All posts by Wes Reinke

Jerry Carl Regan (1917-1997)

People

Compiled and written by David R. Schleper, 2024

Jerry Carl Regan was born Dec. 18, 1917, in Akeley, Minnesota, son of William Alvin Regan (1881-1947) and Augusta Louise Winkelman Collins Regan (1882-1968). His grandparents were Jeremiah H. Regan (1842-1922) and Bridget Agnes Buckley Regan (1843-1924).

Jerry graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in pharmacy in 1941, the year he married June Kahler. June Dorothy Kehler was born April 25, 1917, in Minneapolis. They married in Excelsior on Aug. 25, 1941.

Jerry started his career as a pharmacist in Bemidji at Johnson Corner Drug Store. While in Bemidji, Jerry was a member of the Jaycees and was chairman of the Water Carnival. He was also a member of the Elks Lodge in Bemidji.

Jerry and June had three children: Emily Louise in 1942, Jerry William in 1944, and David Frank Regan in 1949.

In 1949, Jerry purchased the Scott County Drug Store in Shakopee and the family moved here. According to an article in the Shakopee Valley News on Jan. 23, 1997, Jerry owned and operated that store, which had the distinction of being the longest continuously operated drugstore in the state, until 1975.

The drugstore started on the northwest corner of First and Holmes Street in 1860. It was started by Charles Bahnerd. The drugstore moved to 120 East First Avenue and sold to Charlie Lord in 1873. In 1883, the drugstore moved once more, this time to 109 South Lewis Street. It was sold to Ben Kohler.

In July 1893, Math A. Deutsch, a registered pharmacist, and Herbert Zettel, purchased the drug store and a lucrative insurance business from Ben A. Kohler. Six years later, Mr. Deutsch bought Mr. Zettel’s interests in the business, thus becoming the sole owner. In 1898, Math was joined by his brother, Frank, in the operation of the business. The called the store Deutsch Drug Store.

Built upon the practice of the golden rule, a trait so frequently lacking in the highly competitive commerce of the modern day, the Deutsch Drug Store enjoyed a large patronage and an enviable reputation, noted the Shakopee Argus-Tribune on July 10, 1952.

“Many thousands of painstakingly compounded prescriptions, which restored health and helped to preserve life had passed through the cautious hands of the two brothers. In 1952, Math was 81 years old, and Frank was 75. Both of them welcomed the opportunity to give up their daily grind that has been theirs for so many years, though they must have missed the long business association that was soon drawing to a close.”

Paul Nevin and Bill Krawnblaud purchased the drugstore in 1946, and then kept it until December 1947. At that time, it was moved to 102 West First Avenue and called the Scott County Drug Store. It included new fixtures and a new fountain featuring Bridgeman’s ice cream, according to the Shakopee Valley News, Jan. 23, 1985.

The drug store was purchased again on March 4, 1949, this time by Jerry C. Regan from Bemidji. He moved with his family to Shakopee.

In an article in the Shakopee Heritage Society Newsletter, “Memories of the Scott County Drug Store,” Lois Marschall Wendt remembers Lalapaloozas and Lalapalooza Juniors. “It was a very large sundae with many kinds of ice cream and toppings,” Lois said. “I had to make egg salad, tuna salad, and ham salad sandwiches. The ham salad was made from the left over ham we had baked at the Shakopee Bakery…People loved the fresh baked ham sandwiches.”

“Every day we would have special jobs. I can’t remember each day, but I do remember Thursdays. We had to climb up on the window ledge above the whole length of the soda fountain and wash the windows. The neon light signs were really scary. And balancing on the window ledge in our white uniforms wasn’t very appealing to us at all. We would love to have Thursday off!”

“Sometimes Jerry would be very particular about how many ounces went into each cone, but not very often. Bridgeman’s would come out every once in a while for a soda fountain school. I remember Mabel Huth and Adeline Schneider. Mabel worked the fountain and Adeline worked the drug store,” noted Lois. “Jerome (Squint) Jaspers would always try to trip me up when making change. He would pay for his coffee and cigarettes. I would ring it up, and then he would add something else, so I would have to add the two together. He couldn’t understand why this was so hard. Of course, cash registers then were not like today!”

Another thing that Lois remembered was when the younger soda fountain workers would help in the drug store if needed. “They would ask me what they should do if someone asked for something and they didn’t know what it was. One guy came in and asked this poor innocent woman for condoms, and of course, she asked what it was used for (as per my instructions)! He quickly asked for the pharmacist as most guys did in the first place!”

In an article in the Shakopee Valley News in 1994, Carol Ann Johnson Schneider, Class of 1956, remembered, “We traded comic books and learned the words of all of the popular songs from a book we bought at Regan’s Drug Store.”

At the Women’s Reformatory (now known as the Minnesota Correctional Facility-Shakopee) the Shaw Cottage was the Shakopee Home for Children from Sept.19, 1951 to June 30, 1969. At that time, 30 girls from ages 4 to 12 lived in the cottage, with ten staff members and ten inmates who assisted, providing a program of rehabilitation with a humanitarian aspect. Jerry Regan and family from the Scott County Drug Store showed up every Sunday morning with two buckets of Bridgeman’s Ice cream for the children. In 1960, the fountain was taken out and the store was remodeled.

Jerry lived the Rotary motto of “service above self” as a civic leader in Shakopee, according to the Shakopee Valley News on Jan. 23, 1997. “Besides being a founding member of the Shakopee Rotary in 1955, and its second president, he was a founding member of the Shakopee Parks and Recreation District. He was committed to politics as a committee chairman, caucus leader and fund-raiser for the Independent-Republican Party for more than 40 years and as a Shakopee school board member from 1952-1967.”

“His love of the outdoors made him active in the Boy Scouts and his faith in God made him active in St. John’s Lutheran Church in Shakopee as chairman of the building committee from 1952-1957. Rev. Skip Reeves said Regan was ‘extremely well thought of’ adding that he ‘went out of his way for many people.’”

On June 4, 1976, the Deutsch/Scott County Drug Store closed after 114 years of business. After a long illness, Jerry Carl Regan died on Jan. 14, 1997, in Shakopee. His wife, June Kahler Regan, at age 94, died at Shakopee Friendship Manor Nursing Home on Feb. 4, 2012. She was an active volunteer with the St. Francis Hospital Auxiliary, community blood drives, a life-long Sunday school teacher and church worker, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts at which all benefited from her twinkling eyes and radiant smile.

Jerry and June were buried at Valley Cemetery in Shakopee.

Maximus Guido “Max” Wermerskirchen (1931-1959)

People

Compiled and written by David R. Schleper, 2020

Maximus Guido Wermerskirchen was born in New Prague, Minnesota on Jan. 2, 1931, son of Peter Paul Wermerskirchen and Clara Marie Beckius Wermerskirchen.

His family moved to Shakopee after a few years. After grade eight, Wermerskirchen decided he was done with school. He quit and took a job on the Grommesch farm. He was 14 years old. While working on the farm, Max fell in love with the farmer’s daughter, Beatrice, known as Bea.

In the 1950s, Max took a construction job in Alaska for several years. He saved enough money to buy a home. He proposed to Bea, and when she accepted, he moved back to Shakopee. They had three children, Sandra, Steven, and Larry.

He had been employed at Rahr Malting Plant in Shakopee in a maintenance job for the last three years of his life. Maxvolunteered for the fire department in December 1958.

Why did he volunteer? It just seemed to be the right thing to do. It was a way to help others. 

Max was always helping others. When his parents called, he would be over in a flash. They lived nearby, and he helped install storm screens, mow the lawn, or take care of anything that was needed.

Max’s younger sister, Clareen Ries, remembered that “He knew everybody in town, knew everyone’s names. He would do anything for anybody.” The whole town liked him.

Max left his home and his family very early in the morning of Sept. 30, 1959, to fight a fire at Schesso-Hughes Auto Dealership in downtown Shakopee. He never returned.

It was a difficult fire to put out. Explosions from gasoline tanks, grease, and oil made it more difficult. Firefighters from Shakopee, Carver, Chaska, and Jordan fought the blaze for over five hours.

Max, who had joined the fire department nine months before, offered to take the place of an older firefighter and climbed to the roof of the building. He had to help ventilate the garage and douse the flames from above. “But, just before 2 a.m., the roof collapsed, sending Wermerskirchen below into the smoke. He hit the roof of a large, concrete vault within the building—likely used as an office or for records storage—but nobody knew about it, and Wermerskirchen’s fellow firefighters couldn’t find him in time to save him.”

According to the Shakopee Valley News, Max died quickly without the breathing equipment which now is required. In 1959, there were only three or four packs for the whole department.

In the Jordan Independent, “Eighteen cars inside the structure including five new models, along with tools and equipment, were destroyed. Cause of the blaze which started about 1:30 a.m. is not known. Firemen said it apparently started near the center of the garage.”

Heroic rescue attempts were made by Fire Chief Art Dubois and other firefighters, who entered the burning building again in vain search for the victim. The body was brought out about 4:30 a.m.

The garage, which covered a half-block on Lewis Street, was a complete loss. The damage was estimated at $200,000. In today’s time, this would be nearly $1.7 million!

Maximus Guido “Max” Wermerskirchen was only 28 years old, and left behind his wife, Bea, and three preschool children. This was the only firefighter to die in the line of duty in Shakopee.

Every year since, the fire department in Shakopee, Wermerskirchen family, and past members of the fire department meet at the Catholic Cemetery in Shakopee, where they have a graveside service. Then they head to Fire Station 1 where they grill steaks and have a buffet-style dinner. It is the time to connect the younger guys to the history and pass on the values and traditions that have shaped the department.

Max Wermerskirchen was added to the Minnesota Fire Service Memorial at the capitol in 2012. It commemorates the firefighters who have died in the line of duty.

Bernardino Dean Taranto Toronto (1901-1941)

People

Compiled and written by David R. Schleper, 2023

Bernardino Dean Taranto Toronto was born Jan. 27, 1901, in Seattle, Washington, son of Giuseppe Joseph Taranto, Sr. (1873-1962) and Lillian Margaret Lilly Lehnertz Taranto (1874-1943). Dean’s grandparents were Bernardino Taranto and Santina Santa D’Arrico Taranto, who were born in Italy, and Gerard Lehnertz (1831-1913) and Joanna Jane Rossbach Lehnerz (1846-1878).

Two years after he was born, Bernardino’s father died in Seattle, and in 1905 the widowed mother and the four-year-old son moved to Shakopee. Dean, as he was called, attended school and grew to maturity, according to an article from the Shakopee Argus-Tribune on July 7, 1941 called “Dean Toronto, 40, Buried Saturday.”

Bernardino Dean Taranto Toronto married Mary Ellen O’Brien (1906-1956), daughter of John O’Brien (1872-1960) and Catherine Kate Gallagher O’Brien (1872-1943) in St. Paul.

Dean and Mary Ellen lived in Shakopee, where they had six children: Howard Joseph (1924-2007); Patricia Mary (1926-2018); Eugene Francis (1928-2004); Margaret Ellen (1930-1939); James Edwin (1931-2016); and Marc Edward Toronto (1938-2009).

According to the article in the Shakopee Argus-Tribune, Dean was “a good hearted, upright and honest man…above all else a devoted husband and father. He was known for his genial disposition and warmly regarded throughout this area where he had spent the major portion of his life.”

In the beginning of July 1941, Dean was working on an electric power line in Carver, north of the city of Shakopee. While he was working on the line, Dean was killed. The Minnesota Star on July 10, 1941, and the Minneapolis Tribuneon July 10, 1941, had an amateur photographer who watched all the drama.

Dean, on July 9, 1941, came in contact with a wire line he had just repaired. He slipped from the pole he was climbing and was electrocuted. Rescuers made a daring attempt to haul down lineman Dean Toronto, who was a victim of high-power wire near Shakopee. While they tried to rescue him as he hung from top of a pole by his safety belt, it was not enough, and Bernardino Dean Taranto Toronto was killed, leaving his widowed wife and five children.

“His death came as a stunning blow not only to his immediate relatives but to every one who knew him,” said the article in the Shakopee Argus-Tribune. Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Father McRaith at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Shakopee, and Father Kauer officiated at the grave. The pallbearers were R.S. Condon, Roy Dellwo, Harvey Dressen, Morse Johnson, and George A. Ring.

Mary Ellen sued the city of Shakopee, the Travelers Indemnity Company, insurance company, and the Minnesota Electric Service Company on Oct. 30, 1942.

The record held to sustain finding of industrial commission that the lineman was an employee of electric service company and not of the city at time of his death, according to Julius J. Olson, justice. The review, an order of the industrial commission, awarded compensation to the widow of Dean Toronto. The issue is whether at the time of his fatal injury the employee was working for the city of Shakopee or for relator, the Minnesota Electric Service Company. They found relator to be such employer, and on appeal the industrial commission unanimously affirmed.

Neither the relator nor the city produces electric energy, and neither has facilities for its production. The city purchases power from the Northern States Power Company not only for its own distributing system, which is wholly within the city limits, but also to service the relator’s customers, some 100 in number, in an area adjacent to but outside the corporate limits of the city. The city resells the electric energy required by the relator at a profit to itself.

Toronto was a resident of Shakopee at the time of his death and had been for several years. His work was in the electrical field. He rendered service to the city from time to time, and, as an individual enterprise, also did a lot of work wiring houses and making other electrical repairs and installations for private individuals and concerns.

Dean handled wires charged with electricity. These are referred to as “hot wires,” and Toronto was called “the “hot wire man.” On the day in question, as he was making a last connection of these wires to complete his job, he was electrocuted.

A few of the facts may be thus summarized:

Toronto had been paid at the rate of 75 cents per hour while he worked for relator, for whom he had rendered many services in the past and at various times. His regular pay when employed by the city was 60 cents per hour. When he worked for the city, it was his custom to punch a clock registering the time when he started his work each day and likewise when he finished. The last day he worked was July 1. There the time clock stopped as far as Toronto was concerned. His death occurred on the ninth.

May he rest in peace.

Anna Thelka Sr. Alberta Bögemann (1880-1982)

People

Compiled and written by David R. Schleper, 2024

Anna Thelka Bögemann Bogenmann was born on a farm on Sept. 20, 1880 in Marystown, Minnesota, the second oldest child of John Bögemann (1850-1905) and Helena Pieper Bögemann (1848-1889). Eventually John and Helena had two boys and two girls.

Anna remembered her grandfather, Anton Pieper, who was living in St. Louis, Missouri when the cholera epidemic broke out. Her grandmother, Sophie, and three of the four children died. Anton, along with his only living child, Helena, gave the local orphanage nuns $200 to took care of Helena, who was Anna’s mother, and Anton headed to the Gold Rush in Sacramento, California. Three years later, Anton returned to Minnesota, picked up his daughter, and eventually settled in Marystown. He hired John Bögemann as a hired hand, and later he married Helena Pieper. With the $3000 dowry, John and Helena bought a farm near Marystown, where Ann Thelka Bögemann Bogenmann was born.

According to the News Page on Sept. 25, 1982, Anna showed a keen interest in learning. At five years old, she insisted on joining her older brother when he started school in Marystown.

When Anna was nine years old, her mother died on Sept. 29, 1889. Two years later, her father, married a second time, to Maria Franzen Bögemann (1863-1939). Three boys and two girls were born in the second marriage.

Anna, at age 15, entered the order of the School Sisters of Notre Dame in Milwaukee, becoming an aspirant in 1895 and taking her final vows in 1903. She became Sr. Alberta Boegemann, SSND.

In the History of St. Mary’s Purification in Marystown, Scott County, Minnesota, which was written on the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee of the parish on June 12, 1930 by Reverend James Klein, he noted that Anna was one of 17 sisters who entered Marystown in the course of 75 years. “Sister M. Norberta (Anna Boegemann, daughter of John Boegemann and Helen Pieper), born September 20, 1880, and who is at present stationed at the College of Notre Dame, MD.”

When Sr. Alberta Boegemann was living in the Milwaukee Motherhouse, and under the kindly guidance of Sr. Cunigunda, she began her years of training. In August 1899 she received the habit, and in December 1899 she was sent to Formosa, Ontario, where she taught grades seven, eight, and nine for nine years. In July 1903 she took her First Vows in Milwaukee.

In 1908, Sr. Alberta was transferred to St. Anne’s, Kitchener, where many future Notre Dames were privileged to be in her English, Latin, and history classes. In 1920 she taught for a year in Longwood, Illinois, and in 1925 began six years of teaching at Notre Dame of Maryland. The remaining years of teaching were spent in Ontario, in Wakerton, Kitchener, and Waterdown. She spent a short time in St. Agatha in the 1940s recuperating from ill health. By 1944 Sr. Alberta was back in the Academy classrooms, where she taught until 1957.

Sr. Alberta was an inspiring teacher. She was a cultured woman. When the Ontario government in the early years of the 1900s required that teachers had to have Ontario qualification, Sr. Alberta was one of the first American sisters to receive a First Class Certificate in 1911. She also held a B.A. degree from Queen’s University and Fordham University, New York.

In her early years of retirement, she continued worthwhile reading and current events to satisfy her alert mind. Sr. Alberta could sometimes be seen reading a dictionary. When asked why, she explained, “When I get to heaven I want to be able to talk to God in high-flown English.” When her eyesight declined, she focused on favorite phrases in her large-print bible.

She was a delightful conversationalist and would relate with much enjoyment anecdotes of her teaching years. She was always very gracious and so grateful for favors done. As she became older, deafness cut off from participation, but with an appreciative smile and sly wink she would show her gratitude. 

Sr. Alberta celebrated her 100th birthday on Sept. 20, 1980. She received greetings from the Queen, Prime Minister Trudeau, and Premier Davis. Sr Alberta enjoyed the day with many friends, and repeatedly gladdened their hearts with her many quick, appreciative winks.

On Sept. 25, 1982, at age 102, Sr. Alberta Bögemann Boegeman died at the Canadian Mother House, Villa, where she lived. She was intern at the Villa Cemetery.

“She was a very unique woman and a marvelous teacher,” recalled Sr. Miriam, a teacher at the convent. “Whenever I meet one of her students they go into ecstasies about her teaching. I’m a bit envious I didn’t have her as a teacher.”

Sr. Claire, 83-year-old nun who had Sr. Alberta, remembered her as a teacher who made everyone in the classroom feel important. Sr. Antoinette recalled “She could make the works of Shakespeare come alive.”

“Quite a dramatic teacher, but very regal, too,” said Sr. Antoinette.

According to Sr. Claire, “She didn’t walk across the room—she floated!”

Anna Maria Wolf Busch (1870-1958)

People

Compiled and written by David R. Schleper, 2024

Anna Maria Wolf was born March 8, 1870 in St. Joseph Township, daughter of Mathias Mather Wolf (1835-1925) and Anna Deutsch Wolf (1831-1922.). According to the John Wolf-Margaret Gerardy Wolf Family Tree, Mathias had emigrated to America with his parents and brothers and sisters in the year 1854 when he was 20 years old.

Because of Tettingen’s location close to the Moselle River, many immigrants followed the stream to LeHarvre, France, and left the continent from there. They would have arrived in the port of New York, going overland to Chicago, and on to Galena, Illinois, where they traveled up the Mississippi River to St. Paul. From St. Paul, it would have been on to Shakopee via the Minnesota River and from Shakopee, they walked the distance to St. Joseph Township, carrying all their possessions.

Johann Wolf (Anna Maria Wolf’s grandfather) had declared his intention to become a U.S. citizen on May 19, 1855, and therefore he became eligible to receive homestead land from the government. Under the pre-emption plan, settlers-colonists could purchase surveyed public lands for $1.25 per acre through the government land office. Wolf filed his claim at Red Wing, the land office for Minnesota Territory, on Sept. 12, 1855, and received a deed for 120 acres of land in Sand Creek Township. The deed was signed by President Franklin Pierce on Nov. 1, 1856, in Washington, D.C.

The land that Johann and Marguerithe Margaret Gerardy Wolf settled on was hilly with heavy clay soil and covered with trees. Before the family could farm, the members had to clear the trees, and they used the wood for erecting farm buildings. Johann and Margaret saw their children marry – John Jr. to Magdelina Ruppert; Mathias to Anna Deutsch; Peter to Frances Kerrer; Frank to Mary Meyer; Margaret to Matt Hennen: and Katherine to John Deutsch.

It was in 1857, three years after coming to this country, that Mathias took Anna Deutsch as his bride. She had come to America from Besch, Germany, in 1855, with her parents, five brothers, and one sister. Anna’s parents, John and Mary Deutsch, had settled nearby in Helena Township. The couple was married at St. Joseph where the parish had just been established and was without a formal church structure. In fact, it was John Wolf, Peter Ruppert, and Wilhelm Budde who donated the land for the eventual church building and cemetery of St. Joseph.

The pair turned to farming like their parents and ancestors, buying a 100-acre parcel in Helena Township. The papers were filed at the land office in Henderson and signed by President Abraham Lincoln, Aug. 1, 1861.

Together, Mathias and Anna Deutsch Wolf did their full share of subduing the Scott County wilderness and converting the woods into fertile fields. After Mathias’s father died in 1873, the couple shared their home with Mathias’s mother until her death from pneumonia in 1885.

In the 1880, after all their nine children were born, Anna and Mathias sold their farm and moved to one near St. Benedict. The couple became active in the church and school of St. Benedict, and it was in 1887, when the present church was built, that Mathias joined his neighbors in donating the labor to raise the structure.

Eight of the couple’s children married and struck out on their own. The children and spouses included: John and Mary Haus; Margaret and Michael Beckius; Mathias Jr. and Rosalia Koelzer; Peter and Catherine Cenzius; Frank and Frances Schloesser; Anna and Andrew Busch; John Michael and Sophia Pranke and Helen and Andrew Busch and Anton Scheffler. Their daughter Mary, second youngest child, died at the age of 27.

The couple watched with pride as their children grew to be respected citizens in their communities. In 1905 they lived with son Frank and family, according to the census but the children of Frank’s stated that their grandparents never lived with them.

Perhaps they were visiting the day the census was taken. At the time of their deaths in 1922 and 1925 Mathias and Anna were living with their son Michael and his family on Michael’s farm. (Both Mathias and Anna’s death certificates have wrong information on them. It is stated that Mathias was 79 years, 11 months and 13 days and buried in New Prague. The birth and death dates are correct so subtract the 2 dates and you get over 90 years old. Also, Mathias is buried in St Benedict as the stone marker is there. On Anna’s death certificate, it is stated that her father’s name is John and it should have been Mathias.)

In 1883, Anna Maria Wolf had her first communion at St. Benedict. She was 13 years old, and Fr. Asimirus Hueppe, O.S.F., was the pastor. In May 1893, she married Andreas Andrew H. Busch (1869-1947) who was born in Sand Creek Township Aug. 17, 1868, son of Henry Busch (1837-1919) and Anna Maria Roentgen (1841-1886). According to the John Wolf- Margaret Gerardy Wolf Family Tree, Andrew was a well-known Marystown farmer and retired in Jordan. The witnesses for marriage were Peter Busch and Lena Wolf, and the priest was Fr. Pulthoff.

Anna and Andrew had several children: Florian Henry; Julian; Hildegarde; Bertha M.; Francis; Alphonse M.; Alice; Rosetta; Loretta Rosalia; Elmer John; and Emma.

Andreas Andrew Busch died March 17, 1947 in Jordan, and was buried at the cemetery in Marystown. Anna Maria Wolf Busch died Aug. 19, 1958 at age 88 in Sand Creek Township. The service was at St. John’s Catholic Church in Jordan, and Anna was buried at St. Mary’s Purification Catholic Cemetery in Marystown, next to her husband.

Ann Pow Kinghorn (1811-1889)

People

Compiled and written by David R. Schleper, 2023

Ann Pow was born December 12, 1811, in Tranent, East Lothian, Scotland. Her parents were Robert Pow (1770-1854) and Jean Richardson Pow, born in 1780 in Scotland.

In Tranent, on December 19, 1830, Ann married David Kinghorn, who was born in Scotland in 1809. David’s parents were George H. Kinghorn, born in 1785 in Fogo, Scotland, and died on January 29, 1871 in Shakopee, and Agnes MacLaren Kinghorn, born in 1786 and died in Scotland in 1866.

David learned the miller’s trade. Around 1830, David and Ann headed to Ontario, Canada. David was employed as a miller for four years, according to The History of the Minnesota Valley by Edward Duffield Neill in 1882. He then worked in New York for six years. Then, in 1839, the family moved to Kane County, Illinois, where David worked in milling for three years, and then bought 160 acres of land. He later sold the land and purchased one section of Cook County, Illinois, where he farmed for ten years.

Meanwhile, Ann gave birth to twelve children: David, Agnes, George Franklin, Janet, John Mitchell, William, Robert, David, Thomas, Elsie, Margaret, and Charles Kinghorn.

In 1852, the family came to Eagle Creek, now Shakopee, Minnesota Territory, where they pre-empted 160 acres of land. He later owned eighty acres. David Kinghorn was sergeant-at-arms at the first constitutional convention in the state, was a representative in the first legislature, and for years held offices of trust in the town and county.

The family moved to Redwood, Lower Sioux Agency in 1860, when Ann was 52 years old. David taught school there for two and a half years.

In the summer of 1862, the Redwood Agency was one of the first places attacked during the U.S.-Dakota War. The government had defaulted on their treaty with the Dakota Indians. The Dakota were supposed to be paid and supplied with provisions for surrendering (or taking) their lands. The summer was extremely hot and dry, and food supplies were running low. There was no forthcoming help for the people and so in their desperation for survival, the Dakota began to attack colonists-settlements and farms.

A story has been passed down that David and Ann were rescued from the attack on the Lower Sioux Agency by their Dakota friends who hid them in a wagon and covered them with hay and took them to a place of safety, according to the Kinghorn History by Elaine Kinghorn Hill, Linda Martin, and others who have cooperated with its compilation.

The Lower Sioux Agency, or Redwood Agency, was built by the federal government in 1853 near the Redwood River in south-central Minnesota Territory. The agency served as an administrative center for the Lower Sioux Reservation of Santee Dakota. It was also the site of key events related to the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862, according to Matt Reicher at “Lower Sioux Agency.” MNopedia, Minnesota Historical Society. http://www.mnopedia.org/place/lower-sioux-agency (accessed August 29, 2024).

Four bands of Dakota—the Mdewakanton, Wahpekute, Sisseton, and Wahpeton—ceded most of their homelands in southern Minnesota with the 1851 treaties of Traverse des Sioux and Mendota. They were forced to reservations along the Minnesota River in exchange for food, supplies, and regular payments from the U.S. government. In 1853 the U.S. created the Lower Sioux Agency near Morton to issue these goods to the Mdewakanton and Wahpekute bands. An agency for the Sisseton and Wahpeton bands was built north of the Lower Agency at the mouth of the Yellow Medicine River.

The Lower Agency compound was made up of about a dozen buildings clustered around a council square. Four traders’ stores stood nearby. Laborers, teachers, merchants, and missionaries lived on-site. The agency housed officials and provisions to meet the Dakota people’s needs related to the treaties. It also built manual labor schools, mills, and blacksmith shops. David Kinghorn and family were there while David taught at the school there.

Agency workers tried to persuade the Dakota to conform to Euro-American customs. They encouraged them to give up hunting and gathering and to rely on farmed crops and livestock for food. Only about 150 of the 3200 Dakota on the reservation became farmers.

A poor harvest in 1861 followed by a harsh winter ravaged the Dakota on the reservation. In 1862, many were starving. Tribal leaders looked to agency officials to meet the government’s treaty obligations: food, supplies, and money. Previous payments had been made in June. When that month passed without a delivery of gold from Washington, Indian Agent Thomas Galbraith (from Shakopee) promised to issue the goods and money together by July 20.

In early August, Mdewakanton leader Thaóyate Dúta (His Red Nation, also known as Little Crow) met with Galbraith and the traders to persuade them to open their stores. Thaóyate Dúta asked the agent to give out food right away and pay the money later. He spoke of the stores filled with food while Dakota people remained hungry. In response, agency storekeeper Andrew Myrick exclaimed, “If they are hungry, let them eat grass or their own dung.”

After Myrick’s remark, frustration that had simmered within the Dakota for years boiled over. On the morning of Aug. 18, Mdewakanton warriors attacked the traders’ stores. Many of the traders and staff of the agency were killed, including Myrick and Galbraith’s clerk. Buildings were looted and burned down. Some of the agency’s residents fled to nearby Fort Ridgely.

The attack at the agency was the first organized incident of the U.S.-Dakota War. The six-week series of battles took the lives of more than six hundred white civilians and soldiers and an unknown number of Dakota.

In October of 1862 the trials of 392 Dakota prisoners started at Camp Release and then were moved to the agency and held in the cabin of trader Francis LaBathe. Thirty-eight of the men tried were later executed in Mankato.

Acts of U.S. Congress passed in 1863 exiled the Dakota from Minnesota. They dissolved their reservations and agencies, including Lower Sioux. According to Society of Architectural Historians (SAH) Archipedia, at the end of the war, the majority of Dakota were relocated to reservations outside Minnesota, first to the Crow Creek Reservation in what is now central South Dakota, and later to the Santee Reservation in Nebraska.

David and Ann Pow Kinghorn and family moved back to Eagle Creek according to the 1870 United States Federal Census. They had ten children, four of whom are living; nineteen grand-children and two great-grandchildren. David and Ann had two of their sons in the Civil War. On Aug. 15, 1862, Corporal George Franklin Kinghorn (1838-1914) and Private William A. Kinghorn (1843-1864) served in Company I, Ninth Minnesota volunteers. While Corporal George Franklin Kinghorn returned home, and died in 1914, Private William A. Kinghorn was taken prisoner in Memphis, where he died of disease on Sept. 6, 1864.

Ann died March 3, 1889 at age 77. She was buried at Mount Moriah Cemetery in Deadwood, South Dakota. Her husband, David, died April 24, 1890 and was buried at the Rochester State Hospital Cemetery.

African American Teenager in Shakopee (1930)

People

Compiled and written by David R. Schleper, 2023

About 9:30 p.m., a thin, loose-jointed, poorly clad African American teenager was seen rounding the corner of First and Holmes Street in Shakopee, according to the Shakopee Argus-Tribune on May 8, 1930. He disappeared in the darkness of the alley at the south end of the Holmes Street Bridge, according to the article, “Dejected dusky youth finds end of rainbow in humble hospitality.”

Officer Kelly waited. After several minutes, Kelly commandeered Greg Hartmann’s car and drove through the alley, but he could not find the youth. A second trip over the course, Officer Kelly, along with the aid of a flashlight, spotted the youngster sitting motionless, stiffened with fear on a swing at the rear of a First Avenue residence.

According to the article, the search “revealed no weapons—in fact, nothing but a thin body lightly clad. He was taken to the city hall, where, after long and tedious effort, the by was convinced he was hot arrested, but was being helped.” With eyes straight forward, never turning to high of left, he began his story.

The teenager was 16 years old and had left Minneapolis on a bicycle about 8 a.m. that morning. He was in 9th grade but had to leave school to help earn a living.

He was headed to Chaska. He had met a friend, a Mexican American, who worked at the sugar beet fields around Chaska and Shakopee.

As he was biking to Chaska, he was struck by a passing truck. The front wheel of his bicycle was broken shortly after leaving Lyndale Avenue. So, the teen walked to Chaska and looked for his friend. He only had his first name and was unable to locate him.

As he walked home to Minneapolis, he got turned around at the intersection of Highway 5 and Highway 52, and so he arrived in Shakopee. And so, he was sitting at city hall when Ray Hill walked in. Ray had seen the teenager in the afternoon on the highway.

The Mexican American family, including the friend of the African American, had left Minneapolis on Friday, driving a brown and black truck. According to the Shakopee Argus-Tribune, Ray Hill had seen the truck and its occupants—father, mother, and six children. They were building a shack on the Indian Road, where they would work in a sugar beet field.

The Indian Road is a road on the north side of the Minnesota River. The road follows the river, then ends at Flying Cloud Drive. Along the road were the Dakota who lived in tipi tonka, tipi, and cabins along the Minnesota River. The Indian settlement on the north side of the Minnesota River in what is now Eden Prairie, though a common postcard called the area Shakopee’s Reservation, the land was purchased by Oyatekokepa Jacob Otherday. The 18 acres were purchased in 1871.

Once a car was procured, the group of people, including the African American teenager, headed across the Holmes Street Bridge, then right to Indian Road where the shack was located.

“Through an open window the glow of a lighted match fell upon the Mexican family asleep on the floor of the crowded shack.” The Mexican American father was awakened and summoned to the window. The Mexican American might have been Pedro Delgado, who was one of the migrant laborers who worked tending and harvesting beets for the massive sugar industry from 1924 to 1932, or one of the many Latino migrant laborers who worked there, according to the Chaska Herald article by Mark W. Olson on October 23, 2009 called “Fields of memory: Former beet farmer revisits his childhood home of Chaska.”

The Mexican American saw, in the rays of a flashlight, the smiling face of the African American teenager. “There was no doubt as to their acquaintance.” In a moment the door was ajar; the youth accepted the humble hospitality.

The African American teenager and the Mexican American family spent the night, and in the morning all of them headed to work in the beet fields in Scott and Carver county.

Schroeder Brick and Lime Manufacturing Company (1875)

Places

By David R. Schleper

Herman Frederick Schroeder was born in Hemsloh, Hanover, Germany, July 26, 1854. His father, Frederick, died when he was six years of age and the death of his mother, Margaret Sandman Schroeder, left him an orphan at the age of eleven.

In 1870 he came from Hanover to America and settled at Belle Plaine. He was married there in 1875 to Marie Reinke and they came to Shakopee the same year, this city having been their home since.

Immediately after coming to Shakopee Mr. Schroeder, in company with his brother, opened a brickyard which developed into the present Schroeder Brick and Lime Manufacturing Company, one of the leading and most prosperous business enterprises of the city and which is known throughout the northwest. Herman purchased his brother’s interest in 1896 and continued the business.

The brick yard was located north of Bluff Avenue between Market and Minnesota Street. The bricks were from near the Minnesota River, near Huber Park. Many of the early buildings in Shakopee were made from these bricks.

According to Dan Meyer, “The brick yard was awesome. It was my jungle gym and playground as a kid. We used to play on the brick walls for hours, and we used to climb down inside the old brick kiln. It was the part they used to fire up the bricks. It was kind of scary at the top looking down. The old brick yard was right over the hill in my backyard.”

So you can see it, or just look at many of the buildings in old Shakopee. Most of them were built from Schroeder’s brick!

(Some information from Shakopee Argus, Vol. 61, No. 16, p. 1, 3 Mar 1922; Little Sketches of Big Folks Minnesota 1907: An alphabetical list of representative men of Minnesota, with biographical sketches, R. L. Polk & Co. Publishers, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Duluth, 190, p. 353; Documenting Minnesota’s Nineteenth-Century Masonry Ruins, Two Pines Resource Group, LLC, December 2013.)

Remember When: June 2019

Remember When

1894: Scott County Argus

June 7, 1894

Head engineer Ferguson reports that with the new monster engine and improvements the mill is turning out a barrel of flour with a little less than 20 lbs. of coal. This, as is well known to the craft, is a very creditable state of affairs.

Henry Spielman is about to let the contract for a handsome new hotel building to occupy the same site as his present place of business. We understand he will continue in business up to the first of July, when his liquor license expires and then remain out of business until his new building is completed.

A visit to the Jacob Ries Bottling Works at any time of any day in the week reveals a busy scene. Their excellent beverages are always in demand wherever they become known, and new territory is constantly being acquired, so that even with the increased capacity the work are often crowded to fill orders on time. Mr. Ries informs us that May sales for this year were considerably heavier than for the same month last year, although last year’s trade showed a big increase over previous years. This, in the face of “hard times” is a record in which the firm may take a very just pride.

Theo. Mertz has removed his family to the Heidenreich building on First street, formerly occupied by the Minnesota Post, where he has ample room for family use and also for his shoe-store.

The excavation for Henry Mathis’s new residence has been made and the foundation is about completed. The walls will go up rapidly in the next few days. Woehling & Co. have the contract for the entire work.

Ring & Hammeyer are now at work erecting a one-story brick building adjacent to the west side of the Occidental Hotel. The new structure will be 16 feet wide, 24 feet long, and 10 feet in height. It will be supplied with a glass front and is to be used as a sample room in connection with the hotel.

Jacob Ries, Sr., has let the contract to Ring & Hammeyer for an entirely new front for his main building on First street. The present one is to be torn down and replaced by a front of pressed brick and probably plate-glass windows. The building will then correspond to his smaller store building on the west side and also to the handsome new Broman block adjoining. When Mr. Ries erected the building, in 1865, it was considered one of the finest in the town, but with cheapening material and growing taste in architectural design the familiar looking old building has fallen somewhat behind. Mr. Ries is nothing if not progressive, and so has decided to make the valuable improvement mentioned. Work will begin at once.

June 14, 1894

This weather just suits the tire-setting departments of the blacksmith shops. Records of from fifty to a hundred wheels a day are reported.

The new through wire recently added to the telephone system, instead of giving Shakopee poorer connections, allows this station a double line to the Twin Cities. In the event of damage to one wire we could fall back upon the other. Carver, Chaska, and Shakopee have one line, exclusively, to Minneapolis; but we are also on the Mankato line, so that this station can call up any station on the line direct while those south of us must call Central in Minneapolis to get such connections.

A. Schmitz had the interior of his place of business brightened up by the calciminer’s art.

Ring & Hammeyer are now at work putting on the new four-light glass front at P.A. Preiser’s store in the Condon Block.

Tie up the dogs during this hot weather, and furnish them with plenty of fresh water and but little meat. By so doing Shakopee may, happily, escape a mad dog scare. Some one of the many mongrel curs with which we are blessed is more than likely to go mad during the heat of the summer and sink his poisoned fangs into the body or limbs of a luckless child, perhaps bringing death in one of its most horrible forms into our midst. Too much care cannot be taken. Be on the safe side.

Work on the addition to Deutsch & Zettel’s Drug Store is rapidly nearing completion. The dividing wall has been torn down and the counters and shelves are being rearranged in a way such that the whole constitutes one enlarged salesroom.

H. Nyssen has been making extensive improvements in his brewery this week. A big new brewers kettle and a new mash tub have been put in, and the malt kiln has been entirely rebuilt. With the new equipment his patrons may look for a better, if possible, product than ever.

The work of putting in the new front at Kohler & Schwartz’s was completed yesterday. The improvement in appearance on both the exterior and interior of the store is very marked. The plates of glass are large, the largest one being 84×98 inches, and they are of excellent quality.

This week the roof is going up on the St. Mark’s priest’s residence, and a good idea of the beauty in plan and execution may be formed. The site chosen is a favored one, the lot being surrounded by beautiful shade trees of several years growth, and with a very little work the grounds can be made to fully correspond with the elegant building they surround. The structure itself needs to be seen to be appreciated. It does not suffice to say that it will excell any other residence in the city. It is of pressed brick, two-and-one-half stories high, with a large basement. It faces the south, on which side is a large turreted bay-window of circular form running up to the roof, and a spacious front porch. Within on the left of the large hall is an office 14 x 18, behind it the dining room 15 x 18, then a pantry and beyond a large room for the house keeper’s use. At the front on the right is a large sitting room 18 x 20, behind it the library 12 x 14, then a hall running east and west. Beyond the hall is the large kitchen. In the second story are eight large rooms, besides the bath room. In the basement are the laundry, furnace rooms, and coal and wood bins. The house is to be supplied with all the modern improvements, steam heat, hot and cold water, electric bells, etc., the whole making a fine exhibit of the liberality and enterprise of the members of the St. Mark’s congregation, and a flattering testimonial of the high esteem in which they hold their pastor, Rev. Fr. Stoltz.

June 21, 1894

A force of men is busy this week erecting a big smoke stack at the foundry of the Minnesota Stove Co.

The interior of the new Broman Block is being finished this week. Herman Logenfeil has the contract for plastering.

The contract has been let by Lawrence Stemmer to Ring & Hammeyer for a two-story brick residence of eight rooms to occupy the site of the frame dwelling which was burned two weeks ago. Work will begin next week.

The residence of Henry Mathis is rapidly nearing completion. The brick work is finished and the carpenter work is being pushed forward rapidly by Wm. Beggs. When done the residence will be an ornament to that vicinity of handsome residences, and one in whose comfort and elegance its owner may feel a whole lot of just pride for many years to come.

H. Spielman’s new building will count as a good big item in our boom for 1894. The frame part will be left standing, but the old stone building will be torn down and replaced by a two-story brick structure, 25×60 feet, with a pressed-brick, cut-stone front supplied with handsome galvanized iron cornices. Work will be begun shortly after the Fourth. Ring & Hammeyer have the contract for the entire work.

Jacob Ries’s buildings on First street are rapidly assuming a new appearance, under the trowels of Ring & Hammeyer. The work planned is somewhat more extensive than as first announced, and the improvement will be correspondingly greater. The fronts of both buildings have been removed and these are to be replaced by a well designed front of pressed-brick and ornamented with cut-stone and a galvanized-iron cornice. The entire first story will also be supplied with large plate-glass windows. Tally one more for Shakopee’s healthy little boom.

Reis Bros. have purchased the “Cates Farm” just west of town, and next year, when Jorgen Young’s lease expires, they will establish there a stock farm of considerable proportions. The farm comprises 240 acres, 140 of which make an excellent meadow, while the whole tract is a model one for stock-raising purposes. Naturally, Reis Bros. are congratulating themselves upon their good fortune in getting possession of it, and they modestly hint that we may look for some fine horseflesh in that quarter within the next few years.

Albert Walters has rented the residence of C. A. Stevens on First street. He removed there with his family last Monday.

New Ice Cream Parlors will be opened Saturday in the west half of the Ring Hotel building on Second street, where ice cream will be served afternoons and evenings, Sunday included. Mrs. C. F. Cook.

June 28, 1894

The brick work on the Jacob Ries buildings on First street is completed, and a glance up or down the street shows how great is the improvement both to the buildings themselves and to the entire block. The best (Schroeder’s) repress brick are laid in mortar of the same color, and with the plate-glass front, cut-stone and galvanized iron “trimmings” the building will compare favorably with any in town.

The work of tearing down the old front of the Condon Block was begun Tuesday, and within a few days the new and handsomer one will be in place. Ring & Hammeyer are the contractors.

J. B. Gellenbeck rejoices in the fact that the guest rooms over his restaurant are now ready for occupancy. He has been somewhat handicapped heretofore in not having lodging for the transient trade.

Jos. Nachtsheim’s new brick building is now ready for occupancy, and it is his purpose to remove the salesroom of his bakery into it soon after the Fourth. The size and appearance of the new store makes it count as a very creditable factor in our boom of ’94.

Remember the new icecream parlors in Ring’s Hotel (not Conter House.)

Lawrence Stemmer’s family have removed to a temporary structure near the site of their old residence, where they will live during the time required to erect their new brick dwelling.

Miss Augusta Markus closed a most successful term of school in the “Gifford” district last Friday. This being her sixth term in the same school, Miss Markus may feel sure that her efforts are appreciated by the patrons.

Work on the Athletic Park will be completed this week, and the Diamonds are in high feather. The amount of labor required to fence in an entire block with an eight foot high, closed board fence, remove the sod from the large infield, level off the rest for the outfield, erect seats, backstops, ticket office, etc. was by no means small. But all this has been done at last, and the first game of ball at “Shakopee Athletic Park,” will be played next Sunday afternoon.

A. Schmitz is now a member of the Cherubini Brass Band, and his skill in playing the clarionet makes a very audible improvement in the work of that excellent organization.

1919: Shakopee Tribune

June 6, 1919

Mill to Increase Capacity. The latter end of next week the Shane Bros. & Wilson company will shut down the big mill for the purpose of regrinding the rolls for the resumption of wheat milling. While this is being done a quantity of new machinery will also be installed, including a scout, two sifters and two additional rolls. The addition of the latter will increase the capacity of the mill from about 800 barrels to almost 1200 barrels. These changes will require the services of six millwrights and their crews for the next two months…

Soap Factory Locates Here. The Sunshine Soap company have leased a part of the Southworth block and will commence the manufacture of soap and washing powder as soon as the premises can be fitted up. T. P. Frederick is president of the company, and the local management will be in the hands of Harvey Duncan…

Important Farm Sales. Three important land transfers were made this week, involving large sums. Nic Lenzmeier bought the Vogel farm north of the river in Carver county paying $21,000 for the 200 acres. This is a fine farm, and Mr. Lenzmeier will never regret the deal. Herman Plekkenpol, who was reported to have bought the Vogel farm, bought the 116 acres south of town belonging to Joseph Linhoff, the reported consideration being $20,000. This also is a finely located property and well worth the money. Mrs. Susan Wampach has sold her farm south of town to Peter Hennes.

Jos. Ploumen met with a peculiar accident Monday, resulting in a very sore eye. He was shooting blackbirds with a .22 rifle when the gun backfired and he got the cartridge and the flash of the powder in his right eye. The injury is not serious, but it caused him some pain at first.

Loan Committee Makes Final Report

This Committee submits herewith the report of the Victory Loan.

It will be noted that the county raised almost $700,000 while its quota was $525,000, an oversubscription of nearly $175,000 or 32 per cent…

June 13, 1919

Knights Initiate Large Class. The Shakopee Council of the Knights of Columbus initiated a class of 59 members last Sunday, with the usual impressive ceremonies…

Organize Health Association. A meeting for the purpose of organizing a county health association in Scott county was called to meet at Jordan on Thursday, June 5, by Secretary Donald Childs of the Scott County Red Cross. The meeting was not largely attended, but much enthusiasm was manifested. The immediate purpose of an association in the county is to secure the services of a visiting nurse, and Miss Bray, who was present as a representative of the state association, reported that there was now available for that purpose a sum of approximately $250, while an additional sum would be available in October…

Train Collides With Truck. A deplorable accident occurred near the Hamm Brewing Co.’s storage house last Saturday morning when the 8:06 train on the Omaha struck the brewery truck at the street crossing, almost killing the driver, A. J. Mingo. Mr. Mingo had just started out with a load, and probably his engine was making considerable noise which prevented his hearing the approaching train. The train men, on their part, either did not see him at all or thought that he would drive off the track. But the result was that the train struck the truck and utterly demolished it, and Mr. Mingo was picked up for dead. After hitting the truck the train went for almost a block before stopping. The unfortunate man was found still grasping the steering wheel. Medical aid was summoned and Drs. F. H. Buck and P. M. Fischer responded and he was taken to the Shakopee hospital. It was found that his nose was broken and the fleshy part almost completely severed, and his right shoulder was six inches out of place, but miraculously no bones, except the facial ones mentioned, were broken. Of course, in addition to those major injuries, he had suffered innumerable cuts and bruises. His condition was critical for a day or two, but now he appears to be making favorable progress toward recovery…

Jimmie Fisher is having a racing car built for him at the Walter garage. It will have the lines of a “long, low, rakish craft,” and its estimated speed is eight knots, or thereabouts. Mr. Walter is doing a nice piece of work on this. But perhaps we may be allowed to entertain some misgivings upon the matter of where this cyclone is to travel.

June 20, 1919

Mayor Calls Mass Meeting. A meeting of the citizens of Shakopee will be held at Dawson’s opera house, Friday evening, June 20, at eight o’clock for the purpose of bringing before the people the matter of providing a fitting entertainment in honor of the men from Scott county who served in the American army, navy and marines during the world war…

Citizens Plant Willows. Several dozen of the public-spirited citizens responded to Mayor Mergens’s appeal to plant willows along the dike road on Tuesday, June 17—Good Roads Day. A few of the enthusiastic ones worked all day, but many of the others put in from one to three hours. There was a crew who did the cutting while another force did the planting. In all several thousand slips were planted. As already the banks of the grade were pretty well grown over with willow sprouts it should not be long before a very fast root nest is established. Special credit is due to some for their faithful work. The boy scouts also did their share…

New Lightning Arrester. The General Electric company is having a new lightning arrester installed for the protection of the local pole line system. The installation is being made at the big transformer across the bridge. This improvement has been needed badly for some time owing to the fact, we are told, that the telephone lines in many places cross the high voltage wires.

The Tribune has been trying out the new soap powder made in Shakopee by the Sunshine Soap company. The powder is much better than its odor and appearance. It cuts printer’s ink like magic and leaves the hands soft and clean. If it will do as good a job on other kinds of dirt as it does on ink and oil it should be made by the ton.

One reason why the Kaiser quit has been on exhibition in McMullen’s window for a week or two. This is one of the famous sawed-off shotguns which so shocked the Hun’s sense of decency that for a while he considered the matter of shooting any American caught with one. Whether he failed to capture any Americans so armed or whether expediency dictated a different course we are unable to say. The weapon is shown, bayonet and all, and it must have been a most effective piece in trench warfare where fighting was at close range.

June 27, 1919

Local Legion Gets Chapter. The first meeting of the service men’s club under its new charter as a post of the American Legion was held at the court house Wednesday evening. The meeting being called to order, the members were informed by the president and secretary that the application of the club for a charter as a post of the American Legion had been granted, and that the charter had been received, and that it was designated as Post No. 2 of the Minnesota jurisdiction, No. 1 being at St. Paul. The officers of the old club will hold over under a new election can be held under the charter…

Frank Lenzmeier has just completed a fine new barn.

Ed Kopp is building a new house on his farm.

August Timmermann has been hauling lumber for a new barn.

The Sunshine Soap company has been canvassing the city this week, and has placed a large number of packages of the product in Shakopee homes. Other territory will be canvassed when this is finished. This excellent powder is finding favor with the home people, and is now stocked by most of the home dealers. Additions to the working force have been made this week, as the demand is growing rapidly.

A work train of ten cars of more, containing over 100 workers and a few families is now side-tracked north of the Hamm warehouse. They are Italians, and every night they have been favoring our residents with free concerts. While their instrumental music is not particularly good or interesting, they have one or two good voices in the crowd, and some of their Italian street songs and choruses are well worth hearing. Their playing and singing is spontaneous and unaffected, and for that reason carries a feeling of satisfaction.

Frank A. Leeder of Minneapolis has been appointed district sales representative for the New England Manufacturing company of Chicago, producers of a new acetylene lighting and cooking plant and will make his headquarters in Shakopee. Several of these plants have already been installed in the homes of progressive farmers in this county and are said to be giving satisfaction. They are equipped with appliances for cooking, ironing, and other utilities, besides giving a bright and cheap light. Mr. Leeder’s wife and son arrived some days ago and the family will make a permanent residence here. Until a suitable home can be found they are living at Otto Dierberger’s.

1919: Scott County Argus

June 6, 1919

V. C. Stein is installing a hot water plant and modern bath in the farm home of George F. Huber of Eagle Creek.

Shakopee Secures New Enterprise. A new enterprise will be started here in the very near future or just as soon as the building lately occupied by the laundry can be equipped for operation. This new concern will be known and will do business under the firm name of the Sunshine Soap company of Minnesota…

Shakopee Stove Co. Is Forging Ahead. The Shakopee Stove Co., which had been closed down during the period of the war, since starting up a couple of months ago under its new management, is forging to the front. It is just now busily engaged getting out a number of orders placed for the “Gopher” range that is said to be giving universal satisfaction. The company is adding new men to its force right along and will soon be running up to its present capacity, all of which is good news to the people of Shakopee.

June 13, 1919

John Strattmann returned Tuesday from Milwaukee and intends to make his future home in Shakopee. Mr. Strattmann says that after spending so many years here no other place is like home to him and he is content to remain for the rest of his life.

Real Estate Transfers. Real estate transfers of the week were the sale of the Jos. Huth and John Kopisca farms. Jos. Huth sold to Max Vogel 52 acres of his place at Reilley’s lake, retaining 224 feet fronting on the lake near his present home on which he will build a cottage. The price was $10,000. Ferdinand Marschall bought the Kopisca farm of 60 acres, paying $115 per acre. Mr. Marschall is living on the farm at present.

June 20, 1919

Mr. and Mrs. John Pink were in town last week to bid farewell to relatives and friends before leaving for New York where John will have charge of a business for his brother-in-law.

C. J. Hartmann’s building is having the finishing touches put on it this week by Peter Paul. With its new plate glass front, tiled show windows and fountain the Hartmann meat market is strictly up-to-date in appearance and when completed will be one of the finest businesses places in the city.

During the severe electrical storm Tuesday evening lighting struck the Marschall home in East Shakopee, damaging the telephone and roof and knocking plaster from the ceiling in an upstairs room and a post from the porch. No fire resulted and the house being unoccupied no person was near enough to be injured although neighbors saw the bolt strick.

Record Price on Land. J. J. O’Dowd set a record price on Scott County land Wednesday when he paid John P. Vierling $300 per acre for ten acres without improvements.

June 27, 1919

J. J. O’Dowd beat his own record set last week by the purchase Friday of a block in the city limits for which he paid Thos. McMahon $1500 or about $750 per acre.

J. J. Evans sold his farm of 208 acres north of town to John Brueggemann for $31,000. The new owner will take possession October 1st. Mr. Evans is undecided as to his future but contemplates moving onto his Eden Prairie farm.

John Strattmann left Friday for Milwaukee where his marriage to a lady of that city will take place next week. They will return early in July to make Shakopee their home and Mr. Strattmann has rented the house now occupied by Rupert Stemmer.

Frank Siebenaler has purchased the home and two and one-half lots belonging to Louis DeMers, the consideration being $3000. Mr. Siebenaler will not take possession until this fall when Mr. DeMers will build a bungalow on his lot adjoining the Wm. Engel residence property.

After July 1st L. E. Dawson will again resume management of the Gem theatre.

James E. Dean sold 35 acres of the east end of the Plumstead farm to his son, George Dean, this week.

Heavy rains of the past few weeks have sent the Minnesota river out of its banks and the water reached a stage two inches higher than it attained this spring. Gardens along the bottoms are ruined and the corn and hay crops will also suffer. The river began receding Wednesday and dropped a half inch during the night. Traffic from the north is not completely shut off, however, as the trestle road is being traveled although it is in an unfinished condition. The high water put an end to plans for a Fourth of July celebration as the ball grounds and a large part of Riverside park are now under water.

Saloon Men Are Readjusting Business. The proprietors of Shakopee’s saloons have been interviewed with reference to the readjustment of their place of business to conform to the new and arid order of things which will control on and after Tuesday, July 1, and we have been advised as follows: J. H. (Bach) Ring expects to have his place converted into a rooming house and will conduct a soft drink parlor in connection. E. F. Thiede expects to expand his restaurant business and operate it in connection with soft drink and ice cream parlor. Martin Doherty hasn’t decided his future course. Sam Kahn expects to handle tobacco and other small store merchandise, near beer, etc. “Buck” Gelhaye will furnish quick meal service in connection with a near beer and other soft drinks parlor. H. Schlink will operate his place as soft drink stand. Both the St. Paul hotel and the Minneapolis House will continue their hotels. Math Huth has not decided what he will do.

American Legion Post to Organize. Wednesday evening George Scherkenbach, president of the Scott County Service Men’s local club, received a charter from the national executive committee of the American Legion entitling the club to organize as Shakopee American Legion Post No. 2 of the state of Minnesota. A meeting for this purpose will be held Tuesday, July 8th, when the organization will be effected and officers elected. The post will start with more than 80 charter members…

1944: Shakopee Argus-Tribune

June 1, 1944

Because of poor health, William J. Ruetten has been obliged to give up his job as nightwatchman at the State Reformatory here.

FOR SALE.—4-room house and 2 lots. 433 W. 3rd St. See WILLIAM JANSEN.

Now Member of State Hospital Association. St. Francis hospital is now a member of the Minnesota Hospital Service association, it was announced this week with the disclosure the Shakopee institution meets the requirements set up by the hospital association. The membership becomes effective today…

Scott County Organized For 5th Bond Campaign. Advice from Dallas F. Capesius, Scott county chairman of the Finance committee, indicates that his organization has been completed and is ready to launch the campaign to sell $660,000 in War Bonds to back the attack…

June 8, 1944

Mrs. Susan Unze, canning instructor, and M. L. Regan, engineer at the Shakopee Area Trade school, at the former N.Y.A. camp, attended a canning conference in the White Bear Lake cannery, Thursday, Friday and Saturday of last week. Instructions in new methods of canning vegetables and meats were given, which will be used in processing and canning foods at the Trade school this season.

Canning Plant Ready for Use. With all its equipment now in readiness and Mrs. Susan Unze fully trained and skilled in its use, the community canning plant at the Shakopee Area Trade school east of the city, is now in operation, it was learned this week…

June 15, 1944

Believed Pictured in Photo of Wounded Yanks. Although there has been no official confirmation relatives here are certain that Ralph Lebens, son of Mrs. Peter Lebens of Shakopee, was one of the wounded United States infantrymen shown in a recent press picture of the first American casualties in the European invasion…

Loaded Gas Truck Plunged Into Flood Waters Here Sunday

Loaded with 5200 gallons of gasoline a huge tank transport went thru the cable guard rail and rolled over into the flood waters on the west side of highway 169, just north of Riverside park here, Sunday morning.

The driver, whose name was not learned, escaped by leaping from the cab into the water seconds before the transport submerged itself, wheels up, in the water and mud…

June 22, 1944

Miss Evelyn Huber returned to her duties as saleslady at the Bloss Variety Store, Monday after a week’s vacation. She spent several days of last week visiting among relatives and friends in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

FOR SALE—80 acre farm, with good buildings, seven miles east of Shakopee. Tel. 21-W-1. JAMES C. DELLWO.

Students Who Failed in State Exams Must Pass Tests in August. Any student that failed in one or two of the state board examinations required to be given in all unaccredited elementary schools must take another examination and receive a passing grade before they will be permitted to come to Shakopee and register for high school work, J. A. Metcalf, superintendent, announced this week. The examinations will be given at the Shakopee public school during the last week in August…

More Women Needed for Surgical Dressing Work. An urgent appeal for more workers to assist with the Red Cross surgical dressing work in Shakopee was issued this week by Mrs. Al Johnson, local chairman…

June 29, 1944

FOR SALE.—House and 8 ½ lots, known as Charles Boldt house. ART GELHAYE, Shakopee.

FOR SALE—New bee hives, honey extractor, 500 sections. ART GELHAYE, Shakopee.

Father Schiffrer Is New Pastor of St. Mark’s Church. The Very Rev. Dean Valentine Schiffrer, recently transferred from St. Michael to Shakopee, began the duties of his new pastorate at St. Mark’s church here Wednesday succeeding the late Very Rev. Dean M. Savs who had served the parish for 27 years…

C. N. Weis Accepts Position In Cambridge, Minn. C. N. Weis, who for the past seven years was employed as linotype operator, for the Argus-Tribune, resigned this position and has accepted a similar position with the North Star newspaper in Cambridge, Minn…

Decorated. An Eighth AAF Bomber Station, England—Second Lt. Wesley R. Johnson, 221 West First St., Shakopee, co-pilot of a B-17 Flying Fortress, has been decorated with the Air Medal for “meritorious achievement” on bombing attacks on enemy Europe…

Construction of New Plant Begun

Contracts have been let and work has started for the construction of a new and modern building for the Weinmann Sheet Metal Works, Geo. Weinmann, head of the industry, announced this week.

The 50×80 one-story concrete block structure is to be located on the corner of East First and Spencer streets, fronting on First street…

1969: Shakopee Valley News

June 5, 1969

Holmes Street Bridge To Close This Sunday. Closing of the Holmes Street bridge, carrying Trunk Highway 101 and Trunk Highway 212 traffic over the Minnesota River on the north side of Shakopee, due to need of major reconstruction, is to be closed beginning approximately this Sunday evening, June 8, and will not be open to traffic until August 23…

Killed In Vietnam Action. Hospitalman Third Class, U.S.N., Richard Leigh Cox, 21, Shakopee native, was killed in action Tuesday of last week, May 27, while serving with the Ninth Marine Amphibious Brigade in Vietnam…

Police Chief’s Wife Cops Prizes With ‘Sunny’ Catch! Mrs. R. G. Thielen, wife of police chief Thielen of Shakopee, has won a weekly third prize in the St. Paul Dispatch and Pioneer Press Summer-Long Fishing Contest with a one pound, four ounce sunfish from Ottertail River near Perham, during the contest’s first week…

Vandalism Reduces Archers’ Clubhouse To Ashes!

Vandalism most deliberate and questionable motives was in evidence at the clubhouse of the Minnesota Valley Archers of Shakopee, with the frame structure now reduced to nothing but rubble and ashes.

The clubhouse, recently acquired by the new archery organization that includes several Shakopee residents and located just to the north and west of Bryan Rock Products on Highway 169 toward Jordan, and just past the Highway 41 intersection, was discovered burned to the ground by Darwin Cohrs of the Shakopee Red Owl, a member the archery group.

Cohrs had been fishing in the area on Tuesday last week, and returned the following evening to again fish, when he discovered the ashes after noticing that the clubhouse was longer standing…

City Swimming Pool Dedication Sunday Features ‘Surf Belles’

The public is cordially invited to attend a brief public Dedication ceremony and Open House at 2 p.m. at the new Shakopee Municipal Swimming pool this Sunday, June 8.

This sand-bottom type facility, which includes a complete re-circulation, filtration, and chlorination system, even though it resembles a lake, is located at 11th Avenue and Adams Street in southwest Shakopee, adjacent to Sweeney Elementary School on Marystown Road.

After the brief ceremony, the public is invited to inspect the pool, scheduled to open for the first time on Saturday, June 14.

Featured entertainers at the Dedication ceremony are to be three senior students, members of the St. Louis Park Senior High Synchronized Swimming team, the “Surf Belles”, a group that has been Minnesota State Champions five out of the last seven years…

June 12, 1969

Offer Dr. Mayer Contract As School Superintendent. Dr. Robert L. Mayer 45, 340 South Oak, Waconia, presently research assistant, Educational Research and Development Council of the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, University of Minnesota, by action of the Shakopee School District No. 720 board of education, was extended a contract to become superintendent of Shakopee Schools, to succeed Superintendent John Feda, who resigned to continue his education toward a doctor’s degree…

Dedicate Swimming Pool Sun., To First Open This Saturday. This Saturday, June 14, Shakopee residents will first use the newly dedicated Shakopee Municipal Swimming pool, dedicated last Sunday, June 8, at the site, 11th Avenue and Adams Street in southwest Shakopee, adjacent to Sweeney Elementary School on Marystown road. Mayor Ray Siebenaler in the 2 p.m. ceremony officially dedicated the new facility by pouring Rock Spring water into the pool from a bottle.

Area Resident Gets Inventors Show Top Award

Taking top honors, being one of the more than 100 exhibitors at the 12th annual Minnesota Inventors Congress as the three-day show closed last Sunday night, June 8, at the fairgrounds in Redwood Falls, was Donovan Streed, RR 2, Shakopee, who was presented a Blue Ribbon award, a first-place trophy for the outstanding invention on display and a cash award.

Honors were won by Streed with his invention, called appropriately, the “Humidity Hunter”, a device that will automatically adjust humidity inside a building as outside temperature varies.

June 19, 1969

New Parish For Father Mertz. Father Fred Mertz, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Ed V. Mertz of Shakopee and brother of Richard Mertz, real estate and insurance agent, has been assigned by the Minneapolis-St. Paul Archdiocese to the parish of Incarnation Catholic Church, 3817 Pleasant Avenue, South, Minneapolis…

Vandalism Hits Parks; Tombstones Overturned. A wave of vandalism hit the Shakopee parks, as well as St. Mark’s Cemetery adjacent to Sweeney Elementary School on Marystown road, with Shakopee police investigating…

Fire Damages Big Diesel Machine. A diesel crawler-loader machine belonging to Gene Hauer of Eagle Creek Township was extensively damaged by a fire which mysteriously ignited early Monday afternoon as the large machine sat idle on the Hauer farm…

Driver’s Training Classes Set to Roll

Behind-the-wheel driving instruction for approximately 200 high school students and 20 adults will begin Wednesday, June 25, according to Shakopee High School principal Rudy Maurine.

Instruction will be given by professional driving teachers of the ABC Driving School, as a result of the Shakopee Federation of Teachers’ resolve to withhold services because of what the teachers term as a failure of the local school to negotiate on a local level on salaries and working conditions…

Junior High Remodeling Under Way

Now under way at Shakopee Junior High School, Fifth and Holmes, is the $89,627 remodeling project as a part of the three-stage expansion program recently adopted by Shakopee School District No. 720 and financing approved by the public in a $2.1 million bond issue election on February 11 by a near three to one vote…

Included in the remodeling at the Junior High is the removal of the balcony in the former combination gymnasium-auditorium to facilitate expansion of physical education facilities. Also being enlarged are the home economics and science departments, along with the up-dating of the industrial arts department. Also being installed throughout the corridors and facility in updating are more modern lighting fixtures…

June 26, 1969

Council Passes Resolution To Merge Shakopee, Eagle Creek. Members of the Shakopee City Council unanimously approved a resolution calling for the merger of Eagle Creek Township with the City of Shakopee Tuesday night of this week, June 24, in the most recent move to consolidate the two governments…

To Issue ‘Warning Violation’ Slips To Bike Riders. Shakopee Police Chief R. G. “Pat” Thielen advised this week that commencing next Monday, June 30, the Shakopee Police Department is to give out a “Warning of Violation” to all bicycle riders who are observed breaking traffic laws as included in the Highway traffic Regulation Act, adopted as a part of a City of Shakopee Ordinance…

Shakopee Summer School Program Reduced, Driver’s Ed Begins

Shakopee School District 720, which normally operates six or seven remedial and enrichment summer school courses, has sharply cut back summer school programs this year.

Other than Driver’s Training Education, R. G. Maurine, supervisor said only one other summer course is being offered, a class in remedial high school English. The class is being taught by a faculty member…

Social Work Career Nears End As Children’s Home Closes

Ruby Benson, supervisor of the Women’s Reformatory and the Home for Retarded Children in Shakopee for the past decade, will end a life-long career of social work officially next Wednesday, July 2.

Her retirement will coincide almost exactly with the closing of the Children’s Home at the institution, which has been caring for severely retarded children since 1951…

City Agrees To Purchase Of Huber Property

Purchase of property at the corner of Holmes and Second Avenue from Dr. J. C. Huber of Shakopee was authorized in a “last hour” action of the Common Council of the City of Shakopee in coming to an amicable agreement with the owner just prior to scheduled trial proceedings in the Shakopee District Court on the owner’s appeal from condemnation instituted by the city.

This action was considered in two special meetings of the council on the evenings of June 13 and June 17.

The property, located at the southwest corner of Holmes and Second, lots eight, nine and 10, except the right-of-way of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railway, in block 30, was previously designated as one of the sites in the city’s off-street parking program…

Possession was to be given upon making a down payment and then the city could level the site off and prepare temporary surfacing for a parking lot yet this year…

1994: Shakopee Valley News

June 2, 1994

Site proposals for possible future courthouse OK’d

As the population of Scott County continues to grow at a rapid rate, officials are considering purchasing land soon that could someday be the home to county offices.

On Tuesday, the Scott County Board accepted the final report and recommendations of a 15-member committee which evaluated various locations for the future county courthouse complex…

The three sites, which are not in any particular order:

  • County Road 17 and the new Shakopee Bypass in Shakopee…
  • The present courthouse site in Shakopee and contiguous blocks…
  • Highway 13, Highway 282 and Highway 17, located in Spring Lake Township, east of Jordan…

Federal highway fund transfer to help bypass. The Shakopee Bypass is not scheduled to be completed until 1997, but it came one step closer May 25 when between $2 million and $4 million earmarked for the Bloomington Ferry Bridge project was tentatively transferred to the bypass account…

June 9, 1994

TP vandalism. Shakopee police received a report at 2:13 a.m. Friday of youths decorating trees with toilet paper on most of 10th Avenue between Marschall Road and Shakopee High School. About 60 properties were littered with tissue paper. Police estimate 10 to 30 youths were involved. The names of three have been referred to the city attorney for possible charges.

Canterbury attendance, handle bring optimism

The owners of Canterbury Downs said attendance and handle figures for the first month of tele-racing at the Shakopee track have exceeded expectations and have brought optimism for the future of live racing in Minnesota…

Total attendance from opening day on May 6 through May 30 was 27,595, with a total handle of $5,361,156. The track has placed $351,382 in escrow for thoroughbred racing purses at Canterbury for the planned 50-day meet in 1995…

June 16, 1994

Hospital rates high in speed of administering drug for heart attacks

According to a national study, staff at St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Shakopee has a significantly faster rate of administering a life-saving drug for heart attack patients than many other medical facilities.

The drug — TPA, or tissue plasminogen activator – is administered 53 percent faster than the national average, and 48 percent faster than the state average, according to the study…

School shuttle approved by board for one year

The Shakopee School District will provide a shuttle bus between Sweeney and Pearson elementary schools for the 1994-95 school year to provide for students attending a school outside the attendance area of their residence or day care.

The shuttle was approved by the School Board Monday. It is expected to cost $7,000, which will come from the district’s transportation fund…

City zoning ordinance inches ahead

After more than a year of work, Shakopee officials have drafted a new city zoning ordinance, but the document undoubtedly will undergo much further scrutiny before it is adopted.

City Attorney Karen Marty presented the draft ordinance to Shakopee City Council members at their June 7 meeting. After tacking on a few amendments, the council voted to adopt the ordinance as amended…

Big changes include the creation of a major recreation zone and the elimination of a race track district…

June 23, 1994

Consignment shop opens at city mall. Dwight and Sheri Kallembach of Shakopee have opened Kids Again, a consignment shop for children’s clothing and other items, at Shakopee Town Square…

Group hopes to save surviving trout stream before development

Trout Unlimited, a volunteer conservation group, has filed a petition with the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board (EQB) requesting an environmental assessment worksheet be done on a 500-acre tract of land near Eagle Creek in Shakopee and Savage that is targeted for residential development.

The group’s goal is to save one of the last two remaining unstocked, reproducing brown-trout streams in a four-county area. They also want to preserve two “boiling” springs on the property, which they say have historical and environmental significance. The property is in eastern Shakopee and western Savage, straddling east and west of County Road 18…

Scott, Carver counties led metropolitan area in building growth

All seven counties in the Twin Cities metropolitan area showed increases in building construction permits in 1993, and Scott and Carver showed the greatest percentage increase, according to the Metropolitan Council.

Carver showed an increase of 17.6 percent between 1992 and 1993, while Scott County permits increased by 11 percent…

Shakopee Super 8 Motel receives top rating

The Super 8 Motel at 581 S. Marschall Road in Shakopee was awarded a “Certificate of Excellence” for the second quarter of 1994.

The quarterly award is given by Super 8 Motels Inc. to units whose properties exceed company standards of cleanliness, service and quality…

Ries among state’s best, will play in all-star series

The images of a dejected Mitch Ries, his head in his hands, are almost indelible. After a standout season for the Shakopee High School baseball team, the Shakopee High School senior deserved a better fate than to give up a decisive home run in the first game of the sectional playoffs.

But Ries will get another chance to represent Shakopee High School. It’s an opportunity he has earned, a chance to be counted among the state’s best players. Ries has been named to the Metro West team in the 20th Annual Lions All-Star Baseball Series. Play in that tournament begins tomorrow (Junk 24) at Chaska’s Athletic Park…

June 30, 1994

Over 400 helmets sold at bike rally. Over 400 helmets were sold at the Bicycle Safety Rally Saturday, June 4 at Lions Park. The event, sponsored by St. Francis Medical Center, drew nearly twice as many people this year as last…

Power outage shuts down Canterbury. A high-speed, high-volume phone line that connects with the main computer at Canterbury Downs was severed during construction work in downtown Minneapolis last Friday, shutting down simulcasting shortly after noon. A backup line was also cut…

Supporters of trout stream gain victory

Trout Unlimited has scored a temporary victory in its fight to protect the last remaining unstocked, reproducing brown-trout stream in Scott County.

The state Environmental Quality Board ruled Friday that an environmental assessment worksheet (EAW) must be completed on the eastern section of a 500-acre tract of land near Eagle Creek in Shakopee and Savage which is targeted for residential development.

About 200 acres located east of County Road 18 will be included in the study…

Council OKs new street

The Shakopee City Council voted 21 to proceed with the construction of a new street located near the proposed Prairie Bend subdivision.

In March, the council ordered a feasibility report for improvements to Viking Steel Road and an unnamed street just west of Viking Steel Road. Owners of the proposed Prairie Bend had petitioned the city for the improvements.

The feasibility report recommended renaming Viking Steel Road “Sarazin Street” since it connects to the existing street of that name and since Viking Steel Road was never officially named or dedicated as a street…

Lumber firm’s plans approved

Scherer Brothers Lumber will soon develop a 22.5-acre tract of land after the Shakopee City Council approved both the project’s preliminary and final development plans at its June 21 meeting.

The proposed development is located on undeveloped land south of Highway 101, north of Fourth Avenue and west of CertainTeed Corp. property. The site is zoned heavy industrial…

The company will develop a warehouse/wholesale operation which provides building materials to commercial builders. The office, dock, mill work/warehouse building will serve as the principal structure on the site.

A railroad spur will be extended into the property from the north to provide transportation of the bulk of the materials to be stored on the site…

Remember When: May 2019

Remember When

1894: Scott County Argus

May 3, 1894

Night-watchman-elect John P. Ring has resigned, and Mayor Weiland has appointed John Bohls to that position for the ensuing year.

The Washta Club’s parlor has been handsomely carpeted during the past week.

The new millinery store, Mrs. C. M. Nachtsheim’s, will remove in a day or two to John Schwartz’s building two doors west.

Wm. Schank has removed to Mrs. H. J. Peck’s tenement north of Mrs. Jennie Heth’s residence. The Reis tenement, vacated by him, will be occupied by Jos. H. Coller and family.

Several big pickerel have been pulled out of the river this week. Ferdinand Gross and Ed. Markus landed two that weighed seven and eight pounds each. H. F. Gross has mounted the head of the larger one and it resembles very much the head of a wolf.

A windmill is to be purchased and set up in the Valley Cemetery. It will make a valuable improvement.

John Thiem has sold to John B. Hoffman of St. Paul the Northwestern House property for a cash consideration of $2,400. We understand that the new owner will conduct a hotel and saloon in the building.

Henry Dieken’s residence is being improved by the addition of a two-story wing on the west side. The new part will be built of brick to correspond with the main structure, and when completed will be similar in size and appearance to the Wilson house adjoining.

The residence of Hon. Henry Hinds is undergoing extensive repairs this week. The flat roof which for twenty years has covered the north wing is being replaced by a gabled shingle-roof which, while more serviceable, will change the familiar appearance of the place somewhat.

May 10, 1894

During the thunder storm of yesterday forenoon, lightning struck and set fire to the barn on the Woodruff farm near the Driving Park. The building and contents are a total loss.

The steamer Geo. Hayes came up the river yesterday with an immense barge to be used on the excursion from Belle Plaine to St. Peter next Sunday. An excursion to St. Paul from Carver, Chaska, and Shakopee is being made today.

Louis Demers has removed with his family from Rush City to this city. He will make extensive repairs upon the old homestead, which he is now occupying.

During the heavy wind Monday the tent covering the “merry-go-round” was blown down. Luckily no damage was done, and the gaily caparisoned steeds seemed to move around even more merrily after their slight scare.

J. B. Gellenbeck’s restaurant will move on the 24th inst. to the second store north on the How block. The second story of the block has been finished for guest rooms, and Mr. Gellenbeck will thus be enabled to furnish excellent hotel accommodation for his patrons.

Within two or three weeks the post office will be established in its new quarters in the corner store of the How block. The building is a model one for such a purpose, is convenient for delivering the mails, and while not so suitably located for the businessmen will prove very acceptable to the public after it has become accustomed to the change.

A peripatetic acrobat gave a creditable street performance opposite John McMullen’s store last Saturday afternoon. He was rewarded by a good many nickels and dimes through the time-honored custom of “passing the hat.”

May 17, 1894

Miss Emma C. Busse has accepted a positon in the National Bank of Lester Prairie, McLeod Co. She left the latter part of last week to take up the duties of her new position.

L. Schaefer will remove to the M. Berens building on or about the first day of June. He intends to put in a big stock of jewelry and silver-ware before the fall trade begins, and his new quarters will prove excellent for its display.

On Tuesday morning at 8:30 o’clock the fire department was given a long run and some hard work by a lively fire which consumed Wm. Kurtz’s barn and shed together with their contents. So rapidly did the tinder-dry material succumb to the flames that when the fire department arrived on the scene the barn and shed were beyond rescue. The firemen were given some lively work upon an adjoining shed and several cords of wood which had caught fire, and those were but slightly damaged. The cause of the fire is unknown. The loss is estimated at $300 or $400, with $100 insurance.

Dr. L. G. Mitchel has removed his offices to the second story of the How Block.

An ornamental street lamp has been placed in front of Otto Spielman’s saloon.

A. Schmitz has removed with his family to the Erb house near J. Schank’s residence. The Northwestern House property will be occupied by its new owners within a few days.

We learn that Henry Mathis will soon begin work upon a new residence. His present concrete dwelling he will tear down and upon the same site will erect a handsome two story brick house something after the plan of Henry Dieken’s recently enlarged residence.

The upsetting of a lamp in Kohls & Berens’s store last Saturday night occasioned considerable excitement for a few minutes. The fall of the lamp broke it and the oil caught fire, but this was quickly smothered after a blazing box had been thrown into the street. A large number of people were in the Opera House just across the street, and when some small boy in the rear of the room hinted “fire” and the glare of the flames began to dance on the walls the crowd wavered for a moment on the verge of a panic. A reassuring cry of “It’s all out” caught the ear just then and the danger was averted.

Farm for sale. I have for sale an improved farm, of 40 acres, within city limits, good house, barn, well and cistern on premises. One of the finest views in the city. For further information inquire of Wm. Willson.

May 24, 1894

R. C. Newell hauled out of the creek near Pond’s mill yesterday an eleven pound catfish.

Dr. L. G. Mitchell has removed his offices to the second story of the How Block.

A clothes-line thief has been working on Second street. Be on the watch for him.

Val. Zoller received yesterday from his nephew, Peter Remberg’s, nursery at Chicago a box containing nearly a hundred large rosebushes, many of them in bloom. Mr. Zoller set out a large number in his garden and, besides, made many of his friends the pleased recipients of two or three fine bushes.

The front of H. H. Philipp & Sons’ furniture store is adorned with large new curtains.

The Meinsenbur property on First street was disposed of Tuesday, P. A. Preiser buying one lot for $450, and Mrs. Mat Yost purchasing the other for $550.

May 31, 1894

J. J. Ring has secured the agency for the famous Fonthill Nursery of Canada, a nursery whose goods and prices cannot be beat. See ad. next week.

Peter Yost is again about town in the discharge of his duties as assessor, which office he is filling for the twenty-second time this year. His record is one of which any man might be proud.

Last Saturday night burglars attempted to enter the store of G. S. Lander by boring out a doorpanel, but they were evidently frightened away before an entrance could be effected. In the lower half of the single door on the west side several inch holes were bored and a few more minutes of work would have sufficed to cut out a hole large enough for a man to crawl through. At a rear window, covered with iron bars, a hole was bored directly toward a hook which fastened it to the casing, but the bars proved too much for the gentlemen. It is presumed that the job was the work of local talent or of a gang that is working up and down the river.

Jeweler L. Schaefer will remove to his new store in M. Berens’s building tomorrow.

Officer Rose is again around with that smile and a bunch of dog-tax tags, the only difference from last spring being the date on the tags. That difference, however, costs the owner of the pet canine a big round cartwheel.

The brick work on Chas. Broman’s new building will be completed today, thanks to the speedy work of Messrs. Schmidt, Rohlfs & Woehling. The building is an exact counterpart of the one adjacent and gives the block a very handsome appearance.

And still the good work goes on! Fritz Rohlfs is now at work on a set of plans for a handsome two story brick corner store for John McMullen. The plans will represent a store with a corner entrance and plateglass fronts on both First and Lewis streets.

The Argus Block is this week undergoing alterations that will make a marked improvement both in its appearance and its utility. The large glass front in Kohler & Schwartz’s store is to be replaced with plate glass, and the store of Deutsch & Zettel is being made more commodious by the addition at the rear, of an ell 18×24 feet in size, one story high. The new structure will have an entrance at the south end, and the interior will be well lighted by large windows at either side of the door. It is to be used as a wall-paper department.

Yesterday afternoon the postoffice was moved into its elegant new quarters in the corner store of the How Block, and it is safe to say that Shakopee has now one of the finest post offices in the state, outside of the large cities. The spacious room has been divided by the wall of boxes so that the public has a space 12×22 feet, lighted by one large side window the handsome glass-paneled double doors, and the plate-glass front consisting of two plates 6 x 8 feet in size. The postmaster has an abundance of room, all well lighted, and also a large fire-proof vault wherein to store his stock-in-trade. The change seems to please the majority of the townspeople, and will grow in favor as all get accustomed to the change.

1919: Shakopee Tribune

May 2, 1919

Resume Work on Road.Jas. McKillip of Faribault, the road contractor, moved his tractor grader over from Chaska late last week and resumed work on the dike road. This machine is considerably smaller than the line drag which was used last fall, but the work is also lighter, being mainly the job of filling low spots and surfacing…

Victory Loan Away Over.The Victory Loan, so far as Scott county is concerned, went over with a whoop. On Wednesday of this week the total subscribing reported had reached almost $620,000, or $95,000 more than the county allotment. As many of the allotment cards had not been returned at that time, and as oversubscription cards are still coming in, it is not beyond the bounds of probability that the total may reach $700,000…

Bad Runaway Accident.Last Sunday morning as Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Delwo and Otto Schlink were driving to church, the clip fell off of the front axle, causing the team to become scared and run away. Mrs. Delwo, who was holding a young baby, was thrown out head first and was stunned, but neither she or the baby were injured. Mr. Delwo fell between the wheels and the vehicle went over one leg, but he escaped with minor bruises. But Otto Schlink was not so fortunate. In an attempt to hold the horses he was dragged over the dash board and into a wire fence. His left ear was almost severed, his head horribly cut and both hands injured. In spite of his hurts he followed the team and caught them. John Mather came along with his car and brought them all to town, where Otto was taken to the hospital. A dozen stitches were required to close the wound on his head and as many more for his hands. He is recovering satisfactorily.

Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Dierberger moved into the Hinds house on Sommerville St., recently vacated by Thomas Walsh.

Miss Tillie Ring departed for Washington, D. C., on Monday where she has accepted a position in the Internal Revenue department. She will remain permanently. Her sister, Miss Helen, accompanied her as far as St. Paul.

Rev. Skluzacek, pastor of the Marystown church for several years past was called to take charge of a parish in Minneapolis. HIs successor has not yet been named.

May 9, 1919

The street commissioner had a tractor and grader on the city streets yesterday. As the rains had left the streets in worse condition than usual the improvement is quite noticeable.

Miss Beulah Bowdish is the happy possessor of a nifty gray racer, into which the family car was cleverly converted this week at the Walter auto shop. Jos. Klinkhammer is responsible for the finishing touches.

J. P. Kreuser and J. T. Kreuser placed the large plate glass lights in the new front of the Hartmann building yesterday.

May 16, 1919

John Thole has bought the ten lots adjoining the property from Mrs. Rottgart.

Fritz Poehls is remodeling and modernizing his home on Spring street.

We understand that the road leading to the upper Catholic cemetery is to be improved.

M. T. Regan sold a home and two lots in East Shakopee Monday to Mrs. Louis Larson. This was the property which formerly belonged to Otto Thielen.

Appreciative friends of County Attorney Geo. F. Sullivan presented him with a handsome leather manuscript carrier one day this week, a gift that an attorney is always truly grateful for.

Road Overseer Frank Miske wishes us to tell our readers that the tractor which has been used on the street the past week was put at the service of the street department free of charge through the courtesy and public spirit of Veiht Bros. The tractor was used for three days and did the work of many horses when horses were not to be had. The boys have a vote of thanks coming.

The road past the Indian village is now open for travel.

Not a very large number attended the mass meeting at the schoolhouse last Monday evening which was called for the purpose of discussing the heating plant. Inspector Chandler was here from St. Paul and advised the board to repair the existing plant, rather than to install a new one. It was not brought out at the meeting what repairs would be necessary, but it is possible that a new boiler may have to be put in before satisfactory results are obtained.

Service Men Organize Club

A service men’s club for Scott county was organized Wednesday evening at the court house at a meeting called for that purpose…

The club will be known as the Scott County Service Men’s club. Its objects are social, but potentially political. A committee is now making inquiries into the status and purposes of the new American Legion, and in all probability the club will be merged into this organization if the report of the committee is favorable…

May 23, 1919

President Invited to Speak.Promoters of the Woodrow Wilson Way, of which J. J. Moriarty of this city is president, are hopeful that they can persuade President Wilson to address the coming highways conference in Minneapolis this summer after his return from Europe…

Can at Schoolhouse Monday.All who wish to can pie plant or asparagus should take their jars and materials to the schoolhouse next Monday morning at 8:30, when the canning will be done.

A five room bungalow is being built in the eastside of town for John Thole, Jr. Herman Boehmer is the contractor.

Miss Emilia Ahlswede has bought the old Ahlswede home in the southern end of town from Chas. Grosshauser, the executor of the estate.

Mrs. Lena Elsner, who recently held a sale on her farm near Excelsior, has bought the Brum property on Second street and is now moving in.

Chas. Dorn has bought the Chris Duede property. We understand that he does not intend to occupy it himself, at least not at present, so it will probably be rented.

The Rudolph Selbig family arrived from Rock Island, Ill., this week, to make their home here once more. Mr. Selbig, who is manager of the Shakopee Stove Works, has been here for several months.

August Dorn has purchased the Herman Boehmer residence property on East Fourth street and will move to town in the near future. Mr. Dorn’s health has not been particularly good for sometime and he needs to take it a bit easier than farm work allows him.

Jos. Lenertz sold his residence property Monday of this week to Rupert Stemmer, possession to be given on or before August 1. Mr. Lenertz informed the Tribune that he has no definite plans for the future, but that it is his intention to take his family on a tour of the country this year. So far he knows he has no intention of leaving Shakopee, which is reassuring news to the many friends of the family who recognize them as valued members of the community. Mr. Stemmer is to be congratulated on acquiring this valuable property.

Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Hough arrived from Hutchinson this week to take over the Central Cafe, which Mr. Hough recently bought. It was reopened early this week, and already he reports a good business. He has the place nicely stocked with confections, fruit and tobacco. Ice cream, soft drinks and lunches will be served as under former managements. Mr. Hough has had many years of experience in ministering to the wants of the public in the refreshment line, and there is no doubt that he will find our people appreciative of the kind of service he is ready to give.

May 30, 1919

Service Men Ask Legion Charter.At a meeting of the Scott County Service Men’s club held last week it was voted that a charter for a branch of the American Legion be applied for. This was done, and at the meeting held Monday evening the officers who had this matter in charge were able to report that the state headquarters had favorably received the application and sent it on to national headquarters with the recommendation that the same be granted. So now it is only a matter of time when a branch of the American Legion will be established in Scott county…

Women Praise Reformatory.Mrs. H. L. Stark of St. Peter, Mrs. G. W. Stewart of St. Cloud, Mrs. W. J. O’Toole of St. Paul Mrs. J. L. Washburn of Duluth and Mrs. T. F. Kinney of Minneapolis, comprising the state board of women visitors, came to Shakopee Monday for the purpose of inspecting the completed administration building of the state women’s reformatory. They were met at the station by a local committee consisting of Mesdames W. F. Duffy, C. G. Bowdish, H. P. Marx, J. A. Coller and H. C. Schroeder, who accompanied them to the reformatory. The building was given a thorough inspection and the visitors were delighted with floor plans, appointments and finish, which they declared to be the best of any similar institution in the state; and once more they were constrained to congratulate the state on its choice of a situation for the institution…

John P. Ring Elected Alderman.At the special election held Tuesday of this week to fill the vacancy caused by the failure of Mr. Hentges to qualify as alderman in the second ward, J. P. Ring was elected…

For Sale. New 6 Room House 2 acres of ground, part of which is planted to garden and small orchard. Fairly good barn. Cheap if taken at once. Geo. A. Dellwo.

The driveway to the upper Catholic cemetery has been graded, and is now to be resurfaced with gravel as soon as the work can be done.

For more than a week the big county tractor and grader have been working on Shakopee’s streets, and many blocks have been graded. Owing to the dry, hot, weather the streets that have been worked are covered with a coat of dust several inches deep, and on that account the work is not showing at its best. But we are assured that the job is to be finished up right, a gravel covering to be given where needed. Over most of the ground that has been covered by the grader nothing is needed but a good rain to make a first class roadbed.

1919: Scott County Argus

May 2, 1919

John Thole will start the construction of a $1500 cottage next week on his property in East Shakopee adjoining his residence.

Mr. and Mrs. George Leng, who have resided here for the past two years, the former being employed in the stove foundry, departed Saturday for St. Ansgaar, Iowa, to engage in farming. They will be employed by the same farmer for whom Mr. Leng formerly worked three years and have a very pleasant location and good remuneration, receiving all their living expense with the exception of that for clothing, and $65 per month. We wish them the best of success and continued prosperity in their new home.

For Sale—Wilder residence south of town, 9 rooms, good well, barn, 4 acres land seeded to alfalfa. Inquire Mrs. C. G. Bowdish, Shakopee.

Change Mail Boxes.Rural mail patrons are requested by the postoffice department to place their mail boxes on the right hand side of the road to secure uniformity and to facilitate the distribution of mail by the carriers as much as possible. This will also tend to lessen the danger of passing autoists colliding with the carriers where stops must be made to deposit mail. Patrons whose boxes are not located as designated will confer a favor by making the change at once.

May 9, 1919

Mill To Be Re-Equipped.Shane Bros. & Wilson expect to close the mill in a few weeks for the purpose or refitting it to grind more wheat. The corn mill will be remodeled into a rye mill but will also be equipped to grind corn if desired.

The Nick Beckrich family moved Wednesday to Cloquet where Mr. Beckrich is employed.

Mr. and Mrs. James Hough, parents of H. M. Hough, have bought from Fred Stelten the fixtures of the confectionery store formerly conducted by H. E. Krebs and will open for business next Monday. In addition to selling ice cream and confectionery, light lunches will be served. Mr. and Mrs. Hough arrived yesterday from Hutchinson and are busy preparing for their opening.

St. Mark’s to Undergo Big Improvements

The church of St. Mark’s of this city promptly responded to the call of the government to aid it in its reconstruction work by furnishing employment to the men from overseas by determining to expend large sums of money immediately in the improvement of St. Mark’s church…

The proposed improvements include: The replastering of the entire inside of the church; placing of three front entrances, with proper steps to same; erection of candelabras, equipped with electric light, in the front of the church; enlargement and strengthening of the gallery; decorating of all altars, statues, and all walls of the church, the decorations to be of white and gold; installation of statuary stations; installing of the very best art windows in all windows; installing of complete new pews, and hardwood floors throughout…

May 16, 1919

County Goes Out Of Road Business.So far as the actual construction of roads by the county, as a county proposition, is concerned the board of commissioners has decided to go out of the road building business and sold all of its equipment except the road machinery at the public sale advertised and held on Wednesday of this week…

Schroeder Brick & Lime Mfg. Co opened their brick yard this week for the season, high water having prevented work earlier in the yards.

August Dorn of Spring Lake has purchased from Herman Boehmer his residence occupied by Geo. O’Laughlin. The price paid was $2200. Mr. Dorn will take possession in August and become a permanent resident of Shakopee.

Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Bromann have moved back to Shakopee and are domiciled in the F. Rohlfs home near Herman Schroeder’s.

Charles Dorn has bought Chris Duede’s home and four lots in East Shakopee, the consideration being $2200. The Duede family will move to the home of Mrs. Joe Plasentia.

Rupert Stemmer this week purchased the residence property of our former mayor, Jos. Lenertz, the latter to retain possession until August. Mr. Lenertz is undecided as to his future course but we hope that he will continue to make Shakopee his home.

May 23, 1919

Putting City Park In Order.The city park board, under the supervision of August Gelhaye, has had a small force of men at work putting Riverside park in order for the summer season. When the supervisor shall have completed the job everything about this beautiful and restful spot on the picturesque Minnesota river will be in apple-pie order.

Bridge Breaks Under Auto.While crossing the bridge over the Minnesota river at Bloomington Sunday morning, John Buckingham’s Acme truck broke through the approach and narrowly escaped going into the river. Two hours of hard work were required before it could be pulled out and scores of automobile parties were stalled on both sides of the bridge because of the accident. All traffic was stopped for several days before repairs upon the bridge were completed. The truck was not badly damaged and fortunately the driver Claude Buckingham escaped injury.

Progress On Trestle Road

The contractor, James McKillip, is to be commended for the rapid progress he is making, under the circumstances, on the trestle road. At the rate the machine and attendants are moving this way, this end of the grade will be reached in about twenty days. A large force of men will then be put to work graveling the completed grade.

When the surfacing shall have been completed Shakopee will be the only point on the Minnesota river having a high water crossing any time and all of the time.

May 30, 1919

Peter G. Huth has bought of W. F. Davy a middle lot facing on Sixth street, the consideration being $400. Mr. Huth expects to build a home in the near future.

Wilson Way Being Blazed

Men with brush and paint are blazing the Wilson Way. They started at the little town of Ely in the extreme northern part of the state and worked this way. They reached Shakopee Monday and are proceeding on southward.

As was stated in a former issue of the Argus, the Wilson Way sign is a dark blue field with white border and the letter ‘W’ in red is set in the center, making a sign that can easily be distinguished a half mile away.

In Shakopee the Wilson Way as blazed passes up Lewis street from the bridge to the corner of Sixth and Lewis, proceeding on Sixth out past the state reformatory and then on south on the Shakopee and Jordan road. The blazing of this way marks the route which later on will be paved as part of the great Wilson highway.

Banner Received.In recognition of Shakopee’s patriotic showing on the Victory Loan, Chairman Joseph Lenertz of the local committee this week received a handsome flag from the Ninth District Liberty Loan committee which was turned over to the city officials and appeared in the Memorial day parade.

1944: Shakopee Argus-Tribune

May 4, 1944

FOR SALE.—House and lot, modern throughout, located on the corner of Second and Sommerville. A bargain if taken now. W. F. DUFFY, Phone 44.

Take Part in Music Meet at Excelsior Friday.Shakopee’s school band and Girl’s glee club were among the seven schools participating in the Eighteenth District Music festival held at Excelsior, Friday afternoon and evening…

Son Reported Missing in Italy.First Lieutenant Virgil F. Herzog, 28, son of Mr. and Mrs. B. A. Herzog of Shakopee, has been reported missing in Italy…

Dogs—Gardens Not Choice Combination.That dogs and Victory gardens are not a desirable combination, is emphasized by the City of Shakopee this week in an advertisement in the Argus-Tribune…

Dr. Malerich Has Leased His Shakopee Hospital

Because of the severe shortage of nurses and the difficulty in maintaining at all time a full nursing staff, a situation brought on as a result of the war, Dr. Malerich has decided to discontinue, for the present at least, his hospital here. His friends in this community will be sorry to learn of his decision.

The doctor has entered into a lease of the hospital quarters to Mrs. John Lynch and Mrs. Fred Stenger, both of whose husbands are in the service of Uncle Sam…

May 11, 1944

Red Cross Knitters Make 126 Garments.A total of 126 garments were knitted by Shakopee women from Feb. 11 to May 5, Mrs. P. M. Fischer, Red Cross knitting chairman, revealed in a report made public this week…

Saturday, May 27th Designated As “Poppy Day” in Shakopee.Saturday, May 27, has been selected as “Poppy Day,” it was announced this week by officers of the Legion Auxiliary, the organization which annually conducts the sale…

May 18, 1944

Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Childs and two sons have moved to Shakopee from Minneapolis and have taken an apartment in the former Shakopee hospital. Mr. Childs expects to be called into service in the near future and Mrs. Childs and two boys plan to remain here during his absence.

Shakopee Flyer Held Prisoner of Nazis, Capture Card Reveals

Previously reported “missing in action since February 28 over France,” First Lieut. Arthur P. Hoen, brother of Mrs. E. A. Rademacher, of Shakopee, has since been reported a prisoner of war in Germany.

A capture card from Lieut. Hoen and a telegram from the War Department, both received last Thursday, advised Mrs. Rademacher of her brother’s situation…

Father Savs Critically Ill in St. Francis Hospital.The Very Rev. Dean M. Savs, pastor of St. Mark’s parish, is critically ill at St. Francis hospital here. Although he showed a slight improvement Wednesday morning his condition was still considered grave thruout the day…

Mrs. M. L. Regan and Harold Bigot Named To Education Board.Mrs. M. L. Regan and Harold Bigot were elected members of the board of education of School District No. 1 for three year terms, in the annual election held here Tuesday night…

Plans for Memorial Day Observance Taking Shape

Plans for the observance of Memorial Day here are being completed this week by the Shakopee Post of the American Legion, Butz J. Pass, commander, announced.

Legionnaires, Auxiliary members, the school band and the Boy Scouts as well as the men, women and children of the community, are expected to participate in the program which will include ceremonies in the cemeteries, and at the school auditorium.

The program will also include a timely address and solemn memorial rituals, Pass said.

May 25, 1944

Very Rev. Dean M. Savs Dies; Pastor Here Since 1917.Death came at 9:30 last Thursday evening to the Very Rev. Dean Mathias Savs, who for nearly 27 years had been the pastor of St. Mark’s parish here…

School Commencement Exercises Friday Evening

Tomorrow evening, Friday, will be a gala occasion in the life of 47 Shakopee high school graduates. It will not only be a gala occasion but it will be a highly important event in the young lives of the members of the class of 1944.

It is one of the largest, if not the largest class of graduates to come forth from Shakopee’s institution of learning, and we want to make the observation that it is one of the finest groups of boys and girls you would want to see…

1969: Shakopee Valley News

May 1, 1969

Dedication Day At Municipal Swimming Pool To Be June 8

All indications point to there being a long and hot summer facing us in this area, and if this proves true, thousands will be flocking to the new Shakopee Swimming Pool to seek relief and enjoyment.

This is the pool that was designed with the family in mind. Sunday, June 8, has been scheduled as Dedication Day, with anyone invited to come and see for themselves this new concept in swimming pools – an artificial lake with a built in re-circulation, filtration, and purification system…

Two Seniors At Rotary Youth Conference.Two Shakopee High School seniors, Jeff Spielman and John Hennen, participated in the 23rd Annual Rotary Youth Conference held this week in St. Paul. Gaylen Case of Shakopee, chairman of the Shakopee Rotary Club Youth Conference committee, announced…

To Reopen May 2.Announcement is made this week by owners, Mr. and Mrs. Osborne Klavestad, that the Stage Coach, located on Highway 101 between Shakopee and Savage, is to re-open this Friday, May 2…

May 8, 1969

Grass Fire Run.Shakopee Volunteer firemen were called out at 2:48 p.m. last Friday, May 2, to extinguish a grass fire at Scott County Roads 76 and 83 in Eagle Creek township near the Plonski residence. The alarm was given by the Prior Lake Volunteer Fire Department.

Jaycee Sand Box Project Saturday.The Shakopee Jaycees will conduct their annual Civic Project of sand box filling this Saturday, May 10, when trucks equipped with loud speakers are to tour the alleys of the city.

Park Land Bill Awaits Governor; Merger Stalled.Mayor Ray Siebenaler reported this week that the legislation in the Minnesota State Legislature, regarding the purchase of some 78 acres of State Reformatory land, proposed for use as a park complex by the City of Shakopee, located to the south and west of the new Municipal Swimming pool, has passed both the House and Senate and now awaits the signature of Governor Harold LeVander…

Pool Memoriam In Honor Of Jagt Youth

One of the highlights of the Public Dedication of the new City of Shakopee Municipal Swimming pool to be held, beginning at 2 p.m. Sunday. June 8, will be the dedication of a flagpole and flag, donated by Mr. and Mrs. David Jagt, 673 Jackson, Shakopee, as a memoriam to their son, David Brian Jagt.

He was killed on July 13, 1968, at the age of nine years, when he was struck by an auto while pushing his bike across Sixth Avenue, 200 feet west of Jackson Street.

May 15, 1969

Gets $5,000 Rahr Grant.Announced this week was that the Rahr Foundation has presented a $5,000 grant to the Scott County Historical Society for use in this organization’s restoration project in Memorial Park, east edge of Shakopee along Highway 101…

Stop Sign At End Of Apgar Brings Council ‘Hassle’.Question of the need for the stop sign at the end of Apgar Street, presented to aldermen by a delegation of some eight consistent users of Scott County Road No. 77, led to a lengthy controversy with aldermen finally approving unanimously a motion that the 30 mile per hour speed limit be moved a quarter of a mile from the city limits, with the stop sign to remain and then its removal to be considered after receiving a police report on the traffic activity in the area…

Women’s Correctional Institution Supt.

State Corrections Commissioner, Paul W. Keve, announced yesterday (Wednesday), May 14, appointment of Robert L. Bergherr, as superintendent of the Minnesota Correctional Institution for Women at Shakopee, effective July 2, 1969.

Superintendent Bergherr is to succeed Miss Ruby Benson, retiring after 35 years of state service including 10 years as Superintendent of the Women’s Institution at Shakopee…

To Be Ordained May 24; First Mass At St. Mark’s

Reading his first Mass at 12 noon at St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Shakopee will be Father W. J. Paron, son of the late Alphonse J. and Mrs. Paron, who is to be ordained to the priesthood at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 24, at St. Paul Cathedral, with Archbishop Leo Binz, DD, as the Ordaining Bishop…

The Mass at St. Mark’s Church in Shakopee on the following day, May 25, will be a Concelebrated Mass, with Father Paron as the Principal Celebrant…

New Graduation Requirements Adopted By Dist. 720 Board

Following a discussion, participated in by principals, the Shakopee School District No. 720 Board of Education, on resolution, adopted new graduation requirements for the class of 1972 and subsequent classes at its regular meeting held Monday night of this week in the Board room at Shakopee Senior High on Tenth Avenue.

The new requirements basically change from the present 12 credits each year to 14, with the student given the option of choosing two pass-fail courses in which no letter grade is awarded. These courses are offered in lieu of the former requirements for math which the State Department of Education no longer requires…

May 22, 1969

Eagle Creek Petitions MMC On Incorporation.Petitions requesting the incorporation of Eagle Creek township were filed with the Minnesota Municipal Commission on Monday of this week, May 19…

Chamber Approves Consideration Of Future Full-Time Secretary.To give consideration to the engaging a full-time secretary for the Shakopee Chamber of Commerce in the future was given approval by the membership at a special meeting called for Monday night of this week, May 19, at the offices of Minnesota Natural Gas Company, Second and Lewis, to adopt a unified plan regarding the wishes of the community on proposed future highway construction in the area…

Reflective Tape To Light Bikes In VFW Program.Free reflective tape will be applied to youngsters’ bikes in a “Lite-A-Bike” program to be conducted here by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 4046…

Approval Given Tentative Plans For New East Shakopee Elementary

Approval was given the tentative, preliminary plans for the proposed new Elementary school in East Shakopee by the Shakopee School District No. 720 Board of Education at a Special adjourned meeting held Tuesday night of this week, May 20, in the library of the Shakopee Junior High School, Fifth and Lewis.

This came after a presentation of the preliminary sketches by Jim Rydeen of the district’s architectural firm, Armstrong, Schlichting, Torseth & Skold, Minneapolis.

These sketches indicated a basic plan of a large resources center with four learning units as “pods”, two on each side in relative staggered position to offer flexible classroom facilities…

May 29, 1969

Distinguished visitor in the community Wednesday morning of last week, May 21, was Secretary of Commerce Maurice H. Stans, Shakopee native and contributor to the Scott County Historical Society Restoration project through the Stans Foundation…

South 169 By-Pass, County Bridge Endorsed By Council

Approval of Resolution No. 357 Tuesday night of this week, May 27 gave endorsement to the Corridor “A” system of the three proposed in the Interim report of the Minnesota Highway Department on the total concept design approach to the relocation of Highways 41, 169 and 212 in the immediate area, to indicate unified support of this community…

This plan of future area highway construction includes the recommendation of a Minnesota River bridge at the Bloomington Ferry (Scott County Road No. 25 and Hennepin County Highway No. 18) location, and a south by-pass for Highway 169 to skirt the city limits of Shakopee…

Name Shakopee Dentist

A Shakopee dentist was today (Thursday) May 29, elected top Rotary officer for the area by delegates to the Rotary International convention in Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.A.

Dr. Paul F. Nevin, 851 Lewis, is one of 297 men from throughout the world elected a District Governor for the 1969-70 fiscal year…

1994: Shakopee Valley News

May 5, 1994

Racetrack reopens on Friday

The Minnesota Racing Commission on April 27 unanimously approved licenses for Canterbury Park Holding Corp. to conduct both teleracing and live horse racing at the Shakopee racetrack…

Canterbury reopens Friday at 10 a.m. with live racing being simulcast from four major race tracks – Churchill Downs in Louisville, Sportsman’s Park in Cicero, Ill., Hollywood Park in California and Aksarben in Omaha, Neb.

Live racing will not return to Canterbury until summer 1995. The owners and horsemen have already reached an agreement on 50 days of live racing next summer…

3 Shakopee Scouts receive highest honor

Three young men with a combined 30 years of Scouting and a lot of determination became Shakopee’s three newest Eagle Scouts recently.

Ryan Allen, Randall Fahler and Erik Jacobson attained the status when Troop 218 conducted an Eagle Court of Honor at the Shakopee American Legion…

Valleyfair opens for 18th season on Saturday

Valleyfair opens for its 18th season in Shakopee on Saturday with a $1.9 million addition.

Debuting at the family amusement park will be Berenstain Bear Country, a variety of indoor and outdoor attractions covering one acre and designed especially for young children, or more specifically, those under 54 inches tall…

May 12, 1994

Medical campus construction in city could start early next year.…St. Francis Regional Medical Center and its owners, HealthSpan Health Systems Corp. and Benedictine Health System, along with Park Nicollet Medical Center, announced preliminary plans for construction of the medical campus located along County Road 17 (Marschall Road) in Shakopee…

Jeff White recently purchased North Star Appraisal, located at 287 S. Marschall Road in Shakopee, from LeRoy Houser.… North Star Appraisal will provide a full-line of appraisal services including real estate (residential, commercial and industrial), business valuation and consulting…

Canterbury reopens to large crowds

Minnesota’s horse racing fans returned home with a flourish Friday when the doors at Canterbury Downs reopened for televised races at the Shakopee racetrack after 16 long months.

More than $1.4 million was wagered at Canterbury over the weekend, which included Saturday’s 120th running of the Kentucky Derby, telecast from Louisville. On derby day 6,669 fans wagered $862,890, with $297,486 bet on the Kentucky Derby itself. In 1992, Minnesota fans wagered about $10,000 less on the derby, but the track was conducting live racing as well that day.

The attendance and wagering numbers surpassed what Canterbury’s owners expected by a wide margin.

Canterbury’s clubhouse sold out the first day tickets went on sale…

Downtown riverfront study approved by City Council

Downtown riverfront plans are moving forward after the Shakopee City Council on May 3 authorized the hiring of the firm Brauer and Associates Ltd. to prepare a development plan at a cost not to exceed $9,675…

The plan will likely include riverfront amenities, such as landscaping, street furniture, lighting, use of the old Highway 169 bridge, a bicycle lot and the possible relocation and reuse of the old train station.

The council voted 4-1 for the measure, with Councilor Bob Sweeney casting the dissenting vote…

May 19, 1994

Wendt, Wolfe top field of 7

An incumbent will return, and a newcomer will join the Shakopee School Board following the school district’s election Tuesday that drew only an estimated 6.6 percent of the registered voters.

Incumbent Janet Wendt, the current board chair, was the top vote-getter with 350, followed by Robyn Wolfe, a sales and marketing consultant with a local building company, who received 336 votes…

Work on Co. Rd. 18 project delayed by court injunction

A judge’s ruling in a lawsuit filed by opponents of a project to widen County Road 18 likely will postpone the project for this year.

Scott County District Court Judge Eugene Atkins issued a permanent injunction to halt the project, which was to include widening County Road 18 from two to four lanes from County Road 42 to where it would meet the Shakopee Bypass and Bloomington Ferry Bridge…

May 26, 1994

Board approves additions to high school athletic complex.Fence modifications, a protective covering for grounds near the bleachers, and an elevated press box were among additions to the athletic field complex at the high school approved by the Shakopee School Board Monday…

Downtown reconstruction project OK’d by council.The Shakopee City Council approved the plans for the second phase of the downtown reconstruction project at its May 17 meeting and authorized staff to advertise for bids…

Lumber firm interested in locating here requests study

The Shakopee City Council on May 17 approved a request from Scherer Brothers Lumber Co. of Minneapolis to conduct a feasibility study regarding drainage improvements on a 22.5-acre site the company wants to develop.

The property is located just west of Certainteed Corp., between Fourth Avenue and the railroad tracks…

City seeks lower speeds on First Avenue – but increase planned by DOT

With the blessing of the City Council, Shakopee Police Chief Tom Steininger asked the Minnesota Department of Transportation in October to extend the reduced speed limit on First Avenue (Highway 101) eastward to the area near Murphy’s Landing for safety reasons.

Not only did the DOT reject that notion, but it has now proposed increasingthe speed limit on all of First Avenue from 30 mph to 35 mph. to the consternation of Steininger…

MUSA expansion plan approved

The Shakopee City Council last week approved an expansion of its metropolitan urban service area (MUSA) boundary to allow the city to continue its growth and provide urban services to remaining undeveloped properties north of the future Shakopee Bypass.

The expansion area includes an area north of the bypass centerline, and west of County Road 79…