Johnny Tillemans, the former owner/operator of the Silver Dollar Bar in Ghent, mixes drinks for customers during the establishment’s 50th anniversary in 1984. This photo, submitted by Jessica Gilbertson, won first place in this year’s Belgian-American Days Historical Photo Contest on Aug. 6.

From the Mascot Files

100 Years Ago
(August 18, 1922)

Dry spell finally
broken in Minneota
On Saturday night, the hot and dry spell which lasted for a long time was finally broken by a thunderstorm and rain around 11 p.m. The heat was hard on gardens, pastures and some corn fields. Sunday afternoon, August 17, we had more rain, and Monday morning was foggy and cloudy.

Three weddings held
this area last week
There were three wedding held this week in the Minneota area. On Saturday, Aug. 12, Mabelle Ferguson, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Ferguson of Island Lake Township, was married to Peter S. Jokull. The ceremony was held in the living room of the Ferguson home. Rev. E.J. Hinderlie officiated. On Monday afternoon, Leslie V. Dahl and Miss Anna Amundson were married at the Norwegian Lutheran Church. Rev. Hinderlie also officiated that wedding. The groom is the son of Mrs. Anna Dahl of this city. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. Amundson. Clarence H. Bang, the son of Mrs. Hannah Bang of Minneota, was married to Miss Margaret Lillian Eastman in the Icelandic Lutheran Church in Minneota. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Theodore S. Eastman.

75 Years Ago
(August 22, 1947)

$600 in prizes in
fair's Horse Show
The Lyon County Fair will see the opening of the first horse show in its history. Approximately $600 will be offered to entrants in the 14 classes. Classes scheduled for Friday afternoon include Pony, Three-Gaited Pleasure, Three-Gaited Open, Western Stock, Five-Gaited Open Palomino, Amateur Seat and Hands, Ladies Western Pleasure, and Tennessee Walking Horse. In addition, a novel musical chair race will be held.

Hemnes congregation to
observe 75th anniversary
The congregation of Hemnes Lutheran Free Church will commemorate the 75th anniversary of its founding with a three-day observance starting next week. Dr. T.O. Burntvedt of Minneapolis, the president of the Lutheran Free Church, has been asked to preach the anniversary sermon on Sunday morning. Rev. O.L. Christianson of Northfield, the former pastor of the church, will preach the opening sermon on Friday morning. The Sunday afternoon service, starting at 2:30 p.m., will consist of a reunion of confirmed members of the church.

Barn burns after
struck by lightning
A small barn on the Robert Yeo farm, four miles north of Minneota, was destroyed by fire early Wednesday morning after it was hit by a bolt of lightning. The fire started around 4:30 a.m. The Minneota Fire Department was called to the fire, but the fire fighters were unable to save the building from the flames which had a good start before the call was placed. A number of hogs and small calves, which were in the barn when the lightning hit, escaped through an open door. Lightning struck the chimney of Yeo house the night before, but failed to start a fire.

50 Years Ago
(August 17, 1972)

Mercury reaches 100
on Monday afternoon
This community had a taste of real "corn weather" this week when the thermometer hit exactly 100 degrees Monday after reaching 94 degrees on Sunday afternoon and then hitting 96 on Tuesday. That report was delivered by Mel Breyfogle. He also reported that we received .18 of an inch of rain the first part of the week.

Rotary Governor visits
Minneota local Rotary
Henry W. Friedrich of Marcus, Iowa, visited the Minneota Rotary Club Tuesday evening and attended the club's meeting at noon on Wednesday. He received a scroll from Rotary President Ralph Larson, also the Minneota Superintendent of Schools.

Wyffels home broken
into, only $5 stolen
A burglar, or burglars, broke into the home of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Wyffels between noon and 9 p.m. on Sunday. The burglar gained entrance through a kitchen window and made off with five dollars. Mrs. Wyffels reports that the money was the only thing missing.

Hostetler burned in
explosion in St. Paul
Albert Hostetler of Minneota, who operates a semi-truck tanker for Asphalt Supply Co. of Marshall, received critical burns to his face, inside of his nose, his hands and arms, and lung congestion as a result of an explosion and consequent fire contained within the tank of the truck.

25 Years Ago
(August 20, 1997)

Chamber hosting
Name the Baby Contest
The Minneota Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Name the Baby Contest as part of Boxelder Bug Days. The baby pictures are of local businessmen and women and the contest is to see who can name the most babies correctly. The top three correct answers will win prizes. If there is a tie, the one with the earliest postmark wins. First prize is $15, second $10 and third $5.

SW Plowboys to
host plowing show
The Southwestern Minnesota Plowboys, Inc., will again hold an antique tractor plowing demonstration during Boxelder Bug Days. The local group of tractor enthusiasts put on a great show last year. Paul Fontenyn is organizing the group, and the demonstration will begin on Saturday, Sept. 6. They will plow local fields just north of Minneota on County Road 10. It will give viewers a good look at how fields were plowed years ago.

Popular zoo animals
are back again for kids
The Prairie Winds Zoo is a familiar name that brings to mind an outstanding collection of giant snakes, lizards, turtles and other interesting reptiles. They will be bringing their reptile collection and discovery center this year as part of Boxelder Bug Days, as well as a bird show and monkeys. There will also be a "Thrills and Chills" event as zoo educators will introduce the audience to many fascinating animals.

This Day in History
August 18

1587 - Virginia Dare becomes the first child of English parents to be born in present-day America, on what is now Roanoke Island in North Carolina.

1862 - Dakota Indians begin an uprising in Minnesota. (The revolt would be crushed by U.S. forces some six weeks later.)

1894 - Congress establishes the Bureau of Immigration.

1914 - President Woodrow Wilson issues his Proclamation of Neutrality aimed at keeping the United States out of World War I.

1920 - The 19th Amendment to the Constitution, guaranteeing all American women’s right to vote, is ratified as Tennessee becomes the 36th state to approve it.

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Minneota, MN 56264

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