From the Scott County Argus
Jan. 3, 1890
FOR SALE.—A good bob sleigh for sale cheap. Enquire of B. A. Kohler.
A party of young folks from Chaska, filling three bob-sleds, were over here for a sleigh-ride Monday evening, and enjoyed an oyster supper at the Occidental.
A bankrupt stock of clothing, boots, shoes, dry goods, hat, caps, arrived from Minneapolis this week and will open for business Saturday the 21, in Mrs. H. Thole’s building on Lewis St., between First and Second.
The front room on the first floor of the Courier block is being fitted up to receive the postoffice; the office will be moved there by Mr. Willson soon as the improvements are completed. A large window has been cut in the south wall, which will give ample light to the office.
Bl. Beisang was taken to the hospital at St. Peter, Tuesday morning, for medical treatment. Financial trouble and too close application to business weakened his mental faculties, but it is thought that absolute rest from work and worry will restore them to their former rigor.
Jan. 10, 1890
The H & D. has again changed its time card. It now leaves Shakopee at 8 A. M. going east, and at 7:25 P. M. going west.
Mike Seibert sent in to county auditor Koerner a very large wolf’s head, from New Market, for which he received five dollars bounty.
Any one wanting to buy a good five year old mare with a sixth month old colt and a good swell body cutter can get just what they want by calling at Nic Heger’s blacksmith shop.
The Standard Horse and Cattle Food should be used by every owner of horses and cattle. The food is a preventative and curative powder of the numerous diseases of horses and cattle. It is wholesome and nutritious and absolutely harmless. 7 pound box for $1.25. For sale by Peter Daufelt.
A. M. Strunk has received a check for $25.00 from the Daily Globe, for the quickest solution of the blocks of five puzzle.
Jan. 17, 1890
Mrs. A. I. Apgar died in St. Paul Monday night of pneumonia and was buried from St. Mark’s church, this city, Thursday Morning.
At the progressive euchre party of eleven tables, given by Mr. and Mrs. Will Hinds, Wednesday evening, Mrs. Frank Gifford and Mr. E. Southworth captured the head prizes; Mrs. Julius A. Coller and Mr. Aug. F. Coller took the prizes for winning the most games and Mrs. H. H. Strait and C. G. Hinds were given the booby prizes for winning the fewest games.
A. M. Strunk has won another prize for the quickest solution of the blocks of five puzzle. This time it was the Minneapolis Evening Journal that sent him a check for $25.00. A. M. is now after the New York “World” prize of $100.00, and he is likely to win it.
Jan. 24, 1890
It is said that rabbit hunters would meet with a rich harvest over in Mr. A. J. Withey’s fields across the river.
The “stub” was delayed about four hours Wednesday morning on account of the wreck of a freight train down the road.
John Gutenberg has two teams and seven men at work putting up ice at the rate of twenty-eight loads a day. Ice in the river is fourteen inches thick.
Jan. 31, 1890
Members of the Presbyterian church will give the scholars of the Sunday school a supper Saturday evening at Mrs. Lord’s, to be followed by a sleigh-ride.
Two ambitious horses started out alone to make records yesterday. Hubert Marx’s trotting mare made good time on the home stretch attached to a pair of shafts, and John Ring’s horse beat the record, for a few blocks of any horse in the mail service.
After over four years of faithful attention to the post office C. Jos. Strunk will tonight surrender the office to the republican appointee, Wm. Willson. During the past four years Mr. Strunk has given the office his undivided attention, and given the public unsurpassed satisfaction. Both the outgoing and incoming postmasters request that all who conveniently can will call for their mail before the office is moved tonight so that as little difficulty as possible will be experienced in moving the mail matter.
The Indians fished Henry Gross’ cow out of the river yesterday afternoon. It was drowned Sunday before last.
Feb. 7, 1890
Henry Yost made a flying trip to Shakopee between trains Saturday evening.
Quite a number of pickerel have been speared in Nyssen’s lake during the past week, while Mr. Nyssen has been cutting ice.
J. N. Couter fired one of the Shakopee lime kilns on Wednesday to supply the city plasterers with the necessary material for spring work.
There is no occasion to go to the trouble of closing the outside door of the post office, for the patent spring on the door knows when the weather is cold and will noiselessly close the door.
Henry Hussman has rented Mrs. Kohler’s large ice house for another season and is at present at work with a crew of men filling it with ice, which he will deliver about town next summer.
The large and handsome new altar for the St. Mark’s church has been completed by Mr. F. X. Hirscher and will be placed in the church next Monday. It is a grand piece of work and is well worth the trouble of a long trip to see. It is the handsomest altar in the Minnesota valley and a credit to the skilled workmanship of Messrs. Hirscher.
A large amount of bricks are being hauled for the improvement of the Lutheran church in the spring. What the improvements will be has not been fully decided upon but the church will be enlarged by building on to the north end about twenty feet. The ceiling will be made higher and the present roof replaced by a new one. A brick vestibule and tower will be built either at the front or corner of the church and the entire church will be veneered with brick. The improvements will add greatly to the appearance of the church and give ample room to the congregation which is now larger than the seating capacity.
Feb. 14, 1890
The finest line of perfumery in the city at Kohler’s drug store.
Lins Brothers are running their steam sausage cutter at full capacity to fill a contract for a thousand pounds of summer sausage per week, during the season.
The prospects are that Shakopee will have a hotel worthy of the city. Joe Linhoff is contemplating converting Conter’s hall on Second street into a first class country hotel. If the improvements are made Frank Gellenbeck will lease the hotel and be its landlord. We need a good hotel in Shakopee and there is no doubt of a good hotel paying well.
John McMullen is making some changes in the internal arrangement of his store. He is having the back stairs removed and the partition between the stairs and store room taken out to make room for an office. The outside door at the bottom of the back stairs will be replaced by a window which will afford good light at his desk.
The beautiful new altar at St. Mark’s church was dedicated yesterday afternoon, by Rev. W. M. Stultz assisted by Rev. J. H. Gaughan and four visiting clergymen, with impressive ceremony.
Feb. 21, 1890
It is said that Landlord Flecken served the best supper ever given for a dance in Shakopee.
Do not borrow the local paper from your neighbor but subscribe for it, if you wish to read it. If there is any man in Shakopee who wants the Argus and is too poor to pay for it, we will be glad to give him a receipt for a year’s subscription, and keep his name secret.
To add to the affliction of Mrs. Henry Latour, who has lately lost her husband and two children by scarlatina, her house, with contents, was totally destroyed by first last Tuesday morning about nine o’clock. There were two children sick in the house at the time and they were removed to the school house near by. There was $700 insurance on the house, placed with B. A. Kohler.
Atty. Bornarth has fitted up a small room off of his offices for a home for his pet canary birds. The room is about six by ten feet in size and contains all the paraphernalia which tend to make the life of the captive bird enjoyable. The room is warmed by a stove improvised from a Rochester lamp, and contains swings, nests, roosts, evergreen trees, fountain and bath.
Feb. 28, 1890
The Bloomington bridge was opened for travel Tuesday afternoon.
Mike Schutte held the lucky number, 189, which won the cow raffled by Mrs. Valentine Huth. Chas. Rodens won the rifle, he holding ticket No. 14.
For sale, on reasonable terms, the sixty acre farm within the city of Shakopee one half mile from the postoffice known as the Judge Brown place. Large stone house, double cellar, good out buildings, hard and soft water, and the finest location in the city. Call on or address O. S. Brown, Shakopee.
March 7, 1890
C. C. Storer has been laid up on account of getting a sliver in his hand.
Otto Dierberger has had his ‘bus handsomely painted and repaired, and has purchased a $200 carriage of the Wampach company to add to his livery equipment.
March 14, 1890
The various contracts for the building of the Lutheran church have been awarded. The contracts are mainly for work as the congregation furnishes nearly all the material. The brick work was awarded to Schmidt and Hameyer for $475; carpenter work to Griebentrog Bros., for $420; painting, including material, to Peter Paul, for $65; plastering, including material, to Herman Logenfeil for $122.
In size the church will be a little larger than the M. E. church and quite similar in style. It will be 64×33 feet with a tower rising eighty feet from the ground. There will be five windows on each side of the church and a large window in the front of the tower. The ceiling will be fifteen feet high at the sides and twenty feet in the center. The present church will soon be torn down and part of the material used in the construction of the new one, the cost of which will be about $2,200.
Pedestrians who have lately been floundering in the mud across the streets, appreciate how badly cross walks of stone or plank are needed.
Head miller C. W. Newell, Sheriff Weiland and E. J. Gellenbeck went to Hamline yesterday to see the shooting contest between the East and West Clubs.
The Bloomington bridge has been open to travel for about three weeks, and we fail to see any material increase in the trade Shakopee receives from the other side of the river. Of course Shakopee is receiving trade from Bloomington, for it always has, but the increase so far has been very little, and does not equal the increase in trade Minneapolis derives from this side of the river.
Mr. Geo. Hutton, principal of the school in district forty-one, had a lively encounter with an unruly scholar yesterday and after a protracted personal encounter came off the victor. The boys will soon learn not to tackle a Hamline University student, who may have had a recent experience in junior-sophomore class exercise.
March 21, 1890
The Eclipse View Co., of St. Paul, were taking photographs of residences, stores and public buildings in town Wednesday and yesterday, and will remain here a few days longer.
C. C. Storer has had his hand lanced three times and is suffering less pain and improving.
Frank Gellenbeck expects to open the new hotel, the Conter House, in about a month. Extensive improvements are being made and when completed the hotel will be a credit to Shakopee, and especially so under the management of Mr. Gellenbeck, who thoroughly understands hotel management in every department.
H. P. Marx has purchased T. Pinches & Son’s stock of jewelry. Hubert has not yet decided just what to do with his two stores but will probably unite the two stocks.
March 28, 1890
Walter Southworth has a new hammerless gun, and it is expected that ducks will avoid the Minnesota Valley this year.
The Diamonds reorganized last Thursday evening, and will soon be ready to “do” any baseball club in the vicinity.
The packing house has been paying as high as $3.80 per hundred for live hogs during the past week.
April 4, 1890
Messrs. Herman Brown and Jos. Zerving, representing the Eclipse View Co., of St. Paul, have been photographing most of the prominent residences, business blocks and public buildings in Shakopee during the last two weeks. They have taken 135 negatives of Shakopee, and their work is unsurpassed.
The Industrial Union should see that a franchise is given to some corporation to run ferry boats across the streets of Shakopee.
Ice! Ice! Ice! Huth Bros. are now packing ice for the coming summer, and will be prepared to furnish everybody in the city. Ice delivered to all parts of the city free. Leave your order now.
Will Cargill has purchased the outfit of Jos. Koerner’s barber shop and will conduct it in the future.
Members of the Gun Club participated in a live pigeon shoot last Saturday. They met with marked success (the pigeons) and few accidents.
April 11, 1890
The last service in the Lutheran church was held Easter Sunday morning. An audience that filled the church to the walls, listened to the able sermon by Rev. Spindler, and indicated the pressing needs of a larger edifice to accommodate the large congregation.
The handsome new church is expected to be completed in less than three months and until that time the Lutherans will use the Presbyterian church. The old church was taken entirely down on Tuesday, and small as the church was the absence is noticeable.
The unusual spectacle of a large flock of wild ducks swimming about in the river below and above the bridge, was witnessed all day Wednesday.
A number of persons stood on the bridge within a stones throw of the dock of seventy five or a hundred ducks and watched them disporting in the water with apparent unconcern. The state game law has made this scene possible and it will go hard with anyone near Shakopee found with a duck in his possession. The Gun club is interested in enforcing the law, and anyone who violates it in this vicinity will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Pasturage—After the 15th inst., I will take in cattle and horses at the Murphy pasture, about a mile east of town. Special attention will be given to mares and colts. Terms reasonable. Apply to T. J. Condon at the place.
Mr. J. G. Kiesler, of Glencoe, is compounding drugs for B. A. Kohler. Mr. Kiesler comes with the reputation of being a first class druggist.
It was ten years ago last Tuesday evening that city records Julius A. Coller first acted in that capacity, and he has not yet had any occasion to go to Canada. We believe that Mr. Coller’s decade of service to the city has given eminent satisfaction to everyone and that the records have been faithfully and accurately kept.
April 18, 1890
The Gem of St. Paul, Ritchie’s new steamer came up the river Tuesday evening to take on a cargo of 300,000 of Schroeder’s brick.
Mr. Robert Smiley sat up last Friday night to “sugar off” a kettle full of maple syrup but Morpheus took possession of him to the utter ruin of fifteen gallons of extract of maple.
Wm. Kauth’s coal house collapsed last Friday on account of the blocking underneath sinking into the soft ground. The coal which covered the H. D. sidetrack was cleared away on Monday.
April 25, 1890
August Abel is building a brick tailor shop between his house and E. J. Gellenbeck’s store.
C. I. Case has built a palisade—commonly called fence—around his premises, presumably to keep birds from flying into his yard.
H. J. Thiede has purchased the residence and blacksmith shop belonging to the Kopp estate for $1500.00.
The steamer P. Swain came up yesterday afternoon at one o’clock, and after a delay of fifty minutes the draw of the bridge was swung by means of a rope attached to one end of the draw and pulled by men at the other end on the river bank. The owner of the P. Swain, Capt. Richland, has a fleet of eighteen barges and he is on a trip up as far as Carver to see if he can procure enough business to pay to put a fleet on the Minnesota during the boating season. Mr. Jacob Schank is a friend of the captain and it was on his recommendation that the Swain was steamed up the cloudy waters of the Minnesota.
The steamer stopped at the packing house to give the crew the opportunity of inspecting it after which she steamed up to Chaska.
Joseph Nachtsheim has purchased the half lot adjoining his bakery on the west of the Kopp estate for $650.
The gearing of the draw to the bridge is again undergoing repairs. Wm. Markus went to St. Paul yesterday to rush the completion of repairs, so as to have the raw in condition to be turned if a steamboat should wish to pass up the river.
May 2, 1890
The Conter House opened for business last Monday.
A promising young colt belonging to E. J. Pond died last Sunday.
The Courier has commenced to move into the corner store of the Opera House block and will finish the tedious work of removal after this week’s issue of the paper.
For Rent on Easy Terms.—The Watchmaker and Jewelery shop, opposite First National Bank, for several years past occupied by H. P. Marx. Jacob Ries, Sr.
H. H. Strunk & Sons have torn out the back end of the three story part of their store, and will substitute a frame end for the heavy stone wall of the second and third stories, enabling them to dispense with the large posts on the first floor. Four light windows will take the place off the present windows in front and the building otherwise improved in appearance.
May 9, 1890
Street Overseer Markus is busy grading First Street between Lewis and Sommerville.
Val Reis’ new street sprinkler was given a trial Wednesday afternoon and worked to perfection. The tank holds eighteen barrels of water. This summer people visiting Shakopee will not be blinded by storms of sand and dust whirling down the street.
A government steamboat made a trip from St. Paul to the head of navigation on the Mississippi at the foot of St. Anthony Falls, the first of the week.
Shakopee is in sad need of a hack ordinance, and another to prevent an assault being made on every person entering the town, by hotel runners.
Nine transient guests were entertained at the Conter House Wednesday. Good enough for a starter and before it is generally known to commercial agents that Shakopee has a good hotel.
Lins Brothers have built an addition to the rear of their meat market for their steam engine and meat chopper. They have also enlarged the market and fitted up a neat office back of it.
Thos. Condon is contemplating building a lime kiln on his farm between the railroad and river—probably on the river bank so that lime could be spouted to a barge without any unnecessary handling.
May 16, 1890
Dr. Evans has bargained for Mrs. Edward Smith’s pasture land, in Eagle Creek, consisting of about 200 acres, for $2,000.
Dr. L. B. Sperry delivered an instructive lecture on “Brain and Nerve” to a large audience at the Union School Wednesday evening.
Captain Richland gave a steamboat excursion on the P. Swain, Sunday from this place to Fort Snelling and return. About forty from here participated in the excursion and inspecting the fort, where about an hour and a half was spent by the party. The boat left here about two o’clock and returned at seven thirty, the run up the river being made in two hours and twenty five minutes.
The Independent Oil Company is erecting an oil house in Shakopee about one hundred yards west of the depot on the south side of the H. & D. track. The reservoir for the illuminating fluid is one of the flat car tanks which was dismounted and partially sunk in the ground. This tank will be filled from a car tank by means of a siphon. Huth Bros. are agents for the company and in a few days will have a delivery tank of three barrels capacity, with which to supply consumers with oil.
May 23, 1890
First Street east of Lewis and west of Holmes has been graded and is being top-dressed with lime stone. It is rather strange that the block west of Holmes street remained ungraded for more than a third of a century, and lower in the middle than the sides of the street, but at this late day will be all the more appreciated.
Work has commenced on the addition to Maj. Strait’s residence.
Casper Schott is ceiling his shoe store and laying a maple floor.
Within a few days Henry Hinds will commence the erection of a two-story brick building, with plate glass front, where Peter Daufelt’s harness shop now stands, next to the Argus black. The first floor will be leased by B. A. Kohler for a drug store and the rear half of the second floor will be used to enlarge the Argus office. The front half of the second floor will be made into two convenient offices suitable for any professional man.
May 30, 1890
E. J. Gellenbeck, Walter Southworth and Theo Weiland attended the shooting tournament at Minneapolis Wednesday. Messrs. Gellenbeck and Weiland captured their full share of the stakes, and the sheriff remained there yesterday so as to bring home enough money to start a bank with.
This is the last day of school at the Union. The spring term of school closes rather early but it is presumed that the overtaxed brains of the studious scholars need a long and invigorating rest.
County Treasurer James Sullivan has been busy enough during the present week to earn several times his salary.
This vicinity was visited by a short but vigorous hail storm early yesterday morning, some of the hailstones being about the size of large pigeon eggs.
It is the intention of the Shakopee Driving Association to give a number of free matinee races during the summer, at their new half mile track a few blocks west of the residence of O. S. Brown. The first of these events will be held Saturday afternoon June 7th, and as a number of town horses will participate the sport it is expected that a large audience will be in attendance. There will be three features; a fast trot, a running race, and a gentleman’s driving race.
Some of Dr. Evan’s fast stock will participate in the trot with well known local horses, and there are some half dozen entries in each of the other races. The entrance to the race course is near the south end of Holmes street, and there will be ample room for carriages.
Last Monday morning Casper Schott caught a brook trout at G. Hattenberger’s, which weighed one pound and five ounces.
June 6, 1890
F. C. Gellenbeck and Otto Dierberger will run a ‘bus on Sundays during the lake season, between Shakopee and Prior Lake, starting from Shakopee in the morning and returning in the evening.
At a meeting of the Fire Department Wednesday evening it was decided to celebrate the Fourth of July. A committee of arrangements was appointed as follows: Hook and Ladder Co.: E. J. Gellenbeck, G. Hilgers, Wm. Heidenreich. Hose Co.: Wm. Kauth, Theo. Weiland, August Lins. Engine Co.: Mat Berens, Jos. Roth, A. Schaefer.
Capt. John H. Theis is kept busy asking people questions, while performing his duty as census enumerator.
The St. Paul shop boys did not come up to play ball last Sunday, owing to a mistake made in notifying them.
June 13, 1890
Tom Deveney’s new granary was totally destroyed by fire Monday night, together with grain, machinery, wagons, sleighs and harness. The loss is about $800 on which there is $500 insurance in the Fire and Marine placed with B. A. Kohler.
John A. Dean has sold his house and blacksmith shop to Charlie and George Kopp. The deal was closed yesterday afternoon. Consideration a little less than $3,000.
John McMullen has sold twenty-one of the John Deere sulky corn cultivators this season, which would indicate that the farmers have planted a largely increase acreage in corn.
The city council has decided to have the owners of all dogs arrested who do not pay the license on their dogs by the next meeting of the council. Better pay the license, for it’s cheaper than defending a lawsuit, even if you should win the suit which is improbable.
June 20, 1890
Work on B. A. Kohler’s new drug store is being rushed as rapidly as frequent rains will permit. The bricklayers are working on the second story.
The band stand which was at the corner of First and Holmes streets, has been removed to the race track where it will be used for a judge’s stand.
C. W. Newell has a new hammerless hundred dollar gun.
The frame work of the tower of the Lutheran church has been erected.
June 27, 1890
The Fire Department have about completed their arrangements to give us the greatest Fourth of July celebration we have had for several years. A large sum has been contributed by the citizens to purchase fireworks and that feature of the celebration will be well worth witnessing.
F. D. Woodbury, the Mankato Civil Engineer, who has been making a survey of our streets and establishing the grade is now engaged in making profiles. His work shows how badly it was needed, for even where John B. Fish established a grade, the streets and sidewalks had not been built to correspond. Mr. Woodbury has done excellent work, and when completed it will make a permanent record and the citizens can readily locate their property, the streets can be correctly graded, and sidewalks can be built to correspond with the grade of the streets.
July 4, 1890
H. Thiede is having his old blacksmith shop torn down, preparatory to putting up a new brick one.
August Scherkenbach is improving his property by building a brick addition.
The post office department has been readjusting the salaries of the third-class offices, and under the new rule the salary of the Shakopee post master has been placed at $1,000 per year, a decrease of $100.
July 11, 1890
Fifty-two applications for pensions under the disability pension law were filed with clerk of court, Julius A. Coller, within one week after the law went into effect.
Over one hundred people attended the dance here on the evening of the Fourth.
H. J. Thiede has torn down his old blacksmith shop and commenced the erection of a brick shop, 28×35 feet.
Henry Haas, one of Shakopee’s rising young men, has again been promoted by the M. & St. L. R’y company; this time to a lucrative position in the auditor’s office.
The twelve-year-old horse thief, who has been in the county jail for a fortnight, has been removed to Mrs. Hass’ house. He has been sick for a week and is now down with typhoid fever, under the care of Dr. J. B. Dunn.
July 18, 1890
Shakopee is socially dead of late.
Lost.—Have you seen my dog? A Gordon setter black-and-tan. Bring him to mill at Shakopee and get reward. C. W. Newell
July 25, 1890
J. A. Dean has purchased, of J. B. Conter, the lot of Lewis St. north of Flaherty & Lies’s store and will commence at once the erection of a blacksmith shop. The consideration was $300. Being near the mill and bridge that that will be a good location for Mr. Dean’s business.
Mayor Peck and H. P. Marx attended the Derby at St. Paul Wednesday.
Mrs. Thole is having the front of her building on Lewis St. painted and the porch repaired.
B. A. Kohler will remove his drug stock to the new building next to Kohler & Schwartz’s, next week.
Flaherty & Lies and Joseph Voelker have improved the appearance of their business places by painting the fronts.
Henry Hinds will furnish the best hay delivered in town from the meadow at $6.00 a ton until August 15th, or if taken in the meadow at $5.00.
Notice is hereby given that the business of John Berens & Co., will be closed out by sale of the entire stock at cost. The co-partnership will be dissolved. Dated July 24, 1890. JOHN BERENS & CO., By John Berens.
Aug. 1, 1890
Work has commenced on J. A. Dean’s brick blacksmith shop which is to be 26×36, one story high.
The dedication of the new Lutheran church of Shakopee will take place on Sunday, Aug. 3d, 1890, at ten o’clock a.m., when a sermon will be preached in German by Prof. Otto Hoyer, of New Ulm. The Select Orchestra of Shakopee will accompany the hymns. In the afternoon at 2:30 p.m., services will be held in the English language by Prof. Shaller, of New Ulm. The public are cordially invited to attend the dedication. The Committee.
Reis Bros. have added a handsome hearse to their livery outfit. The hearse is a fine one, and was manufactured by the Wampach Mfg. Co.
B. A. Kohler’s drug store is now removed to Lewis street.
Aug. 8, 1890
A. J. Cogswell has built an addition to his residence.
The brick work on J. A. Dean’s new blacksmith shop is nearly completed.
Mr. E. J. Pence preached his last sermon at the Presbyterian church last Sunday. Mr. Pence is a talented young man and he has become very popular with those who have listened to his able discourses.
Aug. 15, 1890
A. J. Grafenstatt and Linus Vierling opened their saloon, corner Second and Holmes streets yesterday, making in all thirteen saloons for Shakopee.
The council has ordered a large number of blocks of sidewalks built, but as yet no grade has been established on which to build the walks, probably the order will be complied with in but a few instances.
The front of B. A. Kohler’s new drug store was painted this week.
Peter Stemmer has sold his farm to Nic Dellwo for $1,800 and has purchased the Huth farm for $3,000.
Otto Dierberger has removed to the house formerly occupied by J. A. Dean, and Otto’s former residence is used as a sample room by the Conter House.
Aug. 22, 1890
John Simmer and Henry Dieken have built new hunting boats for this fall’s duck shooting.
Tuesday morning Wm. B. Reed came up the river from Hastings on his steam yacht and at noon the boat was loaded on a wagon and started for Prior Lake. The steamer is a convenient little craft with capacity for carrying fifteen or twenty persons. It is built to weather any storm and it would be almost absolutely impossible for a storm to capsize it. Prior Lake will hereafter be the steamer’s permanent home and it will be an addition to the water craft of that growing resort that will not fail of appreciation by those who frequent the lake. The channel under the railway bridge will be deepened and widened so that the boat can be run to the upper and lower divisions of the lake.
One of the large window panes at Storer & Son’s grocery store was broken Sunday morning.
The saloons must now close every night at eleven o’clock sharp, so the council says.
The ring of the hammer can now be heard resounding from J. A. Dean’s new blacksmith shop, where he commenced business with a complete new outfit.
Aug. 29, 1890
Everywhere in the country can be heard the whistle of the steam thresher.
The concrete front of Mrs. Valentine Huth’s house has been torn out and replaced with brick.
Poetz Sisters have sold their stock of confectionery and millinery to Miss Aggie Edert.
Mr. Thos. Pinches will have charge of Peavey & Co.’s elevator this season, and will commence buying wheat next week.
Sept. 5, 1890
School in the Union district opened on Monday morning with an attendance of ninety. Miss Reid is principal, and Misses McLeod and Flaherty have the same departments they had last year.
The Conter House is temporarily closed, owing to the sudden departure of its landlord, F. C. Gellenbeck, for a more agreeable clime. Frank neglected to look up a few accounts with merchants, but we understand he left about enough furniture to square up what little he owed.
Another practical joke, a coon hunt didn’t work, and barber Gross does not have to set ‘em up.
Sept. 12, 1890
Miss Florence Burtis will organize a children’s chorus class in vocal music in Shakopee this month, she will also continue her class in instrumental music.
Ever since Mr. Flecken has owned the Occidental hotel he has several times done much to improve its appearance and convenience until it is now equal to most of the best hotels in country towns and better than a good many of them. The latest improvement is the remodeling of the office, by John Hilgers, it now being light and attractive, with the walls handsomely prepared, and an air of cheerfulness pervading the room. The Occidental sets a first-class table and is rapidly growing in popular favor with the traveling public.
Sept. 19, 1890
The races held here Tuesday and Wednesday attracted more people to Shakopee than did the congressional convention, and most of the strangers and the large number of horses were here for three days, and left several times as much money in town as the convention delegates; while the races advertised the town a dozen times more than the convention did. That is part of the good the races accomplished. Now, next year let a county agricultural and stock fair be held in connection with three days of racing, and Shakopee will be filled with people. To make such an undertaking a success it must have more of a unanimous support of the people in general, and the business men in particular. The Driving Park Association have done nobly for the first attempt, and Shakopee’s reputation will spread all over the state as a place where first-class races are held, and where all horsemen are treated fairly.
There are members of the Driving Association who do not even own a horse so they cannot be accused of mercenary motives in giving the races. They put in their money to lease grounds and to make a good race track, and then put up more money to make the races a success, and only for the good of the town.
A team, wagon and set of harness belonging to A. S. Baillif, of Bloomington, were stolen early Sunday morning. The horses did not have shoes on and were tracked to within a short distance of the Shakopee bridge, on the north side of the river, where the tracks could not be followed. It is thought that the team did not cross here but went into Carver county.
Jerry McInerny’s separator was burned Saturday together with five stacks of wheat and oats while threshing for Nic Majerus. Jerry purchased a new separator in Minneapolis and is again ready for business.
Sept. 26, 1890
John Spielman has moved into town and is occupying Mr. Parker’s tenement. Mr. Spielman’s father has rented his farm and expects to move into town.
Surveyor Woodbury is setting corner stones every four blocks, each way, where he has completed the survey.
Oct. 3, 1890
C. Jos. Strunk has a broken toe, the result of a too playful disposition of his horse.
Oct. 10, 1890
The backs of the pews in St. Peter’s Episcopal church have been made about four inches higher, Messrs. Chas. Pullen and Geo. Parker contributing to the work, which renders the seats decidedly more comfortable. The appearance of the pews will be improved by the addition of heavy black-walnut arms.
Will McMullen has given up railroading and is at home again. Will says the work was too hard for him, and he looks as if it had been, for his weight has been reduced fifteen pounds.
Sandy Scott is now conductor of a freight train on the Omaha road.
Miss F. E. Burtis, of Minneapolis, formerly assistant teacher of vocal music at the State Normal School, Oshkosh Wis., will give several chorus lessons in sight-singing free of charge at the school building, commencing Friday night, Oct. 10th, at half-past seven. All interested in music are cordially invited to attend.
The new chime of bells at St. Mark’s church will be dedicated next week Wednesday. There is a vast difference in the size of the bells they ranging in weight, respectively, 400, 1000, 1550, and 3400 pounds, but they all harmonize in tone. When rung together their sweet tones will mingle in one grand peal of music that can be heard over valley and woods for many miles.
It is again rumored that the “stub” will be taken off and all trains on the Omaha road run through Shakopee.
Wm. Hamilton has sold his property of eight acres in town, known as the Carter place, to Dominic Engel for $800.
Oct. 17, 1890
The new bells of St. Mark’s church were dedicated Wednesday with imposing ceremony. The bells were placed in the tower during the afternoon and at half-past five were rung for the first time.
The chorus class conducted by Miss Florence Burtis at the Union School last Friday evening was attended by twenty-five or thirty people interested in vocal music.
Complaints are being made because the overseer of streets was instructed to hire teams from the country to do street work for the city on the trestle road. We do not know whether such instructions were issued or not. City work should be done by workmen who live here and not by outsiders, and we have no doubt but that the council will give residents of Shakopee the preference in doing work.
Oct. 24, 1890
Kohler & Schwartz have shipped six car loads of oats to St. Paul this week, and expect to ship two more before Saturday. Shakopee is rapidly becoming the market of this end of the valley for grain and produce.
A flat car loaded with stone was run off the track near the depot, Tuesday evening about 8:30 o’clock, by the rails spreading. The section crew worked until nearly half past eleven before the track was cleared.
Alderman Hilgers has bought the house next to Mrs. Haas’.
Last Tuesday Walter Southworth caught the largest black bass ever known to have been taken from Prior Lake. It weighed seven and one quarter pounds.
Rev. Samuel Kennedy, formerly of Jordan but lately returned from Scotland will occupy the Presbyterian pulpit next Sunday morning and will go to Eden Prairie in the afternoon.
Rev. E. J. Duffy is the newly arrived priest at St. Mary’s church who succeeds Father J. H. Gaughan. He is a fluent conversationalist; a gentleman of pleasant manners and agreeable appearance.
Oct. 31, 1890
A Gold Friendship Ring for 100 pennies at H. P. Marx’.
Mike Delwo a young man about twenty eight years old was examined before Judge Meyer by Drs Smith and Entrup, pronounced insane, and taken to St. Peter Wednesday evening by Clem Affolter and Henry Lenzmeier.
Gus. Gripentrog has bought the Bolig house near Hermann Schroeder’s; paying $850.00.
Nov. 7, 1890
Both telegraph offices were kept open until after 1:30 a.m., the night of election, to hear that Scott County, and everything else, had gone Democratic.
Atty. Chas Bornarth has received notice of his appointment to a lucrative position in the pension bureau at Washington. He will leave for Washington next Monday or Tuesday. Then entire community will be glad to hear of Mr. Bornarth’s success in securing the position, which he obtained by merit, having passed a rigid examination.
Nov. 13, 1890
It would have snowed more but the elements thought it best to wait for moonlight nights. The girls are also waiting for moonlight nights snow and sleighrides—at least they usually have to wait, in Shakopee.
For Sale.—Beef by the quarter, cheap for cash. John Gutenberg.
After this week work will be commenced on the long delayed book illustrating Shakopee. The public is undoubtedly anxious to see this work finished; so are we for we have over $700 invested in engravings and material and would like to get the money out. It was our original intention to have the work finished early in the summer. After procuring enough orders to assure that the work would be a success and a credit to the city, it was necessary to procure photographs, which consumed weeks. When the order for engravings was placed with Melville, of Chicago, we learned it would be impossible to complete the work when we expected. Then followed our summer vacation, which we were bound to take, whether the book was ever issued or not, and after that came the loss of our foreman, succeeded by conventions, the campaign, ticket printing, election and the result.
About one-third of the cuts have been printed in colored ink but not a line of the short historical sketch has been printed or even written. From now on the work will be prosecuted day and night. The newspaper will probably suffer. Editorials, after this issue, will be few and short; locals ditto. If we hire another workman to finish the book, the loss to us would be several hundred dollars, and we are already assured of the loss of enough hundreds to suit our ambition and the finances of a country editor.
Nov. 20, 1890
John Hilgers had his right hand and face pretty well filled with powder, last Saturday, by a premature explosion while blasting the big granite boulder in Fourth street in the third ward. By mistake he was using a steel bar, instead of an iron one, to pack the powder. Contact between the flinty rock and steel caused a spark, which ignited the powder and sent the steel rod heavenward and came very near sending Mr. Hilgers with it.
A car load of choice winter apples for sale by C. E. Busse.
The paving along the south side of First street, between Lewis and Holmes, which was interrupted by the snow of last week, is being completed.
A Chaska team that was hitched in the business center, last Sunday, ran away up First street. They were stopped by James Heth before doing much damage beyond breaking the harness.
Lins Brothers have in their shop probably the largest steer ever killed in this section. After it was dressed it weighed 1,395 pounds. The animal was bought below Hamilton, in Dakota county. It was not yet five years old and had been fattening for nearly two years.
Nov. 27, 1890
Shakopee is about surrounded by cases of diphtheria but at a distance of several miles. A number of deaths have occurred near Waconia, Carver Co.; two at Marystown and one at Hamilton. No cases have been reported in Shakopee, and, if necessary, the strictest measures should be adopted to guard against its spreading and entering town.
Wm. Kauth has resigned as one of the aldermen from the first ward owing to his removal into the second ward.
Shakopee bakery bread at Storer’s.
Feed Mill.—I have opened my feed mill for the season and am prepared to grind all kinds of feed on short notice. Ground feed kept on hand for sale. Mill is across the street from the Methodist church. Jerry McInerny.
Messrs. Buchanan distributed turkeys to all the mill employees yesterday.
Dec. 4, 1890
Wanted—At the Peavey elevator 100,000 bushels each of hard wheat, fall wheat, rye, rye and wheat mixed, oats, barley, corn, etc., for which the highest market price will be paid. Thos. Pinches, Agent.
Farmers were plowing up to the last of November. That is not bad for forty-five degrees north latitude.
Dec. 11, 1890
Goods suitable for Christmas gifts in endless variety at A. Greenberg’s.
Mrs. Jane Titus and S. S. Titus have donated to the Presbyterian church the two lots lying east of the church.
Jessie Dean has received a handsome new piano for a Christmas present from her parents.
Sheriff-elect Peter Hilgers came down from Jordan, Monday, to catch on to the duties of the sheriff during a session of court.
Dec. 18, 1890
Skating on the river is being enjoyed this delightful winter by the young people.
Two boiler-makers were at work Monday repairing one of the boilers at the mill.
Otto Dierberger will get the state reward of $200 offered for the arrest and conviction of a person for horse stealing.
All kinds of mechanical toys, such as a fighting bear, a complete tailor shop, railroad engine, wood sawyer, washer-woman blacksmith, butcher, minstrel troupe, etc, at Mike Berens’.
$1,000 reward!
Be it resolved by the Common Council of the city of Shakopee:
That the city of Shakopee will pay a reward of one thousand dollars for the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who murdered John Spearman, Mrs. John Spearman and George Russell in this city.
Dec. 25, 1890
Last week a hauling bee was inaugurated that supplied F. P. Pond with seven loads of wood which was cut and donated by Thomas Turner.
The Last Days of Pompeii combination met with financial collapse at Shakopee last Thursday night and left their outfit here for security to cover expenses, until they could make a raise.
Alderman John Hilgers has sold his tenement house on Second street to Mat Annen for $250 and a jersey cow.
Gov. Merriam has issued a proclamation offering $500 for the arrest and conviction of the murderer of the Spearmans.
A fire was raging in Withey’s grove Monday afternoon but was extinguished before doing extensive damage.
Quite a number of Shakopeans took advantage of the summer weather last Sunday to take carriage rides over the magnificent roads to adjoining towns.