APRIL 11
20 years ago (2003)
Newspapers from the spring of 2002 had bleak headlines featuring news of the closing of the Potlatch paper mill and laying off of 616 employees. Today was different, as a smiling Gov. Tim Pawlenty and smiling employee faces celebrated the paper running off the machines of the Missota Paper Co. in the old Potlatch mill.
30 years ago (1993)
A Brainerd man, 27, who was involved in an altercation at the Wagon Wheel in Merrifield, was cut by a beer bottle and is in serious condition in the ICU at St. Joseph's Medical Center. The other party involved was a man from Elk River. No arrests have been made but four people have been questioned.
40 years ago (1983)
Most guests at the Thrifty Scot Motel check in at the front desk. But a deer who made a surprise visit yesterday came in through a window – and then decided to take a bath. It thrashed about in a bathtub, turning the cold water on. The water nearly overflowed the tub before police came in and had to destroy the badly injured animal.
60 years ago (1963)
In response to Pres. Kennedy's plea for a physically fit nation, area young people are walking, riding bikes and even riding horses to cover the recent 50-mile craze. Fastest of those on foot is Dick Ungerecht, 19, of Brainerd. He ran 20 miles, walked 10, ran another 10, then walked five and ran the last five. The trek took him about 10 hours.
80 years ago (1943)
Mayor Frank Johnson today paid tribute to the nearly 100 Brainerd men of the 194th Tank Battalion who are among the heroes of Bataan. “The fall of Bataan a year ago came as a personal blow to nearly every resident of Brainerd and the county,” Johnson said. Most of these men are now prisoners of war under the Japanese.
100 years ago (1923)
The Brainerd Civic & Commerce Assn.'s campaign for funds to establish a modern tourist park is seeking to raise $2,500 to put the White Tourist Park in proper shape to greet the wave of tourists expected this season. Over $1,200 was in hand yesterday, with another $600 donated today.
8/46: First shipment of iron ore on the Cuyuna Range from the Kennedy Mine.
27/46: People in the Northern Pacific Railroad depot waiting area, circa 1910. Source: 'Out of the Woods, A Pictorial History of The Brainerd Lakes Area', Published by The Brainerd Daily Dispatch. Copyright 1994.
28/46: Chicago Tavern on Gilbert Lake circa 1938-1943. Dancing and food. Al LaBarre was the owner. Source: 'Out of the Woods, A Pictorial History of The Brainerd Lakes Area' published by The Brainerd Daily Dispatch. Copyright 1994.
29/46: State Champion was this Brainerd amateur baseball team of 1894, which later saw two of those players advance to the major leagues. Pictured here are (front row) Frary, catcher; Phyle, rf-pit.; Howe, pit., rf; C. McCarthy, 1st; (middle row) Burgum, shortstop, W.P. Buckley, manager; Hill; 3rd; (back row) W. McCarthy, cf; Blandy, lf; Warner, 2nd. Source: 'Brainerd Minnesota 1871 - 1971'. Reproduced from the Centennial Edition of the Brainerd Daily Dispatch. Copyright 1971.
35/46: Brainerd Fire Department. Dispatch archives
36/46: W.E. Lively, the hustling Maxwell auto dealer, has sold a Maxwell to Joseph Johnson. Pictured is a Maxwell Mascotte Touring 1911 by Lars-Göran Lindgren Sweden - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1526033
37/46: This truck belonged to Silas Hall's Transfer Line just after World War I. It was used for hauling freight from the NP (Northern Pacific Railroad) depot to stores around town as well as for other kinds of moving. The picture was taken in front of the railroad freight office. Before the truck, Silas Hal used teams of horses and wagons which he kept at 415 Main (now Washington Street). Source: Brainerd Minnesota 1871 - 1971. Reproduced from the Centennial Edition of the Brainerd Daily Dispatch.
38/46: The 1916 Brainerd police force, pictured here, included the following men: The plain clothes men at either end were Jack Brandt (left) and Ted Nesheim; (front row, left to right) Charles Varner, chief, and Tom Templeton. (Rear, left to right) Erick Graff, Hans Saude and August Swanson. Source: Brainerd Minnesota 1871 - 1971. Reproduced from the Centennial Edition of the Brainerd Daily Dispatch.
39/46: This building at Seventh and Laurel, still a well-known landmark in Brainerd, was the home of the Citizen's State Bank, from 1909 to 1927, when the bank then moved to quarters across the street. This picture was taken in 1913. Source: Brainerd Minnesota 1871 - 1971. Reproduced from the Centennial Edition of the Brainerd Daily Dispatch.
40/46: The "fill" grounds skating rink, located near Franklin Junior High School, winter of 1938-39. Source: 'Out of the Woods, A Pictorial History of The Brainerd Lakes Area', Published by The Brainerd Daily Dispatch. Copyright 1994.
41/46: 60 years ago (1959) (Photo) Robert Dobson, 15, is interested in how long he can keep a kite aloft. He launched a kite at 3 p.m. yesterday near the court house and it's still flying despite a near disaster when a truck caught the kite string. The weatherman says it will remain windy today. Photo illustration, Metro Creative Graphics, Inc.
42/46: Brainerd Dispatch archives
43/46: The state hospital campus on Highway 18.
44/46: Santa takes a ride during a Christmas parade in downtown Brainerd.
45/46: Children crowd around Santa during downtown Brainerd Christmas festivities.
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