From the Mascot files

100 Years Ago
April 28, 1922

Hofteig also finishes
eighth grade quickly
When we noted the fact last week that Gordon Peterson (age 12) of Swede Prairie had passed an examination finishing the eighth grade of the common school district, we did not know that another pupil of the same locality had accomplished the same feat, namely, finished the grades in five years. The other pupil was Margaret Hofteig (age 13). We were told that the examination was given for four districts of the neighborhood and that those two were the only ones who passed.

Radiophone receiving
station being installed
The Mascot was recently informed that a radiophone receiving station is being put in Minneota by Rex Kroling and Edgar Hanson. The instrument that transmits the messages will be placed in the Rex Theatre and it will be possible for audiences there to hear concerts and speeches delivered in other cities. This radio transmission is the latest now and a community to be up to date must have must have at least one or two stations. Tom P. Culshaw was the first to install a wireless outfit here. When the U.S. went to war, Tom was directed to dismantle his wireless. Some of Tom's equipment is being used in erecting the radio station.

75 Years Ago
May 2, 1947

77 students cast in
Snow White musical
Under the direction of Irvin A. Trom, principal and vocal instructor, 77 Minneota High School 77 students will be in the cast for the upcoming operetta "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." This operetta follows the usual story of Snow White. Joan Logan is cast as Snow White, while John Coil is the Prince, Gene Korman the King, and Gloria Heggen as Queen Wistaria. The Dwarfs are played by Louis Leland, "Doc"; Robert Lovell, "Slow Poke"; James Swanson, "Happy"' Glenn Johnson, "Grumpy"; Conrad Heggeseth, "Bashful"; Clifford Hanson, "Sneezy"; Allen Christensen, "Dopey".

Three men file for
school board offices
Three men have filed for office in the upcoming school election, William Evans, clerk of Independent School District No. 20 announced this week. There will be two vacancies on the board this year, terms of Hans Grong and Sherlock White expiring. Filing period for the election, which will be held May 20, closes on May 7.

Cattle drive follows
Highway 68 west
Highway 68 took on the appearance of an old-time cow trail Monday morning when 50 head of cattle belonging to the Finnegan brothers were drive from Minneota to pasture six miles west of Canby. The cattle would have been hauled by truck, but because of load restrictions and the conditions of the highway, it was believed that better time could be made driving the cattle. John Wiley and Donald Pesch were the "cowboys" riding herd and they made the trip in one day. The cattle could not be driven along the sides of the road because the ditches were full of water.

13 men to solicit
funds for hospital
Thirteen men, called a hospital contact committee, will make a canvass of Minneota starting Friday afternoon to solicit funds for the hospital project. These men will continue their work until Wednesday evening, at which time they will make a report and turn over their records and money collected during the drive to the MPA hospital committee.

50 Years Ago
April 27, 1972

Hope Ladies Aid
make mission quilts
The Ladies Aid of Hope Lutheran Church tied together 44 quilts which members had made at their homes for missions. n addition, the ladies also cut and sewed 1,000 yards of bandage for the mission of Dr. Conrad Eastwold II, which is in Africa. After completing the quilts, they are shipped to Minneapolis and from there, go to missions in countries which are in need.

End of an era here;
depot hauled away
Last Thursday marked the end of an era for Minneota when the building which had served as the Chicago and Northwestern Railway depot, was loaded on a trailer and started on its journey to Mason City, Iowa. The large wooden building, which served as a depot when this village had four passenger trains a day, was torn down several years ago and replaced by a small metal structure, which housed the depot after that for several years. Minneota now has no depot, no station agent, and only freight trains.

Three men file for
school board here
Three men have filed for election to the Board of Education of Independent District 414. They are K.P. Kompelien and Donald Rye, who presently hold positions on the board, and Vincent Bot, a farmer living two miles northwest of this village. The annual election will be held Tuesday, May 16. Rye was first elected to the education board in 1953, and Kompelien has served since 1960. This is the first time Bot has sought public office.

25 Years Ago
April 30, 1997

Arbor Day observed
by students at park
The City of Minneota's official observance of Arbor Day was held last Friday afternoon, April 25, at the Lester R. Christianson Memorial Park. Merrill Berends, from the Soil and Water Conservation Service in Marshall, gave a brief talk to fifth grade students in both the Minneota Public School and St. Edward's Catholic School on the role that trees play in our lives every day. The students then participated in planting two trees, both in the park, with the students having raised money to purchase the trees.

Hope Lutheran gets
grant for anniversary
Hope Lutheran Church of Minneota has received a $1,000 grant from the Aid Association for Lutherans (AAL) to help the congregation celebrate its 125th anniversary on June 12. AAL awarded the grant through its Milestone Program. A total of 383 Lutheran congregations in the United States receive this special anniversary grant to help with the anniversary. The money will be used on pictorial directory, cookbooks, services, carnival, banquet and special music.

MHS Prom to be
held on Saturday
A total of 67 couples has signed up for the Grand March for the 1997 Minneota High School Prom. The Grand March takes place at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium. Official photographs of the couples will be taken earlier in the afternoon. Robin Traen and Janet Blegen have been helping the students plan this event. Following the Grand March, the official dance will be held at the American Legion from 9 p.m. to midnight. The Pro Sound & Light Show will provide entertainment.