Chaska Historical Society
(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: May 1, 1969
“Charlene’s School of Dance,” under the direction of Charlene Lewandowski, is now taking registration for the opening of summer dance classes in Chaska. Forty-five minute classes of combined tap, ballet, jazz, character, and acrobatic dance will be offered in addition to combined baton twirling and tumbling for both girls and boys. Tots to teens, three years of age and older may register. Classes will be held Tuesdays only at the Chaska American Legion Club — starting June 17, admission will be $1.50 per student for each class.
From the Chaska Herald: May 2, 1912
Notice is hereby given that the practice of burning waste paper, etc., on the main streets of Chaska is hereby prohibited and offenders will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. This practice must be stopped, and at once. By order of the City Council — L. J. Weller, Chairman, Public Improvement Committee.
From the Chaska Herald: May 3, 1866
A daughter of J. W. Gregg of this place was kicked by a horse last Wednesday upon her head so as to render her insensible for awhile, and it was feared that she was seriously injured, but we learn that she is doing well and will probably be all right in a day or two.
From the Chaska Herald: May 4, 1916
Our rural route carriers had quite a time of it for a spell of several weeks, making their thirty mile trip every day with mud hub deep in places. The worst is over and the auto will now come in handy and give horse-flesh a needed rest.
From the Chaska Herald: May 5, 1904
Arrange to go to the Twin Cities on the first excursion of the season via the M&St.L. R.R. leaving Chaska at 8:38 A.M. on May 15. This is the best time of the year to visit the Twin Cities. The parks and lakes are most inviting and, besides the many other attractions, there will be baseball games in both cities between league teams. Round trip fare only $.65. Consult your local agent. Don’t miss this grand good time.
From the Chaska Herald: May 6, 1971
Chaska’s Walter Hecklin VFW Post 1791 Color Guard and Rifle Squad participated in the Annual Loyalty Day Parade Saturday, May 1, at the Second District VFW Convention in Fairmont. The local Color Guard and Rifle Squad was indeed the best of its class in competition. Members of the Walter Hecklin VFW Post Color Guard and Rifle Squad who participated in Saturday’s convention parade included Dan Schindler, Collins Rief, Elmer Deis, John Naymovitz, Stanley Peters, George Koehnen, Wilbert Walters, Francis Martinson, Roger Kohman, Norman Maass and Drill Sgt. Florian Savelkoul.
From the Chaska Herald: May 7, 1863
At the meeting held at the store of C. A. Warner on Wednesday evening last for the purpose of organizing a Cemetery Association, there were a number present who, after ventilating the subject, informally proposed the names of officers, but no regular election was held. The meeting is called again to meet on next Wednesday evening at the same place when the organization will be effected and steps immediately taken to place the grounds in a condition better fitted for the reception of the dead. We are informed that Messrs. Noble and Sassen, who own the right of way which leads to the burying grounds, have offered to deed twenty feet in width to the Association.
From the Chaska Herald: May 8, 1958
Glen Priebe, a former Chaska resident, has returned to his “home town” to open a radio and television service. Located in the Diedrick Building, the service will be operated on a full time basis — providing radio and television service to residents of this area.
From the Chaska Herald: May 9, 1895
The new priest in charge of the Catholic Parish as successor to the Rev. Father Casimir is named Father Guido. He is said to be versed in the English language and an excellent speaker, a fact that will be hailed with delight by our English speaking Catholics.
From the Chaska Herald: May 10, 1928
General Lew Wallace’s “Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ,” that was a stage spectacle for twenty-two years and as a book enjoyed a circulation as large as the Bible, will be seen for the first time as a picture in Chaska at the Rex Theatre next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. It comes after long runs and crowded houses in New York, Chicago, Boston and Philadelphia. It boasts a cast of 150,000.
From the Chaska Herald: May 11, 1876
We notice our Village authorities have at last come to the conclusion to fix up the Village Park, and at this time Chas. J. Sorenson is at work setting out 300 trees and otherwise improving the place. Charley says just wait until I am done and you will see a beautiful Park.
From the Chaska Herald: May 12, 1887
Mr. Leivermann, Brewer, is meeting with success in introducing his bottled beer. He disposed of a full load in this Village last Saturday. It is an excellent article and just the thing for family use.
From the Chaska Herald: May 13, 1943
Darkness covered the City of Chaska for a period of 40 minutes Friday night in the first “full-dress” black-out of the war in this area. Chief of the Air Raid Wardens, B. L. Fritz, was well pleased with the success and outcome of the black-out. He said the cooperation and operation of the entire set-up was one hundred percent, and that no one could have asked for a finer group to work with. Judging from the criticism in various papers about the black-out procedure in other cities, Chaska can indeed take a bow for the fine manner in which it was carried out in this city.
From the Chaska Herald: May 14, 1964
Guardian Angels Parochial High School will stage its First Annual Athletic Banquet in the school auditorium Saturday evening. Saturday’s event, opening with a family style roast turkey dinner at 6:30 p.m., will be highlighted by guest speaker Jack Horner, popular radio, television and newspaper sports personality, and presentation of awards. Appearing on the program will be Pastor Rev. Elred Domas, OFM, Athletic Director Rev. Ulric Landolt, OFM, and Coach Andy Regenscheid. Ray Tschimperle, Editor of the Chaska Herald, will emcee the program. Saturday’s Athletic Banquet is open to the public with advance tickets now on sale by GAH students. Admission will be $1.50 per person.
From the Chaska Herald: May 15, 1902
Chaska’s new organized baseball team, “The Advertisers,” will go to Belle Plaine Sunday to play the Tigers of that place. A number of Chaska people will also drive up.
From the Chaska Herald: May 16, 1985
The third annual District 112 Baseball Clinic, co-sponsored by the Chaska Park and Recreation Department, will be held June 17-20 and 24-27. All boys, grades 3 through 8 during the current school year are eligible. Grades 3 through 5 will meet from 8:45-10:15 and grades 6 through 8 will meet from 10:30-noon. Basic baseball fundamentals will be covered. Participants will receive Chaska Baseball Clinic T-shirts. Register as soon as possible, cost is $20. Instructors Dale Welter, Steve Born and Dennis Welter ask that participants be dressed in baseball gear and be ready to participate on the first day.
From the Chaska Herald: May 17, 1962
Voters of Independent School District 112 approved a $700,000 School Bond Issue in a special school district vote by a near 2-1 majority Tuesday. A total of 1,337 votes were cast – favoring the proposal 851-486. Tuesday’s action enables officials of Independent School District 112 to proceed with the sale of $700,000 in general obligation bonds for the construction, furnishing and equipping of a new elementary school, the acquisition of additional school sites in the district, and the construction and equipping of an Industrial Arts addition to the present school building at Chaska.
From the Chaska Herald: May 18, 1911
The White Diamonds will undoubtedly take on the fast Young America bunch here next Sunday and it will surely be some battle royal. Young America always has a good team in the field and can make any of ’em hump. Just now our boys are lacking in ginger, and seem too dead for good ball players. We have witnessed both games played by the local team this season and outside of Schlefsky, have found them to be nil as coachers and possessed of but little ginger. The rest of the bunch should follow the example of this boy Schlefsky and be up and at ’em all the time.
From the Chaska Herald: May 19, 1892
The brick work on the new Lutheran School building is completed, and the parish can now boast of as fine a private school building as can be found in the entire Minnesota Valley. The Oesterreich Bros. had charge of the work.
From the Chaska Herald: May 20, 1915
Under the law passed by the last Legislature, all dogs are now taxed at a uniform value of $15.00, which brings the tax on a dog pretty high. A person owning several canine pets will feel that he has a luxury on his hands. It may have the effect of lessening the number of curs now running wild on our streets.
From the Chaska Herald: May 21, 1936
If every housewife in Chaska had the courage of one mistress of a household, chances are there would be less petty thieving. Last week a transient came to the home of Clerk of Court O. L. Lundstrom. When he left he took with him a milk bottle containing a dollar bill which had been standing at the back door awaiting the milkman. A neighbor, Mrs. Wm. Schimelpfenig, saw the stranger pick something up and told Mrs. Lundstrom about it. Immediately she started trailing the man alone. She overtook him along the railroad tracks several blocks away. After making threats, she was successful in having the money returned. The “hobo” left town, probably with a different estimation of women.
From the Chaska Herald: May 22, 1924
The Chaska High School will graduate a class of nine on Thursday evening, May 29th, the exercises taking place at the Happ Auditorium. The class comprises the following: Hallie Rachel, Catherine Miller, Myrtle Sell, Philibert Weller, Paul Volkmann, Byron Cohen, Kalmer K. Klammer, Jr., Helen Degen, Elsa Holtz. The exercises will start promptly at eight o’clock and the public is cordially invited. The diplomas will be presented by Hon. C. H. Klein, President of the Board of Education.
From the Chaska Herald: May 23, 1929
Today marks the second annual Play Day in the local public school system. The afternoon’s program will be taken up with athletic events and field attractions for which the girls and boys of the high school have been divided into groups. The grade school children will play games for the amusement of the spectators. Games and contests will also be staged between classes of the high school.
From the Chaska Herald: May 24, 1923
The popular Schnitzelbank Club of this city has invitations out for a real Old Time Dance at their mammoth auditorium in Brinkhaus Park next Sunday evening, May 27. The Club has engaged the famous Fritsche’s Orchestra of New Ulm to furnish the musical program, and all the old time favorites — two-steps, waltzes, quadrilles, polkas, schottisches, etc., are on the program. The Club is out to make this the gala dance event of the season and it is hoped that the attendance will be the largest of the season.
From the Chaska Herald: May 25, 1967
Driver Education — both in the classroom and Behind-the-Wheel — will be offered locally as part of the summer education program conducted by Independent School District 112 (Chaska). The Driver’s Education Course will be free of charge to all students living in Independent School District 112. Adults must pay a $20 fee for Behind-the-Wheel training. All persons wanting to sign up for either driver training course, classroom or Behind-the-Wheel, may do so by calling the High School office. Classroom driver training will be offered Monday to Friday, June 12-June 30 at the High School from 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM. The Behind-the-Wheel training will be set up on an individual basis. Robert Asmus will conduct the classroom driver’s training and also give some Behind-the-Wheel training while assistants Robert Tadsen and Jerry Loader will concentrate on Behind-the-Wheel training.
From the Chaska Herald: May 26, 1927
If you want to see a real home-run hitter, who leans on his bat until the pitcher throws strike three, go to the Rex next Tuesday and Wednesday evening and see Wallace Beery in “Casey at the Bat.” Casey is a ball player and a rag peddler, and you will certainly laugh when you see him play ball. This picture is sponsored by the local baseball boys and should draw a large crowd.
From the Chaska Herald: May 27, 1965
Henry Yorek, caretaker of Chaska’s Municipal Dump, announced that summer dumping hours will be in effect starting Tuesday, June 1. Dumping hours will be from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM on Wednesday and Saturday.
From the Chaska Herald: May 28, 1896
Deubs has named the block in which he resides “Holland Block” as he says nearly every building is occupied by a native of Holland. We have no objection to the name providing they (the Hollanders) won’t overload with Limburger Kase?”
From the Chaska Herald: May 29, 1980
KTCA TV (Channel 2) will telecast a half hour special which looks at the students and coaches of high school debate. Called “High School Debate,” this special airs Friday, May 30, 6:00 PM and Sunday, June 1, 4:00 PM. The program is centered around this year’s Debate Championship which pitted Blake against Chaska High School. These two top teams debated this year’s national question — Resolved: The United States Should Significantly Change Its Foreign Trade Policies. The Championship Round took place last February at Coon Rapids High School. Included in the program will be a close-up look at Chaska High School’s state debate champions, John Kincannon and Mike Rothman.
From the Chaska Herald: May 30, 1946
It’s a news item in this day and age when someone is fortunate enough in being able to buy and realize delivery of a new car — therefore, we report that two local men, Paul T. Robinson of the American Crystal Sugar Company, and John Lano of the Lano Road Contracting Company, are driving new “51” Super Buick four-door sedans, delivered by the Dauwalter Buick Agency of Carver.
From the Chaska Herald: May 31, 1877
There are a lot of young grasshoppers about Chaska. Our town authorities should set all of our boys at work with the “Hopperdozer” machine and tar and exterminate the pests.
