10 YEARS AGO
AUG. 29, 2009
A popular local restaurant, the Birch Terrace Supper Club, was damaged by fire on Aug. 24 and an employee was taken to the Cook County North Shore Hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation. When the Grand Marais Fire Department arrived around 7 p.m., flames were visible on the roof around the chimney; the fire was in the kitchen area. It is believed the kitchen will be closed for at least a few weeks, and until then only limited food service will be available.
Cook County Maintenance Director Brian Silence reported Tuesday that a new well is being drilled at the Tofte highway garage. The water in the current well was contaminated 15 years ago by a ruptured underground diesel tank, said Silence, and has not been drinkable since then. Clean water is required for the garage’s emergency eye wash station and emergency shower. The new well is expected to be about 190 feet deep, about the same as the old one.
20 YEARS AGO
AUG. 30, 1999
The work crew in charge of assembling the new electric substation for the city of Grand Marais was surprised last week when one man opened a box which supposedly held some important electrical connectors only to find 14 matching pink and white baby outfits. Apparently, the box had been delivered many weeks ago and had been sitting near the new transformer site until the parts were needed. The box was opened on Aug. 19. It was determined that the clothes were supposed to be delivered to an outlet mall in Nebraska on July 19, but obviously never made it. As for the electrical connectors, Public Works Director Russel Good said, “I would guess that somewhere in Nebraska there’s a clothing store with a box full of electrical apparatus, and that they have no idea what to do with any of it.”
Minnesota’s 1999 moose hunt will continue as planned in the storm-ravaged portions of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and adjacent forests. State wildlife officials do not believe the storm adversely affected moose, although some animals may have been killed by falling trees.
50 YEARS AGO
AUG. 28, 1969
Three Duluth men were apprehended last week and charged with theft for taking camping equipment and other articles from Charles Ott and Raymond Garner, and from campers at the Crescent Lake campground. Practically all the items have been recovered and will be returned to the owners.
The J.D. Winters have been getting some “oohs” and “ahhs” on their huge raspberries. Mr. Winter explains that these are a Scotch variety called “Exploit” and that they are just naturally large – some of the berries measure over an inch in length!
Eric Bergstrom has a bruised nose, but otherwise escaped injury when a tree fell on him. His glasses were not broken. He was cutting a tree in his yard.
90 YEARS AGO
AUG. 29, 1929
Lois Alm returned Monday from Fort William after spending several days visiting friends there. “Zip” Robinson returned with her as her guest.
Emil C. Johnson is back with the survey crew at Swan Lake, after having spent a few days here last week.
Eleanor Tofte is employed at the Star of the North resort.
A communication from Mr. and Mrs. T.R. Cummins of Northgate, N.D., says that the crops out there are very good in spite of the extremely dry weather.
Much interest has been awakened during the past few weeks in historical data of the North Shore. The tri-county meeting held at Two Harbors last Thursday was most successful in rejuvenating bits of old North Shore history. This meeting was by far the best ever held in the lakes region. No other place in the middle West can offer anything richer in historical interest than can the long stretch of wonderland from Duluth to Pigeon River.
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.
Leave a Reply