25 Years Ago - 1985

Howard and Ruth Olsen of Motley will be honored at a celebration of their 40th wedding anniversary Saturday, June 22, at Mc- Givern Park, Staples. The open house will be hosted by their children. Friends are invited to join them for refreshments at 2 p.m. and a lunch planned for 4 p.m.

Phil Corbett o f Staples, a junior at St. Thomas College in St. Paul, and a 134 pound wrestler on the school’s wrestling team, was one of 41 St. Thomas athletes to earn All-American certificates in competition during the just completed school year.

Excerpt from Wings on the World by Paul Caquelin: “We’ve always maintained that you can sell anything to somebody - if you bag it properly. The San Francisco Zoo believes the same. For years they have been paying the bill to have about two tons of manure hauled away from the back of the zoo each day. Now an idea. They are bagging the stuff in small bags and plan to sell it under the trade name “ZooDoo.” They figure to market it through department stores like the prestigious Neiman Marcus and through garden stores. How about that? A daily problem becomes a daily profit.

50 Years Ago - 1960

Fire completely destroyed the Kenneth Adams home located on their farm about 9 ¾ miles northwest of Motley, June 5. The fire was believed to have been started by a faulty furnace.

Margaret Raney celebrated her 100th birthday last Saturday at the Mary Rondorf home. She has resided in this state for 77 years and in Staples for 65 years. She entered the Mary Rondorf Home on June 18, 1953 and was the fifth resident to enter the home.

Vera Grove, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Anard Grove of rural Staples, was selected as Dairy Princess of 1960 for Bertha last Thursday evening, June 9. Vera is a 1960 graduate of Staples High School.

Two 1960 graduates from Staples High School received scholarships. Patricia Ward, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Ward as well as Cynthia Eskelson, daughter of Mrs. Ione Eskelson of Staples both received scholarships.

REMINISCENCES: The settlers that came to the Staples area in early days came with their families. These same settlers came here to find a rough and ready lumbering, logging and railroading community. The tented communities were filled with men who did what all do when they work all day, they went in search of meals and probably entertainment. The early papers often referred to the many soiled doves and admitted they did a landslide business. There were bawdy houses and saloons on main street, to the east of town and almost everywhere. The settlers formed groups and began to build churches and schools.

Everywhere, each week in the early newspapers are announcements of fundraisers from the women’s groups. They put on shows, they sold meals and provided meals for transients and donated to other charitable causes. They also used their money to pay for the materials to build the churches. Imagine, how busy they were. They provided meals in their own homes plus cooked for these various functions. They did laundry and also made items to sell at their fundraisers. Then there were the children - who needed to learn the abc’s and arithmetic, they needed to learn deportment and the arts. They needed to do chores and learn all the lessons of homemaking including sewing, mending and fancy work. It isn’t diffi cult to imagine many had to chop wood for their cook stoves. So with no electricity or safe water they provided for their families. These were incredible women who broke the law by using any contraceptive devices, did not have the vote and were living in a world where their lives depended on the whims of their men. Once again I say, hail to the women!

Here are some news items from the Presto Change in 1891 showing what I speak of: “The Catholic society will give a grand entertainment at the opera hall (believed to be on 1st Avenue somewhere) next Monday evening, July 4. ‘The Manager’ is a comedy in four acts which will be presented by the best local talent. Lunch will be served from 12 noon to 5 p.m. Price including lunch and ticket to entertainment 50 cents. Proceeds for the benefit of the church.” - “The Rag Carpet social at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Paine, Friday evening, netted the society about $14. One of the features was a secret society…” - “The following item from the Brainerd

Dispatch was intended

for publication last week: ’Miss Carrie Morrison has

gone to Staples to open up a branch millinery store for Mrs. Grandelmyer of this city.’” - “The ladies aid society will give a New England Supper at the Methodist church on Friday evening, May 22. The bill of fare will include pork and beans, brown bread, pumpkin pies, doughnuts, and many things less substantial. Price of supper, 25 cents. Supper from 6 to 9 p.m. Ice cream and lemonade served. Music and other entertainment free. All are cordially invited to come and “eat early and often.” - Laundry Girl Wanted - at the National Hotel. Wages $20 per month. Apply immediately.” and finally, “While at Verndale, Saturday evening, we met our old friend Editor Bivens of the Wadena Tribune. He was down to attend the Strawberry Festival given by the ladies in the new Congregational Church now being erected at that place.”

The women brought niceties and civilities to this community. They certainly, at the very least gave men plenty of assistance. It only takes a little recorded history and an appreciation of how much time it takes today to accomplish these job to understand that these were determined women. They brought us fine arts, entertainment, and started a tradition in Staples of not settling but to go after it all. They truly had the spirit of Staples. Hail to the women, these incredible women.

To contact Margo call 218 894-3742 or stevenmargo77@ msn.com, 501 2nd Street, SW,

Staples, MN 56479.