Looking Back: Farmington’s new hospital project got a $607,000 federal grant 50 years ago

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50 years ago

From the Jan. 17, 1963

edition of the

Dakota County Tribune

Deegans buy Lyric Theatre

Mr. and Mrs. Francis Deegan of Farmington have purchased the Lyric Theatre business from Dinger Olson, theatre manager at Northfield, effective immediately.

The theatre will open Friday night, January 18, with two shows nightly, the first at 7 p.m. and the second at 9 p.m. The theatre will be open seven nights weekly, with a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. each Sunday.

The theatre has been closed off and on for sometime and finally closed the past two weeks. Deegan said the regular advertising calendars will be in the mail soon, and that newspaper advertising will be resumed.

Schroeder fire chief, 16 years, resigns here

Francis “Stuf” Schroeder, Farmington fire chief for the past 16 years, indicated his desire to resign as chief of the department at the annual fireman’s banquet held on Monday, January 14.

Eugene “Babe” Kuchera, longtime fireman, was elected to the position of chief.

Schroeder, who operates Schroeder’s Standard Service, 321 Elm Street, has served as chief of the department continuously since about 1947, and is one of the oldest members in point of service.

After the election of officers for the ensuing year, a standing round of applause was voted Schroeder by the members for conscientious, long-term service to the department.

Held at the Masonic Hall, the meeting was attended by 29 active firemen; three retired firemen, Ken Hanson, Elmer Brosseth, and Donald Kulstad; and representatives from town boards of surrounding townships.

School takes option on F. Mester land

The Farmington School Board took an option on a tract of land of “not less than 10 acres and not more than 15 acres” from Frank Mester on Wednesday, Jan. 2, for a proposed elementary school.

The option read that the price of $1,300 per acre for at least 10 acres and not more than 15 acres be protected for 90 days.

The land itself is south of County Highway 66 (Old No. 6) south and west of the Mester farm buildings and lies in the extreme southeast corner of the northeast quarter of Section 29 of Empire Township.

If the soil tests prove satisfactory and if the State Department of Health approves a sewage disposal unit for a school building at that location, the board will order its architect to draw sketches of the school building for study by the board and interested persons in the school district.

$607,000 hospital grant gets Washington approval

Senators Hubert Humphrey and Eugene McCarthy announced jointly in a telegram to the Tribune Tuesday that Farmington’s $607,000 federal grant has been approved toward a $1,350,000 hospital....

Dr. Murray Hunter, hospital board member, indicated Tuesday night that progress is well underway. The board has met with the state health department, and a general “progress report” meeting is planned with the public for January 30 in Farmington. Details of the meeting will be announced later....

The final plans should be completed by April 15, bids require a month to six weeks, bringing the project to June. If the bids are satisfactory, construction will require 15 to 18 months, Dr. Hunter estimated.

75 years ago

From the Jan. 21, 1938

edition of the

Dakota County Tribune

Jerome Akin is knocked out by tree limb fall

Jerome Akin, farmer and official weather reporter in this district, was knocked out for 15 minutes shortly before noon Wednesday when a limb of a tree broke off and struck him on the head.

Jerome and his hired man, Art Boyer, were cutting down a tree a mile from the Akin farm houses. When the tree fell it broke off the top limb striking Jerome on the back of his head.

As Jerome lay unconscious on the ground and started to turn black, Art became frantic and started to drag his boss to the auto. In a few minutes the injured farmer regained consciousness and was able to go to the house.

Odd Fellows and Rebekahs install officers

The Sunbeam Lodge of I.O.O. F. and Honor Rebekah Lodge of Farmington held joint installation services in the Odd Fellows Hall last Thursday evening.

I.O.O.F. – Noble Grand, Edward Schulz; Vice Grand, Harvey Smith; Secretary, Oakley Smith; Treasurer, William Ehlers; Warden, Iver Dulholm; Conductor, W.D. Ellison; Inside Guardian, D.S. Harrington; Outside Guardian, George Warweg; R. Supporter Noble Guard, Jacob Schilling; L. Supporter Noble Grand, Christ Hauge; R. Supporter, Vice Guard, Frank Bell; L. Supporter, Vice Grand – George Hoffman; Chaplain, Loren Rowell.

Rebekah – Noble Grand, Maxine Grant; Vice Grand, Mrs. W.D. Ellison; Corresp, Sec’y, Mrs. Wm. Ehlers; Corresp, Sec’y – Mrs. Wm. Ellison; Fin. Sec’y – Mrs. Edward Peters; Treasurer, Mrs. V.D. Elliott; Warden, Mrs. Godfrey; Conductor, Mrs. Jacob Schilling; Inside Guardian, Mrs. Ed Becker; Inside Guardian, Mrs. Ed Becker; Outside Guardian, Wm. Ehlers.

Local school to install patrol

The Farmington High School with the cooperation of the local American Legion Post and State Highway Patrol is planning to install a Safety Patrol. There will be some 16 boys assigned to duty in this patrol. Six of them will be on active duty each day. Three crossings have been designated by the State Highway Patrol to enable school children to cross the main highway within the village.

The crossings so designated are located at the following places: John Turek’s residence, C.A. Carlson’s residence, and D. J. Sullivan’s residence across to the corner on which the Standard Oil Station is located.

100 years ago

From the Jan.17, 1913

edition of the

Dakota County Tribune

Dedicate evangelical church

The dedicatory services of the Farmington Evangelical church as announced in last week’s issue were carried out with great interest and a large attendance at the various services.

Beginning Friday evening and running through Saturday and Sunday night service every available space was utilized to accommodate the people. It was a very happy hour for the people of the congregation and one in which, also, the entire village of Farmington very properly took an interest.

The pastor on their enterprise and labor which has resulted so satisfactory, and the village is to be congratulated on having a building so excellent added to its other good church edifices.

Money now all guaranteed

A meeting was held in the Music Hall, Farmington, January 14, that is sure to be an event of historic interest because it marked the first steps in securing a great highway which will run north from Farmington to south, and south to the intermost boundary of Texas, and without doubt on to the Panama Canal in due time.

Think of it! It will come about in this way!...

A circular letter sent out from the state highway commission to the board of county commissioners in the counties concerned states the proposal of the government.

From a fund of $500,000 appropriated for building up the rightways of the county, the postmaster general and the secretary of agriculture will give $10,000 to improve any fifty-mile stretch of road that may be selected in the state over which rural route is, or may be established; provided, that the state or counties contribute $20,000 for the same fifty-mile stretch of road.

And furthermore, the counties shall provide for the maintenance of said road when it is completed....

Now the fact that this state highway commission is favorable to the running of such a road from St. Paul south, over the high bridge, thru Wescott, Rosemount, Farmington, Northfield, Faribault, Owatonna, was sufficient incentive to bring together the large and enthusiastic crowd of men from the counties of Dakota, Rice, and Steele, which met in Farmington last Tuesday.

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