Looking back: Farmington farmer was chased from his tractor by a swarm of bees in 1962

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50 years ago

From the July 5, 1962

edition of the

Dakota County Tribune

Council still seeking site for new dump

The local village council is still looking for a dump site. This and other business was transacted at the Monday night meeting.

In the matter of the dump, Jim Stevens, Castle Rock town board clerk, said the township code did not automatically provide for a dump. If Herman Strolie were to have one, the township must have a public town meeting and vote regarding the matter.

Meanwhile, the village has received new offers. Henry Dalaska, resident of Empire, has offered to provide dump facilities for $150 per month. The site is about seven miles from Farmington, and Dalaska would provide the maintenance and care.

The council also learned that F. J. Henneberry of Ken Nelson Enterprises has a possibility of a dump site in a pit near the railroad, about 1 1/2 miles north of Farmington, west of Highway 3. No one actually appeared at the council meeting but the possibility was discussed.

Bees chase farmer from tractor, claim it four days

Charles S. Berres, Rt. 2, Farmington, probably thought fire and brimstone was descending on him as he mowed hay on his tractor at 4 p.m. Thursday night.

It was a flock of bees. Charley really stirred up a storm of angry bees which possessed his tractor more than four days.

He found himself slapping bees and killing them by the hundreds. They were everywhere, inside his glasses, in his hair, his face and arms.

Leaving the motor running, Charley jumped down and grabbed a swatch of hay and kept slapping.

They were too much. He retreated across a bean field....

He went to a Rosemount physician, who gave him two shots and four pills. He then rested on his davenport with an ice bag on his forehead.

By 5:45 the swelling had gone down enough to accompany a Tribune reporter to the tractor (they were fortified inside a closed car). The tractor motor was still running, as if maddened by the clinging bees....

Despite a thunderstorm Thursday evening, the bees were still present Friday. No hay got mowed that day.

Friday night, the Berres family tried dousing the swarm with a scalding pail of water. They didn’t move.

Then Charley gave’em a real hot foot — a burning bale of hay with hot pitchforks against the swarm on the tire.

They fell into the grass apparently defeated.

Saturday morning Charley made about two rounds with the tractor when they swarmed at him again. He made his second retreat, not giving them a chance to sting....

Tuesday morning they disappeared. Charley cautiously continued his prolonged, and embattled, task of mowing a field of hay.

Army reserve will leave for 2-week camp

Company D., 4th Medium Tank Bn., 33rd Armored will leave for Ft. Knox, Ky., Saturday morning, July 14, for their annual two weeks training. The unit will return July 28....

1st Sgt. Jake Klozbeacher is in charge of the administration, the most important item, and sees that everyone has a pay day, plus all the other company headaches.

Sgt. Robert A. Leifeld is maintenance sergeant, and his responsibilities consist of keeping every vehicle in A-1 condition.

Mess Steward, Sgt. Ronald Kaufenberg, keeps the chow hounds fed, and Sp-4 Richard Dahlman and Sp-4 Michael I. Morris, radio men keep communications in top working order.

Sgt. Thomas Jensen is supply sergeant and has the responsibilities to keep everything going and enough ammo on hand to operate the unit at top performance.

Sgt. Vernon Lindberg of Farmington, Sgt. Ralph Ersfeld, Farmington, Sgt. James Staats of Farmington....

Pfc. Bernard Mallery of Farrmington, possible medical discharge prior to camp; Pfc. Edward M. Maltz, Sp-4 Michael I. Morse of Farmington.

Pfc. Richard Fischer of Farmington, Pfc. Douglas Kreft of Farmington, Pfc. Keith R. Olson of Farmington, Pfc. David Pietsch of Farmington, Pfc. Lyle J. Schmidtke of Farmington, Pvt. Marvin Blakesley of Farmington, Pvt. Duane A. Bolster of Farmington, student cook; Sgt. Marvin Lau of Farmington, Sgt. Wayne Stock of Farmington.

75 years ago

From the July 9, 1937

edition of the

Dakota County Tribune

Farmington observes safe double holiday

With no serious holiday accidents taking place in this area, Farmington and vicinity established a new record for a safe and sane observance of the Fourth.

An estimated total of 3,500 people attended the special Legion-sponsored celebration staged at the fairgrounds here Sunday and Monday.

The only weekend accident of this area occurred Sunday afternoon when Henry Remick of St. Paul, a picnic guest at the Fred Hamann farm on Route 1, had the lobe of his right ear split by a fireworks bomb, tossed by himself, which glanced off a nearby cultivator. Publicized by street parades on July 4 and 5, Sunday and Monday, the fairgrounds celebration drew some 2,000 paid admissions Sunday and around 1,500 Monday.

This event — the first of its kind to be held here in the last 10 years — was promoted under the auspices of the Clifford Larson American Legion Post No. 189 of Farmington. A western rodeo was the feature attraction of the two-day program.

Of the greatest interests to Farmington residents attending the celebration was the local running horse races each day. The horse ridden by Bud Tibbets of Rosemount captured first prize money of $9.60 both Sunday and Monday. In the opening day race, entries of Jim McHugh and Henry Nielen captured second and third place money of $6.40 and $4.00, respectively. Five horsess were entered in the race.

Sale of local bakery still unconfirmed

Until final arrangement are made, Clarence Brinkman late Wednesday could give no confirmation to reports that the Brinkman brothers had sold the Farmington Bakery to the Minneapolis man.

The present owners expected a visit sometime Thursday from the prospective purchaser and believed that a transaction would be made. The Brinkmans have been operating the bakery for the past four years.

100 years ago

From the July 5, 1912

edition of the

Dakota County Tribune

Build new church

The matter of raising funds for the erection of a new Catholic church and parsonage in Farmington is now in progress.

The church will be built of brick and stone and to cost in the neighborhood of $25,000. We understand there is a neat sum already on hand for that purpose and as there are a number of well to do Catholics in this parish who have promised liberal support the balance of the amount will not be long in coming.

While in conversation with Father Power Monday and Tribune learned that the matter would be pushed forward as fast as possible and actual work would be commenced this fall.

A poor game

The Farmington ball team went to Faribault Sunday to toss the Fairbo boys around in a little game of ball, but after practicing for an hour or so they decided the weather was too hot to play. Someone tells us the fellow who was to keep the score had 19 notches cut on one side of a stick and none on the other.?Some time when the weather isn’t too hot, our boys are going to go down and mop the earth with those fellows.

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