The social news or gossip columns in the old newspapers are always fascinating to read. A special section in the newspaper was devoted to the social media of the day. The whereabouts of local people and events were often featured in these columns. Here are a few from The News Messenger of Lyon County on Feb. 11, 1898:

Considerable work is being done in the Hotel Atlantic, improving the interior with new wall papers and painting.

The Val Blatz Brewing Co., which has just completed the building of a beer depot in Marshall, have supplied a metropolitan beer wagon for delivery of the amber beverage.

H.W. Addison attended the annual convention of Minnesota retail hardware men in Minneapolis on Wednesday and Thursday, returning Saturday.

Wm. Shand, one of the pioneers of Lyon County, who came to Custer Township from Canada as long ago as ’71, died as his home in Garvin last Monday. Mr. Shand was a native of Scotland.

Chamberlain’s delivery horse took a notion the other day that delivering groceries was too slow work for him, and set a two minute clip out toward the old fairgrounds that made the delivery wagon hustle to keep up. No damage was done.

The new receiver of the U.S. land office, George M. Laing, is now installed, relieving Mr. Matthews on Monday. Mr. Laing’s commission dates from Jan. 15. The new receiver has been a prominent resident of Windom for many years, since 1881, and was probate judge of Cottonwood County for fourteen years, as well as mayor of Windom and president of the board of education.

There is still a possibility of southwestern Minnesota enjoying a few days of sleighing and winter weather before spring, if yesterday’s storm is a presagement (obsolete word meaning omen). It was the first wintery day of the year, and the ground today is covered with two or three inches of snow.

Five carloads of fine stock was shipped over the Northwestern Monday for the Chicago market. Peter White sending three cars of fine large steers, Middleton a car of good mutton, and Dwinell a car of porkers.

R.H. Martin, George Tate, and Dr. Germo, of Balaton were in town Monday evening to attend the Marshall Lodge of Knights of Pythias, of which each are new members.

The photograph featured this week from the museum’s collection shows Addison Hardware (currently Marshall Tobacco) on the corner of Main Street and 2nd Street (now East College Drive) and the U.S. Land Office (currently the Varsity Pub) across the street. The Lyon County Historical Society is a nonprofit, member-supported organization. For more information on membership, research, volunteering, or the museum’s collection, please contact us at 537-6580 or director@lyoncomuseum.org. Like our page and follow us on Facebook.