All posts by Wes Reinke

Remember When: 1936

Compiled by Don McNeil, Shakopee Heritage Society

From the Shakopee Argus-Tribune

Jobs on highway to help farmers pay us U. S. loans…will assist in graveling 500 miles of roads as a winter project. Farmers in some twenty drought stricken counties in Minnesota will be able to work out all or part of their government feed and hay loans this winter by helping the State Highway Department re-gravel state roads.

Range Corporation to begin operation…crew now taking inventory, making repairs. 80 men to be on payroll. Like a ray of sunshine bursting through threatening skies came the announcement that the American Range Corporation would be under “full production within the next ten days.”

“Old 41” school…landmark located on Fourth street in west Shakopee since 1870 will yield to wreckers soon. It long linked the present with the past in Shakopee. Since District No. 41 and District No. 1 were consolidated in 1918 the old two-story building has been a “white elephant” on the hands of the school directors.

Expense control urged for the State…Expenditure control stands foremost among measures which should be considered if the Minnesota legislature attempts revision of the state’s taxation system. “One of the reasons for the constant upswing in public costs extending back over two decades, is the lack of legal restraint on those invested with power to levy taxes,” per J. P. McDonnell, president of the Minnesota Taxpayer Association.

Today & Tomorrow by Frank Parker…Motion Pictures – They improve…it seems perfectly clear to me that there has been a great improvement in the films in the past year or so…better stories, better acting, better stage effects, better sound reproduction. I find much less that is offensive to my sense of good taste and decency than I used to…less of the sort of thing that is apparently aimed at the lowest mental and moral types.

Siebenaler Bros, Shakopee ice dealers are working on their ice crop…Six teams and 15 men were on the crew. The ice, 15 inches thick, is of a good quality.

Believed to be the strongest footing ever occupied by the organization in Shakopee, the Boy Scout movement here is well on its way to achievement in its two-fold purpose of character building and citizenship training.

The first Minnesota legislature which convened on September 3, 1849, assembled not in an imposing structure designed especially to meet it needs, but in a crude little log hotel in St. Paul.

Shak-O-Hi News…Measure Yourself…A few pointers for the school year: 1) see things to be done and then do them; 2) use courteous phrases; 3) practice thrift; 4) finish things; 5) give a prompt response; 6) show originality; 7) express yourself freely; 8) listen attentively; 9) talk and laugh gently; 10) be orderly; 11) clean teeth regularly; 12) respect property rights of others; 13) enunciate clearly; 14) speak correctly; 15) appreciate good music and literature…The 5th and 6th grades are now using the Victrola during penmanship period and enjoy writing their drills to music.

The Classified Advertising Section…The market where buyers and sellers meet, where wants are satisfied and where results are certain. Classified rates: 2 cents a word for the first insertion, 1 cent a word for each succeeding insertion. No classifieds for less than 25 cents.

Cause and Effect by A. B. Chapin…Motor accidents 1936 – 36,000 killed, 300,000 injured…drunkenness and recklessness…What are we going to do about it?

Good travel news…Special deep-cut excursion rates to principal cities of the East…newest type buses safe, warm and comfortable. Sample one-way fares from the Twin Cities to New York…$16.70; Pittsburg…$12.20…Detroit…$7.70; Seattle…$27.20; Miami…$27.00 – Northland Greyhound Lines.

Telephones are not for hermits…telephones are for normal people…people who like to talk with friends and be with friends…people whose lives are full of situations in which telephones meet their needs…in business, in emergencies, in having good times…the Bell System.

A total of 273 rabbits were brought into Madison recently, the result of “just a little hunting” by Ernest Patzer. The rabbits filled a triple wagon box full. They were sold at the rate of 10 cents each, bringing a check for $27.30.

An equitable assessment is a necessary basis for a fair distribution of the property tax burden, declares League of Women Voters. The League takes occasion to criticize the present assessment setup and offers what it believes to be constructive suggestions. It opposes the present system and favors the county assessor plan.

“Whoopee John” and his radio-recording orchestra will be featured at the annual Luxembourger Ball at Dawson’s Hall here tonight. Advance ticket sales have reached a record high and the promise of more sales at the door is anticipated.

For the Family! … There is no better drink and no better food that Oak Grove Milk. It should be used every meal of the day in some form. Purity…wholesomeness – Oak Grove Sanitary Dairy, Shakopee.

Hundreds watched the district ice hockey tournament sponsored by the SERA at the municipal skating rink at Shakopee Sunday afternoon. Entrance in the events was confined to residents of Scott and Dakota counties.

A new feature…”True Ghost Stories”…starts in this issue of the Argus-Tribune. Not just ordinary ghost stories, but true incidents from pens of famous people. Each article is a personal experience of the writer and are truly different.

Last Tuesday the Shakopee basketball team journeyed to Waconia. We met defeat at the hands of a fast, clever, good ball handling team rated the best in the district. The score ended 34 to 19.

Unemployment Insurance…a tax on all payrolls to be paid by employers, half of it deducted from the pay of employees, to be used to compensate employees who are laid off or otherwise unable to work, and also to build up the old age pension fund.

Behind the scenes with the Want-Ads…If you don’t have the want-ad reading habit, you are the exception that proves the rule. Everybody else has it. You don’t have to be a buyer or a seller to discover interest in these columns. Every item has a story to tell…a most interesting story in many cases…The Want Ad Lady.

Be loyal to your town as well as to your country…patronize your local merchants!

The Rock Springs Sparklers added another victory to their perfect record when they defeated the fast Chaska five 45-20 on the Shakopee court. The evident enthusiasm over the team has encouraged the management to book another game.

The young men of St. Mary’s parish are laying plans for a card party to be held at the Knights of Columbus hall. 500, bridge and cribbage are to be played.

County to receive bids for boarding purposes…Sealed bids for the boarding of paupers at the county poor house for a 3-year term. The successful bidder is to furnish lodging, board, washing and mending and is to nurse all paupers during sickness.

Much genuine interest is being shown in the big carnival to be staged at the school auditorium. When Shakopee’s populace turns out at the school auditorium, they will be greeted by barkers and ballyhoos. There will be the gardens, fortune tellers, interesting curiosities, side shows and boulevards of Paris.

A style show was given at the Women’s Reformatory Thursday and Friday evenings. Ten of the inmates with Delores Sames and Delores Pink modeled ninety dresses. There were dresses for sport, school, Sunday mornings at home, beach and street. The women have been taught the short cuts and clever tricks in the art of dressmaking, and many are now able to qualify as excellent dressmakers.

A permit from the Federal Alcohol Administration granting Northwestern Distilleries, Inc. the right to engage in the “distilled spirits industry”…Shakopee is to be the home of the only distillery not alone in Minnesota, but in the five-state federal tax unit composed of Minnesota, Nebraska, North and South Dakota.

Remember When: 1911

Compiled by Don McNeil, Shakopee Heritage Society

From the Shakopee Argus-Tribune

Feb. 10, 1911 – A delightful social function of the week was a card party given by Miss Josephine Koenig at her home Sunday evening. Four tables of “500” were played. Miss Anna Mergens and Peter Barr carrying off the head honors. Refreshments were served and an enjoyable time was spent by all present.

Feb. 10, 1911 – Henry Rottgart had the misfortune to sprain his hand last week in a fall on a slippery walk.

Feb. 10, 1911 – Many are divorced. Records for 1910 show a total of 1,367 decrees of separation granted. Minnesota has a bad record. Out of every 13 marriages performed in the state, one of them ends in the divorce courts. The divorce laws of Minnesota are not so easy or so broad that men and women flock here from other states to have their marriage bonds severed. On the contrary, scores or even hundreds go from here to Nevada, South Dakota and other states where divorce is a routine affair. The county that holds the record, Hubbard, where one marriage out of every 4 ends in the divorce courts, is overwhelmingly a farming area.

Feb. 10, 1911 – Phone leaks hunting tip. Otter Tail farmer finds uninvited neighbor has “bagged” his coons…Fergus Falls – One of the disadvantages of the country phone system where as many as fourteen and fifteen patrons are on a single phone line…a prominent farmer discovered three coons in the top of a tree late in the evening. He felt that if he went after them alone, they would escape. Accordingly he went home and telephoned a neighbor, asking him to come over in the early morning and help him catch the animals. He told him the location of the tree. The neighbor arrived at the scheduled time, but he and the discoverer of the coons found that the tree had been cut down in the night and coons had been captured. Another neighbor had listened in on the phone conversation.

Feb. 17, 1911 – Minnesota Legislature: Proceedings at the MN State Capitol for the past week. The Sibley House will receive $2500 for repairs and improvements, and an additional $65 a month for repairs. The Sibley House Association and the Daughters of the American Revolution shall have charge of the funds.

Feb. 17, 1911 – Seizure of autos provided…A new and novel way to discourage reckless automobile driving on country roads was suggested in a bill. The plan is to have the county confiscate any automobile by which a person on the public highway is injured and to sell it at public auction and put the proceeds in the county treasury.

Feb. 17, 1911 – Heredity can be overcome in some cases. The influence of heredity cannot, of course, be successfully disputed, but it can in some cases be minimized or entirely overcome in some cases by correct food and drink.

Feb. 17, 1911 – Miss Josephine Koenig was hostess at a prettily appointed fancy-dress party for a number of her girlfriends. Thirteen were present, masked to represent different characters and a part of the evening’s entertainment was a guessing contest to determine the identity of the guests. Miss Theresa Berens was the most successful in penetrating the disguises.

Feb. 17, 1911 – They’re coming! Who? Tanner’s Entertainers, for one week, commencing February 20 at the Opera House. Admission 10 and 15 cents.

Feb. 17, 1911 – How to color purple…To color purple for 15 pounds of cotton, take 4 pounds of logwood chips and boil them in two pails of water. Dissolve 1 pound of alum in a pail of hot water and add to the first solution. Put in the cotton and boil in the dye for one hour. Drain and hang to dry.

March 10, 1911 – A New Jersey farmer recently discovered that his cows were being robbed of their milk at night. He hired a detective to watch for the thieves. Although he could discover no thieves, during his first two nights, the cows came home in the morning minus their milk as usual. Finally it was discovered that a flock of geese from a neighboring farm were in the habit of running with the cows at night and when the animals lay down the geese helped themselves to their milk.

March 10, 1911 – French Bean Coffee…1 cent a pound. It will grow in your own garden, ripening here in Wisconsin in 90 days. Splendid health coffee and costing about one cent a pound to grow…a great rarity; a healthful drink. Send us today 15 cents in stamps.

July 21, 1911 – Associated doctors, specialists will be at the Merchant Hotel, Friday, July 28, one day only…remarkable success of these talented physicians in the treatment of chronic diseases. They offer their services free of charge. The treatments given are the latest methods approved by modern science. The results obtained are marvelous and words cannot express the great relief suffering people will receive. No matter what your ailment may be, no matter what they may have told you, no matter what experience you may have had with other physicians, sanitariums or patent medicines, if you want to get well, it will be to your advantage to see them.

July 21, 1911 – Free, Munyon’s Paw-Paw Pills – If you are in need of medical advice, do not fail to write Professor Munyon. Your communication will be treated in strict confidence, and your case will be diagnosed as carefully as though you had a personal interview. Munyon’s Paw-Paw Pills are unlike all other laxatives or cathartics. They coax the liver into activity by gentle methods. Professor Munyon states, “If I had my way, I would prohibit the sale of nine-tenths of the cathartics that are being sold.”

July 28, 1911 – Mudcura Entertains – The patrons of Mudcura were treated to a dance and athletic entertainment Wednesday evening that furnished fun and amusement for all. Included were hand balancing stunts, preliminary boxing, sparring bout, glove championship of old and new world, dance.

July 28, 1911 – Mankato Commercial College leads them all. Its great influence extends far and wide. In attendance, equipment, courses of study, facilities for placing its students in positions it is unsurpassed. Large facility of experienced teachers. A course at this great school leads to success.

August 4, 1911 – Women are barred…Eleven saloons with restaurants told only men may be admitted. – Minneapolis, MN…Mayor Haynes ordered Police Chief Mealey to bar women from 11 saloons which have restaurant facilities. The mayor said as he did last fall, that a place which relied on liquor for most of its income must stand on that business alone and that he would not tolerate operation of a restaurant as a blind to evade his order barring women from saloons.

August 25, 1911 – Evelyn: “but when it comes to lovemaking Harold is rather green isn’t he?”
Myrtle: “not now”
Evelyn: “indeed!”
Myrtle: “no, he’s blue; I rejected him last evening”

Sept. 8, 1911 – Nomination Blank…Scott County Argus Popular Voting Contest. I hereby Nominate Miss….., City or Town ……as the most popular candidate in the Scott County Argus Popular Voting Contest. Signed….address….. Names of people making nominations will not be divulged when so requested.

Sept. 15, 1911 – Free Government Land Not All Gone…Nearly 500,000 acres free land in South Dakota…opening of Rosebud and Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Drawing will be held for the distribution of lands in the Rosebud and Pine Ridge Indian Reservation of South Dakota, which are being opened to settlement by the US Government.

Oct. 27, 1911 – About two thousand people were out early last Tuesday to see and hear President Taft. It was eminently a non-partisan gathering of people who assembled to pay their respect to the Chief Executive of the nation, and while there was no show of enthusiasm, the crowd was hospitable and gave him a most respectful and attentive audience. The President talked for about fifteen minutes. His remarks were chiefly addressed to the 500 children present and to many of the farmers who had come to hear him.

Minneapolis has obtained from the State Supreme Court what it long has waited for, a decision upholding the city in its assertion of police power in regulation of the smoke nuisance. The decision is rendered in the case of Minneapolis vs. the Chicago, Milwaukee and St Paul Railroad. The company was prosecuted because its engines, burning soft coal, emitted great clouds of smoke. The railroad held that the city had no right to prevent use of soft coal in its engines. According to the mayor, “it is the best thing that has happened to the city in many months.”

Now is the time when you want your horse clipped. When clipped he will look better, can work better and will stand more driving, and you will be rid of the annoyance of flying hair and hair in your clothes. My clipper is run by electric power and I can do all kinds of clipping promptly and satisfactorily. Give me a trial and be convinced…Geo. C Kopp, Shakopee.

Geo. Plumstead had the misfortune to fracture his right elbow in a runaway accident yesterday. A team of colts attached to a load of straw which he was unloading ran away and threw him off by running into a tree.

Citizens of Carver County propose to raise the water level of Lake Minnetonka by driving the water of Lake Waconia into it instead of into the Minnesota River. This would insure a steady flow of water for Minnehaha Falls in the year ahead.

$31.40 Tourist Car fare – Minneapolis-St. Paul to Los Angeles on Northwestern Line.

Announcement: I believe it due my friends, the voters of this city, to offer an explanation on my action in allowing my name on a petition for Mayor and later withdrawing same.

After being urged for sometime to make the run for the office, at the last moment I consented to the wishes of my friends; my sole object in doing so was to further the continuance of our public improvements, namely sewer and water works. After filing I learned that the current mayor, who was seeking re-election, was in favor of these improvements being extended. I made an appointment to discuss this with him and he assured me he was in favor of the improvements and their extension and I decided to withdraw my name from the ticket…Mr. Thiem

News from the Fatherland: A brief resume of the most important happening in the German Empire: In the near future, perhaps before the end of the year, Austria will have the greatest navy in the world.

Only in the course of the last few days the information has leaked out that for sometime past the administration of the army has been secretly engaged in building a number of flying machines of an entirely new type, which will be called the “Kaiser Aeroplane.” This most modern of all airships consists of an ingenious combination of an aeroplane and the dirigible balloon. Experts who are familiar with the construction of these machines claim that they cannot possibly fall from the sky.

Free advice to Women: Women suffering from any form of illness are invited to promptly communicate with Mrs. Pinham of Lynn, Mass. All letters are received, opened, read and answered by women. A woman can freely talk of her private illnesses to a woman; thus has been established this confidence between Mrs. Pinham and the women of America which has never been broken. Every woman ought to have Lydia E. Pinham’s 80-page free text book…write for it today.

Women Teachers Win Fight – will receive same pay as men in New York schools. Men teachers in the elementary schools of New York City appointed hereafter will receive the same pay as women. This will mean that the present salaries paid to men in those positions will be cut almost one-third in the cases of future appointees. The controversy over the questions has been bitterly waged for several years.

Opportunity: A good position for you: Window Trimming and Card Writing…learn this high-salaried profession…experience not necessary for success. We teach you in 8 weeks by personal instruction in real windows with full equipment, merchandise and fixtures. All our spring class students have been placed in good positions…Twin City School of Window Dressing

Shakopee Best Market for Eggs: That Shakopee has established a market for eggs second to none of any town or city in the Minnesota Valley will be conceded when it is known that during the past month it shipped five hundred cases, almost two car loads of choice, fresh eggs for consumption by the Twin City people, to say nothing of those consumed by its own residents.

Wanted: Conductors and Motormen – Steady employment for able-bodied men of average intelligence with common school education…takes about 10 days to learn trade that pays good wages and has no “layoffs” on account of bad weather or hard times. Steady and industrious car men can earn from $75.00 to $85.00 per month…Duluth Street Railway Co.

Good Words for Mudcura: H. P. Blasdell returned Monday morning from Shakopee, accompanied by Mrs. Blasdell. He had taken their son, Claude, to receive treatment for inflammatory rheumatism at the Mudcura Sanitarium last week. Claude’s condition was very serious when he left Luverne, but during the few days he has received treatment, he has shown much improvement and when Mr. Blasdell left on his return to their city, his condition was encouraging and if no complications set in, it is believed that he will have fully recovered in the course of a few days.

Traveling through the state the writer was shown a farm that was offered 5 years ago for $250 an acre. That appeared to be a high figure for land upon which the owner depended upon the crops of corn, and the hogs and cattle that could be raised upon it, but it wasn’t. A few weeks ago the farm changed hands at $325 an acre.

News from the MN Legislature:

  • Speaker Dunn interrupted business to instruct the Sergeant-At-Arms to eject all lobbyists from the floor of the House.
  • Senator Schaller was voted $1000 for his services in the prosecution of Patrick Gibbons who killed his wife and a priest in So. St. Paul.

Last Friday night a steamer with two barges passed Shakopee for Henderson after wood which it is said can be had there for $1.25 a cord.

The new roller mill will be fifty feet wide by seventy long and five stories high, about twice the height of any other store in town.
How many towns owe some of their prosperity to the picture card! Well it is hard to quote figures, but it is very certain that the local view card is a great little worker. Just think of it…at the cost of a cent or two the attractive spots of our town can be brought right home to distant friends and acquaintances.

Congressman, C.R. Davis, has sent a sack of trial seeds to Superintendent Wolfe, which will be used in our school gardening project.

$300,000 was the ninety-first birthday gift of Dr. Daniel K. Pearsons, the grand old man of Hinsdale, Illinois to the colleges and missions he calls his children. In all, he has paid what he calls “debts to the world” of approximately $5,000,000. All that now remains of his once great fortune is the modest residence where he lives valued at $30,000.

Boys Beware “The Eyes of the Law”: Boys, do not kill the little birds or destroy their little homes…their nests. The laws of the state make it a criminal offense which is punishable by a fine, to kill any song bird.

Two thousand tracks of unalloted Indian land in the Seminole, Cherokee and Creek nations, Oklahoma are to be offered for sale by the government at auction.

Commentator: “There were several ungrammatical sentences in your speech last night.”
Politician: “I know; I’m making a play for the uneducated voter.”

News from Our Neighbors: The editor of a neighboring city’s newspaper was compelled to get down on his knees on the pavement and to publicly apologize to one of its prominent citizens for an article which recently appeared in the newspaper reflecting, by innuendo, on the citizen’s family.

News of the Nation: Standard Oil Loses Its Case – Will Be Dissolved: The US Supreme Bench declared the corporation illegal as it is since it monopolizes interstate commerce.

Rehearsals for the “Scott County Fair,” the home talent play to be given at the Opera House, November 9th and 10th are progressing nicely under the personal direction of Miss Marie Rosenfield, and the entertainment is expected to be of unusual merit for an amateur performance.

Life Insurance Solicitor: “If you live 20 years you get the $10,000, but if you don’t, then your widow will get it.”
Potential Client: “How will I know that she got it?”

A stingy man thought he would save money by taking his wife to a picture show, “to keep her mind off bargain counters.” Exactly and what do you suppose was the first picture thrown on the screen? – Some of the latest styles in Paris hats.

Mothers who know the importance of a strong body take the great tonic, “Digesto.” It builds body and brain, dispels listlessness, creates appetite and brings refreshing sleep and is pleasant to take. For sale at all drugstores. Made by Theo. Hamms Brewing Co., St. Paul, MN.

The labyrinth of tunnels constructed by moles serves as passageways for several species of mice and other small mammals not favored by nature with the means of digging runways of their own. To these alone is due the credit for most of the damage to seeds, roots, and tubers encountered in the soil, and not to the mole himself. Repeated leveling tends to discourage destructive moles and prevents injury to grass.

Many a time you’re to be just about done in by the heat…hot, and so thirsty it just seems nothing could quench it. When such moments arrive or when you just want a delicious, palate tickeling drink, step into the first place you can find where they sell Coca-Cola…at soda fountains or carbonated in bottles – 5 cents everywhere.

St. Paul – Attorney General Simpson has decided that the governor does not have the power to remove Superintendent Whittier from the superintendency of the State Training School for Boys at Red Wing, and accordingly, the State Supreme Court will be asked to arbitrate the matter.

For bounties on wolves, the State is sending out warrants amounting to $16,456.50. This represents sums paid for inflicting the death penalty on 1975 full grown wolves and 548 cubs. For a full-grown wolf, the State pays a bounty of $7.50, and for cubs, $3.00.

Backache is only one of many symptoms which some women endure through weakness or displacement of the womanly organs. Dr. Pierce’s favorite prescription is a positive cure for these maladies. Do not permit a dishonest dealer to substitute for this medicine which has a record of 40 years of cures.

Two women prominent in St. Louis have started a movement to induce 300,000 of their sex in the south to pray often and well every day that the more affluent, wealthy persons will be led to contribute to a fund for the evangelization of the world.

A harness has been found satisfactory in preventing cows from milking themselves. A smooth pole extends between the fore legs to near the udder, and is suspended by two straps over the back, one around the flank, and by a light chain to the halter. The cow wearing such a device will find in impossible to reach back far enough to cheat her master.

A number of St. Paul’s leading business men are behind a project which has for its purpose the construction of an interurban electric line starting from St. Paul and connecting Mankato, St. Peter and all the other towns located in the rich valley of Minnesota. Whether or not Shakopee will be on the line is not known at this writing.

Sewer Assessment Under Fire…At the meeting of the city council held Tuesday evening, fifty-five property owners filed their objections to the proposed assessment for the cost of construction of the sewer in District 1 of this city.

If the reader has a “bad back” or any kidney ill and is looking for relief and cure, better depend on the only remedy endorsed by people you know. Doan’s Kidney Pills relieve quickly…cure permanently. Shakopee citizens testify to this.

M. T. Regan, one of Shakopee’s good citizens, is authority for the following statement: “I believe in advertising, and I know that it pays, but you must advertise right and in that connection I want to say, if you have any advertising to do of any character, and want to get results and get them quick, advertise in the Argus.”

Jacob Spring, foreman of the Shakopee lime kiln, while getting stone out of the quarry, about eight feet below the surface of the earth, struck a natural hole about two feet wide and six feet long and apparently bottomless, as they have failed to find the bottom as yet.

The Board of Education of Shakopee has under consideration the inauguration of some special courses into our high school to meet the needs or demands of young men and women of the community who are unable to attend school the entire year.

James J. Hill, “Empire Builder of the Northwest,” of St. Paul, celebrated his 73rd birthday. If there is another man in the United States who has passed the allotted time of three score years and ten and has done as much work in his lifetime and still retains a keen intellect and can yet do much important work in a day…St. Paul would like to know who he is.

Under New Management…Best of service, rates $1.00 to $1.50 per day. M. Vanderstegen, proprietor…St. Paul Hotel. First Class bar connected; good stabling accommodations…Shakopee, Minnesota.

The plague, or Asiatic cholera, or as it used to be called, “the black death,” has been spreading of late in Europe. The plague is thriving in Russia having already killed seventy thousand people.

Henry Nicolin, on his return from Michigan, brought with him a barrel of the celebrated sulphurated mineral water from the famous Michigan health resort. One thing is certain…if its action on the system is as powerful as the odor it imparts it will knock his rheumatism into a cocked hat, so to speak, long before the contents of the barrel is used up.

Annual meeting of Roadmakers Association…An invitation has been sent out by the Minnesota Road Makers Association to their third annual meeting to be held under the auspices of the State Highway Commission. The invitation can be accepted by anyone interested in good roads.

Remember When: 1886

Compiled by Don McNeil, Shakopee Heritage Society

From the Shakopee Courier

Feb. 10, 1886 – The Grand Ice Carnival in St. Paul was attended by the thousands, and we have yet to learn that any were disappointed. Rather were they surprised to find so grand an affair laid out for their enjoyment. The people of St. Paul have gone into this carnival business regardless of expense, and will not be outdone by New Orleans Mardi Gras or St. Louis floats.

Feb. 10, 1886 – There is said to be more good oil territory in Russia than in the United States. This places the Czar on as solid a basis as “the Standard Oil Company,” and he can get about as near what he wants. The Czar of all the Russia and the “United States Standard Oil Company” are not powers to be sneezed at.

Feb. 10, 1886 – The big whistle at the mill elevator is up and blowing again. A welcome sound.

Feb. 10, 1886 – Some twenty-five young people from Shakopee attended the Carver Masquerade Dance on Saturday night given by the firemen.

Feb. 10, 1886 – Mr. Jacob Ries, Jr., left Thursday on a business trip down river in connection with the Star Bottling works. Alderman Ries and son are good and safe business men.

Feb. 10, 1886 – Mr. Julius A Coller has purchased of Dr. James H. Dunn the two lots formerly occupied by the white school building…good property.

Feb. 10, 1886 – The Shakopee toboggan slide may be a thing of beauty, but if the balance of the winter peters out in a thaw, it won’t be such a joy forever.

Feb. 10, 1886 – Two organs for sale or trade – for hay or wood or other article of use to owner. The organs are good as new and a good bargain promised.

Feb. 10, 1886 – A number of sections of fine grazing lands in Texas were recently sold at tax sales at one-quarter of a cent an acre, the lowest price ever reached in a cash sale in that or probably any state.

Feb. 10, 1886 – Nothing pays a young lady or young lady’s parents better than some knowledge of the man she would wed. Miss Nettie Dorsey, North Bend, Nebraska, the daughter of wealthy parents, last December married Mr. Claire, a school teacher recently imported. She has just returned from her wedding trip alone. Claire was a burglar, a bigamist, a horse thief and a fugitive from justice.

Feb. 10, 1886 – John Gerser would like to start a Sash and Blind factory here in Shakopee if he can receive some assistance. Let our married men look into it, and keep John here.

Feb. 10, 1886 – Don’t forget the Masquerade on Monday night. The proceeds go to the gymnasium fund, an institution of benefit.

Feb. 24, 1886 – M de Lesseps wants the French government to permit him to raise more money to prosecute the work of completing the Panama Canal.

Feb. 24, 1886 – A clock firm wants to start a factory here, if satisfactory arrangements can be made.

Feb. 24, 1886 – Judge Bornarth has received his patent for the gate hinge noticed by us before, and has arranged with the Wampach Company to manufacture them.

Feb. 24, 1886 – We understand that Mr. Case has been doing good business in accident insurance. A good thing to have in the family…not the accident, but the insurance.

Feb. 24, 1886 – Agents Wanted: A good, first-class salesman wanted in every township in Scott County to see an article that will go in every house…no competition – $4.50 to $9.00 per day guaranteed a good gent in fair territory.

March 3, 1886 – Journalists are proverbially wealthy…to be sure. We once knew one who was accustomed to write his “copy” on the soles of his shoes and then go barefoot while it was being “set up”.

March 3, 1886 – The amusement season is about over. Tomorrow night the wind up dance will be held at Ring’s Shakopee Roller Rink. It has been decided to open the rink for skating every Tuesday and Saturday evening until further notice. Prices will be admission – 10 cents, skating 5 cents extra.

Feb. 24, 1886 – Buffalo, NY – Feb. 16…A suit is to be tried this week in the Supreme Court on an action begun by the Cleveland Baseball Association against Henry V. Lucas, Manager of the St. Louis League Club. The complaints allege that they agreed to dispose of the franchise of the Cleveland Club to Lucas for $2500 and that Lucas paid them $500 down to bind the agreement agreeing to pay the $2000 balance upon admission of the St. Louis club to the league. Instead Lucas surprised them by telling them to, “play ball with themselves,” and finally ignored their demands entirely.

Feb. 24, 1886 – Francis Scott Key, author of “The Star Spangled Banner” is to have a monument in Philadelphia raised by 5 cent subscriptions in the public schools.

Feb. 24, 1886 – A new paper has been started in Shakopee. It is called the School Journal, and starts with a half dozen editors.

March 3, 1886 – “How are artificial eyes made?” the reporter inquired of a local optician. “They are first blown into the shape of a bottle. The look like a miniature whiskey flask. Then the operative separates the structure and after blowing in the center colors, the veins, and adding the shade to the eye ball, the edges of the inside are finished off, and the eye, which is nearly always an original shape, is packed away, perhaps never to be worn. It may lie around in a store for a hundred years before a customer is found whom it will fit or suit in every respect.”

March 24, 1886 – A New York paper recently sent a reporter to see how Vanderbilt’s tomb was guarded.

March 24, 1886 – The young man came back with the information that it was guarded by twelve men who knew nothing, heard nothing and never ate or slept but saw everything…they were Pinkerton men, and when Mr. Pinkerton was asked just how he guarded the tomb, he nodded his head and winked his eye.

March 24, 1886 – The clerks in the government employ at Washington have formed a sort of mutual protection association by which any clerk who is discharged receives the sum of $200 from his fellows to enable him to start afresh.

March 24, 1886 – The weekly Pioneer Press…the best newspaper published for the Northwestern farm and family. Price only $1.00 per year. Our great Seed Premiums…vegetable and flower seeds free.

March 31, 1886 – It is stated that farm laborers in parts of Missouri have begun to strike for higher pay. If such a movement should spread far it would encounter the opposition of the largest body of capitalists in America…the farmers of the United States, and the results might prove very interesting.

April 21, 1886 – Owners and keepers of dogs take notice! Notice is hereby given that all owners or keepers of dogs must cause such dogs to be licensed if they desire to save additional cost and expense.

April 21, 1886 – President Cleveland discusses labor troubles with Congress…proposes a National Arbitration Committee.

April 21, 1886 – John Dellwo has returned from his schooling in St. Paul and now has gone back to Mr. Zoller’s Shoe Shop.

April 21, 1886 – Be it resolved by the Common Council of the City of Shakopee: That the salary of Overseer of Streets, Highways and Alleys for the ensuing year be fixed at $1.75 per day for each day actually employed.

May 5, 1886 – Henry M. Smith, formerly Deputy Treasurer and Deputy Sheriff, became grossly intoxicated and desiring shelter from the rain, he attempted to break into the residence of a merchant named G. C. Merkel, who shot him through the heart, believing him to be a burglar.

May 5, 1886 – “Mississippi River Route” is the tourist’s choice and the favorite route with all those who seek to avoid the dust, heat, smoke and other discomforts of rail travel. By this route you view the famed scenery of “The Father of Waters.”

Remember When: 1985

Compiled by Don McNeil, Shakopee Heritage Society

From the Shakopee Valley News

July 10, 1985 – Thom and Linda Gode are getting their 120-year-old house on the National Historic Register of Historic Places. A six-piece brass band ensemble will perform, the couple will wear 1860s costumes and more than 100 friends and relatives will celebrate the occasion. The tiny brick home on Second Avenue is one of five sites in Shakopee listed on the National Register. The others are: the Godes’ neighboring house owned by Mr. and Mrs. Steven Poppler; the farm within the city limits near the Minnesota Valley Mall; the Bjornberg home; and the Rice building, most recently called Cactus Jack’s at the corner of Holmes Street and First Avenue.

Sept. 18, 1985 – “Prison escapes may result in barriers at new facility.” Two escapes in less than one month have led state corrections officials to reconsider their plan to open the new women’s prison in Shakopee without barriers of any kind. The prison has no fence, wall or barrier of any kind. “We could give women a lot more freedom on the grounds if we could contain them on the grounds.”

Sept. 4, 1985 – “‘Ask Me’ Winners.” This week’s winner in the “Ask Me About Shakopee” contest is Jim & Lucy’s. Sponsored by the Shakopee Jaycees and the Shakopee Chamber of Commerce, the contest is intended to recognize businesses and employees who are particularly helpful to tourists and others needing information about the Shakopee area.

June 14, 1985 – “Water Slide Opening.” The water slide at the city pool at Lions Park is scheduled to open June 22. The last pieces of the fiberglass slide are being installed.

Dec. 14, 1985 – New Shakopee Chamber of Commerce officers and board include: President Lee Hennen; Vice President Linnea Stromberg-Wise; board members Lucy Rein, Diane Johnson and Bill Wermerskirchen.

April 3, 1985 – Opening day at Canterbury Downs – commemorative pictorial postmark cancellation stamp will honor the occasion.

May 4, 1985 – In its Downtown Redevelopment Plan, the city is considering locating walkways over the proposed mini-by-pass north of First Avenue along the river.

July 3, 1985 – “Where should the City of Shakopee build a city hall?” After contemplating the question for almost a year, city officials brought the issue, in the form of a survey to the public this week. The Shakopee City Hall Site Committee has so far narrowed a field of 24 locations down to eight.

April 7, 1985 – Pow Wow at Murphy’s Landing – jointly sponsored by the Mdewakanton Sioux of Little Crow’s band and Murphy’s Landing.

June 23, 1985 – Closing of Pelham Hotel – formerly the Merchant Hotel – was on the National Register of Historic Places.

May 29, 1985 – Every service station in the city dropped its price for regular gasoline to $.99/gal. Gasoline hasn’t been that cheap for 7 years, and may drop lower because OPEC recently reduced crude oil prices to $1/barrel.

April 12, 1985 – Postal rates go up – 1st class stamp $.22.

June 4, 1985 – Bert & Bonnie Notermann, owners of Lions Tap, are in the final phase of expanding and remodeling project. Originally opened as Peterson Bros. Roadside Market in 1933, Sears and Irene Lyons introduced the now famous hamburger in 1958.

June 4, 1985 – Shakopee will be getting quite a bit of attention next week when Canterbury Downs opens. History will be made and recorded in many ways, including a first for the Shakopee Post Office – a commemorative pictorial postmark cancellation. Postmaster Cormac A. Suel has announced that the design and authorization for the special pictorial cancellation stamp was given by the U.S. Postal Service in Washington, D.C.

Oct. 25, 1985 – “Pelham Hotel, which was home for many, now closed.” One factor that may have contributed in the recent increase in homelessness in Scott County is the closing of the Pelham Hotel, formerly the Merchant Hotel.

Nov. 15, 1985 – Shakopee Area Chamber of Commerce celebrating 30 years of advancing the economic, industrial, professional, educational, civic and general interests of the Shakopee area.

Jan. 23, 1985 – “Bed and Breakfast: Local women propose unique facility to serve tourists.” The city is looking at a proposal by three local women to transform the large turn-of-the-century house at the corner of Fourth and Lewis into a “bed and breakfast” home or inn. “We want to preserve a piece of local history for the people of Shakopee,” explained Marcia Spagnolo, who, with partners Julie McNearney and Joan Lynch, has proposed the plan.

Jan. 30, 1985 – $180 million. It’s only a “guesstimate,” but Shakopee Area Chamber of Commerce Linnea Stromberg-Wise told members. She came up with the $180 million figure by using a 2.5 million people visited the four operating attractions – Little Six Bingo Parlor, Valleyfair, Murphy’s Landing and Renaissance Festival – last year. Canterbury Downs is estimated to draw an additional 1 million people.

Feb. 6, 1985 – MnDOT engineers say the existing Highway 101-169 bridge is structurally sound, and probably would remain so for another 10 years. But they say they’re considering replacing it because federal funds are available and because such a project could be integrated with the city’s plan to improve traffic flow on those two highways through the downtown area.

Feb. 13, 1985 – City video depicts grant application. Shakopee city officials hope a three-minute video is worth $1.3 million. They submitted a three-minute videotape of Shakopee eyesores, truck rumblings and traffic congestion in a bid for $1.3 million state grant to improve the city.

Feb. 13, 1985 – Merchant mania. At opposite ends of the city, Shakopee merchants staged separate sales promotions. At the Minnesota Valley Mall, it was the Big Brand Roundup. The theme was western and involved all the mall merchants, including those employees of Juba’s SuperValu, Harmon’s True Value and a newer store at the Valley Mall, The Treat Factory, which stated many people thanked us for having such a fun event.

March 20, 1985 – City growth reflects anticipation of race track and related projects. More than 20 new businesses came to Shakopee in 1984 – some because of the track and the tourism potential. And Shakopee has already reaped more than $200,000 from building permits from the track and the women’s prison construction alone.

April 3, 1985 – You can get married and depart in a surrey with a fringe on top, pulled by a well-trained horse. That’s an opportunity Scott and Mary Finke of Chalet Valley Stables in Savage are making available.

April 17, 1985 – Shakopee Mayor Eldon Reinke is determined to see that the city’s new van pool service succeeds. As a volunteer van pool driver, he shuttles himself and others between Minneapolis and Shakopee. “If we have a driver and eight other riders,” stated city transportation director Barry Stock, “we can start a van going anywhere.”

May 1, 1985 – Some 70 Scott County senior citizens put some color into local history recently by writing about some of their experiences here. More than 90 of those essays will appear in “As I Remember Scott County,” a book which is now being printed by Scott County under the direction of volunteer Marcia Spagnolo and Senior Citizen Supervisor Betty Pink. The book includes such dates as when Shakopee’s attractions included slot machines, days of shopping at Berens’ millinery store, growing up in the Pelham Hotel and making dandelion wine.

May 8, 1985 – The Scott County jail (circle one): a. adequate housing for the county’s prisoners. b. outdated and needs replacement. c. a crisis waiting to happen. d. I don’t know. “We saw so many problems that could only be resolved through remodeling or building a new jail.” League members Kathy Busch, Gayl Madigan, Paulette Rislund, Kathi Klein, Corrine McDonald and Janet Wendt also researched the issue.

May 8, 1985 – Raceway Park owner John Ostdiek inspected the new asphalt put down. Ostdiek noted that the last time a new surface was put down was in the early 1970s.

May 22, 1985 – W. Adair Muralt, better known as “Doc” because he is a chiropractor, surveyed downtown Shakopee, which he has promoted for many, many years. That promotion of the city along with numerous other accomplishments, earned Muralt the Shakopee Rotary Club’s Citizen of the Month award for March.

May 22, 1985 – Work, Work, Work. Minnesotans work nearly 3 hours a day just to pay federal, state and local taxes. Tax Freedom Day, May 9, is the day when the typical worker would owe no more taxes if, from Jan. 1, 1985, every dollar of income earned was used to pay federal, state and local taxes. After this date, theoretically, workers are free to spend their remaining income as they choose.

Jan. 9, 1985 – Jackie Fleming, supervisor of the Minnesota Correctional Institution for Women, placed a hard hat on the head of her niece following the groundbreaking ceremony for the new women’s prison in Shakopee.

Jan. 9, 1985 – Her name and face are in the news so often she’s familiar to us all. She’s Scott County Prosecutor Kathleen Morris, our choice as Minnesota Newsmaker of 1984. But there’s more to this selection than headlines and T.V. interviews. We think Kathleen Morris personifies society’s willingness but inability to deal with the sexual abuse of children.

Jan. 16, 1985 – An 80-unit hotel/restaurant, proposed for a 7.5 acre lot at the intersection of Highway 169 and County Road 41, didn’t win the approval of the Scott County Planning Commission.

Jan. 23, 1985 – UFO? Something left markings on man’s roof. If you’d have told Earl Buchholz that you believed in UFOs, he probably would have rolled his eyes and privately thought you were a little unusual. But a few weeks ago, Buchholz became a believer.

Feb. 6, 1985 – Grandson of Shakopee residents wins rodeo title. Dale Anderson, 24, the grandson of two Shakopee couples, became an International Pro-Rodeo Association champion. He is one of Minnesota’s few world rodeo champs. He competes in two to five events weekly during the summer.

May 29, 1985 – 150-room “upscale” hotel proposed. Robert Behringer will have an idea about whether Shakopee wants a large, upscale hotel in the community. Behringer wants to develop an eight-story hotel with 150 rooms that will be associated with a fine restaurant, a conference center and usual hotel amenities, as well as an adjacent retail complex that will feature two other restaurants.

May 29, 1985 – Sheriff warns of con schemes. Scott County Sheriff Douglas Tietz reminds residents that the time of year is upon us when various confidence schemes may surface in the area. In the past, there have been bogus bat exterminator schemes, phony painting operations and illegitimate driveway sealing business. For the most part, Tietz said, area senior citizens fall prey to these con schemes.

June 5, 1985 – “Hey, Cub Scouts, I love ya and I’m truly sorry for suggesting that some of you were giving incorrect turn signals on your bicycles.” Howard W. Voigt, Editor Shakopee Valley News.

June 5, 1985 – Dan Pecha and his parents, Carol and Leo, own Pizza ‘N’ Pasta, which opened late last month in the Tom Thumb Mall in Shakopee. The family owns two other restaurants, located in the Burnsville and Eden Prairie Malls.

June 12, 1985 – Shakopee baseball manager Joe Schleper stated that the seats and steel are already here and the ground breaking for the permanent stands should be here next week. The veteran Shakopee player and manager commented that anyone interested in buying a seat, priced at $50, should contact anyone connected with the Shakopee Baseball Lighting/Stadium Committee.

May 29, 1985 – A group of Shakopee citizens opposing pornography has scheduled picketing of area retail stores which sell alleged pornographic magazines for Saturday,

May 29, 1985 – A development group from Bemidji which proposed a 100-unit Super 8 Motel for Shakopee is continuing with their plans. Bemidji Super 8 Partnership has reduced its original application for $2 million in bonds to $1.8 million.

May 29, 1985 – Win, Place and Show: Playing the horses for fun and profit. The Shakopee Valley News inaugurates a weekly column which will cover the action of the newest spectator attraction in the valley, horse racing at Canterbury Downs.

June 1, 1-3 p.m. Interested citizens should assemble at Shakopee Senior High School’s parking lot at 12:45 p.m.

June 5, 1985 – The Shakopee Public Library is sponsoring free movies weekly for children through grade six. Movies will be shown every Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. and every Saturday at 1:30 p.m. through August 17.

June 26, 1985 – The first phase of downtown redevelopment is finally nearing its beginning with the hiring of Westwood Planning and Engineering to establish streetscapes for the entire project. The Downtown Ad Hoc Committee has decided that some sort of “old-time” theme, such as employed in downtown Wayzata, be implemented.

June 26, 1985 – “Minister wonders why graduation so unruly.” Adults and children run up and down the bleachers. Is this a circus or is this a graduation ceremony? Shakopee School Board members would say it’s a little of both. “He must have overheard us talking,” said board member Becky Kelso.

June 26, 1985 – Parishioners of Calvary United Methodist Church of Shakopee modeled 19th century attire that will be worn during church services at the Bloomington Ferry Church at Murphy’s Landing.

June 26, 1985 – Shakopee Ice Arena faces uncertain future. The bubble is in trouble. With a life expectancy of less than four years, the Shakopee Ice Arena is rapidly running out of time. Another heavy snow storm or damaging wind and the bubble will go down again.

June 27, 1985 – Shakopee businesses realize positive impact of track. The first of the 180 million tourist dollars expected this year started pouring into Shakopee businesses yesterday. “This is the biggest night we’ve ever had,” exulted Shakopee House Manager Tony Strupeck.

June 27, 1985 – St. Francis prepared for any emergency. With tons of horseflesh sprinting shoulder to shoulder around a track at speeds of up to 45 miles per hour, there is a great potential for serious injury to the comparatively frail jockeys who guide those thoroughbred mounts. “The ambulance will follow the horses in each race, with the doctor in the ambulance, right on the track.”

June 27, 1985 – Minnesota Gov. Rudy Perpich and his wife Lucy, besides receiving the gift of a brand new thoroughbred race track, were given something very special and valuable by Shakopee Postmaster Cormac A. Suel. The governor officially opened the temporary Shakopee postal station inside the grandstand.

July 3, 1985 – Key Canterbury officials: Stan Bowker – Vice President, J. Brooks Hauser – Senior Vice President/Treasurer, Louis H. Eilken – Director of Racing, Nat Wess – Assistant General Manager, Walter Brook Fields Jr. – President/Chief Executive Officer.

July 3, 1985 – “Couple finishes 500-mile bike trip.” Bill and Barb Anderson of Shakopee spent their days from Saturday, June 22, through Thursday, June 27, bent over a bicycle, pumping pedals furiously as they made their way on the ride to the Red River.

July 3, 1985 – Gas prices still on upswing. Since mid-May, gasoline prices throughout Minnesota have increased an average of 5 cents per gallon, continuing a five-month upswing. In the Twin Cities area, self service regular gasoline averaged $1.29 per gallon.

July 3, 1985 – Jamie Fricke, the Country Music Association’s Female vocalist of the year for 1982 and 1983, will perform at Valleyfair on July 4-5.

July 17, 1985 – KSMM radio 1530 is offering area young people a chance to have some fun and do a special favor for a special person. KSMM listener 17 years of age and younger has a chance to win one of eight sets of two tickets to Valleyfair. “Each of us has that special person in our lives who we’d like to take on a great fun-filled day.”

July 10, 1985 – Doris Marschall thought her “Nutty Muffin Crunch” recipe sounded good. Judges in the Bays English Muffin Contest thought the dessert was delicious. Marschall’s recipe was among the top 25 winners up in the national contest which drew more than 1,300 entries. “I just made it up off the top of my head. It sounded so good.”

July 12, 1985 – Sisters make baby pact; nearly fulfill it with births within 24 hours. Nine months ago, two sisters made a deal to deliver their babies on the same date: July 11. Sisters Kathy Nelson and Nancy Giles, both of Shakopee, were within 24 hours.

July 17, 1985 – Bluff Creek Inn, area’s first bed and breakfast inn, features country charm of home. Marge Bush said she likes to think of her new Bluff Creek Inn as a home away from home for her guests.

July 17, 1985 – Bill Roach shows the “serger,” a machine which finishes seams professionally. He and his partner Sue Laurent sell many other kinds of machines as well at their new store – Creative Sewing Center.

July 19, 1985 – A public open house at Canterbury Downs, featuring exhibition races, play money and drawing for prizes will be held Sunday, June 23, 11 a.m. Free admission tickets are available at all eight Brooks Superettes and at the Shakopee House Restaurant.

July 24, 1985 – “How to play winning blackjack” is the title of a free one-hour seminar being offered by Richard A. Canfield of Reno, Nev. A former blackjack dealer, pit boss and owner of casinos, Canfield, who claims of winning $16 million playing the game over 29 years, will be in the metro area to promote his own franchise, “The Winning School of Blackjack.”

July 24, 1985 – Red Baron Squadron, open cockpit, World War I-vintage biplanes flying from Flying Cloud Airport. The Red Baron Squadron, a promotional flying acrobatic group for Red Baron Pizza Service of Marshall, Minnesota. Their appearance highlights a fundraising effort to benefit Courage Center.

July 24, 1985 – “Shakopee bucks for tourism dollars” proclaims the large headline in the Leisure section of the July 21 Des Moines Sunday Register. The lengthy story covers four of Shakopee’s tourist attractions: Valleyfair’s Corkscrew amusement ride; Murphy’s Landing guide Jim Phillips, standing in the doorway of one of the historic buildings on the site; Canterbury Downs race track and the Renaissance Festival. This all wound up in this town of 11,000.

July 24, 1985 – Long hours are part of the job for Shakopee State Farm agent. He doesn’t adhere to strict 9 to 5 business hours. It’s early to late for insurance agent Jerry Kucera. Both father and son sell insurance for State Farm. Jerry recently opened an office in the Professional Building on First Avenue.

July 24, 1985 – Melchior fondly recalls the good times and good people. Tom Melchior played two years for the Shakopee Indians in the 1960s and when they tore down the old Riverside Park and the memories he has of the good times and the good people. Melchior has had a life-long affair with baseball. “I just wish I knew more about the past.”

Aug. 7, 1985 – Cindy Perry, owner of the Wild Iris, Bernie Larson, who manages fresh flowers, and Carol Schneider, who recently opened her own interior design business, combine their talents to provide unique gifts and flowers.

Aug. 7, 1985 – Doreen and Jerald Morehouse of Shakopee recently bought three limousines to establish the new Valley Limousine Service. “Most of the people who hire limousines come from middle-class families. They’re just looking for something to give them such as a wedding or prom an elegant touch. We hope that people coming out to Canterbury Downs, the new horse racing track, hire their service. This is kind of a sideline for us.” Jerald owns a plastic business in the industrial park.

Aug. 14, 1985 – Remember the butch haircut? If you can remember that look, when hair was just silly millimeters longer than bald, you’re dating yourself back to at least the early ’60s. Well, the butch is back, at least in Shakopee. Tom Rein of Tom’s Barber Shop downtown says he has scalped about 15 football players, including his son. How do the girls like the new look? “Negatory.”

Remember When: 1960

Compiled by Don McNeil, Shakopee Heritage Society

From the Shakopee Argus-Tribune

Jan. 14, 1960 – Valley News carrier service to begin in Shakopee this week. The Valley News will be delivered each week in Shakopee by carrier boys on 14 different routes.

Jan. 21, 1960 – Shakopee Rotary wives of members of the local Rotary Club, presented a skit at the noon luncheon meeting of the Rotary Club at the St. Paul House Tuesday.

Jan. 28, 1960 – Shakopee’s St. Paul Winter Carnival float entry will be paraded on Shakopee streets beginning at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow, January 29, according to Russell Nolting, Chamber of Commerce float committee chairman.

Feb. 25, 1960 – Your Senator Reports: From the Desk of Senator Hubert H. Humphrey. Social Security Changes: Many of our older citizens don’t get enough income to buy the simple necessities – food, shelter, clothing. Also the fear of sickness and disability is a tremendous pressure on them, for unexpected illness can wipe out overnight the savings of years. I have sponsored a plan to provide Social Security pensioners with up to 180 days of hospital and nursing home care a year. Other Social Security changes needed include a raise in the $1200 earnings cap.

Feb. 4, 1960 – City Float Wins Winter Carnival Award. The Shakopee Chamber of Commerce float entry in the St. Paul Winter Carnival parade is the winner of the carnival’s Crown Award.

Jan. 21, 1960 – Job Applicants Top 600 Mark At The O-I Plant. More than 600 applicants have applied for work at the new Owens-Illinois paper products division, Valley Industrial Park plant.

Jan. 28, 1960 – Remington Rand Univac computers will digest the data from 1200 census sheets in a matter of six minutes, making some of the information available within months after the last census taker has turned in his information. The Census Bureau estimates that those annual workers back in 1880 would need 25 years to process and tabulate the 1960 census information.

March 10, 1960 – Doctor J. C. Huber Elected Shakopee Mayor. In a speech to the aldermen he stated that “I am sure I’ll be able to get along with all you gentlemen. I’ve heard nothing but good things about you.”

Feb. 4, 1960 – Community Theater Plans announced. The recent comedy hit, “No Time for Sergeants,” was chosen as the 1960 Shakopee joint recreation board community theater production.

April 19, 1960 – Bob Ryan, Minneapolis TV and radio newscaster and announcer, will be the guest speaker at the annual Shakopee Knights of Columbus Ladies Night to be held at St Mark’s hall beginning at 7 PM on Sunday, April 24.

Jan. 21, 1960 – Gerald Pink of Shakopee received a first aid certificate from Gov. Orville Freeman in ceremonies last week at the State Capitol. Pink was one of 14 key state highway department employees to complete a course in standard first aid.

Jan. 28, 1960 – New home on West 3rd St. – ideal for someone working at the Foundry or Malting plant…within walking distance. Three bedroom, oak finish, lot 100×142, house 26×52, garage attached, plus extra garage in backyard. All this for $15,000.

Feb. 4, 1960 – Reading Virgil’s “Aeneid” with Mrs. Grace Sweeney, high school principal and Latin instructor, are Ben Grage and Pat Esser, main stays on Bill Haben’s league leading basketball team.

April 24, 1960 – Save steps with Extension Telephone ($1.00/mo. each). Save time and trouble with handy extension phones! It’s a big bargain in modern living to have convenient phones.

April 5, 1960 – Stock Car races, Raceway Park – Minnesota’s first and finest banked asphalt track, plus those wild “go carts.” Admission $1.50.

April 24, 1960 – Area Growth Since 1910:

Preliminary 1960 census figures released last week indicate sharp population growth for Shakopee:

CensusShakopee Population% of Growth
19605,18663
19503,18532
19402,41815
19302,0232
19201,989-14
19102,302—-

April 5, 1960 – Northwestern Bell. A telephone is for making you feel safe at night…and isn’t it a wonderful feeling. A bedside telephone gives you priceless peace of mind – you sleep better just knowing your phone is there. And you can now have a phone with a built-in light that casts a reassuring glow in the dark.

July 7, 1960 – Mobile home display lot is now located at the Shakopee SuperValu parking lot – 400 W. 1st St.

July 21, 1960 – Construction underway on huge glass factory in the industrial park. The American Wheaton Corp. in the Valley Industrial Park will become the largest one-story structure in the area.

Aug. 11, 1960 – New motor oil discovery – police car approved – High HP Pure lube, the high horsepower motor oil.

July 28, 1960 – Shakopee’s 1960 Chamber of Commerce float brought the Minneapolis Aquatennial’s Skipper Award to the city for the second consecutive year.

Aug. 18, 1960 – Life insurance, mortgage protection, insured savings plans and pension plans, consult Gene Brown, complete line of group and individual hospitalization. Telephone SK1-1893.

Aug. 4, 1960 – Recreation Director George Muenchow … board issues call for meeting to discuss recreation planning. “We don’t know where we are going and we don’t know where we want to go.” “That is what we must find out.”

Aug. 4, 1960 – A “Princess” is making a debut in this area. The introduction of a new small lightweight telephone called “The Princess.” The result of five years of research…takes about a third less space than the present desk-type.

Aug. 11, 1960 – The Shakopee Recreation Board summer puppet show series will conclude today with a presentation of “Stone Soup” at Watertower Park.

July 7, 1960 – Shakopee Recreation Board puppet show – Hiawatha Park.

July 28, 1960 – Minnesota Senator Hubert H. Humphrey will appear at the July 31 Dan Patch Days grand parade. He is seeking re-election to his third term in the US Senate.

Aug. 18, 1960 – Shakopee Profile by Denny Wurst – Presenting Dick Mertz. Probably the most surprising thing a serviceman can receive is a notice from his government telling him to get out of the country within 36 hours. He had quite a time trying to convince the Navy that he was an American citizen.

Aug. 18, 1960 – One of the largest family reunions in Scott County area – Mrs. Mary Hennen gathered with her 11 children, 46 grandchildren and 104 great-grandchildren.

Aug. 11, 1960 – Malkerson announces opening of new General Motors dealership…recently completed purchase of the former Christensen Motors Co. and is moving his Minneapolis operation to Shakopee.

June 9, 1960 – A new twist on teen-age telephoning, get her a private line, all her own. Happy youngster-happy family.

May 26, 1960 – Senator Edmund Muskie and Minnesota Senator Eugene McCarthy visited a group of Shakopee residents at a breakfast in his honor at the Carlos Luis home, an old Navy friend.

June 9, 1960 – The 1960 Shakopee Chamber of Commerce float in the third district American Legion convention parade in Shakopee. The unit advertises the pure sparkling water of Shakopee.

June 23, 1960 – Billy Wermerskirchen, 15 years old, was given various classroom tests before getting behind the wheel of a student car.

Jan. 7, 1960 – “Freeman Names Robert Sweeney to fill Municipal Judgeship Post.” Robert O. Sweeney, 29, life long resident of Shakopee has been named municipal judge to succeed the late Judge Gregory J. Fahey who died suddenly Christmas morning. The appointment was made yesterday by Governor Orville L. Freeman.

Jan. 7, 1960 – The gaily decorated home of Dr. and Mrs. Paul Nevin, first place winners of the 1959 Chamber of Commerce Christmas home lighting contest. The Nevin home is located 851 S. Lewis St. Other winners included Dallas Capesius, George Raduenz, and Dr. W. Adair Muralt.

June 9, 1960 – There will be a public meeting to provide information regarding recent Shakopee school classrooms to non-resident pupils.

June 16, 1960 – Flying Cloud Drive-in Theater, 5 miles north of Shakopee, now playing R. Burton, “The Bramble Bush,” in color and Jerry Lewis in “Visit to a Small Planet.”

June 30, 1960 – Shakopee will be sprayed by Metropolitan area mosquito control crew as a result of action taken by the Shakopee Common Council.

May 26, 1960 – “Local Babe Ruth Baseball Team on T.V.” A team of the Minnesota Valley Babe Ruth league will participate in a televised game at Midway Stadium.

June 9, 1960 – “Today’s Generation.” Maybe there’s a reason for mental illness increases and other related problems facing all of us today. Today’s generation might be living in a push-button world designed to make everything easier.

May 24, 1960 – A new independent school district involving at least six common (rural) school districts in the so-called Shakopee school area is currently under serious consideration.

May 10, 1960 – “From where I sit…by Joe Marsh.” The electronic age continues to amaze me. Just reading in a farm journal that cows can now be wired for sound … so that you can tell if they’ve been overeating! Seems that before you turn a cow out to pasture, you can feed her a small transmitter powered by a flashlight battery. Then all you do is sit comfortably at home and wait for a signal to show up on a recorder.

Dec. 8, 1960 – A mail survey to determine whether or not Skyline exchange patrons desire extended Minneapolis telephone service. Currently Skyline phone users must pay time toll charges on all calls made to the metropolitan area.

Dec. 15, 1960 – A total of 1,386 Scott County men have been inducted into the armed services since the selective service system was set up 20 years ago.

April 7, 1960 – A big step in the advancement of law enforcement was taken by the city of Shakopee when it purchased two Motorola handy-talkie sets for use by the Shakopee police force. Each handy-talkie includes a transmitter and receiver. The range is two miles.

April 7, 1960 – One of Shakopee’s most active organizations, the Shakopee Golden Age Club, is currently seeking new members. The only requirements are that prospective members be over 65 years of age and are interested in having a good time. There are no dues or membership fees.

April 7, 1960 – Shakopee Profile by Denny Wurst. Presenting Dallas F. Capesius. A typewriter, a card table and the will to do some hiking are the materials Dallas F. Capesius used to start his insurance business. He works behind a desk in his downtown office and manages what he has built. Dallas stated that he “greatly admired Honorable John Cavanaugh and Honorable Joseph J. Ries who in his opinion contributed more than any other person I know of our community.” “Their unselfish service has done much toward the building of the greatest little city on earth.”

March 31, 1960 – Argus-Tribune sold to Suel Publishing Co. Twice a week improved newspaper service for Shakopee and Scott County was forecast with the announcement that the Shakopee Argus-Tribune, one of Minnesota’s oldest newspapers, had been purchased by the Suel Publishing Company, publisher of the Shakopee Valley News. The Argus-Tribune, which was established in 1861, is in its 99th year.

March 31, 1960 – Shop Shakopee Red Owl, eat better spend less. “wow…check these features!” Save valuable S&H Green Stamps. Savings are like magic…in no time at all, your stamp book will be filled.

March 31, 1960 – Free Burpee’s giant Zinnia seeds at Huss Mobile Service 234 1st Ave. tel. SK 1-2220.

March 31, 1960 – Carload Sale of famous Atlas Tires. No money down, 9 1/2 months to pay. Cy’s Standard Service, 321 W. 1st Street.

April 7, 1960 – “We are bursting at the seams.” These are the words used by Robert Rohlf to describe the ever expanding operations of the Dakota-Scott regional library. The library will soon have the third largest circulation in the state, excluding Minneapolis, St. Paul and Duluth.

April 7, 1960 – A total of 59 per cent of the land in northern and northeastern Scott County and in Hennepin County south and west of trunk Highway 169 and 65 (Lyndale Ave.) is suitable for urbanized development, according to a comprehensive land use report released this week by the Twin Cities Metropolitan Planning Commission.

Feb. 25, 1960 – “Cedric says,” by Cedric Adams. Taxes, hidden and direct, now take about 1/3 of the average individual’s income. Every man is, in a real sense, a civil servant. The average man works 12.5 hours of his 40-hour week for the federal government alone.

Feb. 25, 1960 – Valley Views by Ruth Weiland. “A boy becomes a man when he walks around a puddle instead of through it!” “You know it’s middle age when the telephone rings on Saturday night and you hope it’s not for you.”

March 10, 1960 – Stamps unlimited at Shakopee Super Valu. Free! Up to 1000 extra Gold Bond stamps with coupons. Free 1000 Gold Bond stamps with the purchase of a 5 lb. Armour’s ham.

April 14, 1960 – Melvin Lebens, a member of the Shakopee Planning Commission, was elected to a five-year term on the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission by mayors of twin city area suburban communities.

April 21, 1960 – The opening of grand championship play in last week’s Shakopee recreation board grade school marble tournament. Grade four winner: Craig Plekkenpol. Ryan went on to win the grand championship in the boy’s division. Nancy Engelen was the winner in the girls division.

April 28, 1960 – The Shakopee Chamber of Commerce education committee announced its first annual “Festival of Art” to be held at the Shakopee High School. All Shakopee adults and students in the seventh grade and above are invited to display various art and craft objects that they have made. Exhibitor’s ribbons will be given.

April 28, 1960 – “The V.F.W. sponsored and directed ‘Loyalty Days.’ May 1st has become established as a time for open public display of allegiance to our nation,” said Commander Joseph F. Ries of V.F.W. Post 4046. Shakopee V.F.W. posts worked up an idea for a counter demonstration to the annual May Day Communist mass meetings.

Oct. 27, 1960 – Call long distance, rates reduced at 6 p.m. It costs only $.80 to call from Shakopee.

Nov. 17, 1960 – Up-to-date women pay bills by check. Paying bills the old fashioned way-in person and with cash-is out. You simply mail your personal checks.

Nov. 24, 1960 – Shakopee now needs an additional 60 acres of park land, Metropolitan Area Planning Commission member Mel Lebens, Shakopee, told a group of about 50 persons.

Nov. 24, 1960 – Fred (Bill) Huber, son of Dr. and Mrs. J.C. is elected captain of the 1961 Shakopee H.S. Football team.

April 14, 1960 – Ray Siebenaler, newly elected Shakopee Common Council President, is no newcomer to city affairs. He is now in his fourth term as alderman and his seventh year as council chairman. He is now operating an insurance agency at the Pelham Hotel.

Oct. 6, 1960 – In order to enable the milkmen of the Oak Grove and Shakopee Dairy to enjoy Sunday with their families there will be no deliveries of milk on Sundays.

Oct. 13, 1960 – Senator Humphrey will be visiting Shakopee; he will speak at the New St. Paul House. The luncheon tickets will cost $1.50 per person.

Oct. 13, 1960 – Shakopee Mayor Dr. J.C. Huber and City Council President Ray Siebenaler break ground to mark the beginning of construction on the city’s new sewage treatment plant.

Oct. 20, 1960 – See Jack Benny Sundays on CBS-TV presented by State Farm.

Oct. 27, 1960 – Shakopee High School’s new Indian mascot will make his first public appearance during 1960 homecoming festivities.

Sept. 22, 1960 – Mrs. Sweeney, SHS Principal, tells of recent 2 month trip to Japan.

Sept. 22, 1960 – A group attended a dedication ceremony at the future site of the new Shakopee Presbyterian Church.

Sept. 29, 1960 – Help welcome Senator John F. Kennedy to Minnesota DFL rally for victory and bean feed at the Minneapolis Auditorium. Tickets $1.00 per person.

Sept. 29, 1960 – Ford Division announces new Ford dealer, Bob Ryan Motors, Inc. 338 East 1st Ave.

Oct. 6, 1960 – “I was surprised, honored and delighted upon being chosen Miss Shakopee.” Ms. Sally Nevin, Shakopee Ambassador of Good Will.

Aug. 25, 1960 – Go-karting is the fastest growing sport in the U.S.

Sept. 1, 1960 – Owens-Illinois officials and visiting dignitary are present at the firm’s new trademark, “Mr. Strongbox.” Dedication ceremonies held. Walter Mondale, Minnesota Attorney General, and P.K. Peterson, Minneapolis Mayor, and Miss Minnesota were present.

Sept. 1, 1960 – Although an old community Shakopee has many young businessmen. One of the most recent additions to the old business district is Keith Eastman, 28, owner of the Eastman Drug store. He remodeled a drug store formerly owned by Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Boppel.

Sept. 3, 1960 – Current city population estimated at 4,300 to 6,500. Shakopee’s current population is considerably more than 4,000 according to a population report released yesterday by the Twin Cities Metropolitan Planning Commission.

Sept. 8, 1960 – Congratulations Shakopee Indians, 1960 Champions, defending State Champions.

Sept. 15, 1960 – Hey kids, have mom or dad come in and pick-up free tickets for rides on the Toonerville Electric Trolley. Shakopee Red Owl.

March 10, 1960 – Shakopee Profile, presenting Dr. W. Adair Muralt by Denny Wurst.
After one year at the teacher’s college, he grew dissatisfied with the life and dropped out of school to take a job as a bell-hop captain and a part-time clerk at the Powers Hotel in Fargo. Then in 1937 he took a $60 per month job as a messenger with the First National Bank in Fargo. Muralt and his brother, Jack, entered an amateur talent show put on by WDAY radio. They sang “Cross Eyed Kelley from Pennsylvania” and won first prize, a week’s engagement on the station. They were joined by their sister, Beatrice, and a brother, Cliff, to form a quartet. They called themselves, “The Singing Muralts.” The quartet specialized in Hawaiian and Western harmony numbers. In 1939 they came to Minneapolis and worked with KSTP on the barn dance and early morning show. With the new job they changed their title to “Bev and Her Brothers.” In 1946 Adair Muralt sang “How Are Things in Glocomora” on Cedric Adams’ “Stairway to Stardom.” He was the first to win first prize. He was given a week’s engagement at the Radisson Hotel. They made use of his talent by staging him in the Flame Room as the “Singing Bellman.”
In 1946, Adair was afflicted with Bell’s palsy, a facial paralysis. After being cured in a short period of convalescence by a chiropractor, he himself decided to study for the profession and graduated in 1950. On November 1, 1950 he opened his practice here in Shakopee, but commuted from Minneapolis for two years before making his home here.
During his years of study he stayed with his job at the Radisson and sang for 2 years on the WTCN Stokely program and one year on the Mitty Sather furniture show. He also sang with the Minneapolis Choraliers. Dr. Muralt was a past president of the Minnesota Chiropractic Association, the Shakopee Commercial Club, and the Shakopee PTA. He was director of the Shakopee Rotary Club in its charter year and an active elder in the First Presbyterian Church. He was director in two church choirs and director of the Chamber of Commerce. He was a very active member of the Shakopee Masons, holding many positions.

Dec. 15, 1960 – Join our prepay Holiday Express Christmas Club, end budget worries… The 1st National Bank of Shakopee.

Dec. 22, 1960 – Greetings… There’s a friendly, festive feeling in the air. Wishing all of you a grand and glorious holiday… The Rock Spring People, Shakopee, Mn. Schweppes.

March 10, 1960 – No defrosting! No frost ever in the General Electric Refrigerator-Freezer. $399 with qualified trade. F.R. Mohn Sales and Service Co. 221 East 1st Street.

March 17, 1960 – The machine that made office dictation and transcribing 50% simpler, the Norelco “35” featuring fool-proof, jam- proof magazine loading, only $179.50. Suel Publishing Co.

March 17, 1960 – Buy your new ’60 Rambler 4-door from Wm. Graff or Ed Efferty. Tel. SK 1-1846. Salesman for Lindner Motor Co. Waconia, Minn.

March 17, 1960 – Connie’s Column by Constance Flame. Here’s a clever trick if you misplace a milk bottle cap. Use an egg in the mouth of the bottle. It’ll keep the fresh flavor inside!

Remember When: 1910

Compiled by Don McNeil, Shakopee Heritage Society

From the Shakopee Argus-Tribune

Jan. 7, 1910 – “How Somerville Street obtained its name.” Another pioneer was honored in naming Somerville street. John Somerville lived at the southern extremity of the street. Somerville came to Shakopee in the spring of 1851 and located upon a quarter section of land. He was elected county commissioner in 1863 and served until 1864. He traveled to Idaho and returned in 1867, having been fortunate in mining. He immediately proceeded to carry out a long cherished idea of manufacturing a harvester to supersede the old platform reaper. He expended most of his fortune and before accomplishing any satisfactory results, the March and Dewey harvesters had anticipated him, resulting in a total loss of his time and means. Being disappointed and restless, he again started for the mining country hoping to regain his lost fortune, but he did not reach there. He died March 7, 1889 at the Home of the Little Sisters of the Poor, aged 79 years.

Feb. 18, 1910 – Mudcura Sanitarium. Crowded to the roof and patients turned away. Employees obligated to take to the annex for their lodging. Mudcura Sanitarium is filled to its utmost capacity with patients who have come from all sections of the country to take the efficacious sulphur-mud treatment of this health-giving-health-restoring institution.

Feb. 25, 1910 – Judge advocates playgrounds for city’s juveniles. Experience teaches that the morals of children, particularly those who are between the ages of fourteen and eighteen years, are affected mostly by environment and companionship and principally by the former, and that places in which the character of growing boys may be detrimentally affected are the saloons and the pool and billiard rooms and the places where slot machines are operated.

Nov. 25, 1910 – Shakopee will be represented by a debating team this year as a sufficient number of students have registered.

Dec. 9 1910 – A most enjoyable family gathering was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Ries. During the evening the employees of the Bottling Works enjoyed a social time at the Ries shipping room where card games rounded out the evening. Mr. Ries is a pioneer resident of Shakopee where he arrived in 1857.

Dec. 9, 1910 – There has been fine skating weather and the young folks in the vicinity of O’Loughlin’s and Duffy’s Lake are enjoying skating parties to their hearts’ content.

Dec. 16, 1910 – Henry Vierling, Sr. sold his farm of 200 acres located in Eagle Creek, better known as the How farm, to his sons, Anton G. and Henry, Jr.

Dec. 30, 1910 – Herman Thole who was recently promoted to a position as freight conductor on the Omaha Road had the misfortune to be run over at Ottawa necessitating the amputation of the toes on one foot.

Sept. 30, 1910 – Mrs. H. B. Strait was the donor of a most acceptable gift to the public library comprising a collection of nine valuable volumes.

Sept. 30, 1910 – C. C. Grosshauser, one of our progressive farmers, is learning to drive a new thirty-horsepower Jackson motor car which he recently purchased.

Oct. 14, 1910 – The Shakopee Mudcura football team will open the season Sunday at Riverside Field, with the strong Hopkins Eleven. A large number of candidates than ever in years gone by have responded for practice. Players will consist of “Moose” Bohls and “Blonde” Jackson.

Nov. 4, 1910 – Charlie Barclay sold his house and lot located on Fourth street to Henry M. Sand for $700.

Nov. 4, 1910 – M. T. Regan is improving his property with an addition to his barn and a new chicken house.

Nov. 11, 1910 – Matt Vogel began work Monday mastering the intricacies of harness making under the able instruction of Jacob Mahowald.

Nov. 11, 1910 – Members of the St. Rose young ladies society of St. Marks enjoyed a social gathering at their club rooms. Eight tables of 500 were played. Trophies were awarded.

Nov. 11, 1910 – The Shakopee Mudcuras scored a glorious victory over the Seal of Minnesota team of New Prague at the Athletic Park, a dropkick by Vierling in the first quarter doing the business.

Nov. 11, 1910 – A new type carpet sweeper is on display at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago. It has a joint in the handle to simplify sweeping under bureaus and other furniture. The “knee-action” avoids the necessity of bending over in sweeping.

Nov. 25, 1910 – Thos. Devenney moved the barn recently purchased from Mrs. Mahoney by John Vierling to the latter’s farm south of town, better known as the Ludes Place.

July 29, 1910 – August Gelhaye has sold his saloon business to Schmitt and Miller of New Market who will take possession August 1st.

Aug. 12, 1910 – A big race at the Savage track was attended by 850 people, many of whom came out from the Twin Cities.

Aug. 26, 1910 – In one of the finest pitching duels ever fought at Riverside Park, the Rock Springs defeated the fast Gotzians of St. Paul by a score of 2 to 0, Niedenfuehr and Johnson being the slab artists.

Sept. 9, 1910 – Rev. Father Ries of Germany, who recently arrived in this country, came up from St. Paul Wednesday for a day’s visit his cousins, the Jacob Ries family.

Sept. 23, 1910 – Early last Sunday morning fire was discovered in the barn on the Oriental Hotel premises and before it could be extinguished the roof was destroyed, together with about a ton of hay and half a ton of straw stored in the loft.

April 2, 1910 – An important real estate deal of the week was the sale of the John Tradup farm of 40 acres to Jas. Doyle of Credit River for $5,000.

April 4, 1910 – On account of the river’s rise the mile track of M. W. Savage is under water and the boys are making use of the streets in Savage to jog their horses. One can see the famous Dan Patch and Minor Heir almost any fine day.

April 29, 1910 – A company of cavalry from Fort Snelling passed through town on their way to Eden Prairie.

June 24, 1910 – Sparks from a passing locomotive set fire to the meadow in the vicinity of the Theodore Detienne home about 4 miles east of Shakopee.

Feb. 18, 1910 – Shakopee’s mayor called citizens together to meet with the city council for the purpose of discussing methods and plans for the better operation of the electric light plant.

Feb. 18, 1910 – Epitome of a week’s news, most important happenings told in brief. Czar Nicholas of Russia is reported to be angered because his brother, Grand Duke Michael, married a woman who has been three times divorced.

Feb. 25, 1910 – If you keep guineas, turkey and chickens, build separate houses for them.

Feb. 25, 1910 – “Local and Personal News.” Mrs. John Vierling and children returned home Sunday from Minneapolis after a visit Friday with Henry Vierling family.

March 4, 1910 – “News of Our Neighbors.” A Chaska young man was found dead in the city jail after having been taken from a saloon in a beastly state of intoxication and locked up to recover.

Dec. 2, 1910 – Joe G. Ries has joined the ranks of local automobilists by the purchase of a 25-horsepower four-passenger Overland vehicle.

Feb. 4, 1910 – News from the Fatherland. A brief resume of the most important happenings in the German Empire.

Feb. 11, 1910 – Woehling & Schmidt have the contract for the brick work and August Griepentrog will do the wood work. The brick to be used is the product of the Schroeder Brick and Lime Mfg. Co. of Shakopee.

Feb. 11, 1910 – School Notes, third room, Michael Paukner was absent Wednesday. Harold Brown injured his knee cap this week and was absent several days as a consequence.

Feb. 11, 1910 – “Local and Personal News.” A new line of Corsets at Flaherty & Lies. – New cigars at John Wampach’s.

Feb. 11, 1910 – Wm. Grult will build a new home this spring on the lower first street opposite the Fitch residence.

Jan. 28, 1910 – Local and Personal News. Miss Aurilla Chapman and Floyd Fitch had an unpleasant Saturday when the horse driven by Miss Aurilla ran away and threw them out of their cutter. The horse continued its way up First street and was not captured until the cutter had been badly smashed.

Feb. 4, 1910 – How Spencer Street Obtained Its Name. Spier Spencer was a resident of Shakopee for more than fifty years. Mr. Spencer was a native of Kentucky, his father being a prominent slave owner. In 1853 he went to see Shakopee, population of twenty. He purchased from Thomas Holmes and David L. Fuller one-third of the town site for $4,100. Two years later he sold the claim to a tenderfoot from Boston for $16,000. In 1855 Mr. Spencer took a claim south of town. He was engaged in river traffic as owner of the steamboat Clara Hinds plying between Shakopee and Duluth. In 1856 he set out to find a good place for a town-site survey and plat it and settle down and build a town.

Jan. 21, 1910 – The annual Luxembourger Ball invariably takes precedence as one of the largest and most successful social events of the year bringing out, as it does, many not ordinarily seen at public affairs of its kind at the Opera House.

Jan. 21, 1910 – Wanted a bright, honest, upright young man (a hustler) with some capital.

Jan. 21, 1910 – For sale – Fine residence home on First street, 11 rooms, suitable for two families, garden, hard and soft water.

Jan. 21, 1910 – The following named persons have this week become new subscribers of the Argus: P. C. Bayard and J. A. Seibel.

Jan. 21, 1910 – Continuous performance at the Majestic, every night at 7 P.M. Moving pictures and illustrated songs.

Jan. 21, 1910 – Figures furnished by dealers, three of whom cater particularly to women, show that New York’s feminine set spent $500,000 for cigarettes.

Jan. 21, 1910 – More Pinkham Cures. “I was simply a nervous wreck. I could not walk across the floor without my heart fluttering and I could not even receive a letter. Every month I had such a bearing-down sensation, as if the lower parts would fall out. Pinkhams Vegetable Compound has done my nerves a great deal of good.”

March 4, 1910 – Dr. Seidler of Mudcura Sanitarium amputated the feet of Max Christensen who was badly frozen while locked in a box car.

March 4, 1910 – Epitome of a Week’s News. Robert E. Peary has decided not to submit his North Pole discovery proofs to the house committee on naval affairs unless guarantees are given by the committee that nothing of this data shall be made public.

March 4, 1910 – Rheumatism cured right at home by electropodes, new electric treatment galvanic insoles. Copper and Zinc worn inside shoes.

Feb. 4, 1910 – George Gleen’s team became frightened by a falling pile of wood Monday and dashed up First street, taking to the sidewalk for half a block. They were captured at Val Reis’s livery barn.

Feb. 4, 1910 – The day was cloudy for Ground Hog Day. Henry McKennett is authority for the statement that the little animal could not have seen his shadow anyway, for the demise took place at Spring Lake last week at the business end of a shotgun in the hands of a redoubtable hunter.

March 25, 1910 – An opportunity offered to Argus readers, who may have artistic ability. This paper proposes to make a voyage of artistic discovery among its subscribers and bring to light the natural talent of this part of the state. All subscribers who can draw or paint are invited to send in the best they can do to the office of the Argus. Those pictures will be forwarded to the St. Paul Institute of Arts and Science for helpful criticism and a bronze medal will be awarded.

March 18, 1910 – Local and Personal News. Senator Coller left Monday on his regular monthly trip to Chicago in the interest of the C.O.F. Mrs. Coller accompanied him as far as St. Paul.

March 18, 1910 – “Local and Personal News.” Miss Kate Yost invites the ladies of Shakopee and vicinity to call and inspect her new line of spring millinery, tailored and trimmed hats, all the very latest styles.

March 18, 1910 – Local and Personal News. The Library Association requests that all donations of books intended for the new public library be made before April 1st. The books may be left with Miss Emma Busse at her millinery store.

March 18, 1910 – The Overland’s success is due to its price. We have cut our price. The Overland car will sell for $1,000 this year. It is a 25 horse-power car with a speed of 50 miles an hour. All prices include Magneto and full lamp equipment; 102 inch wheelbase, one or two rumble seats.

March 11, 1910 – “Local and Personal News.” J. H. Ring of the Rock Spring Saloon and Café sold his interest in the property to his former partner, Ed Thiede, who will continue the business alone. The price paid was $1,500.

March 18, 1910 – Miss Elizabeth Ries returned Friday from Duluth where she spent three weeks with friends and relatives.

March 18, 1910 – On February 18, Chief John J. Doody caused one A. A. Johnson, a representative of the Boston Tea Co. of St. Paul, to be arrested on the charge of a violation of Ordinance No. 66 of the city of Shakopee which proves in substance that no person shall within the city limits peddle or as a peddler, offer for sale any goods or merchandise other than cordwood, vegetables, milk, butter, eggs, hay, straw, fresh fish, fresh meat, grain, poultry and livestock, or works of news or of science, literature or art, without first obtaining a license from the City Recorder. Mr. Johnson, at the time of his arrest, gave bonds and petitioned the court for a writ of habeas corpus.

March 25, 1910 – J. C. Munsch, our enterprising creamery man, is preparing to enter into the manufacture of ice cream on a larger scale than ever. Mr. Munsch found the demand for this special product far exceeding the capacity of his plant. Machinery run by electric power will be installed.

April 1, 1910 – Rural mail carriers are making their routes on foot owing to the poor conditions of roads.

April 8, 1910 – A Carnegie Library is Shakopee to have, if it will go after it. A number of the leading lights of our city for some time past have been agitating a movement which has for its purpose the acquisition of a public library. Such an undertaking is a most commendable one and should receive the hearty approval of every well disposed man and woman living within the confines our little city. Should we make an effort to secure such an institution for Shakopee? The Argus votes Aye. And let us do it Now!

April 8, 1910 – At exactly 12 o’clock on Wednesday, the entire force of men engaged in construction of the sewer struck for higher wages. They were being paid $1.75 per day and struck for an increase of 25 cents per day. The men were out just two hours, including the dinner hour, and at 2 o’clock word came from the construction company that the demand would be met if the men would go back to work. The Argus is pleased to congratulate them upon their success.

Aug. 5, 1910 – “Shakopee to Have a Public Library.” Ladies of this city interested in matter have secured fifty volumes as a beginning. The new institution is a pleasing asset to Shakopee. The ladies interested in the matter of securing a public library for the city have not allowed the matter to rest and thru their efforts have secured as a beginning a traveling library of fifty volumes, German and English publications sent out under the auspices of the state library association, which are now open to the public at Miss Emma Busse’s millinery store. The books may be obtained on Wednesday and Saturday.

April 22, 1910 – Facts for Weak Women. Nine-tenths of all the sickness of women is due to some derangement or disease of the organs distinctly feminine. Such sickness can be cured every day by Dr. Pierce’s Favorite Prescription. It makes Weak women strong, sick women well. It acts directly on the organs affected and is at the same time a general restorative tonic for the whole system. It cures female complaint right in the privacy of home. People’s Common Sense Medical Adviser-1008 pages, newly revised, sent free on receipt of 21 one cent stamps to cover cost of mailing only. Address Dr. R. V. Pierce, Buffalo, N.Y.

April 22, 1910 – An up-to-date stove. Do you realize there is no longer any reason why you should use a coal range? Oil is cheaper than coal, it is lighter and easier to handle, and gives an intense heat. Provided you have the right stove. Oil is more economical, cleaner and less trouble. The “New Perfection,” wick blue flame oil cook stove. Standard Oil Company.

May 20, 1910 – Largest class in the history of the Union School to receive diplomas, June 3rd. Commencement exercises of the 1910 graduating class of the high school will take place at the Opera House on Friday evening, June 3rd at which time diplomas will be presented to graduates. There are thirteen members of the class.

May 20, 1910 – M. H. Oliver has moved his barn to his lots on Third street adjoining the Thomas property and expects to erect a dwelling eventually on the site formerly occupied by the barn.

May 20, 1910 – For Sale – one Bay Mare 10 years old, 1100 pounds, one – two seated canopy top buggy. Will be sold cheap if taken at once. Enquire of Sheriff Kopp.

May 20, 1910 – R. J. Chewning’s new team got the best of him Tuesday while he was hitching them up and ran away. His new buggy was somewhat broken up.

May 20, 1910 – We learn that in the Merrill, Wis. fire of Sunday last, our former fellow townsman, T.R. Newell, was among those burned out. His safe fell through into the cellar and broke open, consequently his loss was heavy, but we understand he was well insured.

July 15, 1910 – Compound interest comes to life when the body feels the delicious glow of healthy, vigor and energy poise of the nerves comes when the improper foods are cut out and predigested. Grape Nuts take their place. If it has taken you years to run down don’t expect one mouthful of this great food to bring you back (for it is not a stimulant but a rebuilder). Ten days’ treat shows such big results that one sticks to it. Postum Cereal Co., Battle Creek Mich.

July 15, 1910 – J. C. Linhoff and Mrs. Frank Linhoff drove over to Lake Minnetonka Sunday to enjoy the attractions of that popular resort.

July 15, 1910 – Poultry Notes… Grain should be fed poultry at night as it remains in the crop the longest. Young ducks should be ready for market at ten weeks old. No profit in feeding them after that Young ducks are extremely nervous and cannot stand undue excitement. Keep the dogs and strangers away from them.

July 22, 1910 – Boy, 13, shaves regularly. For months he has attempted to hide his vigorous beard. John J. Kenny has such a vigorous beard that for several months he has been a regular visitor to a barber only a few doors from his home. Several times the boy has tried experiments with his father’s razor. John asked his dad for 15 cents, when pressed to tell what he wanted the money for, the youngster confessed he “needed a shave.” He has to shave several times a week.

July 22, 1910 – As I am going out of the saloon business, August 15th, I will close out all liquors at cost. Drop in and ask for prices. All first class brands 10 cents, cigars at 4 for 25 cents while they last at Ben’s Place.

July 22, 1910 – Sheriff Otto Langer of Hennepin county locked the doors of both of the saloons in Hamel, the town 16 miles west of Minneapolis where the district schoolhouse was dynamited and set afire last Tuesday morning. The dynamiting of the school has been attributed to the saloon war which has raged in the little hamlet for several years and kept the people in a state of terror with its several fires and threats.

April 18, 1910 – For Pink Eye, Distemper, Catarrhal Fever, and all nose and throat diseases. Cures the skin and acts as a preventive for others. Liquid given on the tongue. Safe for brood mares and all others. Best kidney remedy $1.00 a bottle. Sold by call druggist and horse goods houses. Spohn Medical Co., Chemists, Goshen, Indiana.

April 18, 1910 – Mica Axle grease is the turning point to economy in wear and tear of wagons. Try a box. Every dealer, everywhere. Standard Oil Company.

April 18, 1910 – For Sale. Saloon on First street, Shakopee. Also a brick store building on First street and a farm of 80 acres in the town of Louisville, Scott county. Close to school and church. Inquire of M. Grommesch, Shakopee.

April 18, 1910 – Mayor Ring has announced that he has secured the promise of Congressman Jas. A. Tawney to visit Shakopee on the last day of the Street Fair, September 17th, to deliver an address.

April 18, 1910 – “Real Estate Transfer of the Week.” H. K. Vierling purchased of Mrs. John Griffin of St. Paul adjoining his farm in Eagle Creek and D. J. Detienne has sold his 20 acre farm east of Shakopee to Thos. Jensen.

July 15, 1910 – Roosevelt returns and is given an ovation seldom equaled. The White Company receives unique compliment for the sturdy reliability of its steam car from Mr. Roosevelt and family.

July 22, 1910 – A shocking accident occurred on Tuesday last at Lydia by which Wm. Whipps, a prominent farmer in that vicinity, lost his life. He had been thrown from his horse and kicked so severely that his ribs penetrated his lungs, death resulting the following day from internal hemorrhage.

July 22, 1910 – A Week’s News. Most important happenings told in brief. The threatened strike of steel car men in New Orleans has been averted. The men voted to accept the company’s offer to pay them 22 cents an hour for the first year, 23 cents for the second and 24 cents for the third.

July 22, 1910 – Joseph G. Cannon, speaker of the House of Representatives, collapsed from the heat at Winfield, Kansas, on the platform after speaking for an hour and ¾’s.

May 13, 1910 – “Local and Personal News.” Henry Deutsch is here from New Prague installing a private water works system in the drugstore of his brother, M. A. Deutsch, to be used in connection with the handsome new soda fountain.

May 13, 1910 – Martin Doherty and J. H. Ring opened their new saloon Wednesday at Alex Schaefer’s old stand.

May 13, 1910 – For Sale – good brick building on Holmes street; two stories high, suitable for business location; also a good brick dwelling house on Second street six rooms, cistern and barn. Inquire of Mrs. Pauline Heidenreich.

May 13, 1910 – For Sale – Hotel property furnished throughout and in good repair. Sample room in connection. Good paying business. Splendid opportunity for the right parties. Will take house and lots in this city in part payment. W. F. Duffy, Shakopee.

April 29, 1910 – Tea time talks. It’s always tea time when you are tired or thirsty. The quality of tea is very important to the tea drinker. Yet how is he to detect adulteration? Tea can be adulterated by the use of stems, twigs and coarse leaves. The sure way to get a pure quality of tea is to buy “Salada.” It includes only tender leaves and aromatic buds. It touches no human finger between picker and purchaser.

April 29, 1910 – Under new management, best of service. Rates up to $1.50 per day. M. Vanderstegen proprietor, St. Paul Hotel. First class bar, good stabling accommodations.

April 29, 1910 – Lost – Friday, April 29, in Shakopee, near the bridge, a child’s red cloth cape. Finder please call Mrs. Samuel Anderson.

April 29, 1910 – Posters are out for the Pentecost Ball, May 16, to be given under the auspices of the baseball association.

May 6, 1910 – The writer on several occasions in recent years has taken issue with Mayor Ring and has had not a little good-natured discussion on the question of our city adopting an electric light and waterworks commission whose duty it would be to supervise the operation of these two branches of the city’s business.

May 6, 1910 – Northland is farm paradise. All seeds grow to perfection it is stated. 100,000,000 acres available. Official reports say that the Arable lands will produce more wealth than the mines, and that Alaska is primarily a land of plenty.

May 6, 1910 – “Local and Personal News.” Yesterday was Ascension Day, a holy day of obligation, and was observed with special services in the Catholic and Lutheran churches.

May 6, 1910 – If all the houses in this town were painted with Bradley & Vrooman Pure Paint there would be no more painting for at least 5 years. M. A. Deutsch is the agent.

May 6, 1910 – Among the improvements now going on in Shakopee is a pretty bungalow under construction on Fifth street by O. H. Griffith. The dimensions are 25 x 35 feet with 12-feet posts and the building is to be of hollow cement blocks with a full basement. When complete the home will contain seven rooms and a bath and will be one of the prettiest and most convenient in Shakopee.

April 8, 1910 – W. L. Douglas. $3.00, $4.00 and $5.00 shoes. Best in the world, union made. Boys’ shoes $2.00 and $2.50. W. L. Douglas shoes are the lowest price, quality considered. Their excellent style, easy fitting and long wearing qualities excel those of other makers. For sale by Flaherty and Lies, First St. Shakopee.

April 8, 1910 – I am now a resident of Shakopee and am ready to figure on any and all work pertaining to plastering. O. H. Griffith. Call 12 E, Eden Prairie.

April 8, 1910 – When you’re drinking Nyssen’s Beer, you have the results of careful schooling in the best brewers’ institute in America: our personal supervision: thirty years of daily experience: brewed purely from barley, malt and hops under cleanly and healthful conditions. Therefore it’s pure-it’s healthful-it’s good-it’s Nyssen’s. Phone and mail orders promptly filled. Phone 85.

April 8, 1910 – The season will soon be here when your horse will start to shed his winter coat of hair. Avoid the much dreaded annoyance by having him clipped. I will clip your horse while you wait and do it to your entire satisfaction. Have just installed a brand new up-to-date clipper machine at my blacksmith shop and am prepared to do all kinds of clipping promptly and satisfactorily. Give me a trial and be convinced. N.W. phone 533 Geo. C. Kopp.

April 8, 1910 – Reliable-active-agents-wanted to sell the wonderful Bennett Portable Typewriter. It has writing efficiency of expensive machines. Will sell on sight-well advertised. Big money in it for the right party. Write today, 366 Broadway, New York, U.S.A.

May 6, 1910 – “Twenty-five Years Ago.” Excerpt from the Argus of May 7, 1885. Our ever welcome former fellow townsman D. M. Storer was shaking hands with his many friends here Sunday. He is looking well and says he cannot complain of the trade he is receiving in St. Paul, although it was dull there all winter and a great many men were out of employment.

May 6, 1910 – Comfort and new strength await the person who discovers that a long train of coffee ails can be thrown off by using Postum in place of coffee. The comfort and strength come from a rebuilding of new nerve cells by the food elements in the roasted wheat used in making Postum. The relief from coffee ails come from the absence of caffeine – the natural drug in coffee. Ten days’ trial will show anyone. “There’s a reason” for Postum.

May 6, 1910 – “If you would wear button shoes,” suggested her father, “they would not come untied.” “I know it,” replied she, “and if they did not come untied I could not ask a person whom I have in mind to tie them.”

May 13, 1910 – For sale – A farm of 234 acres suitable for dairying. Good meadow from which 40 to 50 tons of hay can be cut. Good block house and good well on the place. Semi-graded school located on one corner of the farm. Snake River runs through the meadow. The farm is located 2 miles from railroad station and 2 ½ miles from saw-mill with spur track connecting it with main line. For further particulars enquire of Wm. F. Duffy, Shakopee, Minn.

April 18, 1910 – The Schroeder Brick and Lime Manufacturing Company began the season’s work in the brickyards Monday with a full force of men.

April 15, 1910 – “News of our neighbors.” Lina Hackbarth, who confessed to sending poisoned candy to Miss Minnie Luthens and also threatening letters to the young woman and her fiancé, has been adjudged of unsound mind and committed to the state hospital at Fergus Falls.

April 15, 1910 – Lid on Minnesota. All Mahmman and parts of many other northern counties affected. Provision of Indian treaties. Most drastic of all Indian agents orders. Exception few and far between. Doors must close by May 10. Minneapolis – A new liquor order, to take effect May 10, closing many saloons in the territory in Minnesota governed by the treaty with the Chippewa Indians of 1855 and 1863, has been issued by W. E. Johnson, chief special officer of the interior dept. The order was issued as the result of research among the old Indian treaties by W. G. Calderwood, secretary of the Minnesota Prohibition committee. The saloon keepers are given until May 10 to dispose of their stock.

April 18, 1910 – New spring and summer goods. We have a very complete stock of the new spring and summer fabrics. Our beautiful display attracts the women who are wisely planning their dressmaking early. Our wash fabrics are the most beautiful we have ever shown. Ponies, Egyptian tissues, Poplins, Linens, white goods and Ginghams. An assortment of embroidery that is well worth your inspection. Best values to be found anywhere… Flaherty and Lies.

April 18, 1910 – $31.40 Shakopee to California. Tickets on sale daily via the North-Western Line. Tourist cars from Minneapolis and St. Paul $25.60 Portland, Seattle. Round trip home-seekers tickets. E. W. Seger, agent, Shakopee.

April 18, 1910 – Many a clever housewife has learned that to serve Post Toasties saves worry and labor, and pleases each member of the family as few other foods do. The crisp, dainty, fluffy – ready to serve from the package with cream or good milk. Give the home folks a treat. The memory lingers, packages 10 cents.

April 8, 1910 – A free book about beautiful walls. We have just issued a book about house decoration. May we send you a copy-free? It tells how to produce those beautiful walls, now seen in all the finest of homes and hotels. It suggests color schemes-offers a wealth of ideas. It tells what has brought alabastine into universal vogue. Alabastine, the sanitary wall coating. Alabastine is the only wall coating that doesn’t breed germs. It has been so for 30 years. In the past few years it has become the rage.

April 8, 1910 – Patriotism. The stomach is a larger factor in “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” than most people are aware. Patriotism can withstand hunger but not dyspepsia. The confirmed dyspeptic “is fit for treason, stratagems and spoils.” The man who goes to the front for his country with a weak stomach will be a weak soldier and a fault finder. A sound stomach makes a good citizenship as well as for health and happiness. Diseases of the stomach and other organs of digestion and nutrition are promptly and permanently cured by the use of Dr. Pierce’s Golden Medical Discovery. It builds up the body with sound flesh and solid muscle. Dr. Pierce’s Common Sense Medical Adviser is sent free on receipt of stamps to pay expenses of mailing only.

April 8, 1910 – Local and Personal News. Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Dean came out from Minneapolis Saturday and were entertained at dinner at the E.J. Pond home. The return journey was made with their horse which Mr. Pond has been boarding during the winter.

April 8, 1910 – George Able has accepted a good position in a printing office with his brother Ed at Elkhart, Ind., and expects to leave for the latter point this week to begin work at once. In his departure Shakopee loses one of her most talented musicians and the Wicota orchestra will suffer a distinct loss in the going of its popular first violinist who has contributed much to the orchestra’s success.

April 8, 1910 – Monday’s fair was the best and largest April fair held in Shakopee in years. Buters came in numbers from all surrounding localities, including many from the Twin Cities, and the stock placed on the market was not half equal to the demand, particularly in horses. Cows brought good prices, ranging from $35 to $50. Little pigs were a scarce commodity and their prices went soaring, from $4 to $7 apiece being the average sale. Stores were thronged all day and merchants report an excellent day’s sales.

April 8, 1910 – Madame de Chamamene will tell your fortune at the Degree of Honor social, 7 cents.

April 8, 1910 – Miss Maude Brown had as her guest from Thursday until Saturday her friend, Mrs. Roy Kuriasch of Hudson, Wis.

April 8, 1910 – P. J. Schwarz yesterday received his third consecutive appointment as postmaster in recognition of past efficient services.

April 8, 1910 – Miss Kate Engel, long distance operator for the Shakopee Telephone Company, has resigned her position, the resignation to take effect April 15th and she will be succeeded by Miss Mary Triebe of Hudson, Wis., a cousin of Miss Helen Theis, day operator.

April 8, 1910 – Local News. – Mrs. H. W. Reiter entertained at cards last Saturday afternoon for the Royal Neighbors Camp. Several pleasant hours were spent at five-hundred and at the conclusion of the games Mesdames Frank Huber and John Nicowash were declared the winners of pretty prizes. A dainty supper was served before the guests took their departure in the early evening.

April 8, 1910 – For Sale. Strictly fresh selected S.C. White Leghorn eggs from heavy laying strain. Guaranteed 95 per cent fertile. 30c per setting: $2.25 per hundred. E. J. Pond N.W. phone 133.

July 15, 1910 – On a farm near Farmington, a 1200 lb. horse fell down a well 34 feet deep and less than four feet in diameter with an iron pipe running down the center of it. The animal was rescued without a scratch by means of a sling placed about its body.

May 27, 1910 – J. H. Cassellius, former deputy sheriff of Scott County, and his brother have opened a general store in New Market. They also run a hotel and saloon and have a contract for carrying the New Market mail. These young men are full of energy and will undoubtedly do well in their new undertaking.

May 27, 1910 – From 1789 to 1909, inclusive, the government of the United States spent $474,163,917 in caring for the Indians of the country.

May 27, 1910 – Try washing your smoky painted walls with milk, either sweet or sour. Use a soft cloth.

May 27, 1910 – Keep the kidneys well, health is worth saving, and some Shakopee people know how to save it. Many Shakopee people take their lives in their hands by neglecting the kidneys when they know these organs need help. Sick kidneys are responsible for a vast amount of suffering and ill health, but there is no need to suffer nor to remain in danger when all diseases and aches and pains due to weak kidneys can be quickly and permanently cured by use of Doan’s Kidney Pills.

Remember When: 1885

Compiled by Don McNeil, Shakopee Heritage Society

From the 1885 Shakopee Courier

Oct. 21, 1885 – A skin of beauty is a joy forever. Dr. T. Felix Gouraud’s Oriental cream or magical beautifier. Removes tan, pimples, freckles, moth-patches, rash and skin diseases and every blemish on beauty and defies detection. It has stood the test of thirty years and is so harmless we taste it to be sure the presentation is properly made. Accept no counterfeit.

Sept. 23, 1885 – Any lady not satisfied with Hennings improved soft elastic section corset, after wearing it for six weeks, can have the price paid there and refunded by returning it to Berens & Nachtsheim, Shakopee.

Sept. 30, 1885 – Vinegar Bitters is the great Blood purifier and life giving principle; a gentle Purgative and Tonic; a perfect Renovator and Invigorator of the system.

Aug. 12, 1885 – The Presbyterian softball school will have a picnic Thursday in Pond’s grove, east of town, with ice-cream, swings, lawn play, and a good time for the young people generally. Parents and other friends of the children are cordially invited to come with full baskets.

Aug. 12, 1885 – Itch, Prairie Mange, and Scratches of every kind cured in 30 minutes by Woolfords’ Sanitary Lotion. Sold by F. J. Lord, Druggist Shakopee.

Oct. 21, 1885 – Underwear of camel hair, woolen and cotton at B. Beisang’s in the John Reis Building.

Sept. 23, 1885 – The First National Bank of Shakopee, capital $100,000. Transacts a general banking business. Special attention given to collections. The interest of customers closely guarded and every facility compatible with principles of sound banking freely extended. Issue its own drafts on England, Ireland, Germany and all parts of Europe. Officer: Honorable H. B. Strait, President.

Sept. 2, 1885 – Fire in stoves in mid-August be speak of a cold climate. In July it was up in the nineties, and in August was down in the forties. What are we coming to?

Oct. 7, 1885 – Dropsy treated free. Dr. H. H. Green, a specialist for eleven years past, has treated Dropsy and its complications with the most wonderful success. Removes all symptoms of dropsy in eight to twenty days.

Aug. 12, 1885 – Our ministers and church members don’t take kindly to the Argus youth’s plan of “allowing gentlemen to bring their cigars and morning papers with them and smoke and read through the hour of service.”

Oct. 21, 1885 – Old soldiers! Comrades! Purchase a set of Grant’s personal memoirs and when you read them it will seem like going back and living over old times. Mr. O. H. O’Neil of the Union School will continue to canvass of Shakopee for the “Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant,” having been duly appointed as agent for this city.

Sept. 9, 1885 – D. P. Jenkins, of roller rink fame, now of Aitkin, was here Saturday night at the rink, which was opened to the public as a commencement of the fall season.

Sept. 23, 1885 – The Shakopee Courier and the weekly Pioneer Press both one year for only $2.25.

Oct. 7, 1885 – A Big Offer. To introduce them, we will give away 1,000 self operating washing machines. It you want one send us your name and P. O. at once. The National Co. 25 Dey St., N. Y.

Aug. 22, 1885 – Population of Minnesota cities and towns. Minneapolis 129,200, Belle Plaine 813, Chaska 1,725, Jordan 1,200, Shakopee 1,834.

Oct. 21, 1885 – There is the tearing away of the National Bank concrete front, to be replaced by brick.

Sept. 9, 1885 – Mrs. Mary Fielding, daughter of Mrs. Campbell of Spring Lake, who went home to her mother’s three weeks ago sick, from Farmington, is still pretty bad.

Sept. 2, 1885 – The old dilapidated sidewalk from Hinds’ corner to Lord’s on First street has been torn up and sensible gravel is to take its place, thus relieving the town from a chance prosecution for damage and benefiting the citizen traveling daily to and fro.

Oct. 7, 1885 – Over 300 teams crossed the bridge last Monday besides a large amount of stock, thus showing the value of the bridge to Shakopee.

Aug. 22, 1885 – To guard against runaways in town, tie your horses, and thus save dangerous results.

Sept. 2, 1885 – Robert B. Condon left here yesterday for St. Mary’s College in Kansas, where he proposes to remain to the end of the classical course. He’s attending the leading Jesuit College in the west. We wish him success and hope to see him back here at the first vacation. He is a very promising young man and deserves to succeed.

Sept. 9, 1885 – Eggs from hens not in company with cocks will keep twice as long as will eggs from hens not separated from the males.

Oct. 7, 1885 – Wanted, an active man or woman to sell our goods. Salary $75 per month and expenses. Expenses in advance. Canvassing outfit free. Particulars free. Standard Silverware Co., Boston Mass.

Aug. 22, 1885 – Miss Nellie Jackman went to Minneapolis Monday to join a party of friends who will spend a couple of weeks at White Bear Lake. We all wish you a merry time, Miss Nellie.

Oct. 14, 1885 – Give your order for a set of General Grant’s book and furnish your family with good, wholesome reading for the winter. It comes in two volumes and the price is in reach of every one.

Sept. 2, 1885 – The Pioneer Press Co. will exhibit prominently, at the coming State Fair, samples of the very attractive premiums which they are offering to subscribers to their weekly.
The sewing machine, which is offered with the weekly for $15.00, will attract much attention. The Organ and sets of Band Instruments are great inducements for clubs.

Oct. 7, 1885 – Rev. Mr. Paige of the Presbyterian Church left Shakopee for his home in Minneapolis on Tuesday, not to return. He is a very pleasant and friendly gentleman at all times.

Aug. 12, 1885 – In Shakopee the bells tolled in the afternoon Saturday during Grant’s funeral. The undertaker’s bill for Grant’s funeral was $50,000.

Oct. 14, 1885 – In connection with our furniture we have a complete Undertaking room where we carry in stock all kinds of fine burial cases and caskets price as low as the lowest! 1 Street, Shakopee.

Sept. 2, 1885 – Dr. McNamara’s Medical Rooms, Est. 1861, for the radical cure of Nervous and Several Diseases. Lost Manhood or vital weakness completely restored. Kidney diseases, gonorrhea, syphilis, etc. Call on or address the doctor 508 Broadway, Milwaukee, Wisc.

Aug. 12, 1885 – The Hyers sisters had a big and “roaring” house last night. Tonite they play “Out of Bondage.”

Oct. 14, 1885 – John Berens & Co., successors to Berens & Gellenbeck. They are dealers in general merchandise consisting of dry goods, clothing, groceries, hats and caps, boots and shoes, crockery and glassware. “We have the largest stock and lowest prices.”

Oct. 21, 1885 – There must have been some young boys in the war of 1812, if it true, as Massachusetts paper tells, that Benjamin C. Cheever, who has just died at Saugus, at the age of 82, was a pensioner of that war. As war was declared in June 1812, and peace early in 1815, he could have been only 9 years old when the war began, and hardly 12 when it ended.

From the Scott County Argus, Shakopee and Jordan, MN

Feb. 12, 1885 – Julius A. Coller, Editor. The Franco Chinese war is still raging. A labor bill has been introduced in the German Reichstag.
-The Indiana State treasury is empty.
-Reinsderf and Kueschler, the anarchists who attempted to cause death of the Kaiser at Niederwald, were beheaded at Halle last Saturday.

Feb. 12, 1885 – New Harness shop, Joseph Glatzel, proprietor. First St. Shakopee, Minn. Single and double harness. Either light or heavy. Manufactured to order and at reasonable rates. A full stock of blankets, saddles, whips, harness oil and all kinds of saddles and hardware.

Feb. 12, 1885 – New goods. We have just received a large and fine lot of Gents’ cashmeres and a large lot of clothing. Call and examine Goods and Prices. Berens & Nachtsheim.

Feb. 12, 1885 – Julius A. Coller, Editor. The difference between a Publisher and an Editor is: A publisher has the money and an editor the brains. But the difference between an assumed editor and a real editor is still greater.

Feb. 12, 1885 – Scott County Argus, Published Thursday at Shakopee and Jordan, Minn., by George Hinds, terms – two dollars a year. Julius A. Coller, Editor. Official paper of Shakopee City and Scott County.

Feb. 12, 1885 – “Your father is entirely bald now, isn’t he?” said a man to the son of a millionaire. “Yes,” replied the youth. “I am the only heir he has left.”

Feb. 19, 1885 – City Brick Yards. Herman Schroeder, Prop’r – Having lately put in a new and complete set of machinery, we are able to produce the very best quality of brick. Our brick are of a very cherry red color and are fit for any kind of use. All orders supplied promptly and samples will be sent free of expense to any part of the country.

Feb. 19, 1885 – Julius A. Coller, Editor. The U.S. Grant retirement bill was lost in the House.

Feb. 19, 1885 – If Minneapolis and St. Paul keep on extending their limits it will not be long before they will swallow up Shakopee.

Feb. 19, 1885 – George Hinds, Publisher Shakopee, Minnesota. An insurance company in New Hampshire has decided to resist payment on a policy of $5,000 on a house that was blown up by dynamite in Stratford, N. H. contending that the policy does not cover such a case.

Feb. 19, 1885 – Miss Matilda Chase, who was recently burned to death at Annapolis, Md., dreamed a few days before her death of the terrible fate waiting her. She was so much agitated that she at once sent for her lawyers to draw up her will. The arguments of her relatives against the truthfulness of dreams induced her to change her mind, and a few days later the dream was literally fulfilled. Having made no will her property valued at $100,000 went to her only sister.

Feb. 26, 1885 – Theodore Mertz, Boots and Shoe maker in Doctor C. F. Cook’s office on Lewis street. All work guaranteed. Repairing promptly and at fair prices. Custom work a specialty.

Feb. 26, 1885 – East Shakopee (Frank Juergens’ old stand) John Legel, proprietor. Am prepared to do all kinds of work in the blacksmith line. Horse shoeing and plow repairing a specialty. Give me a call.

Feb. 26, 1885 – Itching piles symptoms – moisture, intense itching, most at night. Swayne’s ointment sure cure. It is equally efficacious in casing all such as pimples, blotches, rash, tetter, itch, and salt rheum, no matter how obstinate or long standing. Box by mail, 50 cents. Sold by druggists.

Feb. 26, 1885 – Rupture, Dr. J. A. Sherman is now at his office. St. Louis, Mo. Treating rupture. Will be there during February. Book with likeness of cases, before and after cure, ten cents. Principal office 251 Broadway, N. Y., where he will be after this month.

Feb. 26, 1885 – Hagan’s Magnolia balm is a secret aid to beauty. Many a lady owes her freshness to it, who would rather not tell, and you can’t tell.

Feb. 26, 1885 – Occidental Hotel, First street. First class in every particular. Terms $2.00 per day.

Feb. 26, 1885 – Merchant’s Hotel, Second street, John J. Ring proprietor. First class accommodations. Terms reasonable. Good stabling.

Feb. 26, 1885 – H. H. Strunk and Son, First street. Dealer in drugs, medicines, paints, oils, varnishes, wall paper, books and stationery. Full line of Homeopathic medicines. Exclusive agents for the Minnesota Linseed Oil Co.

Feb. 26, 1885 – H. O. Smith, M.D., physician and surgeon. All cases of surgery or general practice in city or country attended promptly. Office over McMaldin’s store. Residence on First St. opposite Occidental Hotel. Office hours – 10 to 12 am: 2 to 4 pm; 7 to 8 pm.

Feb. 26, 1885 – J. G. Newell, dentist. Office over Lord’s Drug store where he will be found the first half of each month. All operations quickly performed.

Feb. 26, 1885 – Sample Room and Restaurant, John Mertz proprietor. First street. Choice wine, liquors and cigars and fresh beer at all times.

March 5, 1885 – Julius A. Coller, Editor. Dogs have been made personal property. – Belle Plaine, Shakopee and Jordan had their charters amended. – The Pioneer Press advocates the use of the guillotine instead of the rope for condemned criminals. – The first journal of the Jordan Independent reached our office last week. It is a bright journal, full of news and presents a fine appearance. We wish it success.

March 5, 1885 – Dairymen and farmers should use only the “Arm and Hammer” brand for cleaning and keeping milk pans sweet and clean. It is best for all household purposes. Hog diseases. – The “Arm and Hammer” brand soda and saleratus is used with great success for the prevention and cure of hog cholera and other diseases. Mix with the animals’ food.

March 5, 1885 – Parson’s Purgative Pills, make new rich blood. Positively cure sick- headache, and all Liver and Bowel complaints, Malaria, Blood poison, and Skin Diseases (one pill a dose). For female complaints these pills have no equal. “I find them a valuable Cathartic and Liver Pill. – Dr. T. M. Palmer.”

March 5, 1885 – “Home News.” Last Tuesday was Longfellow’s night at the Debating Club. – The fire cistern in the First Ward is still empty. – Tramps give Shakopee a wide berth. – Judge Mac Donald is busy grinding out decisions. – James McHale, Esq., has been appointed Referee to take testimony in the Giles divorce case, on the application for temporary alimony.

March 5, 1885 – Tuesday morning at quarter to one o’clock the mill whistle sounded the fire alarm. The fire was found to be in John Ketterer’s house. The house caught fire from the stove pipe, igniting the wood work in the second story. The department turned out promptly and arrested the progress of the flames. The damage to the house is fully covered by insurance.

March 5, 1885 – Lovell all clamp roller skates. We challenge the world to produce its equal. Price, $6.00, nickel plated and polished. Send 6 cents in stamps for large illustrated catalogue of roller skates, guns, rifles, revolvers, air rifles, police goods, etc. J. P. Lovell’s Sons, Boston, Mass.

March 5, 1885 – Consumption. I have a position remedy for the consumption disease: by its use thousands of cases of the worst kind and of long standing have been cured. Indeed, so strong in my faith, in its efficacy that I will send two bottles free together with a valuable treatise on this disease to any sufferer. Give express and P. O. address. Dr. T. A. Slocum, 181 Pearl St., N. Y.

March 5, 1885 – Wanted ladies and gentlemen in city or country to take light work at their own home. $3 to $4 a day easily made. Work sent by mail. No canvassing. We have good demand for our work, and furnish steady employment. Address with stamp. Crown Mfg. Co., 290 Race St., Cin’ti, N. Y.

March 5, 1885 – Fits Spasm and convulsions. Cured by Epilepsy Nervine. Package by mail, $2. Send for free sample and treatise on Epilepsy to W. R. Penick, St. Joseph, Mo.

March 5, 1885 – A judge in Utah recently decided that in that territory wives have no rights in court. The men may dispose of their property as they please.

March 5, 1885 – An invention by two Canadians, by which telephoning and telegraphing can be carried on simultaneously on the same wire, has been successfully tested.

March 5, 1885 – Miss Marie Van Hatten, aged twenty-one, drowned herself in a cistern because of unrequited affection.

March 12, 1885 – “Olden Times” – The formula by which Mishler’s Herb Bitters is compounded is over two hundred years old, and of German origin. The entire range of proprietary medicines cannot produce a preparation that enjoys so high a reputation in the community where it is made.

March 12, 1885 – No Army; no Navy; how well this Republic is protected. Little Chili could come up and give us a severe threshing, and lay New York in ruins, and this country could do aught to defend itself.

March 12, 1885 – Some our enterprising young men will petition the Council to allow them to form a “salvage corps,” the same to be under the control of the heads of the Fire Department; and to be a part of the dept. This is a good idea. A good salvage corps is indispensable in a well regulated dept. It is in fact the most important branch of the whole dept. Let the Council, by all means, grant the petition.

March 12, 1885 – “Home News” The Probate Court is full of business. – Our firemen will form a relief organization. – Weilland’s Hotel has two boarders. – Shakopee has quite a number of pensioners. – Charles Bornarth, Esq., has a screw propelling skiff, which he will test as soon as the river opens.

March 12, 1885 – Firemen’s pictures taken in uniform, cabinet size, $4.00 per dozen for 60 days from date, March 9th. Please give me a call and secure the opportunity.

March 12, 1885 – Married March 6th, by Rev. Jas. A. Page, at the home of the bride in Shakopee. The Argus extends a hearty congratulation to the happy pair and wishes the schoolmates a happy and prosperous life.

March 12, 1885 – About sixty Indians arrived Wednesday and are holding a pow-wow in the old City Hall.

March 19, 1885 – Look here! Take Notice! – You that want photos can get one dozen (every picture warranted first class) for the small sum of $1.50. Remember the price and place. Palmer’s Photo Rooms.

March 19, 1885 – Robert Banner announces that he has declined all offers to exhibit their horse Maud S. during the coming season. She will not be allowed to trot for money.

March 19, 1885 – Mrs. Frank Leslie says she is too busy to get married.

March 19 1885 – The United States Senate consists of 76 members: the House of Representative of 325. Each of them receives $5,000 a year. It costs money to sustain dignity, but it must be sustained.

March 19, 1885 – Ambrose Young, Charles Latham and Frank Freeman, all colored, charged with being implicated in a murder, were taken from the officers at Union City, Tenn., on the 12th by a mob and hanged.

March 19, 1885 – The Negroes in Buncombe County, N.C. are said to be holding weekly meetings to consider the question of migrating to Liberia. Quite a number of influential colored citizens are leading the movement.

March 19, 1885 – St. Jacobs Oil, trade mark. The great German remedy for Pain cures Rheumatism, Nemalgia, Backache, Head ache, Toothache, Sprains, Bruises and other pains and aches. Fifty cents at druggist and dealers.

March 19, 1885 – Take warning in time. Impure blood, indigestion, and weak kidneys affect a large portion of the human family. Thousands suffer in silence from the effect of these disorders until death relieves them from their suffering. Take warning in time. Rid yourself of every symptom of weakness and declining health by beginning at once the use of Dr. Guysoth’s Yellow Dock and Sarsaparilla.

March 19, 1885 – Our city was full of Indians last Thursday and Friday. They kept coming from every direction until about four hundred aborigines were among us. They were duty enrolled and then departed. The $10,000 to be appropriated among them will be divided after a full examination of the enrollment has been made.

March 19, 1885 – The Fire Department must raise about $500 in order to pay for the expenses of holding the State convention in this city. The ladies are determined to meet this expense without soliciting aid from the city or its citizens and our people should help them as much as possible by making their celebration and dances a success.

March 19, 1885 – Julius A. Coller, Editor. Editorial Notes. General Grant is sinking rapidly. – The United States is ordering its war vessels to Guatemala. – Saturday is Minnesota Day at the New Orleans exposition. – Dr. Burchard has retired from the ministry on a pension of $500 per annum.

March 26, 1885 – St. Paul and Minneapolis are going to have the elevated railroad, and the fare between the two cities will be ten cents. Truly, the Twin Cities are growing at a marvelous rate.

March 26, 1885 – Ayer’s Hair Vigor. For restoring grey hair to its natural vitality and color. It is a most agreeable dressing, which is at once harmless and effectual, for preserving the hair. It restores, with the gloss and freshness of youth, faded or gray, light, and red hair, to a rich brown, or deep black, as may be desired. By its use thin hair is thickened, and baldness often though not always cured.

March 26, 1885 – Shakopee Bakery. J. Nachtsheim proprietor. All kinds of bread and biscuits daily baked. Rye bread and ginger snaps a specialty. Cakes of all kinds, made to order. Orders delivered to any part of the city.

March 26, 1885 – George Hinds, Publisher. Mr. Manning is the only member of the President’s Cabinet who is not a lawyer.

March 26, 1885 – “Home News.” Retired Rev. Bishop Ireland will visit Shakopee April 25. It is to be hoped that he can be induced to deliver a lecture. – Saturday was the first day of spring according to the almanac. Almanacs do not control Minnesota weather, however. – Mathias Berens, Jr., will soon leave for Chicago to purchase spring stock.

March 26, 1885
– Shakopee is a good wood market; with the mill, wagon factory, Ries’ pop works, two breweries, two lime kilns and two brick yards, using wood in large quantities, wood will always command a good price in Shakopee.
– We understand that Mr. Jenkins will remove his skating rink to Lake Minnetonka soon.
– Under the new laws Shakopee will have the satisfaction of getting a new depot.
– Quite a number of our citizens are becoming enthusiasts in the poultry business.
– Probate Judge Meyer went to Jordan Monday to examine John Mathews. He was adjudged insane and taken to the asylum.
– Herman Schroeder sold a car load of brick to a Northfield party Tuesday.
– A delegation of Indians with “Big Eagle” as chief arrived yesterday morning.
– The public examination of teachers for the spring of 1885, will be held Monday and Tuesday April 6th and 7th.

March 26, 1885 – “Fun and Fancy.”
– Mississippi has 1182 miles of railroad.
– Ill gotten gains – doctor’s fees.
– Take care of your habits and your health will take care of itself.
– There is no one to sit up for the President when he stays out nights.
– What is the difference between a barber and a mother? One has razors to shave, and the other has shavers to raise.

April 2, 1885 – Arnica Toilet Soap. Delightfully perfumed, highly medicated. Absolutely pure. Keeps the skin from chapping and imparts to it life and a healthy glow. Unrivaled for cleaning the scalp and eradicating dandruff. The most perfect toilet soap in the world. Price, 25 cents.

April 2, 1885 – Arnica Tooth Soap. Is without question the most perfect article ever produced, as it not only cleanses the teeth thoroughly, but the combination with Arnica preserves and hardens the gums. It gives to the breath a sweet, delicate odor. Price, 25 cents a box.

April 2, 1885 – Make Hens Lay. It is a well known fact that most of the horses and cattle powder sold in this country is worthless; that Sheridan’s Condition Powder is absolutely pure and very valuable. Nothing on earth will make hens lay like Sheridan’s Condition Powder. Dose, one teaspoonful to each pint food. Sold everywhere or sent by mail for 25 cents in stamps. We furnish it in 2 ½ lb. cans, price $1. I. S. Johnson and Co., Boston, Mass.

June 30, 1885 – Big Bear has been captured and bands of Indians are surrendering their arms. This brings to an end the Indian troubles in the Northwest.

July 16, 1885 – The Shakopee roller rink has proven a continuous losing investment for the proprietor and it is doubtful if the patronage will warrant its being kept open at all in the future.

The Duffy Homestead

The house located at the southwest corner at the junction of County Road 83 and Eagle Creek Blvd. Shakopee, Minnesota was once the home of Peter F. Duffy. The property had been in the Duffy family for over a hundred years.

Back in 1827 Peter, who was born in 1809, West Meath, Ireland left his home in Ireland and came to America. He stayed in Philadelphia for several years, staying with his brother who was a priest. Sometime in the early 1840s he made his way to New Orleans and found employment with a hardware firm. From there he changed careers and became a police officer in New Orleans. He remained on the police force for six or seven years and then decided to come north. In 1853 he traveled up the Mississippi with his wife, Margaret and son Timothy, first stopping in St. Paul, and then to Shakopee. In June of 1853 he made a claim of 160 acres at the edge of the timber line in Eagle Creek and settled on it as a preemption claimant. He sold this property in 1866 and bought the farm on the prairie where this house is located. Peter Duffy died in 1879.

His funeral was from St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Shakopee and burial at the Calvary Cemetery in Eagle Creek

The farmstead stood on a ridge of the prairie, looking down on prairie lands to the north and to the south. The farmstead has been slowly dismantled for further development. At present it is surrounded by cityscapes: a pharmacy, restaurants, banks, motels, medical facilities, manufacturing business, home improvement business, office buildings and a horse racing establishment.

At one time this was a stately farm house surrounded with native trees, prairie grasses and shrubbery with multiple outbuildings consisting of a huge dairy barn, granary, chicken coop and garage.

The first floor consisted of a kitchen with a huge pantry off of the kitchen, a dining room, living room and a formal parlor. Off of the dining room there was a staircase that led to a bedroom for hired hands. The second floor contained four large bedrooms and the third floor contained the attic, big enough to house more bedrooms if needed. And of course the sanitary facilities were housed outdoors.

After Peter’s death his son, Timothy Duffy, who was born in Louisiana in 1846 took over the farm. Timothy came to Minnesota from Louisiana with his parents in 1851. The Duffys settled on one hundred sixty acres as previously stated, located in the southeastern part of Eagle Creek Township, Scott County, Minnesota, later moving to this location where the house stands.

In 1863 Timothy served as a Private in Company L, Second Regiment Minnesota Cavalry volunteers. He married Caroline Stemmer in 1867. Caroline was born in 1850 in Ontario, Canada. She was the daughter of Francis and Mary Ann Beisang. At the age of two she came to Minnesota with her parents. They also settled in Eagle Creek Township.

Together Timothy and Caroline had eleven children. Andrew died as a young man, their son William F. Duffy taught in the rural schools of Scott County. In 1925 William became the owner and publisher of The Shakopee Argus newspaper in Shakopee, Minnesota. He also served as clerk of district court and was the secretary-treasurer and manager of the Shakopee Telephone Company.

In 1926 he purchased the Shakopee Tribune and consolidated that publication with the Shakopee Argus-Tribune until 1945 when he sold it to Mr. James Hall and Frank Strunk.

Another son was Judge T .E. J. Duffy of Prineville, Oregon. Timothy’s son Walter took over the operation of the farm after Timothy died.

Three daughters were married: Mary Kinghorn, Margaret Huber, Florence Feldmann, Anna, Gertrude, Helen and Katherine lived at home with their parents.

Timothy farmed and owned approximately 500 acres of farm land in Eagle Creek Township. Some of the land was located on the north end of Dean’s Lake. Besides farming his son Walter dealt in livestock and maintained stud draft horses that supplied many farmers in the surrounding area with their work horses. His daughter Margaret married into the Huber family who also were big land owners in Eagle Creek Township. Mr. Timothy Duffy was instrumental in the beginnings of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Shakopee, and was active in public affairs, associated with the schools and township government, serving as county commissioner for the Third District of Scott County for several terms. He died in 1917. His funeral was from St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Shakopee, Minnesota, burial at Calvary Catholic Cemetery on Eagle Creek Blvd. His wife Caroline died in 1919. Her funeral was from St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Shakopee, Minnesota, burial at Calvary Catholic Cemetery.

Descendants of Peter Duffy and his children live in Carver County, Minnesota, the state of Oregon and Indiana.

It is with mixed emotions when we see the fading of our past. Make way for progress but yet keep the past in mind.

Article originally published in the Spring 2013 Shakopee Heritage Society newsletter.

Shakopee Festivals and Rodeos

Shakopee has a long history of festivals and rodeos. Many were held in the former rodeo grounds at what is now Huber Park.

The former rodeo grounds is now known as the “Pat Thielen Recreation Area,” named for past chief of police Pat Thielen, who constructed the rodeo and was active in other volunteer youth projects, as well.

Below is a listing of past rodeos (along with notes) and festivals that have taken place in Shakopee.

YearFestivalRodeoNotes
1951Gold Rush Days  
1952Gold Rush Days  
1953Gold Rush Days  
1954Fun Fest  
1955 RCA Rodeo 
1956None  
1957 Built Rodeo Grounds 
1958 Built Rodeo Grounds 
1959 Built Rodeo Grounds 
1960 Built Rodeo Grounds 
1961Krazy DaysNone 
1962Krazy DaysNone 
1963Pow-Wow DaysNone 
1964Pow-Wow DaysHigh School Rodeo 
1965Pow-Wow DaysRCA Rodeo 
1966Pow-Wow DaysRCA Rodeo 
1967Pow-Wow DaysRCA Rodeo 
1968Pow-Wow DaysRCA Rodeo 
1969Pow-Wow DaysRCA Rodeo 
1970Pow-Wow DaysRCA RodeoNamed for Pat Thielen
1971   
1972Shako-O-Valley DaysRodeo (unknown name) 
1973   
1974 RCA Rodeo 
1975Murphy’s Landing EventNone 
1976Shak-O-Valley DaysNone 
1977Shak-O-Valley DaysNone 
1978Shak-O-Valley DaysNone 
1979Shak-O-Valley DaysNone 
1980Shak-O-Valley DaysNone 
1981 RN Bar Pro Rodeo 
1982 RN Bar Pro Rodeo 
1983 None 
1984   
1985   
1986   
1987   
1988Derby Days  
1989Derby Days  
1990Derby Days  
1991Derby Days  
1992Derby Days  
1993Derby Days  
1994Derby Days  
1995Derby Days  
1996Derby Days  
1997Derby Days  
1998Derby Days  
1999Derby Days  
2000Derby Days  
2001Derby Days  
2002Derby Days  
2003Derby Days  
2004Derby Days  
2005Derby Days  
2006Derby Days  
2007Derby Days  
2008Derby Days  
2009Derby Days  
2010Derby Days  
2011Derby Days  
2012Derby Days  
2013Derby Days  
2014Derby Days  
2015Derby Days  

The Merchant/Pelham Hotel

The Pelham Hotel

The railroad was coming to Shakopee in the mid 1860s. Knowing this, Anna Endres bought a lot facing the railroad tracks and had a hotel built to house the many immigrants that were expected to come by rail. The second floor had a dance hall and opera house, as well as a balcony.

In 1872 Jacob Thomas bought the hotel and called it the “Merchants Hotel.” An article stated that all the rooms had new furniture and a fire (stove?) in every room.

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Huss bought the hotel in 1916 and renamed it the Pelham Hotel. Originally the Pelham was in another building, but the business was moved to this building and the name followed.

In 1921 they sold the hotel to their daughter and son-in-law, John J. Cavanaugh. He had Fred Rolfs, a well-known carpenter, build an addition to the side of the hotel in 1924. It was also two stories and had running water, bath, and lights throughout.

There was a telephone booth in the office and the hotel was heated by steam. Mr. Cavanaugh was Mayor of Shakopee and held that office for a long while.

Mr. Cavanaugh sold the Pelham to Alex J. Stang in 1945. The hotel had 30 rooms at this time. Mr. Stang added a dining room and bar area.

In 1957 Ray Siebenaler bought the Pelham hotel. He took out the bar and made the area into an office. He owned a real estate and insurance business that moved into the new office.

The Pelham Hotel closed for business in 1985. It must have ceased hotel operations some years earlier, but until 1985 it served as an emergency shelter for homeless people. It was soon closed for fire code violations. The homeless paid $45.00 a week to live there.

The Pelham was on the National Register of Historic Places, and the owners wanted to fix it up for efficiency apartments, but that never happened and in 1987 it was razed. There is, however, a nice parking lot in place today.