Dusting Off the Archives
News from Verndale's Past
75 Years Ago, May 10, 1945 • Superintendent C.R. Peterson has released statistics this week revealing the honor students of the 1945 Verndale High School graduating class. Commencement exercises for the class of 25 will be held in the high school auditorium on Thursday evening, May 31. Evelyn Miller, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Aurthur Miller is valedictorian of the 1945 class, and Marlys Doll, daughter of Mrs. Mary Doll of Aldrich, is salutatorian. • A wave of sadness was spread over this community again last week when word was received that another one of Verndale’s young men, Pfc. John W. Ash had been killed in battle, fighting for his country. Jack, as he was known to all, enlisted in July 1944, and received his training at Camp Fannin for 17 weeks. He went overseas from Camp Ord, California on January 22, 1945 and had been in combat against the Japs for weeks. He was serving in the infantry when he was killed on Bongao in the Philippines on April 15. • Mrs. William Pilgrim recently received the good news that her husband, William Pilgrim S2c, who is stationed at a Naval station at Astoria, Oregon, has been promoted to Coxswain 3c.
40 Years Ago, May 8, 1980 • Tom Yule, Lion’s Club president, handed the gavel to Grant Boe, who was installed into office last Thursday evening at an outdoor meeting of the group in McNair Park. Others also installed at the time were George Geray, first vice president; Richard Brown, second vice president; Les Davidson, third vice president; Jim Neuerburg, secretary; and Jarvis Hieb, treasurer. • The Concordia Theatre Company at Concordia College in Moorhead held its annual awards banquet on April 27. Receiving an award was Richard Ritari, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Ritari of Verndale. Richard received his award for “technical achievement in sound” for the creative use of sound in theater, during a performance held in January. Richard did the sound design as well as system installation and also acted as musical coordinator. • Joan Bergquist and Marcy Ostrom were flutists who returned home from the State Regional Competition with a superior rating for their duet.
15 Years Ago, May 12, 2005 • Last summer the city applied for a grant from the Minnesota Twins to help with improvements for Anderson Park. This grant money was used to replace the dugouts at the baseball park. Jim Bergquist started the idea to improve the baseball park back in 2003 and budgeted $5000. Jim asked a few residents on how best to use the funds and the idea of improving the ballpark snowballed. There was over $30,000 raised. There will be a park dedication ceremony on May 29 during the Bison baseball game versus Huntersville. A representative or former player of the Minnesota Twins is scheduled to attend the ceremony. • Nicki Bart was pitching for the Pirates with the action starting in the third inning, with one out, an error allowed the batter to make it to first. The third out was a grounder picked up by Sami Seaton and caught by Kelly Stave on first. • The 2005 Verndale Bison baseball team includes: Nathan Runyan, Tim Honek, Justin Kolling, M. Kern, Matt Callahan, Ryan Sundby, Brad Erckenbrack, Wyatt Carr, Jerry Kern, Mike Kircher, Steve Schmitz, Mitch Carr, Ryan Schmitz, Chuck Dick, Chris Bramer, Jeremy Schwartz and Trent Carr. The Bison started off the season with a 7-2 loss to Nimrod.