Looking Back: Ericksons have 1963 New Years baby

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50 years ago

From the Jan. 3, 1963

edition of the

Dakota County Tribune

James Ericksons have first baby in 1963

Mr. and Mrs. James Erickson of Rt. 1, Farmington, are parents of the first baby born in 1963 in central and southern Dakota County, and reported to The Tribune.

Although the “young lady” did not make her appearance until 1:27 a.m. January 2, at the Sanford Hospital, she was the first infant reported to The Tribune, for which a year’s subscription and a $5 bill will be presented to the parents, as well as $5 from Wally’s Red Owl, Town’s Edge.

The little girl, whose name has not been selected yet (as she was suppose to be a boy), weighed 7 lbs, 11 1/2 ounces, and was 20 1/2 inches long at birth. She arrived 16 days ahead of time and was delivered by Dr. Jurgen Moller.

Mrs. Erickson arrived at the hospital close to midnight and this morning mother and daughter were doing nicely.

The Ericksons reside across the road from the Walter Buberl farm and Mr. Erickson is employed at the Buberl farm as a farm hand. They have four other children: Gloria, 6; Wade James, 4; Terry Alan, 3; and Jeffrey Leonard, 22 months.

Burglars hit Town’s Edge

Thieves made off with an estimated $170 in cash after an early morning break-in at Town’s Edge Shopping Center and Hoagie’s Restaurant on December 31.

The break-in was discovered first at Hoagie’s Restaurant by a driver from Emrick Bakery between 5:30 and 6 a.m.

Access was gained by forcing the front door of the restaurant and loss was estimated at $100 with the only damage occurring to the cash register which was pried open.

Four other businesses were entered in the Town’s Edge Arcade with an added loss of about $70, as nearly as could be determined.

Access was again gained by forcing the main doors and either jimmying or kicking in the doors to the various shops.

Loss at Mapes and Grant’s Barber Shop was estimated at $20 with checks and other papers strewn about the floor. About $66 in change was not touched. Their loss was not insured.

Alyn Angus to 4-H conference

Alyn Angus, Farmington, will represent Dakota County in the 4-H Agronomy Conference to be held January 3-4 in Minneapolis.

Twenty-one 4-H members from Minnesota and South Dakota, as well as 17 adult leaders will attend the conference which is conducted by the Minnesota Agriculture Extension Service and the F.H. Peavey Company, Minneapolis.

Selection of the 4-H conference delegates was based on individual 4-H records in such activities as soil testing, profitable use of fertilizers, selecting and seeding superior, market quality grains, general crop management and grain sanitation.

Farmington’s oldest citizen 97th milestone

Possibly the oldest citizen of Farmington celebrated her 97th birthday on Sunday, December 30.

Although no party had been planned, the day turned out to be an open house for Mrs. Emma Becker with approximately 25 well wishers dropping in for a visit and a piece of birthday cake.

Emma Anthony Becker was born December 30, 1865, 20 miles south of Syracuse, New York, at Borodino, Onondaga Co. She married Oliver Beck in 1883, and they settled in pioneering country at northern Iowa, Humboldt County, where the Spirit Lake Massacre and occurred years before. They had a family of nine children, six boys and three girls.... Her memory is exceedingly sharp, her sense of humor delightful, and her graciousness is unsurpassed.

She is up and around the house every day, enjoys good food, companionship and continues to play the piano daily. Her hearing is remarkable, and although blind, it does not dampen her spirits one wit.

About 20 years ago she wrote a biography of her life that is fascinating to read with its facts about her history interspersed with scores of stories both humorous and otherwise, pertaining to her life.

75 years ago

From the Jan. 7, 1937

edition of the

Dakota County Tribune

Masons and Stars install officers

At a joint installation service Corinthian Lodge No. 67, A. F. and A.M. entertained Myrtle Chapter No. 13, of O.E.S. Thursday night at Masonic Temple.

The following were installed:

Masonic Lodge

Worshipful Master, George Empey; Sr. Warden, Roman Kubista; Jr. Warden, Ardell Hanson; Sr. Deacon, Mike Kadas; Jr. Deacon, Raymond Copenhaver; Sr. Steward, Fred McConaghie; Jr. Steward, Donald Whittier; Chaplain, J.E. Price; Tyler, Chas. Johnson; Secretary, Dr. G.R. Day; Treasurer, P.C. Records.

Eastern Star

Worthy Matron, Mary Hanson; Asso. Matron, Mildred Hysell; Worthy Patron, J.E. Price; Assoc. Patron, August Kulstad; Conductress, Gladys Stevens; Asso. Conductress, Marguerite Whittier; Ada Marguerite Wall; Ruth, Bernice Whittier; Esther Copenhaver; Martha, Edna Waterman; Electa, Mae Miller; Marshall, Henrietta Kulstad; Chaplain, Alice Qvale; Organist, Leone Grabenstein; Warder, Cora Cory; Sentinel, H.L. Stevens; Secretary, Violet Lewis; and Treasurer, Beth Godby.

New council in initial meeting

The new council of the village of Farmington held its first meeting in the council chambers Monday night and organized for the year.

Mayor Wm. McHugh appointed the following commissioners: Street Commissioner, Jas. Schneier; Finance, Fred R. Griebie; Lights, L.A. Godby; Health, Dr. W.M. Dodge; I.G. Empey’s term expired on the water board, and he was re-appointed by the mayor.

Pete Sauber’s license to sell intoxicating liquors was renewed. The liquor license fee was increased from $800 to $900 a year for “on” sale. The “off” sale license of $100 is fixed by the state.

Pat Walsh was re-appointed village marshal at the usual salary of $100 per month.

Larry Vaux, local manager of the Central Electric & Telephone company, was present and stated that his company will submit a new electric rate schedule soon.

100 years ago,/h2>

From the Jan. 3, 1913

edition of the

Dakota County Tribune

Our public school building no good

Farmington, Minn. Dec. 30, 1912

To the Voters of District No. 40 – A short time ago, Mr. Geo. B. Alton, state school inspector, was here and made a thorough inspection of our school building, and in talking with him I asked him to make a detailed report to me which he did. It will speak for itself. Yours very sincerely, C.B. Whittier, Pres.

Sir: In response to your suggestion, that I write you a line on present school conditions, I wish to say, first of all, that your school is orderly and well disposed toward teachers and superintendent....

I desire to say, however, that your building is unsatisfactory. As this adverse criticism of a school building with a long and honorable history may surprise you, I will particularize. The building is unsightly. It stands in full view of every passing train and gives travelers an unfavorable impression of the town. It is inconvenient....

It is unsanitary. Outside closets are cold, exposed and seldom tidy. The ventilating system is equal to the worst in the state....

The walls are cracked and for want of suitable cloak rooms, they are hung with wraps. The floors are littered with footwear.

The building is not altogether safe. The stairways are narrow, steep and creaky....

In addition to being unsanitary, inconvenient, decidedly unsightly and not altogether safe, your building is too small for modern purposes....

I am not unmindful of the early record of the Farmington schools, but I would not be acting justly by you were I to omit saying that you are no longer in the front rank....

More than this, your accommodations are so behind the times that you are certain in the near future to be confronted by a loss of the aid granted to even the most conservative schools....

Sincerely yours, Geo. B. Aiton

The Local Page

We saw a fellow carrying home an 85-pound dressed hog the other day. The question arises. Did it pay to butcher the hog at this time?

With pork selling at $7.00 live weight and corn at 30 cents per bushel, we think it an unwise thing to butcher it at that size.

With a little of that Albert Lea corn which is going begging for a buyer, that pig could have been made about twice its size long before the daisies will be blooming in the spring.

Tags: community, news, farmington

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