MARCH 17
20 years ago (2002)
For almost 40 years, John Pecarich has roamed the sidelines of area basketball courts as a coach, shouting encouragement, drawing up strategies and teaching players life's little lessons. After five seasons as an assistant coach for the CLC Raiders, he's putting away his whistle and clipboard and retiring.
30 years ago (1992)
Prosecution and defense attorneys made their pitches yesterday before the MN Court of Appeals as to whether the confession of arson suspect Richard Needham should be suppressed. He is accused of setting fire to a downtown Brainerd building, but his confession to police was disallowed by Judge Bob Kautz.
40 years ago (1982)
The controversy over election of the Pelican Township clerk isn't over yet. When the canvassing board tossed three absentee ballots, turning a 52-49 victory for incumbent Bob Curtis into a 49-49 tie, the board tossed a coin and Curtis won. Not so fast, said opponent Florence Wick. She is charging him with a variety of campaign improprieties.
60 years ago (1962)
The C-I basketball team, which upset powerful Brainerd in the District 24 title game, started cold in their opening round test in Region 6 play. But they came roaring back in the final quarter to beat Alexandria, led by Bill Kimbler's 17 points, Jack Fearing's 16 and Arlo Knoll's 15.
80 years ago (1942)
Two miners who were trapped in a flooded shaft at the Merritt Mine near Trommald have been rescued and are not injured. A blast accidentally opened a nearby abandoned property that had flooded. Water rushed in and miners scrambled to safety. When two were discovered missing, the others worked two hours to free them.
100 years ago (1922)
Art Magnan, a Brainerd carpenter, could be in line for a large oil fortune in Montana. Magnan owns a 160-acre homestead very close to where a 3,000 barrel-per-day oil well gusher was struck last week. The area has been named the Sweet Grass Arch field.
28/50: 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.
29/50: 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.
30/50: 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.
37/50: Brainerd Fire Department. Dispatch archives
38/50: 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
39/50: 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.
40/50: 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.
41/50: 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.
42/50: 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.
43/50: 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.
44/50: 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.
45/50: Brainerd Dispatch archives
46/50: The state hospital campus on Highway 18.
47/50: Santa takes a ride during a Christmas parade in downtown Brainerd.
48/50: Children crowd around Santa during downtown Brainerd Christmas festivities.
50/50: Brainerd Dispatch archives
