Unattended candle starts fire; house totaled (photo by Randy Roberts; story by Jane Lightbourn) A fire ignited by a candle caused major damage to the John and Ruth Rawling home…on Wednesday, Jan. 17.

An unattended candle in a lower-level bedroom ignited some magazines and newspapers, then burned up a wall and burned across the ceiling before it was detected the evening of Jan. 17 at the John and Ruth Rawling house…“The fire gutted the two bedrooms on the lower level,” Hastings Fire Chief Mark Holmes said. “When we arrived, flames were visible in the two bedrooms.” The fire was reported at 6:30 p.m…The split-level house is considered a complete loss.

Community Calendar The Mississippi Valley Christian Women’s Club will hold their monthly brunch on Tues., Dec. 10th at 9:30 a.m. at All Saints Lutheran Church, 8100 Belden Blvd., Cottage Grove, MN. Everyone is asked to bring a wrapped Christmas ornament to exchange. For reservations, call Marilyn, 437-**** by Dec. 5th. Free nursery provided.

Heidi Sterud named PHS Good Citizen (photo Heidi Sterud) Heidi Sterud, daughter of Ron and Anita Sterud of Prescott, was named by High School Principal…as the 1985 Good Citizen. The award is sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution.

49 Years Ago HASTINGS GAZETTE January 14, 1971 Legally Clear, Village Of Cottage Grove To Start Storm Sewer The Village of Cottage Grove expects to open and let bids this week for immediate work on the controversial $1,030,000 storm sewer project in South east Cottage Grove.

A lawsuit brought by farmers in the area to be assessed in October was won last week in Isanti County District Court by the Village of Cottage Grove.

According to village officials, there are no stipulations, although the village may ask the plaintiffs to file a bond and sign a waiver of appeal.

The 1,132 acres to be sewered calls for assessments of $800 an acre. After two public hearing, the project (projest) was passed by the village council in August of last year. The original size of the project (7,432 acres) was cut to open the area to be developed in the next few years.

In October of last year 54 residents, mostly farmers, filed a lawsuit against the village charging that the project was not for the benefit of the public but for private development. They said improper notice of hearing was given and that they were being deprived of property without due process of the law.

Part of the area included parts of the 11th and 12th additions in Pineridge Estates. The assessments had been paid by Orrin Thompson, developer.

Another Pioneer Gone Carl Freitag, 87, Died Jan. 10, Burial Jan. 12 The thinning ranks of Hastings pioneers, was further depleted Sunday, Jan. 10, by the passing of Carl F. Freitag*, 87, or 1628 E. 3rd St. a life-long resident of this city.

A son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Charles Freitag he was born March 20, 1883, attended the local schools and here grew to maturity. With his parents he operated an acreage adjoining east Hastings.

Mr. and Mrs. Freitag née Ida Voelker were married Nov. 26, 1913, in the then Evangelical Reformed Lutheran Church at Cottage Grove. Born to the Freitags was one son Ray, who made his home with his parents. Mrs. Freitag passed away Apr. 23, 1957. The family were members of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran church, Hastings.

*Friday in German.

100 Years Ago WASHINGTON COUNTY POST November 18, 1920 NO NEED TO GO TO ST. PAUL TO SHOP You Can Fine Bargains Right Here at Home and Save Care Fare as Well.

The other night we noticed an item in the local echo of the Pioneer Press, the Stillwater Daily Gazette, and this particular item that we are going to write about was in the editorial column of this echo of city papers, conveyed the idea to the readers that they could save a lot of money by reading the ads in the St. Paul papers and also stated that the merchants of the Twin Cities was making large cuts in their merchandise.

Of course the merchants of St. Paul are cutting the price on merchandise but so are the merchants of Stillwater cutting the prices on their goods and we believe the people of this city and county should find out what our merchants here at home have to offer before making a rush to St. Paul to spend their money… LANGDON locals A party was given at the home of M. Morrey Tuesday night. The evening was spent in playing cards and dancing.

Miss Laura…who is teaching in Pine City is spending her vacation with her parents.

The community club met Thursday afternoon at the Langdon school house.

MARINE ON ST. CROIX locals Miss Evelyn Olson of Minneapolis visited with Miss Grace Peterson over Sunday.

Howard Empson returned to his studies at Collegeville, Minn., Monday after a two week’s vacation.

The annual business meeting of the Swedish Lutheran church was held Monday afternoon.

Years Ago THE BROAD AXE December 6, 1900 Across the Mississippi

LOCAL CHIPS Mrs. John Dale, of Prospect Terrace, is confined to her home by sickness.

Mr. Roy Miller, of Concord street, is confined to his home with chicken pox.

The King’s Daughters met last Tuesday evening with Miss Calton, 44 West Delos street.

Mr. Fred Diment, of Striker avenue, is suffering from an attack of the mumps at his home.

Mr. Frank Bergh, of Stryker avenue, was confined to his house the first of the week by sickness.

Mrs. D. A. Coates, 125 South Wabasha street, is very sick at her home with heart and lung trouble.

Also 126 Years Ago WASHINGTON COUNTY JOURNAL November 30, 1900 In the death of Senator C. K. Davis, Minnesota has lost her foremost statesman and the county has lost a guide and counselor whose thoughtful advice stilled storms of discontent and placed him upon the highway pinnacle of fame. Ambition to do justice between nations carved for him a place in the hearts of all civilized nations that time cannot efface.

News in Brief for the week ending Dec. 1 Railroad officials are considering a plan to abolish passenger tickets.

President McKinley told a committee of the two houses he was glad congress was in session again.

Oscar L. Boose (or Boone) is dead at Bristol, Pa., of injuries said to have been received from being hazed at West Point.

Over 100 filings were made on Indian land opened in Beltrami county, Minnesota, Tuesday.

Gov. Stickney signed a bill passed by the Vermont legislature prohibiting the sale of cigarettes to minors in the state.

Some population figures (2010 census comparison in parentheses) Stillwater, 12,618 (18,255) Washington County 27,808 (257,932)* Hastings, 3,811 (22,172) South St. Paul, 2,322 (20,160) *figures taken from Washington County Minnesota 2030 Comprehensive Plan.

Yet again 126 Years Ago THE MIRROR November 29, 1900 Stillwater, Minnesota A FEW PERTINENT THAT’S By Bashful Bill That we have a night school.

That we one and all had the good sense to write to our mothers on Thanksgiving day.

That the guards are not practicing penmanship.

That turkeys are not full of bones like a pickerel.

That the baker understands how to make good bread.

That we have a humane warden at the head of this institution.

That our barbers understand their business and know how to keep the nicks out of their “axes.”

That while we may be in prison, we are blessed with an edacious appetite and comparatively good health.

That the third grade manages to keep down to a respectable level.

That our friends can always find us at home when they call.

MOVEMENTS OF OUR POPULATION Total population, 467.

Males 465, Females, 2. Discharged during the past week, 4. Received, 9.

Grade standing as follows: first 349, second, 112, third, 6.

Gerhard Bongord, Carver Co. misappropriation of public offices, 3 years, 6 months and $500 fine.

Frank J. Gordon, Stearns Co., grand larceny second degree, 3 years.

Albert J. Kruger, Blue Earth Co., grand larceny, 1 year and 6 months.

John Harris, Hennepin Co., robbery third degree, 10 years.

James Smith, Swift Co., grand larceny second degree, 1 year and 6 months.

Martin Burke, Swift Co., grand larceny second degree, 1 year and 6 months.

Fred Chester, Swift Co., assault second degree, 1 year.

Leslie Rodford, Swift Co., burglary third degree, 1 year and 6 months.

Sam J. Shackle, Blue Earth Co., perjury, 1 year.

140 Years AGO THE STILLWATER LUMBERMAN November 26, 1880 Volume 6, Number The Lumberman is a Local Family Newspaper, Published every Friday evening, at $2.00 per year, in advance, by the LUMBERMAN STEAM PRINTING COMPANY…Job printing of all kinds.

Mere Mention LOCAL updates —Keep cool.

—Butter famine in town this week.

—Hard work is the panacea (cure all) for trouble.

—Red Wing now talks of a threshing machine factory.

—One team crossed the lake on the…Saturday last.

—It is not safe to leave geraniums in the front yard any longer.

—Hathal English Opera Company a said tomorrow (to-morrow) evening.

—Official returns give Garfield 40,388 over Hancock, in Minnesota.

—Matt Clark has been suffering…days from a sprained ankle.

—Boys on Third street yesterday were throwing stones at humming birds. This is cruel sport.

—The unseasonable cold snap has brought more or less sickness to almost every family, and several households mourn the work of death.

—Chestnut street was been so slippery during the week that is has been very difficult for teamsters coming down to keep the horse before the cart.

—If horses suffer as much from…as men do, the fact that in horse language there is no word synonymous with…must cause them great anxiety.

—Two loads of hay were dumped on Chestnut St…upon yesterday…their hearts full of grateful praise, but they did not…much about it.

Ad: Sleighs! Sleighs! If you want any style of a sleigh go to the Stillwater Carriage Work.

Sleighs repainted and trimmed on short notice. One door north of Sawyer House.

Stillwater, Minn.

152 Years Ago THE STILLWATER REPUBLICAN December 1, 1868 Married.

In Stillwater, November 28th, 1868, by Isaac Van Fleek, Es q., Jacob Jass and Bertha Rice, all of Washington county.

In Stillwater, November 30th, 1868, by the same, James William Poplan and Margaret Ambule of Washington county.

November 24, 1868 ST. CROIX VALLEY LOCALS The St. Croix Valley Academy, at Afton, is now in good running order, with fifty pupils in attendance. We hear it spoken of by its numerous patrons, in the highest terms. Its success is already assured, and it is destined to prove an institution which will be a credit to its founders and the pleasant little town in which it is located.

From Statehood 162 Years Ago THE STILLWATER MESSENGER June 29, 1858 Volume 2, Number 41, Van Vorhes & Easton, Publishers Steamboat Arrivals at the Port of Stillwater.

Reported by D. W. Armstrong, Lower Levee June 18th, Pebinaw, St. Louis.

14th—Equator, Prescott; Allen, Falls.

15th—Allen, Prescott; Equator Falls; War Eagle, Galena; Minnesota Belle, St. Louis.