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 Sept. 30, 1910:

The new steel and cement bridge out on the extension of Second street, and called the Bellingham bridge, has been in commission for a few days, and it is a most creditable structure, reflecting credit on the home manufactures, the Bladholm Brothers of Marshall, who have now built nearly thirty steel bridges in this vicinity. The street committee of the city council did some hustling in order to have the bridge in use for the county fair. The steel bridge on Fourth street leading to Riverside is well under way and ought to be finished in a couple of weeks. It is being built by the Hennepin Bridge company, and the superstructure is a series of steel piling on both sides of the river. The new structure will be considerably longer than the old one, and there will walks on both sides of the bridge.

The public library is to be heated by steam from the Union heating plant.

While working with some horses on the Ed. Berry farm south of town last week, Wilson Coyle was kicked by as stallion, and three ribs were fractured.

Last Saturday Sheriff Grannan was obliged to take Miss Mattie Lake of Burchard to the asylum at St. Peter. Mrs. Grannan accompanied the girl.

Stark Brothers of Duluth have signed the contract with the city of Marshall for the installation of the heating system connecting the city power plant with the two business blocks on the south side of Main street between Second and Fourth streets. The firm says it can easily get the work done in the time prescribed.

Miss Laura Burr of Amiret was a Marshall visitor on Wednesday.

Mr. and Mrs. James McNiven and Mrs. Clark Lawrence went to St. Paul to attend the wedding of Harold Forbes on Tuesday evening, an account of which will be found elsewhere in this paper.

Dr. Lewis E. Ijams left for the twin cities today, and will attend the twelfth annual meeting of the Minnesota State Osteopathic Association at Lake City, Oct. 1st, where he is programmed to speak on “The Bi-manual Treatment.” Lunch excursions and entertainment are to be accorded by Lake City people.

The photograph featured this week from the Lyon County Museum’s collection is Dr. Lewis E. Ijams. The photograph appeared in “The History of Lyon County” by Arthur P. Rose, published in 1912.

The Lyon County Museum will be closed today for the Arts and Living History Festival at Memorial Park. The event runs from 10 a.m.to 2 p.m. Check Facebook for event details.

The Lyon County Historical Society (LCHS) is a nonprofit, member-supported organization. LCHS operates the Lyon County Museum at 301 West Lyon Street 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.