20 YEARS AGO
NOVEMBER 6, 2000
Wild Country Maple Syrup won first place in the Maple 2000 International Convention held in Vermont. The family-owned Lutsen area company won top honors in the Dark Amber category, and excellent awards in the Light and Medium categories. They also won “Best of Show” at the Minnesota State Fair this year. Wild Country Maple Syrup is owned and operated by Jim and Marianne Cordes, Chris Cordes, Kirsten Cordes Waddell, and Larry Waddell. They are the largest producers of maple syrup in Minnesota, tapping between 10,000 and 11,000 trees annually. This year, they produced between 2500 and 2700 gallons of syrup.
30 YEARS AGO
OCTOBER 29, 1990
The Grand Marais City Council and Cook County Commissioners argued over who should have control and responsibility of the dispatchers at the Cook County Law Enforcement Center during a joint meeting on October 24. Currently, the dispatchers are city employees. However, the county pays 70 percent of wages and fringe benefits.
The bridge over the Flutereed River in Hovland won’t be replaced this fall as planned. The county engineer said the crews excavated down to the bedrock, “and it was deeper than we thought.” This discovery increases the size of the footings and greatly increases the cost.
A new tax district may be set up in Cook County to pay for the maintenance of the translator towers which allow Grand Marais and some county residents to receive the Duluth television stations. Five years ago the Duluth stations turned the cost of tower maintenance over to the people of Cook County. The minimum cost of the maintenance is $20,000 a year and that money has been raised by donations during the last five years.
60 YEARS AGO
OCTOBER 27, 1960
With Halloween only a short time off, the Post Office Department has issued a warning that it is a federal offense to willfully or maliciously injure, tear down or destroy any receptacle used for the receipt or delivery of rural mail. In the past, rural mail boxes have been frequent targets of Halloween pranksters. The government takes a very serious attitude toward such depredation and reminds pranksters that it might do them well to consider that their activities could net them a $1,000 fine.
In the Poplar Lake area a smattering of snow lies throughout the woods. The light snow squalls and flurries that we have had recently have fallen and melted in many places, but Poplar Lake, the highest part of the Trail, retains its indication of approaching winter.
100 YEARS AGO
OCTOBER 27, 1920
Eli Smith of Schroeder drove his car to Grand Marais a couple of times the past week. He has a 40-acre clearing and is one of Cook County’s successful farmers. He is still a bachelor.
There was a marshmallow roast on the beach last Friday evening, given by the young people. These little social affairs are usually very delightful, but in this case a rain storm interrupted the fun.
J.W. Millar of Detroit, lighthouse engineer, has been in Grand Marais the past week looking after the installation of a fog bell, also a new light. The new light will burn continuously so the lighthouse keeper will not have to make the hazardous trips to and from the lighthouse in time of storm as formerly.
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 ccnh@boreal.org; or stop by our office at 15 First Avenue West.
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