Month: December 2021

A look back at what happened in Shakopee history. You may also find this column in the Shakopee Valley News.

125 Years Ago: From the Dec. 31, 1896 Scott County Argus

Head miller C. W. Newell was made the recipient at Christmas of a horse and harness presented by L. Christian of Minneapolis. Mr. Newell has purchased a fine phaeton to complete the outfit, and R. C. Newell went down yesterday and drove the equipage home.

100 Years Ago: From the Dec. 29, 1921 Shakopee Tribune

Farm Hand Skips With Employers Pocket Book

Last Monday morning Math Marschall had occasion to go to a neighbors home, and when he returned home he found that Wm. Lentz, who had been working for him as a farmhand, had left and had taken his (Mr. Marschall’s) pocketbook with him. Shakopee police were notified and J. H. Ring, local chief of police, immediately got on the trail of Lentz and caught him on the road just this side of Jordan.

Chief Ring brought Lentz back to Shakopee and he was given a hearing in municipal court. The court sentenced him to fifteen days in the county jail.

75 Years Ago: From the Dec. 26, 1946 Shakopee Argus-Tribune

Experimental Test of New Snow Moving Device Due Soon

An experiment which, if successful, is expected to open a new and large field for a Shakopee industry, is scheduled to be tried by the Roto Wing company in the near future, it was learned this week.

The company, manufacturer of snow removal equipment, has designed and built a new unit for use on motor graders.

Heretofore, it was explained, the wing device was only installed on four wheel drive trucks. The new device will make it adaptable to graders now in use by counties and other road maintenance departments, giving them year-round use of their equipment.

Confident the idea is sound, the Caterpillar Tractor company of Peoria, Ill., has shipped one of their motor graders to the Roto Wing plant to have the snow wing and motor mounted on it for test purposes.

50 Years Ago: From the Dec. 28, 1971 Shakopee Valley News

Centralized Scott County License Bureau Begins to ‘Click’

Something new has been added to the procedure necessary to obtain a driver’s license, but despite the addition, the whole process of becoming a licensed driver is now simplified in Scott County.

The “something new” is the requirement passed into law by the 1971 legislature that each new or renewal license issued include a color photograph of the driver. The photograph will make it difficult to falsify a license, or allow another to use it illegally, so licenses will become a more positive form of identification.

In addition to the photograph requirement, each applicant is now required to take a vision test upon completion of the application form and payment of the fee, in an effort to eliminate drivers who cannot see well enough to drive.

The simplification of the licensing procedure in Scott County results from centralization of the licensing functions of the county into one location, which will also be the headquarters for the Driver’s License Examining Station operated by the state…

25 Years Ago: From the Dec. 26, 1996 Shakopee Valley News

Too early to rise? School start times subject of state survey

…Two years ago, the Minnesota Medical Association began advocating a later start time or high school students. According to Shakopee High School principal Jim Murphy, the position was based on research that high school-aged students performed “a litter better a little later in the day.”

To determine if there is validity in the call for an earlier start time, Shakopee and 16 other metropolitan-area school districts have been participating in a university of Minnesota study this school year. Students, their parents, and other have been asked questions relating to sleep needs of students…

A look back at what happened in Shakopee history. You may also find this column in the Shakopee Valley News.

125 Years Ago: From the Dec. 24, 1896 Scott County Argus

The Hamm Brewing company is erecting a two-story addition to its storehouse in this city. It will be used as an icehouse.

100 Years Ago: From the Dec. 22, 1921 Shakopee Tribune

Bus Line Began Business Dec. 15

H. L. Schlink has started a new bus line making daily trips between Carver and Minneapolis and stopping in Shakopee enroute each day. The new bus line has been named the Mudcura-Twin City Transportation Co…

The Transportation Co. carries Liability Insurance as a complete protection for passengers. The bus will leave Minneapolis every day at 9:30 a. m. and arrive in Shakopee at 10:55 a. m. On return trip it will leave Shakopee at 1:10 p. m. and arrive in Minneapolis at 2:40 p. m. It will stop in Shakopee at the Pelham Hotel and Swenson Drug Co.

75 Years Ago: From the Dec. 19, 1946 Shakopee Argus-Tribune

School Bond Vote Set For February

Another step in the movement to provide better public school facilities for the Shakopee community was taken Monday when the Board of Education of Independent School District No. 1, meeting in special session, passed a resolution setting Monday, Feb. 3, 1947, as the date for a special election on a $234,900 bond issue to provide funds for a new school.

Decision on the date was reached in concurrence with a committee of the Shakopee Commercial club after the board and the committee, meeting separately, had held several discussions on the matter…

50 Years Ago: From the Dec. 22, 1971 Shakopee Valley News

Huge Citizen’s Committee Named to ‘Sell’ Junior High

February 8 Bond Election…for $4,160,000

A … citizen’s committee was appointed Monday night by the Shakopee School Board to do a big job…persuading voters of District 720 to approve over $4 million in funds to construct a new Junior High School.

After including most of the members of the most recent citizens’ committee formed in 1969 to work for approval of the last district bond issue, board members kept adding names until the list reached 123, with the possibility of more in the future.

When the tentative list was completed, Dr. Robert Mayer, Superintendent of Schools, outlined the basic job the citizens’ committee would have, and a tentative time schedule for the bond issue preparations, the election and planning and construction of the school…

25 Years Ago: From the Dec. 19, 1996 Shakopee Valley News

Justice center master plan approved by board

The Scott County Board last week approved a master plan for the $11 million county justice center, which will be constructed near the courthouse in Shakopee.

The board on Dec. 10 also voted to ask the city of Shakopee to vacate Fuller and Atwood streets between Fourth and Fifth avenues for construction of the justice center. The action was taken to initiate a planned-unit development application for the justice center construction and to initiate the process of replacing the … of the facility, which will be part of a campus.

County commissioners, working as a Committee of the Whole last week, recommended approval of the schematic design of the facility, which was presented by project manager Gregg Davies. The project was designed by Wold Architects of St. Paul…

A look back at what happened in Shakopee history. You may also find this column in the Shakopee Valley News.

125 Years Ago: From the Dec. 17, 1896 Scott County Argus

Last Monday E. B. Gilkey’s baby-girl almost completely severed the middle finger of her left hand in the rungs of a clothes wringer, while alone in the kitchen. Dr. Smith is making an effort to save the injured member.

100 Years Ago: From the Dec. 15, 1921 Shakopee Tribune

Arthur Boppel, manager of the Swenson Drug Co., has a very artistic window which suggests Christmas to the passers-by. The little old fashioned fire place electrically installed in the window gives the store a cozy and comfortable aspect.

75 Years Ago: From the Dec. 12, 1946 Shakopee Argus-Tribune

Group Hears Power Plant Study Aired

A detailed and technical report of the costs of erecting and operating an electric power generating plant of ample size to serve Shakopee, its industries and adjacent rural powerlines was presented at an informal meeting of city officials and representatives of civic organizations Friday night.

Prepared by electrical engineers the private study supplied a wealth of information on power production costs upon which the city council and interested citizens may base their discussion if and when the city undertakes any plan leading to the eventual construction of a generating plant within the city…

50 Years Ago: From the Dec. 15, 1971 Shakopee Valley News

$3.8 Million Junior High Recommended

Bond Issue May Be in Mid-February…

Following a presentation of enrollment figures depicting the surge of students through the school system during the next few years, Shakopee Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robert Mayer formally recommended to the School Board Monday night immediate construction of a new Junior High School as the best long range solution to the district’s shortage of classrooms.

Although the board took no official action Monday night, there have been indications that this course of action has the approval of school board members, and in fact, architects are already working on site uses and locations for a junior high school to be built on a site adjacent to the present senior high school site.

It was indicated at the meeting that estimates on cost of a junior high school would be in the neighborhood of $3.8 million, but as yet there are no plans developed for the building. That cost figure comes from $27 square foot for a building of 126,000 square feet to house 900 students…

25 Years Ago: From the Dec. 12, 1996 Shakopee Valley News

TIF payments to schools are questioned

A legal hitch apparently has developed in an agreement between the city and the Shakopee School District in which the district receives tax increment financing (TIF) revenue generated by school referendums. Unless it is rectified, the district may be out of that funding, currently about $83,000 a year.

City payments to the school district from a relatively new TIF district is without legal basis, according to a city attorney, and as a result, the City Council last week voted to suspend payments to the school district, which has already received the first-half payment – around $40,000 – for 1996.

And city officials have been told that payments the district received from 1993 through 1995, as well as the first half of this year, also were made without legal basis…

A look back at what happened in Shakopee history. You may also find this column in the Shakopee Valley News.

125 Years Ago: From the Dec. 10, 1896 Scott County Argus

John Reis has sold his harness business to Mr. Mahowald of Renville county. Mr. Mahowald will move here at once, and take possession. His family will locate in the Simmer house north of the Court House.

100 Years Ago: From the Dec. 8, 1921 Shakopee Tribune

Car Stolen

Automobile thieves stole Harry C. Mertz’s car Tuesday night by breaking into the garage at John Thiem home.

Mr. Thiem and Mr. Mertz sat up until about one o’clock and nothing unusual was heard about the place so think the theft occurred after that time.

The discovery was made about seven o’clock in the morning by Miss Mollie Theis who noticed the door open and the garage empty.

The car was a Ford coupe, 1921 model and in possession of Mr. Mertz only two months. It is generally believed the car was pulled out of the garage by a horse as there were horses hoof prints about the place.

Authorities were notified at once, however no clue has been found up to the present time. The car was insured but if not found there will be a loss to the owner.

75 Years Ago: From the Dec. 5, 1946 Shakopee Argus-Tribune

State Formally Approves New School Plans

That I. O. Friswold, director of building and business administration of the State Department of Education had given his formal approval to the preliminary plans for Shakopee’s proposed new school was made a matter of record this week with the receipt of a letter from Long and Thorshov, architects who designed the structure.

The letter, addressed to Al N. Wurst, superintendent, advised that the plans had been approved by Mr. Friswold, “with no difficulty and without reservation.”…

50 Years Ago: From the Dec. 8, 1971 Shakopee Valley News

Judges Urge Courthouse Addition

To Unify Lower Courts…

…Scott County judges F. J. Connolly and Kermit Lindmeyer, in a meeting with Scott County Administrator Joseph Ries, have proposed an addition to the small building north of the present main courthouse to house the county courtrooms.

The addition, according to the judges suggestions, would be connected to the main building. The small building, formerly a garage, was recently remodeled for County Attorneys offices, but is now being used by the county courts Violations Intake Bureau since the Attorney’s move to New Prague.

In reporting the judges wishes to the county board Tuesday, Ries estimated the cost of the addition would be from $40,000 to $50,000…

25 Years Ago: From the Dec. 5, 1996 Shakopee Valley News

Sand Burr Gulch meets its end

The village of Sand Burr Gulch is no more.

Fire departments from Shakopee, Prior Lake, Savage and Chaska set the former Stagecoach Museum complex ablaze on Saturday to practice firefighting techniques and also get rid of the dilapidated buildings along Highway 101 between Shakopee and Savage.

The onetime theme park, entertainment complex and Stagecoach Museum and Restaurant, was built by Ozzie and Marie Klavestad. The Klavestads bought the property in the early 1950s to house Ozzie’s growing gun collection, and eventually the site was developed to resemble the Old West. Ozzie and Marie dressed the part as they entertained visitors it eh park’s inn, Bella Union Opera House and of course, Sand Burr Gulch. After some 30 years, they sold the property to Cal and Cheryl Hotzler.

After the property was sold to the Hotzlers, the opera house burned in 1983. Soon, public interest in the site faded. The Hotzlers hope to sell the 5-acre property.