Cook County News Herald

Down Memory Lane




10 Years Ago
Jan. 28, 2005

Birch Grove Elementary School will officially be closed at the end of the school year. The ISD 166 school board voted unanimously to close the school after holding a public hearing on the matter Monday night. It was an emotional moment for many in the audience who had traveled to Grand Marais from the West End for the hearing.

The new Lutsen fire truck arrival date is Jan. 31. “The truck is a beauty,” Supervisor Paul Nelson said at a very short town meeting during a blizzard on Jan. 18. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Center in Duluth provided a $20,000 grant to help pay for the truck.

20 Years Ago
Jan. 30, 1995

The Grand Marais Lions Club board of directors has recommended to its members that the club discontinue sponsoring the annual Fisherman’s Picnic, an event the Lions have run for 41 years. The recommendation was made after serious deliberation Jan. 17. Instead, the Lions said they would prefer to limit their participation to the fishburger stand, pick-up raffle, information booth and setting up the entertainment platform and PA system. The club said the event has become a greater burden in recent years as its members have grown older and their numbers diminished. The picnic has also been held up to some criticism of various kinds and that was cited as a factor, too.

Speaking on behalf of a group of parents whose children attend Grand Portage Elementary School, Vicky LeGarde appealed to the Cook County school board Jan. 23 to invest more money, time and effort in administrative supervision at Grand Portage. “We need a full-time elementary principal here. There are six female teachers in the school, and our children need another male role model besides the custodian,” LeGarde said.

50 Years Ago
Jan. 28, 1965

The local Cub Scout pack meeting was very well attended by parents and scouts. Highlight of the night was the presentation of the Bobcat pins to seven new scouts.

The Grand Marais dial telephone service was one year old on Jan. 19. Company officials said it has been a “busy” year for the new equipment, which handled an average of 4,500 requests daily for all types of calls (local, long distance and information) compared with about 4,000 requests daily prior to the change to dial.

The elimination of snowmobiles from the Boundary Waters Canoe Area will not be initiated this winter.

90 Years Ago
Feb. 5, 1925

Sheriff L.H. Lien and S.C. Murphy left Wednesday afternoon for Duluth, taking Alex LeSage of Grand Portage, who was arrested for making whiskey. Mr. LeSage will be given a hearing in Duluth.

P.M. Linnell and daughter drove in from Mineral Center today. Mrs. Woodard has been suffering from a sore finger and had it lanced by Dr. Hicks.

The Illinois Watch Company will present a Lincoln medal to the pupil of our high school who writes the best essay on Lincoln. This medal is on exhibition at the Joynes store. The name of the winner will be engraved on the medal before it is given out.

All autos and trucks must carry 1925 licenses after the 15th of February.

L.A. Godin of Tofte attended the basketball game Friday night at the Grand Marais high school.

The sophomore and freshman girls are giving a sleigh ride party Friday.

A long-felt need has at last been met. Last Saturday evening the newly organized “Arrowhead” Club, formed by the young people of Grand Marais, held its first meeting in the library; 42 members were present. This club is organized for the sole purpose of promoting good times for the younger people of the town and plans to meet twice a month.

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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