Mr. Lee Hutton (Ruth Wilson) Excelsior bookof cider worth 40 cents per gallon. The profit, at 16 to 24 cents a gallon, was signifi-
and the telephone exchanges (both Northwestern and Tri -State companies) were a cant the year that they made 25,000 gallons of cider out of thousands of bushels
total loss. Heroine of the hour was Operator Alfreda Wienholz, who stayed at her post of apples that would otherwise have been a loss.
until overcome by smoke. One of the firemen she had telephoned arrived in time to
carry her safely from the building.August 3. Men of Excelsior received a letter from Captain Richard C. Thompson,
For the next two weeks, people wondered where Robert Cruikshank, janitor of of Minneapolis, inviting them to meet at the high school building two evenings a week
the Wood building, had gone— disappearing without farewells. One day excavators,for company drills. There would be lectures on army matters, from time to time,
removing debris from the basement, came upon his body where he had been trapped and occasional social evenings. "It's a Volunteer Company," the letter stated, "to be
by flames. (HCR)continued throughout the war ... [It's] ideal training for young men who may be
November 9. The funeral of 76- year -old Moses Bickford was held this day. One of
called for the present or future wars."
Excelsior's pioneers, Moses had come West, in 1857, with three brothers and home- i December 21. The Citizens' State Bank and the Minnetonka State Bank consolidated.I
steaded on Bickford's Point, now Meadville. He claimed to have built the first hotel at After the old Excelsior bank, at the corner of Third and Water Streets, burned in
Lake Minnetonka. Ed Bickford, another brother, arrived in 1865 with their parents,1894, the Minnetonka State Bank was built on Second Street next to Newell's Store.
Eri and Susan Bickford. (MH)This is the bank with which Citizens' Bank consolidated.I
1 Harry B. Wistrand had helped organize the Citizens' Bank in 1911 and was the
cashier. Early in 1917, Harry and his brother had purchased the hardware store from
the Fogelmark brothers, successors to the Joslin brothers at 226 Water Street. In
1918, Harry and Ed would merge with R.H. DeGroodt to form the DeGroodt-JWistrandCompany. (MR)
1 1918
r;7' N ,ii _.
i r/` t'40.i .
II rt June. The Woman's Club reported that more than 200
e local women resolved to " abstain from use of white
t i G ;I flour as fully as possible, to substitute war bread on I
daily menus, and to send a copy of its resolutions to
President Wilson." (MR)
1
A 4 -H Club meeting on Murray Hill at the home of Prof. Edw. W.D. Holway of the botany dept.,July 2. The Council decided to purchase its first
U. of M.: world traveler, plant collector and mountain climber. (About 1917)e automobile directory from W.H. Boone Company.
Seated, lower left, is County Agent Kirkpatrick; Mr. Henry Palmer is in 2nd row, wearing a suit;Ordinances presented during the year aimed to regulate
Mrs. Palmer, next to top row, no hat; James Palmer, front row standing, 2nd from right with white automobile traffic on village streets and the operation
tie; Ruth Wilson (Hutton), 7th girl from left, standing, with big white hair bow. Others unidentified of motor buses within village limits. The Age of the
Automobile was gaining momentum.
1917 Fall. When the boardwalk between the Casino and the
Commons was being removed, schoolteacher Ruth
Mann had a hard time
April. The Council advertised for bids to purchase a horse -drawn street sweeper school
keeping the children
recess
ng r on the
periods.
for the town's paved streets. Bills from S.S. Smith & Son for feed for the Village of them
grounds during
o to the lake
lunch ptolo Most
o
team, and bills from Excelsior Livery for teams used to pull fire equipment reveal
of them dashed off to the lake shore to look for
F
the continued use of workhorses, even while the town was purchasing the first traffic coins under the old boards as the sidewalk was being
removed.
signal to be placed at the corner of Water and Second Street. (VC)
The Excelsior Fruit Growers Association (EFGA) hired a professional manager who 1919
had been working for the Fruit Brokers Company in Spokane, Washington, for the
past decade. Under Oliver C. Skow's leadership for the next seventeen years, the
Association of 300 members enlarged both its markets and its membership. Skow's
first move was to purchase a power machine with which to make cider and vinegar out
William Way in World War I March 7. Returning servicemen found that C.E. Samp
of second -rate apples. A bushel of apples worth only pennies produced three gallons
77
76
7
neapolis Public Library, Miss Grata Countryman, Countryman who was in charge of appointinglisIgg
1: ' . •1:
N County Librarians, asked Mrs. Willard Dillman to suggest someone for the new local
1 library. The young lady Mrs. Dillman engaged, Isabel Bladon, would begin her duties
the following year when the room was ready. (MR)
3 October 30. When Harvey S. Phillips opened a Chevrolet agency on this date, he was
l 21 years old, the youngest Chevrolet dealer in the country, but he was well qualified.
He had been the first driver of the Excelsior Fire Department's first four- wheels. I,i drive truck when it arrived in April. While still in his teens, he had driven a delivery
f m truck for a local grocer and had driven automobiles from his father's auto liveryStit'to pick up traveling salesmen arriving on trains or streetcars. Harvey would continue
s- .
x '
in the automobile business for more than half a century. (MR)1 M.
r i 1922
April 4. Excelsior's free County Library opened officially in a small room of the
Community House (formerly the White House) with Isabel Bladon in charge. Since
Members of the Seamans family and their 1917 Reo truck in front of the "Bee Hive," converted the Woman's Club was having its annual meeting in an adjacent room, many of the
from the old school. "Grandma" Seamans holding Billy, Buss sitting on the wheel, Ade with members stopped by the new library and boosted the first day's circulation to someWrinklethedog, and Phil at the back, about 1920 fifty books.
Having known early of her appointment as the new librarian, young Isabel wasSeptember16. Lee Hutton and Ruth Wilson were married on this date. Their wedding able to use the months since her high school graduation in December to get acquaintedbroughttorealitythepartstheyhadportrayedinthe1919pageantwhentheyrepre-with methods used at the Minneapolis Public Library. When it was time, she helpedrentedJohnandMary, children of pioneers who fell in love, were married and, at the move shelves and books from Minneapolis to the new branch library,close of the pageant, re- appeared as a white- haired couple in front of a rose - covered p o prior to its
opening in April. In mid July she would make a second move into anotherher room of
cottage. The new bride and groom were on their way to making truth out of fiction.the White House that had been given by Professor Fred Bardwell in memory of his lateMR)wife. The library was open three afternoons and evenings each week, for which the
librarian received $30 a month.
October 15. The Woman's Club bought Frank Bardwell's White House Hotel at a cost In the fall Miss Bladon reluctantly left her pleasant job to attend classes at theof $15,000 and began preparing a room for a library. The head librarian of the Min-University. Mrs. W.C. (Mary) Bardwell was to take over the duties on September 14.
Note: The Record of January 14, 1916, reported that the Woman's Club was spon-
t °.Boring a free library in Mrs. A.T. Morse's Dry Goods Store, but Isabel Bladon Berens
does not recall it, nor any connection between the two libraries. At any rate, nine -
year -old Gordon Goodnow is said to have withdrawn the first book, White Otters,
1 by Elmer Gregor, from this library.)
g , 'w May 3. The Woman's Club of Minnetonka began hosting a two -day conference of the
Tenth District Federation of Women's Clubs in which sixty clubs were represented
by 200 delegates. This was the first time the conference was extended to two days,
i`.4"and the first time any hostess club had been able to entertain the delegates in its ownt ° 'ti "`community house. Local women were proud to show off the White House and the new
m_ s,,public library under its roof.
Mrs. O.W. Lundsten was the current, and fourth, chairman of the local Woman's
Club, and Mrs. R.H. Fairfield of Wayzata was president of the Tenth District Federa-
tion. Mrs. H.E. Crosby of Excelsior, who was music chairman for the state and the
r °'' 1
M-district, presented home talent in scenes from a musical comedy entitled "The
i Summer Resort Town." (MJ )
Bardwell Jewelry in the former Beers block, at the corner of Second and Water Streets, 1920s July. Among changes in local businesses this summer was the new Ford garage being
built by the Wistrand Motor Company on Third Street, opposite the depot. The
82
83
1941 honor of escorting Excelsior's Mrs. Hutton, state woman's auxiliary chairman, to
the reviewers' stand. Dr. George Hemsey, director of the Corps, planned to take the
boys to the national competition if they could raise enough money. (MR)
February 7. Three stores in the Beers block on Water Street were destroyed by fire
this Friday. Starting at noon in the basement of Harold Swanson's Red OwI store,
the flames spread rapidly through L.T.D. Stark's Pharmacy and Stamson's Cafe,
causing a loss of nearly $20,000. The Fire Department was called again Sunday after-i a
noon when the meat refrigerator fell through the floor into the basement, causing 4 ,
flames to start up again. (MR)t° liejr*
R F Y.' •
a
k3
3Y
1
U C Coos
EXCEL KO Meeli
stir
1 s. ,1",..,,t41,1.;
t I The Drum and Bugle Corps won State Championships twice
August 23. The Sunshine Home (White House) closed its summer season with a dinner
that was open to the public. Proceeds from the dinner and card games went to upkeep
of the Home, where 120 poor and needy guests had spent two -week vacations since
The Red OwI fire of February, 1941 the Home's opening in June. (MR)
February 28. The children and grandchildren of Excelsior's best -known twins, O.W.November 29. Ray Stemmer and Paul Barnett held a Grand Opening for their newLundstenandMrs. L.W. Linder, entertained them at a "twin diamond birthday anni-store. The two men had become partners, in 1936, in their Radio and Home Appli-
versary dinner at the Leamington Hotel." The banker's twin sister was the wife of a ance Company. Now Barnett and Stemmer were celebrating the store they had en-retired minister, L.W. Linder, living at Christmas Lake. (MR)Iarged to include the adjacent Atkinson's Cabinet Shop. (MR)
June 12. Four months after the fire the Red Owl store was ready to reopen. To December 8. Like shocked Americans everywhere, townspeople listened to the radiomakethisamemorableoccasion, Mr. Swanson had the entire front of the store this evening, the day after Pearl Harbor, to the news that Congress "had respondedwrappedincellophaneandtiedwithabow. Then, at the formal opening, Mayor V.C.to the President's speech and declared war on Japan." (MR)Arnold said the proper words and cut the ribbon with a flourish. (MR)
December 10. Tonight's Grand Opening of the new Admiral Inn had been plannedJune27. Afternoon listeners to the University radio station WLB heard three songs long before the tragedy at Pearl Harbor. Even though the declaration of war shookwithwordsandmusiccomposedbyExcelsior's Virginia (Mrs. W. Dudley) Kendrick.the nation and glued people to their radio sets for the latest news, the Inn's ownerFormerlyastudentofProf. Carlyle Scott, head of the music department at the U.,and chef, Andrew Kitchar, served 160 guests by 11 p.m. But for a really festiveVirginiawasgainingrecognitionforthedelightfulsongsshecomposedwhilecarryingoccasion, he promised an official opening on New Year's Eve with an elegant and
on the duties of wife, mother and church organist. On the WLB program, she played expensive dinner (costing $7) to be served from 9 p.m. until midnight. (MR)the piano accompaniments for the soloist singing her compositions. (MR)
July 24. In response to the nationwide drive for scrap aluminum, Excelsior raised 1942
870 pounds in a house -to -house canvass. (MR)
August 11. This evening the Boy Scout Drum and Bugle Corps entered the com
petition and won the junior Legion State Championship for the second time. At
January 9. An early morning fire in the Plamore Bowling Alleys destroyed the alleys
i
the American Legion State Convention in St. Paul's auditorium, they also had the
and the bowling equipment and "gutted" a bus garage at the rear of the bowling
108
109
7
March 26. Miss Lorraine King, vocal music director at Excelsior High, led a double
a barge owned by Anson R. Mase. Following a picnic supper served in the Park life. During school hours, she was preparing the high - school chorus for the annual
pavilion, more than 100 members and guests went aboard for the boat ride. As the spring music festival. Outside the classroom, she and her golden harp had appeared
ship" pulled out, the Hopkins Municipal Band played "Anchors A- weigh."with the orchestras of Andre Kostelanetz and Vaughn Monroe and had provided
Mase's boat, "built to sustain large ships," had been used by the Navy during dinner music in all of the larger Minneapolis hotels. This evening Miss King was guest
the war for emergency dry -dock work. Now on Minnetonka, she served large groups soloist with the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra. (MR)
for events of this kind. (HCR)
March 27. The year -old Tonka Flying Club had increased its membership from 7 to 17
1 T'and now owned three planes: two Piper Cubs and one Aeronca Chief. During the
winter, members flew the planes with skis to land on Lake Minnewashta. In the spring
t
the Aeronca was "put on pontoons." Officers for the coming year were R.S. Kinghorn,
F #president; Harold Pohl, vice - president; and Les Johnson, secretary- treasurer. Semi - „,,,,
4 monthly meetings took place at the homes of members. (MR)
3 D r
n °April 3. This was the Grand Opening of the Wehnes Drug Store. The old MinnetonkaJ
1 / ,Drug Store had been rebuilt and remodeled by the new owner, Lloyd Wehnes. (MR)
7 April 9. The high - school vocal groups presented "Great Moments in Music” under
the direction of Miss Lorraine King. The high point of the evening was a "condensa-
3 tion" of the Merry Widow Operetta in which costumes, scenery and ballet combined
s:1`t
Y
Pearl and Ade (Mr. and Mrs. Adrian Sea-with the singing leads and chorus to produce a treat for the eyes, as well as the ears.mans) at two different radio stations, 1947
F The audience was wildly enthusiastic, calling it the "best musical program ever given
J,in Excelsior High School." (MR)
t April 16. Col. W.S. McWade, a veteran of two wars, died at his home on ChristmashA`
Lake, where he had lived since his marriage in 1899. He had been in command of
Company A of the 15th Minnesota National Guard when the regiment was ordered to
the Philippines. He was serving under Gen. McC. Reeve in the Spanish- American
November 1. This was Ruth Hutton Day in Excelsior, and the American Legion Post War and the Philippine insurrection that followed. During the first World War, he
served as Commander, was an instructor in infantry training at Dunwoody Institute,and Auxiliary gave a dinner in her honor. During her 25 years as a member of the local
organization, she had been ascending from one office to another on the state and Minneapolis, and military instructor in various Minneapolis high schools. After the
national levels. The World War, he enlisted in the Army Reserve Corps where he became a colonel andpinnaclewasreachedonAugust31whenMrs. Lee Hutton became remained active until 1941. (MR)National President of the American Legion Auxiliary. Since then she had toured
Europe with an Auxiliary delegation, visiting national cemeteries and studying the
May 12. The Excelsior School Patrol made its first appearance on street corners.needs of towns devastated by the war. Two years later she would be awarded the Backed by the Hennepin County Sheriff's office, this patrol was directed by SchoolFrenchLegionofHonorforherpart "in the rehabilitation of St. Die, a French town Superintendent Nilsen and sponsored by the Clarence Clofer Legion Post. (MR)destroyed by the Germans in World War II." (MR)
May 13. Roger Hennessy returned after two months spent in Philadelphia, studyingDecember1. The new National Tea store opened this afternoon with Russell Esau
at North America's School for Insurance Agents. He had been an insurance agent
as manager. It was located across Water Street from the Tonka Theater, on the site with the Minnetonka State Bank since his return from service two years earlier. (MR)where the White House had been razed and the land lowered to street level. (MR)
June 3. The new Town Pump was an eating place on Water Street owned by Mr. and
1948 Mrs. Mallory Bolton, of Deephaven. They had decorated their place in green and
mulberry and installed, in their front window, a real, old- fashioned, square wooden
pump with running water which flowed into an old oaken bucket. The Boltons offered
January 29. Arthur Lyman died. Son of Henry M. Lyman, he had grown up in Carver coffee, baked goods and fountain service at horseshoe - shaped counters with revolving
seats. One could also "take out" any of the famous brands of ice cream, candies andCounty, married Evelyn Brackett of Excelsior in 1903, and had two sons and one
daughter (Richard, A. Burton and Elizabeth). Mr. Lyman is best remembered for bakery goods they carried. Mr. Bolton had finally achieved a dream he had been
promoting Wendelin Grimm's alfalfa in the area and calling this hardy new variety harboring when World War II interfered with his plans. (MR)
to the attention of state agricultural experts. (MR)July 1. Sheila Kragness received a Ph.D. degree from the University of Minnesota in
120
121