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 this fondest expectations of the dreamer, was eliminated as a landmark the 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."Remember to come to the Rock County Historical Society annual banquet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 21, in Blue Mound Banquet Center in Luverne. 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.

Remembering our deliverancesThe harvest will soon be upon us. It is a time in which farmers work long hours bringing in the harvest. In the Old Testament, we find that at the beginning of the harvest, the Jewish farmer was commanded to bring into the temple and give to the priest the first fruits. After he had brought in the first fruits and dedicated them to the Lord, then he could proceed to harvest the remainder of the crop. The first fruits were often the best of the crop. Why were they to do this? It was to be a reminder to the Jewish nation that God had delivered them out of Egypt, God had provided for them in the wilderness, and that he had brought them into a land flowing with milk and honey. It was to be a reminder of God’s deliverances in their time. Do we ever think of God’s deliverances in our own lives? God has delivered us from hunger and from the harsh elements of the weather. The story is told of a housewife, that as she worked around the house, she thought of all those things that her family had been delivered from, even as she tackled all the household chores. Listen to her thoughts: "Lord, thank you for this sink of dirty dishes, for this pile of dirty laundry, and for these unmade beds." She was thankful because she knew that these things were a deliverance from hunger and a deliverance from the extremes of the elements with an abundance of clothing and a comfortable bed and a warm house. So this fall, as you harvest your crops may you give thanks to God for his deliverances. He has delivered you from hail, wind and drought. Be reminded that as you harvest your crops that there are those in our midst who were not as fortunate. So our thanks and gratitude to God is two-fold. First, we can give thanks for all the deliverances in our lives and we can give thanks for all the blessings. Above all, we can give thanks for our deliverances from sin and its curse, death, and for the blessing of forgiveness and eternal life. Amen.

Costco Wholesale Corporation, the world’s largest warehouse club operator, has introduced the ultimate lay-away plan — discounted caskets. Bargain-hunting customers in two of its Chicago stores can now choose to buy now and be buried later. The six models of steel caskets are reportedly priced at $799.99 and the color choices include lilac and Neapolitan blue. Floor models of the caskets are displayed next to mattresses in the two stores, although critics might argue that the gardening section is more appropriate. Casket deliveries can be expected within 48 hours, coincidentally the same time it takes to have a check cleared at a bank. Costco apparently doesn’t want to be stiffed along with the dearly departed. The greatest advantage to buying a floor model casket, reduced for clearance, would be to facilitate packing smaller items at the end of the checkout lane. Cardboard boxes always seem to be in short supply in discount warehouse stores, where you must pack up your own purchases and cart them out to your vehicle. You will simply be able to load the 50-pound bags of dog food, huge sacks of frozen chicken and other bulky, economy-sized food items into the casket. You will no longer have to worry about dropping loose purchases onto the store’s parking lot or somewhere between the car and your house. A primary disadvantage would be the 24-hour advance notice for purchases. To avoid this problem, caskets could be delivered to your home possibly years ahead of time and be used as coffee tables or spare beds for overnight guests. Last minute purchases might become unnecessarily complicated. "It looks like Aunt Josie is taking a turn for the worse. Someone should jump into the car and run over to Costco before it closes. Oh! And don’t forget to pick up the things on the grocery list while you’re there." Although many people might say they can’t tell the difference between the Costco caskets and the full-retail ones which often cost $1,500-$3,500, discerning funeral attendees might be able to. For example, a large, black-and-white Universal Price Code sticker, necessary for checkouts and impossible to remove, might be permanently attached to one end of a discounted casket. In other cases, a bright orange clearance sale sticker, stuck to the viewers’ side of the casket, might vie for attention with the UPC. As you glance into the open casket for a final farewell, you can’t help but notice some crumbles of dry dog food and a 48-ounce bottle of catsup, which have slipped unnoticed between the folds of satin lining. Several scratch marks and gouges are quite obvious on the casket, the result of being transported from store to home in the back of neighbor’s pickup or on top of the family’s car. ("This is a lot harder than loading a Christmas tree," pants a family friend.) If $799.99 caskets are possible now, it’s only a matter of time before another discounter will offer models at $99.99. When that happens, funeral-goers might notice caskets held together with shiny, half-inch metal staples. Upon closer examination, what appeared from a distance to be an expensive teakwood model with solid brass handles is actually cut from 4-by-8 sheets of wall paneling. It has flimsy plastic handles as well as bungee cords for security purposes. A sure sign that a discounted casket has been used is when the funeral has been postponed for one of three reasons — the bank couldn’t clear the check, the casket was back-ordered, or the neighbor’s pickup wasn’t available.

Keeper of the SpringThe late Peter Marshall was the chaplain for the U.S. Senate. He loved to tell the following story:"There was once a quiet forest dweller that lived high above an Austrian village along the eastern slope of the Alps. The old gentleman had been hired years earlier by the town council to clear away the debris from the pools of water up in the mountain crevices that fed the lovely spring flowing through their town. With faithful, silent regularity, he patrolled the hills, removed the leaves and branches, and wiped away the silt that would otherwise have choked and contaminated the fresh flow of water. The village soon became a popular attraction for vacationers. Graceful swans floated along the crystal clear spring, the mill wheels of various businesses located near the water turned day and night, farmlands were naturally irrigated, and the view from restaurants was picturesque beyond description. Years passed. One evening the town council met for its semiannual meeting. As they reviewed the budget, one man’s eye caught the salary figure being paid the obscured keeper of the spring. Said the keeper of the purse, "Who is the old man? Why do we keep him on year after year? No one ever sees him. For all we know, the strange ranger of the hills is doing us no good. He isn’t necessary any longer." By a unanimous vote, they dispensed with the old man’s services. For several weeks, nothing changed. By early autumn, the trees began to shed their leaves. Small branches snapped off and fell into the pools, hindering the rushing flow of sparkling water. One afternoon someone noticed a slight yellowish-brown tint in the spring. A few days later, the water was much darker, within another week, a slimy film covered sections of the water along the banks, and a foul odor was soon detected. The mill wheels moved more slowly, some finally ground to a halt. Swans left, as did the tourists. Clammy fingers of disease and sickness reached deeply into the village. Quickly, the embarrassed council called a special meeting. Realizing their gross error in judgment, they rehired the old keeper of the spring, and within a few weeks, the veritable river of life began to clear up. The wheels started to turn, and new life returned to the hamlet in the Alps." As a community we entrust our leaders with great responsibilities. Rock County and the city of Luverne have prospered because of the quality of people and the ability of our leaders to work together for the common good. Shining examples of this include Minnesota Veterans Home, Rock County Pool & Fitness and Red Bird Field.The question that keeps coming to mind is, can any lasting good come from our current situation? How does cutting a significant portion of our law enforcement at this time make sense? In addition to the everyday tasks of assisting our community members and keeping us safe, we are sure to face more challenges related to Meth. This drug is not made in the "big cities." It’s a rural drug. The people making money off Meth are seeking rural areas with weak law enforcement. Let’s not let our actions open the door to the subtle encroachment of these individuals. The effects of cutting law enforcement, like the "Keeper of the Spring" may not be evident in the first weeks or months, but with time we are sure to see the same results that plagued the little community in the Alps.Cary RadisewitzLuverne

Twenty years ago, the Women Against Violence group saw advocating for victims of domestic violence as an all important task. Twenty years later, WAV’s successor, the Southwest Crisis Center, still has that same mission here in Rock County as well as Pipestone, Nobles, Cottonwood and Jackson counties. Because of our pride in our work, we are hosting an open house in celebration of 20 years from 2 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 22, at our office at 107 S. McKenzie. Whether you have been served by SWCC, our predecessor WAV or just want to stop by to join in celebration, we welcome you. With the communities support, I look forward to the next 20 years of serving victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Without that support and that of our volunteers, board members and professionals that also serve domestic violence victims, we wouldn’t be able to observe our 20th anniversary or serve the victims that we do. Consider joining us for our Luverne office’s 10th anniversary and the Southwest Crisis Center’s anniversary of 20 years.Raevette LoonanSouthwest Crisis CenterLuverne

10 years ago (1994)"The 12-day Minnesota State Fair is now a thing of the past. But Rock County’s 4-H achievements at the state level are still being celebrated. Rock County 4-H’ers who collected purple ribbons (excellent rating) from the 1994 State Fair are Jennifer Willers of the Willing Workers 4-H Club. Willers was joined by Nicole Fick, Denver Go-Getters, in the fashion revue "Court of Honor."25 years ago (1979)"The street project in Steen made some real headway this week with the arrival of a special gutter and curb forming machine. The curb and gutter part of the Main Street paving project in Steen is formed by the machine in a single pass. The machine has special sensors which keep it moving perfectly level and straight. Following the installation of the curb and gutter, the street will be blacktopped. The community hopes to have the project completed soon." 50 years ago (1954)"Class officers and advisers for the current school term were selected during the past week. The seniors selected Vermayne Sundem as president; Wilmer Elbers, as vice president, Donna Wood secretary, Montie Horn, treasurer. The president and Mary Berghorst will be on the council and Mr. Berg will act as adviser." 75 years ago (1929)"Christian Moe, who has been manager of the Farmers elevator at this place for the past 19 years, informed a Crescent reporter last Tuesday that he had leased the Otto Nelson elevator on the Illinois Central tracks, and will open for business tomorrow — Friday. The Nelson elevator has been closed for about three years, and the re-opening of this institution means one more business house for Hills." 100 years ago (1904)"According to the Sioux City Journal the Great Northern railway will build a fast track through here next year. Eighty pound steel will be laid in place of the rails now in use and the joining of the Great Northern and Burlington systems will follow, making this their through line for the two systems by a connecting link between South Sioux City and Ashland. This will make a short line between St. Paul, Sioux City, Denver and Kansas City. The heavy steel has been laid as far south as Garretson this fall."

Virgil Harold Thompson, 77, Luverne, died Thursday, Sept. 9, 2004, at Tuff Memorial Home in Hills. Services were Monday, Sept. 13, at Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne. The Revs. Dell B Sanderson and Maurice E. Hagen officiated. Burial was at Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne. Virgil Thompson was born to Theodore and Helmina (Peterson) Thompson on March 30, 1927, in Valley Springs, S.D. He was raised in Valley Springs until his family moved to Luverne in 1932. He graduated from Luverne High School. Upon completion of school, he worked at Nelson’s in the grocery department. In June 1945, he entered the Army Corps of Engineers and was stationed at Wiesbaden Air Field in Germany until October 1947. He received the Victory Medal, the Occupation Medal and the Army Commendation Medal. He married Ilse Josephine Meudt on Sept. 9, 1947, in Wiesbaden – Biebrich, Germany. When the couple returned from abroad, they lived in Luverne. At the time of their return, Mrs. Thompson was Rock County’s first war bride. He then worked as a milkman for Forrest Dairy in Luverne, which later became Terrace Park Dairy, for more than a quarter of a century. His milkman career was cut short by a knee injury. He then worked for Luverne Municipal Liquor Store and later as a professional house painter and handyman. He moved to Hospice at Tuff Memorial Home in Hills on Aug. 30. Mr. Thompson was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne. He was a lifetime member of VFW and a district committee member of Sioux Council, Boy Scouts of America. His hobbies included woodworking, fishing and camping. He enjoyed his travels with his wife; especially their several trips to Germany. Survivors include his wife, Ilse Thompson, Hills; three sons, Steven (Diane) Thompson, Brandon, S.D., David (Marion) Thompson, Sioux Falls, S.D., and Charles (Jane) Thompson, Luverne; eight grandchildren, Kim Vermeer, Rick Thompson, Christa Bauman, Sara Thompson, Laura Thompson, Lucas Thompson, Landon Thompson and Carrie Thompson; four great-grandchildren, Trey Vermeer, Brooklyn Vermeer, Carter Bauman and Madelyn Bauman; three siblings, Clarence Thompson and his special friend, Shirley, La Crosse, Wis., Ruby (Larry) Viland, Luverne, and Harriet (Harold) Bryan, Billings, Mont.; and many family and friends.Mr. Thompson was preceded in death by his parents, and four sisters, Mildred, Gladys, Helen and Gena. Memorials are preferred to Hospice of Luverne Community Hospital or Tuff Memorial Home in Hills. Hartquist Funeral Home – Engebretson Chapel, Luverne, was in charge of arrangements.

Victor Leon Sandager, 87, Hills, died Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2004, at Luverne Community Hospital following a brief illness. Services were Saturday, Sept. 11, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Hills. Burial was in Flowerfield Cemetery at Hills. Victor Sandager was born to Nels and Clara (Skovgaard) Sandager on Dec. 6, 1916, in rural Rock County near Hills. He attended school in Hills and graduated from high school in 1935. He attended the University of Minnesota Agriculture School in St. Paul. After his education, he began farming in Rock County. He married Frances Jane Cragoe on Aug. 20, 1942, in Beaver Creek. They made their home on a farm near Hills. He loved farming and never retired. Up until his death he continued to help on the farm. They moved to Tuff Village in October 2003. Mr. Sandager was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Hills and served on church boards. He served on the Hills School Board in Hills, Tuff Memorial Nursing Home Board, Tuff Foundation Board and was a member of the Norse Glee Club in Sioux Falls, S.D., for several years. He and his wife enjoyed traveling to many places, including spending a year in the mission field in Papua, New Guinea, with his family as an agricultural volunteer. Survivors include his wife, Frances Sandager, Hills, four sons, Ed (Linda) Hartog, Sacramento, Calif., John (Joanne) Sandager, Colorado Springs, Colo., Mark (Karen) Sandager, Hills, James (Louisa) Sandager, West Des Moines, Iowa; one daughter, Jane (Daryl) Schubert, Tanzania, Africa; 15 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Sheldon (Elnora) Sandager, Hills, and Lee (Betty) Sandager, Marine on St. Croix; and three sisters, Leona Goehle, Tyler, Marie (Merle) Muckala, St. Paul, and Anita (Hal) Johnson Stillwater. Mr. Sandager was preceded in death by his parents, one son, David Randall, one brother, Paul, two sisters, Beulah and Lenore, and special friend, Howard Crawford whose wife Carolyn continues to live at Tuff Village. The family requests a memorial may be given to be directed toward mission work around the world in lieu of flowers. Roste Funeral Home, Hills, was in charge of arrangements.

Margaret Charleene Lynch, 87, Luverne, died Friday, Sept. 10, 2004, at Luverne Hospice Cottage. Services were Tuesday, Sept. 14, at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne. The Rev. Thomas Jennings officiated. Burial was in St. Catherine Catholic Cemetery. Margaret Doyle was born to John Edward and Anna Caroline (Gibboney) Doyle on Aug. 28, 1917, in Luverne. She attended Rock County schools and graduated from Luverne High School in 1935. She married John Verlyn (Jake) Lynch on June 4, 1938, at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne. She lived all her life in Luverne except when she followed her husband, who was in the U.S. Army, to Oregon and Missouri until he went overseas during World War II. She worked as a sales clerk at JC Penney, Nelson’s Department Store and Montgomery Ward until she retired in 1969. Mr. Lynch died Dec. 3, 1991.She married Harold Schlimgen on Jan. 12, 1996, in Luverne. Mrs. Lynch was an active member of St. Catherine Catholic Church. She was a member of the Luverne sewing club and a card club.Survivors include her husband, Harold Schlimgen, Mitchell, S.D.; one daughter, Pat (Steven) Ahlberg, Worthington; three grandsons, Jared (Nichole) Ahlberg, Aeknagik, Alaska, Travis (Brittany) Ahlberg, Genesee, Idaho, and Lucas Ahlberg, Golden Valley; one granddaughter, Kimberly Ahlberg, Mankato; three great-grandchildren, Emma and Ian Ahlberg, and Kolbjorn Ahlberg; four sisters, Alice (Ron) Ehrisman, Sioux Falls, Laura May (Dries) Bosch, Brandon, S.D., Kay Cox, Adrian, and Edwina (LeRoy) Rust, Luverne; three sisters-in-law, Myra Doyle, Sioux Falls, PerryEtta Fuerstenberg, Luverne, and Helen Lynch, Plainview; and many nieces and nephews. Mrs. Lynch was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, one brother, Paul Doyle, four brothers-in-law, two sisters-in-law, and two nephews.The family requests memorials to Luverne Hospice Cottage or the American Cancer Society.A tree will be dedicated in memory of Margaret Lynch by Hospice of Luverne Community Hospital. Dingmann Funeral Home, Luverne, was in charge of arrangements.