Looking Back - Morris

10 Years Ago Items from the Tribune, August 31, 2000

A look of yesteryear returned, appropriately, for the Donnelly Jubilee and Threshing Bee, which this year coincided with the town’s centennial. Beard judging was done Saturday night before the coronation. There were two divisions, one for men who have beards all the time, and the other for the temporary beard-wearers. Winners were Craig Awsumb (Permanent) and Leslie Cin (temporary).

The “Festival of Hymns”, an evening of hymns and music, was held last Thursday evening at the Killoran Music/Arts Center in Eastside Park. Pastor Richard Mark of the Hancock Congregational Church led the audience in song. Various community groups, including the Morris Zion Lutheran Church Choir also performed.

Gala welcome festivities for new University of Minnesota Morris freshmen and their families took place last Thursday, four days before the start of school. Members of the UMM Retirees Association like Ellen Ordway and Cathy Kemble answered questions, gave directions and in general offered warm greetings to the new faces.

25 Years Ago Items from the Tribune of August 30, 1985

The City Council accepted the bid for the downtown street lighting project and set several assessment hearings at their meting Tuesday night. The Council awarded the bid for the street lighting project to Kieffer Electric and Klinker Construction. A downtown sidewalk replacement project is also scheduled.

Larry Schaub, County Highway Engineer, Stevens County, has been names member of the National Association of Counties (NACo) Transportation Steering Committee. Founded in 1935, the National Association of Counties (NACo) works to improve county government, to act as a national spokesman for counties, to serve as a liaison between counties and other government, and to achieve a public understanding of the role of counties in the federal system.

Si McCormack of Morris recently received the prestigious Millionaire Club award from MSI Insurance. McCormack, whose office is located in Morris at City Center Mall, received the award for selling over a million of life insurance protection during 1985.

50 Years Ago Items from the Tribune of September 9, 1960

George Davidson, division manager of the Otter Tail Power company, retired (officially, at least) on Sept. 1, bringing to a close a record of more than 48 years of service with the company. In recognition of his many years of service, Mr. Davidson was honored at a “retirement dinner” recently in the First Lutheran Church basement. Mr. Davidson, a native of Fargo, N. D., joined Otter Tail Power Company when he was 17 years old and came up through the company ranks from timekeeper to line foreman to construction foreman until his appointment in 1926 as manager of the newly organized Morris district of the company.

Kenneth Stark, 15, of the Swan Lake 4-H Club, topped all 4-H tractor demonstrators at the Minnesota State Fair by showing how to grease a wheel bearing. Kenneth is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Stark of Kensington. The Stevens County youth has been in the tractor maintenance project for three years. He operates the tractor on the home farm and does much of the servicing.

The new officers of Walter Tripp Post, American Legion will be installed Tuesday evening, Sept. 13 at the post’s first meeting following its summer vacation. New, re-elected and re-appointed officers who will be installed are: Donald Madsen, Commander; Donald Eystad, 1st Vice-Commander; Elmer F. Anderson 3rd vice Commander; Lyle Christiansen, Chaplain, Ed Madison, Sgt-at-Arms; Erling Larson, Finance Officer; and Fay Proudfoot, Adjutant.

90 Years Ago Items from the Tribune of September 10, 1920

Ed. J. La Fave arrived in Morris last week to take the position of assistant cashier in the Citizens Bank, which was formerly held by M. Brevig. Mr. La Fave comes from Berwick, N. D., where he was cashier in one of the H. Thorson banks. His mother will join him in Morris soon.

There will be a special drill of Company K called on Sunday morning to prepare for the exhibition drill at the fairgrounds during the county fair. The regular drill on Monday will be held as usual.

There will be special livestock judging contest at West Central School of Agriculture on Wednesday, Sept. 15. This is one of the three meetings in the state arranged by T. A. Erickson, State leader of Boys’ and Girls’ Club work for choosing livestock at the Interstate Fair at Sioux City, Iowa, Saturday, Sept. 20. Each county to be eligible must send four or more boys and girls who are enrolled in the live stock judging contest for this year.

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