Month: April 2025

125 Years Ago: From the April 26, 1900 Scott County Argus

The M. E. church structure is almost level with the ground. The contractors are taking it entirely to pieces rather than saw it into sections for removal. The corner stone was digged out and the box within it removed, but moisture had got into it, the box was almost ready to fall in pieces, and the contents were mere molds of clay, amongst which could be discerned by breaking the lumps one way, the words of a hymnal and a Bible. The stone was laid with appropriate ceremonies 32 years ago.

125 Years Ago: From the April 27, 1900 Shakopee Tribune

Last Sunday morning shortly after 12 o’clock fire was discovered in the frame building at the alley on Holmes street opposite the old skating rink. The building being an old one and filled with highly combustible material the fire spread so rapidly that in a few minutes the building was enveloped in flames towering high into the air, the heat was so intense that there was danger for nearby buildings and the firemen were kept on the watch, but as the air was very clam, the fire was easily kept from spreading. The building was owned by Frank Buch and occupied by Doctor Fischer as a straw shed and store room for his sleigh, cutter and stoves. The loss to Doctor Fischer is about $300 with no insurance. The general supposition is that the fire was incendiary but there is no trace as to the miscreant.

100 Years Ago: From the May 1, 1925 Shakopee Argus

New Pipe Organ

The pipe organ at St. Mark’s church has been taken out to make room for a handsome new one which will be installed as speedily as possible. While St. Mark’s is without an organ no high masses will be celebrated and no afternoon services will be held on Sundays. The new organ will be dedicated as soon as it is in readiness, probably early in June.

100 Years Ago: From the April 30, 1925 Shakopee Tribune

A group of local men have conceived the idea of starting a gun club in Shakopee and for the purpose of organizing the club, have decided to hold a meeting in the Leo Huss blacksmith shop, Friday evening, May 1, commencing at 7 o’clock. Local hunters and all who are interested in this movement are invited to be present at this meeting.

75 Years Ago: From the April 27, 1950 Shakopee Argus-Tribune

Rev. H. J. Byrne Named Pastor of St. Mary’s

Rev. Henry J. Byrne, for the past eight years pastor of St. Anastasia church of Hutchinson has been named pastor of St. Mary’s church of Shakopee, it was disclosed this week. Father Byrne succeeds the late Rev. Michael A. McRaith…

75 Years Ago: From the April 27, 1950 Shakopee Valley News

Red Owl Store To Have Glass Front

Construction of a new plate glass front at the Red Owl Store is underway this week. According to Leo Robeck, owner, the front will have three large plate glass pane while the lower portion will be of brick and stucco. With the exception of the front, the entire store has been completely remodeled in the past two years.

50 Years Ago: From the April 30, 1975 Shakopee Valley News

Stockers announce Gambles grand opening

Ron and Dotty Stocker announced this week their grand opening of the Shakopee Gambles hardware store on Lewis between First and Second Avenues.

25 Years Ago: From the April 27, 2000 Shakopee Valley News

Book recounts early days of river valley

As a boy living along the Minnesota River, E.J. Pond watched in awe as Indian braves from the Sioux and Chippewa bands clashed in May 1858.

Interviewed by a feature writer in 1925, a 77-year-old Pond recalled the days before Shakopee became a city, when Native American families camped on the banks of the mighty river and warmed themselves by the fire in the Pond home.

His and other pioneer tales are included in a book published last month by the Shakopee Heritage Society, “Recollections of Early Pioneers, 1925” was released as a fund-raiser for the fledgling club.

Formed in April 1999, the Shakopee Heritage Society boasts 21 members and meets about four times a year…

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150 Years Ago: From the April 22, 1875 Shakopee Argus

John Ley has opened a new Tailor shop on First street.

125 Years Ago: From the April 19, 1900 Scott County Argus

The brick layers are at work on an addition to the Kopp & Kopp blacksmith shop which, when it is finished, and the whole is thrown into one workroom will make a model smith and one so commodious that 25 or 30 horses may be in the shop at one time, and still leave room for the shoers to work. The new portion is at the rear, and is 20 by 28 feet in size, constructed of brick laid by Aug. Woehling & Co. The forgo will be moved back and to the north side of the shop, and a small office will also be built on the same side at the front. The business of the firm has long been too large for the present size of the shop, and the larger quarters will remove all these inconveniences. The new shop will be 20 by 60 feet in dimensions.

125 Years Ago: From the April 20, 1900 Shakopee Tribune

Joseph Fischer has commenced laying a cement sidewalk on the south and west side of the city hall which will be a very neat as well as a necessary improvement. He also has several contracts laying sidewalks in the resident portions of the city, some of them extending a whole block. This is evident that his work of last year has given general satisfaction, and that his new enterprise promises to develop into an extensive business, for the benefit of the city in general.

100 Years Ago: From the April 24, 1925 Shakopee Argus

Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Strehlow, who sold their residence property recently and left Friday for St. Paul intending to make their home in that city, returned the first of the week, Mrs. Strehlow being so homesick that it was deemed best by her husband to bring her back to Shakopee. The aged couple will remain here, and their many friends are glad to learn of their decision.

100 Years Ago: From the April 23, 1925 Shakopee Tribune

Books for Public Library Are Requested

A roll of honor will be printed in this paper next week of those who are good enough to donate a book or books to the Public Library…

75 Years Ago: From the April 20, 1950 Shakopee Argus-Tribune

Buys Ice Business

Leonard Brick became the owner of the Sanitary Ice Co. this past month, having purchased the business from Buddy Siebenaler. Mr. Brick’s announcement is in the classified column this week.

75 Years Ago: From the April 20, 1950 Shakopee Valley News

Shakopee Birds Gain Wide Fame

That Shakopee pigeons are achieving international fame was shown this week with the arrival of two newspapers from Germany. The papers, the “Kleinter Fucha” and “Der Geflugel Zucher” of Frankfurt, contained pictures and write-ups about King pigeons raised and shown by W. B. Schroeder. The Shakopee pigeon fancier has attained a wide reputation for the excellence of his birds and is presently the secretary of the American King Club.

50 Years Ago: From the April 23, 1975 Shakopee Valley News

City crews were busy at Memorial Park this week, preparing for the opening of the park. Workers are shown drilling holes for guard rails around the entrance to the park. Users of the park are reminded that the asphalt trails are for pedestrian travel only and no motorized vehicles of any kind are allowed.

25 Years Ago: From the April 20, 2000 Shakopee Valley News

Murphy’s gets $750,000 grant

The reconstruction of historic Murphy’s Inn and Landing got a big boost this week with the news of a $700,000 grant from federal transportation funds through the Metropolitan Council.

The grant will help fund the reconstruction of the historic inn, landing and trail in Shakopee from the inn down to the riverfront within the historic park. The grant includes some funds for research on the inn.

The trail is planned to eventually link to a trail the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) plans to build. The DNR now has an undeveloped trail from the site of the old Bloomington Ferry Bridge to Memorial Park in Shakopee.

Murphy’s Landing Executive Director Dennis Kelly said the total project is expected to cost approximately $1.2 million. He said the federal award boosts the amount Murphy’s has dedicated to the project to approximately $925,000…

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150 Years Ago: From the April 15, 1875 Shakopee Argus

The Minnesota River is on a bender. The bottom lands are all overflowed and the highest banks have nearly disappeared beneath the water. The river is to-day on the rise.

125 Years Ago: From the April 12, 1900 Scott County Argus

J. A. Wilder is making a decided improvement in his lumberyard. The office has been moved to a site on the corner of Lewis and Second streets, and a new shed 18 x 72 feet in size extends from it to the old shed. The new arrangement will allow a much larger stock to be carried under cover than heretofore.

125 Years Ago: From the April 13, 1900 Shakopee Tribune

John Dean is erecting a substantial sheet iron faced shed on the north side of his blacksmith shop.

100 Years Ago: From the April 17, 1925 Shakopee Argus

The new electric fire siren was tried out at eight o’clock Saturday morning and left no doubt as to the alarm it can sound. The fireman who can sleep through it will have no excuse but to resign. The siren is guaranteed to be heard eleven miles and Saturday’s test was only a partial demonstration of what it is capable in the matter of bloodcurdling noise.

100 Years Ago: From the April 16, 1925 Shakopee Tribune

FOR SALE—6-room house on East First street. Inquire of A. F. Huth, Shakopee.

75 Years Ago: From the April 13, 1950 Shakopee Argus-Tribune

To Expand Ball Stand Service

Expansion of the services of the concession stand at Riverside park for the baseball season that will soon get under way was outlined at a meeting of the offices and directors of the Shakopee Recreational Association, Inc., Monday night.

The directors engaged Lee Wagner to manage the stand for the season and to secure vendors who will be paid for their services, it was learned.

Plans for improving the stand and service to fans include the addition of a vendors’ service area at the east end of the present stand space. The addition will be used serving vendors only and will eliminate interference with customers at the counter, it was pointed out.

Installation of a popcorn machine and a lunch counter for “hot dogs” and coffee are also contemplated.

Painting of the light towers and fence are likewise on the list of things to be done before the ball season gets well along.

75 Years Ago: From the April 13, 1950 Shakopee Valley News

Council Changes Electric Rates

Electric rates for Shakopee consumers were revamped by action of the city council at the regular meeting Tuesday evening. The new rates will abolish some discriminations prevalent in the existing rate structure, it was reported.

Essentially, the old residential structure is abolished and the former residential range rate will be in effect for both urban and rural consumers…

50 Years Ago: From the April 16, 1975 Shakopee Valley News

Lauer’s grand opening

A two-day grand opening sale, highlighted by an array of free merchandise prize drawings and free coffee and cookies, will be held Friday and Saturday at Lauer’s Our-Own Hardware (formerly Burshek’s) in downtown Shakopee.

New owner Don Lauer, who purchased Burshek’s from previous owner Ed Hopps, invites past patrons and potential new customers to come in, look around, have a cup of coffee, a cookie and register for the more than fifty door prize drawings that will be given away…

25 Years Ago: From the April 13, 2000 Shakopee Valley News

Some school start, end times changing

Addressing concerns over the timing of bus runs this school year, the Shakopee School Board Monday approved a five-minute change in start and end of day times for the senior high, junior high, Sun Path Elementary, and Shakopee Area Catholic Schools (SACS).

The change to earlier times becomes effective next fall.

Shakopee Services, the district’s student transportation provider, has reported difficulties completing the three bus runs in the time provided, explained Superintendent Bob Ostlund…

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150 Years Ago: From the April 8, 1875 Shakopee Argus

On Monday the St. Paul & Sioux City R. R. commenced running a California Through Train with Pullman Sleeping Cars. This arrangement has made a change of time necessary, as will be seen in the Time Table of this company, in another column.

125 Years Ago: From the April 5, 1900 Scott County Argus

Work upon the removal of the M E church structure to Bloomington has been begun in earnest. The pews and inside furnishings have been removed there, the steeple is down, and the dismemberment of the building which has stood upon its commanding site for thirty two years in Shakopee, is going on a pace. The reconstruction will require a period of some months, and it will be late in the summer before the church at Bloomington Ferry will be ready for occupancy.

125 Years Ago: From the April 6, 1900 Shakopee Tribune

Wm. Duffy’s grocery store presents a better appearance since painters Wilcox & Oster applied a few coats of paint.

100 Years Ago: From the April 10, 1925 Shakopee Argus

Shakopee’s Municipal Election Develops Some Surprises

Shakopee’s biennial municipal election has been held, the people have spoken and the various officers were chosen to serve the city for the next two years. One of the surprises of the election was the election of Miss Elizabeth K. Ries as mayor. John P. Ring had filed and was a candidate for re-election. Miss Ries had not filed, but a number of her friends decided at the eleventh hour to endeavor to elect her by having stickers with her name printed thereon, placed in the hands of the voters. The result was that she was elected by a majority of twenty-nine votes. So that Shakopee, for the next two years will be one of the few towns in the state with the distinction of having a woman mayor…

100 Years Ago: From the April 9, 1925 Shakopee Tribune

Henry Herman Strehlow sold his residence property on Third and Lewis streets to Ed Kopp of Eagle Creek. The deal was closed yesterday and the amount of the consideration was $1700.00.

75 Years Ago: From the April 6, 1950 Shakopee Argus-Tribune

Legion Club Is Newly Furnished Redecorated

The newly decorated and re-furnished Legion club is the object of much favorable comment from Legion and Auxiliary members and others who have visited the place the past week.

A new floor has been laid in the lobby, wood panneling has been effectively utilized in partitions and bar room, and the entire interior has been cleaned and renovated.

Floor lamps, chrome and yellow leather furniture including a davenport and two chairs have been added to the furnishings. A coffee table and new drapes of hammered gray satin are other items that help make the club pleasant and attractive.

75 Years Ago: From the April 6, 1950 Shakopee Valley News

Council Votes Pump Repairs

At a special meeting of the City Council called Tuesday evening to expedite repair of the 700 foot main water pump, R. H. Routs, superintendent of utilities, told the body that the pump had been severely cut due to pumping a mixture of sand and water at some previous time.

After hearing Houts, the council decided that since the cost of repairing the defective parts was so close to the cost of new parts, the city would purchase new parts for the pump.

25 Years Ago: From the April 6, 2000 Shakopee Valley News

Shakopee Jaycees come to the rescue of Derby Days

After struggling for months to get this year’s festival off the ground, Derby Days 2000 organizers have found a sponsor in the Shakopee Jaycees.

The Jaycees have stepped in to guide festivities over the next two years, though much of the legwork will be done by an independent Derby Days committee, explained Dave Thompson, committee co-chair…

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