MAY 11
20 years ago (2002)
Authorities yesterday were investigating a house explosion that killed an unnamed woman, age 72. Cass County Sheriff Randy Fisher said the blast was thought to have been caused by propane gas. The explosion completely demolished the home, damaged neighboring houses and was heard miles away.
30 years ago (1992)
There's some money in the school referendum to fix up Tornstrom Auditorium, and it needs it. The stage curtains are 35 years old and rotting; the stage floor is dotted with patches where the wood has broken and causes “soft spots”; the lighting system is so bad you can only use every other stage light or all the circuit breakers blow.
40 years ago (1982)
Sticks of dynamite that were found in the back seat of an old car parked at a Pine River residence were deemed to be too unstable and decomposed to move. Deputy “Skip” Rudquist, accompanied by a police officer and fire-fighting team, burned the dynamite and the car. “We lucked out,” he said, “ and there was no explosion.”
60 years ago (1962)
In the first thunderstorm of the season, lightning struck a Baxter home, causing heavy damage. It apparently struck a TV antenna, destroying it's circuit. It blasted two holes in the roof, split the sheetrock on two walls, blew a phone off the wall, started a fire in the attic and in a pillow in a bedroom. The family was at home, but is unharmed.
80 years ago (1942)
A Pine River man, whose worst offense seems to be intoxication and refusal to stay away from Brainerd, was sentenced to a year in the county jail today. He has been arrested 15 times and, when arrested this weekend, had three suspended 90-day sentences hanging over him. Judge Ebert combined all of them into the one year sentence.
100 years ago (1922)
(Adv.) Now Showing at the Lyceum Theatre! See Douglas Fairbanks in the greatest picture of his entire career. That famous Alexander Dumas novel of medieval France - “The Three Musketeers.” Due to the length of this 12-reeler, only two shows per day – 2:15 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
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.
