MARCH 31
20 years ago (2003)
Brainerd's Andy Pickar finished one victory away from All-American status at 152 pounds in the National High School Wrestling Championships. After winning two matches to get to the final 16, Pickar beat a Missouri wrestler 8-7 before losing to another Missouri wrestler 8-3 and one from Arizona 5-3. He finished in the top 10.
30 years ago (1993)
Charlie and June Persons have decided it's time to sign off the airwaves – again. The owners of KVBR Radio will sell the station to the Ingstad group, pending FCC approval. And this time they say it's for good. The Persons sold KVBR about 10 years ago, then bought it back three years later. After 67 years in broadcasting, Charlie, 84, says he's really retiring.
40 years ago (1983)
In a surprising turnabout, a state mediator ended a bid by the Brainerd Education Assn. to represent Brainerd's teachers. He ruled that BEA came 1.3 signatures short of the number needed to challenge the current representative, Brainerd Federation of Teachers. The BEA vows it will challenge again in 1985.
60 years ago (1963)
The Nisswa school board decided it will stay neutral on the proposed merger between itself and the Pequot Lakes district. It further said that it will proceed with its plans for a $210,000 addition to the Nisswa School. The merger requires Nisswa voters to approve the merger, and no move toward such a petition has yet begun.
80 years ago (1943)
There is a broken-hearted little boy in Brainerd today. He is William “Muff” Graham, son of the Bill Grahams of Brainerd. He received a pair of silver pilots wings from Lt. Richard Broach of the Army Air Corps for “being a good boy.” Muff lost the wings walking home from Whittier School yesterday, but resolves he will earn his own wings when he grows up.
100 years ago (1923)
(Political Adv.) To the public: I am a candidate for Mayor and solicit your vote. I have lived in Brainerd for forty years and intend to stay here. Laws are made to be enforced and I believe in enforcing them. A dollar spent should bring a dollar's worth in return. I will appreciate your support. Signed: Con O'Brien
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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