10 YEARS AGO
AUG. 10, 2007
For the fifth year in a row, Local Government Aid to the city of Grand Marais will decrease. According to statistics released by the League of Minnesota Cities, the state will forward $184,209 to Grand Marais in 2008. This is close to an 8 percent decrease from 2007 and a 15 percent decrease from 2006.
It was a “family” reunion to end all family reunions when more than 200 former Taconite Harbor employees and their families gathered at the Cross River Heritage Center on Aug. 4. Linda Lamb, a member of the board at the Heritage Center, said participants came from 13 states and Canada. The event was held to celebrate the completion of the Taconite Harbor exhibit at the Heritage Center as well as the 50th anniversary of Taconite Harbor, originally built by Erie Mining to ship taconite mined and processed on the Range to ports all over the world.
20 YEARS AGO
AUG. 11, 1997
One month ago people were talking about how wonderful the berry crop was going to be. All it needed was a little rain. Now, the lack of moisture threatens more than just the berries. On Aug. 4, the U.S. Forest Service and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced a fire ban for all of the BWCAW and Cook County. The ban is the result of a long dry spell for the Arrowhead region of Minnesota. Grand Marais has received only 2.08 inches of rain in the month of July; normal rainfall is about 3.75 inches.
Testing done since the beginning of summer has found that several three-phase electric meters are reading low, causing the city of Grand Marais to lose anywhere between 28 and 50 percent of electricity revenue from each meter. Many of the problems have been attributed to faulty wiring and the aging meters, which slow down as they get older. The meters found to be faulty will be replaced – a process which has not been done in recent memory.
50 YEARS AGO
AUG. 10, 1967
Some tourists decided to drive up the new Onion River road and hadn’t driven very far when they saw two huge timber wolves sunning themselves on the road. As they continued on, they saw nine huge timber wolves. One made a move to the car; the others ignored the travelers. The game wardens were notified about this as eight timber wolves constitute a pack. “This isn’t good,” they said.
Marilyn Kay Bradway and Carole Thomson, who are University of Minnesota roommates, are working at the Birch Terrace this summer.
The four-day Fisherman’s Picnic closed Sunday night with fair attendance and almost perfect weather. As usual, the climax of the Picnic was Sunday afternoon, when the bands and floats paraded the streets from the high school to the downtown area.
90 YEARS AGO
AUG. 11, 1927
Ralph Johnson severed an artery last Saturday night when he cut his finger on a piece of glass. First aid was rendered and the wound is healing.
Cascade Lodge gave a grand opening last Saturday night which was very successful, people coming from all over to attend. The very large floor was filled with couples who danced to the strains of an eight-piece orchestra until the wee hours of the morning.
H.C. Orme of St. Paul, the holder of license plate No. 1 and president of the Highway No. 1 Association, is spending the week in Grand Marais.
Joe Blackwood, Pigeon River trapper, arrived in town Wednesday for a few days.
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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