25 Years Ago - 1985

The city of Staples, after over a year of study, is planning to spend approximately $131,000 on the electric load control system to monitor the city’s electric system.

Council person Sue Caquelin is Today’s Woman, so say the Staples Jaycee Women. They wanted t o re cognize Sue for her outstanding contribution to the community so the Today’s Woman Award developed.

Workers at Nordell Graphic Communication began moving equipment and furnishings from there old quarters of Fifth Street to the former city hall building on Sixth Street.

Elaine Opdahl and Ken Klose were married at Faith Lutheran Church in Staples on January 26. A reception and dinner at Donovan’s followed the ceremony

50 Years Ago - 1960

Two seniors of the Staples Chapter of the Future Farmers of America are candidates for the District Star Farmer Award this year. Lee Torgerson, Chapter President and Larry Adams, Chapter Vice President are the candidates. REMINISCENCES: Third in my series of folklore, legend and history regards just some of the activity in Staples in the 20’s and early 30’sduring prohibition. These stories come from many sources including my grandpa Eli, my father, my father-in-law and others who remembered way back then. Here’s their story.

You should go south at the Highway 10 and 210 junction, cross the tracks and head out of town on 210 rounding the big curve and go to what locals refer to as the Browerville tar. Don’t go south down the Browerville tar but instead turn right and go north on County Road 21 until you get to Dakota Avenue, then take a right going east until you reach Highway 210 again. The roads I mentioned and the area within them were filled with moon shiners and bootleggers - so the stories go.

Across 210 from Scotty’s Southtown was the end of town. There were a few homes located right by Haskin’s Service Station but the city limit was there. From the city limit to way past the big curve on Highway 210 were moonshine stills and speakeasies. Local farmers brought corn by horse and buggy to these folks working by the light of the moon. I’ve been told that they also hauled away the finished product using the over-the-field route to their drop off point. For the most part, local law enforcement not only turned a blind eye but were also customers.

These activities wreaked havoc on one family in particular. The father had inherited farm property from his father on the corner where you turn down the Browerville tar. His father had inherited the farm from his brother who was a constable in Staples when it was a village. During the 20’s the owner and his wife had marital issues. She had had multiple marriages most of which, without the benefit of divorce. She also made “shine” as a side line business. One of

her sons helped with the

business when his mother “took off” with one of her

many “bigamous” husbands. Her husband (the one on the farm) divided up his children and sent them off to different neighbors. He then followed his wife, had her arrested and eventually jailed for bigamy. Meanwhile, in 1933, her help-with-the-moonshinebusiness son, went to collect an outstanding $25 moonshine bill. He took one of his mother’s illegal husbands with him and fi- nally found the customer who was another of his mother’s illegal husbands. During the “collection” process, the business son and buddy killed the debtor. Perhaps this story is shocking to you, but Staples had its infamous times.

My father was a child of 12 when he was sent to a

neighbor’s farm. The farm

was where the people from “moonshine row” went to

escape the government men (G-Men). The farm had a hidey hole to prevent them from being caught. It was also the place where one of Al Capone’s henchmen came to pick up the raw liquor. Due to his choice of weapon, the man was known as “Tommy Gun.”

This is the story from my family as they were personally involved. A local policeman told me that Staples has had all possible types of crime in its history. The difference is that when something happens here, we know the person who did the crime as well as the one he did it to. What’s your story? I’d love to hear it. I’m at 218 894-3742 or stevenmargo77@ msn.com.