10 Years Ago
· Oc t. 18, 1999 • With little discussion and no debate, the Schroeder Township supervisors voted last week to return a $15,042 overpayment to the Cook County treasurer.
Schroeder was one of three Cook County townships that were mistakenly awarded a total of over $55,000 in federal funds in March. County administrators said the error occurred because they used a formula intended to determine the largest percentage allowable, rather than what each township was actually entitled to. • The Grand Marais City Council went out looking for bids for a city attorney after City Clerk Todd Bodem brought it to the attention of the council about two weeks ago that the contract is traditionally put out annually.
Council received nine applications, seven of which were from outside of Cook County. A special meeting is set for Oct. 11 to make a decision. • Fifty years ago this month, on Oct. 21, 1949, Cook County entered the world of high school football. On that date, under the watchful eye of head coach J. Paul Johnson and his assistant Leo Sandgren, the first football team in the history of the county traveled to Meadowlands for a six-man football game. About 30 high school rooters accompanied the squad to give it moral support from the bleachers.
It was the first game of a two-game season, the second being against Cromwell.
It was an exciting time for sports in Cook County.
For the record, Cook County was 2-0 that season, defeating Meadowlands 33-0 and Cromwell 58-16.
20 Years Ago
· Oc t. 16, 1989 • Hovland Community Club has provided a bust of the late Helmer Aakvik to the Historical Society for display. The loan was made possible by an anonymous donor who secured the Jim Kolf-designed bust and gave it to the club.
Capt. Aakvik, who went to sea as a youth on a threemasted schooner, spent 65 years fishing on Lake Superior before his death in 1986 at age 90. “The Captain,” as he was known by friends and neighbors, was awarded the Carnegie Medal for Heroism in 1958 when, at age 62, he put to sea in a skiff during a terrible storm to try to find and save a fellow fisherman. Though unsuccessful in his search, he survived the icy 25-foot seas for 48 hours before being picked up by the Coast Guard as he was attempting to row the last mile to shore. • Trained dogs, man-tracking crews, aircraft and dozens of volunteers have been unable to find a man who disappeared at the Cascades of the Pigeon River north of Grand Portage. It is believed that James Gregory Swanson of Duluth fell into the gorge.
The area of the gorge into which Swanson is believed to have fallen is inaccessible. The top of the gorge is overhung, and there are no ledges on which to stand below. The Pigeon River runs through swirling plungeholes of indeterminable depth beneath two waterfalls. Swanson’s body may be in one of those pools.
50 Years Ago
· Oc t. 15, 1959 • Limbs stiff from wet cold weather, and weakened by six days without food, Carl Erickson, 65, woodsworker at the Wisconsin-Minnesota operations near Greenwood Lake, stumbled into Greenwood Lake Resort Friday afternoon. He had been wandering about the wet woods for nearly one week and said he could not have held out one more day.
The man had recently arrived from Duluth and set out about 4 o’clock Sunday morning to locate a cutting strip when he became lost. No one noticed his disappearance and it was not until Wednesday of last week that the sheriff was notified. It is now believed that he walked all around Greenwood Lake going eastward until he arrived at the lake from the northeast. He said he never crossed a road. • A 41-year-old Hancock, Mich., man drowned in a harbor accident Thursday morning when he fell into about 4 feet of water as the crew was about to board a barge anchored there.
The victim worked as a deckhand and was part of the government crew who are here to repair storm damage in the harbor caused by last fall’s storm. • The Village is remodeling its sewage disposal plant at an estimated cost of $65,000; $21,600 of the contract price is covered by a federal grant made possible under the pollution bill.
Under the new system, sludge will be hauled away to some remote dump, still to be found, where it can be covered in trenches.
90 Years Ago
· Oc t. 15, 1919 • Aug. J. Johnson has received a shipment of caskets and will have on hand hereafter a supply of all sizes and at various prices.
He will also act as funeral director. • The Fisherman’s Club at Hovland regrets that several Grand Marais people came to attend a dance at their hall that was not arranged for or given by the members of the club. Outsiders have no authority to advertise dances unless permitted by those in connection with the club. • Spencer Ficklin was brought before Justice Matt Johnson last Thursday, charged with having stolen three automobile tires from the Peoples Supply Co. store on the night of Sept. 15. Thecomplaint was made by John Nelson.
The sheriff took him to Duluth Friday and he was arraigned Monday before Judge Fesler, when he entered a plea of guilty. The judge imposed the sentence provided by law, which is one to 10 years in state prison.
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