10 Years Ago
Aug. 23, 2002
A fire that began at noon Tuesday at Minnesota Power’s 225-megawatt electrical generating plant at Taconite Harbor in Schroeder caused quite a stir. Firefighters came from Silver Bay, Finland, Schroeder, Tofte, Lutsen and Grand Marais to battle the 5 p.m. blaze. The cause of the fire is believed to be coal gas which spontaneously ignited in coal bunker No. 3, although at this time it isn’t known what caused the coal gas to explode. No one was injured in the incident, but workers said they could feel the building shake at the time of the eruption.
Cook County Youth Soccer has once again begun, and like past years the number of kids participating has increased. This year, 162 kids signed up, as compared to 155 kids last year. And, for the first time ever, players 11 years and older will play on a regulation-size field and shoot at full-size goals.
20 Years Ago
Aug. 24, 1992
Senator Dave Durenburger and National Park Service Director Jim Ridenaur made stops in Grand Marais and Grand Portage Aug. 14 during a tour of northern Minnesota Park Service facilities, including Voyager’s National Park and Grand Portage National Monument. Ridenaur said the Park Service is promoting little-used facilities as Grand Portage and Isle Royale to take pressure off the big parks such as Yosemite, Grand Canyon and Yellowstone. “People get as much enjoyment out of the lesser known places as they do in Yosemite,” he said, “so we’ve got to change their pattern of travel. Our marketing efforts are directed at that goal.”
Tom Laine of the Tofte Rescue Squad presented a request for $5,000 to increase the output of the Lutsen emergency services tower from 40 watts to 100 watts to the county commissioners last week. The board granted the funding, subject to the legally required approval by Canadian officials. That approval is needed because emergency transmissions would carry beyond the Minnesota- Canada border. Total cost of the equipment and installation is expected to be $5,430.
50 Years Ago
Aug. 23, 1962
A robbery was reported at Wallen’s Birchware plant Monday morning. The sanding building was broken into and four handpowered sanders were taken. In another building, an Evinrude motor was stolen. The offenders broke a window and made entrance that way.
Twelve graduates of the class of 1937, Grand Marais High School, enjoyed a reunion Saturday evening. After 25 years, there was much reminiscing. There were 27 in the class.
There were two fires reported in the community last week. The large barn belonging to Palmer Berglund, Maple Hill, burned Friday afternoon. Actually three buildings burned: the barn, a machine shed with all machinery including tractors, and a combination wood and repair shop. There were no cows in the barn at the time, only the large bull, which Mrs. Berglund managed to get out. They plan to rebuild. Fire at the Harbor Light, west village limits, was discovered in time and heavy loss averted. Investigation showed that someone had dropped a cigarettes between the porch and building, starting the fire. No great damage resulted.
90 Years Ago
Aug. 31, 1922
The Schroeder house of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Parent was robbed Sunday morning while the family were out berrying. A pocketbook and gun were taken. The robbers were caught at Grand Marais and turned over to Sheriff Emil Nelson of Lake County.
To whom it may concern: Please be advised that the telephone office is no hotel lobby. It is a public business place, and is at your service. Unless you have business there, stay away. – Lake Shore Telephone Company
The new schoolhouse at Lutsen has been completed. Saturday night there will be some exercises dedicating the new building. It will be a regular house warming. Two string bands will furnish the music on two floors, so that there will be dancing for everybody.
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