Dusting Off the Archives
News from Verndale's Past
75 Years Ago, June 20, 1946
• Mr. and Mrs. Fred Lynch completed transactions last Friday for the purchase of the former Farmers and Merchants State Bank building from C.M. Hasting. For the past three years, the building has been occupied by Dr. Shuft’s dentist office and Ruth Beaver’s beauty parlor. The future plans of Dr. Schuft and Miss Beaver are unknown at this time. Mr. and Mrs. Lynch plan on moving into their building in the latter part of July.
• The Desrochers restaurant and Waterhouse Impl. Co. are the latest Verndale business places to be improved by a new coat of paint. The Waterhouse building’s exterior when finished will be white with blue trim.
• A letter from Sgt. Beth Ash: Dear Mother and Dad, I’m surely a physical wreck. I feel worse than after the last day of potato picking. The reason is, yesterday about a dozen of us went in a truck out to the China Hills. The road was so rough, it was like riding over a plowed field all the way. We went over 31 bridges, most of them just wide enough for the truck wheels and with half of the boards missing. I’ll bet there wasn’t 50 feet of smooth road the whole trip. I am glad I went, though, and we took lots of pictures, but I wouldn’t go again for all the rice in China.
40 Years Ago, June 18, 1981
• Tuesday was a big day with the electrical transmission sub-station being constructed just southwest of Verndale, by United Power Association of Elk River for Minnesota Power of Duluth which serves the city of Verndale. Two cranes, one 50 ton and the other a 35 ton, were used to raise a 10,000-pound steel tower from its flat position on the ground, and then the former took over to hoist it into position to bring it to the ultimate 77-foot height.
• Being recognized for outstanding floral arrangements and specimens is nothing new for Ruth Jenson, but with each honor comes equal pleasure and a reward for her efforts. Ruth was again surprised when awarded a championship ribbon for her specimen (branch from her snowball bush) which was one of the entries she submitted in the District 6 Garden Clubs Flower Show held in conjunction with the convention last week in Staples. Of the 12 entries she submitted, she came away with four blue ribbons, two reds and four whites, in addition to the champion ribbon.
• Very noticeable changes are taking place this week at the England Prairie Club site two and a half miles west of Verndale. Last week an area was cleared of trees and brush by Eddie Waln and Duane Moench who donated their labor and machinery. This week, after the area was leveled off, poles were set in readiness to support the 64x80 building which will serve as an exhibit hall.
15 Years Ago, June 22, 2006
• The youth group at the Verndale Alliance Church has been busy since this past November raising funds to send themselves to Reynosa, Mexico. Some of the fundraising events the students put their minds and bodies into were: garage sales, a chili feed, Easter breakfast, Slave Auction where students allowed others to bid on their labor, and a silent auction. The 16 students and five adults going on this trip will work in an impoverished area of Reynosa hosting a summer bible school program and spreading God’s word to the elementary children there.
• The eighth and ninth-grade group of Verndale Junior Olympic Volleyball players from Verndale placed first in the silver division at the Perham Tournament on June 4. Pictured were Jenny Hackler, Crystal Haskin, Jamie Kern, Christine Moenkedick, Ashley Richter, Heather Hejhal, Elizabeth Johnson, Amanda Dailey, and Coach Alicia Johnson.
• On Friday, June 9, the Verndale PEP Club took a field trip to the Little Falls Pine Grove Zoo. It was a wonderful trip, enjoyed by many of the program’s students. The students split into two groups while the first group enjoyed a guided tour of the animals, the other group was able to play on the newly remodeled playground area, and then the groups switched.