Looking Back: Myrtle Chapter No. 13 OES held its 80th anniversary celebration in 1962

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50 years ago

From the Oct. 18, 1962

edition of the

Dakota County Tribune

Increased levy for school may be necessary

The Farmington School Board made its final review of the annual school budget for the school year 1962-63 at its regular meeting held last Tuesday evening.

The preliminary material appeared in the budget was first presented to the board last April, reviewed periodically during the summer, with detailed study of the items reserved for the September and October meetings.

The disbursements out of the General Fund are estimated to be $556,260 with total receipts, including transfers and cash balance on hand estimated at $562,000. The Food Service Fund is estimated to spend $37,000....

The largest single item in the budget is of course salaries to employees. The salaries of administrators and teachers will equal about $380,000 or about 70 percent of the expenditures out of the general fund.

Mr. Boehlke said the levies will be set by the board at a special meeting to be held in the near future. In order to meet the increased costs of about $70,000 in the general fund, an increase in levy of at least $35,000 will be necessary with the remainder expected to be offset by increase in income from state sources.

Police get strict rules

The council laid the groundwork for a specific code for conduct for the police department and what was expected of the police chief and the men. The rules, now being studied by the council before adoption, were patterned after those set up by the state board of municipalities. They were not only definite conduct requirements, but they gave the chief considerable authority, and required strict compliance of men in the department.

Mayor Gorgos then read a long list of rules concerning the chief of police and conduct of the patrolmen. The chief is subject to call at all times, will give orders, not leave the city for a 24-hour period without notifying the commissioner, provide training courses, have knowledge of ordinances, establish the schedule with approval of the council....

Patrolmen are responsible to the chief, must notify when leaving duty, constant patrol, not loiter, no unnecessary conversations, questions suspicious persons with “prudence,” know traffic laws, note disturbances, aid lost child, aid ambulance, check street lights, doors, make reports, notify those whose doors are open and investigate, watch conditions of walks, streets and report, handle accidents, obey superiors, and handle arrests with no more than four hours daily of outside job....

Continuing on patrolmen, the mayor read: courtesy, avoid religious and political discussions on duty, smoke only in a non-conspicuous way, no intentional false report, no refusal to obey rules, no free theatre admissions, no gifts on duty, no free meals, and no compromises, required to make no political contributions on duty. If suspended by chief, written reports required, entitled to hearing.

Window broken ... by itself

In a strange sequel to the broken rear window in the Tibbett’s car as pictured in last week’s Tribune, a Farmington vehicle has suffered a similar fate.

Upon starting her car Tuesday morning to take her daughter to school, Mrs. Art Nelson, Farmington, noticed that the rear window was cracked. A slight bump in the road was all it took to jar the broken rear window from its mountings and the fragments ended up within the car.

There is considerable conjecture as to the cause of this rash of broken windows, but no one seems to have an answer satisfactory to the one who has to pay for the new one.

Easter Star Fetes 80 years

The Myrtle Chapter No. 13, Order of the Eastern Star at Farmington celebrated its 80th anniversary, Monday night in the Masonic Temple, which Mrs. Marcella Olson of Canby Worthy Grand Matron and Arnold Schulz, of Cannon Falls, Worthy Grand Patron, present for the occasion....

An addenda with an historical background, in which 21 past matrons and three past patrons were honored was the highlight of the evening. Grace Aker of Minneapolis, a past Grand Matron was also honored. Earl Mapes, associate patron, opened the addenda with a vocal solo, “Memories.” Mrs. Beth Empey was the accompanist....

Deborah Akin, grandmother of Jesse and Jerome Akin of Farmington was the first worthy matron and E.L. Brackett was the first worthy patron.

The Myrtle Chapter No. 13, O.E.S. was organized March 2, 1882 in the Masonic Hall, which was on the 3rd floor of the Griebie Block, then a new building....

Charter members of the local O.E.S. were: E.L. Brackett, E.Z. Needham, S.B. Spearin, D.F. Akin, Mrs. Georgia Needhan, Mrs. Josephine Needham, Mrs. Julia Spearin, Mrs. E.E. Barkuloo, Mrs. A.S. Beede, Miss Hattie Needham, Deborah Akin, Miss Louise Vollmer.

The first meeting of the Eastern Star held in the present Masonic Temple was on Nov. 13, 1917, which was newly built at that time....

75 years ago

From the Oct. 22, 1937

edition of the

Dakota County Tribune

Griebies to fete 63rd birthday with 15-day sale

To celebrate the 63rd anniversary of the founding of the Griebie Department store in Farmington, the management will put on a sale of bargains in all merchandise, beginning Oct. 20, and ending Nov. 6. Four-page posters which have been mailed out are telling the story in detail.

Charles R. Griebe, founder of this establishment, began business in Farmington after the Civil War in 1866. He sold this and again embarked in business in 1874 with H.W. Barkuloo on the present site of the Griebie store.

The building burned in the great fire of 1879, so Mr. Griebie moved his remnants to the Olson building until he constructed the present 3-story brick building in 1880.

Harold E. Stassen is boomed for governor

The organization of the Stassen for Governor Volunteers to launch and direct a drive for the election of Harold E. Stassen, Dakota County Attorney, as Minnesota’s next governor was announced by Dr. R.C. Radabaugh of Hastings, and M.J. O’Toole of St. Paul, co-chairmen of the organization. The group was formed at a meeting held at Farmington attended by Dakota County citizens of all political parties....

“Harold E. Stassen is the son of pioneer Dakota County farmer parents has first hand knowledge of farm problems,” the statement continued.

“He demonstrated his understanding of the problems of agriculture when he acted as legal counsel without pay for the fluid milk committee of Dakota and adjoining counties at the time of the milk strike in 1932, and successfully handled negotiations for the peaceful adjustments of the grievances of milk producers.”

100 years ago

From the Oct. 18, 1912

edition of the

Dakota County Tribune

Roosevelt victim of bullet

Col. Theodore Roosevelt, ex-president of the United States and leader of the Progressive party and candidate for president on the bull moose ticket, was shot by a fanatic named John Schrank as he was entering an auto in Milwaukee Monday evening.

After being wounded, the former president displayed his iron nerve in speaking for more than an hour at the auditorium. His condition is serious though not thought dangerous.

The would-be assassin had followed Col. Roosevelt all over the south and finally fired the shot that nearly killed him.

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