Shakopee Snapshots

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 Feb. 13, 1896 Scott County Argus

Shakopee’s bonded indebtedness has been reduced from $60,000 to $27,000. In another two years it will be time to talk up electric lights.

100 Years Ago: From the Feb. 17, 1921 Shakopee Tribune

Women’s Reformatory Presented With Flag

The State Reformatory For Women was presented with a very beautiful silk flag on Lincoln’s birthday, last Saturday by the Minnesota Department of the Ladies of the G. A. R. A delegation of the G. A. R. Ladies from the cities came out for the function and the presentation was made by Mrs. Mary S. Lawler, department patriotic instructor.

75 Years Ago: From the Feb. 14, 1946 Shakopee Argus-Tribune

School Burglarized Early Wednesday

At least $70 was stolen from the rifled safe in the superintendent’s office in the high school early Wednesday, Al N. Wurst, superintendent, disclosed.

Receipts from Tuesday night’s basketball games were included in the theft. The money was placed in the safe about 10 p.m. Tuesday and the last persons to leave the building are believed to have left after midnight. The burglary was discovered by Mr. Wurst when he entered his office at 8 a.m. Wednesday.

State crime bureau operatives, the Scott county sheriff’s office and the Shakopee police department are working on the case.

50 Years Ago: From the Feb. 17, 1971 Shakopee Valley News

Decision nears on Architect Choice

For County Office Building…

Members of the county building committee have been screening architectural firms for the past month and will be ready to recommend two of the firms to the County Board of Commissioners next week.

County Commissioner Vern Lang, who acts as the board’s liaison to the building committee, told other commissioners Tuesday morning that the final two firms would be screened by the committee Wednesday evening, Feb. 17…

The proposed building if approved by voters would be constructed on land purchased by the commissioners along the southern border of Shakopee and east of County Road 17.

It is likely, in line with current thinking that such a building would not house the courts and related activities, which would stay at the present site…

25 Years Ago: From the Feb. 15, 1996 Shakopee Valley News

EDA gets face lift; CDC dissolved

The Shakopee Economic Development Authority (EDA) will soon be “weaned” from the City Council and Tuesday night meetings.

By unanimous vote, the City Council last week moved to restructure the seven-member EDA, a body which has tax-levy power and primarily oversees the city’s tax-increment financing districts. The EDA is also in charge of redevelopment of Blocks 3 and 4 in downtown Shakopee.

Major development and redevelopment plans and issuance of bonds by the EDA must be approved by the City Council.

The current EDA is comprised of the four city councilors, the mayor and two members from the five-member Community Development Commission (CDC). There was consensus among councilors that a broader community representation in the EDA was desirable.

The council action leaves only two council members on the EDA, with the other five members coming from the current CDC. In a separate motion, the council eliminated the CDC. Members of the EDA, who are appointed by the mayor, will serve six-year terms…

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 Feb. 6, 1896 Scott County Argus

The event of the season was the Calcio Ball given by the thriving Degree of Honor Lodge last Friday evening. Perfect weather, excellent music and prompting, a dance floor in prime condition, and a thoroughly congenial crowd of dancers made the hours from nine until four slip by all too rapidly. The affair was a grand social success, and reflects much credit upon the various committees in charge.

100 Years Ago: From the Feb. 10, 1921 Shakopee Tribune

We learn with regret that the Shakopee Laundry will close down after this week as the patronage has not been sufficient to make the venture a success. It is too bad that a home institution of this kind is not supported on a scale to make it successful. The laundry has been doing good work and the families who have been getting their work done thee have been well satisfied.

75 Years Ago: From the Feb. 7, 1946 Shakopee Argus-Tribune

Nine Communities To Join In Scout Ceremony Here

As a part of the nation wide observance of Boy Scout week Feb. 8 to 14 and this year marking the 36^th anniversary of the movement in America, nine troops of the Lake District of the Minneapolis Area council will join in starting a public court of honor and memorial service in the high school auditorium here at 3 o’clock Sunday afternoon…

50 Years Ago: From the Feb. 10, 1971 Shakopee Valley News

School Board Approves Staff for Another Elementary School

Shakopee Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robert Mayer was authorized by the board of education to hire six elementary classroom teachers, a physical education teacher, a music teacher, three para professionals, a principal and a secretary Monday night.

The approval on the part of the board amounts to the establishment of a third elementary school in Shakopee, but there is still a question about where it will be located. The cost estimate of hiring the additional personnel was given at $87,000 per year. Six of the 13 classrooms needed will be located in the Junior High School building, as at the present, but where the remaining seven will be is still undetermined. Shakopee Senior High School has been used to house some elementary classes in the past, a situation which has caused complaints on the part of some of the senior high school students…

25 Years Ago: From the Feb. 8, 1996 Shakopee Valley News

County government is about to enter another dimension

…County commissioners last week gave staff an informal go-ahead to bring the county on-line.

Cyberspace – as the quasi-dimension of computer interaction has come to be called – is a subject rile with jargon. In a presentation designed to chop through the backwoods, commissioners were given an explanation and demonstration of on-line capabilities by Keith Hegg, the county’s director of computer systems.

Hegg proposed building a county “homepage,” which would link certain components of the county’s computer network to the Internet. The homepage would serve as a directory of county offerings and information for Internet users…

A homepage for Scott County would allow the public to electronically peruse such county items as meeting agendas, code and permit information, personnel directories and job postings. Eventually, applications for county services might become available via electronic mail, often called e-mail…

On-line implementation will be done in three phases – design, installation and maintenance, Hegg said. He estimated the usual, one-time cost to be $12,500. The bulk of that is from two expenditures: $5,000 for the initial design of the system, which will likely be done by Barr Engineering. Another $4,800 is slated for software that would protect the county’s private and confidential files from computer hackers. Security software can cost up to $14,000, Hegg said…

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 Jan. 30, 1896 Scott County Argus

James Kohler is honing his way into the mysteries of the barber’s art in the Central Barber Shop.

100 Years Ago: From the Feb. 3, 1921 Shakopee Tribune

With the approach of the municipal election in Shakopee the coming spring we hear persistent rumors of a “Women’s Ticket” to be placed in the field. How much basis exists for the rumor we do not know. The story is that the ladies will have a candidate for mayor and one for alderman in each ward.

75 Years Ago: From the Jan. 31, 1946 Shakopee Argus-Tribune

Commercial Club To Meet

County Fair, Baseball to Be Topics at Supper Session at Riviera

The possibility of reviving the traditional Scott county fair and the promoting of a municipal baseball team are on the list of topics scheduled for discussion at the supper meeting of the Shakopee Commercial club at the Riviera Wednesday evening, officers announced.

A committee appointed to consider the fair proposition is to make its report at the meeting and a general discussion is expected to follow. Men interested in amateur baseball will lead the discussion on that topic with a view to having the city represented in league play…

50 Years Ago: From the Feb. 3, 1971 Shakopee Valley News

State Approves of Truck Parking Ban

A request by the City Council asking that truck parking restrictions be imposed on First Avenue in Shakopee has been given favorable response by the State Highway Department.

In a letter to the Council, Highway Department officials indicate they were in favor of the city’s overall objective, but asked for more detailed information on types of trucks referred to, and times of restriction.

The parking ban would be applied to all semi-trailer and over-the-road-type trucks which the city contend block vision and obstruct driving lanes when parked along First Avenue.

25 Years Ago: From the Feb. 1, 1996 Shakopee Valley News

City Recreation Center opens Monday

The Shakopee Community Recreation Center opens all its doors to the public on Monday.

The facility’s ice rink opened Dec. 1, with construction – which began last spring – continuing throughout the rest of the building since that time.

The $5.5 million Recreation Center is located on 30 acres off of Fuller Street, just south of the Shakopee High School.

Besides the ice rink, the 68,000-square-foot center is home to a gymnasium, wrestling room, gymnastics room, walking track, public access cable television studio, concession stand, meeting rooms, a Family Net intake center and locker rooms. A planned fitness center will not be ready for the grand opening, but it will eventually offer aerobic and weight equipment.

The Recreation Center also has a spacious lounge near its front entry for reading or conversation. The lounge features a fireplace and abundant window lighting…

A three-day grand opening is planned for Feb. 15-17, according to Assistant City Administrator Barry Stock. Admission will be free those days… The city’s Recreation Department staff moved to the building last week, Stock said. About a dozen part-time people have been hired for the center’s various operations, he said…

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 Jan. 23, 1896 Scott County Argus

Diphtheria is reported at the Gaulmeyer house near the old brick yard.

100 Years Ago: From the Jan. 27, 1921 Shakopee Tribune

Wednesday, February 2nd, the State Reformatory for Women will celebrate its first anniversary. On that day, at 2:00 p.m., two one act plays will be given there by the women. All the women of Shakopee who are interested in the work of the institution are invited to attend.

75 Years Ago: From the Jan. 24, 1946 Shakopee Argus-Tribune

School Board Gets Detailed Report of NYA Project Fund

As part of the business at its January meeting the board of education studied the financial report of the NYA revolving fund submitted by Superintendent Al N. Wurst.

The report, based on a recently completed audit by state examiners, revealed that $127,124.87 in receipts and $122,148.84 in disbursements has been recorded in the activity since establishment of the NYA revolving fund July 1, 1941 to Dec. 31, 1945.

A breakdown of the disbursements shows that 64.95% or $79,231.25 was paid in salaries and that of that amount $39,029.59 was paid to the residents of the Shakopee community…

50 Years Ago: From the Jan. 27, 1971 Shakopee Valley News

Snowmobiles Are Banned at Schools

Snowmobiles were banned from operation on public school property in Shakopee by action of the Shakopee School Board Monday night.

The decision to outlaw use of the machines came after School Superintendent Dr. Robert Mayer advised the board that the schools’ insurance carrier had told him liability on the part of the schools existed if the board approved the activity and that insurance to cover snowmobile activity would cost an estimated $500 annually.

Until last week, the board had never given total approval for use of the machines on school property, but at its last meeting, adopted a list of guidelines for snowmobile operation, which in effect, amounted to such approval. Until that time, the board had simply not forbidden use of school property to snowmobilers…

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

Board rejects downsizing of Co. Rd. 18

By a 4-1 vote Tuesday Scott County commissioners formally slammed the door on Shakopee’s quest for downsizing the proposed County Road 18 reconstruction project.

Unless the city opts to abrogate its cooperative agreement with the county, the project will move forward as planned.

The Shakopee City Council has discussed the road project several times this month, initially considering recission of a 1994 cooperative agreement for road construction between the city and county.

Plans call for County Road 18 to connect to the new Bloomington Ferry Bridge, creating a direct route to County Road 42. The project, which originally was slated for completion last year, has been held up by legal …. by landowners along County Road 18… As has happened during each previous discussion of County Road 18 projected – and arguable – traffic counts loomed prominently in the debate…

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 Jan. 16, 1896 Scott County Argus

Anton Gentgen wishes to announce that he will continue the business of the Central Barber Shop and endeavor to settle all outstanding accounts to this and he asks for a continued generous patronage from the public.

100 Years Ago: From the Jan. 20, 1921 Shakopee Tribune

Miss Millie Mallgren, principal of the high school, spent the week end at her home at St. Peter and following the basket ball game Friday night she entertained the team and those who accompanied them from Shakopee at a lunch and social party at the home of her parents. The young folks acclaim Miss Mallgren and her folks as splendid entertainers.

75 Years Ago: From the Jan. 17, 1946 Shakopee Argus-Tribune

Christmas Seal Sale Here Brings $456

A total of $456 was raised by the sale of Christmas seals to Shakopee the Minnesota Public Health Association revealed this week in a report to Mrs. N. L. Regan, local seal sale chairman.

Funds raised by the sale of seals are used in combating tuberculosis and in promoting public health activities in the schools.

50 Years Ago: From the Jan. 20, 1971 Shakopee Valley News

Log Smokehouse Added to Complex

A log smokehouse has been added to the Berger Farm complex at the Minnesota Valley Restoration Project in Shakopee. The smokehouse was obtained from the Lee Goetz property near Waconia.

Bill Timmons, New Prague and his son, Marty Timmons, Shakopee, donated the labor required to move the building to the Scott County Historical Society’s restoration site. Equipment for the move was donated by Asheford Construction Company of Savage.

Eventually the Berger Farm complex will include about six farm buildings and will depict life in the 1850’s. Most of the buildings, all made of logs, were part of farmsteads near Blakely, all belonging to descendants of German immigrant Peter Berger.

A chicken house, granary and cow barn are yet to be added to the complex, which now contains a log home and a double hay barn besides the smokehouse.

25 Years Ago: From the Jan. 18, 1996 Shakopee Valley News

Coalition formed to promote area

The Convention & Visitors Bureau in three cities – Shakopee, Burnsville and Eagan – have formed a collation to promote the communities, hospitality businesses and attractions south of the Minnesota River.

The campaign will be called BEST, which combines the first letter from each word in their slogan – “Burnsville, Eagan, Shakopee Together.” The goal is to attract travelers and tourists to sites in the area, including Valleyfair, Burnsville Shopping Center, Mystic Lake Casino, Canterbury Park, Diamond T Ranch, Historic Murphy’s Landing, Buck Hill Ski Area, Minnesota Renaissance Festival and the Minnesota Zoo.

More than 200 restaurants and 19 hotels and motels with over 2,000 rooms are located in the BEST area.

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 Jan. 9, 1896 Scott County Argus

Wm. Eschman removed last Tuesday to St. Paul, where he has secured a position as engineer in the Washburne building. Mr. Eschman has been engaged for a number of years in the Jacob Ries Bottling Works of this city, and his good qualities have become so generally known, that news of his advancement will be heard with pleasure by all.

100 Years Ago: From the Jan. 13, 1921 Shakopee Tribune

There is a fast growing spirit of resentment among the citizens of Shakopee against conditions in the city and the Tribune has heard some strong condemnation the past week of the way in which laws are being violated here particularly in regard to “moonshine” and it looks to us like a revolt is brewing against present conditions.

75 Years Ago: From the Jan. 10, 1946 Shakopee Argus-Tribune

Bloss Variety Store Sold to Mrs. Jos. Bisek

In a transaction completed last Wednesday Mr. and Mrs. H. D. Bloss sold their variety store to Mrs. Joseph Bisek.

The new owner has taken possession of the business and will be assisted by Miss Mildred Lauer. Mr. and Mrs. Bloss who have operated the store the past 10 years, plan to remain in Shakopee and will take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy a well-deserved vacation.

50 Years Ago: From the Jan. 13, 1971 Shakopee Valley News

Proposed Shakopee City Charter Revision Seen As “Vital”

Dr. Bror F. Pearson, chairman of the Shakopee Charter Commission, described the adoption of the revised charter as a vital move for the city, “not only for right now, but for the future.”

But the proposed charter changes, as approved unanimously by the Shakopee Common Council at its last meeting, have a long way to go and some observers predict some stringent opposition.

Police Chief R. G. Thielen has already voiced opposition to the abolition of a Police Civil Service Commission, to be replaced by a merit board.

Dr. Pearson, however, said that he thinks that opposition will be negligible when people understand what the charter revision will accomplish. Dr. Pearson said Shakopee’s urban location is an important consideration…

He said there is undue concern over the word “manager,” the title of the man who would be charged with carrying out council policy. “He could be called an administrator as well,” Dr. Pearson said…

The proposed charter, as approved by the Council, will be sent to the Minnesota Legislature for enactment into a special law which will be voted upon by voters in Shakopee before it would become effective…

The proposed new charter provides for the election and salary of the mayor and other council members, for a city manager and establishes his duties, for certain budgetary matters, for the conduct of certain municipal affairs, and other matters.

The city would be divided into wards and the common council would have power to divide wards into precincts. Wards would have as equal number voters as possible. When one ward had 20 or more per cent more than any other ward, boundary lines could be changed to normalize the situation…

25 Years Ago: From the Jan. 11, 1996 Shakopee Valley News

Canterbury proposes card clubs for track

Canterbury Park is proposing to add a card club at the Shakopee horse track that would feature … of poker, similar to card clubs that operate in conjunction with races at some tracks in California. The proposal, which track officials say will boost revenues, attendance and wagering on horse racing, will require passage of a bill in the state Legislature that the track wants to introduce this year…

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 Jan. 2, 1896 Scott County Argus

Two more cases of diphtheria developed in W. F. Witt’s family this week, and now but one out of eight children has escaped an attack. Two have recovered, and four are now suffering with the disease.

100 Years Ago: From the Jan. 6, 1921 Shakopee Tribune

The Masons have moved into their new quarters in the Busse building at First street and their first meeting there will be held next Wednesday evening, January 12^th. The hall will be dedicated and degree work will be done. The following evening the Eastern Star will hold their installation of officers.

75 Years Ago: From the Jan. 3, 1946 Shakopee Argus-Tribune

Commerce Club Names Officers

J. A. Metcalf Elected President. Membership Booster Now 104

After listening to the report of its 10-man nominating committee headed by Roman J. Kopp, the Shakopee Commercial club elected its permanent officers at a meeting here Wednesday night.

J. A. Metcalf was named president, W. F. Duffy vice president and W. J. Mohrbacher, secretary-treasurer. Members of the board of directors are J. A. Coller and Ray Siebenaler for one-year terms, and J. J. Cavanaugh and Donald Ries for two-year terms.

The report of the membership committee revealed that 104 men had joined the organization and paid their membership dues.

50 Years Ago: From the Jan. 6, 1971 Shakopee Valley News

Pearson Elementary Design To Be Displayed Nationally

The Pearson Elementary School building will be displayed at two national conventions during the coming months, Dr. Robert Mayer, superintendent of Shakopee School District 720 informed members of the school board Monday night.

The building was chosen to be displayed at the National School Board Association Convention at Philadelphia, Pa., in April and at the National Superintendent’s Association Convention at Atlantic City, N.J., in February.

Presenting the displays are the school’s architects who had the school photographed, and entered the photos and floor plans for consideration to a panel of architects.

Pearson will be one of several hundred schools across the nation displayed and will be in competition for one of the 24 awards presented. Thousands of buildings were submitted to the judging panel…

25 Years Ago: From the Jan. 4, 1996 Shakopee Valley News

Board gets highway project update

Scott County Transportation Coalition Chair Bill Koniarski last week updated the Scott County Board on the last of the coalition’s project goals, the Shakopee Bypass.

The earth-moving is primarily done for the bypass, which runs south of Shakopee and connects the new Bloomington Ferry Bridge with Highway 169 in Jackson Township, Koniarski said. Bids for surfacing the road will probably be let in April, with the road probably opening in November 1996.

The section of County Road 18 north of the Bloomington Ferry Bridge to Interstate Highway 494 is expected to be completed by the end of 1996.

The Shakopee Bypass, bridge and County Road 18 in Hennepin County will be turned over to the Minnesota Department of Transportation in 1996. That stretch of road will become Highway 169.

State Highway 101 will be turned over to Scott, Carver and Hennepin counties after the Shakopee Bypass has been completed. Scott County will take ownership of the portion of Highway 101 that lies between the new Ferry Bridge and the northern city limits of Shakopee where Highway 101 enters Chanhassen. The portion of Highway 101 east of the Ferry Bridge to Highway 13 will simply become part of the bridge interchange and lose any highway nomenclature. In addition, Scott County will become owner of the portion of current Highway 169 from the Shakopee city limits to the Shakopee Bypass in Jackson Township. This portion of road will become County Road 69…