Cook County News Herald

Down Memory Lane




10 Years Ago
Nov. 15, 2002

Plans to build a new Grand Marais power plant suffered a minor setback when it was discovered that the bids received did not exactly meet the specifications outlined by the Public Utilities Commission. The type of engine in the bids cannot meet the demands requested by the Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (SMMPA). “They all said they could meet the needs, but they can’t…at least not on the correct standard,” said PUC Chairman Ed Bolstad.

More than 65 people turned up for the second performance of the USO Veterans Memorial fundraiser at the ACA last weekend and, from all accounts, everyone had a great time. There was laughter and giggling, somber silence and intense concentration as the audience was led through a variety show that included music, comedy, drama – even some song and dance. It was double the crowd expected.

20 Years Ago
Nov. 16, 1992

On a recent ambulance run six moose were encountered on the way to the hospital and five encountered on the way back. It sounds as if the Trail has been given a dose of salt.

While the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources was apparently correct in its forecast of a bountiful deer harvest statewide, Cook County whitetails were proving the exception. After the first weekend, we’re down 26 percent compared to 1991, said Bill Peterson of the DNR. However, he added, the area was up 42 percent last year over 1990.

50 Years Ago
Nov. 15, 1962

One death, due to heart failure, was reported by officials a short time after the deer season opened Saturday morning. A 77-year-old Maple Lake man died as he was seated on a camp stool shortly after 7 a.m. Companions said he suddenly fell from the stool on a “stand” he had taken on the Pike Lake Road, about eight miles northwest of Grand Marais. The body was sent home for burial.

The Curling Club goal for funds to build a curling rink was half reached this week, $3,000 having been raised so far. It is hoped that the rink can be completed by the middle of December.

Seen about town last weekend was Dr. Richard Soderberg, former local doctor, who came for some deer hunting.

90 Years Ago
Nov. 14, 1912

A telegram was received here Tuesday by Dr. Hicks asking him to come to Grand Portage and to bring the coroner with him, that a woman named Susan Peterson had been brought there dead and that the body showed some evidence of foul play. The story goes that the woman had gone to cook at a fishing camp at Pine Bay, a few miles east of Grand Portage on the Canadian side, a few days before, and then appeared to be in good health. A fishing tug brought her laid in a casket last Tuesday with the report that she died from heart failure a week before. When she was brought over to the mainland the casket was opened and it was found that the corpse had turned black, and some say her skull was broken. Dr. Hicks, Coroner August Johnson and Sheriff Carhart left on the America Wednesday to look into the matter.

The farmers on Maple Hill completed their threshing this week, and report a good yield of small grain this year, in spite of the unfavorable weather the last part of the summer.

George Method, a brother-in-law of the Murphy Brothers of this village, recently met with a terrible accident that resulted in his death last Friday. Mr. Method with three other men fell through the floor of the mill into a large steam vat. All of them died of burns. The accident occurred at Red Deer Lumber company’s mill in Barrows, Saskatchewan, where Mr. Method was superintendent. He lived in West Duluth for over 16 years.

Do you have an old picture or a story from years gone by that you would like to share with the Cook County News-Herald readers? We’d love to hear your Historical Reflections Call (218) 387-9100; e-mail starnews@boreal.org; or stop by our office at 15 First Avenue West.



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