10 YEARS AGO
MAY 11, 2007
A fire that started at a campsite on Ham Lake on Saturday had grown to 17,000- plus acres by Wednesday, destroying more than 40 structures and requiring the evacuation of more than 100 people from the upper Gunflint Trail. It is the fire everyone has been preparing for since the blowdown in 1999, but the devastation and swiftness of this fire in the drought-stricken North Woods has stunned everyone.
Grand Marais City Council has until June 16 to make a decision regarding the future location of its swimming pool, or the Community Center revitalization project will proceed without its inclusion. Although the comprehensive plan to upgrade and reorganize the various facilities at the Community Center site was virtually complete and set to move forward this summer, a last-minute proposal to include a new swimming pool caused everything to be put on hold until the feasibility of that revision could be determined.
20 YEARS AGO
MAY 12, 1997
The new Grand Portage Elementary School and Daycare Center were dedicated in a grand opening on May 1 with an estimated 250 people attending. Ken Sherer, a member of the tribal council, placed the cost of the new facility at $1.8 million, with 70 percent of the 10,700-square-foot building devoted to the school and the remaining 30 percent to be used for daycare.
The all-new Grampa Woo III pulled into the Grand Marais harbor on May 7 in preparation for the summer season. The Woo II sank off Isle Royale in the fall of 1996.
50 YEARS AGO
MAY 11, 1967
Two high school students were injured when their car left the highway and went into a ravine early Sunday morning. They had attended the school prom earlier in the evening. Another accident happened on the Gunflint Trail, but no one was injured.
Niolina’s Kaffe Stuga has been sold to Gary Hektner and Gene Barcel of Minneapolis. From now on it will be known as the Lamplighter Inn. The property, which is located on the hill on the western edge of town on Highway 61, consists of a main building with dining room and two cabins.
A fire that swept across the J.H. Eliasen Jr. property on Maple Hill Saturday afternoon endangered the home and put close to 100 volunteers to firefighting. No one knows how the fire started.
90 YEARS AGO
MAY 12, 1927
“Daddy Longlegs” will be presented by the high school seniors at 8 o’clock Saturday night, May 14, at the high school auditorium. The presentation is a comedy in four acts.
E.W. Wick, of the Pure Oil Company, is in Grand Marais erecting an oil tank. Mr. Wick was formerly with the Standard Oil Company.
A warning against allowing domestic animals to roam promiscuously on the highways has been issued by the state Highway Department. The department has received reports of cases where hogs have damaged highways and road ditches. Such cases are covered by Section 2615 G.S. 1923, which makes it a misdemeanor to dig holes in the highways, remove dirt or gravel, or obstruct the ditches. In fact, no one has any legal right to permit livestock of any kind to graze or feed on the highway right of way. This law applies to all roads.
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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