Cook County News Herald

Down Memory Lane


20 YEARS AGO
NOVEMBER 13, 2000

Investigators have found no leads into what caused a cabin on the Canadian side of Lake Saganaga to burn on October 10. The cabin was owned by Will Steger of Ely, and was on Chik-Wauk Island. Steger believes the fire was started accidentally, perhaps by someone who went in and used the cabin, started a fire in the woodstove and didn’t properly extinguish it. Investigators from the Cook County Sheriff ’s Office and the US Forest Service said that because the cabin was on the Canadian side of the lake, the primary investigation is being handled by the Ontario Provincial Police.

Political newcomer Ron Everson will be the next mayor of Grand Marais after he defeated incumbent Andrea Peterson by capturing 52 percent of the vote to Peterson’s 42 percent. When the ballots were tallied, it was Everson with 405 votes, Peterson 329 votes. Edward Bolstad and Mark Pedersen were also elected from a field of four to serve on the Grand Marais City Council for the next four years.

30 YEARS AGO
NOVEMBER 12, 1990

The US Forest Service would like to see some Rainbows return to Barker Lake. Not a lot, mind you, but enough to clean up the garbage which remains at the gathering site. Now that the leaves have fallen, even a casual drive through the area reveals enough garbage to fill a couple of pick-up trucks. “When they did the clean-up they got the garbage along the roads, but not back in the woods where you couldn’t see it,” said Tofte District Ranger Larry Dawson. “They were supposed to come back through and do a fine pick, but they never did.” At the site of A camp, a latrine remains uncovered. Nearby is a piece of plywood which served as a communal toilet seat. Bears have also gotten into the composting sites and scattered cans and pieces of glass everywhere. Dozens of vehicles and hundreds of Rainbows gathered at the site in July.

60 YEARS AGO
NOVEMBER 10, 1960

The blast of a shotgun and the whine of a rifle slug. These are the sounds of the fall hunting season in Minnesota — but they can cause trouble, serious trouble, if the targets are telephone lines, glass insulators or cables. A Northwestern Bell company manager is urging all Cook County residents to be careful when hunting that they don’t shoot at telephone equipment.

In four cases, game wardens have found signs of moose having been killed, Warden Earl Nelms said last week. The wardens believe some of these animals had been shot on this side of the border and then Canadian tags were used on them illegally.

James Hussey has finished his training for barber and has accepted a position in Duluth.

100 YEARS AGO
NOVEMBER 10, 1920

Jim Geesick, a Lutsen resident, has been in town several days. He spends his winters trapping north of Lutsen near the Canadian border. He has three shacks and 30 miles of traps.

A.W. Stevens walked to Grand Marais from Hovland last week, a distance of 18 miles. He came to consult Dr. Hicks and have some dental work done. While here, he also received an express package which left New York last May.

The Hovland people have been grading the lot around the town hall, have built a new wood shed 24 feet long, and put a woven wire fence around the grounds. They will have a Thanksgiving supper there and dance in the evening. All are invited.

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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