Looking Back: 'Lack of cooperation' was cited when two police officers quit in 1962

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50 years ago

From the Oct. 8, 1962

edition of the

Dakota County Tribune

Local teachers reception Oct. 11

The Farmington Teachers reception, sponsored by the Farmington Women’s Club, will be at 8 p.m. Thursday evening, October 11, in the elementary school gymnasium.

E.W. Ahlberg, commercial club president, will welcome the teachers to the community.

Verne I. Lace, a former Dakota County resident, will be guest speaker of the evening and his chosen topic is “Art in a Student’s Life.”...

Blacksmith shop is being wrecked here

A real landmark relic, echoing the clank of steel through the ages, is disappearing from the Farmington business district.

Ed Vail, wrecking contractor, is dismantling the Farmington Blacksmith shop. No one seems to know its age, but Vail was speculating it was more than his own 73 years.

There’s still good lumber under the tin, Vail said Tuesday morning.

Herman Kossow, former Bloomington mayor, well known oil man for many years, plans to erect a super gasoline station of an unannounced name.

Vail is being assisted by Jim Schuhwerek. The blacksmith, A. T. Lindstrom, has not announced future plans, but he previously indicated he would be seeking new quarters in Farmington after a rest.

Kulstad firm note 50 years

Kulstad Bros. of Farmington will observe their 50th year in business in this community and are conducting an anniversary sale starting Friday, October 5 at 9 a.m. and continuing through October 13....

Kulstad Bros. is one of the oldest businesses in the village having been established in 1912. During the years the business has remained in the family and has grown to meet the needs and serve the community and surrounding area.

The Kulstad brothers, August (father of Don) and Otto came from Mankato in 1912 and started the present Kulstad Bros. clothing store in what was known as the Nixon building. It was located where the Lyric theatre now stands. Soon afterwards, the place was gutted by fire and the Kulstad brothers started again in the upper part of the city hall. They continued there for a short while and then rented the store building where Donald Kulstad now operates the business in Farmington.

2 Farmington policemen and judge resign

James (Red) Staats and Harold Rice, have resigned from the Farmington Police Department giving as reasons “lack of cooperation from the Farmington police chief, and the village council.”

Staats has been regular officer since January 1962, and a part-time patrolman previously starting in June of 1961. He resigned immediately.

The only two remaining officers on the force are Chief Jake Klotzbeacher and Axel Youngkrantz....

The two resigned officers said they could no longer cope with alleged unfair working schedules, lack of pay for the long hours, discrepancy over the amount of extra time they worked when the chief was hospitalized.

The two said they just didn’t like the general way in which things are being handled.

75 years ago

From the Oct. 8, 1937

edition of the

Dakota County Tribune

J. Seward hurt painting church

Falling 10 feet inside the southeast cupola of the local Methodist church, John Seward, 70-year-old local painter, suffered a broken right leg and a cut over the right eye shortly before 11:00 Wednesday morning necessitating his removal to Community hospital across the street. His leg is broken between the knee and hip.

John has completed the work of painting the exterior east side of the church and had crawled up into the cupola over the vestibule of the southeast door to untie ropes, which ran through the building wall and supported the ladder on the outside. Holding himself with one hand he leaned out to untie the rope tied to a rafter.

For a moment he forgot himself and let go with the hand that supported him, causing him to fall 10 feet inside the cupola.

His cries for help attracted Rev. Frank Wilson, church pastor, who was on the other side of the church preparing slides for a lecture.

Street closed for additional athletic field

At the meeting of the village council Monday night the closing of South Fifth Street, to make more room for the new athletic field was completed.

The part of the street to be closed extends from a point 105 feet south of the A.E. Rietz corner south to a point 105 feet north of the Hickory street line.

The street was closed after necessary public notice was given and hearing held to give anyone right to enter their objections.

Lyric Theatre to be beautified

Plans for redecorating and beautifying the Lyric Theatre, Farmington, were announced today by Udell Gill, manager. Actual work in this project is getting underway immediately and will be rushed to completion within a week’s time.

Making the Lyric Theatre a more attractive center of entertainment is another of the promises which the present owners of the showhouse have made and fulfilled to raise the standards of theatrical amusement here.

Since the Gil brothers took over the Lyric and Udell Gill moved here to manage the house they have installed new RCA High Fidelity sound system, a brand new “music master” screen and various other improvements.

100 years ago

From the Oct. 4, 1912

edition of the

Dakota County Tribune

C.S. Bullard killed

C.S. Bullard, living half a mile west of town, was hit by the northbound passenger, train on the F. & M. Tuesday evening at 9:15 and received injuries from which he died an hour later.

Mr. Bullard had just finished his trading at the stores and was driving home when caught on the crossing on George Seal’s farm at the edge of town. He was driving a cole and it is thought the horse stopped when the rays of the headlight struck it and stood upon the track until struck by the engine. This, in all probability, is true as the engineer says when he first saw him he was whipping the horse, but did not say whether it was moving or not.

The buggy was hit a trifle ahead of the center and carried fully 100 feet and crushed and the unfortunate man was found lying possibly twenty feet away in an unconscious condition. He was dragged across the cattle guard and very likely received injuries from this as blood was found on one of the bars....

The engineer stopped the train and backed up and brought him to the depot and carried on a stretcher to Dr. Sanford’s office where Drs. Sanford and Dodge labored over him until a few minutes before he died....

Shortly after he died, Rev. and Mrs. Johnston and Dr. Day drove out in an auto and told the children of their father’s death....

Mrs. Bullard contracted tuberculosis and died only a little over a year ago one of the boys was accidently killed by the discharge of a rifle....

The children, who are now left alone in the world, have the sympathies of many friends and will be looked after and cared for.

Tags: news, farmington, community