10 Years Ago ·
Oc t, 23, 2000
• Famed Ely sled-dog musher and explorer Will Steger’s Saganaga Lake cabin was destroyed by fire on Oct. 10. Steger co-owned the cabin, which was on the Canadian side of Saganaga on Chik-Wauk Island, with Joe Bailey, a longtime friend.
There was no insurance on the cabin. A second building on the property wasn’t damaged by the fire. Calling the blaze “suspicious,” Steger said the loss of his personal items meant little to him in relation to the loss of the structure, built in 1949 by Frank and Betsy Powell out of hand-hewn white cedar lumber. The Powells later sold the cabins to Ralph and Bea Griffis, former owners of Chik-Wauk Lodge and Canoe Outfitters.
• Imagine the surprise last Thursday when a large two-person helium-filled balloon landed in a clearing just a half-mile south of the Sawbill Trail. Even more surprising was the fact that the balloonists had departed from Albuquerque, N.M., just a day and a half before.
They were racing in the 5th America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race, which is part of the annual Albuquerque Fiesta 2000. They traveled the 1,500 miles in 37.5 hours for an average speed of roughly 40 mph.
It turns out the Cook County visitors, who were confident that they had won the race, finished sixth. The winner is the team that travels the farthest distance before landing.
20 Years Ago ·
Oc t. 22, 1990
• Thetrailer used for a clubhouse at Grand Marais’ Gunflint Hills Golf Course burned to the ground early Sunday morning, Oct. 14. The trailer was engulfed in flames when the Maple Hill Fire Department responded to the call at about 3 a.m. The firefighters saved some picnic tables on the deck, but were unable to stop the blaze.
No one knows how the firestarted. Thepower and gas had been shut off. A deputy sheriff said the fire had a suspicious origin, but there are no suspects and the sheriff is unsure if it was arson.
• TheArrowhead Library System has announced changes in its 1991 bookmobile schedule, and effective Jan. 1, there will no longer be service to Cook County.
The decision to cut service was made in April when the System learned that its budget for this year as well as next was to be cut by the State Department of Education’s Office of Library Development and Services.
50 Years Ago ·
Oc t. 20, 1960
• TheNorth Shore Treasure Chest owned by Mrs. William Bally and Mrs. Albert Bally for the past seven years has been sold to Mrs. Loren Leng. She plans to continue the business much as the former owners but will change the location.
The former Leng’s Fountain building will be remodeled and readied during the winter months to be opened in the spring.
• Theonly Civil War monument to be erected in the entire state of Minnesota has been designated for Cook County — a signal honor — according to C.R. Magney, chairman of the markers and monuments for next year’s Centennial of the Civil War and Sioux Uprising.
If plans go through, the monument will be placed on the site of the Col. William Colvill homestead about nine miles east of Grand Marais.
• Theconstruction company working on the Gunflint Trail is a revelation for these parts. This company, formerly engaged in stripping mines, has large and adequate equipment and really knows the business. The right-of-way has been largely cleared, the brush burned and the road in the vicinity of the Hungry Jack entrance is being rapidly rebuilt.
TheTrail is assuming a new look in this area.
90 Years Ago ·
Oc t. 20, 1920
• Thepartridge season opened last Friday and a lot of our local sports have been bagging their five a day. The birds are reported plentiful.
• TheCreech saw mill which has been making a cut of shingles is temporarily closed down. We miss the whistle as it was our alarm clock.
• A pleasant and entertaining Halloween party was given for the purpose of raising funds for the recently organized Aid Society. Ghosts and witches formed a large part of the “fun,” as well as the gypsy fortune teller.
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