See all posts in the Chaska’s History Speaks series

(For your enjoyment, we present to you, from the archives of the Chaska Herald newspapers, the Herald Reports – now known as Chaska’s History Speaks!)

From the Chaska Herald: 

Oct. 1, 1868

Chaska Mill — This live institution is doing a “big business” at the present time.  It turns out day after day a round hundred barrels of the very best flour manufactured in the state.  New improvements were added last August which now renders this mill one of the most complete in every respect in the state.  Mr. J. S. Condit is still the business manager.

Oct. 2, 1930

The office of Dr. Charles E. Lauder is equipped with the latest type of dental machinery to be found.  Among the equipment which Dr. Lauder has is an X-Ray machine, new-type chair for patients, and all necessary electrical machinery.  All electrical devices are controlled from a central switchboard.  The chair is out of the ordinary in that it is raised or lowered by electricity.  Prior to his coming here, Dr. Lauder practiced in the Lake Harriet District and is a graduate of the State University.

Oct. 3, 1901

Makes assimilation perfect, healthy blood, firm muscles, strong nerves.   Quickens the brain, makes and keeps you well.  Great medicine.  Rocky Mountain Tea.  35 cents.  A. J. Maerz

Oct. 4, 1883

As the fall term of our District Court commences next Monday, we publish a list of our hotels and boarding houses for the benefit of jurors and witnesses in attendance on said term viz:  Chaska House; Merchants Hotel; Sargent House; Washington House; Brinkhaus Hotel; Mulkens House; Ochs House; Eden House; Maurus Hotel; Mrs. Byhoffer.

Oct. 4, 1917

Our young ladies, who went to the Carver Fair Friday and spent the day selling tags for the benefit of the local branch of the American Red Cross, are entitled to much credit for their enterprise and perseverance and we are glad to note that they succeeded admirably from a financial standpoint, clearing about $50.  A worthy undertaking is always entitled to success, and in this instance we are pleased to note that the success was so emphatic.

Oct. 5, 1933

A group of young people from the Moravian Church enjoyed a moonlight outing at the Carver Rapids on the Gehl Farm last Friday evening.  A delightful steak fry featured an evening filled with much fun and merriment around a camp fire.  Everyone reported a good time and expressed regret at leaving this popular picnic site which is well known to Chaska people for its natural charm.

Oct. 6, 1966

Chaska will participate in Operation Edith (statewide home exit fire drill) Wednesday as part of National Fire Prevention Week.  Wallace Ess, Chaska Fire Chief, announced that a signal at 8:00 P.M. Wednesday will sound and that every family in the city is urged to conduct an exit drill in their home at that time as if an actual fire was taking place.

Oct. 7, 1869

Fred Boleg was brought before Justice Iltis, Monday, and ordered to pay costs and give security to keep the peace against all mankind and especially against his frau, Mrs. Boleg.  Frederick said he would not pay a cent, would not give security for his good behavior but would willingly go to jail.  The last we saw Boleg he was looking through one of the diamond windows of the jail, meditating on terrestrial things. 

Oct. 8, 1903

The boys about town have a good one on Carl Sievert and Billy Arnst.  Last week Carl helped Billy to move into the residence which he recently purchased of Chas. Wencel, and in putting up the stove, ran the pipe into a blind chimney.  You can imagine the consternation created in that household on starting the fire.

Oct. 9, 1986

The Chaska Police Department has received a rash of complaints recently about people with guns on the trail between Shakopee and Chaska.  According to Greg Schol, Police Chief, the Department of Natural Resources has a policy that allows shooting and hunting along this trail.  Schol has contacted the DNR and asked that they change their policy, as many people who use the trails for biking, jogging and walking have expressed fear about being in those areas where people are shooting.

Oct. 10, 1869

Our village is crowded with pretty “schoolmarms” and male “pedagogues” this week.  Chaska extends them a hearty welcome, however.

Oct. 11, 1962

Chaska’s second annual Twins-Cubs Baseball Appreciation Banquet will be held Monday evening in the spacious Guardian Angels High School Auditorium.  Highlighting the second annual salute to Minnesota’s professional Twins and the local Chaska Cubs will be the appearance of colorful first baseman Vic Power, and pitcher Lee Stange, along with representatives of the Minnesota Twins and personnel of Chaska’s own baseball Cubs. Tickets, now on sale at local drug stores, taverns and from Chamber officials, will be $1.75 for adults, $1.25 for students, with the public cordially invited.

Oct. 12, 1939

Members of the Student Council of Chaska High School are completing plans for the Third Annual Alumni Homecoming, which is to be held on Friday of next week. The festivities will open Thursday evening with a Pepfest around a bonfire on the school grounds. Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock a parade will be held in the business district, after which the crowd will go to witness the Waconia-Chaska football classic.  During the game and between halves, the Waconia and Chaska school bands will entertain. The Homecoming will be wound up with a public dance in the school auditorium during which the Homecoming Queen will be crowned.  A 13-piece band will play.

Oct. 13, 1892

Two of our gay young men, August and Henry for short, made a pleasure trip to Excelsior a week ago last Sunday and on their return home were so busily discussing the incidents of the day, the pretty girls they saw, etc., when all of a sudden their meditations were cut short by a friendly “skunk” which furnished them with “perfume” enough to last them until the next visit.

Oct. 14, 1965

Golf caddies at the Hazeltine National Golf Course in Chaska were hosted Sunday, September 26, at their annual Caddy Party.  The event, staged by the members of the Hazeltine National Golf Course in appreciation of the job done by the caddies during the past season, included a buffet lunch, free prize drawings, and a Caddy Golf Tournament.  The Caddy Tournament, divided into flights by ages, was won by Jeff Kaufman, age 13 and under, with a score of 52; Dale Meuwissen and Chuck Rodriguez, age 14-15, with a score of 50; Greg Kelm, age 16 and over, with a score of 44; and Arvin Zwart, runnerup, with a score of 45.  Caddy Master Bill Prichard complimented the caddies for their behavior and dedication the past season and welcomed the boys back next year.

Oct. 14, 1982

The City of Chaska is seeking applications from citizens interested in serving on a Citizens Advisory Committee for the Council regarding Cable TV or on a board of a non-profit corporation which would be responsible for promoting and supervising the activities of the access programming related to the local cable television franchise.  All interested citizens should submit a letter to Bill Radio, City Administrator at City Hall, by Monday, Oct. 25.

Oct. 15, 1874

River Jake has taken the grading of streets in hand, and we may now rest assured that something will be done. A large force is at work on Second Street in front of the Herald office, and before Saturday night the ugly looking hill that has so long annoyed travelers will disappear. We are glad that the Village Board has placed the work in charge of Jake, whose energy and good judgment insures success.

Oct. 16, 1924

Hundreds of people were here Sunday, from all parts of the surrounding country and distant points, to make a tour of inspection of our Sugar Factory.  The sun came out bright and clear after a little shower and the day was ideal for touring, the first real summer day of the fall.  Competent guides had been provided and the visitors had ample opportunity to view the process of sugar making, from the raw beet to the finished product.

Oct. 17, 1957

A flu bug, an uninvited guest that ruined last weekend’s Homecoming at Chaska High School, was again playing havoc at the local school early this week and showing no favoritism to teachers or pupils. Superintendent Homer L. Morgan reported 35% of the high school enrollment missed classes on Monday or went home suffering from flu symptoms. The absentees rose Tuesday when 50% of the high school enrollment and five faculty members were reported absent, due to the flu. Students of high school age and adults seem to be hardest hit by the flu as very few absentees were reported in elementary grades.

Oct. 18, 1945

For the convenience of pheasant hunters, those of the Catholic faith, there will be a Hunters’ Mass at Guardian Angels Catholic Church here in Chaska on Sunday morning, Oct. 21st, at 4:00 A.M.  Permission was granted for the Hunters’ Mass by Archbishop Murray. The pheasant season opens at 12 noon on Oct. 20th.  Because the pheasant population has diminished considerably in this area during the past several years, most local hunters are planning trips to the western part of the state on Saturday afternoon or early Sunday morning.

Oct. 19, 1905

A great game of ball was played on the local grounds last Sunday, and the Leans won the game after ten innings of hard play, in which the ball was lost every two minutes. It was a hot game from start to finish. The Business Men’s Team has challenged the Cologne team for a game next Sunday.

Oct. 20, 1870

The large amount of cord wood upon our town side during the summer is rapidly disappearing.  Some four or five barges make weekly trips between here and St. Paul freighted with wood.  Over 7,000 cords have already been shipped.

Oct. 21, 1920

There will be a mass meeting in the Court Room in the City of Chaska on the afternoon of Tuesday, Oct. 26th at 2:30.  All ladies of the county are urged to attend this meeting in order to organize the League of Women Voters. There will be a speaker, one of the State workers, present at this meeting, who will explain the use of the ballot and instruction to vote intelligently.  The time of election, November 2nd, is not far distant and it behooves every woman in the county to be up and doing.

Oct. 22, 1987

Dale Welter and Betty Nikolai have both been named as amateur baseball people of the year by the United States Baseball Federation (USBF).  Chaska’s Welter (nominated as the Amateur Baseball Coach of the Year) and Nikolai (nominated as the Amateur Baseball Woman of the Year) were nominated for their outstanding contributions to amateur baseball. Winners in each category are first selected by a State Election Committee of the USBF and then forwarded to the National Awards Committee which selects the national winners at the USBF’s Annual Awards Banquet in January 1988.

Oct. 23, 1975

This week Chaska city officials received word from the Insurance Rating Bureau for the State of Minnesota that the fire classification for Chaska had improved one point from a Class 7 to a Class 6. This will allow residents in Chaska to have the lowest possible home insurance rates and reduce the cost of commercial insurance as well.  The improvement came after a review of the fire protection service provided for Chaska.

Oct. 24, 1935

The new season of the Guardian Angels Dramatic Club will be opened a week from Sunday, November 3rd, with a brand new three-act farce, “Adventure Bound.”  Members of the cast are hard at work on the uproariously funny new creation, published by the Walter H. Baker Company. The local presentation will be the first in the entire West, as it has just been released.  Included in the cast are Grace Hellriegel, Esther Halloran, Laura Ess, Magdalen Stans, Gladys Leiverman, Dr. L. A. Hartman, Milo Born, Bruno Wartmann, Norbert Brinkhaus, Adrian Born and James Faber.

Oct. 25, 1900

The opening of Leonard Ess’ new saloon last Saturday evening was a very successful affair.  Good music and a fine oyster lunch added much to the zest of the occasion. Leonard has the toniest place in town and with Alfred Nord as caterer, his place is bound to become a popular place of resort in odd hours when seeking recreation.

Oct. 26, 1893

Smut corn is plentiful this year and farmers should remember that it is poison to stock and has caused the death of many a fine animal.  The wise farmer when gathering his corn will also gather the smut.  This should be thrown into an extra box and later should be burned.

Oct. 27, 1921

The Annual Meeting of the Chaska Athletic Association will take place at the City Hall on Tuesday evening, November 1st, at 7:30 o’clock.  Every director is urgently requested to be present at this meeting as the Association will quit business that evening, and affairs must be finished up that evening.  The wrestling match has been called off and as far as the Association is concerned, there will be no basketball here this winter, or for that matter any other form of athletic contests.

Oct. 28, 1875

F. Delzing has completed a sidewalk in front of his Blacksmith Shop.  It is made of two inch pine plank and is eight feet wide. The people of Chaska will be under many obligations to the author of this much needed improvement.

Oct. 29, 1908

The attention of the public is herewith called to the fact that in connection with certain alterations and improvements to be made in the course of the fall to the grave yard generally known as the Moravian Cemetery, situated about half a mile north of the City of Chaska, the mounds of all graves not marked with a grave stone or otherwise will be leveled with the ground. Parties desiring the preservation of any unmarked graves will please notify the pastor or one of the officers of the congregation at once.

Oct. 30, 1969

Chaska’s City Council, in special session Monday evening, heard a preliminary on “Contract Policing” as offered by the Carver County Sheriff’s Office.  Sheriff Lester W. Melchert appeared before the Council, at the latter’s request, to comment on contract policing, staffing policy, procedures, financing, etc.  Contract Policing, instituted in Chanhassen, Waconia, Victoria and several other county municipalities in the past year, has been offered by the Sheriff’s Office to communities desiring the 24-hour police service.  If instituted in the City of Chaska, the City’s present three-member “full-time” police force would be absorbed into the Sheriff’s Police System which presently numbers seventeen full-time police officers.

Oct. 31, 1946

To create added interest in the Children’s Halloween Parade in Chaska on Thursday evening of this week, the Committee announces that a $10 extra prize, in addition to the Reynolds Fountain Pen, will be awarded to the person selected as winner of first prize. The parade is scheduled to begin at 7:00 o’clock and will pass through the business district.