Looking Back is a regular feature on the pages of the Star Eagle
100 Years Back – 1919
• An immense crowd raised an impressive $888.26 at the firemen-community band picnic at St. Olaf Lake.
• Hoosier — the kitchen cabinet that saves miles of steps. Simply pay $1 and this automatic servant will be placed in your kitchen at once. Amounts so small you’ll never miss them soon pay the balance. — Tyrholm’s Furniture Store, New Richland.
• Before a crowd of several thousand, the New Richland baseball team humbled Wells 13-0 in the second game of a doubleheader at the homecoming celebration in Wells. New Richland also defeated Wells 3-0 and Twin Lakes 5-4. The victory over Twin Lakes was staged at the firemen and band picnic at St. Olaf Lake before the largest crowd that ever attended a ballgame in this part of the state.
• It is absolutely impossible to give you a cleaner or more attractive and entertaining program of amusement than the one to be given at the Waseca County Fair this year.
• Mrs. C.I. Salter, wife of New Richland’s new attorney, was proffered the principalship of the public schools in Hartland and gave her acceptance to the board of education at that place.
• Big dance, Laudert Building, New Richland. Music by Nyquist’s Jazz Orchestra.
• Particulars were not forthcoming regarding the happy marriage of Miss Gilma C. Sybilrud, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C.C. Sybilrud of this township, and Mr. Andrew O. Lee of Berlin Township. Rev. C.E. Sybilrud of St. Paul, cousin of the bride, presided. The newlyweds took up their residence on the groom’s farm near Ellendale.
75 Years Back – 1944
• It was a quiet week on the ration front as no changes in the list of good stamps were announced by the ration headquarters.
• With the first home game tucked under its belt by a score of 7-2, the local baseball team was looking for more teams to conquer. Freeborn provided the opposition Sunday and the game was a well-fought contest from start to finish. Johnson had three hits for New Richland. Haug, Hendrickson, Bruzek, Bolduan and Edman added one each. Greenwood was the winning pitcher.
• Lloyd Peterson decided this was a good time for reopening his electric shop, renting the Ed Priebe building.
• The Andrew Borgen Post 75 of the American Legion installed the following officers: August Jeddeloh, commander; Palmer Hagen, first vice commander; Lemick Johnson, second vice commander; Dr. R.K. Hawley, chaplain; Dr. A.A. Doyle, financial officer; Arthur Jacobson, sergeant at arms; Justin Sunde, Andrew J.P. Loken, and William Nock, executive committee.
• The local school board decided at its regular August meeting to open the 1944-45 school year Sept. 5, a week earlier than the previous year.
• Top honors in the poultry market class at the Waseca County Fair went to Dayton Roesler with a pen of white rocks. Neal Gunsolus won grand champion with his Aberdeen Angus yearling and Vincent Peterson was reserve champion with his Hereford yearling. LeRoy Kofstad presented a champion ewe lamb and trio of lambs was won by Dean Dinneen.
50 Years Back – 1969
• Officers of the very active Town and Country Garden Club: Mrs. D.H. Weckwerth, vice president; Mrs. Jacob Hoelz, secretary; Mrs. Merlin Matz, chairman of the flower show; Mrs. Orville Boettcher, treasurer; Mrs. Glen Bethke, president.
• Sisdel Mundahl, New Richland’s AFS student, was met at the airport by her American parents, Mr. And Mrs. George Arneman of rural New Richland.
• Rickie Waknitz and Gary Bartelt of the Waldorf-Pemberton FFA chapter completed an interesting project. The boys raised day-old mallard ducklings to five weeks of age, at which time the birds were released into an area having good habitat for ducks.
• Lifeguards at St. Olaf Lake: Debbie Nelson, Cheryl Engesser, Christine Arnfelt, Gail Nelson, Bernie Anderson and Jimmy Finseth.
• Mr. and Mrs. Reuben E. Fischer were surprised at their rural Ellendale home with a celebration honoring their 25th wedding anniversary.
• Edmond Zacchini, one of the world’s foremost daredevils, was performing twice daily at the Steele County Fair, being shot out of a huge cannon to a net several hundred feet away.
• Musical acts at the Minnesota State Fair: Johnny Cash (with the Statler Brothers), Buck Owens (and his Buckaroos), Lesley Gore, Patti Page (and the Singin’ Kids Next Door).
• The recent tragic death of a young woman in the automobile accident involving Senator Kennedy is just one more development in the rapid decline in the prestige of the Kennedy name and image. — E.H. Engesser.
25 Years Back – 1994
• Candidates for Miss Pemberton: Angie Knutson, Denise Bauer and Bridget Zell.
• Halgren’s Auto Sales & Repair on 3rd St. NE in New Richland completed a 600-square-foot addition to its building.
• Baseball strike? Hah! Baseball’s over as soon as the Vikings hit training camp.
• Beth Johnson and Kari Schlaak were selected as State Fair trip winners at the 4-H Silver Threads and Golden Needles Fashion Revue.
• Joyce Wobbrock of New Richland won the powder puff demolition derby at the Nicollet County Fair in St. Peter. The car she entered was a 30th birthday present from her husband, Dan. Said Joyce: “That was the most romantic gift I have ever received.”
• Members of New Richland’s No. 2 softball team: Jenny Harrington, Jennifer Werth, Andrea Perkins, Amy Balfe, Sarah Lundberg, Kelsey Berg, Camille Kyte, Ashley Bergeson, Karrie Klug, Kelli Schlaak, Amanda Hullopeter, Kristin Jessen, Ellen Johnson, Sheena Weckwerth.
• Friends and relatives of Linda Besser enjoyed a surprise performance of Elvis Presley at a party in honor of Linda on her 40th birthday.
• Marjorie Christenson, parish secretary at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Richland, retired after 27 years of dedicated service.
• John Harrington was appointed to the New Richland City Council, filling a void created by the resignation of Stan Getskow.
Compiled by Jim Lutgens