Dusting off the Archives
News from Verndale's Past
75 Years Ago, December 22, 1949
• Verndale lost one of its oldest and highest respected citizens Monday afternoon when Burt H. Pettit, 91, a retired businessman and ardent sportsman passed on to his eternal reward following a short two-week illness caused by heart failure. All Verndale businesses will close for one hour on Thursday at 2 p.m. to pay their respects.
• The Verndale Liquor Store was improved greatly in appearance this week when they laid a new tile floor with a wide variation of colors.
• The Verndale Theater program has Bud Abbot and Lou Costello here in “Mexican Hayride” on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of this week. On Saturday night, Christmas Eve, there is no show. For Sunday and Monday, stars of the “Egg and I” Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride are on the local screen in another laugh riot, “Ma and Pa Kettle.”
40 Years Ago, December 19, 1984
• Four Lioness Members: Lois Brown, Judy Bounds, Linda Tarrell and Shirley Anderson assembled and wired pine branches onto wires last week Monday, forming garlands which were wrapped around light poles in the downtown area that evening by firemen, adding greatly to the appearance of the city’s Christmas decorations. The branches were donated by Rich Brown, and the wire by Andy Schmith of West Central Telephone Association.
• One of Verndale’s older homes acquired wheels last week and took a trip out into the country. Built on the south end of Farwell Street in 1911, the house had 11 owners until recently it was sold again. In the order of the ownership were Robert and Louise Lennerville, Luke Moffet, George and Mary Scoates, Walter and Viola Schulz, Emil and Anna Mallow, Ludwig and Wilhelmina Utermark, Joe and Janet VanDam, Gary and Florence VanDam, George and Harriet Plautz, and Larry and Ruth Anderson. The latter recently sold it to Bill and Orlet Larson who advertised to have it moved to make room for their new home. Francis and Dorothy Black, who have lived in a mobile home north of town, purchased it and last week it was moved out to their farm site north and east of the Oak Grove Town Hall.
• The young people in the picture did an outstanding job of presenting the jitterbug dance of the 50s, never having seen it performed. Those who danced to “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” were: JoNeen Rousslang, Lynn Hahn, Virgil Schmidt, Lois Gould, Sandee Finn, Brenda Christianson, Dean Fisher and Rhonda Colby. Virgil is shown tossing Lois up over his head before she came down between his legs. Dean also swings Brenda in a different manner during the dance.
15 Years Ago, December 17, 2009
• The Minnesota State Patrol credits a rural Malmo man for saving a life after a recent crash in Aitkin County. Kelly Stave, 21, of Verndale was driving eastbound on Minnesota Highway 18 a mile and half west of Malmo when she swerved to miss a deer and crossed over into the oncoming lane of traffic were she went into the ditch and crashed into a tree about 300 feet from the Roy Berg home. Berg was letting his dog outside when he heard the crash. “When I looked I say flames popping out of the vehicle and a woman yelling for help. I hollered for my wife to call 911 and then I ran to the crash,” said Berg. Stave was wearing her seatbelt, and the airbags deployed. She was behind the wheel but her door would not open and she had a lower leg and ankle injury. Berg helped her out of the passenger side of the vehicle. Within a short time th vehicle became fully engulfed in flames.
• Since graduating from Bertha-Hewitt High School in 1998, Heidi (Anderson) Reuter has been on a road that is now leading her back to her roots. She will soon be joining Dr. James Matthiae at his dental office in Wadena, working full-time alongside him in general dentistry. Her first day will be January 4. She will be the first female dentist ever in Wadena.
• The city of Verndale’s Highway 10 Off Sale, municipal liquor store, located in space leased by Bullseye Bar and Grill, is on the verge of closing. The store, the city’s second municipal liquor establishment, the first being the historical downtown on/off sale, is not fulfilling the purpose of creating additional revenue for the city. The consensus of the Verndale City Council during its December 14 special meeting was to close it. But, it was agreed that officials would speak to Bullseye Bar and Grill owners first before making the final decision to close the store. The local liquor committee has made a recommendation the store remain open if the rent and utilities are cut in half.
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