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 December 27, 1912:

Miss Eva Kidder is home from Hamline for her holiday vacation.

Mrs. Arthur Freese is the holder of the lucky number 1721, which won the sewing machine given away by the Watson Hardware Co. to their holiday customers; and the diamond given a way by the Lyric was won by Landlord Fred Cook of the Atlantic Hotel.

James A. McNiven and family were guests at a Christmas dinner given by Dr. and Mrs. Robertson of Cottonwood.

Among the college students home for the Christmas vacation are: Ruth Fulton, Edna Newman, Truman Bumford, Clifford Blanchard, and Artys Schroeder of Carleton College; Viola Nash of St. Mary’s Seminary at Winona; Henry Elder from the University; Paul Bockoven from Yankton; and Mary Bumford from Grinnell, Iowa.

Miss Alice Lindsley who is attending Macalester College is spending her Christmas vacation at home.

Mrs. A.J. Gag spent Christmas at her former home in New Ulm.

Thorburn’s Orchestra announce a big dance for New Years night in the Assembly Hall.

Nate Haas, the man that made butter famous, is making a two weeks visit in Wisconsin and Illinois, through the “corn fed” district, leaving his brother-in-law, Ted Gunn, in charge of the manufacturing department at the creamery.

Mr. A.P. Rose, author of the recently issued History of Lyon County, has received the following letter of appreciation from Hon. Warren Upham, secretary of the Minnesota Historical Society: “Dear Mr. Rose: Your latest county history, of Lyon county, was recently received in this society’s library, and I wish to thank you in behalf of our state, for the excellent work you have done in writing five or more county histories of Southwestern Minnesota. Further, I am glad to know that other counties are expected to follow, the next to be Yellow Medicine. There you will have much interesting history connected with missionary work and the Sioux outbreak. Whenever newspaper files or other resources of this historical library may aid you, we shall be glad to have you visit here, and that I may thus become acquainted with one of our southwestern life members. Warren Upham, Secretary.”

The photograph featured this week from the Lyon County Museum’s collection shows an image of a 1912 edition of the History of Lyon County by Arthur P. Rose. The museum has a few first editions in the collection. The book was digitized by the Internet Archive in 2008. To read the book, visit www.archive.org/details/illustratedhistolcm00rose.

Happy New Year Lyon County Historical Society! The Lyon County Historical Society (LCHS) is a non-profit, member-supported organization. LCHS operates the Lyon County Museum at 301 W Lyon St in Marshall. The Lyon County Museum is open to visitors. To contact us, visit our website: www.lyoncomuseum.org, call: 507-537-6580, email: director@lyoncomuseum.org, or on our Facebook page.