Governor came to town to crown 'Queen of the Furrows' 50 years ago

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50 years ago

From the Aug. 9, 1962

edition of the

Farmington Independent

Governor coming to fair Friday

The Dakota County Fairgrounds located at Farmington will be buzzing with plenty of activity when the gates to the 97th Annual Dakota County Free Fair swing open at 9 a.m. Wednesday, August 8. Entries in all departments will be accepted from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday. Judging of the exhibits will start at 9 a.m. Thursday and continue daily through Saturday.

Gov. Elmer L. Anderson will crown Queen of the Furrows Friday evening, August 10.

The Chief Executive of the state is expected to arrive about 6 p.m. He will tour the fairgrounds before participating in the grandstand ceremonies and crowning Queen of the Furrows….

Mary’s Café to close Thursday in Farmington

Mary and Lloyd Zephirin, operators of Mary’s Café in Farmington, have announced in an ad this week that they will discontinue operations Thursday of this week because the café building where they are located at Ash and Eighth Street, has been sold to the Phillips 66 Co., by the owner, George Eakens....

Mr. and Mrs. Zephirin (nee Mary Oster) have operated Mary’s Café here successfully for 4 1/2 years and their many friends are sorry to have them leave this area.

Tillges site selected for new hospital

Farmington’s hospital board Tuesday night selected the Tillges Sunnyside site of 10 acres, for $30,000....

G.J. Riehsen, chairman of the Central Dakota hospital board, said the selection of the site climaxes “months of months” of study. The board has spent numerous hours in choosing the spot, which they feel is most suitable.

Reihsen emphasized that now that the site is purchased, community residents should “pull together” in providing their $350,000 share of the $1,200,000 hospital. Every dollar that’s given is actually worth about $4 in hospital the community is reminded. This is an opportunity to construct an institution to care for the sick – something that will benefit everybody.

FAA plans joint use of military radar system

The Federal Aviation Agency and the Department of Defense have jointly concluded that it is both “practical and desirable” to proceed with the joint use of the SAGE Centers at Great Falls, Montana, Minot and Grand Forks, for enroute air traffic control.

These centers are in the air control areas now served by the FAA Center located at Farmington.

Air controllers here do not have exact information as to how it will affect the Farmington Center. The government is planning to use the military installations for positive radar control in the western part of the region now served by the Farmington Center.

75 years ago

From the Aug. 13, 1937

edition of the

Dakota County Tribune

Meat locker plant will operate here

A refrigerator meat locker plant is being planned in the old creamery building by the Twin City Milk Producers Association, it was announced this week.

The 600 lockers in the plant will be rented to individuals for cold storage of meats. The new plant will be ready to operate about Sept. 15.

Workmen are remodeling the old creamery building which is located just north of the new plant. Most of the downstairs space will be used for the refrigerator system.

Inverviewed over long distance telephone Monday, H.R. Leonard, general manager of Twin City Milk Producers, said their investigation reveals that such a plant has proved a great asset to a town, farmers coming in from 20 to 25 miles to procure meat or deliver it to their rented lockers.

Washington O.K.s REA contractor; work starts soon

Washington authorities have approved letting of the Dakota County REA contract to Langford Electric company of Minneapolis at a price of $178,000, it was announced yesterday.

As soon as material arrives, construction work will start on the German road in Inver Grove township.

A post-hole digging machine will be on the job and men will work three shifts of eight hours each.

The contractor wants to complete the job by Nov. 15.

Electric firm appeals cases

The Central Electric & Telephone company will carry their franchise case to the state supreme court, it was announced this week.

Rietz & McBrien, attorneys for the power company, have already appealed the second case in which Judge W.A. Schultz refused to grant the power company a temporary injunction preventing the new council from rescinding the action of the old council in the franchise matter. Harold Stassen is the attorney for the new council in this case.

Local girl fights off attacker

Attacked by a young man, a 14-year-old girl fought and fled from her assailant on her way home at 9:00 Saturday night.

Walking home after making some purchases, Blanche (Sis) McDermott, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert McDermott, was attacked by a young man who sneaked up quietly from behind; apparently he wore tennis shoes.

Grabbing her arms from behind, the assailant threw her down in the alley between Mrs. Al Miller’s and Ed Garvey’s residences.

Blanche screamed, kicked and fought. Fearing her cries would summon help, the young man ran down the alley toward the west.

Frantic, Blanche ran to the Edward Garvey house where she was met by Patricia Garvey who accompanied her home. Police Chief Pat Walsh was summoned but the attacker had disappeared.

Police are checking on reports that other girls have been accosted the past several weeks.

Farmington views modern “Iron Horse”

A number of Farmington residents were given a brief glimpse of the Rock Island railway’s new streamline “Rocket” train as it passed through here Friday afternoon on its way to the Twin Cities.

Upon completion of an exhibition tour west to Denver, the new train will “shoot” through here daily on a regular scheduled run.

Although it had been previously announced that the new train would arrive here around 3:00 p.m., the crowd at the depot had to wait until 3:40 before it was sighted coming slowly up the track.

As the ultra modern “iron horse” rolled past the station, those on hand saw a bullet-shaped combination engine and baggage car drawing three coaches, whose silver-grey steel exteriors glistened in the afternoon sun.

100 years ago

From the Aug. 9, 1912

edition of the

Dakota County Tribune

List totals three hundred fifty-seven

Up to Tuesday night there have been 357 conversions in the Farmington revival. The interest is on the increase and autos and teams are seen coming from every direction and the town people form streams of humanity from every point to one common center.

For the past week the tabernacle has been a veritable bee hive filled with workers and surrounded by onlookers and listeners who arrived too late to get inside.

To further the comparison to the bee hive we might say: Many stings are given to those who love the sinful life and evil attractions and are not wishing to comply with the requirements of the Christian life. Many weak, kind-hearted Christians who are following Christ at a great distance also feel the sting of conscience and conviction as the lightning strokes of God’s word play upon them through the message of the speaker.

Would make a good representative

G.F. Akin, who has his portrait appears in this issue of the Tribune, is a native of Dakota County, being born in Lakeville township forty-seven years ago.

He is a booster for Minnesota and especially Dakota County and always fought with the side that helps make Minnesota greater.

His platform is honest legislation and should he be nominated and elected will do his part in remedying some of the legislation. He is a hale fellow well met, makes friends wherever he goes and has never been known to forget one, when occasion presents itself. Mr. Akin is not an habitual office seeker, this being his maiden effort in seeking any office. He asks all Tribune readers to consider his candidacy and if they can conscientiously vote for him he would be pleased to enjoy their support at the primaries next month.

Tags: community, news, farmington