Dusting off the Archives
News from Verndale's Past
75 Years Ago, July 31, 1947
•James J. Thompson, who has been employed with the Waterhouse Company the past two years, last week completed a business transaction with Homer Waterhouse for the purchase of his present filling station, electrical appliance and plumbing business, etc. in Verndale. Mr. Thompson will take possession of his newly acquired business on Friday, August 1, of this week.
•Private first class Hollis L. Dague won his wings while serving with the 187 Glider Infantry of the 11 Airborne Division in Japan. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Milford Dague, live in Verndale. Dague joined the 11 Airborne Division in January 1947 at the 4th Replacement Depot in Yokohama. He was assigned to Hq. Co. 3rd Bn. 187 Glider Infantry. Shortly after arriving at Camp Crawford, he went to the Yamoto jump school near Sendai. His present duties are S-2 clerk and ammo-bearer. He graduated from Verndale High School in June 1946. He plans to go to college and major in agriculture.
•The Sunflower Patrol of the Verndale Girls Scouts are sponsoring a Food Sale at Heinemann and Goebel’s Hardware Store, Saturday, August 2, starting at 10 a.m.
40 Years Ago, August 5, 1982
•Fire Chief Duane Davis and Rodney Bounds appeared before the city council meeting in regular session Monday evening to present two more floor plans for a firehall addition being considered to provide protection from the elements for all city-owned vehicles, some of which are now being housed in private garages. Material estimates were submitted, along with the plans for study. Plan A called for a city office on the front part of the building facing 1st Avenue SW. along with one door into a long truck storage area. Plan B called for two large doors on the front to accommodate vehicles with spaces allowed for the city offices behind that area with access on the east side. Both would cost in the neighborhood of $15,000 for materials.
• Firemen survey the inside of the Yule potato warehouse which received extensive damage due to a fire last Thursday evening, believed to have ignited from an electrical short. A complete estimate of damages has not been compiled yet. A number of new potatoes had just been brought in, as had been a supply of new plastic bags, most of which had melted in the blaze. A recent shipment of baking potatoes was “baked” in the fire and rendered useless.
•Terry Derby, daughter of Jim and Joan Derby, posed in her mouse costume in which she portrayed a city cousin in Aesop’s Fable of The Country Mouse and The City Mouse. This was her first experience with the Madcaps who presented a series of Aesop’s Fables at the county fair. Dan Waisanen of Verndale was one of the musical accompanists.
15 Years Ago, August 1, 2007
•Dan Schmitz was named this year’s Sore Head, and his first duty consisted of picking up some horse “doodie” left behind after the parade. He’s such a good sport! Gene Finck claimed his title of Ironman once again this year, along with his partner Jerry Line.
•Naomi Stone handed Melissa Perius the book “The Man Who Fed the World” as part of the Science Achievement and Exploration award she received from the U of M College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences for her strong interest in science. Perius will be a senior in the fall at Verndale High School, and plans on pursuing a career in nursing.
•The Wadena County Fair had an unexpected turnout this year. They pulled in approximately 2000 more people than they were anticipating, bringing in about 5500 this year. A few of this year’s festivities included enduro races, demolition derby, inflatable rides for kids, Battle of the Bands, livestock shows, fireworks, pet parade and mud volleyball.
Comments