In this photo taken in 1909, owners and patrons pose for a photo in front of a pair of downtown businesses in Ghent.

From the Mascot Files

100 Years Ago
April 21, 1922

Van Hee returns
from Belgium trip
Modes Van Hee, who has been in Belgium for the past 17 months, returned to this locality last week. He was here for a long time before he went to Belgium, his native country, for a visit. We are told that he is very enthusiastic over the prospects in this country but that he is not nearly so well pleased with the outlook in his native land.

Peterson, 12, finishes
eighth grade already
Gordon Peterson, the son of Mrs. and Mrs. S.G. Peterson of Minneota, holds the exceptional record of having finished the common school course in five years. He finished the eighth grade in the home school of his district this spring and is only 12 years old.

75 Years Ago
April 25, 1947

Lundy farm home
destroyed by fire
Fire destroyed a seven-room home on Sunday occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Lundy and family on a farm located about 10 miles north on Minneota. The Lundys, who were not at home when the fire started, lost nearly all their furniture, clothing, and household items in the blaze. A motorist driving on the road just past the farm noticed that the home was on fire, flames were breaking through the roof, and drove to a neighboring farm to call the Minneota Fire Department. The firemen arrived at the farm around 5:30 p.m. and might have been able to save part of the house had the water supply held out. It is believed the fire started from an oil-burning heater.

Rains still keeping
farmers from fields
Rain which fell in this area on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday further delayed seeding operations on farms, which are already at least three weeks later than normal. Record precipitation this month, coupled with cloudy, cool weather all spring, has made many roads in this community almost impassable, making it difficult for farmers to get in and out of their yards and building up difficulties for rural carrier and school bus drivers.

$100 reward offered
for mailbox shooter
Jerome Verhelst, who lives three miles west of Minneota, is offering a reward of $100 for information which leads to the arrest of persons who recently damaged his mailbox by shooting at it. Mr. Verhelst said this week that twice in the past few weeks his mailbox has been damaged by firearms and he is offering the reward to put a stop to this nuisance. Other farmers in this area have reported similar damages to mailboxes in the past few weeks.

It took 296 miles to
unload hogs in Tracy
Because of drastic load restrictions in this area, trucks belonging to W.P. Tillemans and Sons traveled 296 miles in order to haul 88 hogs, weighing a total of 25,000 pounds, to Tracy this week. The hogs were loaded on straight trucks here and then re-loaded on semi-trailer at Marshall. Eight round trips were made by the straight trucks from here to the county seat for a total of 224 miles, then driving two semi-trailers from Minneota to Tracy added 72 more miles.

50 Years Ago
April 20, 1972

Differding picked
as FFA Sweetheart
LuAnn Differding was selected as the Minneota FFA Sweetheart at the organization's annual banquet held at the school last Thursday evening. James Myhre, the club's president, and Edward Laleman, the vice president, presented Differding with a jacket signifying her selection. Miss Differding will continue to reign until next year's FFA Sweetheart is selected.

13 musicians earn
A's at district event
Thirteen musicians from Minneota High School received an "A" rating in the District 9 music contest held last Saturday in Tracy. Those 13 are now eligible to perform in the state-region contest May 6 in Marshall. Those advancing are: Darlene Johnson, Dawn Schwartz, Wanda, Kopka, Rosemary Loyson, Suzzette Rye, Saxophone Quintet; Susan Teigland, Heidi Johnson, Dixie Prellwitz, Linda Larson, Clarinet Quartet; Diane Applewick, Becky Hovland, Flute Duet; Wanda Kopka, Saxophone Solo; and Rita Baugher, Vocal Solo.

Generous robin brings
$1 bill to area woman
Mrs. Ray Kack, who writes news of the St. Leo area for the Mascot, told us that Mrs. Mathilda Thielges was outside her home last Sunday when a robin appeared carrying a rather strange looking object in its beak. The bird attempted to land several times near where she was standing, but changed its mind when it saw her. The bird finally descended to land, dropped a dollar bill and flew away. Mrs. Thielges is saving the money as a souvenir.

Development group
names four directors
Stockholders of the Minneota Development Corporation named four men to the board of directors at a meeting Monday evening. The meetings were held at the public grade school. Named were Edward Finnegan Sr., E.E. Nordquist, George W. Gunderson and Dale Hachmann. The first three were re-elected and Hachmann is a new member.

25 Years Ago
April 23, 1997

Council hires new
police officer here
The Minneota City Council, at a special meeting held last Monday evening, filled out the Minneota Police Departments by hiring Mark Pearson of Moorhead. Pearson is presently employed at the Clay County Sheriff's Department as a correctional officer. He will begin serving the Minneota Police Department in early May. His starting salary was set at $10 an hour.

Ted's Ballroom set
to re-open April 26
John and Cheryl Smith are putting the finishing touches on a big remodeling project that is giving Ted's Ballroom a new look, plus open the ballroom, and you will have a chance to look it all over on Saturday, April 26 when they re-open. The Smiths purchased the business last January. Ted's has been operating since January as a supper club while the remodeling of both the supper club and ballroom was going on. Bob and the Beach Combers will be entertaining this weekend.

SPIN holding raffle
for new equipment
The SPIN (Safe Playground Is Needed) committee is holding a raffle in hopes of raising funds for the playground equipment at the Minneota Public School. Darla Timmerman, coordinator for the fundraiser, said she contacted the local businesses for their support, and was pleased with their response. Many have donated items for the raffle, or pledged services, which all helps the process. Among the prizes are gift certificates, prints for your home, a photo sitting, fire extinguishers, gold coins, a mountain bike, oil changes, and a toy tractor.

Contact Us

The Minneota Mascot
Address: 201 N. Jefferson
Minneota, MN 56264

Phone:(507) 872-6492