12/5/2007 – News
Volume 124, Number
50 years ago Leeds School District had important vote December 5, 1957
Fifty years ago Benson County was busy with basketball. One-quarter of the front page of the December 5, 1957 issue of the Benson County Farmers Press was taken up by accounts of basketball games.
The Esmond Eagles defeated St. Mary’s Knights 47 to 28 at Devils Lake. The defeat of the Knights was the first home floor loss in two years. The first five on the Esmond team were Dennis Nelson and Adrian Hoffner, forwards; Jim Bengson and Jerome Binfet, guards; and Jim Wolf, center. Wolf replaced the formidible Ole Wentz, who graduated last spring.
The Minnewaukan Midgets defeated Knox 57-46. Harry Cline led the Midets with 22 points. Buell Christensen had 16 and Larry Antonson had 12. For Knox the high scorers were R. Marchus 18, L. Marchus 15 and D. Wolfe 10.
The Minnewaukan Midgets also defeated the Oberon Bulldogs 49-38. Cline and Christensen had 15 each. Other scorers were Byron Butters, Duane Johnson and Larry Antonson. Oberon high scorers were David Johnson 14 and Paul Jabs 13. In the preliminary game, Minnewaukan also beat Oberon’s B team 33-29. Danny Wetzel led all scorers with 20 points. Other Oberon scorers were Odean Olson and Kenneth Nielsen with 4 each and John Mitzel 1. For Minnewaukan Gary Christensen and Aaron Newcomb had 10 each, Duane Cline had 8, Roger Sinness had 4 and Gary Sears 1.
Benson County has joined with Ramsey and Nelson Counties to form a Tri-County Park District. The commissioners appointed Andrew Berg of Maddock and Eli Huffman of Minnewaukan as Benson County’s representatives on the board.
The Leeds School District will have a bond election December 20 to determine whether or not a new school will be built. The current five-room elementary school, which was built in 1900, is bursting at the seams with 215 students. In addition the high school has 160 students. There are 17 teachers. Members of the school board are Francis Fogelson, Bob Dulmage and John Conway. Ben Baglien is clerk.
At a meeting in November 60 parents present were 97% in favor of building a new building. (The vote on December 20 went 2 to 1 in favor of building a new $200,000 building.) Twenty-eight men were served at Ann’s Cafe in Esmond for her annual Thanksgiving dinner for bachelors.
Vernon Lysne was elected to head the St. Peter Lutheran congregation at Minnewaukan. He succeeds Thor Sollin, who served two years.
Clinton Anderson was elected vice chairman to follow Clayton Nestegard in that office. Clifford Johnson is the new secretary and Dr. E.O. Yri and Olaf Solheim were elected trustees for three years.
They will serve with Jesse Rae, T.H. Risdal and P.A. Brekke. Gordon Johnson was chosen cemetery sexton. Floyd Peterson and Thor Sollin will serve with him on the cemetery board. Others re-elected were Mrs. Olaf Solheim, Sunday school superintendent; Mrs. Bertha Knutson, Mrs. Henry Kolsrud and Mrs. Anne Sigmundstad, deacons; Amy Cote, treasurer; Agnes Sigmudstad, financial sercretary; and Mrs. E.O.Yri, Christian education committee. Holdover members of that committee are Mrs. Gordon Solberg and Mrs. Clinton Anderson.
Ed Rolle of Brinsmade advertised that he had many models of 1958 Philco television sets on display.
Lalum Hardware of Leeds also offered television sets, appliances, toys and power tools, just in time for Christmas. Fogelson’s of Leeds offered a two pound tin of Nash’s coffee for $1.69.
Nordhougen Farm Supply had a large ad promoting Elephant Brand fertilizer.
Petsinger’s at Leeds offered size 10-18 parkas for $11.88.
Liechty’s, Inc. had a large ad promoting the 1958 Ford.
Other advertisers from Leeds were the Farmers State Bank of Leeds, Arne Gregor Insurance Agency and Baglien Insurance.
Theaters advertising were the Leeds Theater, which was showing "A Hatful of Rain" with Eva Marie Saint and Don Murray; the Roxy at Minnewaukan, which advertised "Rock Around the Clock" with Bill Haley and his Comets; the Roxy at Maddock, which was showing "Oklahoma" with Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones; and the Lyric at Rugby which advertised "Operation Madball" with Jack Lemmon and Ernie Kovacks.
Devils Lake advertisers included Goodman Farm Electric, which offered the rental of Permutit water conditioners for $3.75 per month; Glickson’s, which offered leather faced wool gloves for $2.95 to $3.95 per pair; Lake Supply, which was willing to paint a tractor for $29.95; Lake Chevrolet, which offered six 1955-57 cars and also handled Minneapolis-Moline farm machinery and Johnson outboard motors (Devils Lake was still a stinking slough at this time); Harry E. McHugh, a Dodge and Chrysler dealer, listed 20 cars from 1953-1957; and Gaspard’s Office Supply sold and serviced Smith-Corona, Olympia and Royal typewriters.
The dance capital of Benson County planned a dance with Evan Cole and his orchestra on Friday, Dec. 6. Yes, Baker was well-known for its well-attended dances.
Benson County Implement at Minnewaukan listed several pieces of farm machinery, along with four used cars.
The Farmers State Bank of Minnewaukan ran an institutional ad. Red Owl at Minnewaukan offered four 46 oz. cans of Dole tomato juice for $1. Home Supply at Minnewaukan offered Westinghouse electric dryers for $169.95. The Hi-Way Inn Cafe on the south side of town along the highway was now under the management of Mr. and Mrs. D.I. Cory. Standard Oil Co. ran a large ad promoting its gasoline with De-Icer.
Midway City Creamery of New Rockford offered farmers 67c for sweet cream and 66c for sour cream. Most farmers milked a few cows and kept chickens for meat and eggs. Few, if any, do that today.
Gronvold Motor Co. of Rugby listed 13 cars from 1950 to 1957 for sale, along with six pickups. One of the cars was a 1956 (one year old) Mercury for $1,895.
Rugby Sheet Metal and Plumbing ran an ad promoting its septic tank and cess pool pumping service. The charge was $35.
Nativity scene at Minnewaukan
A snowstorm arrived just in time to add to the Nativity scene at the gazebo in Minnewaukan. Despite the snow and cold wind, the production went off as scheduled with a chorus and a cast depicting Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, shepherds, angels, wise men, horses, a mule, miniature horses and a llama. The Nativity scene was directed by Claudette Carlson.
Scrimmage participants
Those who took part in the scrimmage between the Maddock Bobcats girls basketball team and the 1987 state championship Esmond-Maddock Eagles team are pictured. Ladies in the darker shirts are members of the 1987 team. Left to right, back row: Shannon Lauinger, Michelle Olson, Codi Olson, Courtney Foss, Tammi Johnson, Erin Yri, Janna Rice, Kaidi Kenner, Wanda Schwab and Alisha Knutson. Middle row: Angie Nicolai, Kaia Pranke, Kara Kallenbach, Beth Olson, Stephanie Rieger, Collette Schwab and Jessie Schwanke. Front row: Ashley Foss, Erin Leier, Karlene Mennis, Kayla Lauinger, Michelle Gailey, Sharisa Yri, Ranelle Warcken and Rachel Olson.
The Minnewaukan-Leeds Lions girls’ basketball team defeated Larimore, Dakota Prairie and Lakota to take first place in the Lake Region Invitational Tournament held in Devils Lake November 29, 30 and December 1. Team members are, kneeling, left to right: Jessica Bingham, Sadie Vallier, Kylee Rallo, Ashley Manley and Katrece Thompson. Standing: Head coach Travis Risovi, Kayla Bingham, Chandra Anderson, Allison Manley, Denage Braaten, Jordan Callahan, Bobbi Grann, Alyssa Erickson and assistant coach Matt Swanson. (Photo by Donna Grann)