Looking Back: Norman Hansen won the state corn picking title for two years in a row, 1962

Talk about it

50 years ago

From the Oct. 11, 1962

edition of the

Dakota County Tribune

Hansen only person to win state picking title twice

Norman Hansen, age 29, Farmington, again won first place in the Minnesota state corn picking contest. The contest was held at Springfield, Minn., on Oct. 9 and Hansen competed against at least 12 other contestants.

Hansen won the state championship in 1960, and was National Champion for the same year. In winning the national championship, Hansen competed against contestants from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

He is the only person ever to win the state contest twice and probably the only local person to achieve national championship from this area.

Council to air police set-up; study budget

Work on the village budget for the coming year occupied most of a 4 1/4-hour council meeting here Monday evening, as the city fathers attempted to “hold the line” on the mill rate.

However, the touchy police problem came into focus when resigned policeman, James Staats, and Harold Rice; also Officer Axel Youngkrantz, came to ask some questions. Chief Klotzbeacher was also present.

The officers, who said they were invited by one councilman, were told that the complete police set-up would be aired at the Oct. 16 special meeting....

Another item at the Oct. 16 council meeting here, is completion of the village budget, which is now tentatively established and appears not to require a mill rate rise.

New lights for Castle Rock

Participating in a new public relations effort provided by the Northern States Power Company, Castle Rock, is well on its way to being one of the better lighted communities in the area.

To date, five of the new street lights have been installed with others anticipated in the near future. The new Nightwatch Protective Lighting Service consists of an automatic lighting system of 100 watt fluorescent lights provided by and installed by N.S.P. on existing poles where suitable wiring is available. The individuals or businesses that request these lights receive them at no charge, except the monthly rate of $3.25 for current.

Knife-carrying youths caught in stolen auto

Three teenagers armed with good-sized knives, and driving a stolen car, were captured by Deputy Rodney Boyd and Farmington Police Officers Red Staats, about 5 p.m. Oct. 4, near Highway 50 and the old Capitol Highway....

The car contained a five-foot length of hose and an empty jug....

Frisking the youths, police found the knives and learned by radio the auto belonged to Dale Arcord, 308 Winona, St. Paul.

2 girls in car escape as crossarm pole crushes auto

Death missed by inches early Sunday evening when a Northern States Power 69,000-volt pole crashed onto a car containing a Farmington girl and her Randolph cousin.

Bumped onto the head, but not seriously hurt was Leslie Topp, 14, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Les Topp, Farmington....

Both girls were still in the car when the cross-arm struck the steel car top, driving it to the floorboards like a giant hammer.

Sparks from the shorting wires lit up the place like a giant firecracker.

The girls had seen the pole coming and heard warnings. They already had the door open and Janet was caught under the steering wheel. Leslie jumped free after the sparks ceased and Janet had to be pulled out by Merlyn Johnson and Gary Greenslade of the Randolph area.

Homecoming bright despite local defeat

Homecoming festivities came to a climax Friday evening during the dance with coronation of the new King and Queen of 1962 Jean Baker, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Baker, and Mike Sly, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Sly, were crowned queen and king, respectively, by last year’s royalty, Kenneth Pettis and Nancy Hagen. The new queen was presented a bouquet of roses by the Farmington High foreign exchange student, Leny Manupassa.

75 years ago

From the Oct. 15, 1937

edition of the

Dakota County Tribune

Levy $1,200 for village streets

The sum of $1,200 was placed in the county budget for improvement of Farmington streets next year, it was announced from Hastings this week by Commissioner Cas. Wille.

This sum compares with $300 appropriated for last year. Members of the village council, and others, headed by Mayor Wm. McHugh, recently appeared before the county board and asked for more funds to improve local streets.

What’s happening in the grades?

First grade

Harold Boyer and Adeline Wax have entered the first grade. This makes our enrollment 29.

We have a new reading table, also an aquarium in our room. We plan to put plants and fish in our aquarium.

We were treated by David Carlson on Wednesday afternoon with a seven-layer birthday cake. It was white, trimmed with pink and colored candies and had six candles, also. Everyone enjoyed a generous piece.

Second grade

The second graders welcomed a new member on Monday, Julie Ingerson.

We have a new reading table and many new library books which will be enjoyed by all. We will start out new Silent Webster readers on Monday.

Sixth grade

We have been studying the modern newspaper in language. Different pupils brought various daily and weekly editions of newspapers published in neighboring cities. Charles Nelson brought the London Times.

In the history test on Ancient Civilization, the following had a mark above 90 in the geography test on the British Isles: Betty Birdsall, 92; Joan Fredrickson, 90; Francis Gabrielso, 94; Maylon Hysell, 93; Betty McNamara, 91; Charles Nelson, 92; Evelyn Pietsch, and Joseph Towler, 91.

100 years ago

From the Oct. 11, 1912

edition of the

Dakota County Tribune

Lay corner stone for church

It was a pretty service when on Sunday last at 12 o’clock at the Evangelical Church of Farmington in the presence of many people laid the cornerstone of the excellent remodeled church building which is now in course on construction.

That the interest also is general in this enlargement of their church activities is well demonstrated by the large numbers of people of all classes that came out to witness the ceremonies....

The other churches dismissed their Sabbath Schools in order to be present and their members were present in large numbers. The local pastors, Revs. J.D. Batson and J.A. Johnston, also were there to participate in the exercises, along with the pastor of the church, Rev. F.R. Riedel, Rev. I.L. Seager had not yet returned from the conference.

Work begins on new church

Monday morning seven teams and about 20 men began excavations for the basement for the new Catholic church to be built from the ground recently purchased on Spruce Street. The new structure will be 44x110 feet and material used will be brick and stone. The foundation will be made this fall and work on the balance of the structure will be begun early next spring. The building when completed will cost about $25,000.

Tags: announcements, community, farmington