MARCH 24
20 years ago (2003)
A fast-moving fire and thick smoke forced three Brainerd people to escape by crawling out of second-story windows. The man, 19; a boy, 17; and a girl, 13, were in upstairs bedrooms when the fire started. Their father and another brother were working in the garage but thought the smoke came from a neighbor's wood stove.
30 years ago (1993)
Law enforcement authorities say a sophisticated marijuana growing operation was shut down, $1 million of marijuana was confiscated and four people arrested in raids at two Minneapolis homes and a cabin in Sibley Twp. near Pequot. More than $100,000 in cash and two submachine guns were found at the Crow Wing County cabin.
40 years ago (1983)
Mayor C. Elmer Anderson vetoed a council-approved package of pay hikes for water and light administrators – again citing his dissatisfaction with the department's secretary/accountant Martin Novak. He wants the pay hikes presented individually, as he said lack of internal accounting controls has caused a loss of $101,555 over five years.
60 years ago (1963)
Five boys from Pierz, all of them 14-years-old, made a 50-mile hike recently in 17 hours and 14 minutes, hiking 25 miles north of Pierz and then returning. Not to be out done, LeRoy Danks and Joe Doshan of Brainerd, both age 14, walked 50 miles on Hwy 371 in 13 hours and 37 minutes.
80 years ago (1943)
Construction of a building for the accommodation of at least 1,600 feeble-minded persons, either in Brainerd or Wadena, has been suggested in connection with a state post-war building plan. According to reports from St. Paul, this building is set for “somewhere in the northern part of the state.”
100 years ago (1923)
Engine trouble delayed the early morning passenger train from International Falls this morning, arriving at 9:15 a.m., over five hours late. This is the same train that arrived at 9:30 a.m. several days ago because the baggage and mail cars derailed at International Falls while making up the train.
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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