Cook County News Herald

Down Memory Lane




10 YEARS AGO
MAY 30, 2008

A week ago, a 10-alarm fire destroyed Building B at Eagle Ridge on Lutsen Mountain. That Tuesday morning fire left an estimated $2.2 million pile of waterlogged wood, sheet rock, and twisted steel roofing, and a hole in the middle of the complex.

“Obviously, it is in our best interest to rebuild,” said Tom Rider, one of the co-owners. “Our intent is to rebuild.”

Flute Reed Partnership members and friends planted almost 500 trees along the banks of the river during the past two weeks. They also built 6-foot-tall fence cages anchored by 6-foot posts to protect all the white pine seedlings.

20 YEARS AGO
JUNE 1, 1998

By unanimous vote, after a lengthy and often contentious exchange with a handful of citizens, the Cook County commissioners voted at their May 26 meeting to close the county landfill.

Tim Kennedy, county solid waste officer, said the 10-year-old landfill could be shut down before winter. But before that happens, a series of events must fall into place and there are no guarantees that any of them would.

Cook County has the worst fire conditions in the United States, said Tim Norman of the U.S. Forest Service Fire Management as he spoke to the county commissioners.

“We have fuel Type 13 here. That is 60 tons of fuel per acre – the worst you can have,” he said. Norman explained that in addition to the untold numbers of standing dead balsam killed by spruce budworm, the county was entering its fourth year of drought conditions.

50 YEARS AGO
MAY 30, 1968

Chris Tormondsen of Tofte expects that his book, which will give a brief history of the Tofte-Schroeder area, will be off the press possibly some time in July.

One of the interesting facts he has discovered in his research is that wolf bounties were paid by the county as early as 1897!

Sandgren’s Motel has added two new ultra deluxe units this spring. They are on a tri-level to the motel and are of frame construction.

Each has a color TV and room phones.

James Mulligan is here for a two-week leave from the Coast Guard. He drove from Baltimore, arriving here in time for the funeral of his grandmother, Mrs. Ed Mulligan.

90 YEARS AGO
MAY 31, 1928

Charlie Blade is painting Ruth Soderberg’s store.

The Hall residence is being improved. They are adding an addition to the kitchen.

Hilbert Jones went to Duluth today. He will return with a wrecker for Hall’s garage.

Freddir Erickson and Fred Lindskog are down from Gunflint on a two weeks’ vacation.

Emil Hall returned Wednesday from Greenwood Lodge where he has been employed for the past week installing a water system and wiring.

Andrew Hedstrom has started building the new town hall at Colvill and has quite a crew on the job.

Mr. Bean was seriously hurt when his speeder jumped the track at 4-mile Wednesday night. He was rushed to town by Chester Erickson, where he received medical attention.

Just how serious his injuries are has not been discovered. He was taken to a Duluth hospital Thursday morning.

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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