Remember When Jan. 28, 2021

10 years ago (2011)
•Luverne’s Price is Right Night is shaping up to be the social event of the year.
The Blue Mound Banquet Center will host the popular game show Friday night, Feb. 7.
Social hour starts at 6:30 p.m. and the appetizer buffet opens at 7 p.m. for the event, sponsored by the Luverne Area Chamber.
At 8 p.m. the first contestants will be invited to “come on down” with Luverne’s Kyle Oldre serving as the game show announcer.
Ryan DeBates will play the role of celebrity game show host Drew Carey.
DeBates is a member of Luverne Area Chamber Board of Directors and is on the committee planning the Price is Right Night.
When the committee was brainstorming ideas for an annual Chamber social event, it was DeBates’ idea to build around “The Price is Right” game show.
He was naturally cast in the role of game show host, considering his knowledge of the game.
“I’ve been watching ‘The Price is Right’ for as long as I can remember,” said DeBates, who grew up in Jasper.
 
25 years ago (1996)
•Merlin Johnson, manager of the Blue Mounds State Park, is approaching retirement with both fear and anticipation.
“I’m scared to death of all the time I’ll have,” he said. “All my life I’ve put in 40-hour weeks, and at the end of the week I’ve known exactly what I’ve accomplished. Now there’s so many unknowns … You know what you had, but you don’t know what you’re getting into.”
He’s not scared enough to keep working, however. “I turned 62 in December and decided now’s the time,” he said. “We’ve been planning for years to take a trip to Australia. Now we can.”
Johnson has managed state parks in Minnesota for 25 years, the past 15 of which have been at Blue Mounds State Park. During his tenure at the Blue Mounds, the park has received national recognition for the quality of its prairies, scenic vistas and recreation opportunities.
Johnson mentioned the bison as one aspect of work he’ll miss the most, “They’re such an interesting animal,” Johnson said. “After 15 years of working with them, I’m still learning new things about them.”
 
50 years ago (1971)
•Blue Mound Tower is the name selected by the Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) for Luverne’s high-rise apartment for the elderly.
As Luverne’s tallest building, it “towers” seven stories above ground level, said Ray Frick, HRA chairman. From its top floors, the view extends for several miles in each direction. The Blue Mounds to the north of Luverne are clearly visible.
“We decided to name it Blue Mound Tower,” said Frick, “because the Blue Mounds are unique to our community. The Blue Mounds are symbolic of the whole county; they are historic; no other county can claim them.
 
75 years ago (1946)
•This week, for the first time in 52 years, Luverne had no Steinfeldt Blacksmith Shop.
William Steinfeldt, third generation owner of the half-century old business, announced that he had sold the building on Maple street and all equipment to C. H. Hatting of the Hatting Gravel Company. He did not disclose the consideration.
Mr. Hatting has removed the equipment to his present repair shop headquarters on South Kniss avenue. Although he is not sure when he will begin work, he plans to raze the present structure, and erect a modern two-story building on the lot, which has a 40 foot front, and extends back 150 feet.
Meanwhile, he has rented the building to John Nesguthe, who will conduct his garage and machine shop business there. Mr. Nesguthe will dispose of some of his present equipment at public auction on Friday, February 1.
 
100 years ago (1921)
•An average of $140 for the entire offering was secured at Skewes Brothers’ dispersion sale of shorthorn cattle held Tuesday afternoon, and on the following day an average of $85 was received at A. E. Brandenburg’s annual sale of Duroc Jersey brood sows. The first twenty-five hogs average $106.