110 YEARS AGO

From Jan. 22, 1915

C.C. Gorder, former county commissioner of Starbuck was calling on his many friends in Glenwood on Saturday. Mr. Gorder is one of the substantial men of the county and receives a most hearty welcome from his friends here.

Mrs. Mabel Anderson entertained company Wednesday last week in honor of her son, Maurice, who was four years old on that day.

A.N. Thorstad is nicely settled in his new store. The store has a fine front with large display windows which adds greatly to the appearance of our business district.

Some of the children from the grammar grades surprised Howell Skoglund Saturday evening at his home. Howell has received the best marks in his class the first half of the year and in accordance with a pretty custom his admiring fellow students took this way of doing him honor.

Report of School Dist. 37. Those who received certificates of perfect attendance are as follows: Edna, Alice, Arthur and Albert Jackson, Valborg, Alfred and Ray Barness; Clarence, Clifford and Bertha Anderson, Herman Overstad, Palmer, Alice and Hulda Opdahl, Ovid Branby. Henry Overstad and Anna Barsness were absent one day. Many parents and friends were present to hear the Christmas program on Wednesday afternoon. All enjoyed hearing the stories told by Albertina Anderson. An organ has been purchased for the school room. Visitors were Mr. and Mrs. Bennie Bredeson, Albertina Anderson, Mrs. Ingvald Brenden and Cora Anderson. Constance Erickson, teacher.

January reduced prices, clearance sale: Calico, 5¢ per yard; Ginghams 8¢ per yard; Towels 8¢, toweling 6¢ per yard. Corsets 69¢; Skirts 1.00; ready to wear dresses and coats are half price. The Farmers Store, Starbuck, Minn.

100 YEARS AGO

From Jan. 23, 1925

The next meeting of the Parent-Teacher Association will be held at the town hall Wednesday evening, January 28. The following program will be given: Selection by the orchestra; song by the high school quartette; talk by Mr. Giberson of Morris; vocal solo, Mrs. O.V. Opheim, with violin obligato by M.P. Eidberg; business session; selection, orchestra. – Miss Olga Bly, secretary.

Dr. C.R. Christenson presented the First and Second grades with the silver loving cup offered by Magnus Grondahl Post to the room having the largest number of visitors during Education Week in November. The First and Second grades, Miss Oby’s room, were the winners.

The residence on the Anton Peterson farm on the Glenwood road burned to the ground on Friday morning. The fire is supposed to have started from a defective chimney. Tosten Borstad rented the farm at that time. He lost most of his household belongings.

Items of interest from the local school (by Ruth Lee): Edna Carlson, Eva Larson and Myrtle Over-by prepared a very interesting dramatization of “The Little Red Hen” for the program last Friday.

After studying the subject of “Weaving Cloth” in geography the children in the 3rd grade brought yarn to school and wove rugs.

90 YEARS AGO

From Jan. 24, 1935

The cold wave which has gripped the entire country for the past week struck a new low mark Wednesday morning when local thermometers showed 35 below zero. Sunday morning a raging snowstorm blew out of the northwest, blocking highways and making travel almost impossible. B.C. Helgeson, who carries mail on Route 3 got his snowmobile into action on Monday. With runners replacing the front wheels and the rear wheels driven by caterpillar traction, he finds no troubles in making his route.

A crew has been busy the past two weeks cutting ice on Lake Minnewaska. The ice measures approximately 24 inches. Besides cutting ice for local concerns, the crew will also cut for dealers at Cyrus and Hancock.

Dr. A.F. Giesen got a taste of pioneer life last Sunday when he was forced to walk eight miles in the snowstorm to visit two patients.

The mothers of the Jr. L.D.R. of Fron met at the home of Mrs. G.G. Landmark Tuesday afternoon when they planned some work for the little girls.

Notes from School Dist. 37: Dorothy Billehus, reporter. Our plans for perfect attendance for this six weeks period were shattered Thursday when one pupil was absent due to stormy weather. Those on the honor roll receiving an average of 90 or more are: Roger and Celius Anderson, Gladys Rud, Virginia Overson and Dorothy Billehus.

80 YEARS AGO

From Jan. 25, 1945

Starbuck had a successful road trip to Alberta last Wednesday night when the A’s took a 41-19 decision and B’s were on the long end of a 29-18 count. This game marked the end of Jerome Hoium’s high school basketball career and the local ace sang his swan song in operatic fashion by whopping the meshes for 14 points to lead the local scoring, as well as adding another good floor game to his season’s accomplishments. When this report sees the light of print Hoium will have swapped his basketball togs for the G.I. wardrobe, but it can be said that Jerome was in the limelight, not only in his performance at Alberta last week, but for on Thursday night his classmates had a party in his honor and on Saturday night he and the rest of the squad, as well as the coaching staff, were guests of Dr. and Mrs. W.W. Larson to a turkey dinner at Garden Center in Alexandria.

Mrs. Elmo Hegg of Glenwood was instantly killed about noon on Tuesday when the car she was driving was struck by the fast mail train on the Great Northern crossing on Highway 28 in Morris. Her four-year-old son, Bobbie, who was with her, suffered a scalp wound and cuts about the face and other minor abrasions.

Patty Dullum, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Perry Dullum, celebrated her 3rd birthday Tuesday.

Specials this week at the Red Owl Store: Harvest Queen coffee, 2 – 1 lb. bags, 49¢; Krispy crackers, 2 lb. box 31¢; whole kernel corn, 2 – 20 oz. cans 25¢; Ivory soap, 3 bars 17¢; Post Toasties, 18 oz. pkg, 23¢; bologna rings, lb. 25¢; special herring with onions, qt. jar 29¢; peanuts, fancy fresh, roasted, lb. 23¢.

70 YEARS AGO

From Jan. 27, 1955

A beautiful candlelight Christmas wedding was solemnized at the Glenwood Lutheran church on December 22, when Miss Jeannine Sheldon became the bride of Private Robert E. Streich of Alexandria.

Miss Annette Femrite, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Femrite of Lowry, received her uniform and cap at the Minneapolis General Hospital School of Nursing last Friday.

The employees of the Starbuck post office, rural carriers and their wives honored Frank Mather, retired mail carrier, at his home last Tuesday evening. The evening was spent going over the experiences of a mail carrier. When Mr. Mather first carried mail they used horses and a light wagon in the summer and a light sleigh in the winter.

Since Old Man Winter showed that he still has cold weather, snow and wind up his sleeve, fishermen and small birds have been scarce on the lake. Of our feathered friends, only woodpeckers and English sparrows are seen. The fishermen are more difficult to classify.

60 YEARS AGO

From Jan. 28, 1965

The Starbuck High School Band under the direction of Joe Fennie will be honored as High School Band of the Week on the WCCO Radio “Prep Parade” program. The Starbuck Band will perform all the music on the program which will be heard at 8:00 to 8:40 p.m., and. Mr. Fennie will be interviewed by Paul Giel. An award trophy will be presented to the school at the conclusion of the 1964-65 high school season. Music and cheers for the show were recorded in a special session held at the school Jan. 26.

Funeral services for Mrs. Hilda Strand were held at the Norunga Lutheran Church on Saturday, January 16 with Rev. Kent Carlander of Kensington and Rev. Harold S. Strand of Alexandria officiating. Mrs. Strand is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Ruby Anderson and Mrs. Floyd Anderson; a sister, Mrs. Minnie Matson; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Mrs. H.P. Skoglund was pleasantly surprised on Saturday when all her children came home in honor of her 85th birthday anniversary which they all celebrated at a dinner party at the Chester F. Peterson home on Sunday. This was the first time they had all been together in 19 years.

Among the 57 UMM students who are practicing teaching this quarter are the following from Starbuck: Ann Johnson, primary grades at Hancock; LouAnn Barsness, physical education and speech at Montevideo: Sylvia Moen of Madison (formerly Sylvia Opdahl, Starbuck) Grade 1 in Dawson.

The second 10-week session of the adult farm class will begin Jan. 28 in the vocational agricultural room at the Starbuck school, Gary Olson. instructor.

50 YEARS AGO

From Jan. 23, 1975

Suzan Baukol has been named Starbuck High School’s 1974-75 Betty Crocker Family Leader of Tomorrow. Suzan won the honor by competing with other seniors in the written knowledge and attitude examination. She is now eligible for state and national honors and will receive a specially designed award from General Mills, Inc. Suzan is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peder Baukol of Starbuck.

High winds with gusts up to 40 miles per hour swept through the area starting late Monday evening and continuing through Tuesday. Blowing snow drifting caused poor visibility and some blocked roads. Starbuck schools along with most to the west were closed all day Tuesday.

Temperatures dropped steadily on Tuesday and dipped to sub-zero by evening.

Mrs. Cora Aal returned home by bus on Sunday evening after spending ten days with the Eric Carlson family at Decorah, Iowa and Carolyn Aal in Minneapolis.

Mr. and Mrs. Everett Hedin of Maynard, Minn., announce the engagement of their daughter, Eileen Kay to Curtis J. Berg of Excelsior, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Berg of Starbuck. No definite wedding date has been set.

Martin Dalen, 87, died Tuesday morning at the Minnewaska Hospital. 

Henry Edward Winters, died at the Lakeview Care Center in Glenwood on Friday, Jan. 17.

Funeral services for Maurice Jergenson, a lifetime resident of Starbuck, were held from the East Zion Lutheran Church Wednesday, January 15, 1975.

Funeral services for Olger P. Barsness, 80, of Starbuck were held from the Fron Lutheran Church on January 16, 1975 at 11 a.m. with Pastor Arvin Halvorson and Rev. Donald Oldenburg officiating.

40 YEARS AGO

From Jan. 23, 1985

Robert Henry Gregory was the New Year’s baby at the Minnewaska Hospital arriving at 3:03 p.m. on January 17. He is the son of Bob and Brenda Gregory of Starbuck. 

Starbuck residents Palmer Aaberg and Randy Smith were honored recently by the U.S. Postal Service. Smith was given a certificate and check for “going beyond the call of duty” and Aaberg was presented with a service pin for his 25 years with the postal service.

Terry and Nancy Brown are the parents of a daughter, Ashley Rae, born January 17.

Funeral services for Harold Hagen, 60, were held from the Fron Lutheran Church December 20. He is survived by his wife, Ginny; one daughter, Laurie and one son, Randy, and one sister, Mrs. Sherman (Joyce) Quisberg of Tonka Bay.

Funeral services for Inez Paulson, 84, were held from the East Zion Lutheran Church January 15. She is survived by her husband, Art; and one son.

30 YEARS AGO

From Jan. 25, 1995

Steve Gorder has resigned his position at Pope County Lumber Company in Starbuck and has accepted a position at the Starbuck Farmer’s Union Oil Co. Joining the staff at PCL is Rick Bangsund.

Funeral services for Charlotte Hanson, 61, were held at East Zion Lutheran Church Jan. 17. She is survived by her husband, Howard; her mother, Lillian Roberts of Morris, two sons, Jeffrey Kleven of Glenwood and Darrel Kleven of Minneapolis.

An open house farewell party was held for Chuck and Monica Valek at the former Starbuck Creamery. The Valeks will be moving to Belle Plain, MN where Chuck has accepted the position of General Manager of the Belle Plain Cooperative. 

Coach Paddy Domier’s 12-member cheerleading squad recently placed second in the Class A competition held in the Twin Cities. The event was sponsored by the Minnesota Cheerleading Coaches Advisors Association. The squad was made up of Amy Tessman, Tami Hoium, Jenny Smith (who was also named to the all-state second team), Jamie Jenniges, Anne Bösl, Nancy Nyhammer, Sarah DeSmith, Abby Domier, Trisha Rust, Alicia Schumacher, Charity Skogrand and Tracy Stein.

20 YEARS AGO

From Jan. 26, 2005 

New Minnewaska Area Schools board members were sworn in earlier this month. Pictured in the Times are Brad Parsons, Bruce Anderson, Julie Gaffaney, Heidi Sachs, MAS superintendent Keith Redfield, Joan Maus, Scott Ringdahl and Heidi Roggenkamp.

Jeannie Pladsen was named president of the Starbuck Area Chamber of Commerce. She and John Samuelson, the organization’s outgoing president, were among a group of 50 Saturday night during the Starbuck Area Chamber of Commerce annual banquet.

Ethan Emery Barsness, son of Peder and Susan Barsness of rural Starbuck was the first baby born in 2005 at the Minnewaska Regional Health System in Starbuck. Ethan was born at 6:27 a.m. on Friday, January 14. He weighed 6 lbs., 6 oz. and measured 19 1/2 inches. Ethan was welcomed home by his parents, brother Caleb, 7, and sister Abbie, 18 months. Pictured in the Times are Caleb, Peder holding Abbie, Susan holding Ethan and Dr. Stacy Luetmer. The Barsness family received a $100 savings bond in Ethan’s name and a variety of other gifts from the facility.

10 YEARS AGO

From Jan. 28, 2015 

DNR Area Naturalist Ben Eckhoff led the training for the Ice Fishing Frenzy at Glacial Lakes State Park on Saturday afternoon. He talked about safety and what to wear to stay warm while ice fishing. He also taught the kids about the different kinds of fishing equipment.

The Minnewaska boys’ basketball team had a schedule last week that would rival that of an NBA team. The Lakers played four games in five days. Bus rides on Monday and Thursday were followed by home games on Tuesday and Friday. The Lakers split for the week in every way. They went 1-1 on the road, 1-1 at home, 1-1 in nonconference games and 1-1 in home games.

Minnewaska’s wrestling team participated in back-to-back triangulars on Monday and Tuesday in advance of Saturday’s WCC wrestling tournament.