Looking back: ‘Urgent need’ for a new hospital in Farmington was cited 50 years ago

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50 years ago

From the July 19, 1962

edition of the

Farmington Independent

Urgent need for new hospital here

The communities of Farmington, Lakeville, Rosemount, and Castle Rock, Eureka Center, Orchard Lake, Hampton and Burnsville hope to have a new hospital that will meet their health needs, as the result of the thorough 4 month study by the Board of Directors of Sanford Hospital and the recommendation of the State Department of Health, which says - A NEW HOSPITAL OR NO HOSPITAL. . . .

Many meetings, discussions, and statistics were necessary for the Board of Directors to arrive at a decision since they were faced with three alternatives. They are as follows:

Close the hospital.

Effect renovations to meet state requirements.

Launch a campaign for a new building.

A dangerous situation would face the entire community if the hospital should be forced to close its doors.

Sanford Hospital has given a great deal of service in Farmington, but its lifespan is drawing to the end as a hospital. New laws and regulations, space requirements and services make a greater need for more facilities....

The new hospital will be opened by a non-profit organization, and will have a new Board of Directors selected from all the communities. Also a new corporation will be formed. To remodel the present structure would cost almost as much as the entire building plan, at the present the conditions are very crowded.

Re-organization meeting held

The Farmington School Board ran its first re-organization meeting at the last regular meeting on July 10.

The following officers were elected to the same offices they held last year: R. F. Schulz, Chairman; A. C. Smith, Jr., Clerk; and F. J. Henneberry, Treasurer.Other members of the board are Robert Stegmaier, Richard Beyer and Dean Empey. The board also established the treasurers bond at $250,000.00; declared the Dakota County Tribune the official paper for publishing all school district legal notices; and established the First National Bank of Farmington the depository for school funds.... The board appointed two teachers for the high school. Mr. James Randall, Albert Lee, Minn., was offered a contract for an English position and Mr. David Kamis, New Prague was offered the combination teaching position of Industrial Arts and Art. The school opening date was set for Tuesday, September 4 after the three day workshop scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of the previous week.

Furrows Queen to be chosen

A Queen of the Furrow contest for 1962 will be held again in connection with the Dakota County Fair. The contest is sponsored by the Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District and First State Bank of Castle Rock.

Girls eligible to enter this contest must be unmarried, between the ages of 15 and 21 and living on a farm in Dakota County.

Any 4-H Club, F.F.A. Chapter, church organization, business firm or parents may sponsor a contestant.

The girls will be judged on their ability to drive a tractor; homemaking and community activities story (church work, school church, etc.); a soil conservation quiz and grooming and personality.

75 years ago

From the July 23, 1937

edition of the

Dakota County Tribune

Largest school vote returns Feely, Lewis

At the largest school election ever held here — in which a new record high of 384 votes were tallied — T. J. Feely and Charles Lewis returned Tuesday to their posts on the school board after a hot pre-election contest during which the third candidate, Donald Whittier, failed to muster a sufficient number of supporters.

Following is the official tabulation of the votes: T. J. Feely, 281; Charles Lewis, 232; and Donald Whittier, 175.

The new board now consists of Mrs. C. A. Carlson, H. C. Denzer, T. J. Feely, E. M. Gerster, Charles Lewis and D. C. Michel. Mrs. Carlson and Mr. Gerster were elected last year.

Judge voids central electricity franchise

In two decisions handed down in district court Thursday afternoon of this week, Judge W. A. Schultz ruled that the Central Electric & Telephone company do not have a franchise in Farmington.

In the first decision in which Dr. P. H. Casey and E. L. Whittier sought a permanent injunction to prevent the franchise from becoming a law, the judge ruled in favor of the plaintiffs Casey and Whittier....

The temporary injunction asked by the Central Electric & Telephone company to prevent the new council from putting into effect the rescinding action knocking out the old franchise, was denied by Judge Schulz.

Cycle races here Sunday

A thrill program of motorcycle races, balloon busting, a daring boardwall crash and motorcycle polo will be staged Sunday afternoon at the fairgrounds track, Farmington, by the Gopher State Motorcycle Club of the Twin Cities.

Report season’s first threshing

Although threshing in this vicinity is not expected to get under full swing until next week, unofficial reports give first threshing honors of the season to Clifford Empey, who started operations during the past week on the Alex Empey farm southeast of town.

The rye on this farm was said to be yielding 15 to 20 bushels to the acre. Tests made at Feely’s Elevator revealed that the yield was weighing from 54 to 56 pounds to the bushel....

Almer Borg, who lives in the area of the Twin churches, delivered the first load of the winter wheat of the 1937 grain crop to the Farmers’ elevator in Northfield Tuesday.

The wheat grown on the Borg farm located northwest of Northfield weighed 57 pounds to the bushel, and was reported to be of good quality. Yield per acre had not been determined at that time.

100 years ago

From the July 19, 1912

edition of the

Dakota County Tribune

Escapes death

Jake Shrump came within an ace of joining the great harp orchestra Tuesday afternoon. He was mowing hay and something got wrong with the ringing of the mowing apparatus and he had gone to the pinacle to make repairs when the ladder he was standing on gave way. He fell thirty-five feet, but fortunately landed on a load of hay. The ladder which he was standing on followed, one end of it striking his arm and the other on his nose. Had the ladder struck him on the head he would have been killed instantly.

Auto club here

The Redwood Falls Auto Club spoken of in the Tribune arrived in Farmington Sunday forenoon, about twelve hours behind schedule. The heavy rainfall and consequent muddy roads were the principal causes for the lateness for arriving. There were twenty-four cars carrying fully 100 people and were out for having a good time. They were given a hearty welcome from every town they passed thru. While here they were entertained at the home of P. H. Feely at the west end of Oak Street. Ice cream and wafers, lemonade and cigars were served. W. F. Jackson and wife, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Feely were with them in their auto and were enjoying the trip ever so much.

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