Mazeppa Area Historical Happenings

THE MAZEPPA JOURNAL, Publisher Louir Phillips

January 5, 1940

South Troy: Miss Doris Atkinson is working at the county agents office at Wabasha.

Local News:

The marriage was recently announce of Robert Ramthun of Byron and Miss Raeburn Banick , daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Banick of Mazeppa. They were married in September. They will reside at Byron.

The auction held by Mrs. John Goodman Saturday was successful despite bad weather. Everything sold at fair prices. Top cow price was $80. John Grimm bought the Ford car familiar for many years. Maas Bros. officiated at the sale.

The purchasing divisions of the federal government has posted a notice in the local post office asking for bids on more than 20,000 tile of different types for the new gymnasium-auditorium in the village.

Eight Zumbro Falls workers on the local WPA gym project will be transferred back to Zumbro Falls today to resume road work.

A.A. Weber went to Minneapolis the first of the week to enroll at Dunwoody Institute.

Charles Goodman and two sons, Glen and Floyd of Rochester attended the Goodman sale here Saturday.

The funeral service for the late Miss Minnie Smith of Zumbro Falls was held at the Mazeppa M.E. church Friday afternoon, Rev. F.L. Considine officiating. A quartet consisting of Howard Budensiek, A.H.Krinke, Mrs. C. Engelhart and Miss Ruth Engelhart sang. Pallbearers were W.L. Duncan, F.D. Mack, and Peter Megears of Mazeppa and Fred Wiebusch, Lloyd Jones and A.D. Klindworth of Zumbro Falls. Among the floral tributes was one from the Order of Railway Trainmen. (Miss Minnie Smith was the Depot agent in Zumbro Falls.)

January 19, 1940

                         “IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT” –AS THINGS USED TO BE

Mazeppa young folk had a sample Thursday night of how their parents used to live 30 years ago. It was a “blackout” a la Europe.

The electric plant, after experiencing trouble for several days, and using up all available water while the Diesel engine was taken apart for repairs, turned off about 5:30 p.m. for the night.

“Ah, then and there was hurrying to and fro.” People who had given up their oil stoves ranges, kerosene lamps and other horse and buggy day utensils looked them up and if found cleaned and polished them. Stores were visited for candles and glass chimneys. Furnace stokes were nearly useless and called for Rockefeller heaters. Refrigerating plants, radios, and electric ranges were idle. Only Hotel Mazeppa where a private plant is running sent forth a cherry beam.

According to President W.L. Duncan of the Light Commission, the engine overheated. An expert was summoned from St. Paul Thursday and declared that a new piston was needed. This could not be secured until morning. About 9 a.m. Friday enough water had backed up to start the plant and about noon the switch was made to the Diesel.

Things like this will always happen to machinery and everyone is glad that the suspension of service was short.

STEAM ENGINE ON JOB AT SCHOOL PROJECT

A steam engine was rented by the school district for use on the new gymnasium, and was brought here Saturday from Pine Island. Steam is necessary in laying concrete foundations in winter, and the pouring of concrete will soon begin on foundations. Steam is employed to warm the sand principally but has many uses.

Births:

A nine pound daughter, Patsy Ann was born to Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Tupper of South Mazeppa Friday night.

Locals:

The icy roads last week accounted for a number of auto accidents. Walter Arendt of Belle Chester had one of those unavoidable collisions with an Iowa produce truck at the Sprenger corner near Zumbro Falls, the truck side swiping it and damaging the body and fenders. Francis Riley rolled over a bank near Hammond and damaged the top and fenders of his car. Luckily none of the accidents resulted in personal injuries.

Elmer Fuglie of Winona was a Mazeppa visitor Friday. He reports prospects of dazzling success for the Winona Tool Manufacturing Co., which makes and distributes his invention of a crank-shaft grinder. Eastern importing houses are interested in securing supplies, as are jobbing houses and some of the big manufacturers. Inquiries come from South America. Eight men are now employed and with additional capital he believes the device, has a great future. It is the result of unlimited work and persistence by Mr. Fuglie and he deserves success.

Jule and his Merry Gang returns to the Opera House in Mazeppa on Tuesday, Jan. 23, to present a brand new comedy entitled “The Love Test.” Jule has made many new additions to the company and to the band and guarantees an evening of real fun, amusement and dancing.

Feb. 9, 1940

Death Takes Well-Known Residents

Mrs. Louis H. Meyer died at a Red Wing hospital Thursday noon. Aurelia Lamb was born in Gillford Nov. 16, 1895 and was married June 14, 1917 at Glendive, Montana to Louis H. Meyer. In 1922 they removed to Zumbro Falls; two years later to Hammond, and in 1933 to Mazeppa.

Her husband and five children—Chester, Dorthelda, Helen, George and Joseph –her mother, Mrs. Anna Lamb and brothers Charles and Freeman survive Mrs. Meyer.

Daniel Hilger, for many years a resident and business man of Mazeppa, died at Ancker Hospital, St. Paul, of double pneumonia after a week’s illness. Mr. Hilger, was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Hilger. He was in business, painting and decorating until eight years ago, when he moved to Spring Valley, Wis. to into the dry-cleaning business. Later he moved to St. Paul, where he passed. He was married to Effie Redding, who survives him together with a son and daughter, John Gerald and Ruth and three sisters and five brothers—Mrs. G.J. Sand, Catherine and Mrs. Jake Huberty, Mazeppa, and John, Wabasha, A.P. Weaver, George, Minneapolis, Dr. J.M., Iona, Minn. And William, Eau Claire, Wis.

Mrs. William Rietman broke her hip in a fall and seemed to be doing well when a blood clot proved fatal. Anna Martha Knierin was born in Germany and at the age of 19 she removed to Minnesota and married to William Rietman. They lived on farms near Zumbro Falls and Mazeppa until they retired and settled in Mazeppa. Mrs. Rietman leaves her husband and six children—Fred, Edward, William, Suzanna, Arthur , Mrs. Lena Grossbach, & Mrs. Edna Meyer.

Wedding: Miss Josephine Befort daughter of Mr. Joseph Befort of Goodhue was married to Mr. Lawrence Hofschulte sone of Mrs. Elizabeth Hofschulte of Mazeppa. Miss Elnora Gruhlke of Rochester, niece of the bride was attending along with Charles Hofschulte, brother of the groom.

Locals: Vernie Betcher exhibited 19 fox pelts in town Saturday, the results of a winter’s hunting and trapping.  – Compiled by Mike Holtorf