Dusting off the Archives
News from Verndale's Past
75 Years Ago, November 11, 1948
• Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Stinar, who have owned and operated the Verndale Hotel the past several months, on Wednesday of this week completed a business transaction for the sale of their property. The new owners are two brothers and their families of Pequot Lakes, Mr. and Mrs. Harris Gunvaldson and son, who is seven years old, and Mr. and Mrs. Tobey Gunvaldson, who have an 11-month-old daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Stinar and family will continue to live in Verndale, having rented the Ernest Voeltz home with was formerly owned by Clarence Ratcliff.
• For 813 displaced persons who just arrived in the United States as the vanguard of an expected 205,000, the delicate process of Americanization has now begun. Though most of them were destitute upon arrival, they will have more help in the resettling process than most immigrants of the American past. But it will not be easy—there is a lot to learn, and little indeed was done toward orienting them before they arrived. But now that they are on American soil they have the DP Immigration Act of 1948 to help them.
• Verndale’s Independent basketball team got its season underway on Monday night at Wadena. They tied Wadena for second and third place in the round-robin tournament. Bertha won first place and N.Y. Mills finished last. Verndale’s best play of the night came in the last period against the Wadena Jaycees when they counted 15 points to Wadena’s 5. In the locals other two periods of play they were edged out by Mills 12-11 and drubbed by Bertha 15-4.
40 Years Ago, November 9, 1983
• Employees of Central Specialties, Inc. of Cold Spring are shown pouring cement into the forms of the foundation of the bridge crossing the Wing River about two miles north of Verndale on CSAH 22. The span will be 105 feet long and 40 feet wide. Cost of the construction according to the low bidder will be $155,509 with completion expected by December 1. With cooperation from the weather, it could be completed by Thanksgiving.
• Lion Jim Neuerburg presented Lioness President Ruth Anderson a gavel and gong at the club’s meeting on Thursday evening at the community center. Neuerburg is the liaison officer for the Lions Club and provides guidance at Lioness board meetings. Lois Brown, treasurer, and Shirley Anderson, secretary, are also pictured.
• The choir, including Pastor Dan Brodin, sang during the dedication services of the new Thomastown Covenant Church. A number of the new pews had not arrived as of yet, hence many of the guests were seated on folding chairs. The stained glass windows in the sanctuary and upstairs chapel were designed by Rose Edin and her daughter, Kathy, and constructed by Mark Bratlie of Staples, who also did the windows at the Verndale Methodist Church.
15 Years Ago, November 13, 2008
• It was last year, the Verndale Pirates ended the season for the Houston Hurricanes in the round of the state playoffs. Would history repeat itself? The Pirates struck early, and the Hurricanes trailed, but rallied for the last two touchdowns in a 14-6 win. Throughout the season the Pirates averaged 386 yards per game on the ground. However, the Hurricanes defense held them to a total of 112 yards on the night. A touchdown for Verndale came on a 75 yard run by Matt Moenkedick in the first quarter.
• Merlyne Bessell is leading interested people to get the state of Minnesota to reinstate the food program for people 60 and over. Pat Desrocher was informed last week that the state will be cutting off funds for the meals served at the senior citizens center. There is confusion over the amount of meals served each day. An average according to Merlyne is 12 meals per week.
• Olson’s Custom Farm Service has moved into what was once Verndale Seed. John Kaiser is managing this location. They also have a store in Sebeka and Staples. Stop in and meet John. He is friendly and very excited as to what they are going to bring to the market of the Verndale area. In the spring there will be lawn and garden items. While being farmer based, they will also carry items for the homeowner, too.
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