Fifty years after the Korean War, a veteran who got his Army Commendation Medal just last month will be grand marshal of the Brainerd-Baxter July 4th parade. Paul Wearda received the medal at the Willmar VFW. During the war he was awarded two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star after being shot and left for dead.
30 years ago (1992)
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Randy Willert met Kim Ketterling in her dad’s bar two years ago and it clicked. They set their wedding date for June 20th this year since her dad decided not to have his annual Eddie’s softball tournament. Then her dad changed his mind. That’s why Randy played softball Saturday morning and married Kim on Saturday evening. And, yes, he played softball on Sunday, too.
40 years ago (1982)
Irene Johnson, the anti-fluoride leader who refused to pay for her water last year because it contains fluoride, hasn’t changed her mind. She offered to pay her property taxes last month, but again refused to pay a special assessment for water. Friends paid her water bill last year; this year it looks headed to court.
60 years ago (1962)
A new sports center has been opened by Al Shallbetter in the building that house the old Gateway Club, a mile north on Hwy 371. Called Lakes and Woods Sporting Goods, it will have the usual line of bait and sporting goods, camping equipment rental, plus a trap and rifle range onsite.
80 years ago (1942)
(Photo) Brainerd sailor Gay Olson was a crewman on the aircraft carrier Lexington loading anti-aircraft guns when it came under Jap air attack May 8. He said the carrier didn’t seem damaged until interior explosions forced a call to abandon ship and the Lexington sank. He floated in the ocean until picked up by a cruiser. He’s on leave here for a few days.
100 years ago (1922)
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The Dispatch is now able to report the results for all 50 precincts in yesterday’s county primary election. The six-man sheriff’s race was the most exciting ever seen here, with former Sheriff Fred Reid polling 1,387 and current Sheriff Claus Theorin second at 1,163. They will advance to the general election this fall.
28/50: 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.
29/50: 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.
30/50: 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.
37/50: Brainerd Fire Department. Dispatch archives
38/50: 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
39/50: 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.
40/50: 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.
41/50: 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.
42/50: 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.
43/50: 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.
44/50: 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.
45/50: Brainerd Dispatch archives
46/50: The state hospital campus on Highway 18.
47/50: Santa takes a ride during a Christmas parade in downtown Brainerd.
48/50: Children crowd around Santa during downtown Brainerd Christmas festivities.
