By the 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!
October 1, 1885
Our City Council should be strongly lectured for allowing “gambling devices” on our streets on Fair Day. Also “Hawkers.” The class of gamblers on the streets that day were as bad a set as usually travel with the Circus.
October 2, 1924
The Junior Circle of the local Lutheran Church is conducting a food sale next Saturday afternoon, in the building next to the Carver County State Bank. A toothsome array of the justly famous Carver County cakes and Kuchen, and bread and doughnuts, and buns, and pies, and Blitzentorte, and cookies, and home-made candies will be there to tease your appetite. The proceeds go towards the funds these young ladies are raising for the new church. The sale begins at two o’clock. All the ladies and young girls of the congregation are invited to bring things for this sale.
October 3, 1872
Very little has thus far been said upon the subject of the removal of the county seat from Chaska to Benton. This important matter will, under the provisions of a new law passed by the last Legislature, come before the voters of this county at the next election for their consideration and action.
October 4, 1990
In the fall of 1985, Jackie Pflug was flying from Athens to Cairo. The hijacking of that flight resulted in 59 passengers’ deaths. Pflug was shot in the head execution style and left for dead on the airport runway in Malta. Hear her incredible story at Shepherd of the Hill Presbyterian Church, 145 Engler Blvd., Chaska, on Oct. 7, 7 P.M. A nursery will be provided. There will be a free will offering.
October 5, 1967
A certificate from the President’s Council on Youth Opportunity was awarded in grateful recognition to Mr. and Mrs. Luby Lubansky of the Valley A&W Drive-In, Inc. whose participation in the 1967 Youth Opportunity Program advanced the welfare of the nation by helping young Americans help themselves. The award certificate was signed, Lyndon B. Johnson, president of the United States, and Hubert H. Humphrey, vice president of the United States.
October 6, 1938
The Herald has inaugurated a new service for people of the community. Each day timely pictures of world events are presented in an illuminated display stand. Up until now it has been in the Herald window. Hereafter it will be placed in various business houses along the street and will be illuminated at night. Pictures shown are those concerning the main news events of the day. Each day they change. You will find it interesting to watch them.
October 7, 1897
A matched horse race for a purse of $50 is to take place on the Chaska track Saturday, Oct. 9th at 2:30 P.M. between the running horse “Dick” owned by Coetze of Carver, and “Millie M” owned by Murphy of Norwood. A most interesting race is expected as the horses are pretty evenly matched and the owners are in it to win.
October 8, 1942
A special collection was taken up at the three masses at Guardian Angels Church Sunday morning, which will be used to buy Christmas gifts for the 56 members of the congregation who are serving their country in the Armed Forces. The gifts have not been definitely decided upon, but probably will be boxes of candy. This movement is being sponsored by the officers of the various societies of the church. Gifts will be sent out in a very short time to those boys who are on foreign soil so that they may have them by Christmas time.
October 9, 1913
Grocer A. F. Young last week installed a Bowser “Red Sentry” gasoline filling station, the second of its kind in town. These stations are the popular thing among motor car owners as they are very convenient and the product from these stations is thoroughly filtered, free from dirt and water.
October 10, 1935
First steps toward settlement of a long discussed question were taken Monday night when a committee of city officers was named to investigate possibilities of converting the Park School Building into a City Hall. Mayor W. A. Kroonblawd, C. A. Lubansky, Council President, and G. J. Lano, Alderman, were placed on the body which is to contact the School Board for a proposition on the old school building, which has often been suggested as a City Hall since its abandonment a couple years ago. For the past couple months much discussion concerning the old City Hall has been going on with both plans to erect a new one and the Park School remodeling advanced.
October 11, 1917
Rumor has it that the Stege estate, owners of the Rex Theatre Building, have about decided to grant Manager Themer’s request and add about twenty feet to the rear of the building, which should give the cozy little theatre the right seating capacity for Sunday and feature nights. During the week, with the exception of Wednesdays, the house seems to be large enough for present needs, but for the first night show of Sunday many are obliged to stand and others to occupy seats down front of the curtain where it is hard to see the picture right and enjoy it. The town isn’t getting any smaller and we believe in time the added capacity of The Rex will be just what is needed.
October 12, 1911
WARNING! — The party who took my Minnesota State Fair 2nd Premium Ribbon at the Carver County Fair, and who is well known to me, is given a reasonable time in which to return the same to me. Otherwise, if not forthcoming as requested, his name will be published in the local papers. — Milton A. Schmidt, Chaska.
October 13, 1966
Hazeltine National Golf Course at Chaska hosted its Caddies Sunday at the golf club’s annual Caddy Party. Feature events included a Caddy Tournament, a buffet luncheon and prize drawings. William Pritchard, Caddy Master, announced that $1,100 in merchandise prizes were awarded the caddies. Highlighting the prize awards was a set of woods won by Steve Diethelm, Chaska, and a set of irons won by Don Andrus of Chanhassen. Tim Arneson, Chaska, won the Golf Tourney for boys age 16 and older, with a score of 45 for 9 holes. Runner-up was Dale Arlt with a 47. Bob Ohnsorg, Chaska, shot a 47 in the age 14-15 bracket, with Joe Burkhart finishing second with a 48. The Caddy Tournament for boys age 13 and under ended in a tie between Dave Johnson and Greg Lano — both with 51s. Runner up was Jack Schug with a 53.
October 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.
October 15, 1959
Chaska High School will be one of 30 area bands to participate in Homecoming festivities at Mankato State College, Mankato, Saturday. Ken Leander, CHS Band instructor, announced early this week that the local high school band will appear in the 12:30 P.M. parade and also participate in the half-time ceremonies at the Homecoming football game. Radio station KYSM (1230 on the dial) will broadcast a description of the parade starting at 12:45 P.M.
October 16, 1862
Why don’t someone break a leg, commit suicide, steal a horse, fire a building, get married, scuttle a boat, get on a bender, go to see your sweet-heart, take too many liberties and get kicked out by the old man, or do something either pleasant or desperate, so as to give us a local? This reminds us that we would be very thankful to any person handing in a minute of all occurrences of local interest that may come under their observation. By this means we will be able to inform an inquiring world as to our where-abouts and what-are-you-abouts. This invitation is also extended to the ladies of our town and vicinity, and we hope to very soon hear from some of them.
October 17, 1889
Members of the School Board are pleased to see the progress being made in our public school this year, and hope that it may continue until Chaska has a high school.
October 18, 1900
The Herald, while supporting the Democratic nominees on the county ticket and commending them to the voters, will not be drawn into a campaign of abuse of the Republican candidates. This is a free country and everybody is at liberty to vote as he pleases. We are not in the “bulldozing” line.
October 19, 1893
Owing to the large attendance and crowded condition of the Primary Department of our Public School, our School Board has resolved to create a class in kindergarten, and have employed an experienced teacher in that line from Mankato. We hope, however, that the Board will bear in mind the fact that this is “hard times,” and draw as lightly as possible upon our taxpayers, who will have to foot the bill for additional expenses incurred.
October 20, 1955
Fezz Fritsche and his famous Goosetown Band will play for the annual Chaska Drum & Bugle Corps Benefit Dance on Friday evening at the Valley Ballroom, Chaska. Still one of Minnesota’s — and the nation’s — favorite old-time musical groups, Fezz Fritsche’s organization will provide music and entertainment that is sure to please everyone in attendance at this big fall attraction. Tickets for the dance are on sale by members of the Drum & Bugle Corps and will also be sold at the Box Office of the Valley Ballroom tomorrow evening.
October 21, 1937
The old belief that beet sugar is unsuitable for use in the manufacture of confections and beverages has been given a lusty blow through experiments carried on in the laboratory of the Chaska Sugar plant. Chemists here have found through tests on sulphides being manufactured here meets and surpasses requirements of the Canners’ Standard Test and that it tests better than cane sugar. Ninety-five percent of the 1937 production here is “A” type sugar, the finest produced at any of the American Crystal Sugar Company’s plants.
October 22, 1896
Johnson’s Magnetic Oil is the greatest internal remedy for cramps, colic, and all internal aches and pains for man or beast. Large bottles, 25 and 50 cents. For sale by A. J. Maerz.
October 23, 1986
The Chaska Historical Society will hold its Annual Meeting Wednesday, October 29, at 7 P.M. in the Community Room of Talheim, 407 Oak Street North, Chaska. A program and business meeting will be held. The program will include a presentation by Jan Koopman, followed by Society discussion. Koopman will design and oversee the Heritage Quilt project. She will be aided by Society members and other interested volunteers. The planned Heritage Quilt, depicting historical and important aspects of Chaska, will be handcrafted and hung in the new Chaska City Hall. Quilters and those eager to learn are encouraged to participate. For more information or to sign up, call the Chamber office.
October 24, 1929
Politics is the finest piece of sentiment in human affairs, and the worst roguery. Every politician is too great a friend of humanity when a candidate, and too great an enemy when elected, in attempts to carry out promises he knew in the first place were ridiculous. This is in the very nature of things, and there is no remedy except endeavor to improve the intelligence of voters. With voters as they are, there is no other way for politicians to operate than as they do.
October 25, 1945
Early returns in Chaska indicate that the present USO Drive will not attain its quota, unless citizens contribute more generously in the last minutes of the campaign. Some folks feel because the war is over that their patriotic obligations have been fulfilled. They are seemingly wrong. This is no time to relax. No time to forget the unfinished business. Contributions must still be made for those men who are still in the Service. Chaska has never failed in its patriotic obligations — and it is hoped that those citizens who have not as yet contributed to the current USO Drive will do so, in a generous amount, so that we might reach our quota.
October 26, 1871
We are informed by those in authority that it is the intention of the Hastings and Minneapolis Roads to erect a large grain elevator and freight transfer house at this place the coming winter. The grade is such at the junction of the two roads in this village as will render the enterprise very feasible.
October 27, 1921
Rev. Father Burns, the superintendent of the Catholic Parochial Schools of this Diocese, whose headquarters is in St. Paul, was in this city last week and inspected the Guardian Angels Catholic School and, after visiting the grades, questioning the scholars, inquiring about the courses taught, etc., expressed himself as greatly pleased with the work of the school and commended the Sisters of Charity, who are in charge, in highest terms.
October 28, 1954
The Dinner Bell Cafe, owned and operated by Jack Pauly, will have its grand opening on Friday, October 29, and will serve dinners, lunches and beverages daily from 7:00 A.M. until 3:00 A.M. Everything in the new place is spic and span and thoroughly up to date, and the latest conveniences have been installed. The Sunday special will be a turkey dinner with all the trimmings, and Mr. Pauly assures you that when you leave you will be more than satisfied. Drop in and inspect the new place.
October 29, 1964
A laugh-filled, heart-warming evening is assured everyone attending this year’s Junior Class play at Chaska High School. CHS Juniors, under the direction of Richard E. Reinkall, will present Max Schulman’s “The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis” on the school auditorium stage Friday and Saturday evening, Nov. 6 and 7. Heading the cast of characters are Gary Meuwissen, LuAnn Lenzen, Janette Arlt and Steve Robinson. An advance ticket sale is now underway with tickets also available at the door prior to curtain time both evenings.
October 30, 1884
Our Village Board advertises for “bids” to light street lamps for one year and for furnishing gasoline for same. Put in your bids before November 1st.
October 31, 1878
Our street lamps were not lighted for several nights the past weeks. Has the oil given out? Or is it the money?
