30 years ago

WASHINGTON COUNTY BULLETIN

April 14, 1993

Seeking nominations for the Fifth Annual Preservationist of the Year Award, Cottage Grove presented the award during Historic Preservation Week, from May 9-15.

Sharing good news with the area from 1993, Newport residents learned from Administrator Gary Patterson that sewer and water rates would not be going up, following budget revisions which showed a positive balance in the two accounts.

40 years ago

THE WASHINGTON COUNTY BULLETIN

April 7, 1983

Signing a 99-year lease for use of the former Grove School four decades back, the Minnesota Department of Military Affairs was joining with Washington County in use of the old school building. The county and state would share utility costs, while the contingency fund for major repairs was to see joint contributions by each of $2,000 a month. The lease was to run through March 31, 2082.

As to occupancy of the site, the county was to lease the west wing and have use of the kitchen, gymnasium, and cafeteria for court and other purposes, while the Guard would use the site as an armory.

Grey Cloud news and views

43 years ago

Feb. 14, 1980

Voting unanimously to uphold the annexation of 1,400 acres of Grey Cloud Island Township, the City Council passed it on to the Minnesota Municipal board, with member Jill Berndt, formerly undecided, calling the arguments against it “too emotional.” That had swayed member Bill Amundson.

“If I vote against this tonight, I won’t be giving the professionals a chance,” he said, acknowledging that, “It may be a cop-out.”

Grey Cloud Island Town Board chair Harvey Stiefel was baffled. “The council won’t listen to Orrin Thompson if he doesn’t have a plan to offer,” Stiefel said. “Why is this different?” With almost all Lower Island residents on the Cottage Grove side opposed to annexation along with Upper Grey Cloud, the matter was headed to court.

“I believe the law intended the city to decide that part of the issue,” Stiefel said. “Not the Municipal Board.”

50 years ago

WASHINGTON COUNTY BULLETIN

April 5, 1973

Coming up for a bond vote Tuesday April 10 some 50 years ago was a possible new high school, to be built for an estimated cost of $6.665 million, located on Woodlane Drive, south of Royal Oaks in Woodbury. A swimming pool was also possible, with preliminary school plans looking at a 230,472 square foot learning space.

Per staff writer Barb Hunter, the bonds to be sold towards the project if passed totaled $6,360,000, with the 54-acre site pending approval. Park High had been built to house 2,000 students, but that wasn’t enough with district growth.

On their way out meanwhile following council action in St. Paul Park, the Dutch Elms were going down, at the taxpayer funded price of $25 per tree.

Life in a rail town…

THE HASTINGS GAZETTE

April 9, 1892

LANGDON Items.

Seeding is in full blast.

Mr. A. Keene is on the sick list.

1. Haily visited Hastings Thursday.

The Hon. J. Zeich was in St. Paul Thursday.

Quite a hailstorm visited us Monday afternoon.

Mrs. W. W. Keene was in St. Paul Park Saturday.

Master Clarence Kemp is very sick with scarlet fever.

Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Kemp visited St. Paul Park Friday.

Ben Keene, of Denmark, was riding around the village Thursday.

Mr. J. O. Kemp and wife have returned from a seven week’s visit to Sparta, Wisconsin.

Mr. C. Ratzgluve, who lives on the Tuttle Place, has a new organ.

Territorial Dispatch…

172 years ago

THE MINNESOTA PIONEER

Nov. 7, 1850

COMMUNICATED.

Sketch of the Life and Explorations of Capt. Jonathan Carver.

Number II.

Between two and three miles below St. Paul he landed, and examined a remarkable cave,* which he thus describes: “The entrance into it is about ten feet wide, the height of it five feet. The arch within is nearly fifteen feet high and about thirty feet broad. The bottom of it consists of clear sand. About twenty feet from the entrance begins a lake, the water of which is transparent, and extends to an unsearchable distance, for the darkness of the cave prevents attempts to acquire a knowledge of it. I threw a small pebble towards the interior parts of it with my utmost strength: I could hear that it fell into the water, and notwithstanding it was of so small a size, it caused an astonishing and horrible noise that reverberated through all those gloomy regions. I found in this cave many hieroglyphics,** which appeared very ancient, for time had nearly covered them with moss, so that it was with difficulty that I could trace them. They were cut in a rude manner upon the inside of the walls, which were composed of a stone so extremely soft that it might be easily penetrated with a knife: a stone every where to be found near the Mississippi. The cave is only accessible by ascending a narrow, steep passage that lies near the brink of the river.

At a little distance from this dreary cave is the burying place of several band of the Naoudowessie (Sioux) Indians;*** though these people have no fixed residence, living in tents, and abiding but a few months in one spot, yet they always bring the bones of their dead to this place; which they take the opportunity of doing when the chiefs meet to hold their councils, and to settle all public affairs for the ensuing summer.

*The cave is protected today, being partially damaged by blasting in the 19th century. It is known as both Wakan Tipi and Carter’s Cave.

**literally meaning “sacred (hiero) writings (glyphic)”

***Today Mounds Park off of Mound Boulevard.