10 years ago (1994)"Rock climbers and hikers who use the eastern part of the Blue Mounds State Park will have to walk a little farther to get there, thanks to a new set of no-parking signs.Hikers and climbers are accustomed to parking in the driveway and along the shoulder of County Road 8 in order to access the quarry and rock outcroppings in the eastern part of the park.Recent park emergencies, including two fallen rock climbers, have drawn attention to the danger in parking there. According to Rock County Sheriff Ron McClure, the biggest reason for enforcing the no-parking rule in that area is to allow emergency vehicles to get through if need be."25 years ago (1979)"For the third year in a row, property taxes in Luverne should decrease.The proposed 1980 city budget shows a total tax levy of $267,170, a decrease of $24,2906 from 1979.The city tax levy in 1978 was $300,488 and in 1979 was $291,466."50 years ago (1954)"‘Hello Al, I haven’t seen you since Washington,’ said Vice President Richard M. Nixon as he jumped out of his car Wednesday afternoon at the Star Herald office to say ‘hello’ to Alan C. McIntosh, publisher of the Star Herald.The Vice President and his official party were returning from Worthington where he had made a speech at the Turkey Day celebration. … When the Vice President said he hadn’t seen the Luverne man ‘since Washington’ he was referring to the night of June 19 when Vice President Nixon sat on McIntosh’s left at a banquet held in honor of President Eisenhower in the Shoreham Hotel. At that time McIntosh presented President Eisenhower with a plaque honoring his service to his countrymen."75 years ago (1929)"A number of farmers of Pleasant View and Hardwick communities are securing very satisfactory returns from their foresight in growing a substantial acreage of flax this season. In fact, the yield and quality are so good that the returns are ranging anywhere from $42 to $62 an acre. The first mentioned figure is not exceptional, even if the last is extreme." 100 years ago (1904)"Sparks from the engine of the ‘Bonnie Doon’ line again set fire in the cut weeds on the vacant property in the southeast part of town, while switching Monday afternoon, and for a time it looked as though the fire would result disastrously to the buildings adjoining the property on the north, as at the time a strong wind was blowing from the south. The fire department was called out and when they arrived the fire was within a few rods of the barn belonging to Mrs. E.J. Schmidt, but by their prompt action the blaze was gotten under control before any damage was done."

By John RittenhouseThe Hills-Beaver Creek volleyball team picked up two wins during a stretch of playing three events in a six-day span.The Patriots lost a four-game home match to Sioux Valley-Round Lake-Brewster Thursday before going 1-1 at the West Lyon Tournament (near Inwood, Iowa) Monday. H-BC traveled to Comfrey Tuesday, where it recorded a four-game win.H-BC, 5-6 overall, hosts Adrian tonight and Mountain Lake-Butterfield-Odin Tuesday.H-BC 3, Comfrey 1The Patriots broke into the win column in Red Rock Conference play by besting the Rockets in a four-game match played in Comfrey Tuesday.The situation looked bleak for H-BC when the hosts pulled out a 25-23 win in Game 1. The Patriots, however, rallied to outscore Comfrey 75-52 the rest of the night to pick up their first league win of the year."It was just a matter of time before we started playing better," said Patriot coach Curt Doorneweerd. "The girls decided in the second game that it was the right time to start doing it."H-BC controlled play after the opening game by posting comfortable 25-17, 25-18 and 25-17 victories.Brittney Rozeboom completed all 18 of her serves in the match and charted two aces. Melinda Feucht went 13 of 14 at the line with one ace, while Ashley Bosch and Cassi Tilstra served three and two aces respectively.Kelly Mulder recorded 11 kills and five blocks at the net. Tilstra added eight blocks and four kills, Kari Roozenboom chipped in three kills and two blocks, and Rozeboom added four kills to the winning cause.WL tourneyThe Patriots split two matches during Monday’s three-team, round robin tournament near Inwood, Iowa.H-BC opened the event by nipping host West Lyon in a three-game match, but a three-game loss to Boyden-Hull in the finale kept the Patriots from winning the tournament title.Patriot coach Doorneweerd said inconsistent passing kept H-BC from winning the event."I was disappointed in our passing," he said. "It’s tough to get good sets and hits when your passes are not on target."The Patriots completed enough passes to nip WL in a tight, three-game match to open the event. H-BC prevailed in a match featuring 21-19, 20-22 and 15-11 tallies.Mulder charted 10 kills and five blocks against the Lions. Tilstra contributed five kills to the cause, while Rozeboom chipped in four kills and two ace serves. Bosch completed all seven of her serves and delivered two aces in the WL match.The H-BC vs. B-H battle was another hard-fought match.B-H prevailed 22-20 in the opener, but H-BC forced a third game with a 21-12 win in Game 2. B-H nipped the Patriots 16-14 in the finale.Mulder charted 11 kills, six blocks and two ace serves against B-H. Tilstra recorded four kills and three blocks. Roozenboom served three aces.SV-RL-B3, H-BC 2The Patriots dropped their second straight league game when they fell to the Raiders in four games Thursday in Hills.The Patriots got off to a good start by winning Game 1, but the rest of the match belonged to SV-RL-B, which outscored H-BC 75-49 to win the final three games.Game 1 was tied at two when H-BC put together an 18-6 run that ended with a service point from Roozenboom, giving the Patriots a 20-8 lead.SV-RL-B battled back with a 12-3 run that trimmed H-BC’s lead to three points at 23-20. The Raiders, however, were unable to complete the comeback as H-BC scored two out of the next three points to clinch a 25-21 win.H-BC led 12-9 when Mulder registered a kill in Game 2, but the Raiders rallied to knot the score at 14 moments later.The Patriots led 16-14 when Kaitlyn Bos delivered an ace serve. SV-RL-B, however, countered with an 11-4 spurt to post a 25-20 victory.Game 3 was knotted at eight when the Raiders gained some separation with an 8-1 run that gave them a 16-9 cushion.H-BC trimmed the difference to three points (16-13) with a service point from Roozenboom, and the difference remained at three points (17-14) when SV-RL-B put together an 8-2 surge to ice a 25-16 victory.SV-RL-B dominated Game 4, turning a deadlock at two into a 24-5 lead with a 22-3 run. H-BC’s Tilstra served a seven-point run as the game progressed, but it wasn’t enough to keep the Patriots from dropping a 25-13 decision.Tilstra completed all 15 of her service attempts in the match. She also recorded six kills and three blocks. Mulder led H-BC with 11 kills and eight blocks. Rozeboom completed all nine of her serves.

By John RittenhouseThe Edgerton Flying Dutchmen knocked Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth out of the unbeaten ranks in football by ambushing the Patriots 42-8 in Edgerton Friday.Edgerton scored 28 points in the first half and never looked back on the way to a 34-point win over H-BC-E.It was the first time the Flying Dutchmen beat H-BC-E in a football game since 1994.H-BC-E, which turned the ball over six times and was flagged for six penalties, simply made too many mistakes to overcome."Edgerton is a good team, and we couldn’t afford to play like that against them," said Patriot coach Dan Ellingson, referring to the penalties and turnovers.Ellingson singled out a play in the first quarter that served as an example of what type of night it was for the Patriots.Edgerton was on the verge of giving up the ball on downs during a fourth-down situation. A run appeared to be stopped short of a first down, but the EHS back fumbled the ball forward. Another Edgerton player recovered the loose ball, giving the Flying Dutchmen a new set of downs to keep the possession alive.Edgerton’s Eric Elgersma scored on an eight-yard run as the drive progressed and carried in the two-point conversion to give the hosts an 8-0 lead at the 2:04 mark of the first quarter.The Flying Durchmen proceeded to score 20 points in the second quarter to gain control of the contest. Two of the scoring drives were set up by H-BC-E fumbles."We fumbled seven times in the game and lost five," Ellingson offered. "Physically, we were not outmanned by Edgerton. We just turned the ball over too many times and made way too many mental mistakes."Edgerton quarterback Maz Zwart hit Reed Van Hulzen for a three-yard touchdown pass at the 6:53 mark of the second quarter to make it a 14-0 game.Following an H-BC-E fumble, Edgerton increased its lead to 20-0 when Zach Boyum scored on an eight-yard run with 1:53 remaining in the first half.Another H-BC-E fumble led to a five-yard touchdown pass from Zwart to Van Hulzen with one second left in the second period. Elgersma then ran in a two-point conversion to make it a 28-0 game at the intermission.Edgerton proceeded to pad its advantage by scoring the first two touchdowns of the second half.Elgersma capped Edgerton’s first possession of the third quarter with a one-yard touchdown plunge at the 9:05 mark of the stanza. Boyum carried in the two-point conversion to give the Flying Dutchmen a 36-0 cushion.Van Hulzen picked up an H-BC-E fumble in the fourth quarter and dashed 35 yards for a touchdown to make it a 42-0 game with 7:18 left to play.H-BC-E avoided being shut out when Adam Finke scored on a one-yard run with less than one minute remaining in the game. Cody Schilling then tossed a successful conversion pass to Aaron Vander Stoep to end the scoring in the game.Although the Patriots fell by 36 points, Ellingson felt the game could have been closer."They didn’t run all over us," he said. "We just gave up three big plays on defense. Otherwise, it would have been a more even game statistically. It was a few big plays and a lot of turnovers that hurt us."Ellingson expects to be challenged again when the Patriots travel to Brewster Friday to take on Southwest United. SWU, the defending Section 2 Nine-Man champions, will bring a 3-0 record into the game. The Wildcats beat Lakeview 46-12 last Friday.Team statisticsH-BC-E: 145 rushing yards, 40 passing yards, 185 total yards, 12 first downs, six penalties for 32 yards, six turnovers.Edgerton: 182 rushing yards, 117 passing yards, 299 total yards, 14 first downs, four penalties for 40 yards, one turnover.Individual statisticsRushing: Tom LeBoutillier 5-25, Travis Broesder 8-32, Kerry Fink 11-26, Cody Rozeboom 4-64, Finke 2-0, John Sandbulte 1-minus 2.Passing: Broesder 2-10 for 37 yards, Schilling 1-1 for three yards.Receiving: LeBoutillier 2-37, Vander Stoep 1-3.Defense: LeBoutillier 10 tackles, Cody Scholten 10 tackles, Broesder six tackles, Greg Van Batavia three tackles and one interception.

DISTRICT COURTPROBATE DIVISIONFIFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICTCourt File No. PX-04-186NOTICE OF INFORMAL PROBATE OF WILL AND APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOITCE TO CREDITORSSTATE OF MINNESOTACOUNTY OF ROCKIn Re: Estate of: Valoris J. Engebretson DeceasedNotice is given that an application for informal probate of the Decedent’s will dated March 8, 1994, and codicil to the will, dated June 1, 2003, has been filed with the Registrar. The application has been granted. Notice is also given that the Registrar has informally appointed Dan Engebretson, whose address is 14681 Cobalt Lane, Rosemount, MN 55068; and Jane Engebretson, whose address is 2742 Sheldon Street, Roseville, MN 55113; as personal representatives of the Estate of the Decedent. Any heir, devisee or other interested person may be entitled to appointment as personal representative or may object to the appointment of the personal representatives. Unless objections are filed with the Court (pursuant to Minn. Stat. 524.3-607) and the Court otherwise orders, the personal representatives have full power to administer the Estate including, after 30 days from the date of issuance of letters, the power to sell, encumber, lease or distribute real estate. Notice is also given that (subject to Minn. Stat. 524.3-801) all creditors having claims against the Estate are required to present the claims to said personal representatives or to the Court Administrator within four months after the date of this notice or the claims will be barred.Timothy K. Connell 9-13-04Judge Date/s/ Sandra L. Vrtacnik 9-13-04Court Administrator DateAttorney:Paul J. Stier (#105661)STIER LAW OFFICES, P.A.14300 Nicollet Court, Suite 211Burnsville, Minnesota 55306(952) 435-7714 (9-23, 9-30)

Law Library 9:00 AMRock County Courthouse September 7, 2004Chair Jarchow called the meeting to order with all Commissioners present. Motion by Hoime, seconded by Bakken, to approve the September 7, 2004 County Board agenda, declared carried on a voice vote. Motion by Bakken, seconded by Wildung, to approve the August 24, 2004 County Board minutes, declared carried on a voice vote. Motion by Hoime, seconded by Boyenga, to approve the following consent agenda Items, declared carried on a voice vote. 1. Family Foster Care licensing – David and Gail Jahn2. Voluntary Family Foster Care closing – Jim Juhl and Brenda Winter3. Resolution No. 26-04, Rock County Rural Water split on parcel # 12-0140-0004. Resolution No. 27-04, Rock County Rural Water split on parcel # 12-0140-100Randy Ehlers, Family Services Agency Director, informed the County Board of the retirement of Pam Nelson effective October 29, 2004 and requested to fill that position. Motion by Bakken, seconded by Wildung, to accept the resignation from Pam Nelson with regrets and authorized to re-fill the position, declared carried on a voice vote. Mr. Ehlers presented a review of the FSA proposed budget for 2005; no action was taken. The County Board was informed of a Building Committee report that identified changes within the Rock County Courthouse; no action was taken. Glenda Bremer, Rock County Community Library Director, discussed the current partnerships the library has with (2) daycare programs as well as reviewing the 2005 budget; no action was taken. Gloria Rolfs, Auditor/Treasurer, presented the claims for payment and per diems totaling $555.00; motion by Wildung, seconded by Hoime, to pay the claims and per diems, declared carried on a voice vote. A complete listing of the claims is available by request at the Auditor/Treasurer’s office. General $ 49,680.27LEC .00Road & Bridge 14,339.84Welfare 43,323.19Landfill 105.88TOTAL $107,449.18Motion by Boyenga, seconded by Bakken, to accept the fund balance report, declared carried on a voice vote.Mike Winkels, Sheriff, requested to enter into contract with IES to purchase E911 equipment; motion by Boyenga, seconded by Bakken, to accept the low compliant bidder IES for $60,462.68, declare carried on a voice vote. Equipment & Install Maint-Yr 2 Maint-Yr 3-8 Maintenance-9+Independent Emergency Services $ 60,462.68 $5,164.45 $35,626.54RACOM $101,016.76 included included $ 4,900.00 per yrEmergiTech $ 98,001.00 $11,203.00 $85,747.94 $11,993.00 per 2 yrXtend Communication $160,934.00 $ 8,496.00 $25,488.00 $25,488.00 per 2 yrMotion by Boyenga, seconded by Hoime, to authorize a designation of funds, declared carried on a voice vote.General Fund $2,733,500.Public Works $2,725,149.Family Services $1,024,987.Ditch 22,460.Environmental 640,791.The County Board had a brief discussion regarding the audit and was informed that the final audit findings would be presented to the County Board on September 21, 2004.There was considerable discussion regarding the 2005 budget and levy amount; motion by Wildung, seconded by Hoime, to set the preliminary levy at a 5.5% increase or $3,191,769.00. After considerable discussion, the question was called and a roll call vote was taken with Commissioners Hoime, Wildung, Bakken and Jarchow voting aye and Commissioner Boyenga voting nay. Don Klosterbuer, County Attorney, discussed the disposition of the pool assets. Following the discussion, motion by Boyenga, seconded by Bakken, to request that the City of Luverne confirm that it will fund the 2005 budget request for law enforcement services as per the contract. After discussion, the question was called and the motion was declared carried. Mary McLauglin and Greta Vander Brink, Retired Senior Volunteer Program representatives, presented a 2005 budget request and presented a program update. Currently the volunteer hours are greater than 28,000 hours year to date in Rock County. The County Board thanked RSVP representatives for update and took their budget request under advisement. Sherry Ristau, Southwest Minnesota Foundation President and Diana Anderson, Southwest Minnesota Foundation Development Director, presented a program update. Since its inception, Rock County has received 35 grants totaling $481,509.00. Ms. Ristua and Ms. Anderson also reviewed the foundation’s mission statement. The County Board thanked them for their presentation and took no action. The County Board was in receipt of a termination notice from the City of Luverne that will terminate the Joint Law contract effective January 1, 2006.The County Board was informed of a Plum Creek Library Annual meeting to be held on September 21, 2004.Commissioner Hoime stated that he had attended the recent gravel pit tours with the Planning & Zoning Committee.With no further business to come before the County Board, meeting was declared adjourned. Bob Jarchow, Chairman of the BoardATTEST:Kyle J. Oldre, Clerk to the Board(9-23)

IN DISTRICT COURTFIFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICTCase type: Quiet TitleCourt File No.: C3-04-174STATE OF MINNESOTACOUNTY OF ROCKNew Vision Co-opPlaintiff -vs-St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad Company; Elias F. Drake and Amherst H. Wilder, as Trustees of the St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad Company; Helen Sellen; Margaret Sellen; Honorine McGee; DeVera Freese; Angeline Sellen MacLean, f/k/a Angeline Sellen Sorteberg; Dorothy Welker Godfrey; Ethel Tower; and also all other persons unknown claiming any right, title, estate, interest or lien in the real estate described in the Complaint herein,Defendants.SUMMONSTHE STATE OF MINNESOTA TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANTS:You are hereby summoned and required to serve upon Plaintiff’s attorney an answer to the complaint which is on file in the office of the Court Administrator of the above-named Court, within twenty (20) days after service of this Summons upon you, exclusive of the day of service. If you fail to do so, judgment by default will be taken against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint. This action involves, affects, or brings in question real property situated in the County of Rock, State of Minnesota, described as follows, to-wit: All of Lot Thirteen (13); All of Lots Fourteen (14), Fifteen (15), and Sixteen (16), except the East Seventy-five (E. 75) feet thereof; All in Block Three (3) of the Original Plat to the City of Beaver Creek, Rock County, Minnesota.The object of this action is to obtain a judgment that Plaintiff is the owner in fee of the above-described real property, and that none of the said Defendants have any estate or interest therein or lien thereon. PURSUANT TO MINN. STAT. §543.22, YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED OF THE ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCESS AS SET FORTH IN THE MINNESOTA RULES OF GENERAL PRACTICE. Dated this 25th day of August, 2004.BERENS, RODENBERG & O’CONNOR,CHARTERED By /s/ Carina R. BuetowCarina R. Buetow (#0284737)Attorneys for Plaintiff519 Center StreetP. O. Box 428New Ulm, MN 56073-0428(507) 233-3900 (9-23, 9-30, 10-7)

Heartland Express offers freedom to ride, freedom from asking favorsThere won’t be cake and ice cream or even party balloons, but Sept. 26 is the 30th anniversary of public transportation in Rock County (see the story in this edition).For most of us with valid drivers’ licenses and good health, that doesn’t mean much. But for the people who use Rock County’s Heartland Express bus system regularly, it’s likely a day worth celebrating.For many riders, Heartland Express is synonymous with freedom and independence. They’re free to call the bus when they have an errand to run or someone to visit, and they’re not dependent on friends or family members to help them get around.Speaking as someone who hates to ask for favors, this means a lot.The regular riders rave about the friendly, helpful drivers and dispatchers.The one-time or occasional users, like myself, are impressed by the professionalism of the operation.When I took a short a vacation this summer, the boys spent time with their cousins in Pipestone before heading back to Luverne to be with Grandpa and Grandpa.Heartland Express saved my sister the 60-mile round trip from Pipestone to Luverne by transporting my boys from Jasper to Grandpa and Grandpa’s front door.It took some arranging to get the trip organized, but the Heartland staff was extremely patient and patient while I worked out the exact drop-off time and location with my sister.And my boys loved the experience. I really don’t want to know what family secrets they shared with the bus driver on that cross-county commute, but considering the price, it’s probably worth it.It cost a whopping $3 per child and made a big difference for my sister, who would have had to make the drive before her work day started. For me, the one who hates to ask for favors, the meager fare was more than worth the peace of mind.Happy Anniversary Heartland Express staff and drivers. Keep up the good work!Also this weekend … Band Fest and Crop WalkThe Heartland anniversary won’t be a big party, but the annual Tri-State Band Festival Saturday is always a big deal.The event, which attracts about 20 bands and nearly 10,000 people to Luverne, is definitely worth attending.It’s not often you get to hear that caliber of music and see that kind of skilled discipline from so many area young people.The parade starts at 10 a.m. on Main Street, and field competition starts at 1 p.m. at the Luverne High School athletic field.Rock County’s annual Crop Walk, which raises money for organizations that support local and world hunger relief, is on Sunday.Registration is from 1 to 2 p.m., and the walk begins at 2 p.m. at the Rock County Highway Department Building on North Blue Mound Avenue.It’s the eighth annual version of the the event, which supports a good cause and offers an excellent reason to get off the couch and put some miles on the sneakers.

Because this is an election year, I’m going to provide you with some guidance in selecting a political party to support. Here are a few quotes by famous Democrats and Republicans: "Sometimes in order to make progress and move ahead, you have to stand up and do the wrong thing." Congressman Gary Ackerman (D) "The conservation movement is a breeding ground of Communists and other subversives. We intend to clean them out, even if it means rounding up every bird watcher in the country." John Mitchell (R) "Outside of the killings, Washington, D.C. has one of the lowest crime rates in the country." Marion Barry (D) "I think we can agree, the past is over." George W. Bush. (R) "I can’t believe that we are going to let a majority of the people decide what is best for this state." John Travis (D) "I have opinions of my own — strong opinions — but I don't always agree with them." George Bush (R) "It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing it." Dan Quayle (R) "I would have made a good Pope." Richard Nixon (R) "Poultry waste is something that continues to threaten our country." Tom Daschle (D) "Scary, very scary." Glenda Bremer (D) commenting on the above comments. You can escape from political idiocy by visiting the library and checking out Sidney Sheldon’s new book, "Are You Afraid of the Dark?" In Berlin, a woman vanishes from the city streets. In Paris, a man plunges from the Eiffel Tower. In Denver, a small plane crashes into the mountains. In Manhattan, a body washes ashore along the East River. At first these seem to be random incidents, but the police soon discover that all four of the victims are connected to Kingsley International Group (KIG), the largest think tank in the world. Kelly Harris and Diane Stevens — young widows of two of the victims — encounter each other in New York, where they have been asked to meet with Tanner Kingsley, the head of KIG. He assures them that he is using all available resources to find out who is behind the mysterious deaths of their husbands. But he may be too late. Someone is intent on murdering both women, and they suffer a harrowing series of near escapes. Who is trying to kill them and why? Forced together for protection, suspicious of each other and everyone around them, and trying to find answers for themselves, the two widows embark on a terrifying game of cat and mouse against the unknown forces out to destroy them. Also new on the fiction shelf is "Blind Alley," by Iris Johansen. Eve Duncan's job is to put a face on the faceless victims of violent crimes. Her work not only comforts their survivors- — but helps catch their killers. The victim is a Jane Doe found murdered, her face erased beyond recognition. But whoever killed her wasn't just trying to hide her identity. The plan was far more horrifying. As the face forms under Eve's skilled hands, she is about to get the shock of her life. The victim is someone she knows all too well. Someone who isn't dead, yet.Instantly Eve's peaceful life is shattered. The sanctuary of the lakeside cottage she shares with detective Joe Quinn and their adopted daughter Jane has been invaded by a killer who's sent the grimmest of threats: the face of his next victim. To stop him, Eve must put her own life in the balance and question everything and everyone she trusts. Not even Quinn can go where Eve must go this time.

The following article appeared in the Rock County Herald on Oct. 8, 1929:Birthplace of Manchester cracker factory torn down State Fire Marshall considered stone building erected thirty years ago a menace to public welfare"The birthplace of one of the few commercial dreams of the earlier days of Luverne, that actually equaled and exceeded the fondest expectations of the dreamer, was eliminated as a landmark this past week when the old stone building at the rear of Fitzer Bros. clothing store, was razed. Contractor P.N. Gillham supervised its erection, and also its wrecking. Thirty years had elapsed between the two processes. It was in the late ‘90s that L.D. Manchester, after working early and late, week days and Sundays, in maintaining the Vienna restaurant and bakery — a very popular place in its days — for several years without making a great deal of financial headway, conceived the dream that has its fruition today in the Manchester Biscuit Co. plants at Sioux Falls and Fargo, N.D.; properties with a valuation in excess of a million dollars. He wanted to start a cracker factory; L.D’s friends, almost without exception, insisted that it was a wild venture that could not end other than in his ruin, for he must compete with the "cracker trust," and money was difficult to obtain. Bankers refused to enthuse, but the founder of the Manchester Biscuit Co. continued to dream his dreams and work, to the extent that he would go out on the road for a few days soliciting orders for his products, and would return and labor night and day to produce goods with which to fill these orders.It was in the summer of 1899 that L.D., disregarding the counsel of his close friends, cast discretion to the wind and entered a contract for the erection of the stone building that was to provide a home for his cracker factory. While the project represented only a few thousand dollars, it was a major effort for the restaurant man, considering the capital he had available. In due course of time the building was finished and equipped with the marvelous, but now crude and cumbersome, steel oven, and the opening of the new factory was announced in the following manner in the Herald of Nov. 24, 1899: ‘The Vienna Bakery and Cracker factory, an important new industry to which Luverne is indebted to the enterprise of L.D. Manchester, began operations last Monday and is now turning out crackers of all varieties at the rate of about 12 barrels per day.‘The factory building, which had been erected by Mr. Manchester during the present season, especially for the purpose indicated, is a substantial stone structure 25x40 feet; two stories in height, with a basement. It is located in the rear of the Vienna bakery, 90 feet from the street frontage, with the purpose in view of connecting it with a new building extending to the street, which Mr. Manchester proposes to erect in the near future.‘The basement is occupied by the boiler and engine which furnish power for the factory, the hard coal furnace by which the oven is heated, bins for coal, etc. The boiler also supplies steam for heating the factory, the store building and restaurant, and Mr. Manchester’s residence. From the basement an underground passage leads to the packing rooms in the rear of the store.‘The first floor is devoted exclusively to the purposes of the bakery and cracker factory. The oven, which is located at the north end of the building, is one of the largest and best in the state outside of the city factories. It is what is known as a reel oven and has a capacity of 400 loaves of bread, or 12 1/2 barrels of flour in 10 hours. It may be operated by hand or steam but is generally operated by steam. ‘In connection with the oven is a steam-proof box with room for 418 loaves of bread. The cracker plant consist of a dough mixer with a capacity of 600 pounds of flour; a cake mixer and a frosting beater with a capacity of 60 pounds; a cracker machine with a capacity of 45 barrels per day; a cookie machine with a capacity of 2,000 pounds; a sizing machine, pan racks, etc. All of the machinery is operated by steam power, and when everything is in operation the factory presents a busy and interesting scene. ‘The second floor is used for the purposes of a store room and contains at present a large stock of canned goods, a carload of cracker flour and a carload of bread flour. The gas machine by which the factory and store are lighted, is also located on this floor. A first-class elevator provides means of communication between the basement and the second floor and the building is provided with a sewer with which the sinks in the factory are connected. ‘A large room in the rear of the store building, which, as above stated, is connected with the factory by an underground passage, is used for the purposes of a packing room, where the crackers are put up in neatly labeled boxes and turned out ready for shipment. ‘The new factory began operations with a force of eight employees, but it is probable that the force will be largely increased in the near future. The foreman of the establishment is L.E. Schaver, who formerly had charge of the mixing department in Griggs, Cooper & Co.’s factory in St. Paul. He is an expert cracker man and under his management it is sage to predict that the products of the Luverne Factory will be fully equal in every respect to the best on the market. ‘The new enterprise is a credit to Luverne and cannot fail to be of great value to our business interests. The highest praise is due to Mr. Manchester for the enterprise and public spirit he has shown, and he should be rewarded, as he doubtless will be, by the liberal patronage of our merchants and the earnest support of all our people.’If things did not run smoothly at first, the demand for the products of the factory steadily increased, and by working early and late Mr. Manchester saw to it that orders were promptly filled. As the months went by, the Luverne Factory began to attract attention from the big city business interests, and it was not long until Sioux Falls concerns sought to induce Mr. Manchester to transfer his base of operations to that city, where railway transportation accommodations then offered a big inducement. Friends of Mr. Manchester warned him that he would be making the biggest mistake of all to locate at Sioux Falls, but again he followed his own judgment. Since the Coffey block was erected on the site of the Vienna restaurant and bakery in 1919, the old stone building at the rear had not been occupied for any purpose and its deterioration had therefore been quite rapid. Recently the state fire marshal requested that it be torn down, and as Mr. Gillham needed rock with which to ballast the grade on the Kenneth-Magnolia state aid road at the bridge two miles north of Magnolia, he found the contract for wrecking the building a timely one."Donations to the Rock County Historical Endowment Fund can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, P.O. Box 741, Luverne, MN 56156Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.