A reader contacted me in early November and suggested writing about the impact of the 1918-19 influenza pandemic in our region. I have been reading an excellent history of that global pandemic by John M. Barry entitled “The Great Influenza” and recommend it to anyone interested in digging ...
Winter has well and truly arrived, much to the disappointment of those (such as me) who had hoped that global warming would spare us from this season of freezing blizzards and stinging snowstorms. Winter is actually a gift. Without winter, we wouldn’t fully appreciate spring and summer. A ...
Knowing that I would not be having many folks visiting me at home this year during the Christmas season due to quarantining and isolation in general, I cut back significantly on the decorations indoors. I still managed my outdoor wreaths and lights both in the front of the condo and in the ...
Most of us, if not all, are happy to see the end of 2020. The challenges of this past year have been compared to the 1918 Influenza Pandemic in terms of its effect on public health globally, but also compared to World War II in terms of how we live and the economy that surrounds us. During the ...
After reading the Dec. 23 Marshall Independent article entitled, “Historian surprised to find a history of racism in her hometown”, I felt compelled to comment. As a retired career high school history teacher of 35 years at Tracy Area High School, the article is accurate about the KKK ...
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 ...
We’ve been learning about Ivanhoe’s Norma Jean (Pederson) Johnson, a 1940 graduate of Ivanhoe High School who graduated from the St. Barnabus School of Nursing in Minneapolis in 1944 and, like many fellow nursing graduates, volunteered for military service, in her case with the Army Nurse ...
With a wintertime pandemic raging outside our windows, many of us have opted to hunker down. Watching a movie in the comfort and the safety of your living room has gone from being an unhealthy way to avoid exercise to a good way to stay healthy. A series of random connections recently ...
There are many ways to get ourselves through winter. The best way, quite often, to do this is to keep gardening. In Minnesota, whether there is snow on the ground or not, it is too cold for us to do much outside until now. The University of Minnesota has started something new. A hobby for ...
The following excerpt is from a letter by World War I veteran and one-time editor of the Marshall Messenger, Wilbur Peterson, to his mother and grandparents. Peterson was born in Marshall in 1898 and passed away in Nevada in 1988. Peterson published his stories and letters from his service in ...
Last week we met Ivanhoe’s Norma Jean (Pederson) Johnson, who graduated from Ivanhoe High School in 1940; continued her education at the St. Barnabus School of Nursing in Minneapolis; and graduated as an RN in 1944. Like many of her fellow nursing graduates, she volunteered for military ...
For a while during the Coronavirus Pandemic there were lots of different sports games on television. The only problem was that a goodly number were from particular colleges showing highlights and in some cases entire games from yesteryear emphasizing winning seasons of a particular sport for a ...
I stumbled upon a favorite old television show this month when I was getting the oil changed in my car. I saw an episode of the classic police show Adam 12, where officers Pete Malloy and Jim Reed patrol the streets of Los Angeles. I enjoyed the nostalgia, and also took note of the sharp ...
For many of us, the new year means a fresh start and the chance to set new goals. As you consider your resolutions, you may want to add “strengthen my financial foundation” to the list. Here are five ways you can put yourself on firmer financial footing in 2021: 1 – Identify what’s ...
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 ...
This year the world commemorates the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. We are remembering contributions of persons from our region, most of whom are no longer with us. During WWII the women serving in the Navy WAVES, the Coast Guard SPARS, the Marine Corps Women Reserves, and the ...
As 2020 draws to a close, there are many reasons to be hopeful that next year will be less challenging than this one. Studies have shown that two upcoming coronavirus vaccines are over 90 percent effective, meaning there is light at the end of the tunnel. And as we look ahead, we must ensure ...
The Christmas card is often sent as part of the traditional celebration of the holiday season in order to convey between people a range of sentiments related to the holiday season. Over a billion Christmas cards are sent annually in the United States. A leader in the greeting card business, ...
We’ve been learning about Tyler’s Ardith (Aamodt) Sween and her early years in Cottonwood; her work there during the Depression era and early years of WWII; and her decision to volunteer for the U.S. Navy WAVES. She traveled to New York in March 1943 for initial training at Hunter College. ...
My reading of books has fallen off a bit lately. I was getting too far behind on the various magazines that come my way. Last Friday the December issue of Forbes came in the mail so I thought I would try to tackle it before it became old news. It is not a small publication. There were 136 ...