MARCH 28
20 years ago (2003)
In Little Falls the school's cutting millions of dollars, the city's losing half its budget, but all anyone wants to talk about is the French flag flying over Le Bourget Park. It's a symbol of the sister city in France where local flier Charles Lindbergh landed on his historic 1927 flight. But with France sparring with the U.S. over Iraq, some say the flag should come down.
30 years ago (1993)
Although he may be best known for flying a plane down 6th Street many years ago, Bill Van Essen, 73, is being recognized for his 60-plus years of service to the community. Van Essen has been named the 1992 Brainerd Citizen of the Year. He is seriously ill with cancer but still cracked jokes throughout the Lions Club meeting where he was nominated.
40 years ago (1983)
A new community event, designed to draw more tourists to the Brainerd area in the fall season, is currently being planned by several local groups. Called the Paul Bunyan Festival, the event will take place at Brainerd International Raceway on Sept. 23-25. Jane Gunsbury is the chair.
60 years ago (1963)
Frank Borders, 36, Brainerd man who was arrested by military police Feb. 26 at his job at the Northwest Paper Mill here, begins his one-day court martial trial today at Ft. Sheridan, Illinois. Three Brainerd men have flown there to testify at the trial. Borders, a father of five young children, is charged with desertion from the Army 11 years ago.
80 years ago (1943)
Brainerd joined the nation in facing its first meatless – or near meatless – weekend today, with hopes that meat rationing starting next week may ease the problem of diminishing food supplies. Poultry, which will not be rationed, saw butchers fighting with butchers and housewives fighting with housewives in many cities over supplies.
100 years ago (1923)
The 10,000 Lakes bowling team returned from Milwaukee where they participated in the 23rd annual tournament of the American Bowling Congress. No sensational score was rolled by our team, it was the first time Brainerd had ever attended this great bowling classic. Cards were distributed calling Brainerd the “Gateway to the 10,000 Lakes.”
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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