Looking back: Emil Kuchera waged war against Vermillion River turtles in 1935

Talk about it

50 years ago

From the April 7, 1960

edition of the

Dakota County Tribune

Stolen Tribune camera recovered

A Dakota County Tribune Speed Graphic press camera was believed to be among the stolen merchandise recovered with the arrest of a St. Paul restaurant custodian early this week.

The camera which was not insured (replacement value $380), was taken from the car of Reporter Eugene Clay in January of this year. The unlocked car was parked in Clay’s driveway just outside his residence.

The suspect, who admitted to Sheriff C. L. Cherry he took the camera in Farmington, did not indicate connection with other burglaries here....

The man was wanted for burglary at Frontenac, and car theft at Red Wing. He drove to St. Paul, allegedly packed up stolen merchandise (including our camera), and reportedly headed for California.

He encountered engine troubles en route to the west, and then returned to St. Paul. There alert St. Paul detectives spotted the stolen plates. Wood was nearby, so they picked him up....

Chief Jake Klotzbeacher is also interested in whether the suspect had connection with other incidents here.

John Switzer is vice chairman Minn. F. B. Youth

John W. Switzer was last week elected Vice-Chairman of Minnesota Farm Bureau Young People.... At that time plans were also begun for the annual Mid-West Camp for FBYP to be held in Minnesota this year. The dates are July 29-30-31 and August 1 at American Lutheran Memorial Camp at Onamia.

Mr. Switzer has been an active force in Dakota County FBYP having been president in 1959. He currently serves as vice president.

Thomas W. Holmes awarded 50-year Masonic emblem

Corinthian Lodge No. 67 AF&AM, Farmington, has been awarded a 50-year pin. He is Thomas W. Holmes, Austin, Minnesota.

Mr. Holmes, who was born on October 13, 1883, joined Corinthian lodge at Farmington on May 4, 1909, and was always a devoted member of the fraternity.

On March 30, 1960, the 50-year emblem was presented to Mr. Holmes at his home in Austin.

75 years ago

From the April 12, 1935

edition of the

Dakota County Tribune

Community club gives library benefit sale

Each year the Community club gives some event to raise money for new books for the library.

This year it will be a bake sale at the Library room at the Jefferson Hotel, Saturday afternoon, from 1:30 to 5:30, April 13. A 15c lunch will also be served the latter part of the afternoon.

Show your community spirit by baking something for this sale and then come and buy something for your Sunday meals - delicious rolls, cookies, doughnuts, cakes, home-baked beans, etc....

Remember that the library is for the whole community and is kept going by the voluntary work and contribution of our citizens.

Tap “Kitchen”

catches fire

The local fire department was called to the West Side at 11:30 Saturday morning when a tar vat boiled over and set fire to the tar which was being cooked to repair a patch of road.

Ralph Curtis, driver of the state highway truck which transported the tar “kitchen”, said that water in the tar caused the kettle to boil over. Flames from the gasoline torch underneath ignited the tar and in a moment pitch black smoke was belching from the highway wagon.

Both fire trucks responded to the alarm. The chemical hose and later a hose from a nearby hydrant were brought into operation and soon subdued the stubborn flames. The tar was consumed but the iron kitchen was not damaged.

Elmin Akin

named deputy

Elmin Akin of Farmington was appointed special deputy sheriff of Dakota county by Sheriff Joseph J. Heinen, it was announced this week. Deputy Akin’s duties started April 1.

Farmington now has two special deputy sheriffs, James Moudry having been appointed some time ago. Their jurisdiction extends to all parts of Dakota county.

Kuchera wages war

on turtles

Emil Kuchera, local tourist park owner, continues to wage war on turtles that infest the Vermillion river and other streams in the state. He says turtles devour fish, ducks and other water birds, and go unmolested. He has been writing to congressmen and sportsmen over the country to interest them in this situation which Mr. Kuchera regards as serious.

115 years ago

From the April 11, 1895

edition of the

Dakota County Tribune

Village council

The village council met in regular session in the office of the village marshal on Monday evening, April 8th.

The first business before the council was organization and B.P. Woodard was elected president of the council for the ensuing year.

In committee selection P. H. Feely was appointed bridge and street committee and named Wm. Harrington as street commissioner; F. H. Griebie was appointed sidewalk committee and named John Lansing as sidewalk inspector.

The president reported the oil house in the rear of the jail in need of painting and was instructed to see to same.

Alderman Feely reported the necessity of securing a gravel pit for use in street work and the matter was laid on the table.

Applications for liquor license from M. J. Haley and Hyland & Hyland were read and ordered published.

High school budget

The school board met last Friday night and re-elected all the teachers. They expressed themselves well pleased with the work of the past year.

Twenty of Miss Ray’s pupils received a half-holiday a week ago last Friday, having been neither absent or tardy for the past month.

The visitors at our last Literary Society meeting were: Mr. and Mrs. P. F. Bradford, Mesdames Cable, Spearin, Neiderkorn and Lundberg; Misses Judson, Brownell and Ingram.

Wendell Rentfro has left school.

A pleasant vacation was enjoyed by all last week, and we are back with renewed strength to do eight weeks of hard work.

Local news

A. J. Keeling has made improvements on the porch of his excellent hostelry, the Commercial Hotel, the past week. Mr. Keeling is enterprising and will be a success in the hotel business in this village.

Miss Tillie Johnson formally opened her spring stock of millinery in the Stein building last Saturday. Miss Johnson has an excellent line of goods, and judging from the ladies present at her opening, her efforts were appreciated.

Some of the hotel runner in this village would do well to attend church oftener or at least often enough to know the preachers by sight. Only the other day two of them were engaged in a race after a clergyman alighting from a train whom they supposed to be a transient.

What are we to do for the Fourth of July is a question of considerable interest just now. When Farmington has gained a reputation for her celebrations, shall she “flunk” and fail to celebrate this year? We hope not and would be glad to see the matter discussed and preparations made for a grand affair.

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