LOOKING BACK

Chris Nygaard moved his jewelry store from the A.B. Stock building to Mrs. Devitt's building, the first door south. Mr. Stocking's building has been leased by Miss Letty Tifft and will be occupied by her millinery stock after March 10.

Miss Letty Tifft has gone to Minneapolis to select stock and work in a wholesale millinery store for a few weeks previous to the opening of the spring season.

Bishop I.W. Joyce created a profound impression upon our people by his powerful sermons and lectures during the M.E. conference. His coming lecture is about China, a country in which the bishop has traveled extensively. All are anticipated a rare intellectual feast.

100 YEARS AGO: 1924

The pavement on Main Street has been approved by the state highway department and the city will receive $25,410.12 as the state's share in the improvement of Highway 22 from Fifth Avenue South to Fifth Avenue North. The state pays for a roadway 18-feet wide, not including curbs and gutters.

An "All Hutchinson" radio program will be broadcast under the auspices of the Hutchinson Woman's Club over WFAN to advertise Hutchinson as the heart of the dairy district and the gateway to Minnesota's 10,000 lakes. Some local speaker will talk on the beauties of Hutchinson as a place to live, a place to trade and a place to visit. The seminary, the high school and several individuals of talent about the town will cooperate on the musical program.

75 YEARS AGO: 1949

Truck drivers and owners, take note. It's time to get out the yardstick and do some measuring. If the left side of the body or rack of your truck extends more than 24 inches out from the center of the steering wheel, then you'd better drop everything and head for an automotive supply dealer or a garage. Because under state law effective the first of the year, all such trucks are required to have directional signal lights, and turning signals must be given continuously for at least 100 feet before making a turn.

The Hutchinson Cooperative Creamery broke all previous records in the amount of business during 1948, and the largest crowd ever to gather at the annual meeting was on hand to hear these reports in the all-day meeting at the armory. More than 1,200 people were fed lunch at noon.

50 YEARS AGO: 1974

Our Savior's Lutheran School of Hutchinson, which has been struck by flu, closed for the rest of the week after 17 out of 46 students were absent.

Hutchinson will be the site of a late-March premiere of an original musical presentation being taken on the road by the Guthrie Theater Company of Minneapolis. Representatives of the Guthrie were in Hutchinson to make arrangements for a Hutchinson opening of the 10-week tour of one-night stands in 50 to 60 cities around the region. The musical titled "The Portable Pioneer and Prairie Show" is drawn from history and music of the Midwest states and territories, as seen through the eyes of a vagabond musical and theatrical troupe touring the region in the 1890s.

25 YEARS AGO: 1999

Traffic near Hutchinson Middle School has been congested this year, and at times the gridlock has caused great frustration. After angry parents called the school with a suggested solution, times have changed. A new traffic routing sign has noticeably improved the situation in the last few weeks — and that's good news for bus drivers, parents who drop off their children, and students who are making it to class on time.

The Hutchinson Rotary Club has announced that Mark Yudof, president of the University of Minnesota, will visit Hutchinson Tuesday, March 16. The schedule includes activities throughout much of the day and also includes an opportunity for the general public to join President Yudof for dinner at the Crow River Country Club that evening. "We are pleased to be able to make this announcement to the Hutchinson-area community," said Hutchinson Rotary Club President Mary Oldakowski.

— Looking Back is written by Kay Johnson. She can be reached at johnson@hutchinsonleader.com.