Month: December 2024

150 Years Ago: From the Dec. 24, 1874 Shakopee Argus

Mr. John Berens and E. J. Gellenbeck, two enterprising young men of this city, have opened a dry goods and notion store, where they will be pleased to see their friends and give them the advantages of good bargains. See adv’t in another column.

125 Years Ago: From the Dec. 21, 1899 Scott County Argus

John Bally, the aged medicine peddler, was examined in the Probate Court, yesterday afternoon, before Drs. Smith and Reiter, and committed to the hospital for the insane at St. Peter.

125 Years Ago: From the Dec. 22, 1899 Shakopee Tribune

The new Presbyterian church is now nearly completed and is a very neat appearing and quite a roomy structure.

100 Years Ago: From the Dec. 26, 1924 Shakopee Argus

Shakopee Folks Join Radio Circle

Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Bandy of Shakopee have been elected charter members of “Radio Farmers Democracy,” the national radio farm organization sponsored by the Agricultural Foundation Broadcasting Station W LS, according to word received here.

The club, which will be conducted from the firesides of its members much as a farm bureau is conducted in community halls, will meet over the radio every Tuesday evening at eight o’clock to deal with farm problems as they arise. The sole obligation of membership is the pledge to give one’s best thought toward the solution of the many difficulties confronting American agriculture.

100 Years Ago: From the Dec. 25, 1924 Shakopee Tribune

Local Girl Pictured in Advertisement

Last Sunday’s rotogravure section of the Minneapolis Tribune carried an advertisement of the Minneapolis School of Beauty Culture in which the pictures of all of the latest graduates of the school were reproduced. These pictures were arranged very effectively about the ad as decorations on a Christmas tree.

Among these pictures was the likeness of Miss Regina Budde of this city, who recently completed a three months’ course at the school. Miss Budde informs us that she intends to remain at her home in Shakopee until she receives employment in a place that is reasonably close to Shakopee, which would make frequent visits here possible.

75 Years Ago: From the Dec. 22, 1949 Shakopee Argus-Tribune

Benefit Cage Game Planned

To help raise funds to purchase new uniforms for the Shakopee high school basketball team, a group of former local cage stars will meet the high school regulars in a benefit game in the auditorium Tuesday night, Dec. 27, it was announced.

Although the roster of the alumni team has not been disclosed, men promoting the event said the string will include players who held the spotlight as far back as 1926.

75 Years Ago: From the Dec. 22, 1949 Shakopee Valley News

Commercial Club Pledges Support Special School Bond Election Here

By a unanimous vote, the members of the Shakopee Commercial club adopted the report of the special 20 man school committee and pledged their unqualified support when the school question is again placed before the voters early next year.

The action came at the annual meeting of the group. R. D. Johnson, owner of the Gamble Store, was named president of the club for 1950 by a unanimous vote. He succeeds Jim Covington who steps down December 31…

25 Years Ago: From the Dec. 23, 1999 Shakopee Valley News

City among metro housing leaders

Shakopee was among the Twin Cities metropolitan-area leaders in new housing starts in November, according to the Builders Association of the Twin Cities.

Lakeville topped the list for the month with 56 permits issued, followed by Woodbury with 47, and Maple Grove with 41. Buffalo recorded 93 planned units for the month, followed by Shakopee with 87.

For the first 11 months of the year, Woodbury continued to be the leader among suburbs with 733 permits issued for 1,592 units. Lakeville was second in permits with 623, but fifth in the number of units with 690. Maple Grove was third in permits and units with 527 and 805 respectively. Shakopee was second in units with 946, but fifth in permits with 417. Blaine was fourth in both categories, with 443 permits and 693 planned units…

Interested in local history? Find even more at the Shakopee Heritage Society website.

150 Years Ago: From the Dec. 17, 1874 Shakopee Argus

The new Union Depot is finished and is now occupied by the agents of the two companies, telegraph operators, &c. It is finished up in fine style inside and out, and is conveniently arranged both for employees and travelers.

125 Years Ago: From the Dec. 14, 1899 Scott County Argus

Henry C. Schroeder has moved his office, that of the City Recorder, from H. J. Peck’s office in the How block to Julius A. Coller’s office over the First National Bank.

125 Years Ago: From the Dec. 15, 1899 Shakopee Tribune

Wm. F. Duffy has already improved the appearance of his grocery store and is now adding new store furniture and fixtures which all goes to show the spirit of the new proprietor.

100 Years Ago: From the Dec. 19, 1924 Shakopee Argus

P. W. Moore, who has been conducting a general wood work shop in this city for some time past has suspended operations, for the present at least, and has gone to Hastings where he will do mill wright work for the King Midas Mill Co. that is being operated there under the able supervision of H. F. Betow, formerly of this city. Mr. Moore left Monday, but his family will remain in Shakopee indefinitely.

100 Years Ago: From the Dec. 18, 1924 Shakopee Tribune

Leo Huss Is Issued Patent on Pump Jack

Leo J. Huss of this city, who designed, made and is manufacturing a pump jack invented by him some time ago, was issued a patent on his invention by the National Patent Office at Washington, D. C., under date of December 8.

Tuesday evening’s Minneapolis Journal carried a list of Minnesota inventors to whom patents were issued by the patent office on December 9. Leo J. Huss of this city listed among these inventors to whom patents were issued.

75 Years Ago: From the Dec. 15, 1949 Shakopee Argus-Tribune

4 Rinks to Open to City Skaters

Four municipal skating rinks will be ready by next Sunday if the present cold weather continues. Two of the rinks, started Monday by James Rein, overseer of parks, will be located in the Recreational park. One will be on Shakopee avenue between the Novak and Dreese properties, and another in Holmes park.

75 Years Ago: From the Dec. 15, 1949 Shakopee Valley News

Stemmer New Manager Of Indians As Shakopee Enters River League

By a vote of the league directors, Shakopee and Chaska were admitted to the Minnesota River league for the 1950 season. Addition of the two teams will make that league a ten team loop.

Long stalwarts of the Minnesota Valley league, the move of Chaska and Shakopee to the River loop should prove a popular measure with fans in this area, inasmuch as Shakopee and Chaska have more traditional rivalry with River teams than they do with Valley teams.

At the same time, Joseph Hirscher, president of the Shakopee Recreational Association, announced that Warren Stemmer will manage the Shakopee Indians next year assisted by W. B. “Rip” Schroeder…

50 Years Ago: From the Dec. 18, 1974 Shakopee Valley News

Tahpah Park beginning to assume final form

Tahpah Park, an on-going project of the Shakopee Jaycees, is beginning to assume its final form after a full work program carried on through the summer and fall months.

It is expected that three softball diamonds will be ready for play in the early summer of 1975, depending upon the type of spring weather experienced here and the scheduling of play in various leagues…

Future plans call for a football field and a baseball diamond at the Tahpah Park site. Work on those facilities is in the early stages…

25 Years Ago: From the Dec. 16, 1999 Shakopee Valley News

School district’s fund balance dips

While the audit report for the 1998-99 school year revealed few surprises, Shakopee School Board members on Monday expressed some concern over the dwindling general fund balance.

Accountant Daryl DeKane presented an overview of the district’s key financial statistics for the last fiscal year. The audit report revealed that the district ended the year June 30 with an unreserved balance of just over $1 million, which translates to about 4.3 percent of the $23.6 million operating budget. The board target is to end each year find funds totaling 8 percent of the budget to carry over to the next year…

Superintendent Bob Ostlund said that part of the reason for the dip is that the district started out the last school year with less state funding than anticipated, particularly in the areas of special education and teacher training.

As the board begins planning for next year’s budget, “our goal will be to build [the balance] back up,” Ostlund assured.

Interested in local history? Find even more at the Shakopee Heritage Society website.

150 Years Ago: From the Dec. 10, 1874 Shakopee Argus

Santa Claus has made an assignment to Schroeder.

125 Years Ago: From the Dec. 7, 1899 Scott County Argus

Rev. A. W. Wright spent Monday and Tuesday in Minneapolis, looking after the stained glass windows which are to adorn the new Presbyterian church. All the windows in the auditorium will be of stained glass, and there will be two memorial windows, one for the Rev. Samuel W. Pond, and the other for Mrs. Julia A. Lord, and also a Christian Endeavor window containing the C. E. monogram and the society word “Mizpah.” The windows will be ready for shipment by the 20th, and it is thought that it will be possible to hold the Christmas services in the new church.

125 Years Ago: From the Dec. 8, 1899 Shakopee Tribune

At Nic Mechtel’s confectionery store you make your own prices this season. Going out of business and everything must be sold.

100 Years Ago: From the Dec. 12, 1924 Shakopee Argus

A huge snow plow made its first appearance this season, in town Wednesday morning. Four busses operated by the Boulevard Co. were stalled on highway No. 5, late Monday evening and were not released until the snow plow had cleared the way the following morning. It was a monstrous machine, being no more informed, about eight feet high and eighteen feet wide.

100 Years Ago: From the Dec. 11, 1924 Shakopee Tribune

Thermometer Drops 34 Degrees in Two Days

The weather man is now dishing out real old-fashioned Minnesota December weather as the thermometer dropped 34 degrees from Monday until Wednesday. According to the weather report furnished us by Strunk’s Drug Store, the thermometer registered 24 above last Monday and dropped to 10 below Wednesday. While this is quite severe weather for December 10th, it is not as cold as it was on the same date five and seven years ago, as on December 10, 1917, the thermometer registered 20 below and on the same date in 1919, 18 below…

75 Years Ago: From the Dec. 8, 1949 Shakopee Argus-Tribune

Miklethun Buys Anderson Garage

In a transaction completed here last Week, Lawrence Miklethun purchased the garage business formerly operated by James Anderson.

Miklethun, who now operates a Pontiac agency and garage, will continue the agency in his new location and expects to complete the move this month. He also contemplates extensive remodelling work for early spring.

Anderson, who has been the Buick agent here for several years, following his return from military service, said Tuesday that he had no plans for the immediate future.

75 Years Ago: From the Dec. 8, 1949 Shakopee Valley News

County Historical Society Organized

The Scott County Historical Society was revived Thursday evening, December 1st, 1949, in the Commissioner’s Room at the Court House in Shakopee, in a meeting that was called for that purpose through the efforts of Archer Grahn of the Minnesota State Historical Society. About twenty men and women were present…

50 Years Ago: From the Dec. 11, 1974 Shakopee Valley News

Program to prevent shoplifting

Members of the Shakopee Senior High’s Distributive Education Clubs of America presented a program on shoplifting to all the 4th, 5th and 6th graders at the public elementaries.

The presentation, part of S.T.E.M. – Shoplifting Takes Everybody’s Money, gave students facts on shoplifting. DECA members gave a sit on what happens to shoplifters and Shakopee police officers were also present to tell students what happens to those who are caught stealing…

25 Years Ago: From the Dec. 9, 1999 Shakopee Valley News

County maps out five-year, $28 million road plans

Although there are plenty of potential potholes yet to clear before the construction crews start their work, Scott County is considering $28 million in highway and bridge capital improvement projects (CIP) over the next five years.

But county officials concede the proposed improvements to a 350-mile transportation system aren’t nearly enough to keep up with needs of a county whose population growth has far exceeded expectations.

Of the 70 miles of county roads that are 50 years or older, 44 are not slated for improvements in the next five years. Of the 102 miles of roads that are 30 to 50 years old, 95 are not scheduled for work between 2000 and 2004.

Scott County Engineer Brad Larson said the reason is simple: Money…

Interested in local history? Find even more at the Shakopee Heritage Society website.