Looking back: 'Wets' won a close vote in 1912

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25 years ago

From the March 18, 1987

edition of the

Farmington Independent

Eagles, VFW each donate $5,000 to city

The Farmington City Council resolved unanimously to accept donations of $5,000 from both the Farmington Eagles and the Farmington VFW Monday night for rescue equipment – though not without a caustic point of discussion from Mayor Pat Akin.

Both organizations had directed that the money be spent on equipments, and not towards purchase of the new fire and rescue truck itself.

Akin, who agreed to accept the donations, stated that he thought the clubs were trying to tell the Council where to spend its money.

“It’s almost as if since the process started that there’s a conspiracy to determine how the flow of that money’s going to be.”

“I think we should honor what the organizations are asking,” responded council member Gale Sprute....

The specific equipment the money will be used for has not been determined.

50 years ago

From the March 15, 1962

edition of the

Dakota County Tribune

223 buildings are possible fallout shelters

223 buildings and other facilities have been found in Dakota County to offer possible protection from fallout, according to Mitchell V. Choban, Dakota County Civil Defense Director.

They were located during the past 45 days as part of Phase 1 of a fallout shelter survey conducted by the Army Corps of Engineers St. Paul District in cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Civil Defense....

Precise protection figures on each now will be computed to see if they meet specific standards for marketing and use. If each does not meet these standards, Phase 2 of the survey be undertaken to (1) decide how livable each is, (2) determine how much it would take to change each so as to provide more protection and better liveability, and (3) mark each as a community shelter....

The second phase of re-examination of premises by the Toltz King, Duvall, Anderson, and Associates, Inc., to finalize the degree of protection, modification necessary to improve protection or increase capacity, estimated costs, etc. Any modifications made will be at the expense of the property owner, Choban said.

Another 150 galloons of oil in city sewer

Another large deposit of oil, estimated at 150 gallons again, appeared Saturday in the city’s disposal plant, having been deposited in the sanitary sewer system.

Mayor G.M. Gorgos, in a statement to this paper Tuesday, cautioned that whoever is doing it should know that it could clog filters, and run into expensive damage.

Chief Klotzbeacher has also been ordered to check on the source of the oil.

Townships vote, plan, set levies

There was democracy in action in the townships despite the weather Tuesday. Some had lively opposition, but some meetings had to be postponed.

Castle Rock

There were 53 votes cast in the Castle Rock township election, and $8,750 was set as the all purpose budget for the year.

Dale Smith was elected supervisor for a three-year term with 50 votes, Richard Childs was elected supervisor for a one-year term with 50 votes, Charles B. Record was defeated by Frank Hutton, a write-in candidate, for assessor by 25 to 12 votes.

James B. Stevens was elected clerk with 12 votes, John Richardson was elected justice of the peace with 4 votes, Charles Hutton was elected constable with 2 votes and Stephen Delaney was elected district supervisor with 47 votes.

Township vote

The election in Empire township was a quiet one, with only 37 votes being cast.

Lyle Bung was elected supervisor for a three-year term with 36 votes and Walter Buberl received one.

Ervin Rude was elected clerk with 33 votes and Anton Brandt received one.

H.S. Frank was elected justice of the peace with three votes. There were six scattered votes for justice. Virgil Dahmes was elected constable with 2 votes, there were four scattered votes for constable. The budget was set at $5,000.

75 years ago

From the March 19, 1937

edition of the

Dakota County Tribune

Fire breaks out while chief is watching “Cage” game

At the regional basketball tournament Saturday night Fire Chief Dan McConaghie told a news reporter that he hoped there wouldn’t be any fires breaking out back home because most of his smoke eaters were at the game.

But his hopes went glimmering at 10 o’clock that night when a fire broke out in the roof of Frank Henry’s triple garage at his home, necessitating a fire call.

A bird’s nest built in the crevice of a tile chimney caught fire several minutes after Frank Henry had started a fire in the garage stove.

Ernest Schmidtke, one of the three firemen who answered the alarm, said there was only slight damage done of the roof; about $10 worth, Mr. Henry said.

Win regional at St. Peter

For the first time in the history of the school, Farmington High entered the regional tournament and defeated Princeton and Montgomery to clinch the 4th Region Title and the right to enter the state tournament, the goal of every high school team in Minnesota.

It was just a story of too much power as Farmington swamped Princeton 38-9 in the opener Friday night at the Gustavus Adolphus gym....

Tom Feely of the Barger-Feely Act scored 13 points in the first half to help put F.H.S. ahead 20-4 when the half ended. Barger collected 10 points during the game to help put the Farmington squad far ahead of their opponents. When the final gun sounded the Farmington squad was ahead 38-9.

In the title match on Saturday evening Farmington defeated the tall, fast Montgomery squad 28-.21.

Tigers at state meet

Farmington is all agog this week as its gallant high school basketball team competes for the championship of the state at the Minneapolis auditorium....

Led by Captain Irvin Danielson, the team plays Thief River Falls at 3:00 Thursday. The state championship will be decided at the final game Saturday night....

Farmington has never been represented at a state tournament, in fact we never won a district tournament, although Coach Oscar Lubke’s boys were runner-up five times, in 1931, 1933, 1934, 1935 and 1936. Thief River Falls won the state title in 1932....

Five seniors are playing their last games for the dear old Orange and Black this spring. They are: Tom Feely, Harold Reisinger, forwards; John Barger, center; Dan Sullivan and Irvin Danielson, guards.

100 years ago

From the March 15, 1912

edition of the

Dakota County Tribune

Wets win by nine votes

There was never a campaign fought with more vigor than the saloon campaign which came to a close at the election here Tuesday. The best temperance orators to be found in the state were brought here, large crowds were in attendance and the work being done was supposed to be effective, but the counting of the ballots proved otherwise.

The village not only remains wet, but the entire ticket, including treasurer and clerk, was elected. A vigilant watch was kept up at the polls all day by both sides for illegal voting and if there was any doubt as to the legality of anyone’s right to vote they were challenged.

Quite a number swore their votes in a number which are thought to be illegal, and the matter is being investigated....

The following officers were elected: Farmington President: E.J. Chapel. Councilmen: W.H. Kraft, and T.J. Feely. Treasurer: J.G. Datwyler. Clerk: Dr. A.H. Luhman. Justice: W.A. Gray.

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