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!)

Feb. 1, 1923

Our high school basketball team lost the crucial game of the season — that with the Shakopee High at the Opera House last Friday evening by the heartbreaking score of 13 to 14. Inability to get foul throws cost the locals the game. A big crowd was out and while we lost, the Chaska boys offered fine resistance and have nothing to feel ashamed of. They will now work all the harder to trim up the Scott County boys when they play the return game at Shakopee.

Feb. 2, 1865

The finest ice we ever saw was taken from the Minnesota this week by Christ Eder, who is packing it for summer use. The thickness was exactly two feet and solid blocks of that dimension were taken out, weighing from three to four hundred pounds.

Feb. 3, 1870

We understand that Waconia has nearly 1,000 names on their petition for the removal of the Court House from Chaska to Waconia and that Chaska has between 1,100 and 1,200 signers on the remonstrance against removal. Both papers are before the Legislature.

Feb. 4, 1937

The Herald yesterday completed arrangements for publication of a series of brief Lenten messages from the pens of local clergymen, a policy adopted last year. The series will begin next week and will continue through Lent, with alternating articles by the Reverend John Wollin of the Moravian Church, the Reverend Otto Kohn of St. John’s Lutheran Church, and the Reverend Symphorian Nothoff of Guardian Angels Catholic Church. Watch for “Lenten Sermonettes.”

Feb. 5, 1903

A Smith Premier Typewriter has been placed in the Auditor’s Office at the Court House recently, on trial. It is a handy addition indeed, and in short time the officials can be very proficient in its use.

Feb. 6, 1964

A family-style roast beef and homemade sausage dinner, sponsored by the Holy Name Society, will be held Sunday at Guardian Angels High School Auditorium. Serving will start at 11 a.m. and continue until 3 p.m. Admission will be $1.50 for adults and 75 cents for children.  Rev. Elred Domas, OFM, pastor of Guardian Angels Parish, announced that Sunday’s dinner menu will be highlighted by homemade pork sausage. “It’ll be a real treat. This dinner has gained popularity each year and I can see why,” remarked Father Elred.

Feb. 7, 1924

Two basketball games at the Happ Auditorium next Sunday afternoon. First game at 2 o’clock between the Chaska Peptinos and the Hook-Em-Cow Girls, and the big game between the Chaska A.L. and Hook-Em-Cows at 3 o’clock. See both games.

Feb. 7, 1952

Mary Lou Williams of Guardian Angels High School and Bob Stans of Chaska High School participated in the panel discussion, “How to Live with Your Parents,” during County Health Days held at Waconia on January 29th. Serving as a moderator of the panel, and doing a magnificent job, was Principal H. L. Morgan of Chaska High. Other members of the group were Pauline Haaskens of Central High School, John Steffen of Watertown, and Paul Melchert of Waconia. The 17-year-olds had an interesting and informative discussion on the subject that delighted the large crowd in attendance at the PTA meeting. Prior to the panel, Francis Gamelin, director of Preventive Mental Health, spoke on the subject, “Prevention of Student Problems.”

Feb. 8, 1877

The Sheriff takes this method of notifying all persons, old and young, from visiting or standing around the jail windows: All persons found loitering around the jail windows hereafter after evening will be arrested.

Feb. 9, 1933

The Rex Theater, haven of Chaska’s amusement seekers, generally brings to mind small numbers when it is thought of in that sense. For instance, three shows a week, two shows a night or ten and twenty-five cents for admission. But we have stumbled onto some bigger figures in connection with Manager H. A. Young’s place of business. To start with, there is 783. That is the number of shows run in one year. Jumping to 8,580,000, we have the number of feet of film shown in a year. 120,120,000 is the number of sprocket holes in the film shown in 12 months. There may be still more figures, but one hundred and twenty million should be enough to satisfy anyone.

Feb. 10, 1910

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, the commencement of the Lenten season, and the services at the Guardian Angels Catholic Church in the afternoon were well attended. The advent of Lent will put an end to all public dances and general hilarity.

Feb. 11, 1926

For the best time you ever had, attend the Old Tyme Dance at the Happ Auditorium, Chaska, Thursday, February 11th. Wilfahrt’s Concertina Orchestra plays; the bunch that everyone likes.  $3.00 first prize for best old-time waltz, and $2.00 for second prize. You are invited and so are your friends.

Feb. 12, 1970

Casey Jones, popular TV personality, will  make a guest appearance Saturday morning at Cooper’s Super Valu in Chaska. Casey will be at Cooper’s from 11 a.m. to Noon Saturday to visit youngsters and hand out free samples of Hostess bakery products.

Feb. 13, 1868

We last week spent a day and night in our neighboring village of Chaska, noted in the Valley for shipping large quantities of hoop-poles and cord wood, and having about the best lot of fellows on the American continent. We spent a delightful session with Fred DuToit (of the Herald), H. J. Peck (a lawyer by profession and a good fellow by instinct), Weego (who attends to auditing), and numberless other first-class gentlemen. We came away fully convinced that Chaska was a large town of its size, and is destined to grow in grace muchly if it can only keep adding to its list of citizens such men as now make that place their headquarters. – Spectator, Shakopee. Such is the impression a stranger has of Chaska, a fact which argues volumes in our favor.

Feb. 14, 1957

An eight-week spring course in Youth Firearm Safety will start this Friday evening at the Chaska Public School, according to an announcement early this week by local instructors. Registration will start at 7 p.m. Open to boys and girls, ages 10-16, the course is part of the Governor’s Safety Handling Program which will make it illegal for any minor under 16 years of age to hunt without a certificate showing whether he or she has passed the Gun Safety course. Local instructors include Rudy Siewert, Dollex Stans, Fred Savelkoul, Bob Stans and Delano Siewert.

Feb. 15, 1990

Students from Chaska Elementary — grades 3, 4 and 5 — and the Chaska Middle School students will be jumping rope for better health and benefit of the American Heart Association (Minnesota affiliate) on Saturday, March 10, at the Chaska Elementary School gym; Elementary students from 9-11 a.m., and the Middle School students from 1-3 p.m.  “Sponsored by the Chaska-Jonathan Jaycees, Jump Rope for Heart promotes the importance of cardiovascular fitness,” said Barry Galles, local vice president and Jump Rope for Heart coordinator.

Feb. 16, 1967

Golf instruction, a popular adult evening class at Chaska High School, will again be available this year with the first class slated Monday, February 27, at 7 p.m. Bill Pritchard, CHS golf coach, in announcing the start of golf classes, urged interested residents to call the school office to register.

Feb. 17, 1916

P. R. Schwie, the local piano man, has been enjoying quite a run of business since the first of the year. He recently sold and delivered a fine piano into the home of the Mike Trebiatowski family in the First Ward and a handsome player in the Arnold Lambrecht family.

Feb. 18, 1954

Chaska’s new curfew ordinance will go into effect tonight (Thursday) when a blast of the fire siren at 9:30 will give a half-hour warning that boys and girls under 16 must be off the streets and public grounds by 10 p.m. The only exceptions to the order are when minors are accompanied by parents, guardian, employer or person of legal age having them in charge.

Feb. 19, 1948

Tickets are now on sale for Chaska Night, which will be held at the Minneapolis Arena on the evening of March 10th featuring the hockey game between Minneapolis and the Tulsa Oilers.  Tickets may be purchased from the following committeemen: Al Vojtisek, Pat Halloran, Harold Gastler and Ray Hunziker.

Feb. 20, 1986

The 1986 World Exposition opens in Vancouver, British Columbia on May 2, and on June 9-10  plans are for about 69 band students from Chaska High School to be in attendance. According to Miriam Junker, band director at CHS, the band will be performing two times during their visit to the Exposition. Junker and her husband, Chad, the choral director at CHS, will accompany the students as will Mr. & Mrs. Chuck Achter and at least one set of parents. The cost of the Vancouver trip for each student will amount to around $500, Junker said.

Feb. 21, 1924

The biggest game of the present season will take place here next Sunday afternoon at the Happ Auditorium when Chaska and Hopkins clash in a return game. The big auditorium will be taxed to its utmost capacity and it will be well for you to come early. The locals will present the regular line-up with the two Schalows, the three Stans boys, and Zamjahn. A preliminary game will start promptly at 2 o’clock between the local Gophers and the Hopkins Eagles, and the big game is to start promptly at 3 o’clock. We are not in a position to give the name of the referee at this time but it will probably be Lawler or some outside fellow equally capable.

Feb. 22, 1900

Our streets were lined with teams from the country on Saturday. It reminded us of “old times” before the advent of the “Iron Horse” into our city. It was a great day for our merchants.

Feb. 23, 1893

The election in this city in March is to be conducted under the Australian system. The City Ticket is to be printed upon regulation paper of red color. The ballot for county commissioner is to be of blue paper, and two ballot boxes will be necessary, one for the City Ticket and the other for the County Commissioner ticket.

Feb. 24, 1938

Bloomington High School will send its Debate Team here tomorrow night, Thursday, to match wits with the Chaska High trio. The debate will take place in the school auditorium at eight o’clock. Bloomington will argue in favor of the proposition, “Resolved: That Minnesota Should Adopt a Unicameral System of Legislation.” Chaska’s debaters, Delroy Vanderhoef and David Cooper, will argue against the plan. Adults will pay fifteen cents and children ten for admission.

Feb. 25, 1982

The Rolling Gophers Wheelchair Basketball Team will stage a game against a group of “Chaska All-Stars” 2 p.m. Sunday, with proceeds to be used to send the Chaska High School Band to the 1982 World’s Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee. Matched up against the Wheelchair Gophers in a rolling basketball game will be a group of principals, teachers and coaches which includes:  Chuck Achter, Jim Hinck, Lowell McMillan, Dick Menzel, Len Takkunen, Bob Downs, Tom Duffy, Bruce Edwards, Dan Pelowski, Dale Welter and Tim Wyers. The game will be held at the high school gym. The event is sponsored by the Chaska High School Band and Band Boosters. Tickets will be on sale at the door.

Feb. 26, 1863

We were surprised the other day, upon looking out, to see a building of no small dimensions waddling along up street, propelled by something less than a fifty ox power. We haven’t any idea where it stopped, as the last we saw it disappeared over the top of the hill.

Feb. 27, 1958

Chaska’s Greyhound Bus Depot, located at the Crown Drug for the past ten years, was transferred to a new site early this week. Jack Pauly’s Bell Restaurant was awarded the new Greyhound site to enable the bus lines to provide customers with improved service. The new bus terminal site, located on Highway 212, will provide tickets, bus schedules and general information to Greyhound customers.

Feb. 28, 1946

The Chaska American Legion Post will again sponsor one of its stag Skat Parties at the Legion Hall on Thursday evening, February 28th. Skat and Sheephead will be featured throughout the evening.  However, as at past parties, those in attendance will be accorded the privilege of playing the game of their choice. To insure a large crowd, we might also mention that a tasty lunch will be served during the course of the evening.

Feb. 29, 1872

No new case of small pox has been reported in this locality within the past two weeks, and we can now safely say we are entirely free from the disease.