10 Years Ago ·
May 22, 2000
• Thequest to develop a park out of the Grand Marais harbor Standard Station is rolling right along.
The first major stage of the project, purchasing the Gene Erickson property in downtown Grand Marais, was accomplished with the signing of the deed in February 2000. The property had been the site of the Standard gas station for 75 years, but when Erickson announced his intention to retire from the business, the city of Grand Marais made its move.
More than $600,000 was raised to purchase the property, but the fundraising committee still needs about $7,500 to finish the job.
• According to Al Harmon, station manager of WDSE-TV, public television in Duluth, a new television tower should be up and running in Grand Marais by the end of the summer.
In the fall of 1998, one of the two TV towers on the hill overlooking the city was deemed unsafe. The result was that the tower was slated for nearly immediate destruction, a move which would have left Grand Marais with only one of the three national networks and no public television station.
The new tower, paid for by grants and local donations, is expected to happen before fall.
20 Years Ago ·
May 21, 1990
• Theabused Sweethearts’ Bluff nature trail and the back door of the Rec Park could be an attractive and productive asset, Ray Quick said when he presented a slide show to the City Council last week.
“I showed these slides to the park board last fall and I can’t say they were well received,” Quick said. “From a cold business viewpoint alone, we need to conserve these precious natural attractions.”
Specific problems Quick cited include dumping garbage and an unsightly snow fence at the trailhead, vandalism of deteriorating summer houses along the trail and painted arrows on rocks and trees. In additions, bears visit the Dumpster, but blaming bears for all scattered trash is a scapegoat.
Quick asked that the city get the junk out of the area and try to restore the scarred land. And, he said, “Let’s aim our publicity at nature lovers, not beer parties.”
• A Dyn-O-Mite grand opening is planned for the casino at Grand Portage Lodge on May 26, where Jimmie Walker, J.J. on the television series Good
Times,
will be one of the celebrity guests. Musical entertainment will be provided by Troy Shondell and the Shondells.
The facility is the first in Minnesota to have both authentic Las Vegas “direct pay” video slot machines and high-stakes bingo.
50 Years Ago ·
May 19, 1960
• A black bear scratched his back, but Paul Larson, local manager of the Northwestern Bell Telephone Co., is scratching his head!
At least Larson thinks the bear scratched his back up against some phone wires after climbing a pole, knocking out phone service to Tuscarora Lodge. Larson’s “phone sleuths” found signs of bear hair tangled in the wires.
What puzzles Larson is how to report this one to his company. Last year he reported a mouse shorting out wires in the booster station. He also reported a moose having horned his way into the wires, disrupting phone service. And now a bear! What is the home office apt to think, anyway?
• Theopening of the walleye season brought in hordes of campers, boats, trailers and lodge guests to the upper end of the Trail. At one point 45 such units were counted passing Trail Service Center in a period of 54 minutes.
• Someone suggested that the community should erect a large thermometer on The Point, as a tourist attraction. The idea is solid.
Just imagine what pictures would be taken each summer showing the low temperatures near the lake in comparison to those they left at home!
Ideas are of no value unless brought to fruition.
90 Years Ago ·
May 19, 1920
• Forest Ranger Bayle was called to Maple Hill Sunday to attend to a fire, returning Tuesday. • We got the much needed rain this morning. This was a boon to the farmers and will also settle the dust on the roads.
• A.M. Anderson is having a pressure water system installed in his residence in the west end of the village.
• John H. Winger has purchased the lot and building on the east side of Broadway, formerly used by Dan McDonald for a taxidermist shop, and is having the building moved to the front of the lot. It will be remodeled and used by Mr. Winger for his dry goods and clothing store.
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