We recently acquired a donation of wood block photos from Janice Hennen, which we have scanned and are posting, for your viewing pleasure, in the below gallery.
Thanks to Janice for her donation!
We welcome photo donations. If you are interested in donating photos, slides, or negatives, please contact us. Even the early 2020s are considered history. We can also scan and return items.
Click on a thumbnail to view a full-sized image.
A presentation by David Schleper for the Sakpe ti Senior Lounge, on Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018.
Learn about the floods, the drownings, the steamboats, the ferries, and the bridges, and all that make Shakopee the place to live.
Fresh oysters and fresh fish always on hand at Gellenbeck’s restaurant.
World’s Fair Souvenirs can be purchased at H. P. Marx’s at about half the price sold at the Fair. Call and see the beautiful sterling silver spoons and other fancy articles for Souvenirs. Some goods can only be obtained by leaving orders for duplicates as only a limited number are to be had.
Jos. Linhoff removed his family from his old home at Merriam Junction to his elegant new residence in this city last week.
Plans are being made for a pressed brick, plate glass front to be put into John Schwartz’s building on First street. The work will probably be done this fall.
A beautiful stuffed specimen of a native pelican is on exhibition at Deutsch & Zettel’s drug store. It stands over two feet high and is of the purest white except on the tips of the wing feathers, where the color is shaded to a beautiful drab. The bird was shot, together with its mate, by Otto Zaum at Pleasant Lake. It is a valuable specimen, and well worth a visit.
Little Mat Klinkhmmer met with quite a severe accident a short time ago. While cutting shinny sticks in company with Benny Kohls the latter accidentally struck Mat’s hand with an ax, as he was holding down a desirable stick for Benny to cut off. The middle finger of the left hand was cut nearly off, but hung by a small piece of skin. The finger was put back in place and stitched on, and the chances are now that the severed portion will be saved.
Parties wanting wedding cakes or cakes for parties, we will be pleased to fill your orders, at Gellenbeck’s Restaurant.
A decided improvement has been made on First street in front of Pat’k Condon’s buildings, the old sidewalk having been replaced by a new and more substantial one.
A new cigar factory has been started in the Conter House by Gentgen and Simmer. They have bought out the business of C. W. Meyer who will accept the position of foreman under the new firm.
A. Greenberg intends to move into the How building in the spring.
Jacob Ries, Sr., will return from Chicago in a day or two with four awards received upon five displays which his progressive Bottling Works had maintained at the World’s Fair. Mr. Ries received the gold medal at the Paris Exposition, has a state and a county medal, and now with these new awards he may certainly feel that his goods are very much endorsed. It is a source of congratulation both to himself and to Shakopee that the products of his thriving institution meet with such marked signs of merit and approval.
Mathew Lies moved in from Marystown today. He has located for the winter in the Annen house on west Fourth street. Next spring he will build a commodious residence on the lot adjoining the west side.
Peter Yost met with quite an accident Tuesday. While leading a steer the rope got wound around the thumb of his right hand, the steer became unruly and dashed away from Mr. Yost. The rope tightened around the thumb and tore off the first joint, bone and all. It is a most painful accident and one of which his friends will regret to hear.
Val. Zoller has been revelling in a wealth of beautiful roses this week. His nephew who was recently here from Chicago sent up a big box of assorted beauties last Sunday and Mr. Zoller has been busy giving them away to his friends ever since. The greenhouse owned by his two nephews is one of the largest in Chicago, and if the contents of the box sent here are a fair sample, their flowers must be of the very best.
Mrs. M. Henschel expects to remove into her new quarters in the How Block within a week. She will occupy the third store from the Bank corner.
A millinery department under the management of Miss Celia Stirn is proving quite a feature at the Shakopee Cash Store. Give it a call.
A work train on the St. Louis deposited several car loads of cinders at the scene of last week’s wreck, just before dark yesterday and this caused the report to spread that another wreck had occurred at the same place. The heavy grade and the sharp curve at this point will naturally cause the empty box cars to hop off the track, so that a wreck is not unexpected at any time. We would suggest that at the cost of a few box cars the road might pick up its track and run it across to this point without any curve. The increase in traffic from this place would pay for the work within a few years.
Mrs. M. Henschel will remove to her apartments in the How Block the first of next week.
The first skating of the season was enjoyed by the “small fry” last Monday on the little pond in the rear of the mill. And the genuine well-developed particle will be at hand within a day or two, if this north wind can maintain its grip for that length of time.
Messrs. Nicholas Berens and John Nachtsheim, who have for some years past been doing business under the firm name of The Shakopee Cash Store on Monday severed their business relationship, Mr. Nachtsheim retiring. Mr. Berens will continue the business here, while Mr. Nachtsheim will either open a general merchandise store in the How Block or accept a position with a firm in Minneapolis.
C. Jos. Strunk received from Mr. Willson this week a big official envelope containing five cents, that amount being due him from his accounts of 1889, A. D. when postmaster here. He had remitted five cents too much on a money order, and the department has got up to ’89 in its work and hence remitted the amount as stated. Mr. Strunk was obliged to write a receipt for the amount, which was duly forwarded to Washington.
The first “heat” of the now prosperous Minnesota Stove Co. was run off just two years ago today. The benefits which the town has derived from its well deserved success are patent to all.
John Nachtsheim will not engage in the general merchandise business here as rumored last week. He has purchased a knitting machine and is now prepared to do all kinds of knitting to order at his residence. Children’s hose and men’s socks, 15 c. per pair; ladies, 20 c.
Anton Koeper went to Wisconsin yesterday to get select Eastern timber for use in his wagon factory here.
Prof. J. F. Parsons principal of the Union school, treated the scholars to fruit, candy, etc., on Friday afternoon last.
Rev. Mr. Jones, Presbyterian minister, has rented the Octagon house and will move his family here the latter part of this week.
Flaherty & Lies are making an appreciable improvement in the appearance and comfort of their store by having it re-covered with siding.
P. A. Preiser has moved his family into Jacob Clemens’s house on First street.
Deutsch & Zettel have shipped their large soda fountain to a New York firm, in exchange for a new and handsomer one, from which will gush the cooling soda when robins nest again.
A skating rink has been made at the foot of Holmes street which will be owned and operated by Messrs. James Leyde, Michael Hartz, and Geo. Davis. The ice within the enclosure is in excellent shape and, if the institution can be kept running throughout the winter, it will prove a source of pleasure to the skating public and of profit to the owners.
Schools Ordered Closed. The influenza epidemic seems to be far from checked so far as Shakopee is concerned. On Tuesday the board of health and the school board judged it best to close the schools. This step was not taken owing to any outbreak among the children, but largely because many parents were keeping their children home, and the classes were pretty badly broken up. St. Mark’s school closed the same day…
The H. J. Hoard family have moved to Derby, Conn., where they will be permanently settled for some time. Mr. Hoard is superintending the building of a dam. He is the resident engineer and will take several years to complete the work.
The Mathias Beckerich family have moved in from Eden Prairie and are occupying the Bieren house. They will reside in town for the winter.
A deal was closed on Thursday by which Jacob Mahowald, bought the harness shop of P. J. Mahowald, taking possession at once. He wishes to state that he will continue in the monument business and solicits your trade. P. J. Mahowald and family will move to their farm near Lakeville next week. The Mahowald family have a wide circle of friends here who regret to see them leave but wish them unbound success in their new home.
Miss Helen Huth commenced a six months’ term of school in the Kopp district in Eagle Creek on Monday.
All ladies of the Red Cross sewing classes are urged to come and sew every day excepting Saturdays. The chapter is anxious to get its allotment completed by December 1st.
John Kennedy was the victim of an accident which might have resulted fatally for him. Mr. Kennedy was on his way down town on Wednesday morning and while crossing the Milwaukee railroad tracks near the Simons Lumber Co., was struck by the engine and thrown across the tracks. The heavy Milwaukee freight was just coming to a stop and Mr. Kennedy failed to see or hear the train. He was struck on the right hip and suffered severe bruises. He was taken to his home and medical aid summoned. He is as well as can be expected at this writing and it will be some time before he will be able to be about again.
Shakopee Wild When Peace News Comes
Shakopee celebrated the surrender of Germany and the ending of the war as became a city which had sent more than a hundred of her young men into the service of the country. News of the surrender was first received in this city by W. N. Southworth shortly after 2 o’clock a. m. Monday morning, but he was unable to arouse anyone for a half hour. The operator at central who controls the fire bell was skeptical until Minneapolis had branded the report as official from Washington. Then the celebration broke loose. After the fire bell had sounded a few taps, the whistle at the stove works cut loose. St. Mary’s church bell was next, then one after another the other vehicles of noisy rejoicing entered the arena of pandemonium. Although one of the last to begin, the bells of St. Mark’s carried off first honors, for they can be heard for miles out into the country and it was their voices that carried the news to many a farm home hours before it would become known in the ordinary course of events. By 3:30 impromptu parades had been formed, and shouting crowds added their vociferations to the screeching of the whistles and the resounding of the bells. A bonfire was lighted at the corner of First and Lewis and the fire company turned out with the hose and ladder trucks. All day the bells and whistles kept up the fun, the whistles intermittently and the bells steadily. Trainmen added to the noise, and not a train came through that did not herald its approach with wild and prolonged “hip, hip, hoorahs” from its engine. One train on the St. Louis is credited with having tied open its whistle and maintained one long howl from Minneapolis to Albert Lea.
During the day several parades took place. Some of the girls staged one at 11 a. m. and in the afternoon the small boys turned out. The kids rode the Kaiser around in a garbage can, but the motto on their banner is better left unrecorded. In the evening a large parade was formed at the city hall. In this marched contingents from the local Red Cross, the Home Guard company, the Cadet band and other local institutions. In all probably 400 people marched. On one corner the Kaiser in his carriage of state, who had been the main feature of the parade, was surrounded by an armed guard soaked with coal oil and made to expiate his misdeeds in a blaze of fire, while J. J. Moriarty made a short address, the gist of which was a congratulatory encomium for Shakopee on her steadfastness and loyalty through the great days now past and hope that the temperature through which the Kaiser was just passing was not a fleabite to what he was going to get later on in the kingdom to which he will shortly be assigned. The individual celebrations lasted late in to the night. So much for the noise.
In every home, especially in those from which boys had gone out to do battle for civilization, there was rejoicing just as fervent of a quiet and prayerful kind. As Christian people who have prepared to make every sacrifice required for the cause of country, civilization and humanity, our people turned to their God in the hour of victory and though public worship in the churches was unadvisable owing the epidemic, many a thankful prayer was offered in the family circles that the horrors of war had been lifted from the heads of loved ones on land and sea.
Shakopee Wants Cannon As Trophy. The war is over and Shakopee has given proof of her loyalty and devotion to the cause by the enthusiasm with which every war effort was supported as well as by her manhood contribution, many of whom joined the colors before the selective service act went into effect. Therefore the Tribune feels that the town should be presented with a public memorial of her activity in the cause of victory, and what could be more appropriate than that the United States government should present us with a cannon, to be placed in some public place, either the city hall yard or the court house grounds, to be a permanent memento to these memorable times. A captured German gun would, perhaps, be preferable as a war trophy, but one of the field pieces which helped to drive the Hun back to his lair would also be highly desirable…
Atty. J. J. Moriarty moved his office from the Busse building on First street to the Hinds block on Lewis st.
Mr. and Mrs. Christ Geisler and little daughter of Eden Prairie moved into the Broman house on First street, yesterday. Mr. Geisler bought the place last week, Mr. and Mrs. Broman going to Minneapolis to reside.
August Casselius Badly Hurt. August Cassellius met with an unfortunate accident at the Shane Bros. & Wilson corn mill Monday morning about ten o’clock. He was sweeping and oiling machinery on the second floor, and while oiling a shaft on one of the roller mills his coat sleeve must have been caught by the drive chain. The machine carried a protecting frame, but his arm was inside the frame for the purpose of oiling, and it was probably the frame which was responsible, in part at least, for the injuries he received. The arm, caught in the moving chain and held by the wooden framework, was broken in two places. In addition, the chain, before breaking and releasing him, tore the flesh loose from the bones of the forearm, inflicting a ghastly wound. No one was near at the time, but he was able to walk to the first floor where others were working. He was hurried over to Dr. Reiter’s office where the injured arm was set and dressed, and at the time of this writing (Tuesday) it is not believed that amputation will be necessary, although the torn condition of the flesh makes it somewhat doubtful if it can be saved.
A Boon to School Children. One of the happy results of the road grading job just north of the bridge which was not mentioned in the contract specifications is the gift to the schoolchildren (and the rest of us, too) of an artificial skating pond three-quarters of a mile long and twenty to forty feet wide, reaching from Riverside Park past the new cement trestle. Heretofore parents have had to worry over their children skating on the river, or on the lakes. But here is a skating pond close at hand and perfectly safe for the smallest children, the water being nowhere deeper than a few feet. Just now the ice is as smooth as glass, and it would be hard to find a better winter pleasure ground for the youngsters.
The Thanksgiving dance given at the opera house Wednesday night was fairly well attended, about seventy couples being present. The new home orchestra made its debut and is reported to have given general satisfaction.
Road Work Progressing
The line drag grading outfit engaged in grading the mile road is on the last lap and according to the operators that part of the big job will be completed by the end of next week, well within the time calculated necessary for that part of the operation. The machine was set up late in September, so it will have taken just ten weeks to finish.
The next job will be the packing and leveling of the road bed, which looks as if it might be a stupendous job. And after that will come the surfacing. It looks as though it would be a long time before the road will be in use again. But the temporary inconvenience will be well compensated for in a thoroughfare which will be free from all the hills to which ordinary roads are heir.
Home Guard to Cloquet. Orders were received at 3:30 o’clock Tuesday afternoon from Major Williamson of the M. H. G., commanding Company F to go to Cloquet to relieve other companies who have been on duty in the fire-swept region and to assist in the distribution of clothing and money for the refugees. Company F will also have its first experience in standing guard. Twenty-six members left on the evening train for Minneapolis where they were joined by Company A of that city and proceeded at once to Cloquet.
Owing to the absence of a large number of pupils from the grades on account of the fear of influenza, and as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of disease, the public and parochial schools were closed Tuesday for an indefinite time.
Airplane Visits Us. Shakopee was “bombed” about noon last Saturday when a Curtis biplane from the United States army air service mechanics school at St. Paul, manned by two aviators came wherring across country and gave an exhibition of aeronautics for the edification of the populace which was not slow in making its appearance when the presence of the machine became known. The aviators sailed low, barely missing the housetops and scattered litature broadcast, advertising the need of mechanics for air service. The driver circled the city and performed numerous stunts for about ten minutes before he headed for the twin cities and was soon lost to view. The same machine is reported by the twin city dailies as having visited other nearby towns.
John H. Moore has resigned his office as secretary of the Scott County Draft Board to accept an appointment by the U. S. Government with the Food Administration to supervise the buying and milling of gains in the northwestern states. Mr. Moore’s wide experience in the grain business has eminently qualified him for the position and his many friends recognize his ability and rejoice in his selection for the important work. Announcement of his successor has not yet been made.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bromann have moved to Minneapolis. Their home in this city was purchased by Chris Geisler who will move here in a week or two to reside permanently.
Speaking of the recent influenza epidemic Dr. P. M. Fischer says that after treating 350 cases of the disease in Scott, Carver and Hennepin counties and meeting with all its various forms and complications he is convinced beyond doubt that severe forms of this disease are not to be reached by any medicine outside of anti-toxin. Dr. Fischer introduced Dr. Rosnow’s vaccine two weeks ago and is using it most successfully.
Joseph Ploumen, our popular baker, is able to be up again after wrestling with the flu for several days.
Atty. W. N. Southworth has been appointed secretary of the local draft board to succeed John H. Moore who resigned to accept a position with the Food Administration. Mr. Southworth assumed his duties Monday.
Suffragists Organize
Under the direction of Miss Grace Randall of Minneapolis an equal suffrage club was organized in Shakopee Tuesday.
Miss Randall is one of the organizers for the Minnesota Woman Suffrage association. She is appointing committees in various towns to do the final work in making Minnesota women full citizens…
The following ladies were chosen as a ratification committee in Shakopee: Mrs. H. P. Marx, chairman; Mrs. W. F. Duffy, Mrs. Eli Southworth and Mrs. Henry Schroeder.
A new commercial department has been introduced into the curriculum of the high school, including all subjects embracing a complete business course. Miss Lucretia Lewis of Cannon Falls is the instructor and arrived Sunday evening to begin the work.
Will and Ed Veiht have rented the Condon block on First street and will start a repair shop and garage. The work of remodeling the building to suit their needs will begin in about two weeks.
Dr. H. P. Fischer arrived home Friday from his hunting trip. The doctor met with better luck than the remainder of the Shakopee nimrods having secured a moose and a deer. Mayor Lenertz, M. A. Deutsch, Frank Huber and Peter Klausman, who comprised a hunting party at Cloverton, returned the same day empty-handed, but Will Deutsch of Lake Crystal, another of the party, brought back a fine deer.
Company F, M. H. G. Presented With Flag
Company F of Shakopee, Minnesota Home Guards, is now the proud possessor of a large, beautiful United States flag presented to it by the generous and patriotic mothers, wives, daughters and sisters of the members of the company.
Prompted by the desire that Company F should have its own flag the immediate relatives of the members of that organization got busy and, directed by Mrs. C. G. Bowdish, ways and means were found and a s a result of which their desire was realized and the company has a flag all its own.
140 Donors Gave Blood Monday
Bringing to 756 pints the total volume of blood gathered in Scott county by the Red Cross mobile blood-gathering unit, 140 points were taken in Shakopee Monday Mrs. William A. Pomije, chairman, disclosed.
Monday’s collection was the largest obtained in Shakopee, Mrs. Pomije said, and was taken from 145 registrants, 15 of whom were from Prior Lake…
Expresses Gratitude for Local War Fund Support. Announcing this week that Shakopee residents and business places had contributed $1130 to the War Service Fund, Mrs. Donald Ries, local chairman, expressed her gratitude to everyone who aided in the work…
FOR RENT.—6-room house; immediate possession. ANTON BOEGEMAN, Shakopee.
Surgical Dressings Workers, Attention! The surgical dressings workers are asked to respond to a special call for work Friday, as the present quota of dressings can be completed on that day if any workers are present.
Short Wave Radio Employed by Telephone Company During Storm. Now that telephone communication has been restored to normal, and the damage caused by the recent snowstorm has been repaired, officials of the Northwestern Bell telephone company disclosed this week that a short wave radio transmitter had operated in Shakopee while lines were out of order…
A deal was completed Wednesday whereby Mr. and Mrs. Christ Lenzmeier have purchased the August Scherkenbach duplex, on West 5th street. Mr. and Mrs. Lenzmeier have occupied one of the apartments for the past several months.
Eagle Creek Farm Sale Recently Made. Another farm sale of recent days was that of Alton L. Peterson, who sold his farm located immediately east of Shakopee in Eagle Creek township, to Lawrence Boeckman of Jordan. Mr. Boeckman is planning to take possession on or about March 1…
Proposals At Council On Old Mill Building. Proposals on the old mill building, located behind Montgomery Ward on Lewis Street, being condemned by the City of Shakopee and the court action slated to be heard before a Scott County District court jury next week, were presented at the meeting of the Common Council of the City of Shakopee at a special meeting held Tuesday night of this week…
Sunday Liquor Gets Approval By City Voters. Shakopee voters gave approval to the proposition of sale of liquor being permitted in Shakopee, between the hours of 12 noon and 12 midnight on Sundays, in special balloting held in conjunction with the General election Tuesday of this week, November 5, the total being 1,383 “yes and 1,014 “no”…
$507 Theft At Shakopee Bowl
Discovered early yesterday (Wednesday) morning, November 6, was a break-in and theft of $507 from the Shakopee Bowl Bowling alley on East First…
Owner Norman Schesso who closed the firm on Tuesday evening, discovered the break-in and that the money was missing from a cash box, when he opened up again yesterday morning…
Valley Cues Included In Firms’ Acquisition Plan
A. C. Buehler, chairman, Victor Comptometer Corporation, Chicago, and Earl Feddick, president, Valley Manufacturing & Sales Company, Bay City Michigan, this week announced an agreement under which Victor plans to acquire Valley Cues, Inc. of Shakopee on an “exchange of stock basis.”
Gene Hullander, Manager of Valley Cues, Inc., 240 South Shumway, also announced that the personnel at the Shakopee plant would be retained and that there are to be no changes in management…
To Let Bids On Traffic Signals On November 22
Included among bids, estimated to total approximately $430,000, to be let Friday November 22, in the cafeteria of the Minnesota Highway Building, St. Paul, as announced last Friday, November 1, by Minnesota Commissioner of Highways N. T. Waldor, is the installation of one, full traffic actuated traffic signal and one semi-actuated traffic signal and an interconnect at the intersection of East First (Highway 101) and Lewis and Holmes Streets in Shakopee.
The work is scheduled to start on or before June 2, 1969, and to be completed within 35 working days.
Metro Council For County Rd. 18 Bridge Site
The Metropolitan Council Thursday, October 24, gave its approval to a proposed bridge of at least four lanes over the Minnesota River at Hennepin County Road No. 18.
The Bloomington Ferry bridge site, just north of the Stage Coach on Highway 101, east of Shakopee, Scott County No. 25 extends from the ferry bridge, south to Highway 101…
City Seeks Traffic Semaphore At Intersection On West First. A resolution memorializing the State Highway Department to conduct a traffic signal survey at Scott or Atwood on West First with the objective of the installation of a four-way semaphore was given unanimous approval at the meeting of the Common Council of the City of Shakopee held Tuesday evening of this week, November 12, in the City Building Council Chambers…
New Auto Service Manager. Don Gish has been appointed new service manager at Brambilla Motors, according to an announcement this week by Ron Brambilla…
Fire Routs Tom Berens Family Early Sunday
The Shakopee Volunteer Fire Department was called to the Tom Berens residence, 106 East Sixth, at 5:45 a.m. last Sunday morning, November 10 when a chair in the family room caught fire, routing the couple and their nine children from their beds…
According to Mrs. Berens, the home was not extensively damaged.
Femininity In City’s Parking Lot Proposal
Presented at the meeting of the Common Council of the City of Shakopee Tuesday evening of this week, November 12, was the adoption of designating the city’s recently completed five off-street parking facilities with a bit of femininity entering in.
Taking note that womanhood is often slighted in such cases, the proposal was that the five off-street parking lots be designated using the first names of women of pioneer families of the city. These included:
Louisa for Louisa Weiland, wife of Judge Theodore Weiland; Annie for Anna M. Gelhaye; Josie for Josephine Ries; Teresa for Teresa M. Lebens and Sophie for Sophia Coller.
Pointed out was that the city administration would need such designation of the lots, similar as is done in Southdale shopping center, in order to carry out maintenance duties, as well as the convenience of the public using the new facilities.
The Common Council took the matter under advisement, with it also being suggested that a system of numbers or alphabetical designation could also be used.
Settle Old Mill Jury Case Just Prior To Trial
Settled out of the court, just prior to a jury trial in Shakopee District Court yesterday (Wednesday), November 13, with Judge John Fitzgerald of New Prague, presiding, was the civil action of City of Shakopee vs. Kopp & Associates, a condemnation suit regarding the old mill building located behind Montgomery Ward on Lewis Street.
In the settlement the city acquires 12,750 square feet of property in a partial taking of the old mill site, including a right of way for the extension of Levee Drive. Settlement figure is reported to be $24,000 plus the city paying costs allowed by the District Court.
The settlement gives three and a half commercial lots to Kopp & Associates, similar to a proposal made at the special meeting of the Common Council held Tuesday evening of last week, November 5.
Kopp & Associates is to receive the payment from the city once a signed statement is received that the premises is completely vacated and ready for the city occupancy. Deadline on receipt of this statement is December 15. Included in the settlement is that the City of Shakopee is to raze the present old mill building. The city’s property acquired is equal to one and a half lots…
John Ries, Jr. Fire Chief. Shakopee Volunteer firemen held their annual election to name officers to serve during the 1969 year at a meeting held Monday evening of this week, November 18, at the Shakopee Fire station, Second and Scott, with John Ries, Jr., named chief to succeed Anthony LaTour, Jr…
Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service Sunday — Area First
A first for the community will take place at 7 p.m. next Sunday, November 24, when an Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service of Worship is held at St. Mark’s Catholic Church under the joint sponsorship of five Shakopee churches, with the public cordially invited.
Sponsoring churches are the host Church, St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Shakopee, St. John’s Lutheran Church of Shakopee, Christ Lutheran Church of Shakopee and Shakopee First Presbyterian Church…
Shakopee High School Students Host First Regional DECA Meeting. The Shakopee chapter of the Distributive Education Clubs of America was host of the first Regional meeting held Monday evening of this week, November 25….
Scott County to remodel jail annex to house medium-security inmates. The Scott County Board has earmarked $250,000 to turn one wing of the Scott County Jail Annex near Jordan into a medium-security facility for prisoners held by the state Department of Corrections…
Shakopee Bypass in ‘never-never land’?
Festivities surrounding the opening of the Shakopee mini-bypass and bridge Oct. 20 overshadowed the announcement that same day that the Minnesota Department of Transportation (DOT) was cutting or postponing $234 million in state road and bridge projects.
DOT Commissioner Jim Denn made the announcement at about the same time Mayor Gary Laurent was cutting the ribbon near the new Highway 169 river bridge with other local, state and federal officials in downtown Shakopee.
Although DOT officials downplayed the action — which include postponing completion of the larger Shakopee Bypass to 1997 or beyond — transportation lobbyists and some legislators are angry with both the Legislature and Gov. Arne Carlson…
Loan for Murphy’s falls through, county is told
Murphy’s Landing has yet to resolve some of its biggest money worries.
Commissioner Ray Foslid of Shakopee last week told the Scott County Board that he attended the most recent meeting of the Minnesota Valley Restoration Project (MVRP), which oversees Murphy’s operations, and learned that Murphy’s would not qualify for a low-interest loan from an organization that specialized in lending money to non-profit agencies…
School Board hears proposals for future courses in industrial tech
Computer modules, robots and lasers, and home construction may all be components of the Shakopee School District’s industrial technology courses in the future.
Industrial technology instructors from the junior and senior high schools appeared before the School Board Monday to present a report on what they had witnessed in other districts and what they felt could work in Shakopee…
They said they had been most impressed with industrial technology courses at junior high schools in Minnetonka and Edina, which included such areas as research, audio broadcasting, computer-aided drafting (CAD), engineering structures, lasers, robotics and graphic communications…
City to acquire land for water tower, well
The Shakopee City Council Nov. 3 voted to direct staff to pursue the acquisitions of property that would be used as the site for a water tower and well, which would be constructed by Shakopee Public Utilities.
On Nov. 2, the utilities commission voted to acquire the property near County Road 17 and the Timber Trails subdivision…
Alumni hoops tournament slated
Former members of the Shakopee High School boys’ basketball team are invited to participate in the inaugural Shakopee Boys’ Basketball Alumni Classic.
The tourney will be held Dec. 26-27 at SHS and will serve as a fundraiser for the SHS boys’ basketball program. The tournament is open to all former SHS players, graduates from 1950 to 1993. The tournament includes a single-elimination competition with a losers’ bracket. Each team is guaranteed at least two games. Interested individuals can either form a team of alumni or enter as individuals and be grouped on a team. The cost is $20 per person. Participants will receive a T-shirt…
Fire destroys home in former brewery. An out-of-control brush fire apparently was the cause of a blaze on Sunday that destroyed a former brewery in Jackson Township which was home to a woman and her dogs and cats, according to the Shakopee Fire Chief Frank Ries…
Mini-bypass ramps scheduled to be open. Construction on entrance and exit ramps on the downtown mini-bypass and bridge project was expected to be completed Wednesday by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (DOT)…
Warehouse for firm being built here. Construction has begun on a 299,600-square-foot warehouse for American Can Co. on a 16-acre site in the Valley Green Business Park in Shakopee…
Fire destroys 19th century barn at Murphy’s
An historic 19th century barn that housed four horses and a mule at Murphy’s Landing in Shakopee was destroyed by fire on the night of Nov. 10.
Although quick action by a staff member saved the animals, a number of 19th century artifacts as well as the barn itself were lost in the blaze, according to Ann Hittler-Grover, a member of Murphy’s operating board…
The barn originally was owned by a family named Ryan that farmed in 1860 near Jordan. The farm was located off Highway 169 — then a mere dirt trail heading south.
The barn was moved to Murphy’s in 1973 by Al Breimhorst, then-owner of the farm, according to Murphy’s Director Gerry Barker. At that time it joined the original Ryan log farmhouse, which was moved to Murphy’s from where it was built in Sibley County.
Also lost in the fire were 19th century harnesses and other workhorse equipment. In addition, a Pieta and a pew from a former Catholic church were lost…
Alley closed: Is onetime favorite headed for the gutter?
Back in the good-old days, bowling was counted as one of America’s favorite recreational past times. But have things changed? Is the once-beloved sport of bowling headed for the gutter?
Locally, with the closing of Shakopee Bowl and Prior Place bowling centers, the only remaining facilities for area bowlers are located in Chanhassen, Burnsville, New Prague and northwest Shakopee, near the Chaska-Shakopee border…
Church with rich history celebrates 125th anniversary
A Shakopee landmark will be celebrating its 125th anniversary Sunday, Dec. 5.
The special occasion is for St. Mark’s Catholic Church, the building with the spire that is a distinctive part of the Shakopee skyline. Its congregation will have special liturgies during Masses at 9:30 and 11 a.m. A beef and sausage dinner, open to the public, will be held after that in the school cafeteria, with serving until 2:30 p.m…
City terminates ice arena lease with hockey association
The Shakopee City Council Nov. 16 ordered the termination of a lease agreement between the city and Valley Ice Arena Inc., and approved the organization’s request to store its ice-cleaning machine in the former ice arena.
Valley Ice Arena wanted to terminate the lease, in which it utilized the “bubble”-covered hockey rink at Lions Park because the arena can no longer be used due to the poor condition of the covering…
A presentation by David Schleper for the Sakpe ti Senior Lounge, on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018.
Learn about the sports in early Shakopee, including Ta-ka-psi-ca-pi, or lacrosse, that men and women of the Dakota played on the prairie in the 1840s, to baseball played at Riverside Park, to football and baseball played by companies and schools in Shakopee.
Wayne’s father was age 68. He had a filling station at 139 Dakota Street in Shakopee. The pumps were not electrified. The customer would state how many gallons he wanted, and then the worker would use a hand pump to reach that level in the glass bowl. Then gravity would hose it to the car. Plastic had not been invented, and no metal quart cans of oil were used, as the aluminum was needed for building planes and tanks. If someone needed oil, they would fill quart bottles from a drum as needed.
Wayne, his son, was 11, and he waited on customers, as well. The station was closed about a year later, in 1943, because it was in a poor location. And gas was being rationed, with the average person only having stamps for three gallons per week. Margaret, who was a nurse, worked at the Cargill shipyard, and received extra stamps due to her vital work. She also had an extra battery installed under the hood of her 1939 Pontiac coupe, as the cars of the day were difficult to start in cold weather.
In 1939, Wayne’s dad’s legs were bothering him. He had been working for years plowing the fields with a team of horses. He let Elmer and Irene take over the farm after their marriage, and Dad, Mom, Rita, and Wayne moved to a house in Shakopee. It was a house acquired through a tax sale.
Rita and Wayne thought they were in heaven because they were only two blocks from St. Mary’s School, one block from the bakery, and two blocks from downtown.
There was no central plumbing or heating. Dad partitioned off part of the very large kitchen for a bathroom, including a tub. After years of an outdoor toilet and Saturday night baths in a washtub behind the kitchen stove, this was a real luxury.
A furnace was ordered from Montgomery Ward in St. Paul, and an installer came by train to put it in. He stayed with the family for two days as he did not have a car.
Wayne also remembered that they were only two blocks from the first indoor movie theatre that he had ever seen.
Farmers were not allowed to join the social security programs in those days, so the family had no real source of income. The house that was acquired through the tax sale was fixed up and painted, and it was rented, which helped.
For a few summers, Wayne’s dad worked for the State of Minnesota planting trees, but he could not stand the hot weather. During the winter he liked to attend court trials, and was always hopeful that they would need a juror, which would give them five dollars per day, probably equated to eighty dollars today.
In 1941, Wayne’s father acquired a large stucco home in rundown condition. The house needed to be razed through tax sale for twenty-five dollars. Rita and Wayne spent many hours stripping plaster and nails from the wall laths so they could be used for the new house. The new house was at 139 Dakota Street. With the help of a retired carpenter for framing, Wayne’s father did most of the building by himself.
On the afternoon of Dec. 7, 1941, Wayne and his father were working there when Rita hurried to tell them of the attack of Pearl Harbor. The family moved to the new house in 1942. Later, Wayne’s father would build two other houses in Shakopee on speculation, one on East First Street, and another near the women’s reformatory.
During the war, Wayne’s mother and other ladies gathered at the reformatory to cut sterile bed sheet into thin strips and rolled them to be used for treating the wounded soldiers in Europe. Since the family lived near the railroad tracks, hoboes riding the trains often came to the door asking to work for food. Wayne’s mother gave them sandwiches and sent them on their way.
In the early days, the Milwaukee Railroad had a daily freight train with a passenger car on the end between Farmington, Lakeville, Prior Lake, Shakopee, and Chaska, returning that afternoon.
At Credit River, about one mile from the church that the family attended was a siding. A siding, in rail terminology, is a low-speed track section distinct from a running line or through route such as a main line or branch line or spur. It may connect to through tracks or to other sidings at either end. Sidings often have lighter rails, meant for lower speed or lighter traffic, and few, if any, signals. This would not happen today, but at that time, trucks to carry goods to the Twin Cities were not very reliable. Instead, the farmers could use this siding to ship crops to market.
Every fall, Wayne’s dad would contract to sell a load of grain, and each winter a load of cordwood. On the appointed day, Mary, Margaret, and Helen would go to the siding and flag the train down and instruct the trainmen where the empty boxcar was located. Elmer would stand on the hill behind their house and listen for the whistle of the steam engine approaching the grade crossing. Then if he heard the engine starting up several minutes later, Elmer and Wayne’s dad would hitch teams of horses to the already loaded wagons. The girls would be waiting at the siding, and help load the boxcars, which were huge in size and required many wagon loads to fill.
Two days later, they would return again, flag down the train to transport the car. Wayne’s dad, Elmer, and at times a hired hand would spend much of the winter cutting wood as there was no fieldwork at that time of the year.
Helen remembered that every second day, Wayne’s mother would bake 13 loaves of bread and two tins of muffins. When a hog was butchered, she would cook and can the meat in mason jars. The pork was put in huge crocks with a layer of salt between each.
Wayne remembered asking his sister about their parents. She replied in part that “We were lucky to have such good, hardworking parents who did not smoke, drink, curse or gamble.” Wayne, on July 9, 2014, agreed, saying, “How true!”
(This information is from Thoughts Towards a Better World, #953, by Wayne as he remembered the early Shakopee in the 1940s. Kathy Garvey, granddaughter of Wayne’s dad.)
Last night at about seven o’clock county commissioner Henry Brueggemann met with an accident at Kauth’s hotel barn that is a most serious if not a fatal one. M. T. Theis and he were about to hitch up and drive home. Mr. Theis walked down to his brother’s to get his overcoat, leaving Mr. Brueggemann to get the horse out. When Mr. Theis returned after the lapse of ten minutes he found the unconscious form of his brother-in-law lying near the door where he had evidently dragged himself after receiving a fearful kick in the side from a horse. It was found that four lower ribs of the left side are broken and internal injuries may also exist. The injured man recovered consciousness this morning but at last reports was very low. The news of the accident will be received with sorrow, as Mr. Brueggemann is a favorite with all who know him.
The J. Schank Packing Co. is now ready to buy at the highest market prices all the hogs offered them.
The Rademacher boys who shot the old man John Wojohn one evening last summer, and afterwards claimed to have mistaken him for a bear, were found guilty of manslaughter in the second degree by the Chaska court last week, and each was sentenced to a fine of $350 and one year in the penetentiary.
Wm. Beggs will remove to the Moore house on east Third street.
Misses Kate and Anna Flaherty intend to engage in the dress making business in the Jacob Reis building within a few days.
C. E. Busse moved into his new and elegant place of business last Monday with a fresh stock of goods. The appearance of the store well nigh eclipses anything in that line in the valley. The building as a whole is certainly a most valuable addition to the town. The other rooms of the building have not as yet been rented.
The brick work on the Berens building is completed and some idea of how greatly it will add to the appearance of the north side of First street may now be formed. The block is made up of solid brick or stone buildings from the opera house to the bank and is faced on the other side by another block of excellent brick stores, the whole making a business street which takes the shine all off of our sister towns, and in this fact do we glory, yea, without ceasing.
The usual weighty blanket of silence that settles down upon us on the first day of the week was on last Sunday evening at about 6:30 o’clock torn all into shreds by the clanging of the firebell. The effect was similar to that of a stick thrust by the inquisitive small boy into a big sleeping hornet’s nest. All was instantly turned into motion and commotion. The fire department got out in a remarkably short space of time and made a quick run to Kohls & Berens’ store, only to find that the blaze had been already squelched. It seems that Geo. Kohls had opened the store to get some cotton batting for a farmer. He struck a parlor match to get a better light on the subject, and a spark flew into the inflammable substance. He jumped down with the two rolls which seemed afire and started for the door, but on looking up saw the whole pile in a blaze. The alarm was given, but a few who rushed in were able to carry all out before any serious damage was done. It was a narrow escape from a disastrous fire, and was attended by all the excitement which usually accompanies a serious conflagration.
The Scott County Driving Ass’n held a meeting last Tuesday night and decided to give a free matinee next Saturday the 21st. A committee of business men has agreed to conduct the races and farmers will be chosen as judges in their race for another harness. Particulars next week.
B. J. Gellenbeck has rented one of the commodious new stores of the Busse Block and hopes to be ready for business by the first of next week. Beside the restaurant business he will engage in the retail grocery trade.
The Misses Flaherty have opened a dress making establishment in the Jacob Ries building on First street and would solicit a share in the public patronages. Latest styles and methods of work at satisfactory prices.
A. M. Strunk claims the distinction of having shot the first wild goose of the season. The bird tipped the scales at nine pounds.
The union depot is being treated to a coat of real fresh paint, heroically applied both externally and internally. The interior walls are light and dark drab and the ceilings are sky blue, while the outside has assumed the sombre hue of clay. The whole makes a most appreciable and acceptable improvement.
The merry-go-round left for greener pastures this morning. The outfit does not carry away with it quite so big a lump of the lawful coin of the realm as did the first one. This fact is due, however, to the inclemency of the weather, and not to any feeling of satiety of fun on the part of the infant, the schoolboy, the bashful lover, the merchant, and the old man. Each and all have given themselves up to its fascination on the pleasant evenings. But when the gaily painted horses and carriages have passed away, when the little nigger has faded from sight, and the air so lately rent by those little tunes lies all about so wounded and still, then will remorse come crowding in and one will wonder how he ever could have made such a fool of himself as to pay his nickel, straddles diminutive broncho, and go sailing around the track in his innocent glee for the space of five times sixty seconds. It does seem foolish, but we wager that when the next one comes along, and the engine begins to puff, the gaslight to flicker, the rollicking music to burst forth on the ear, and those little horses go bobbing around the circle, the very fellow who philosophizes thus will be the first one to hop on for another whirl. ‘Sic eunt fata hominum. [See Webster’s Unabridged, p. 1685.]
Peter Annen is erecting a commodious barn upon his residence lot.
Rev. C. H. Sweatt will move into the brick house on east Third street lately occupied by Paul Fischer.
In the list of veterinary surgeons licensed last week we note the names of Otto Dierberger and August Entrup.
Mathew Lies will remove his family from Marystown to this place within a week or two. His son Peter who is soon to be married will run the farm in the future. Mr. Lies intends to build a comfortable residence here in the spring.
The mill company is indulging in a feeling of pleasure over the recent award of a medal by the World’s Fair judges to their “Our Matchless Quality” brand of flour. It is a source of congratulation both to the company and to the town.
The three houses recently purchased of F. C. Heroux by Aug. Scherkenbach have been reshingled and repainted. Their value is much enhanced by the result.
B. A. Kohler has purchased a half interest in the carrouselle which has just removed from town. The outfit will be shipped to California direct, and the owners will depart for that sunny clime within a week or so. The outdoor life and light occupation will no doubt have a most salutary effect upon Mr. Kohler’s health.
An addition to the cooper shop is soon to be built. The increasing amount of business demands more store room as well as working room. A three story brick addition 24×24 will give the additional space needed. This will make the shop about 120 feet in length and three stories in height at the rear. Another drop in the bucket of Shakopee’s little boom.
Frank Huber met with another severe loss by fire last Tuesday. Wm. Groskopp’s steam thresher was busy at a setting on his farm when sparks from the engine set fire to the grain. Six stacks of wheat and separator were burned. It will be remembered that Mr. Huber suffered the loss of all his buildings except the residence last Fourth of July, and this makes his second loss seem doubly unfortunate.
Nic Heger is tearing down his old residence and will immediately erect a substantial brick dwelling upon the same site. The new building will be two stories high, its width 28 feet, and its length 38. About twelve feet of the rear of the old building has been left standing to serve as a kitchen, and together with the new part will make a most commodious dwelling. The old structure was one of Shakopee’s landmarks, having been erected in 1856 by Thos. H. Pitts, who used it as a general merchandise store for several years. Many will remember the old sign on the front of the building just above the door. Its ghost is still there under the paint and may yet be read thus: “CHEAP CASH STORE.” After many vicissitudes the building fell in the way of a school and played an active part as a hall of learning for some time. It was finally made over into its recent form and had been occupied as a dwelling up to this week when it was forced to succumb to the influence of Shakopee’s boom.
The Misses Flaherty, located in the Jacob Ries building, are busily engaged in dressmaking, with new methods and at new prices.
The steamer G. A. Mower of St. Paul was the first one to take advantage of the high stage of water in the Minnesota. The boat passed up the river Monday afternoon, returning the next day. The effect of the dam at the foot of Pike Island is most noticeable. The water is several feet higher and there seems to be little or no current. There is water enough between the banks to float a Diamond Jo line steamer. And won’t it seem like old times, though, when the musical notes of the river steamer’s whistles are again heard every day, the dray loads of freight go rattling and creaking to and from the levee, and the deck hands trot back and forth in a steady stream across the gang plank with their loads of produce and merchandise, while the big engines chough with a mighty rythm that grows louder and louder as the smoke begins to pour in a black torrent from the smokestacks, the bell rings “all aboard,” the gang planks are hauled in, the big fellow settles slowly and gracefully away from the bank, the great wheels revolve, the boat turns, and speeds rapidly away down the green hedged banks of the river. And the old steamboating days it would seem are about to be revived. They should be. Even if there be no profit in it, someone ought to run a steamboat on the Minnesota just for the poetry there is in it. We should ourselves were we not so busy. But with the business of our mills and factories, the shipments to our merchants, and the passenger traffic that would soon fall into line, there is no reason why the owner of a boat might not pick up quite a little profit along with his poetry. All will be glad to see the thing tried next spring at any rate.
Frank Buch, our progressive lumberman and coal dealer, has erected a spacious coal shed 16×30. The walls are made of 2×6 timbers and give a very substantial look to the structure. It is located near the depot and beside the north sidetrack of the Milwaukee road.
There are on exhibition at Val. Zoller’s shoe store some fine specimens of corn and mangel wurtzel. One root of the latter tips the beam at over twelve pounds. Michael Klerrer of Marystown poses as the husbandman.
Berens and Nachtsheim have decided on a complete change of base. Hereafter goods will be sold invariably for cash and their prices have been reduced to accord with the new method of business. Try them and see if the change is not for your good as well as their own.
Building Looming Up. Work on the new women’s reformatory has been progressing with satisfactory rapidity, in spite of the difficult labor and material situations, and Mr. Snell, the state’s supervising architect, was of the opinion Wednesday that the brickwork would be completed in a week or ten days, unless delayed by the non-arrival of the stone for the facing. The plumbers have been at work for a matter of weeks. Practically all of the steam pipes have been laid in the basement and the force is now working on the first floor. We saw Ted Veiht wrestling with the 8-ton boiler Wednesday and probably that’s in place by now…
Bold Auto Thieves. A representative of Hewitt, the Minneapolis contractor, who was here Tuesday to look after the painting of the foot bridge, came very close to losing his car. He and his boy went up town to eat lunch and left the car at the roadside where the ditching machine is working. When they got back the boy saw the car moving off. He told his father, who at once gave chase. As luck would have it, the thieves tried to make Teig’s hill on high and killed the engine. They must have had more than ordinary difficulty in starting the engine, for the owner was able to overtake them. As soon as they saw that they couldn’t get away with the car, the thieves jumped out and ran for it. There were two of them, and as they jumped from the car their pursuer noticed one’s hat fall, and he was quite certain that he recognized the head of a woman as the robber stooped to recover the hat. The other was a man, without doubt. Having recovered his car, it did not occur to the owner to report the attempted theft. Had he telephone the police from Teig’s there is no doubt that they would have been apprehended. From the description given of them it is believed that the thieves are a couple who spent Tuesday morning in Shakopee.
John Abeln bought the Buch home, east of St. Mark’s church this week and moved his family therein on Tuesday. The McHugh family is occupying the upper floor.
A service flag, containing eight stars was dedicated at the Presbyterian church last Sunday. Short services were held, H. D. Funk of Macalaster college officiating.
Jacob Mahowald moved his stock of tombstones to his house on First street and has given up the office in the Scherkenbach building for the present.
Mrs. W. S. Newgard and daughters, Lillian and Marion left for their new home in Devils Lake, N. D., this morning. Several farewell parties were given in their honor the past week.
Capt. Geo. H. Jones to Leave. It is a matter of general regret that George H. Jones has resigned his position as agricultural instructor at the high school and will move to Minneapolis this week. Owing to the fact that Mr. Jones has taken only one year at the Minnesota U he also had two years at Ames and the state board requires two, it transpires that the school would be unable to get its full appropriation for agriculture with Mr. Jones in charge of the department. Hence his resignation…
Work was begun this week on the new depot at Merriam, to replace the one destroyed by fire some time ago. The building will be of brick and will be built by the M. & St. L. railroad company.
The Red Cross chapter shipped two large boxes of clothing for the Belgians, this week.
Road Work Progressing
The popular point of interest at present seems to be the road across the river where the big dredge is at work. Since the commencement of operations less than two weeks ago the machine has advanced about 1500 feet from its starting place just north of the park and all along that distance has piled earth 8 to 10 feet deep upon the old roadbed. The machine, which has drawn the interest of so many since it commenced its career down the road, is well worth a few minutes of one’s observation as it plunged its scoop into the earth, scoops up a yard or so of unloosened soil and with another movement swings its load over the grade and dumps it, repeating the operation at the rate of better than once a minute. Just where operations are now under way the soil is sticky and hard to work and things are going slower, but in dry soil the machine can probably throw two yards a minute.
At the present rate of progress the grading job should be completed by the end of the year…
August Gelhaye has rented the Busse building on First street, and has opened a first class restaurant. He will also have a line of confectionery, ice cream and soft drinks.
Miss Rose Lenertz has accepted a position in the freight depot at the Omaha station, on Monday. Her positon at the mill has been supplied by Miss Spindler.
Home Guards Busy
Sunday afternoon Co. F, M. H. G., of Shakopee received orders to mobilize for duty in the fire area near Duluth. At 4 o’clock the company was drawn up in front of the court house, and after being instructed by Lieut. Childs to hold themselves in readiness for immediate call the men were dismissed.
Next Sunday morning at 9:10 the company will fall in at the schoolhouse and from there it will march down the St. Paul road to the place where the review will take place before Maj. F. E. Williamson. The Red Cross Girls will serve dinner for the battalion.
Organize Red Cross Orchestra. Some time ago C. G. Bowdish was requested by some members of the Shakopee Red Cross chapter to organize an orchestra of home musicians to play for Red Cross dances and other functions, the idea being to turn into the treasury some of the money paid out for mere expenses of outside orchestras. Sometimes this expense amounts to as much as the wages of the players. By engaging home people this can be saved. Mr. Bowdish succeeded in getting together four people with whom will be associated a first class drummer. This will make a five-piece orchestra consisting of violin, cornet, trombone, piano and drums. The drummer, of course, will carry bells and miscellaneous traps. The first rehearsal was held Monday evening and the first dance will be given on Thanksgiving, if the Influenza epidemic has subsided by that time. So far the personnel of the orchestra includes Miss Beulah Bowdish, piano; Howard Delwo, violin; R. C. Byrde, cornet; August Lebens, trombone.
Joseph Fisher and his helpers are laying cement sidewalks on the north and east sides of the high school block.
The Poehls home in east Shakopee is being remodeled.
Miss Ida Scherkenbach is assisting in the office of the local Draft Board, temporarily.
Fire destroyed the farm residence of John Cameron, known as the Fewer farm, last Sunday afternoon. The origin of the fire is unknown and the loss is covered by insurance. The Cameron family were planning on moving into the house this week and had already moved canned fruit and vegetables, which were consumed by the flames.
Shakopee Merchants Comply War Order. It may be noted elsewhere in this issue that the merchants of Shakopee are going to comply with the Conservation and War Industries Boards whose orders are that all business houses must adjust their business to the end that the expenditure of every ounce of time and energy may be conserved. The nation’s business—your business and my business right now is the prosecution of the war, yes, the winning of the war in the shortest possible time. In meeting this requirement the loyal merchants of Shakopee are adjusting themselves to a situation over which they have no control, but in doing so they are contributing their bit to the sum total of the nation’s forces which at this time are being waged that freedom “shall not perish from the earth.”
Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Swanson have rented the home of Mrs. Lena Spindler and will take possession as soon as it is vacated by Mrs. Spindler who will reside in Minneapolis.
Jos. M. Geis, who was one of the prize winners at the Scott county fair, this week sold four fine Shorthorn calves. The purchasers were E. J. Pond, Matt Sand, Matt Stocker of Jordan and a stockraiser of Jordan.
Miss Matilda Marschall is spending this week in Minneapolis. Miss Marschall has resigned her position at the University Farm school and will return home to remain until after the holidays when she will return to the twin cities.
Jacob Mahowald, proprietor of the Shakopee Marble and Granite Works, has moved his stock to his home and the Scherkenbach building formerly occupied by him is now vacant. Mr. Mahowald will continue in the business, with his office at his residence.
John Abeln has purchased the residence property of the late Frank Buch and moved in Tuesday.
Mrs. P. M. Fischer Heads Child Welfare Work. One of the most important lines of war work prosecuted by the Woman’s committee of the Council of National Defense is that of child welfare. Mrs. P. M. Fischer has been placed in charge of this work for Scott county and will carry it on under the direction of Mrs. James Swan of Minneapolis who is state chairman. An article is published elsewhere bearing on this work.
Home Guards Mustered In. Thursday evening of last week the Home Guards recently organized by George H. Jones were mustered into service, Major F. E. Williamson, commanding the 13th Minnesota Home Guard battalion of Minneapolis, administering the oath to some 30 members. Major Williamson was accompanied by his staff officers, Capt. T. C. Snider, Capt. Carroll Crowl of A Company and Capt. J. R. Kelly…
Peter Paul is busily engaged in renovating John Berens’ store with a fresh coat of paint.
As a result of being accommodating Will Dietrich is carrying his right arm in a sling and will lose the use of it for several weeks. While in Jordan Saturday Will offered to crank a Ford for a friend and the car back-fired, breaking his wrist in the joint and causing a very serious injury. All of the Jordan physicians happened to be away and Will was forced to return home before he could receive surgical attention. Dr. Reiter is his attending physician.
Farm Home Burned. Last Sunday afternoon fire of unknown origin destroyed an unoccupied frame building on the John Cameron farm in Eagle Creek. The house was formerly the old Fewer home. The fire had gained great headway before it was discovered and the building was burned to the ground. Mr. Cameron was planning to move into the place and had the cellar stored with vegetables and a large quantity of home canned goods which had been put up for the winter. All of it was a total loss but insurance was carried on the building.
The Wm. Habeck family have moved into Wm. Sudmann’s home in East Shakopee.
Cement sidewalks are being laid on the north and east sides of the high school block, Joseph Fischer having the contract.
The home on First street formerly occupied by the late Mrs. G. W. Kinsey has been rented by George LaValle.
Red Cross Group Convened Friday. Comprehensive reports of the vast amount of mercy work and gratuitous service rendered in the past few months by the Scott County Chapter of the American Red Cross were presented when the officers and committee heads of the organization met with Miss Estelle Jamieson, county chapter chairman, at the Women’s Reformatory here, Friday night…
Telephone Co. Employees Entertain at The Riviera. Employees of the local telephone office, entertained at a luncheon, Wednesday evening of last week, at The Riviera, in compliment to two of its members. The honored guests were Mrs. Milton Greta, chief operator for a number of years who has been transferred to a St. Paul office, and for Miss Evelyn Hauer, whose marriage will be an event of the near future…
New Company In Operation Here. A new corporation known as Alloy Metals Co., has taken over the operation of the Kienzle & Merrick Co. here, P. W. Casey and Henry C. Klages, Minneapolis, two of the three incorporators, disclosed in an interview Monday afternoon. The third incorporator is Willard Morse, also of Minneapolis. J. A. Coller, II is the attorney for the new company…
798 Tons Scrap County’s Quota. A total of 798 tons of scrap iron and steel has been set as Scott county’s quota in the Victory Scrap Bank drive now under way, E. G. Leibold, county salvage chairman, said today…
Shakopee Girl Vies for Utah War Queen Title
The Salt Lake (Utah) Telegram of Oct. 4 carried a pleasing photograph of a Shakopee girl with this caption and copy:
“Her hopes are high—Miss Wynnie Huber, blond secretary, is the choice of the personnel placement department of service command unit 1904, at Fort Douglas for the title ‘Utah State War Queen’.”
Miss Huber, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Huber, of Shakopee, was one of the first candidates announced, the paper disclosed, and “she will vie with queens from war plants and organizations all over the state and will take part in the night parade scheduled for 7:30, October 12.”
The contest winner is to be selected by Lorraine Day, Hollywood celebrity.
Local Cigarette Fund Provides 3,000 Packs
Approximately $150 was obtained from the “milk bottle” cigarette fund recently sponsored here by the Shakopee Civic and Commerce association, Dallas Capesius, secretary, disclosed Tuesday.
The fund has purchased 3000 packages of cigarettes, which have been consigned to General Eisenhower’s men with the compliments of the Shakopee civic group.
Fire Threatens Industries Here
The Kienzle and Merrick plant and the adjoining Page and Hill plant in West Shakopee, were seriously threatened by a fire of undetermined origin, on the roof of the Kienzle and Merrick plant, Tuesday afternoon.
Chaska and Jordan fire departments were summoned to assist the Shakopee department in fighting the stubborn blaze that centered at the terminus of a blower system which carries wood dust and particles from the Page and Hill plant. The blower terminates in a hopper and it was in that area that the fire fanned by a strong south wind, raged…
Red Cross To Gather More Blood in County
New opportunities for Scott county residents to give their blood to save the lives of the nation’s fighting men, will be afforded in November and December, when the Red Cross mobile blood-gathering unit returns to the county, Miss Estelle Jamieson, county Red Cross chairman, announced Tuesday.
The mobile unit is scheduled to visit Shakopee, Nov. 1, and Jordan Dec. 1…
Two Pet Dogs Victims of Recent Poisoning. Two 5-month-old rat terriers, the pets of Frank Dircks and Jerry Regan, were reported to be the victims of poisoning this week. Jerry’s dog has partially recovered from the violent effects, but Frank’s dog failed to respond to treatment…
Offers Reward for Dog Poisoning Information. A communication from James Nankivell, executive agent of the Minnesota Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, advises that his society is investigating the recent epidemic of dog poisoning in Shakopee and is offering a reward of $150 “to anyone giving information leading to the arrest and conviction of dog poisoners.”…
National Tea Opens New Food Market in Shakopee
The National Tea Company Food Stores, purchaser of the assets of the former C. Thomas chain, opened its new store in the Dawson building, here last Thursday. A. J. Hillesheim is the store manager, and “Bud” Wendling is in charge of the meat department.
Redecorated and fitted with new fixtures and equipment, the modern food market offers the accommodation of semi-self-service, which, according to the management, is proving popular…
Plan To Hire Scott County Library Director. The Scott County Board of Commissioners in session Tuesday of this week, October 1, at the Commissioners’ room in the Scott County Courthouse at Shakopee, directed Scott County Auditor Joseph Ries of Shakopee to advertise for applicants for filling the position of director of the new Scott County Library System to become effective on January 1, 1969…
GOP Headquarters. Now at the northwest corner for First and Holmes, adjacent to Shakopee Realty, is a house trailer located this past week to serve as the Nixon-Agnew headquarters for the City of Shakopee.
New manager of the Montgomery Ward and Company Catalog and Retail Store, First and Lewis Street, Shakopee, is Remo Peterson, who took over the manager ship duties this week, according to an announcement by company officials…
New 200-Bed Package Disaster Hospital On Hand To Meet Any City Emergencies
St. Francis Hospital administration announced this week that the strength of St. Francis Hospital, Shakopee has been increased many fold with the delivery of a 200-bed package disaster hospital.
The unit augments the present 117-bed capacity of St. France Hospital, and is a complete hospital unit in “every sense of the word,” hospital authorities said.
The “package” includes an X-ray unit, operating room tables, instruments, medical supplies, sterilizers and two stand-by generators for light and power.
City and Scott County officials present for the unloading of the unit, which is now stored partly in the new Shakopee Public Utilities building, Fourth and Naumkeag, and partly at St. Francis Hospital, stated they were impressed with the completeness of the “hospital.” They added that it is a boost for the area should a disaster occur.
According to hospital officials, the package hospital is so complete that “it is like having a 200-bed wing available in the event of need.”
Stored in the new utilities building are many cases and crates of unperishable items such as beds, instruments and the generators. Each package is marked and coded for delivery and set-up so that the entire “hospital” could be put into service within 24 hours…
Light Bulb Sale To Aid Day Center
The Shakopee Lion’s club will begin a house-to-house light bulb sale canvass, beginning next Monday October 7, and continuing through next Wednesday, October 9. Bulbs are to be sold in “Thank You” packs, containing two 60-watt bulbs, two 75-watt bulbs and four 100-watt bulbs at the regular retail price of two dollars.
Proceeds from the project are to be given to the Scott Day Activity Center, Inc. at Belle Plaine. According to Mrs. John Strunk, chairman of the board of directors for the Center, the money will be designated for the children’s transportation fund…
Dick Hennen Plow Contest Winner. Dick Hennen of Marystown won first place in the Minnesota Horse plowing contest last Saturday, October 5, at Owatonna…
City Sunday Liquor Vote To Be On Nov. 5. Approved on a unanimous roll call vote at the regular meeting of the Common Council of the City of Shakopee held Tuesday night of this week, October 8, was that the proposition of Sunday liquor be placed on the ballot, with voting by residents of the city to be during the General election on Tuesday, November 5…
Maurice Stans Among Nixon’s Cabinet Choices
Maurice Stans, former Shakopee resident and member of the 1925 graduating class of Shakopee High School, has been named as possible Secretary of Treasury in a Nixon-Agnew administration…
Stans was named in a recent issue of “Newsweek”, along with other prominent citizens, as GOP Presidential Candidate Nixon’s preferred choices for the nation’s Cabinet. Among others named were Governor Nelson Rockefeller of New York, Governor George Romney of Michigan and Governor William Scranton of Pennsylvania…
The Crow’s Nest is the nickname for the press box recently erected behind the bleachers at the Shakopee High School gridiron on Tenth Avenue. Purpose of the structure is to allow faculty members to photograph movies of the football games in progress. The movies are shown the following Monday to players enabling the coach to make individual suggestions on player improvement, and to point out mistakes as well as to review successful plays. The movies are also shown to Sportsmen’s groups, including the Shakopee Sports Boosters. Reported at a Shakopee School District No. 720 Board of Education meeting Monday of this week, October 14, was that the structure is to be completed with the Shakopee Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club volunteering financial assistance.
Lauren Sorenson Assumes Duties As New Cubmaster For Pack 218. Lauren P. Sorenson, 721 South Madison, assumed duties as new Shakopee Pack No. 218 Cubmaster at Parents night, for all parents of Shakopee Cub Scouts, held on Monday of last week, October 7…
School Board Inviting Architects To Confer On Future Building Needs
Decision to invite three architects to a special meeting on Monday, October 28, of the Shakopee Public School District No. 720 Board of Education, set to consider future building needs of the school district, as well as to hold an adjourned meeting tonight (Thursday), October 17, to further consider this topic, was made at the regular meeting of the District No. 720 Board held Monday evening of this week, October 14, in the Board room at the Senior High School on Tenth Avenue.
At the meeting this evening, District No. 720 board members plan to further consider the alternates of construction of a new Elementary school in the southeast sector of the city, remodeling the present building at Fifth and Holmes for a Junior High facility; addition of a possible wing on the present High School; need for an auditorium, as a further stage of the present Senior High School’s building program; or a combination of these, along with the consideration of the “round school concept” and the “middle school approach” to curriculum presentation…
Smash Glass In Break-In Attempt. An attempted break-in at Great North Trading Post on Highway 101, east of Shakopee, was apparently foiled when the thermo-pane window, at the front, cracked through the burglar alarm system. The incident occurred sometime during the night or early morning hours last Thursday or Friday, October 17 or 18…
Recommend Reformatory Replacement. Among recommendations made by the task force of the Minnesota Governor’s Crime Commission last Thursday, October 17, was that the obsolete Women’s Reformatory at Shakopee should be replaced with a possible institution to care for women from several states…
Razed to make way for an addition to the present warehouse of the Jacob Ries Bottling Works, at the corner of Holmes and West Third was the former J. J. Berens residence, just west of the bottling firms’ facility that includes the plant, offices, and a warehouse. The home of the former pioneer Shakopee merchant is believed to be some 85 years old…
Taking shape, with the structural steel being erected, is the extensive addition to Valley Cues, Inc., 240 South Shumway, pool cue manufacturing firm. The expansion is a 30,000 square-foot addition that will, in effect, double the floor space of the firm and is being erected to the north of the present facility and along Second Avenue.
Area Highways, South City By-Pass Included In Studies
The Minnesota Highway Department has signed contracts with two consulting engineering firms to conduct in-depth studies for two highway planning areas, including those in the immediate Shakopee area.
The agreements are the first attempts in Minnesota to utilize consulting engineering firms in what is called “the total design team concept approach” in highway planning.
The larger of the two projects involved portions of Trunk Highways 169, 212 and 41 in Hennepin, Carver and Scott Counties. The object is to determine the most favorable approach to providing updated highway facilities for the area immediately southwest of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area…
In addition the preliminary design will include a recommendation for a Trunk Highway bypass south of Shakopee…
New Two-Mile Road For VIP; Now Negotiating With 15 Firms
Valley Industrial Park (VIP), on Highway 101, just east of Shakopee announced it has begun construction of two miles of blacktop roadway to save new industrial tenants.
Dr. John Clegg, president of North Star Research and Development Institute, developer of the park, said the new roads, 66 feet wide, will make available an additional 250 acres of land for industrial sites. He said that nearly 200 acres already have been developed and are occupied by six firms…
Ordinance On Utilities Secretary Post Fails. Ordinance No. 263, dealing with the combining of certain city offices with that of the City Administrator, and particularly that of the Secretary of the Shakopee Public Utilities commission being combined with the office of the City Treasurer, after a second reading failed to pass on a roll-call vote with all four aldermen present voting “no.”…
Architect Presentations At School Board; Vote For Same Firm
Following presentations by three architectural firms, the Shakopee School District No. 720 Board of Education on a four to two roll call vote chose Armstrong, Schlichting, Torseth and Skold, Inc. of Minneapolis, architectural firm for the Sweeney Elementary School, to be consultants with the District No. 720 board on its present planning for future school facility needs…
Discussion also reflected that the District No. 720 board in planning of future school facility needs is considering possibilities of a new Elementary school building for southeast sector of the city; a possible remodeling of the present building, known as the Junior High building at Fifth and Holmes, to include more complete science, home economics and industrial arts facilities, and a possible new auditorium to serve all schools tentatively considered as another phase of the building program at the present Senior High School building on Tenth Avenue.
Downtown bypass, river bridge to open on Oct. 20. The Minnesota Department of Transportation (DOT) has scheduled a grand-opening ceremony for the long-awaited downtown Shakopee mini-bypass and new Highway 169 river bridge for Wednesday, Oct. 20 at 1:30 p.m…
School expansion costs below projections
A contract for the construction of additions to Pearson and Sweeney elementary schools was awarded Monday during a special School Board meeting.
Adolfson & Peterson Inc. of Minneapolis was awarded the contract with a base bid of $6.4 million. The School Board voted an additional $462,000 to be spent on contingencies, including folding partitions for classrooms at Pearson, corridor carpeting at Sweeney, and air-conditioning at both buildings, for a total project cost of $6.86 million…
New Boy Scout Troop No. 12 starts in Shakopee. With the growth of Shakopee comes the addition of a new Boy Scout Troop— Troop No. 12. Larry Underkoffler, the district executive for Minnetonka District of the Viking Council of America, which covers Shakopee, said that the council has recognized the need for an additional troop…
Names differ, but grocers strive to provide Super Valu
Workers from Lyle’s Sign Co. drove into the parking lot at Cleve’s Red Owl in Shakopee recently and removed the big red owl face which at one time represented 400 Red Owl supermarkets across Minnesota. It was a face that looked out to First Avenue since 1965.
In its place now is the name “Cleve’s Super Valu” — a name that store owner Dick Cleveland has long wanted to call his own. After remodeling the store and putting up the Super Valu name, Cleve’s held its grand opening Oct. 3…
Cop to be assigned to schools
The Shakopee School Board Monday approved a plan in which a Shakopee police officer will spend about two hours per day each in the junior and senior high schools.
Under the joint school district-city program, officer Tom Crocker would start school visits on Monday…
St. Francis, HealthSpan reach accord
The affiliation of St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Shakopee with HealthSpan Health Systems Corp. of Minneapolis was made official last week…
Under the agreement, HealthSpan will be responsible for day-to-day operations at St. Francis…
Schleper named baseball coach
Back in the early 1980s, Shakopee High School’s Tom Schleper was one of the stars who helped SHS earn a reputation as an area baseball power. Now, about a decade later, Schleper will be leading the Sabers as the head baseball coach.
Schleper was recently hired as the school’s head baseball coach, replacing Bob Britz. Britz has taken the year off from his teaching duties to explore a business venture. His absence from the teaching scene created the coaching vacancy…
Old bridge to remain for pedestrians, bikers
The old Holmes Street Bridge is only supporting its own weight now that the new Highway 169 bridge has opened.
The old bridge will be maintained for bicyclists and walkers, but only for a time: State and local officials say it will be torn down within five to seven years to make way for a smaller, wooden bridge that will tie to a Chaska walking trail and new pedestrian tunnel under the mini-bypass…
Word circulating that track will be sold soon
Reports are circulating among the Minnesota horse racing industry, legislators, and local officials that Canterbury Downs may soon have a new owner.
Rick Reichow, vice-president and chief financial officer of Ladbroke Racing Corp., the Shakopee racetrack’s co-owner, declined comment when asked whether there were negotiations underway for the purchase of Canterbury. Reichow did say that should a buyer emerge, it would be the new owner — not Ladbroke — that would make the public announcement…
Rezoning request for housing tabled by city
A Minneapolis developer has asked the Shakopee City Council to rezone approximately 68 acres of land south of Fourth Avenue and about a half-mile west of Canterbury Downs to allow for the construction of single-family homes in an area that is now zoned for multi-family units only.
After discussing the matter for two hours at its Oct. 13 meeting, the council tabled the matter until Nov. 16.
The proposed development, called Prairie View, would include 142 single-family homes in the mid-$90,000 range, and 280 multi-family units. It would also include about eight acres of park land. The property is held in the estate of Lorraine Lenzmeier…
A presentation by David R. Schleper for the Shakopee Heritage Society Membership Meeting on Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018. This presentation covers life in Shakopee in the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s, when Shakopee had a reputation as “Little Chicago.”
By David R. Schleper
John Shoto (also called Shodo) was born at Wabasha in March 1798, and remained with the band of Chief Wabasha until he was 25 years old. At that point, he joined the Red Wing band of Dakotas, serving with Chief Redwing near Barns Bluff for 15 years, according to Dr. David Laframboise.
Shoto came up the Minnesota River and was a brave in the Ŝakpedan or Little Six band in Tiŋta-otoŋwe, later called Shakopee. After the Dakota Uprising in 1862, Shoto became a scout under Governor Sibley. He served from 1862 to 1870. In 1872, Shoto returned to Shakopee as chief of the Little Six band.
In the beginning of January 1899, Old Shoto was about town, peering out of his almost sightless eyes and now and again saying “Hau! Hau!” to all who gave him a merry greeting. Hau is Dakota for “hello.”
Nearly everyone in Shakopee and Scott County knew Old Shoto, and many pioneer settlers in other parts of the state remembered the old Dakota scout. It is also interesting to hear how smart Shoto was. He used to stop at various houses of rich people in downtown Shakopee. He would ask for food. If the housekeeper was there, she would fill his plate with lots of food, and Shoto was happy. When the woman of the house would answer the door, Shoto asked for food, and one rich woman would look disgustingly at him, and would give him two pieces of bread and little more. Shoto would point to his throat, gesture that he had a sore throat, and then would leave. He knew he could find something better at other houses, where the people were friendlier.
Fr. J.J. Girrimondi of St. Mary’s Catholic Church baptized Shoto, who was one of Ŝakpe’s braves, in 1895.
The 1880 census noted that Shoto was born in 1813, and was 67 years old and living in Shakopee. The 1895 census noted that he was 91 years old, born around 1804, and living in Eden Prairie. In an issue of the Scott County Argus, editor C.G. Bowdish noted that his age is a matter for some conjecture, and is variously placed at from 102 to 109 years old. “There is a large painted portrait of him in a Minneapolis house on Nicollet Avenue that is labeled ‘109 Years Old,’ but from his own reports and the traditions of the Sioux, he was probably about 105 at the time of his death,” noted Bowdish.
According to Eden Prairie: A Brief History, Chief Shoto died in January 1899 at the age of 99 at his home in the American Indian settlement in Eden Prairie (across from Shakopee, on the north side of the river.) He died within the walls of his beloved tipi at the reservation east of town at 3 p.m.
His wife, Anna, survived him, and died at the age of 90. Their daughter, Caroline Moore, died as an infant in 1830, and was buried in the Valley Cemetery in the pauper field (next to Dan Eddings, the African American who lived, worked, and died in Shakopee).
He also left two (or four) grandchildren. Fr. Flemming of St. Mary’s Church in Shakopee buried old Shoto, who had been converted by his predecessor.
And now you have a little bit of information about John Shoto, who was a good friend with Ŝakpedan!
(Some information from Eden Prairie: A Brief History, by Marie Wittenberg, 2010, The History Press; The Shakopee Story by Julius A. Coller, II; Shakopee Tribune, Jan. 27, 1899; Scott County Argus, Jan. 26, 1899; Jordan Independent, Feb. 2, 1899.)
When Thomas A. Holmes and William Louis Quinn arrived in the area called Holmes Landing (later called Shakopee) the area was called Tiŋta-otoŋwe, a village of 600 Dakota Indians. Learn about the white people who moved to the area over the next few years, and the Indians who were already here for 175 years before the white people arrived.
This presentation by Shakopee Heritage Society Vice-President and Senior Research Chair David R. Schleper was held on Oct. 9, 2018 for the Sakpe ti Senior Lounge at the Shakopee Community Center, as part of the History of Shakopee Series.
By David R. Schleper
After the United States entered World War I in 1917, Minnesota women, like Americans across the nation, were called to contribute to the war effort. Though some went to Europe and served as nurses, drivers, and aid workers on the battlefields, many more participated on the home front. They took on new jobs, conserved vital resources, and joined volunteer organizations.
Women joined, led, and donated their time and money to groups that provided soldiers with food, shelter, and supplies. They joined YWCA sewing and knitting circles to craft items for soldiers and civilians. They rolled bandages and collected funds for the American Red Cross. In 1918, these Shakopee women, called Bandage Girls, stood on the east side of Lewis Street in Shakopee, between First and Second avenues.
Ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920 finally granted them, and women across the nation, suffrage (the right to vote).