125 YEARS AGO: 1898
There is certainly no greater mind in Minnesota than Dr. Cleary’s. The opportunity to hear a man of his caliber comes to Hutchinson only once in many years.
A large contingent is expected from all nearby towns to attend Dr. Cleary’s lecture. An effort is being made, which bids fair to succeed to secure a special train for the return of the Glencoe visitors. Hutchinson cannot afford to risk the imputation of not being alive to the intellectual treat this lecture will afford and should fill the opera house.
Hattstrom, the tailor, will dress you neat and warm this fall and winter at a reasonable price. Just give him a call.
100 YEARS AGO: 1923
Harvey Welch says that the greatest exhibition of flying gymnastics, either voluntary or involuntary, he ever saw he witnessed recently. Emil Dolezal and Herb Smith, who works for Henry Rickeman, were riding a motorcycle, Emil on the seat and Herb in a side car. They were traveling at a pretty good hickory and turning into the Rickeman place when the drive seemed to momentarily lose control of the machine. A windmill with a steel tower was in their path and they crashed into it, completely severing the heavy steel post at one corner of the tower. Herb Smith, the occupant of the side car, was hurled headlong out of the “basket” at least 30 feet, according to Mr. Welch. Neither of the occupants of the machine was seriously hurt.
75 YEARS AGO: 1948
Hutchinson hunters were busy this week checking over their guns, boots and decoys as the fall hunting season approached. The waterfowl opening Oct. 8 will be the baptism of fire for the 1948 small game season.
The grand opening of Hutchinson’s newest business enterprise, Richter’s Stationery store in the Hotel Jorgenson building, is Saturday. The shop will carry a full line of stationery, greeting cards, office supplies, books and gifts, according to Mrs. Margaret Richter, who has come here from Minneapolis to establish the business. A special feature of the shop will be a rental library where the latest fiction books and other works may be obtained. For children, there will be books, games and toys.
Automobile license plates for 1949 went on sale at the office of Arnold Klawitter, deputy registar, in the city hall. The new plates are made of aluminum instead of steel as in other years. They are the same length, but are about seven-eighths of an inch higher to make room for the legend, “1849 Centennial 1949,” across the bottom.
50 YEARS AGO: 1973
The honey business is very good now, according to Fred Galbraith, who operates a honey farm west of Hutchinson. Galbraith told Otter Lake 4-H Club members on their tour of the honey operation that the export market and the natural foods trend have recently boosted honey sales. The Galbraith farm has been in operation at that site for the past eight years.
25 YEARS AGO: 1998
The lack of an agreement between Dakota Rail and the city of Hutchinson over the railroad crossing has kept the Minnesota Department of Transportation from authorizing the opening of the new Fifth Avenue bridge. City Engineer John Rodeberg told the Hutchinson City Council the railroad claims it can no longer afford to pay its share of the cost of the crossing because of the loss of a portion of 3M business. Florida-based RailAmerica, Dakota Rail’s owner, also said a previous agreement with the city is not valid because the person signing for the railroad was not authorized to do so and is no longer with the company. The bridge is nearly completed but won’t open for at least a month.
Providing a wide range of housing options for Hutchinson’s expanding work force has been a top priority for city leaders. At a recent meeting, the City Council took a step that could help up to 50 moderate-income families build affordable houses. The council accepted the recommendation of the Hutchinson Housing Task Force and Housing and Redevelopment Authority Director Jean Ward that the city apply for a $525,000 grant from the Minnesota Department of Trade and Economic Development. The small Cities Grant money will be used to cover up to $12,000 in city assessment charges per house in the form of 0% deferred loans. Under the proposed program, the cost of the new homes would be limited to $95,000. They could be built in one of two areas — on a parcel east of California Street and north of Huski Townhomes, or in the Island View Heights development west of Otter Lake.
