Looking Back: Cold weather caused a pile up of 16 freight cars in Empire City 75 years ago

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50 years ago

From the Nov. 29, 1962

edition of the

Dakota County Tribune

Villages to vote Dec. 4

The election for various village officers which will take place on Dec. 4, will be confined mainly to incumbent office-holders with several exceptions. In addition to filling the expiring incumbent’s positions, there will also be special issues up for a decision in Lakeville.

Two filings for councilman at Farmington will be Newt Hauk, incumbent, and Elmer Brosseth. Ken Gerten filing unopposed for clerk. There were no fillings for justice or assessor. The present assessor is John Steffes and George Kaisersatt was recently appointed to fill one of the justice vacancies.

It was pointed out by Ken Gersten, city clerk, that the polls with be open from noon until 8:00 p.m. with voting only at the library in the city hall.

County property values raised

Dakota County Assessor Tom Mallery said this week the state tax department has placed evaluation increases on residential property in parts of Dakota County.

The values were not raised in northern Dakota County because it was hit hard by value increases in the last two years. The valuation increases have been placed in Farmington and Rosemount village and Empire, Lakeville and Lebanon townships on structures and in some cases land.

The state has raised values in the following: Farmington, an increase of 10 percent on residential structures; Rosemount, increase of 10 percent on residential structures.

$100 reward offered for dog poisoner

Two expensive dogs have been poisoned inside their pen, at the Eugene Kuchera residence, at 112 Elm Street, Farmington.

“Rocky,” a registered golden lab trained for hunting, which the family wouldn’t have sold for $300, died in a strychnine fit the day after Halloween.

The dog was always kept inside its pen, never out except on a leash or for hunting. The animal was never reported to be a nuisance in any way.

“We never had a phone call about him being a bother, and there were words of praise for him,” Kuchera declared.

After the death of the first dog, the family was really quite sad. They bought the second dog last Wednesday, a black registered lab, four months old, from C.T. Jaspers of Orchard Lake. They paid $50 for this pup.

Four hours later, as the four children were looking through the dog book for a name, the dog was already dead in a strychine fit. It was the same cage. The dirt in the pen had been spaded up twice, the straw in the dog house was cleaned and replaced.

It was no ordinary pen. The house was insulated, it was kept clean, and the dog was like one of the family.

“Somebody didn’t like it that way I guess....” Kuchera declared.

Kuchera said if anyone can provide information, leading to the arrest of the poisoner, he will give them $100 cash, and the name of the person giving information will be kept confidential.

Third Street completed

Slated for completion in the near future is the latest street improvement in Farmington.

The Third Street resurfacing project was begun about Sept. 4, and will be completed, weather permitting with the laying of sod between curbing and sidewalks within the next few days.

The major portion of the newly-resurfaced street will be 44 feet in width between the face of the curbs with the exception of the block by the post office where the width will be 56 feet to allow for diagonal parking of the east side of the street.

After preliminary grading and storm drain work was completed, the road bed was gravel backfilled. A leveling course of bituminous material up to three inches in thickness was applied uniform, and a wearing course of one and one half inches of further bituminous material applied for the final surface....

The original contract price of $57,900 will probably be a little below the final cost, according to County Engineer Jim Gabiou. Although the total cost has not been tabulated. Gabiou indicated that due to the necessity or removing undesirable base material and replacing with more suitable material, the final cost will probably be slightly in excess of $60,000.

75 years ago

From the Dec. 3, 1937

edition of the

Dakota County Tribune

Cold spell breaks rail, 16 freight cars pile up north of Empire City

The second freight train wreck on the Great Western line within a month occurred Sunday evening at 7:00 o’clock when a southbound freight derailed and piled up to 16 freight cars in the ditch, the wreck occurring a mile north of Empire on the first curve.

The cold snap which shrunk the steel and caused two rails to pull apart is believed to have been the cause of the wreck.

The third car back of the locomotive derailed and caused 15 other cars to pile up, scattering splinters, hides, lumber and other merchandise all over the right-of-way.

Two empty gasoline tanks, a gondola and box cars figured in the wreck.

Two wrecking crews arrived early Monday morning and by 2 p.m. Monday had the tracks open to traffic. Great Western trains were re-routed through Farmington temporarily.

Basketball season begins

The Farmington High School cagers open up the current season on the Hastings’ court tomorrow night, Dec. 3. Both the first and second teams will see action. The “B” team will meet the Hastings “B” team in the preliminary tilt scheduled for 7:30 o’clock and the first teams will clash at 8:15.

The personnel of the Tiger team will be considerably changed this year as nearly all of last year regulars were lost by graduation.

Coach Robertson has been working his candidates at full speed for the past week, but they expect to have their hands full when they meet their natural rivals in the tussle tomorrow night.

No definite starting line-up has been decided upon as yet but those who are expected to see some action are: Robert Carey, John Carlson, LeRoy Peterson, Roger Lundgren, Leonard Wall, and Dick Rosenow.

Four candidates seek mayor, council seats

With opposition in the office of mayor and council and the liquor question before the electorate, the annual village election next Tuesday promises to be packed with excitement again this year.

Mayor Wm. McHugh, who is a candidate for re-election, is being opposed by J.E. Sauber, former councilman.

Councilman Geo. Manners, a candidate for re-election is opposed by L.A. Godby, former councilman.

The names will appear on the ballot alphabetically as follows:

For mayor, 1 year – Wm. McHugh, J.E. Sauber. For councilman, 3 years – LA. Godby, Geo. Manners.

100 years ago

From the Nov. 29, 1912

edition of the

Dakota County Tribune

Homecoming should be held during fair time/b>

Editor Tribune:

Your suggestion for a homecoming to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Farmington is commendable. I am sure the tent that came to Farmington on a good mission could be secured for the event, but why not call the homecoming at fair time?

There would be nothing too good for them in Farmington. We would toast ‘em and feast ‘em, show the beauties of a well kept, thrifty town; see the blooded stock, wonderful display of grains, fruit, flowers and vegetables, meet old friends and neighbors; see prosperous farmers coming to town in their autos, take them down to the ball park and see Castle Rock baseball team whitewash the crackteam of the country.

Invite them to dance an old-fashioned quadrille, Virginia reel and many such “For we’ve wandered many a weary foot since Auld Lang Sayne.” They would miss many an old face, for the never ending flood of years bears all before them.

The writer’s knowledge of Farmington dates back only 46 years. Yet how few of the old guard remain!

Tags: news, community, farmington

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