10 Years Ago
· March 13, 2000 • It has fooled a lot of people over the years. The stone gateway near the Grand Marais Public Library that claims to be the entrance to the Gunflint Trail has steered quite a few BWCA-bound tourists up the wrong street, but over the years people have become quite accustomed to it being there. Part of that gateway could change, however, and the Grand Marais City Council wants public input on what should be done.
On top of that, the figures have fallen into disrepair, and the city is considering whether to remove, or repair, the welcome sign.
It was decided that the public should have a say in the future of the bear and the voyageur. Interested persons are asked to send their opinions in writing to City Hall. Council has agreed to hold off making any decisions until it hears from the public. • Claiming that a longstanding agreement between the City of Grand Marais and the North Shore Recreation Ministry is unconstitutional, the Minnesota Civil Liberties Union has threatened legal action unless the situation is “rectified” immediately.
The agreement, which dates to 1975, grants the ministry a free campground lot on the condition that the ministry provides an ecumenical outreach to people vacationing on the North Shore. In addition to leading worship services, summer ministers regularly provide counseling and help visitors deal with crises. • According to local loggers, the Grand Portage Mill closed without notice during the last week in February. No reason for the closure was given.
What is known is that the east end mill was the only one in the county that bought birch wood and that local loggers have cut thousands of board feet of the wood and now have no market for that wood close at hand.
20 Years Ago
· March 12, 1990
• A position currently being advertised for a local coordinator of economic development activities has generated a surge of applications — 43 hopefuls have expressed interest in the job. • School Superintendent Warren Rolek has issued a statement stressing that no action has been taken on a proposed plan to change the high school schedule. The county rumor mill went into production after the proposal was made to the school board two weeks ago.
“I wish to emphasize this is only a proposal,” Rolek said. “Considerable discussion is yet necessary before it can be considered for adoption.”
50 Years Ago
· March 10, 1960
• Adolph Moe, formerly of Grand Marais, played the role of a rescue captain in a real life drama on the Atlantic off the Florida coast last week.
A 40-foot shrimper, the Sally B., sank in 80 feet of water after her water pumps failed. The stricken vessel had radioed for help, and Moe, who captains another shrimper, the Southern Cross, went to the rescue. The four-man crew was saved just before the vessel sank. • Thewhining of the saws through huge pine logs can again be heard at the Hedstrom sawmill as spring sawmill operations have started. All winter, logs have been hauled in to the mill. Now they have to be sawed, piled and dried and made ready for market.
Most of the operations at the mill are now mechanized with a minimum of handling. • TheCook County high school band, under the direction of Harold Ikola, came home from the Northwestern Ontario Music Competition Festival held at Fort William and Port Arthur last week, flushed with new laurels. They topped all musical achievements at the week-long competitions by scoring an unheard-of 91.
Last year the band scored a high of 88, which everyone at the Head of the Lakes thought was remarkable. In the memory of those in charge of the 26-year-old competitions no one had ever scored over 90.
90 Years Ago
· March 10, 1920
• A meeting of the county board has been called for next Saturday. • Come on, you toe-frosted robin, come on. • Theroads were blockaded by the snow storm last Wednesday night and the strong winds that followed, making drifts in places 6 feet deep.
Thecounty snow plow with a crew of six men has been working its way west and reached Cramer Tuesday evening. They are expected to return to the village this evening.
Theroad is now open from here to Cramer, but the Lake County Road is not passable as yet, so it is hard to say when through traffic can again be resumed.
No mail has been received here since Wednesday last week. • Charley Gannet of the Pittsburgh Tie & Pole Co. was in town the first of the week. He is making a tour along the shore purchasing ties and poles for his company.
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