Month: November 2025

150 Years Ago: From the Dec. 2, 1875 Shakopee Argus

It has been reported that the employees in the Machine Shops of this city are making arrangements to give a grand Hop on New Year’s Eve. This will be the first that has been given by them for several years, and all may look forward for a pleasant time.

125 Years Ago: From the Nov. 29, 1900 Scott County Argus

Plans are being drawn for a large addition to St. Mark’s parochial school, to be erected early in the Spring. The present seating capacity will not comfortably accommodate the large number of scholars attending school.

125 Years Ago: From the Nov. 30, 1900 Shakopee Tribune

A new circular showcase was received by Flaherty and Lies and put in position in the front of their large store the fore part of the week. The case is something of a novelty, and adds immensely to the very metropolitan appearance of The Busy Store.

100 Years Ago: From the Dec. 4, 1925 Shakopee Argus

Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Meyer and children have returned to Shakopee to live and are domiciled in the cottage on Holmes street south of the Ries residence.

100 Years Ago: From the Dec. 3, 1925 Shakopee Tribune

Local Skating Rink Now in Readiness

The members of the local community club arranged the fore part of this week to sponsor a skating rink so that those who like to participate in this sport may do so. The community club members arranged with Street Overseer “Bach” Ring to have the ice on the dredge west of the high road cleaned. Chief Ring immediately got busy and has already cleared the ice on this dredge, making it entirely free from snow…

75 Years Ago: From the Nov. 30, 1950 Shakopee Argus-Tribune

H. J. Pass Again Named Chief of Fire Department

H. J. (Butz) Pass was re-elected chief of the Shakopee Fire department at the annual election meeting held in the firemen’s room in the city hall Monday night, Nov. 20.

Other officers chosen by the department members were Ed Siebenaler, 1^st assistant chief; Robert Wampach, 2^nd assistant chief; C. J. Rein, Jr., secretary and Leon Lebens, treasurer.

Named as fire wardens were Leon Lebens, First ward; Frank Dellwo, Second ward, and Ralph Christensen, Third ward. The finance committee is composed of John Abeln, Ed Siebenaler and Art DuBois.

75 Years Ago: From the Nov. 30, 1950 Shakopee Valley News

Firemen Called Twice On Thanksgiving Day

Shakopee firemen were called from their Thanksgiving holiday twice last Thursday, and in both cases promptly responded to farm fire calls. Shortly before noon they answered an alarm at the Elmer Geis farm near Marystown. The fire destroyed a building housing a feed mixing room and water pump, but the firemen prevented the spread of the fire to other buildings.

Late Thursday night they answered a call to the Anton Vierling farm and put out a chimney fire. Little damage resulted. The weather was extremely cold Thursday with near blizzard conditions at times…

50 Years Ago: From the Nov. 26, 1975 Shakopee Valley News

Keith Eastman announces Shakopee Prescription Center

Keith Eastman, owner of Eastman Drug in the Shakopee Shops Shopping Center, early this week announced the construction of the Shakopee Prescription Center located on leased property at the Shakopee Medical Center, junction of Tenth Avenue and County Road 17, in east Shakopee.

The Shakopee Prescription Center, to open in February, is completely separate from the Shakopee Medical Center and is operated solely by Eastman who is leasing the property on a flat-rate lease basis…

25 Years Ago: From the Nov. 30, 2000 Shakopee Valley News

Murphy’s plan OK’d by city

But council will have say in final agreement

Shakopee’s City Council gave its approval to the concept of Hennepin Parks taking over daily operations of Historic Murphy’s Landing, but reserved the right to pass final judgment on the pact.

The council voted 4 to 0 on Nov. 21 in favor of allowing Murphy’s Landing’s Board of Directors to negotiate a lease and operations agreement with Hennepin Parks. (Mayor Jon Brekke the meeting before the vote to tend to a sick child.)…

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150 Years Ago: From the Nov. 25, 1875 Shakopee Argus

The Minnesota River is frozen over and is now used by Young America as a skating rink.

125 Years Ago: From the Nov. 22, 1900 Scott County Argus

Hubert Stans has accepted the position as bartender in Nic Dondelinger’s saloon. This is good news to the members of the Cadet band, of which he is leader, for it is now decided that he will remain here instead of spending the winter at his home in Chaska.

125 Years Ago: From the Nov. 23, 1900 Shakopee Tribune

Miss Adelaide Marx is engaged to teach school in the “Ince district” the coming winter. She will commence work Monday next.

100 Years Ago: From the Nov. 27, 1925 Shakopee Argus

Name Changed

At the regular meeting of the Shakopee Businessmens Bureau last Friday evening an amendment providing for the change of name of the organization from the foregoing name to Shakopee Commercial Club was offered by E. L. Eldred and after discussion was adopted. There were several names suggested, but the one adopted was considered to be more in keeping with the purpose and scope of the organization.

100 Years Ago: From the Nov. 26, 1925 Shakopee Tribune

Izaak Walton League Formed

A meeting of all local people interested in the preservation of the natural wild life of this state and nation was held last Monday evening in the Public Rest room. The meeting was called for the purpose of organizing a branch of the Izaak Walton League of Minnesota in this city.

A temporary organization was effected at this time to petition for a charter, and the following officers were elected to officiate as the temporary organization: E. L. Eldred, president; V. C. Stein, vice president and E. J. Huber, secretary-treasurer.

75 Years Ago: From the Nov. 23, 1950 Shakopee Argus-Tribune

Lebens Cops Top Shot with Shot

Le Roy Lebens, local amateur photographer and a frequent winner of prizes in photographic contests has come up with another winner His most recent was entitled “Mirror View” which took the top spot in the weekly Pictorialy Yours featured in the Pioneer Press.

The unusual shot was a car mirror view of a policeman John Roepke writing a ticket for a traffic violation on West First street in Shakopee.

75 Years Ago: From the Nov. 23, 1950 Shakopee Valley News

Schroeder Pictured In German Magazine

Fame of Scott county’s newly elected sheriff, W. B. “Rip” Schroeder, seems to be spreading around. A recent article in a German Pigeon and Poultry fancier’s publication, “Deutscher Kleintier Fuchter” carried a picture and write-up of Schroeder concerning his hobby as one of the country’s leading raisers of King pigeons. Schroeder has served as national officer of King pigeon associations.

50 Years Ago: From the Nov. 26, 1975 Shakopee Valley News

Dedication date for new Jr. High is October 3, 1976, event to be incorporated with Bicentennial

The Shakopee school board passed a motion last night setting October 3, 1976, as the dedication date for the new junior high school incorporating the bicentennial theme.

“George Muenchow, chairman of the Shakopee Bicentennial Committee, approached me about a month or so ago,” superintendent Dr. Robert Mayer said, “about the possibility of tying in the dedication of the new junior high school with various bicentennial activities. He asked the board to consider delaying the dedication until next fall…

25 Years Ago: From the Nov. 23, 2000 Shakopee Valley News

Lakeville firm new city waste hauler

Shakopee residents will have a new hauler picking up their garbage and recyclable materials this spring. On Tuesday night, the City Council selected Dick’s Sanitation of Lakeville over Waste Management Inc., which has held the contract for about a decade.

The council voted 4-1 in favor of the small, independent firm over the corporate giant. Dick’s Sanitation will take over Waste Management’s routes on March 19. Meantime, the Lakeville company will begin a transition that will include residents receiving new carts and recycling bins…

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150 Years Ago: From the Nov. 18, 1875 Shakopee Argus

John Kauth, Esq., proprietor of the Saint Paul House of this city, will give a grand ball at his establishment on Thanksgiving eve. An invitation is extended to everybody. Good music will be furnished, and a pleasant time is anticipated.

125 Years Ago: From the Nov. 15, 1900 Scott County Argus

C. G. Bowdish has removed from the Hinds house, west of Chas. G. Hinds’s, on east Third street, to the Episcopal rectory.

125 Years Ago: From the Nov. 16, 1900 Shakopee Tribune

J. E. Hurd will be busy the fore part of next week stringing two more wires from Shakopee to the twin cities. The present circuits are inadequate to accommodate the increasing toll business of the independent companies.

100 Years Ago: From the Nov. 20, 1925 Shakopee Argus

John Weckmann has bought from the Henry Klinge estate a lot opposite Henry Sand’s property on Fourth street and has begun excavation for a modern home. The building will be a seven-room house but whether frame, brick or concrete has not been decided upon. If weather conditions permit it will be completed this fall.

100 Years Ago: From the Nov. 19, 1925 Shakopee Tribune

Scherkenbach’s Remodeling Interior of Store

Considerable improvements are being made in the interior of the Scherkenbach Hardware and Electric Supply building which will add materially to the store’s floor space.

The partition in the rear of the store has been removed which converts the store into one large room instead of two rooms. The Scherkenbach firm is increasing the size of its store and making other improvements at this time to be in a better position to take care of its rapidly increasing business.

Contractor Fred Rohlfs and his crew of workmen are doing the work.

75 Years Ago: From the Nov. 16, 1950 Shakopee Argus-Tribune

Chiropractic Office Opens

Dr. W. Adair Muralt, graduate of the Northwest college of Chiropractic, will open an office in the Veterans of Foreign Wars building on East Second St. today.

75 Years Ago: From the Nov. 16, 1950 Shakopee Valley News

Boy Scouts Take Hike Saturday

Seven Boy Scouts of troop 218 met at the Boy Scout Cabin Saturday where they left on an all day outing to the N.Y.A. camp. There the group cooked their dinner in aluminum foil. After the meal several of the Scouts passed their trailing tests by following scout trails and symbols for one fourth of a mile…

50 Years Ago: From the Nov. 19, 1975 Shakopee Valley News

American Legion, VFW propose name change for Memorial Park

Roger Dedeker, representing the American Legion Post and VFW in Shakopee, appeared before the Shakopee city council last Wednesday evening requesting the council change the name of Memorial Park to Veteran’s Memorial Park.

“We have some rather elaborate plans, including a new flag pole with a base inscribed with the names of local men who died in the service of their country,” Dedeker told the council.

“We would also like to get an artillery piece or a tank to put on display in the park; we have been in contact with the Defense Department about that,” he said.

Dedeker said that his committee has worked in conjunction with George Muenchow, park and recreation director for the city. The plan for the park would be a part of the city’s bicentennial program.

Initial plans call for rededication of the present Memorial Park to take place on Memorial Day in 1976. Dedeker’s plan brought support from alderman Ron Ward and mayor Ray Foslid.

The council granted tentative approval of the plan, thus allowing the American Legion and VFW to pursue their objective. Decommissioning of a tank or artillery piece is expensive, Dedeker said, and they preferred not to pursue the matter if the council objected to the plan.

25 Years Ago: From the Nov. 16, 2000 Shakopee Valley News

Murphy’s parks system link proposed

The face of financially challenged Historic Murphy’s Landing may be changing if a proposed deal to have Hennepin Parks take over day-to-day operations of the Shakopee living-history museum comes to fruition.

Hennepin Parks and Murphy’s Landing have been meeting at a staff level for several weeks discussing the park system’s interest in entering into an operational agreement with Murphy’s. Dennis Kelly, executive director of Murphy’s, said Hennepin Parks would bring its marketing, finance and guest-services expertise to the museum and make a long-term financial commitment to the upkeep and rehabilitation of the site. He said Hennepin Parks has a goal of educating people about the history of the region in its mission statement, a component that makes the match with Murphy’s a good mix…

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125 Years Ago: From the Nov. 8, 1900 Scott County Argus

The question of issuing $3,000 additional bonds for the erection and maintenance an of electric plant was carried by about 13 votes. In the First ward the vote stood 68 for and 62 against; in the second ward it was 77 for and 75 against; we were not able to get the figures for the third ward, but are told that it carried in that ward by 9 votes.

125 Years Ago: From the Nov. 9, 1900 Shakopee Tribune

R. L. Gallinger has changed the name of the Central Hotel to “Hotel Sterling.” The house is meeting with a full share of patronage under its new name and management.

100 Years Ago: From the Nov. 13, 1925 Shakopee Argus

W. L. Anderson’s handsome new bungalow will be completed this week and the family expect to move into it next week.

100 Years Ago: From the Nov. 12, 1925 Shakopee Tribune

De Witte N. Barber of Minneapolis, writer of boy scout stories, hiked to Shakopee yesterday. He was accompanied by two boy scouts of Minneapolis. In coming to this city they made a study of the scenic bottom land on the north side of the river. On their return trip they hiked along the river bed on the south side.

75 Years Ago: From the Nov. 9, 1950 Shakopee Argus-Tribune

Legion Gets Scout Troop Certificate

Shakopee’s Boy Scout troop charter was presented to the American Legion, sponsoring organization, at its monthly meeting Monday night. The presentation was made by Russ Smith, field executive, of the Minneapolis Arts Council.

75 Years Ago: From the Nov. 9, 1950 Shakopee Valley News

Scouts Celebrate First Birthday With Party

Troop 3 of the Girl Scouts celebrated their first anniversary Tuesday evening with a party for the mothers of the troop members. The party was held in the First Presbyterian church basement at 7:30 p.m. The table was decorated with a birthday cake and bouquets of flowers. The Scouts provided the entertainment which consisted of songs and three one act plays, after which a lunch of cake, cookies and coffee and hot chocolate was served…

50 Years Ago: From the Nov. 12, 1975 Shakopee Valley News

Junior High may be completed by January

Junior High school principal Jack Cole told Shakopee school board members Monday evening that the general contractor at the site has indicated the building could be occupied sometime in January.

“The subcontractors are not committing themselves to a date yet, but it could be done,” Cole said, “I would feel more optimistic with a February date.”

Work on the Junior High was delayed considerably by strikes and frequent periods of bad weather. Original plans called for relocating the Junior High school during the student’s Christmas vacation.

Cole reported that work inside the building is continuing at a rapid pace and that landscaping is nearly complete in the front of the building.

25 Years Ago: From the Nov. 9, 2000 Shakopee Valley News

Mock election gives students taste of real thing

It certainly didn’t look like a typical polling place.

Campaign literature from four political parties was strewn across the table, with posters for candidates Al Gore, George W. Bush and Ralph Nader taped to the wall. Several of the election officials overseeing the registration process were under the legal voting age – in fact, many of the voters were under the legal voting age.

Government teacher Holly Hales organized a mock all-school election last Thursday at Shakopee High School as part of a nationwide effort to encourage young people to learn more about the issues and vote. The 18-to-24 age group, Hales noted, is the most underrepresented of all those who vote. The event also was designed to inspire students’ parents to get out to the polls…

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150 Years Ago: From the Nov. 4, 1875 Shakopee Argus

Fresh leeches at the New Drug Store.

125 Years Ago: From the Nov. 1, 1900 Scott County Argus

Our people will be called upon next Tuesday to vote upon the question of issuing additional bonds in the sum of $3,000 for the erection and maintenance of an electric light plant. The bonds are to be issued in $500 each, interest payable semi-annually at 4 ½ per cent.

125 Years Ago: From the Nov. 2, 1900 Shakopee Tribune

M. O. Davis of Minneapolis and L. A. Guilbert of Henderson were in Shakopee last Tuesday making arrangements to open a restaurant in the building west of Mich. Berens’ block. Mr. Guilbert owns and runs a restaurant at Henderson, and thinks the same kind of a venture in this city would be a paying one, hence he has arranged with Mr. Davis to open the restaurant the fore part of next week. The owner is thoroughly conversant with the ins and outs of the business, and the manager seems to be a hustler of the variety that captures success whether or no, and these facts augur well for the success of the Guilbert Restaurant in Shakopee. Confectionery, fruits and tobaccos will be a part of the firm’s source of revenue.

100 Years Ago: From the Nov. 6, 1925 Shakopee Argus

Dr. T. M. Larsen repainted the opera house drop curtain for L. E. Dawson last week, the work requiring a week’s time. The scene was left unchanged except in a few minor details but the bright new coloring has made a striking improvement in the curtain. The doctor is a skilled artist in the use of oil paints in which the painting was done and a number of pictures painted by him adorn the walls of public places and homes hereabouts.

100 Years Ago: From the Nov. 5, 1925 Shakopee Tribune

The sweet sounds and harmony of the new organ in St. Mark’s church travels quite far. This time it reached the ear of Rev. Mother Mary Rose, superior general of the sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia, Kansas. She visited Shakopee last Thursday to view and try the new organ. The trial convinced her, that she wants just such an organ for her own convent at Concordia, Kansas. She praised the great possibilities of the organ and admitted that the combination of stops produces the best balanced harmony she ever heard from an organ.

75 Years Ago: From the Nov. 2, 1950 Shakopee Argus-Tribune

Jail Plans Depend on Bond Vote

The question of a new Scott county jail and sheriff’s residence to replace the present structure which has been repeatedly condemned by state jail inspectors will be answered Tuesday Nov. 7, when voters of the county cast their ballots on two bond issue proposals.

County commissioners, faced with the problem of either building a new structure or making provision to house prisoners in an adequate jail in some other community, chose to submit the matter to the electorate…

75 Years Ago: From the Nov. 2, 1950 Shakopee Valley News

Fat On The Fire

A well-cooked roast proved to be the fire when the Shakopee Firemen were called to Gelhaye’s Cafe Sunday afternoon. The firemen removed the smoldering roast from the oven and that was about the extent of the damage.

50 Years Ago: From the Nov. 5, 1975 Shakopee Valley News

A new boat landing, constructed by the Shakopee Rotary Club is complete and ready for use. The Rotarians cooperated with city officials in construction of the facility located just east of the police and recreation offices.

25 Years Ago: From the Nov. 2, 2000 Shakopee Valley News

Options for jail all carry problems

Last week, the Scott County Jail Study Committee, without taking a vote, seemed to reach consensus on recommending the county build a facility that will be larger than immediately needed. The unused space could either remain unused, therefore not increasing staffing levels, or offered to other agencies as fee-for-service bed space.

Among the sites considered for the jail are the County Jail Annex in Sand Creek Township, the block on which the existing jail sits, and the parking lot west of the county Justice Center. The latter two sites are in Shakopee…

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