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 May 30, 1919:

Private H.S. Turrell has been spending the past week with friends in Marshall while on a furlough. He is a veteran of the Spanish-American War and enlisted in the artillery shortly after the declaration of war in 1917. He spent several months in France and while there saw action while attached to a French railway artillery unit.

Liberty Park is becoming the center of considerable building activity. A fine new residence for T.A. Regnier is well under way; Ole Todnem has completed a double garage and will erect two residences; the basement for a new residence to be built by Neal Van Dorin has also been completed. Liberty Park is to be one of the beauty spots of the future in Marshall.

The barn dance in the Lee Alexander barn at Lynd was such a success last week, that the event will be repeated on next Monday evening.

All American Ladies’ Baseball Club will be at Ghent, Thursday, June 5th. The local players are good players and the girls are said to be good also, so a good game may be expected. Everybody come.

Miss Gladys Sampson went to Minneota, Sunday, where she will take up dressmaking with Mrs. Charles Peterson.

Mr. and Mrs. V.E. Grandpre have received a telegram from their son, George, stating that he has landed in New York. He is a member of the 33rd Division and was at the front when the armistice was signed.

A fine display of flowering plants appeared the first of the week in the window boxes of Dr. Thorburn’s dental offices which adds not a little to the attractiveness of the Barrymore building and lends a summery appearance to the locality. Mr. and Mrs. Theo Thomas are also among those in the business section who have similarly exhibited their sense of the artistic.

The D.D. McNiven Motor Company is erecting additional machine sheds near the Northwestern station to house their large stock of farm machinery already on hand and other shipments due to arrive soon.

A large number of the soldiers, sailors and marines who have been discharged from the service have not yet been heard from in regard to their service records. Under the direction of the county chairman, Mr. A.P. Rose, these records are being gathered for the Minnesota State Historical Society in every community of the county. The records of those living in and around Marshall are being collected at this office and many of the blank record forms remain unfilled.

On Thursday evening, June 5, there will be basket social in district No. 12, which is three miles southwest of Ghent. Miss Gladys Wells, the teacher, is preparing a good program and the public is invited.

The photograph featured this week from the Lyon County Museum’s collection is the Soldier’s Monument in front of the Lyon County Courthouse. The monument was dedicated on May 30, 1911 by the Marshall Grand Army of the Republic post, the D.F. Markham Post, and the Tracy Grand Army of the Republic post, the Joe Hooker Post. The monument still stands in its original location in front of the Lyon County Government Center.

We give thanks to our fallen men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice on this Memorial Day.

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