Dusting off the Archives
News from Verndale's Past
75 Years Ago, November 4, 1948
• At the Red River Valley Dairymen’s Association annual meeting in Bemidji on October 29 and 30, Melvin Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Smith of Verndale, placed first in the culture butter contest with a score of 96. Melvin is the operator of the Wadena Cooperative Creamery. Albert Lindor, brother of Elmer Lindor of Verndale and manager of the Wadena Co-op Creamery scored first in the sweet cream butter class with a score of 96.25.
• Verndale voted democrat with 170 for Truman and 61 for Dewey for president, and 170 for Humphrey and 107 for Ball for senator. Another general election is over, and a democratic president has been elected to lead the nation for the fifth consecutive term. It was the most exciting election in modern times, the election of Harry S. Truman and Alben W. Barkley not being confirmed until 10:15 Verndale time on Wednesday morning. And what was expected to be a very close race in the state, Mayor Humphrey unseated Republican Senator Ball by a large majority.
• Attorney George P. Wetzel of Little Falls has rented office space over the Marshall Wells Store and opened an office for the practice of law on Monday, November 1. Wetzel, a native of Little Falls, is a graduate of the University of Minnesota School of Law, having received his degree in March of this year. He is a veteran of 34 months of service with the Marine Corps, 20 months of which were spent in the South Pacific on Iwo Jima, and six months occupation duty in Japan.
40 Years Ago, November 2, 1983
• Donovan Cary of Bertha, past district governor of the Lions, who was in office when the Verndale Lioness Club was formed this past summer, presented a certification of organization to Ruth Anderson, Verndale chapter president during the certification night banquet held last Saturday at the River Inn in Aldrich. Witnessing the presentation were Lions and Lioness members from 20 area clubs from Cass Lake, Hewitt, Vergas, McGregor, New York Mills, Menahga, Staples, Dent, Sebeka, Frazee, Crosby, Wadena, Bertha, Baxter, Fergus Falls, Garrison, Battle Lake, Pine City, Underwood and Pelican Rapids.
• Arts and crafts of all kinds were available at the bazaar sponsored by the junior class last Saturday. Included were tree ornaments, stuffed toys and dolls, ceramics, needle work, woodcraft, baked goods and garden produce. Among the local exhibitors were Sue Madsen in her booth of fancy needlework, entitled “Ruffles and Flourishes”, Joan Davis and her two daughters, Debbie Erickson and Pam Schmidt, with their ceramics, Ruth Gronlund and Leona Gimmestad with Christmas decorations ranging from quilted tree skirts to stuffed snowmen and tree ornaments.
• This year there were many more age categories for the costume contest at the annual Halloween party, beginning with ages one and two up through adults. There were no entries until ages 3-4, and that was claimed by Lori Johnson, and two kindergarten entries with Jennifer Cypher placing first and Blayne Lehner second.
15 Years Ago, November 6, 2008
• Colby Schmidt completed a pass to Brady Siedschlaw for a 53-yard touchdown pass on third and eight to ignite the top-seeded Verndale Pirates to a 46-20 victory over the number three Eagle Valley Rebels in the Section 4 final Friday at the Fargodome. This win sends the Pirates to their second straight and 14th overall state tournament. They will be the top-ranked team in the tournament since top-ranked and five-time defending state champion Stephen-Argyle was upset by Kittson County Central 7-0 on Friday.
•Verndale Maintenance Supervisor Jim Bergquist gave the Verndale City Council a glimmer of hope concerning the holding pattern of its sewer project during the Monday, November 3, regular monthly council meeting. Bergquist said a local property owner has agreed to grant the city a utility easement for a proposed sewer pond site. The project, however, is now hinging on another property owner granting the city an easement.
• Clarence Horsager and the Verndale Historical Society want to move forward with the help of all individual and clubs to come up with a plan to make Verndale distinctive along Highway 10. A new committee has been formed. Suggestions so far are a huge 25’ shock of wheat, a large grist mill designed to be a chamber of commerce, something to incorporate the railroad, and some would like to see lights and a planter.