Mazeppa Area Historical Happenings

Compiled by Helen Reiland and Mike Holtorf

The Mazeppa Journal, Editor and Publisher: Barbara and Reider Tommeraas

August 16, 1946

Mazeppa Farmers’ Cooperative Dairy Had Biggest Six Months in History: The Auditor’s report shows sales amounting to $187,747.28 for the first six months of 1946 compared to $151,535.67 for the same period in 1945.

Men Recover Goods From Stolen Cache: Tools valued at $100 were recovered last week by Robert Loetcher of Mazeppa through the diligence of two Plainview farmers, Sheriff John Jacobs and Deputy Sheriff George Searles and other law enforcement officers.
The three-year series of farm burglaries by a reputedly wealthy Rochester retired farmer, John Sprich, was brought to a halt when Orville Kuhlman and John Welti saw a truck with lights out drive into the Milton Schwantz farm near Plainview. The two men gave chase and followed him 15 miles before forcing Sprich to stop.

Mazeppa to Organize American Legion Post: All service men and women of World Wars I and II are urged to present at a meeting in the high school senior assembly Friday for the purpose of organizing an American Legion post.
Desmond Hunt of Rochester, former first district commander, will be present, as will a delegation from Zumbrota. Officers will be elected and application for a charter made out.
At the present time, Mazeppa Legion members are affiliated with the Zumbrota post.

Obituaries:

Laverne Windhorst Jr.: Funeral services for Laverne Windhorst Jr., infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Laverne Windhorst were held Tuesday at 2 pm. at the home, with interment in the Bear Valley cemetery.

Rev. Emil Hermann: The Rev. Emil Hermann of Grand View, Wis., died Sunday afternoon at 4:45 p.m. at the home of his nephew, Henry Hermann, in South Troy. The Rev. Hermann underwent a major operation at St. Mary’s hospital, Rochester, July 22. He had seemingly recovered when he suffered a blood clot and heart failure.

Hawkinson Leaves Light Commission: Sixteen years of intensive service for the village and Mazeppa Light and Power commission by A.R. Hawkinson will close Aug. 20, as the veteran commission member this week handed in his resignation.

Becoming a member of the commission in 1930, Mr. Hawkinson has seen many changes in the village power plant. Power at that time was furnished only by the water wheel—-in 1946 there are two diesel engines.
There was a debt of $11,000, but during the past 16 years farmers’ lines have been built, all expenses paid and thousands of dollars transferred to other village departments.

At the present time there are no debts, and no taxes have ever been levied for use by the commission. The secretary saw the commission working against great odds, through the worst depression the county ever had, and winning two law suits.

Mr. Hawkinson is to be greatly commended for his conscientious and zealous service to the commission and the community.

Narrow Escape: Tommy Heaney narrowly missed severe injuries Saturday morning when he fell 25 feet from an electric light pole near the oil storage tanks. He fell when his spurs failed to hold suffering a bruised finger and wrist.
Sept. 9 Set as Date For School Opening: The Mazeppa Public Schools will open the 1946-47 term on Monday, Sept. 9, unless it appears advisable at that time to further postpone the opening.

Custodian Frank Hammes has placed the building in A-1 shape. All floors have been thoroughly cleaned and sealed. The playing floor in the gymnasium has been well sanded. As soon as Coach F.G. Eimmerman has painted in the boundary lines, the floor will be sealed.

One teacher must yet be hired to complete the faculty for the ensuing year. At its meeting Monday evening the Board of Education engaged A.J. Norberg of Chisholm, Minn., as bandmaster and science teacher. Mr. Norberg will also serve as high school principal.

Additional Personal Items:
Mr. and Mrs. John Almeter and Jean Pagel moved to Lake City Sunday from Northfield.

Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Oelkers left Sunday for the West coast, where they plan to visit their son, Pfc. Robert Oelkers, who is stationed at Fort Ord,. Calif. They also plan to visit friends and relatives in California, Oregon and Washington.
Tuesday evening a group of relatives gave a party for Henry Pesch in honor of his 76th birthday.

Cpl. Wilfred Tri, who has recently been stationed at Tsing Toa, China, arrived home Tuesday evening. Cpl. Tri, who received his discharge at Great Lakes en route home, has served two years, in the Marine Corps, with 20 months of this time being overseas.

Albert Ramthun, Byron contractor and builder, died Sunday at the age of 62, after having been in failing health for a year. He is the father of Robert Ramthun of Mazeppa.

Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Ford of Minneapolis have announced the marriage of their ward, Ellen H. Fairley to Frank A. Johnston, son of Mr. and Mrs. W.A. Johnston, Columbia, Mo. Mrs. Johnston is the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Harry Fairley of Fairmount and a niece of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Ford of Mazeppa.

L. H. Amdahl was elected superintendent at a salary of $3200 for ten months of the ensuing year.

Laura Reeve was elected to teach grades three and four at a salary of $1620.00 for nine months.
​
Fred G. Eimermann was elected teach High School and athletic coach at a salary of $2600.00 for nine and one-half months of the ensuing year.