APRIL 3
20 years ago (2003)
Joshua DeRosier, found guilty a month ago on two counts of murder for the death of his grandparents, has been sentenced two consecutive life terms in prison. He will be eligible for release in 60 years. His attorney and some of his family members had asked Judge Dave Ten Eyck to make the sentences concurrent so he could get out in 30 years.
30 years ago (1993)
In what is believed to be an unprecedented move, the state attorney general's office convened a grand jury in Brainerd to look into two cases that county attorney Jack Graham had chosen not to prosecute. Within days it handed down two indictments for criminal sexual conduct. Graham says he stands on his decision not to prosecute.
40 years ago (1983)
A team of apparently frustrated TV addicts unbolted a 13-foot satellite antenna dish from behind the Waterfall Inn last Thursday night and took off with it, mount and all. It was something of an engineering feat as the $3,500 dish weighs close to 600 pounds. Because of its size, this is the first time such a dish has been stolen in the area.
60 years ago (1963)
A Brainerd youth, James Morris, used quick thinking to destroy evidence at the St. Cloud police station. He was picked up at Harry's Lounge for using a false ID. When searched, Morris, real age unknown, grabbed his draft card and swallowed it – whole – after a tussle with police. But police did find a fake drivers license, and charged him with underage drinking.
80 years ago (1943)
The county's quota in the second U.S. War Bond campaign launching April 12 is set at $530,000, according to P.C. Roth, general chair. S. G. Fitzpatrick, chair for the Brainerd portion of the drive, says the city quota is $354,570. Quotas in each community in the county are based on bank deposits.
100 years ago (1923)
West Brainerd's fate, as concerns her water supply, will be decided in today's municipal election. But one thing is assured – much improved telephone service. To date only three sets of wires have crossed the river, hampering service. NW Bell Telephone says it will lay a cable across the river, giving West Brainerd the same service as Brainerd has.
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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