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 July 6, 1917:

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hills of St. Paul spent the Fourth at the Whitney home, and Mrs. Hills will remain here for a short time, while her husband makes a trip to the Pacific Coast in connection with his position with the Great Northern Railway.

The Marshall Furniture is now located in the Masonic Hall temporarily, and have a fine display of furniture.

A large swarm of bees held up traffic on Main Street for a time this morning. The pile of hollow tile in front of the new Brantman building looked like a good place to hive and the swarm filled the gap in the street for over an hour so that drivers of teams and cars hesitated about going thru. However the bees seemed intent on what they were doing and the drivers and teams which did pass thru were not stung.

At the funeral of Fred Marks, held las Sunday at the Clifton Evangelical church, there were forty-two automobile loads of friends and relatives. A number of Marshall Elks attended the funeral. It was notable feature that the first automobile hearse to be used in this vicinity, was the Studebaker hearse secured from the Tracy undertaker. What would have been a tedious drive for autos, with having to shift gears driving behind a horse drawn hearse, from the church to the Marshall cemetery was accomplished in a short time. There were no teams in the long procession.

The Spurgeon Odell family left on Monday for Green Lake, planning to spend several weeks there.

The boys of the First Minnesota Artillery have been moved from Ft. Snelling to Ft. Riley, Kansas, and letters addressed to them there will be delivered. Those in Battery “E” from here are Algerie Soucy, Wilbur Peterson, Floyd Castle, Harold Barnes, Harry Minnick and George Benjamin. J. Hostetler and George Edwards are in Battery “F.” The Marshall boys in the First Infantry are still at Fort Snelling. Percy Palmer and Louis Robinson are somewhere on the Pacific. Cards have been received from them, but they cannot give their address. Letters addressed to the department at Washington will be delivered to their ships.

Eight auto loads of farmers with their picnic baskets and good appetites spent Sunday at Dead Coon Lake. It being an ideal day for an out-of-doors dinner.

Neal Van Dorin who has been kept at home for two weeks by a severe attack of the measles, is able to attend to affairs at the Marshall Garage again.

The photograph featured this week from the Lyon County Museum’s collection shows the Marshall Garage building on Main Street in Marshall, circa 1915.

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.