The following appeared in the Rock County Herald on April 13, 1923:
SHOCK IS SEVERE 25 MILES DISTANT
 
Presence of the Unexploded Charge is Discovered by Accident After Quarrymen Had Used Dynamite Near It.
Discharge of a 750-pound “toe-cap” deposit of dynamite at the Quartzite Quarries, Inc., plant shortly after 6:00 o’clock Wednesday morning fairly shook the earth for an area of at least fifteen miles, east of Luverne, rattled windows and dishes, and jarred open doors in numerous homes, as well as awakened thousands of people with a suddenness that left them thoroughly bewildered.
This charge was a portion of the 7,000-pound plant of dynamite that was used in the big blast at the quarries last September, and for some reason this toe-cap charge, which was at the bottom of a 100-foot deep hole on about a level with the loading floor, had failed to go off, although several separated charges immediately above the toe-cap charge had all exploded.
From time to time since the September blast wonderment had been expressed that the ledge at that point was not more thoroughly broken up, but quarrymen had no suspicion that this charge of dynamite had not gone off along with the others at that time.
It was not until late Tuesday afternoon, after several small charges had been shot in breaking some large rocks on the loading floor of the quarry, within a few feet of the unexploded dynamite, that some of the explosive was noticed through a crack in the ledge, as well as two lead wires. In further investigating these clues it was found that the wires connected with a dynamite cap, leading to the dynamite charge. A test proved that the ignition cap was still alive, so it was decided to touch off the charge early the next morning before all workmen were on the grounds.
The reason that the explosion of the 750-pound charge was so much louder than the big blast in September is explained by the fact that there was practically no rock in front of the charge to furnish resistance and deaden the sound, whereas in the previous blast there was a solid wall about twenty-five feet through in front of the charge.
As far as material results are concerned, the latest blast was of little benefit, for at the thickest point there was hardly more than four feet of rock in front of it to furnish resistance. It was believed that the dynamite had absorbed considerable moisture and would not prove as powerful as it did.
It is considered strange, however, that at the time the mine was discharged last fall, it was not discovered that this particular charge had failed to go off. At the quarries, all heavy charges are ignited by electricity, and an instrument or tester, is used which denotes whether or not the charge is properly connected with the battery. Either this charge had been entirely overlooked or inaccurately observed, to have brought about such results.
Reports from Adrian are that the vibration and detonation there were severe enough to awaken a large percentage of the people of the town, and many jumped at the conclusion that the village’s electric light plant had blown up. Testing this supposition by attempting to turn on the lights, they found the current on, and concluded that the west-bound Omaha passenger engine, which had pulled into the station a few minutes before, had blown up. Finding this supposition wrong they were wholly at a loss to understand where the explosion could have emanated from.
Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, P.O. Box 741, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.
 
 
 
 

 
The following appeared in the Rock County Herald on February 23, 1923:
 
KIWANIS CLUB TO GIVE SILVER CUP TO SCHOOLS
Will be Used as a Trophy for Which Seniors and Juniors Will Annually Debate
Purchase and presentation to the Luverne high school of a silver cup as a trophy for which the Senior and Junior classes will debate, was authorized at the Luverne Kiwanis club.
This trophy is to remain in the possession of the Luverne schools from year to year, and the two classes above named will annually compete for it under conditions to be outlined by the superintendent of the schools.
A committee was named to purchase the silver cup, and it is hoped to secure one large enough so that the names of the winner and the year may be engraved upon it from year to year.
The purpose of the club in presenting the cup to the high school is to promote greater interest among the pupils in declamatory work and public speaking.
Members of the Senior and Junior classes are highly enthusiastic over the new arrangement, and the first interclass event for the cup, which will be held sometime during the spring, is certain to create much interest.
Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, P.O. Box 741, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.
 
 
 

 
The following appeared in the Rock County Herald on January 26, 1923:
 
NIGHT SCHOOL ENROLLMENT IS MORE THAN DOUBLED
With Only Eight Students Present on Opening Night, Attendance Reaches Eighteen on Second Night
That the Luverne night school is becoming an interesting as well as a beneficial project is shown by the rapid growth in enrollment, the number having increased from eight the opening night on Thursday evening to eighteen on Monday evening. And, without a doubt, more will yet enroll.
Up to this time the students are all men from the city. Classes being held from seven to nine o’clock on Monday and Thursday evenings, are expected to be continued for an eight weeks’ period. But with the added number of students it was rather difficult for Mr. Teasdale to satisfactorily handle all the work, and he is now being assisted by Supt. H. C. Bell.
The students are not put into any distinct grade classification, but each individual is given just what work he can handle, ranging from about the fourth to eighth grade work. No text books are used, the lessons being taught mainly by talks and explanations on the part of the teachers, and close observation and application by the students.
But one fact stands out plainly—every one of these men is there with a desire to learn. They appear to be determined to secure now the knowledge which circumstances deprived them of in their earlier years, for they realize that an education is one of the greatest assets a man can hold, and an essential to success in any form of business.
Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, P.O. Box 741, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.
 
 
 

 
The following appeared in the Rock County Herald on January 12, 1923:
BEAVER CREEK TO HAVE OWN TELEPHONE SYSTEM
Favor Purchase of Present System from Private Company by Village by Vote of 67 to 12
By the decisive vote of 67 to 12, the people of Beaver Creek village declared in favor of the purchase of the telephone exchange of that place by the village at a special election held Tuesday.
The telephone system, which is known as The New Telephone Co., was offered to the village for $1,477.24, and the people voted on its purchase at this figure with the above stated results.
The present system, which is owned by local parties, has been out of commission for one reason or another, since about the first of May.
Experienced telephone men consider the plant an excellent one, however, and claimed that the equipment there would be ample for a town considerably larger than Beaver Creek.
Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, P.O. Box 741, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.
 
 
 

 
The following appeared in the Rock County Herald on December 15, 1922:
 
LIVESTOCK MEETING WILL BE HELD TOMORROW
State Livestock Specialist to Propose Methods of Eradicating Tuberculosis From Rock County Herds
The lecture on tuberculosis eradication work which has been scheduled for tomorrow afternoon under the auspices of the Livestock Sanitary board and the committee on tuberculosis eradication work, promises to be of great interest not only to the farmers and livestock breeders of the county, but to every other citizen as well, and every man and woman is urged to attend.
The meeting will be held at the Commercial club rooms, and will begin at 2:15 p.m. or directly after the close of the street Christmas celebration. W.A. Peck, of University Farm, or Dr. Fritz, a tuberculosis specialist, will be here for the afternoon. The speaker will give statistical information showing the heavy losses sustained each year by livestock breeders through tuberculosis, which during the last fifteen years has raised from 15 to 25 per cent of the total numbers of swine slaughtered.
Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, P.O. Box 741, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.
 
 
 

 
The following appeared in the Rock County Herald on December 1, 1922:
 
TRANSFER OF BODIES IN OLD LUVERNE CEMETERY APPROVED
Maplewood Cemetery Proposition to Receive and Care for Bodies
The proposition of merging the Luverne cemetery with that of the Maplewood cemetery was reported as accepted at a meeting of the trustees of the Luverne association held Wednesday evening.
As outlined in these columns in previous issues, this provides for removing the bodies now interred at the old Luverne cemetery to Maplewood, and the eventual sale of the Luverne cemetery land, the funds and property of this association to go to the Maplewood association.
It was announced that the officers of the Maplewood association had arranged to set aside suitable lots for the re-interment of bodies now in the old cemetery, but it was decided to postpone the work of removing them until spring.
The unplatted portion of the Luverne cemetery, consisting of about 22 1/2 acres of land, was leased to W.L. Ward for the ensuing year at the Wednesday evening meeting.
Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, P.O. Box 741, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.
 
 
 

 
The following appeared in the Rock County Herald on November 17, 1922:
DEER HUNTING NEW SPORT ENJOYED IN ROCK COUNTY
E.W. Brown Shoots Fine Buck near Ashcreek After Exciting Chase—Deer Discovered in Pasture
Deer hunting is not on the calendar of regular sports in Rock county but it is not impossible to indulge in this sport here on occasion.
Leastwise, E.A. & E.W. Brown brought in a 200-pound buck yesterday afternoon, which they killed near their farm in Clinton township yesterday afternoon following an exciting chase. The trophy of the hunt is now at the New meat market and is the object of considerable curiosity and speculation.
Early yesterday afternoon E.W. Brown went to the pasture on the river at the Brown farm half a mile north of Ashcreek to count some cattle, and while there he ran across a deer. Having neither license or gun, he secured Ed. Smith, who operates a part of the Brown farm, to watch the deer while he hurried to Luverne to secure a license and a high-powered rifle.
Accompanied by his father, E.A. Brown, he rushed back to the farm, where they took up the trail and after a mile and a half chase across country were able to get close enough to the deer for “Ned” to shoot him.
According to reports the deer was first seen early yesterday morning near Kenneth, and was again seen later in the morning at what is known as the old LaDue farm a mile south of Luverne, where it stayed long enough for Gay Maxwell, who operates the farm, to secure a picture of it. The deer was also seen by Mrs. Bert Haakenson, south of Maxwell’s, where it was in a pasture with some cattle.
The animal was apparently traveling from the northeast, but whether it came from the north woods or escaped from some park is not known.
Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, P.O. Box 741, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.
 
 
 

 
The following appeared in the Rock County Herald on September 21, 1921:
WILL MAINTAIN REST ROOM AT FAIR GROUNDS
Instructive Health Work Exhibit Will Also be Made Under Direction of County Nurse Doyle
A public rest room will be one of the features of the Red Cross and Public Health exhibit at the Rock county fair to be held September 13th to 16th. The rest room and exhibit will be in charge of County Nurse Miss Mary Doyle.
A large tent has been donated by the fair association for rest room purposes and will occupy one of the prominent positions on the grounds. In addition to the rest room facilities, the “health tent” will have special facilities for the handling of all first aid cases on the fair grounds. Cots will be ready at all times for the use of the ill or the injured.
Health propaganda in pamphlet form will be distributed from another part of the tent, and the subjects covered will include everything from pre-natal care to the correct nutrition for the growing child.
This tent is expected to fill the long felt want of a place on the fair grounds, where women and children may rest, and where emergencies may be effectively handled.
A bureau of general information on public health problems will be conducted and it is probable that several visiting public health nurses will be in attendance. Much help will be needed to successfully carry on the public health program at the fair and volunteer workers are requested to hand their names to Miss Doyle at the rest room before September 10th.
An additional feature in the public health program will be the showing of free health movies in the sales pavilion during the fair. This movie show is made possible by the Rock County Public Health Association and the pictures are exceptional inasmuch as they are complete dramas with a strong health moral.
If it is found feasible to darken the sales pavilion, the shows will be given afternoons as well as evenings, and the pictures are of interest to the young, as well as the old.                 
 
 
 
 

 
The following appeared in the Rock County Herald on November 10, 1922:
“SELF SERVE” GROCERY TO BE OPENED TOMORROW
New Style Grocery Store to be Conducted by Otto Orloske in Soutar Block
A new grocery establishment to be known as the “Serve Yourself” grocery store, will be opened to the public tomorrow by Otto Orloske, in the new Soutar store building on Freeman Avenue. All kinds of groceries, fresh and dried fruits and flour will be handled.
This is the first establishment of a “Serve Yourself” grocery in this city, and there is every reason to believe that it will be a success. The entire stock of goods will be on display and within easy access of shoppers. The customers themselves select the supplies they want, without awaiting their turn to be served. Only one clerk or cashier will be employed, who will receive the payments and make change and act as general informant.
Mr. Orloske will continue to purchase cream and also poultry.
As a special offering on his opening day, Mr. Orloske will give away free a box of candy to the first fifty customers making a purchase amounting to $3.00 or more.
Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, P.O. Box 741, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.