10 Years Ago
June 18, 2004
An off-road adventure that caused rutting and damage in the Grand Portage State Forest resulted in charges for three Grand Marais men. They will have mandatory court appearances. The incident occurred May 29 following heavy rains when a DNR forester observed several muddied-up pick-up trucks coming out of a winter logging road along the Arrowhead Trail north of Hovland. The winter road crosses through wetlands where subsequent ground and aerial investigations found extensive rutting. It was determined that damage from the group’s off-road truck driving extended for a quartermile, where the drivers were stopped by a flooded area.
Biologists have located what may be the first Canada lynx den ever documented in Minnesota. A visit to the den of the female lynx, one of 13 being tracked in a radio telemetry study, turned up three healthy kittens. They were measured, weighed and fitted with small ear tags. The Canada lynx had been presumed scarce in Minnesota since 1984 and were listed as a threatened species in 2000 under the Endangered Species Act. The lynx was originally captured and fitted with a collar near Brule Lake in the BWCA in 2003.
20 Years Ago
June 20, 1994
Scores of friends and dignitaries gathered June 10 for a quiet celebration to dedicate the new Gitchi Onigaming Community Center in Grand Portage. (The name means “a place for gathering.”) Norman Deschampe conducted the opening ribbon-cutting ceremonies and thanked all the people who worked on the project since its inception two years ago. Officials from St. Paul were also present.
A report of a fire on Redrock Bay was received at 12:35 p.m. June 10. It was called in by a guide for an outfitter on the Gunflint Trail who was out in the forest with a party. They discovered the fire at the base of a pine tree and were able to douse the ground fire, but the tree was hollow and acted like a chimney, allowing the fire to ascend to its crown and the campers couldn’t get to it. Firefighters arrived more than an hour later to cut down the tree and put out the flames.
Judging by the number of inquiries received since the beginning of the year, the Arrowtippers Square Dance Club can expect another great crowd at its Seventh Annual Festival June 24 and 25 in Grand Marais. Dancers from Milwaukee to Rochester and north to Bemidji have made plans to attend.
50 Years Ago
June 18, 1964
The acquiring of a Cook County museum has moved one step closer. A recent letter from Congressman John Blatnik informed the local historical society that the U.S. Coast Guard no longer had use for the former lightkeeper’s building in Grand Marais and that further disposition was now in the hands of a general committee.
A one-bedroom cabin and its furnishings, plus a storage area filled with tools and supplies at Trailside Motor Court just west of Grand Marais burned Monday afternoon. The cause of the fire was not known.
Warren Huffman, who lived at Hovland in the early ’20s, came back this week to look up old friends here and at Hovland. Huffman left here in 1923 and is now living in Pine River. He started a buffalo herd, and now has 13 buffaloes.
90 Years Ago
June 19, 1924
Work has been started on the new school house. The basement is now being built, the concrete for the abutments of the new addition having already been poured into the forms.
A crew has been put to work east of Grand Marais cleaning up the road. Elisha Creech is in charge.
A committee of citizens met last night and appointed Fred Sjoberg, J.E. Smith and Sam Zimmerman Jr. as a Fourth of July committee. The old town will celebrate this year! A bowery will be built for dancing, and a program of sports will be arranged. Fireworks on the bay front will be provided for the evening.
The Automobile Club board of managers met last evening and discussed matters of interest to the people of Cook County and the tourists. The new tourist park for Grand Marais is being improved, a shelter is to be built for cooking in rainy weather and 10 barrel stoves are under construction by B.A. Rude. The travel on Highway No. 1 is increasing this week and will be in full swing in a few days. A heavy traffic is anticipated for July, August and September.
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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