All posts by Wes Reinke

The Strunk Glider (1906)

Events

When Orville and Wilbur Wright made their first flight at Kittyhawk in 1903, Raymond and Herbert Strunk were school kids, but the flying bug bit them hard. The two boys were sons of Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Strunk.

The design was by cut-and-try methods. The first glider that the two boys built had a bamboo frame from fish poles, and was covered with light muslin, stitched and tacked to the frame. The framework of subsequent models were made of hand-sawed light pine.

Herb and Ray then took the gliders and had them ski down the bluffs near Shakopee. In the summertime, the gliders were towed by a rope pulled by Dr. Smith’s Rambler touring car.

When Herb and Ray were involved in the glider, many friends visited and watched and participated in the flying of the glider. One of them was Charles “Speedy” Holman, who later became a famous pilot.

Charles W. “Speed” Holman (Dec. 27, 1898 – May 17, 1931) was a stunt pilot, barnstormer, wing walker, parachutist, airmail pilot, aviation record holder and airline pilot.

Charles Holman was raised on a farm in Minnesota, not too far from Shakopee. Speed Holman raced motorcycles under the nickname “Jack Speed,” and later when doing daredevil parachute jumps in a flying circus, his father was amazed to find that Jack Speed was his son. In return for a promise to never jump again, his father bought him his first airplane. Speed broke the promise and also broke the airplane.

His name became a household word, and when the newly organized Northwest Airways looked for its first pilot, they hired Speed. He became operations manager and pioneered air mail routes across Wisconsin and into North Dakota. In 1928, Holman set a world record of 1,433 consecutive loops in an airplane in five hours over the St. Paul Airport.

His airline career was punctuated by wins in national air races, including the prestigious Thompson Trophy Race in 1930, part of the National Air Races in Chicago, where Holman set a looping record that stood for many years; he visited every corner of the state, lobbying cities to build airports; he was considered one of the country’s top aerobatic pilots; and every fragment of his life was spectacular.

Such was his death during an impromptu aerobatic performance at the dedication of the Omaha Airport in front of 20,000 spectators. He was 32 years old. His funeral was the largest in state history, with 100 thousand persons turning out along the funeral route and at the cemetery.

Holman Field, St. Paul Downtown Airport is named in honor of Speed Holman, as was Holman Street in St. Paul, Minnesota. Holman is also inducted in the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame.

And it all happened because Charles W. Speed Holman watched as the two Strunk brothers, Herb and Ray, learned to fly a glider in Shakopee, Minnesota!

(Some information from The Shakopee Story by Julius Coller II, 1960. “A Tribute to Speed Holman” by George Smedal, Popular Aviation, July 1931, pp. 21-22)

The Shakopee Ice House (1920s)

Places

By David R. Schleper

Ice houses were buildings used to store ice throughout the year, commonly used prior to the invention of the refrigerator. They were usually man-made, close to natural sources of winter ice such as freshwater lakes, or in Shakopee, the Minnesota River.

During the winter, ice and snow would be taken into the ice house and packed with insulation, often straw or sawdust. They would remain frozen for many months, often until the following winter, and could be used as a source of ice during summer months. The main application of the ice was the storage of perishable foods, but it could also be used simply to cool drinks, or allow ice-cream and sorbet desserts to be prepared.

Frank and Leo Siebenaler went into the ice business during the 1920s in Shakopee. They bought the business from Edward Veight. The ice house was right by the old feed mill.

The storage place for the ice was an old packing house on the west end of Shakopee. The building was a three layer thick, red brick building which measured 30’ x 100’. The building was 20 feet above ground, with a 10-foot basement.

The ice cutting was done with a big ice saw, by hand. They always waited for below-zero weather. The ice was made mostly at night because of the cold weather. They hauled the ice with teams of horses. The ice was packed in sawdust.

Homes in Shakopee at that time had ice boxes. The brothers carried the ice with tongs. They wore rubber aprons and rubber vests. Later on the electric refrigerator came along.

Before the ice would thicken enough to harvest, the snow had to be cleaned off the ice field. The old method was a wooden scraper pulled by a team of horses. Later, Leo and Frank used trucks. The ice on the river was always thinner where the main stream ran faster, which was on the north side of the river. One winter, Leo was cleaning the snow off the ice with his Oldsmobile truck. He went too far on the current side, and his truck broke through. Luckily, Leo and Frank always plowed with the driver’s door removed for a quick exit! The water was over his cab, with only one angle iron on the top of the truck sticking out. They had to wait for two weeks to get quick enough to work around the truck to remove it!

At the loading platform, the rafts of ice were split into single blocks by a splitting bar and a needle bar. To put the blocks on the loading platform, a long slide was used three feet below the water level. A hook was placed behind two or three cakes and pulled up the slide by one horse.

Frank’s job was to take care of the river crew, and Leo took care of the ice house crew. Six to eight teams with sleds, each hauling eight cakes of ice, hauled the ice to the ice house. Some of the men who used horse teams to haul the ice up the hill to the ice house included John Breeggemann, George Ince, Jake Menden, Peter Ploumen, George Realander, and Sonny Scherer.

If there were bare spots on the road, the snow had to be hauled to cover that area so that the horses could pull the heavy loads. Later, the horses were replaced with a Ford Model-T truck, and in 1927, a Chevrolet truck was used.

The road from the river to the ice house was two blocks. Eventually, Frank and Leo cut the teams in half by blasting with dynamite behind the ice house, making a road. Pete Thielen, the local dynamiter, did the blasting.

Leo’s Oldsmobile truck was used with a long rope and pulley to pull the cakes up the slide and into the ice house. Later, Frank made an elevator, which raised one cake at a time. The ice packers, who worked inside the ice house, had to be good at handling and packing ice. Bill Greening, Art Schultz, Sam Jansen, Paul Prellwitz, and Art Hamilton were some of the ice packers. The ice was heavy, and they could easily be hurt if they weren’t fast and careful.

Once the ice house was filled with ice, it had to be completely covered with sawdust. The sawdust pile was on the outside of the ice house. It usually took two days to fill the ice house with sawdust. Frank later made a hay carrier track, attached to a 55 gallon barrel. The Siebenaler boys had to fill the barrel, and sometimes they got a shower of sawdust!

During the summer, Frank and Leo were at the ice house by 6 a.m. Cutting the ice out of the 10-foot basement was quite a chore. Later, Frank bought a hoist for $40 from Mrs. Whaeling. Her husband had dementia, and he didn’t want them to sell the hoist. So Mrs. Whaeling put the hoist in the grass across the street from where they lived, near Hennen’s Station, and Frank and Leo picked it up late in the evening.

Ice was delivered to private homes and businesses. They filled the ice boxes four times a week, and it made a mess on the floors of some houses! When the brothers were delivering ice, children would come and the men would chisel off pieces of ice for them.

The cost of the ice delivery was $2.50 for a 500-pound coupon book. The chips were marked with Siebenaler Bros. Ice Co. and the ice was the size of a 50-cent piece. The wholesale price for large orders or a truck load was $4 per ton. Some of the places that had ice delivered included Barney Jansen and Charles Hartmann, who both had a meat market, and the Hamm’s Branch. The Redman Ice Cream Factory, which was located on the northwest corner of First and Holmes Street was Siebenaler’s biggest customer.

John Siebenaler was the grandson of Leo. “Leo and Frank invented the first ice cubes by cutting the ice, which they got out of the Minnesota River, into cubes with a series of saws. In the beginning they used horses to cut the ice out of the river and pull it up the banks of the river into their ice house. Later on they invented a series of belts powered by a gas engine to pull the ice up from the river.”

Frank and Leo also invented an ice cube machine and sold ice cubes. According to John Siebenaler, “Before the ice cubes became popular bars or restaurants had ice picks that they used to chop up larger chunks of ice to fit into a glass.”

John also remembered his dad riding on the ice wagon and throwing ice at other kids running after the ice truck. He also recalled his aunt. “One of my dad’s sisters used to carry blocks of ice into people’s homes to put into their ice boxes. I remember the ice man coming into the house and putting the ice in our ice box.”

And that is how people got ice in the good ole days!

(Some information from Lucille Siebenaler Olson and the Shakopee Heritage Society Newsletter and interview with John Siebenaler.)

The Golf Tee Water Tower (1940)

Places

By David R. Schleper

Water tower on Tenth Avenue and Holmes Street intersection, 1942

In the spring of 1940, Shakopee decided to erect a modern municipal water tank. They located it at Holmes Street and Prairie Avenue (now known as Tenth Avenue).

A new 250,000-gallon, all-steel welded water tower was hailed at that time as the largest in the world, according to Popular Mechanics. The globe top water tower was erected by the Chicago Bridge and Iron Works Company. It took 115 tons of steel plates to build, and it stands 130 feet tall. The shining ball atop the steel shaft is 43 feet in diameter and has a capacity of 300,000 gallons.

The tower became a shining monument in Shakopee, and could be seen from miles around. Because the surface was covered with aluminum paint, it was easy to see.

On September 18, local sign painter Ed Fonnier climbed the 130-foot tank and painted SHAKOPEE in letters 4 feet, 8 inches high. When completed, the lettering stretched 28 feet across the sphere.

As Fonnier climbed down he said, “That tank is plenty high!”

The Four Lyons Brothers in the Civil War of 1861 to 1865

People

By David R. Schleper

On April 12, 1861, the American Civil War began as Confederate forces bombarded Fort Sumter which was held by a dedicated group of Union soldiers.

With the news of the attack, Minnesota was the first state to answer President Abraham Lincoln’s call for 75,000 volunteers to serve in the Union army. Scott County citizens gathered for a meeting on April 20 at the Scott County Courthouse. Immediate support was given to defend the union of the nation.

Alexander H. Lyons, his wife, Eliza A. Lyons, and their family moved to Shakopee in 1855. Stephen, who was born in New York in 1839, was the oldest of four brothers, all of whom served during the Civil War.

Stephen went to St. Paul to enlist for the war on April 25, 1861. His brother, Harrison, also joined the war, and both Stephen and Harrison were wounded at Gettysburg.

George F. Lyons, born in 1841, served in the 9th Minnesota Infantry, and John L Lyons, born in 1847, served in the 11th Minnesota. They both arrived back to Minnesota without any physical problems.

And so, now you know about the four brothers. Stephen, Harrison, George, and John; the Lyons brothers, from Shakopee, and part of the large number of Shakopee people who fought for our nation during the Civil War.

(Some information from The Diary of Daniel M. Storer from 1849 to 1905: A Pioneer Builder and Merchant; Historical Scene: “Scott County’s Civil War Veterans Remembered” by Scot Stone, Aug./Sept. 2011, p. 15; Vangsness, Dave. “Stephen Lyons (1838-1907).” Find A Grave. findagrave.com/memorial/36766844.)

Ten Eyck Farm in the Middle of Shakopee (1968)

Places

By David R. Schleper

Charlie and Dorothy Ten Eyck and their six children lived on a three-acre “farm” right in the middle of Shakopee, on East Fourth Street. Besides raising honey bees and various fruits, the Ten Eycks had a huge vegetable garden. It was on Fillmore and Market Street, and closer to Fifth Avenue. Dorothy canned and froze all the fruits and vegetables the family could use, and the surplus was sold to friends and neighbors.

Charlie received first place in the whole state in cut-comb honey. He also took blue ribbons in Concord grapes, Portland grapes, Juanita plums, and Mount Royal plums. His exhibits of extracted honey, Regent apples, crabapples, and Fredonia grapes rated red ribbons. “We’ve been exhibiting for the past five years and this is the fifth year straight our Concord grapes have won blue ribbons,” said Charlie Ten Eyck in 1968.

Commenting on his honey exhibit, Ten Eyck said it takes 24 boxes of cut-comb honey, or 24 jars of extracted honey to make up a state fair exhibit. The reason for this is so judges can get an all-around sample of the honey crop. Honey is judged on flavor, color, and density and exhibitors compete with each other, rather than against a score sheet.

Charlie Ten Eyck raised his crops as a hobby, as he worked full-time for the Minnesota Correctional Institution for Women at Shakopee as a guard and maintenance man.

The Ten Eycks’ 100-year-old house was heated by floor furnaces, leaving the basement an excellent storage spot for winter crops such as potatoes and squash. The Ten Eycks ate their own potatoes year round. “Last year I grew Russet potatoes a foot long in this wonderful sandy soil,” Charlie said.

Dorothy Ten Eyck demonstrated the huge honey extractor operated in the basement storeroom. The extractor came from her father, Leonard Kaiser of Fish Lake, who also started the Ten Eycks raising bees by giving them their original swarm in 1958.

The Ten Eycks attributed their success in gardening to their soil, a rich sandy loam, and to regular use of manures and other fertilizers, as well as an insect control program using sprays. “But it is a lot of hard work,” they both said. “You’ve got to love it.”

(Some information from “Charles Ten Eyck Sweeps State Fair Fruit, Comb Honey Class,” Shakopee Valley News, 12 Sept 1968.)

Shakopee Flour Mill

Places

By David R. Schleper

Flour mill, circa 1900

Ries brothers built a mill establishment in 1859 in Shakopee. It was a three story stone mill with three runs of stone. After three years, it was allowed to lie idle. The city authorized $3,000 for anyone who would erect and operate a flouring mill.

C.E. Woodward purchased the old mill and machinery, repaired it, and ran it for a few months in 1875. He sold it to George F. Strait and Company. It was called the Shakopee City Flouring Mill.

On May 10, 1877, the flour mill was destroyed by fire, but was soon rebuilt.

The mill had a strike in 1920, and in 1922 the elevator was struck by lightning but was never re-built.

The building was gobbled up by one chain, then another, and then they closed the mill.

The flour mill was torn down in 1969.

References: Shakopee Valley News, 23 Jan 1969.

Skat Tournament at the Opera House (1905)

Events

By David R. Schleper

Skat tournament participants outside the Opera House, April 24, 1905

A skat tournament was held at the Opera House at the northeast corner of Holmes Street and First Avenue in Shakopee on April 24, 1905.

Skat is a three-handed card game played with 32 cards in which players bid for the privilege of attempting any of several contracts. Players came from as far as 50 miles away to participate.

It has become the most loved and widely played German card game, especially in German-speaking regions. And it was the German Americans in Shakopee in 1905 who held the tournament.

The Opera House was in the Reiss Building, on the north side of First Avenue. The building was placed on the National Register of Historical Places in 1979, but unfortunately, the city bought it to be used as a right-turn lane. They demolished the building in 1986.

A book, Lost Minnesota: Stories of Vanished Places by Jack El-Hai discusses 89 historic buildings, including the Reiss Block. (It also included the Merchants’ Hotel/Conter Hotel/Pelham Hotel, also in Shakopee, which was leveled in 1987.)

(Some information from “Wrecking ball writes final chapter of House of Hoy’s 103-year history,” by Beth Forkner Moe, Shakopee Valley News, 24 Dec 1986; and Lost Minnesota: Stories of Vanished Places by Jack El-Hai, 2000, University of Minnesota Press.)

Major C.M. Wilson: Trading with the Dakota Indians of Shakopee (1853)

People

By David R. Schleper

General Thomas W. Wilson and his wife, along with his son, C.M., came to St. Paul in 1851. C.M. attended Miss Harriet E. Bishop’s school for a year, and also attended a mission school that was run by Rev. Breck.

At that time, many kids were in two gangs in St. Paul. The upper town boys would have contests against the lower town boys. Sometime the two groups would have pitched battles.

In 1851 in St. Paul, C.M. and his friends heard screams in the direction of the upper levee of the Minnesota River. C.M. and his friends ran to the area of the river, and saw people pointing to a man who was sinking into the water for the third time. Although there were a number of grown people witnessing the struggle, no one moved to save him. C.M. pulled off his boots, jumped into the river, and swam to the man, who was sinking below the surface. C.M. seized the man by the hair and pulled him to the shore. Everyone was impressed with C.M., who was only 10 years old, but was braver than any others in St. Paul that year!

Another time, Major Wilson was at an old house, called the Daniels House, a wooden building of four stories on the upper levee in 1852. Suddenly, it was in flames. A lady boarder frantically and piteously looked up into the faces of a number of men as she said, “Can’t you save that valuable package?” She pointed to Daniels House, which was in flames, and looked around. No one responded.

“I’ll go!” said Major Wilson, and he did! He brought out the valuables, and just as he go out of the building, the whole framework fell in with a terrible crash! The brave traits of Major Wilson caused him to be in prominence. The adult population praised him, and he was lionized as a hero by the boys in St. Paul.

Major Wilson and his brother were engaged in trading with the Dakota Indians at Shakopee in 1853. He was one of the only white boys in the place, and the Indians called him “the little black head.” Major Wilson gained knowledge of the Dakota language and habits, and even 30 years later, the Dakota Indians would see him and remember “the little black head,” as they used to call him.

In 1855 until 1857, Major Wilson attended school in Granville, Ohio. He then returned to Minnesota and farmed until 1861, where he joined the Union army. He was promoted step by step, each time for meritorious conduct.

In 1864, C.M. was captured and taken to Andersonville prison. He was also prisoner in Monticello, Florida, and Florence, South Carolina. In Florence prison, he escaped with 15 others, but was recaptured by the use of bloodhounds. Three of the 15 prisoners were killed by the bloodhounds, while seven more died before reaching the Florence prison again. Major Wilson was held in high esteem by his fellow prisoners.

After the war, Major Wilson helped build railroads, and became inspector of customs. He married Miss Miller of Ohio in 1871. They had two children, a son and a daughter. His wife died in 1884.

Major Wilson, who was born in 1842 in Ohio, was a rather slender, wiry man, who was full of energy. He used his indomitable will-power in his aims and in his purpose. He had a very active brain, backed by nerve, and entered earnestly into his enterprises. He was liberal in his disposition, social in nature, a natural schemer, persistent in his efforts, and devoted to his friends.

(Some information from Pen Pictures of St. Paul, Minnesota, and Biographical Sketches of Old St. Paul by Thomas McLean Newson, 1886.)

Bareass Creek in the 1950s

Places

By David R. Schleper

When he was nine or 10 years old, John Siebenaler used to go skinny dipping in the Minnesota River behind Growler Delbow’s house in Shakopee. He called this area “Bareass Creek” for obvious reasons.

In the 1950s, the city sewage went directly into the river where Huber Park is now located. John remembered swimming down river from the Huber Park area. “You had to keep an eye out for turds floating down river,” John recalled.

Of course, being nine or 10 years old, John and his friends often didn’t always let their buddies know when an incoming turd would hit them in the back of the head.

John Siebenaler and his friends also had a lot of fun with a rope swing, which allowed them to swing out over the Minnesota River before they dropped into the murky water below.

His parents didn’t know that he was swimming in the Minnesota River. John remembered drying off before going home. Of course, the clay mud would stick, and even busy parents would HAVE to know what was happening!

(Some information from John Siebenaler in “If You Grew Up in Shakopee…Then You Remember” Facebook post.)

Remember When: September 2018

Remember When

1893: Scott County Argus

Sept. 7, 1893

Michael Berens started in to tear down his frame building Tuesday. Work on his new brick structure will commence immediately, and under the skillful hands of Roehlfs & Woehling, will climb up to rapid completion. Tally one more for Shakopee’s little boom.

Chas. Siewert moved his family to Cologne last Monday. He has sold his property here and will open a blacksmith shop in Cologne.

J. A. Wilder is having his pleasant residence remodelled, just to help the boom along. A neat piazza and corner tower are to effect a most appreciable improvement in the dwelling.

Probably 1500 people from Shakopee, Jordan, Chaska, and Chanhassen were present at the dedication of the new parochial school building at Marystown last Sunday afternoon. The Shakopee contingent is estimated at four hundred. The members of St. John’s society to the number of fifty were in attendance and took part in the exercises. Prof. Soengerath, of St. Thomas Seminary, Merriam Park, delivered the oration.

Plans are not yet fully completed for Otto Spielman’s new building between the City Hall and Voelker & Koenig’s meat market. It is understood however that the building will be a two story brick structure as wide as the lot, leaving a narrow alley way, and running back about eighty feet. The upper part is to be used as a dwelling and the first floor will be occupied by Mr. Spielman in his saloon business. The building is to be a modern one in every way and an ornament to that part of the town.

W. W. Cornelie and family will soon vacate the rectory to occupy Joseph Buch’s new house in upper town.

O. S. Brown will make some extensive improvements in his residence this fall. The entire front of the building is to be reconstructed, a large plate glass window will be put into the front parlor, and a piazza across the front will adorn the whole.

O. J. Brown reports that the bodies of two dead horses lie just below the bridge opposite the fair sheds. One is already decomposed, he says, and the stench which arises is a menace to the public health. If this be true, action should be taken and at once by the health officer. The spot mentioned is inside the city limits.

Sept. 14, 1893

We learn that August Scherkenbach has bought the Heroux houses on Second street.

Ground was broken for both the Berens and Otto Spielman blocks this week. The brick work on both the Busse and the How blocks is now about completed and some idea of their attractiveness can be formed. Each is an ornament to the city and deserves all the praise it receives. Mr. Busse will occupy his smaller store as soon as it is ready to receive him, which will not be for at least two weeks yet. The How building will be ready for occupancy in another month.

At a meeting of the Scott Co. Driving Ass’n held in the offices of Dr. L. G. Mitchell last Monday evening it was decided to have a race meeting on Monday the 2nd day of October. $100 in purses will be hung up. There will be six events during the afternoon, the free-for-all, green trotting, farmers’, running, and professional and amateur bicycle races. The event of the day however will be the farmers’ race. This will be an event for farmers’ horses alone. It is probable that many buyers will be on the track and no better occasion could be had to make sales in horse flesh. No entrance fee will be charged for this race and a splendid harness will be hung up for the first horse under the wire so that each one has something to lose and lots of sport and a fine harness to win. The Shakopee Cornet Band will probably furnish music for the occasion. A 25 cent admission fee to the grounds will be charged, and a fine day’s sport is promised to all who attend. The stock fair will be the largest of the year and farmers would do well to bring in their families with the intention of staying all day. A day’s pleasure will not hurt anyone.

The American Express Office at the depot was entered by burglars last night but no money and no articles of value were secured. The moneys of the office are sent away every night and Mr. Cornelie’s plan is to leave the cash drawer open for inspection. This he forgot to do last night and the miscreants broke the drawer in getting it open. A burglary was attempted at the Milwaukee depot in Chaska last night but the student who sleeps there opened fire with a revolver and the fellow fled toward Shakopee. Here they broke in by breaking a pane of glass in the window and pulling out the catch. The work was undoubtedly that of our home talent.

Sept. 21, 1893

A little steam yacht brought up from St. Paul last Sunday eight young “bloods” from that city. They arrived here at three o’clock Sunday morning and, thinking they were in the back woods, set about having a real lively little spree. Officer Ring heard the sound of revelry by night and straightway proceeded to lay the strong arm of the law upon the devotees of the god of Bacchus. They were weighed in the balance the next morning but were let off with a fatherly injunction to “go and sin no more.” They left for down river points at three in the afternoon.

A gong has been put into the mill office ad connected by wire to the telephone office. This arrangement was found necessary to accomodate the mill’s ever increasing business.

John Reis has painted his dwelling and tenement on Fifth street. The color and style of work are quite up with the times, and render a most attractive effect.

Antoine Gentgen is making some substantial improvements in his dwelling at the corner of Lewis and Third streets. The house has been raised three feet and the lot will be filled in and sodded. The interior is to be remodelled and a bay window put in on the south side. A new roof will complete the whole.

The excavation for the Berens block is completed and the walls are rising. The excavation for the Spielman block also is nearly finished. All the building sand for the structure was taken out from the cellar. At a depth of eight feet an inexhaustable bed of sand was struck. It is of excellent quality and comes in just right for Mr. Spielman.

Perhaps you are not aware of the fact that we have among us a first class mechanic, jeweler and watchmaker. We have had the opportunity to examine a C. K. of A. solid gold watch charm, made entirely by hand of Mr. H. P. Marx for Chas. Grafenstatt. We have never seen any better work of the kind, the engraving being particularly good. As an engraver Mr. Marx far excels the average. He wishes to announce that he will make gold rings and other jewelry out of old gold. Take your old gold to him and have it made into something you can use. Silver and gold engraved bangles are made the same day the order is left.

The Milwaukee switch track between Sommerville and Lewis streets is being raised some eight or ten inches.

Sept. 28, 1893

August Scherkenbach has had the house occupied by Mrs. O’Dowd in the Third ward re-shingled.

Doctors Mitchell and Sabin have been appointed members of the pension examining board of the county.

The members of the firm of Paul & Heroux have dissolved partnership.

Mrs. Tessmer last Sunday accidentally swallowed a tack and in coughing it up sent it into her nose. A specialist from St. Paul came down Sunday night but was unable to find it. However, he thinks it will work out all right of itself, and the lady is rapidly recovering.

Another merry-go-round is affording amusement for the fun loving for a week or so. It is located on the same lot which the first one occupied and looks just the same with the exception that the nigger which plays the organ is a little lighter colored. This, however, makes no appreciable difference in the tunes he grinds out. They sound just like the ones evolved by the first one. It is claimed though that this one has two brand new ones for your delectation.

B. J. Gellenbeck will open a restaurant in the building now occupied by Mrs. Henschel within a week or two. This we think is a wise move. There is probably no other one thing that Shakopee needs so badly as a good restaurant, and Mr. Gellenbeck is certainly the right man to undertake the matter. He may feel assured of success from the start.

Mr. Mertz, our new shoemaker, moved over from Chaska this morning. He has located in the building just east of John Theis’s.

There will be a meeting at the Union School Saturday evening at half past seven o’clock to organize a reading circle. All are cordially invited.

1918: Shakopee Tribune

Sept. 6, 1918

The new Ford Sedan belonging to R. L. Brown was badly smashed last Friday evening, while Brown was crossing the tracks near the depot. We are informed that the Milwaukee motor, due at 5:41, with the motor shut off, was nearing the depot and was almost noiseless. The motor struck the Ford sideways, damaging it to the extent of $150. We understand the railroad company will adjust the loss.

Airplanes Visit Shakopee. Shakopee has been given a chance the past week to become quite familiar with airplanes. All day Sunday planes could be seen and heard overhead, and some were flying so low that with the aid of a small glass the occupants could be seen; indeed, those who had telescopes of the ordinary power were able to watch every movement of the flyers. All the machines belonged to the exhibition squadron of the British and American “wildcats” which has been performing at the state fair this week. The first of the machines was observed here about noon, and the hum of the engines was heard by some after dark. One machine came down on the John O’Dowd farm shortly after noon to adjust some engine trouble, but though Mr. O’Dowd hurried over to the spot, the fliers were on their way again by the time he came near. Another machine was seen to turn a series of veritable somersaults in the air as it passed over town to the south. Other machines are reported to have landed in this vicinity. It was a show well worth seeing, and to many it was something new…

Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Wise and daughters, Florence and Mary left for Faulkton, S. D., on Wednesday, where they will reside. Their home has been rented by Mr. and Mrs. Henry Green, who have already taken possession.

Schools Open This Week

The union school opened its doors on Monday morning when all pupils assembled for enrollment. The year’s work commenced on Tuesday and through the courtesy of Prof. Clark we give the following number of pupils enrolled in the grades and high school. 1st grade, 28; 2nd & 3rd grades, 39; 4th & 5th grades, 37; 6th & 7th grades, 37; 8th grade 18; high school, 54.

Two new subjects were introduced this year, French, the class having an enrollment of 42. Unified Mathematics, a new study, also has a large class. The study of German has been dropped.

St. Mark’s parochial school began the year’s work on Tuesday morning having an enrollment of 264 on the opening day.

Sept. 13, 1918

Mile Road Quite Impassable. Owing to unavoidable obstruction of the roadway where the construction gang is working, the mile road north of town is closed to travel for the next week or so. The obstructions are due to an accumulation of materials in one place and to the assembling of the line drag, with which the dredging is to be done, at another. Notice will be given as soon as the road is clear again.

Two Fire Alarms. The Shakopee fire department has responded to two alarms the past week, and in both instances have shown praiseworthy celerity in reaching the scene. Sunday noon an alarm was sent in to the effect that Lee Gelhaye’s saloon was burning. The company was before the place with the fire apparatus in less than five minutes, but there was no fire. The building was full of smoke all right, but it was caused from a smoke barrage which Lee had put down on the flies. Nothing daunted by this false alarm, the company made an equally prompt appearance the following noon when an alarm came in from the Kirkeby residence. In this instance a chimney fire was the cause of trouble. The fire burned through the interior of one of the rooms but was put out without doing much of any damage.

Mr. and Mrs. Achille Tuyten moved into their new bungalow, near the stove foundry, this week.

Next Friday evening, the last pavilion dance of the season will be staged in the Scott county agricultural society’s pavilion in Riverside Park. Everybody come.

Mr. and Mrs. Edward Dellwo have taken rooms in the John H. Ring residence on Second street.

Sept. 20, 1918

Gasoline Explosion. Tuesday morning an accident happened at the home of the Misses Bieren which caused considerable damage and came narrowly ending seriously for Miss Mary Bieren. Miss Bieren, having filled the tank of her gasoline flatiron in readiness to do ironing, had stepped out into another room for a minute or two when she heard an explosion, and running back to the kitchen found the room a virtual wreck from the explosion of the gasoline tank, while a blaze had started all over the ironing board. At considerable risk to herself she put out the blaze but did not escape without severely burning her hands. The damage done to the room was considerable and plainly denoted the force of the explosion. Two windows were blown out into the yard, the window casings were torn from the wall, and plaster lay everywhere. The kitchen was as complete a wreck as if 40-centimeter shell from a Big Bertha has landed in it. Had Miss Bieren been in the room when the explosion took place there would have been a more serious tale to tell. The gasoline iron ranks well up with the unloaded gun and the over-driven car as a menace to the continuity of the human race. Theoretically it cannot explode, but somehow or other it gets in its work when there is least apprehension of danger.

Ditching Machine Erected. The road foreman and his men are busy this week setting up the line drag ditching machine with which the excavating for the filling of the mile road will be done. The machine is being set up just north of Riverside Park, where operations will be started in a few days. It consists of a wide platform set on a track, upon which is the hoisting crane, a large kerosene engine and the bucket or dredge. The crane is based upon a circular track so that it may operate in any direction desired. They tell us that the scoop is so powerful that it is capable of cutting through one or two feet of frost. The purpose of the machine, of course, is to scoop earth from the right of way onto the road bed. As the grading is done the machine is moved forward by taking to the front and placing ahead of it the sections of track over which it has already passed. Thus only a very small amount of trackage is necessary. The operators, two in number, can do all their work inside the engine house on the platform, so that operations can be carried on in any kind of weather, from a Florida zephyr to an arctic blizzard.

Mrs. Fred Rohlfs was hostess to a party of Red Cross knitters at her home last Friday afternoon. The afternoon was pleasantly spent, after which a sumptuous supper was partaken of. All report a fine time.

John Strattmann sold his home and furniture to A. J. Mingo, last Wednesday, the consideration being $2200. Mr. Strattmann departed for Milwaukee on Tuesday evening where he will make his future home. Mr. Strattmann has been a resident of Shakopee for many years and has a host of friends who regret to see him leave but who wish him success in his new home.

The Hal Huth family moved here from Savage last Saturday and are occupying the Joseph Ries house, near the depot.

Sept. 27, 1918

The Schroeder Brick & Lime Manufacturing Co. has shipped the brick to be used for the new schoolhouse at Judson, this state.

Every farmer who has a silo doubles his bit for winning the war. So also think Tom Condon and Wm. Wiechman, who are two Shakopee farmers who have bought silos this week from the Interior Lumber Co.

The Irving Oltman family will move to Hopkins next Monday where Mr. Oltman will be employed in the machine shops.

An Historic Meeting

“Gug, Ga, Goo!” said Rose, Roger and Roderick in chorus on beholding Philomine, Marie and John, whose answering “Google, guggle, glug” in baby talk means kid, I love you, too.

It was a most unusual party which met at the Arnold Kopp home south of Shakopee last Sunday, this first meeting of two sets of triplets and their proud parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Abeln of Shakopee and Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Kopp of Eagle Creek. The Abeln triplets, John, Philomine and Marie, are three months old, hale and hearty, and weigh 11 to 13 pounds apiece. The Kopp trio are one month old and are thriving apace, as healthy youngsters as one would wish to see…

1918: Scott County Argus

Sept. 6, 1918

John Heller has resigned as chief of police and Charles A. Rose was appointed to fill the vacancy by the city council.

Mrs. C. W. Daye and Mrs. S. T. Turner spent Wednesday in Minneapolis purchasing material for 100 comfort kits for the Red Cross.

As Lester Brown was driving to the depot Friday evening last he turned out to avoid a woman pedestrian and before he could turn back was struck by the approaching motor on the Milwaukee road. His Ford Sedan was upset and a wheel ripped from it but otherwise suffered little damage. Lester was pulled from the car by scared witnesses of the accident but escaped without a scratch and is considered very fortunate as he might easily have been killed.

Elsewhere in the Argus are published articles of incorporation of the Buchanan Grain company, capitalized at $50,000, with Wm. Fulton and Paul M. Marshall, millers of Minneapolis, and C. T. Buchanan of this city as directors.

The company has taken over the elevator at the depot and will engage in grain buying exclusively, principally of wheat. The business will be conducted in connection with the mill but as a separate part.

The first meeting of the directors is called for Tuesday, September 17th.

Sept. 13, 1918

Is Home Guard Possible? Whether or not Shakopee is to have a Home Guard will be determined by the number of men in attendance at a meeting called for next Monday evening at 7:30 o’clock at the court house. There are now 55 enrolled and in order to form a company 65 or 70 men must be signed up by September 20th. Regular drill nights are Monday, Wednesday and Friday and with the coming draft the advantage to be gained by the drill is incalculable. Chaska and other neighboring towns are organizing and it is hoped that Shakopee may also have a company. G. H. Jones the drill master, is deeply interested in the project and makes a special appeal to the men of Shakopee to attend the meeting Monday evening and for a Home Guard that will be a credit to the city.

Joseph Huettle has given up his position in Charles Hartmann’s meat market and left Tuesday for St. Paul to work for the McMillan company. Mrs. Huettle expects to move to that city the first of October.

Frank Boehmer moved into his new home on Third street Wednesday.

Sept. 20, 1918

Little Child Scalded. Rosella Powers, the two-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Powers of Marystown, was the victim of a shocking accident at the home of her grandmother in Chaska Saturday. The little girl fell into a pail of hot water standing on the porch and was so badly scalded that pneumonia developed and she died at two o’clock Monday morning. The funeral was held yesterday at Chaska. The sorrow-stricken parents have the sympathy of the community in their affliction. Their only surviving child is a baby boy ten days old.

Andrew Mingo this week bought the John Strattmann home and will take possession October first. Mr. Strattmann left Wednesday for Milwaukee to spend the winter with friends there.

Peter J. Mahowald was at Lakeville several days this week plowing his farm in readiness for spring. Mr. Mahowald will give up his business in his harness shop and return to farming as he prefers that occupation to indoor work. He has not yet disposed of his shop and will not move immediately.

Sept. 27, 1918

Wm. Sudmann has rented the Peter Piske residence and will move there as soon as it is vacated by Andrew Mingo.

Carl Linhoff, who has been engaged in electrical work at different points during the summer, has returned home. He expects to enter the university later.

1943: Shakopee Argus-Tribune

Sept. 2, 1943

Revenue Dept. May Establish Office Here. The possibility of the collector of internal revenue establishing a full-time office in Shakopee, was hinted this week by Mayor J. J. Cavanaugh, who disclosed that a representative of the Treasury Department was in the city inquiring about space for a permanent office quarters…

There is considerable activity in the sale and purchase of city property in Shakopee. There is much demand for homes. The latest purchase to come to our attention was that of Albert Herrgott, who bought the house and lot advertised in this paper by our local citizen, John Garvey. He is advertising another house for sale in this week’s issue. Mr. Garvey says he will build more houses just as soon as he can obtain building material—after the war.

Christmas Seals May Be Obtained at Any of Shakopee’s Drug Stores

Tuberculosis Christmas Seals, a penny apiece, to be used on overseas mail for men and women in service have been placed on sale downtown for the convenience of local people, Mrs. M. L. Regan, chairman, announces.

They are available at the following places: Shakopee Drug store (bus depot), Strunk’s Pharmacy and Deutsch Drug store…

Sept. 9, 1943

Mr. and Mrs. Math Sames have moved from the house they occupied for a number of years, near the State Reformatory, into their own home at 618 Holmes St. Mr. Sames, having retired from the duties as engineer at the reformatory, will now, with Mrs. Sames, enjoy the fruits of their labors in their new home.

FOR SALE.—7-room house, priced $2,000—$100 down, balance $35 per month. Inquire at SINCLAIR OIL STATION, or Call 332-W.

Sept. 16, 1943

FOR SALE.—Shakopee kitchen range, laundry stove with water jacket, ice box, good stanchion. JOHN SAMES, Shakopee. Tel. 689-J.

FOR SALE.—To close estate; 197-acre farm, mile north of Marystown, 5 miles south Shakopee. Well improved buildings; electricity, water in house and barn; hot air furnace. Known as Mrs. Val Theis farm. Inquire HARRY V. THEIS, Adm., Tel. 486, Shakopee.

694 Pupils in Shakopee’s Three Schools

A substantial increase in the total enrollment of pupils in Shakopee’s three schools was disclosed this week in the announcement of registrations. Still greater increase is anticipated in the next few days, it was said, when students, now employed in farm work and other essential industry, return to their studies.

Registration records revealed that 694 pupils were enrolled in Shakopee schools on the opening day this year. Opening day registration last year was 678…

Sept. 23, 1943

Northrup King Co. Plant Now in Season’s Rush. Seed, many thousands of pounds of it, for next year’s sweet corn crop, is now being processed at the Northrup King and Company seed processing plant in West Shakopee…

T. B. Control in County Effective

Scott county is making encouraging progress in the march toward tuberculosis control, according to the Minnesota Public Health association, the State Christmas Seal organization.

Scott county now has its tuberculosis death rate down to 23.1 having decreased it by 1.8 within a span of two years. It ranks 54 among the counties in its tuberculosis death rate…

PAGE & HILL CO. HAS NAVY AND RAIL CONTRACTS

If you have been one of the many who have pondered the “what-for” of the mountainous piles of lumber in the vicinity of the Page & Hill plant in the west end of the city, you may find a partial answer in the disclosure made by plant officials, Tuesday.

Right now the firm, employing 100 men and women, is engaged in the manufacture of 100,000 grain donors for the Omaha railroad; 70,000 loading pallets for the United States navy, and in the last 90 days completed 3000 hog feeders for use on northwest farms…

Sept. 30, 1943

Another Repair Shop to Keep Our People Shod. Our fellow-townsman, Fred Wessel, has decided to operate a shoe repair shop in the rear of his home located on the corner of Third and Lewis. Fred is not a stranger to the people of this community, as he and his good wife have ben residents of Shakopee for a number of years. He conducted a shoe repair business here with success before disposing of it to others to carry on when he accepted a position as instructor in the shoe repair department at the Shakopee N.Y.A. Center.

Cigarette Fund Here Reported Gratifying

Although officers Wednesday afternoon, were just in the midst of counting the nickles, dimes and pennies, they reported that the Civic and Commerce association’s milk bottle campaign had been a gratifying success.

Milk bottles were placed in the city’s various business places where contributors could deposit their small change in the bottles. The coin thus accumulated is to be used to purchase cigarettes for the men in service…

1968: Shakopee Valley News

Putting the finishing touches on the blacktopping installation of Shakopee’s thoroughfare, Tenth Avenue was the achievement of the contracting crew this week. This project is a part of an approximate $150,000 1968 Street Improvement program for the city.

Meat Truck Blaze. Shakopee volunteer firemen were called out at 2:41 p.m. Tuesday of this week, September 3, to extinguish a blaze that originated in a Hormel meat truck at the Shakopee Red Owl supermarket in the Shakopee Shops Shopping Center on East First. The truck was unloading at the supermarket, and there was not meat in the storage area of the vehicle at the time of the blaze. It was quickly extinguished with no serious damage resulting.

Advisory Committee Meets Tues. Eve To Consider Courthouse Need. An initial meeting, to include a tour of the Scott County Courthouse and Public Safety annex building in Shakopee, was held Tuesday evening of this week, September 3, by the committee, named by the Scott County Board of Supervisors to assist the county board with the planning and determination of needs for new facilities…

Sept. 12, 1968

3,200 Tour St. Francis Hospital At Open House. Approximately 3,200 attended the Open House, dedicating the new wing at St. Francis Hospital in Shakopee, from 1:30 to 5 p.m. last Sunday, September 8…

Shakopee Council No. 1865, Knights of Columbus building committee looks over the site of the new Knights of Columbus clubrooms for which construction is tentatively scheduled to begin this fall. The building is to be located approximately one-half mile east of County Road 17 on County Road 82 or East Fourth Avenue, and will include a lounge for members and guests and a large hall with kitchen facilities, meeting room and recreation room. The hall will be 52 by 72 feet to accommodate large receptions and parties. The large kitchen and service bar will adjoin the hall. The meeting and recreation rooms will be below the lounge and kitchen area, and will be open for youth, clubs or other activities…

Milk Shed Lost In Blaze Friday. Lost in a blaze at 4:15 p.m. last Friday, September 6, at the Bernard Schmitt farm, RR 2 Shakopee, five miles south of the city in Louisville township, was a small milking shed…

Sept. 19, 1968

Art Open House Sunday

An art exhibit and Open House will be held at the Minnesota Correctional Institution For Women at Shakopee, Sixth and Adams, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. this Sunday, September 22.

Featured on exhibit will be the art work of Mrs. Mary Malekar of Eden Prairie, art instructor at this state institution…

Need For Courthouse Expansion To Get Further Study By Scott Board Next Tues.

The project of need for new facilities at the Scott County courthouse site in Shakopee is continuing to get active consideration, with Scott County Auditor Joseph Ries of Shakopee to make a special report at the meeting of the Scott County Board of Commissioners, at the Board’s scheduled meeting on next Tuesday, September 24.

Auditor Ries is presently preparing a report to indicate the present dimensions of office space, used by the county offices and agencies in Jordan, the Public Safety Building annex, adjacent to the Scott Courthouse as well as the courthouse itself, with these statistics to be presented to the Scott Commissioners at next Tuesday’s meeting…

Discussion of the committee at this time brought out the possible return of the Scott County Welfare department, presently located on East First in Shakopee and formerly located in the Public Safety Annex building, back to the courthouse site. Also discussed was the locating the Scott County Agent and Home Agent, now with offices in Jordan, in the proposed new facilities in Shakopee.

Also discussed at length was a possible judicial wing to the present court house facilities, and the need for remodeling the present respective offices and facilities in the present courthouse…

Reveals Plans For $1.5 Million Amusement Park Near Stage Coach

Plans for a $1.5 million amusement park in Eagle Creek township, south of the Belle Union Opera House-Stage Coach Restaurant – Frontier – City complex, just to the south of Highway 101 and east of Scott County Road 89, between Shakopee and Savage, was revealed last week at a meeting of the Scott County Board of Commissioners.

Raymond J. Colihan of Excelsior, the developer, said that the amusement park is proposed to be on 60 acres in Eagle Creek township. He said the park, tentatively called “Wildwood,” will include about 20 rides, a dance hall, restaurant, picnic area and parking for 2,600 cars. He added that he also has an option on 70 acres immediately south of the proposed amusement park site…

According to preliminary plans shown to the Scott County Board yesterday, the amusement rides will be located around a circular “mall” in the park. Colihan said the concept is similar to large amusement parks recently built in Texas.

Colihan, who declined to identify the source of financing for the park, said he hopes construction can start this fall. Because of the length of time required in building a roller coaster, that ride may not be available during the first year, Colihan said.

Sept. 26, 1968

Municipal Swimming Pool Now Nearing Completion. Shakopee’s new municipal swimming pool on County Road No. 15, just south of Sweeney Elementary School, nears completion with just the finishing touches to be added, according to Shakopee Recreation Director George Muenchow…

Teachers Expect 5 Per Cent More Increase In Salaries By 1970-71

Expected further increases in teachers’ salaries was revealed Monday night of this week, September 23, at the adjourned meeting of the Shakopee Public School District No. 720 Board of Education, when a letter was read to board members.

The letter, by Gary Volding of the Shakopee High School faculty, chairman of the teachers’ salary and welfare committee, was directed to the chairman of the District No. 720 board…

1993: Shakopee Valley News

Sept. 2, 1993

Kugath named new hoops honcho. After months of meeting and debate, Bruce Kugath is Shakopee High School’s new boys’ basketball coach. Kugath was awarded the position by Shakopee’s School Board Monday evening…

Tribute to Vietnam vets starts Saturday

The Vietnam Veterans “Moving Wall” Memorial will be in Shakopee from Saturday through Sept. 10 at Canterbury Downs.

The display is part of a week-long celebration marking the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Paris Peace Accords that ended combat involvement for the United States in the Vietnam War. The Minnesota Veterans Color Guard is host of the week-long events, which will feature speakers Chris Noel and Adrian Cronauer…

Two Shakopee schools receive arts grants

Two Shakopee schools are the recipients of Artists in Education School support grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board.

Central Elementary received a $1,600 grant for the residency of artist Sean Brown, who will assist student and teachers in becoming more skillful in the art of storytelling, while increasing their knowledge of various cultures.

Pearson Elementary received a $1,300 grant for the residency of artist Susan Warner, who will work with students in creating a permanent tile artwork which will be incorporated into the school’s new addition…

Sept. 9, 1993

Funding, weather may delay bridge, bypass projects. The chairman of the Scott County Transportation Coalition (SCTC) told county commissioners Tuesday that the transportation picture looks bleak due to funding cuts, flooding and rains, and Gov. Arne Carlson’s opposition to a gas tax to help pay for transportation projects…

Hospital auxiliary’s 40th anniversary. The St. Francis Auxiliary will celebrate its 40th anniversary with an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 19 on the front lawn of St. Francis Regional Medical Center, 325 W. Fifth Ave…

Valleyfair to spend $2 million

The parent company of Valleyfair, the family amusement park in Shakopee, said that it plans to make $21 million in capital expenditures on its three amusement parks for the 1994 operating season, including about $2 million at Valleyfair.

Cedar Fair L.P., based in Sandusky, Ohio, said it plans a family-oriented addition to Valleyfair featuring Berenstein Bear characters in Bear Country, an indoor/outdoor area.

Sept. 16, 1993

School reorganization approved

Additions and remodeling are not the only changes taking place at the Shakopee district’s elementary schools.

As of next year, its organizational structure will be different, too.

On Monday, the School Board approved a recommendation to designate two kindergarten through fourth-grade schools at Pearson and Sweeney Elementary and a fifth- and sixth-grade school at Central Elementary starting with the 1994-95 school year…

The place to be

With the changing traffic patterns that are expected once the Shakopee Bypass project is completed, the city’s two drug stores this summer made a decision to relocate along Marschall Road, which is expected to be a major retail corridor once the highway project is complete.

Roberts Drug opened June 1 in the strip mall on Marschall between Fourth Avenue and County Road 16. Owners Charlie and Dan Bartz were able to find a location that allowed them to double their floor space. Since moving from another strip mall at 814 First Ave. E, they added many new products and services, Cherie Bartz said.

The owners of Eastman Eagle Drug recently broke ground for a new drug store just west of the intersection of Fourth Avenue and Marschall Road. Owners Gary and Melissa Gustafson and Greg and Sharon Wiser expect to open an independently owned Snyder Drug Store there in November. They also own the Snyder franchise in Chaska…

Sept. 23, 1993

Shakopee instructor is music teacher of year. Colette Sherman, a music teacher at Shakopee Junior High School, has been named Classroom Music Teacher of the Year by the Minnesota Music Educators Association. Sherman was recognized for excellence in classroom instruction…

Fields of dreams

Aug. 20 was a field day, literally as well as figuratively, for Shakopee School Board members and high school staff.

That was when a ground-breaking ceremony was held to signify the start of work in the first phase of the development of an outdoor activities complex at the high school…

Sept. 30, 1993

Ferry Bridge completion may be delayed. Work on the new Bloomington Ferry Bridge is again in full swing, but the loss of most of the summer construction season due to the Minnesota River flooding and heavy rains may now mean the $144 million project will not be completed until July or August 1995, said Scott County Highway Engineer Brad Larson. The project was scheduled to be completed by November 1994…

Downtown project’s phase two approved

About a dozen downtown business owners told the Shakopee City Council last week that they favor a proposal to begin work on the second phase of the downtown reconstruction project — and the sooner, the better.

After hearing testimony from business owners at a public hearing Sept. 21, the council voted 3-1 to begin preparing plans for the $360,302 project. Councilor Bob Sweeney cast the lone dissenting vote, and Councilor Michael Beard was absent…

City Council approves plans for flying-disk golf course

The Shakopee Lions Club plans to install a 12-hole flying-disk golf course in Lions Park after receiving approval from the Shakopee City Council on Sept. 21.

The project is expected to cost about $8,000, and is on the park’s five-year capital improvement plan as a 1995 project. However, the Lions asked that the project be approved for this year, and the council agreed…

KKCM to celebrate 30th anniversary Wednesday

Shakopee radio station KKCM-AM will celebrate its 30th anniversary next Wednesday.

When it signed on the air in 1963 with the call letters KSMM and a 500-watt non-directional signal at 1530 on the AM dial, the station was located on Lewis Street. In 1968, the station moved to its current home at 421 First Ave. E. In 1987, after an ownership change the station changed its format to a contemporary Christian music station and its call letters became KKCM.

In 1989, the station again changed ownership and in 1991, KKCM changed its format to Christian news-talk with an 8,600-watt signal, which reaches Wisconsin to the east and Willmar on the west, and can be heard as far north as Mille Lacs Lake and in Sauk Centre to the northwest.

The station has added more local news and sports programming, and this school year, a regular schedule of live play-by-play sports programming for Shakopee and Chaska high schools was added…