present decided there was nothing else to do. Realizing this would be the first time in 50 years that the local library would be closed, the board considered all possibilities before making the decision.
The present room in the village hall is too cold in the winter time, building plans have been stymied, and no other facilities seem to be available.
Overdue books are to be returned to Matt Johnson’s Store.
90 Years Ago · Sept. 3, 1919 • Grand Marais was filled to overflowing last Sunday night when tourists from Duluth, Superior and other points came to enjoy a brief rest on Labor Day. The two hotels had to turn away many, and though the people of Grand Marais generously opened their doors, for many it was a tight squeeze as the exodus from the cities was rather unexpected. • School opened yesterday with a good attendance and everything in readiness for a most successful school year. • Mr. Peter Gagnon of Grand Portage has received a new line of compasses and is now open for business.
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