125 YEARS AGO: 1898
Another batch of letters from Manila gladdened the hearts of Hutchinson homes. They brought intelligence that all were well but anxious to return home.
D.H. Duckering of Greenleaf had an accident with his threshing engine, which rendered the engine useless for the balance of the season. The cylinder exploded or broke on account of a flaw in the iron. No one was hurt.
Children have meddled with the cut-off valve of the water works near Mrs. Kiesler’s, filling up with blocks of wood. Teachers of the schools should warn their pupils against such meddling as, in case of fire, the results might be disasterous.
100 YEARS AGO: 1923
Armistice Day will be celebrated in Hutchinson on Monday, Nov. 12. As Nov. 11 falls on Sunday, the following day has been designated a holiday by Gov. Preus in proclamation, and should be observed as such. Armistice Day is a day of great importance and significance to Americans, and should be generally celebrated. It is a legal holiday and should be observed as such. A fitting program will be provided by the observance of the day by Hutchinson Post No. 96, American Legion, with exercises at 10 a.m. in the forenoon at the high school auditorium.
As the mayor of the city of Hutchinson, I respectfully request that all places of business in the city be closed during as much of the day as possible, and especially during the hours of 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., during the time of the exercises at the high school auditorium. — E.L. Higgins, mayor
The firemen have been so hampered in their work at recent fires that they have been compelled to ask the cooperation of the citizens, and especially of the motorists, in their work. Mayor E.L. Higgins and Herman Lange, chief of the fire department, have conferred and have found an ordinance in effect at Wilmington, Delaware, that apprarently would fit Hutchinson.
Did Ed Maffet have hot pants? You bet. The fire department answered a call at supper time to put out a blaze in Maffett’s pants. Despite rumors to the contrary, the firemen say that he was not inhabiting the trousers at the time of the fire. They were hanging on a nail in the shed, having been put there a half hour before the fire was discovered. Spontaneous combustion is believed to be the cause as the trousers were pretty well soaked with paint, oil and turpentine and there were oily cloths in the pockets. Prompt action by the fire department prevented any loss to the building but the pants were ruined for future use.
75 YEARS AGO: 1948
There are 4,494 residents in the city of Hutchinson. That total, far less than most people estimated, is the result of the unofficial census conducted by the Junior Chamber of Commerce. “I’m positive that we are not more than a hundred off on the total,” declared Gordon Anderson, general chairman of the census.
Hutchinson residents will receive a notice with their electric bills next month telling of a raise in rates. A flat increase of 10% was approved by the city council. Described as temporary, the raise was adopted by resolution of the Light and Power Commission on Nov. 1.
50 YEARS AGO: 1973
Grady Rostberg, Hutchinson High School head football coach who through the season’s play has been Hutchinson’s version of the Minnesota Vikings’ Bud Grant on the sidelines, was jubilant Friday night as his team’s conference playoff win over Jackson was assured. Hutchinson will be one of the four teams competing in the Minnesota State High School Football Playoffs, which begin Nov. 9. The third-ranked Tigers will meet second-rated Willmar in a 7:30 p.m. game at St. Cloud Apollo in the first round of the playoffs.
