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!
November 1, 1923
The M&St.L. R.R. is running one of its old fashioned cheap excursions, allowing Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 17th and 18th in the Twin Cities. The rate is about one cent a mile, so put up your auto and see how nice it is to ride on the train. One of the greatest football games of the year, between Iowa and Minnesota universities. Remember, a two-day stay in the Cities for two-thirds of a one-way fare. You can’t beat it, so come along. Rate from Chaska, $1.00.
November 2, 1905
A pleasant surprise was arranged in honor of Mr. John Zimmerman Saturday evening, October 21st. The evening was spent in games and several songs and musical selections by the Misses Elizabeth and Jennie Fitting of Minneapolis. A number of recitations were delivered by Miss Jennie Fitting. Light refreshments were served at twelve o’clock. Mr. Will Thornquist was awarded the prize in the game of LIP LAP LEBER WURST.
November 3, 1966
When Chaska and Orono meet on the gridiron Friday evening at Orono, WCCO Radio will be there, broadcasting play-by-play. Friday’s Chaska-Orono game will be the featured “Game of the Week” in Minnesota High School Football with WCCO Radio sports director Paul Giel and play-by-play announcer Ray Christensen at mike side. Area fans who will not be able to attend Friday’s Chaska-Orono football game at Orono will be able to hear the entire game on WCCO Radio (830 on your dial) starting at 7:35.
November 4, 1897
The boys of this city committed their usual pranks on Halloween evening. The eve of Nov. 1st was celebrated by mystic rites among the early Germanic and Celtic tribes. The rude tricks of later times are a poor imitation of ancient customs.
November 5, 1964
Chaska’s City Police Department was informed by the Minnesota Highway Department early this week that the Highway Patrol will enforce parking regulations on Chaska’s Main Street (Highway 41) effective Friday morning of this week. Action by the State Highway Patrol was prompted by complaints of double parking violations—an obstruction to traffic and a hazard to public safety. Specifically, the Highway Patrol will be enforcing the “No Double Parking” regulation—a common violation by local motorists. A word of caution is extended: Tags will be issued to violators.
November 6, 1884
The City Clerk has given notice that all cows must be shut up hereafter, and not allowed to run at large until three o’clock P.M. each day between the 1st day of November and the 1st day of April next. Any stock found running upon the public streets or commons of Chaska before three o’clock P.M. will be impounded by the proper officer.
November 7, 1918
Now that the battle of ballots has been fought, the results known and the victors acclaimed, let’s forget the political squabble for two years at least and get down to business. Plug and boost and help make your town a bigger and busier and better place and you will have accomplished something. Keep the ball rolling.
November 8, 1990
The made for television movie, “The Stranger Within” premieres on CBS Tuesday, November 27, and Butch’s will host a party celebrating the premiere. The movie, starring Kate Jackson, Rick Schroeder and Chris Sarandon, was filmed on location, in part, at Butch’s, Lano’s Supermarket and a farm near Victoria. The premiere will include a buffet at 6:30 P.M. followed by the show at 8:00 P.M. Reservations are required and the ticket will be $10.95 per person. Valet Parking will be provided. Butch’s is asking that reservations be made by November 10.
November 9, 1961
Identification tags—bearing student names, address, blood type and allergy—are being provided to students in schools at Chaska, Carver, and Victoria courtesy of Walter Hecklin VFW Post and Auxiliary. The metal I.D. tags, fashioned after the so-called “dog-tags” worn by servicemen, will provide identification of students in the event of a Civil Defense emergency. Officials of Guardian Angels Catholic, St. John’s Lutheran, and Chaska Public schools accepted the identification tags from Civil Defense Director Lester W. Melchert late last month. Students at Carver Public and Victoria Public and parochial schools will also receive the tags.
November 10, 1932
A unique and greatly interesting program will be presented in connection with the November meeting of the Chaska Parent Teacher Association to be held next Monday evening. The headliner feature of the program of entertainment is a thing never before presented here. It is a worthwhile explanation and demonstration of some of the fine points of basketball. This part of the program, to which everybody in the community is invited whether members of the P.T.A. or not, will begin at 7:15 and continue until eight o’clock. It will consist of an explanation of plays, rules, and other fine points of the game to be given by Coach Albert Mooney. An animated and actual demonstration will be given by the 1932-33 High School Team.
November 11, 1971
Chaska’s Rex Theater is no more. No, the city’s lone theater isn’t closing down. Chaska’s Theater is now “Two Theaters in One.” Owners Gabe and Mike Deluhery this week formally announced a totally new concept in movie going with the opening of Chaska I & II. The new Chaska I & II (two theaters in one) will offer two different feature films every evening. Admission for the movies to be shown at Chaska I will be 60 cents for children under 12, $1 for patrons age 12-17, and $1.25 for everyone 18 and over. The admission at Chaska II will be $1.25 for everyone—children under 12 free when accompanied by their parent.
November 12, 1970
Delinquent light, sewer and water bills (the latter two only billed quarterly) was a topic of Council discussion Tuesday evening. City Administrator Pat McGarvey told the Council that the “Delinquent” (Red Cards) haven’t been too effective and to date the City of Chaska had been reluctant to invoke the ordinance which states, “electric service shall be cut off” when light bills are delinquent. A “get tough policy” was discussed, with the Council going on record stating that patrons delinquent will be notified by Certified Mail and then the ordinance would be enforced—meaning, “pay bill or no electrical service.”
November 13, 1952
“Whoopee John’s” Orchestra, the northwest’s favorite old and new time musical organization, will play for the annual Chaska Fire Department Benefit Dance at the Valley Ballroom on Friday evening, November 21st, it was announced this week by the Dance Committee. The popular Decca recording star and radio headliner of the Whoopee John Network will bring his entire troupe of outstanding musicians and entertainers to Chaska for the Firemen’s frolic, and another big night at The Valley is assured. “Young and old dance on and on with Whoopee John,” say the Firemen who are conducting an advance sale ticket drive for their Benefit. Ducats for next Friday night’s dance may be obtained from any member of the Chaska Fire Department and at many of the Chaska business places.
November 14, 1912
Listen! At last our little city has a real live Girls’ Basket Ball Team, and they’re a game bunch, too, and classy all around. The fair but demure high school lassies are not to be undone by their strong brothers and have launched a basket ball aggregation that should add fame and lustre to their illustrious seat of learning. On the square now, our High School has some girls’ basket ball team and they will play their first game of the season at the Opera House tomorrow (Friday) night, their opponents being the Norwood High School girls. This should be a real tussle of the fair ones and should bring out a big house. Be there and help the girls all you can.
November 15, 1951
For the past month preparations have been underway by the new Pastor, Father Lucius Hellstern, to organize a school band for the upper grade and high school of Guardian Angels School. The Pastor has announced that by installing a band program, the extracurricular activity of the school will be strengthened and will add to the progress of the school. The band and its program will be under the direction of the new music teacher, Donald F. Hensel. It is hoped that by the following year, a course in instrumental music can be imbibed into a regular credit course for the school. The Pastor also looks forward to having a number of baton twirlers to participate with the band players in adding flash and encouragement to the school band.
November 16, 1916
The saloons of this city have cut out the “free lunch” fad and we can add that it is the best thing in the line of saloon regulation ever inaugurated in this city. The “old toper” will hereafter have to look elsewhere for his eats and will naturally have to shun the saloon and work for his board.
November 17, 1960
Pizza—an Italian dish that is fast rating with the hot dog and hamburger as an American “snack,” is now being offered locally. Robert “Rup” Burkhart today announced the opening of “Rup’s Bar and Pizza” in Chaska. Installed at the local 3.2 tavern is a pizza oven capable of producing four 9″ pizzas in eight minutes. Remodeling of the tavern will enable patrons to enjoy their pizza right out of the oven, or on a take-out basis. Pepperoni, sausage, green pepper, mushroom and cheese pizzas are listed on the menu that promises to fill “special orders upon request.” All Rup’s pizza will be home-made, not just another product but an entirely new pizza for this area.
November 18, 1915
Ess Bros., the local automobile dealers, who advertise the famous Maxwell “25” in The Herald today, and to which announcement we direct your attention, desire us to announce that they now have a demonstrator each of the Maxwell “25,” Chandler “Six” and Jackson “4,” the latter being the best car ever brought out by the famous Jackson makers, and which sells for the nominal sum of $985, F.O.B. Jackson. They are in a position to demonstrate any of the models to your entire satisfaction and if you are interested, call on them or drop them a line and a demonstrator will be at your door in a jiffy.
November 19, 1953
The firm of Ess Bros. & Sons, one of Chaska’s oldest institutions, has just completed its contract in supplying 26,000 tons of window weights for the Mayo Memorial on the campus of the University of Minnesota. Ess Brothers had the exclusive contract on the supply of window weights for the hospital that started excavating in 1949 and is now completely roofed in, and will reach completion sometime in ’54.
November 20, 1924
J. A. Linne, proprietor of our Bakery in which we all take a justifiable pride, has a display notice in today’s Herald, to which we call the attention of our readers. Materials entering into the making of bread, such as flour and lard, have advanced in price to a very marked extent during the past few weeks, so much that Mr. Linne has been forced to raise the price of a one pound loaf to 9 cents. As Chaska bread is the equal of the best ever placed on the market, the new price of 9 cents is not at all unwarranted, as Chaska bread is worth that and then some, for there is none better or purer on the market today.
November 21, 1901
We learn that the Gedney Pickling Co., of St. Paul, who have a branch here, have rented all the bottom lands near Gifford’s Lake, on the opposite side of the river, which includes several hundred acres, and will plant it all to pickles and cabbage next season. This means much to the laborers of Chaska, as it will leave them several thousand dollars in the way of wages. The factory will, we understand, be enlarged and the business greatly extended.
November 22, 1877
The Hook & Ladder Company, at their meeting last Saturday evening, decided to have a Grand Ball at Peter Iltis’ Hall on Thursday evening, Nov. 29th—Thanksgiving. One of the features of the evening will be a fresh oyster supper, all costing $1.00 per couple. Ramsdill’s String Band has been engaged for the occasion. The best of order will be preserved and a good time guaranteed.
November 23, 1933
Farmers in the Chaska beet-raising territory received checks last week amounting to $304,000 as their first payment on the 1933 crop now being manufactured into Crystal Sugar. This payment, based on a $4.00 per ton rate, was made on 76,000 tons of beets, all that had been delivered here up to October 15th. Another three hundred thousand dollars will be paid December 15th for the balance of the beets which arrived after October 15th.
November 24, 1949
All eight grade school rooms of Guardian Angels School are now equipped with germilamps to insure the health of the children.
November 25, 1954
Northland Greyhound Bus Lines will preview their newest traveling comfort, the new Scenicruiser, in a scheduled display stop at the local depot, the Crown Drug Store. Arriving in Chaska around 7:45 in the morning, the Scenicruiser will be open to public inspection for about fifteen minutes, and traveling enthusiasts wishing to inspect this modern innovation are invited to attend Chaska’s premiere showing of today’s trend in bus transportation.
November 26, 1936
The 1936-37 schedule of Chaska High School’s two Basketball Teams will be officially opened tonight, Wednesday, when the squads travel to Watertown for their first test of the season. The starting line-up for the big game of the evening will be Robert Schilken and George Odell at forward positions, Orwin Poppitz, sole letterman, jumping center, and Earl Engelhardt and Richard Geislar guarding the baskets. Leo Rehman may be shoved in at forward position. The Junior string’s beginning five will be forwards Warren Paschka and William Schallow, center Harold Gastler, and guards Cyril Ess and Stanley Bechtel. The first home game will be played on Friday of next week.
November 27, 1969
Chaskans will have their first opportunity to meet the city’s new Administrator this holiday weekend. Patrick E. McGarvey, an Iowa native named to serve as the first City Administrator in Chaska’s history, will visit Chaska over the weekend getting acquainted and looking at housing available. McGarvey, age 28, is a native of Mason City, Iowa. A graduate of Mason City High School and Mason City Junior College, McGarvey graduated from the University of Iowa in 1964 with a B.A. Degree in Political Science and received his Master’s Degree in Municipal Administration in 1968.
November 28, 1929
We are sorry that we are never, never able to print news from the Park School. After several attempts or failures at getting news, we have given it up. It seems nothing that is news happens up at that building.
November 29, 1917
Our special Thanksgiving Brick Ice Cream is Macaroon and Cranberry Ice, and for Sunday, December 2nd, our special Brick will be Caramel and Pineapple, 40 cents the brick. Order a brick or more for dinner at Young’s.
November 30, 1967
Chaska will have three municipal ice skating rinks this winter according to members of the City’s Park Board Committee. Two of the rinks, at Chaska Athletic Park and Holtz Lions Park, will be flooded this week by Chaska’s Volunteer Fire Department and will be open to skating thereafter. Announcement of the opening of the skating rink at the Clayhole will be made when ice is thick enough to permit skating.
