25 Years Ago - 1985

Motley’s Volunteer Fire

Department drive for funds

totaling $12,145 for the “Jaws of Life” was exceeded

by $200. Local donations included $500 from the Staples State Bank, $200 from Nyhus Chevrolet and $200 from the Staples Jaycees as well as Motley’s fire department’s $204 contest drawing helped to put the goal over the top. The tool has already been purchased and is installed in the Motley department’s four wheel drive rescue truck.

The Minnesota 1985 Class A state wrestling champs are the Staples Cardinals! This year marks the sixth straight title for Don Dravis’ coached squad as the Cards near another state record, that of seven straight titles set in the 1940s by the Robbinsdale High School team.

Harold “Dutch” Farber, 71, Motley, died February 5. He married Flodys Taylor on July 15, 1937. He was a veteran of WW II serving in the South Pacific.

The 1985 District 24 A Champion Staples Girls Basketball team is off to the Regional competitions. Team members are: Kristi Anderson, Darci Peterson, Ramelle Beachy, Tosha Martell, Kris Borash, Tricia Bates, Deanna Olander, Renata Glaser, Kari Wolhowe, Kristi Wolhowe, Kyra Odden and Karla Howard. Student managers are Donna Botelho and Deanna Blanchard. The assistant coach is Dale Hausmann and head coach is Ron Beachy.

50 Years Ago - 1960

The Ringer Staples Company became a reality yesterday morning when B. C. Blessing and Gordon D. Sellnow, president and secretary of Staples Development, Inc., signed the contract with Walter M. Ringer for the actual construction of the building. The building will be erected on the property belonging to Robert Batcher on the east end of Staples on Highway 10, directly east of the Staples Motel. Construction of the building will begin immediately with Jares Cabinet Shop as contractor. The occupancy date has been set for July 1.

Mrs. Jeanne Fahnlander, treasurer of the local American Legion Auxiliary, reported that a total of $330.20 was collected by members in their annual heart fund drive conducted in Staples on February 28.

REMINISCENCES: Responding to my queries about bootlegging/moon shining stories in Staples this week was Jack Giza. He remembers hearing about a farm south of Staples where at one time there was a yard full of gangster’s cars. The rest of the story is unclear and waiting for corroboration.

Jack also answered the question regarding gambling in the city. He has memories of going to a bar with his parents (an unusual occasion) where they had one-armed bandits and he was allowed to pull the arm down. It was a memorable occasion and occurred in a place called Wirtz (sp. ?) Bar which would eventually become Lefty’s. This is a new name and business to add to my trivia - I never gave any thought to who had it before Lefty. I wonder how many owners that building had.

While we were reminiscing he mentioned that there was a card room on Fifth Street by Shogren’s Café and near Giza’s. (Giza’s is now operating with a fifth generation family member on staff. Now there’s a story I’d like to write about.) Also, he thought he remembered a card room across from the depot. It was east of the St. Charles Hotel and near the old Staples World office and the Olympia Café.

Jack has a question he would like to put out there in reader land. At some point in his formative years he saw a rickety, old wooden ski jump on Lake Shamineau near Auger’s Resort. He said it was set back a ways near a big hill and he wondered who might have put that up. I believe Maynard Avery used to own a resort somewhere in the general area and may have even been the same as Auger’s or near it. I haven’t a clue so maybe someone out there does - maybe Jon Blessing, nephew of Maynard Avery.

Sometimes I get lucky and one of the people who calls me makes me laugh really loud and out loud. It’s truly healthy although I do find myself looking behind me to see if anyone saw me guffaw. This is pretty strange since I’m nearly always alone. This week Doreen Scott managed to get me totally undone with her reminiscences. She was responding to my question about gambling and the odd newspaper item from 1935 where the county sheriff was in town to pick up all “slot” machines. I had not heard of any gambling in Staples so was wondering if anyone else had.

She started to tell me about her mother and father, Tom and Louise Conlin and a little business they had which used to be located between Burger King and Orton’s. It was about where the BK east parking lot is and it faced Highway 10. She said before her dad went to work for the Northern Pacific her parents bought this little bar where her mom made burgers and chili and her dad swerved draft beer at 10 cents a glass. She also said her father ran bar tabs in 1939. They called the place the Ringside Inn because, her dad said, “There was a fight on the sidewalk out front every night.” It was a pretty popular place and - you guessed it, it had a one-armed bandit. She said she remembers being allowed to pull the arm down for Ernie Stone (Phil Stone’s father) because she was his good luck charm.

Doreen also remembers the card room across from the depot. She said she used to stop in there once in a while for a burger (that’s what they served). While she was eating her burger a railroad man stopped in and the cook took his order and excused himself to go to the bathroom. When he came out of the bathroom he was still zipping up his pants and he said to the customer, “How would you like that done?” The customer told him to “Just fry the p___ out of it.” Thanks Doreen. Hard to top that.