The following appeared in The Rock County Star on October 18, 1929.
 
Barbecue To Be Feature of Witch Day
Gigantic Community Hallowe-en Party to be Held Here Oct. 31st Under Auspices of Commercial Club
“Witch Day” will be featured in Luverne, on October 31st with entertain-ment and decorations appropriate to the Hallowe’en season and with a program climaxed by a tremendous Barbecue, at which all comers will be invited to share a part of a huge beef, which will be prepared over an open fire in good old fashioned style, and served free, with buns, coffee and sugar and cream.
Details of the celebration remain undetermined at this time, but the resolution to celebrate on October 31, with a gigantic community Hallowe’en party, with all the trimmin’s, was reached at a special session of Luverne Commercial Club, Tuesday night, at which time the club agreed to sponsor and finance this event.
Committees were immediately appointed to arrange the details of the celebration, conforming to the resolution presented to the club by its retailers’ committee. The retailers’ plan called for a “Witch Day,” with a suitable program, featured with a barbecue using a whole beef, prepared on the city street, in an old fashioned way and served free, and enlivened by a street program, club-operated stands, bands, a dance, and what not.
To the conventional Hallowe’en surprises, the club arranged for an addition of prizes of another character — merchandising value surprises. Each and every merchandising establish-ment will be urged to present to visiting beef eaters special values of a character in keeping with the day in their sensational character. These values will be extensively, advertised according to arrangements, and preparation of show windows in conformity with Hallowe’en will be made throughout the city.
In addition to an entertainment program of professional character, highlighted by the first local appearance of the famous Little German Band, of New Ulm, Minn., there will be innumerable street novelties of a Hallowe’en character, including old fashioned apple ducking, fortune telling and similar events.
In order to further convey the Hallowe’en spirit the club contemplates making a witch disguise the official costume of the day and varying this dress with costumes giving wearers the appearance of various Mother Goose characters.
In the baby beef parade, presented by the 4-H clubs of the county, the committees hope to call public attention to another aspect of the celebration significance to Rock county, the committees point out, for the serving of an entire beef to the people of the community, puts a very proper emphasis upon an industry which has made Rock county famous. Not only has the community been honored by the exhibition of prize beeves of the 4-H workers and others, but, for three years, the carlot baby beef prize, awarded by the extension division with the cooperation of the livestock breeders, has gone to Rock county beeves, raised by James Ellsworth, of near Magnolia.
The evening program will be presented in the Luverne armory, as will also the afternoon program should the weather make it advisable. An old time dance with music furnished by the radio-broadcasting vaudevillians, the Little German Band, will close the day’s events.
Committees appointed by President Engan, to arrange the details of the day included a committee on Barbecue, Concessions, Publicity, Entertainment, Decoration, Parade and Finance. A. M. DeLapp heads the Barbecue committee; J. E. Cameron the concession committee; B. E. Pelstring the publicity committee; J. R. Wiggins the entertainment committee; F. C. C. Smith the decoration committee; C. G. Gaylord the parade committee; H. B. Creeger of the finance committee.
Each of these committees will have sub-committees to take care of other details of the program. A meeting of the above named chairman, has been planned for this evening, at which time the reports of the committee heads on progress thus far will be heard.
Other action taken by the special club meeting Tuesday night, included the decision to close Luverne’s stores from 10:00 on, on Armistice Day, and the appointment of a committee to confer with the executive of the Legion on Armistice Day arrangements.
 
         Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, 312 E. Main Street, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.
 

The following appeared in The Rock County Star on October 11, 1929.
 
House Snow Plows Here
 
Minnesota Highway Department to Erect Building in Luverne to House two Snow Plows
         Plans to erect a building here, to house two of the Minnesota Highway Department’s new motor truck snow plows, were made known yesterday by H. E. Chard, district engineer of the department and J. F. O’Meara, division maintenance superintend-dent, both of whom were here to negotiate for a site, just south of the Omaha lines, on the tile factory spur, near the Petersen sand pit. Construction of a fifty by thirty foot shed is to be started at once and made ready to accommodate the new equipment this fall, according to District Engineer Chard.
         According to Mr. Chard, the department has purchased eight new motor trucks, with from eighty to one hundred fifteen horsepower motors, for use in Southwestern Minnesota, and Pipestone and Luverne are among the towns where the equipment will be stationed. The new trucks constitute dual-purpose equipment adopted by the highway department as the solution of the snow removal problem. The trucks are adequate in power and speed to keep a good area of the highways free from snow and during the other seasons of the year when they are not needed for snow removal they will be utilized for maintenance purposes, each outfit eliminating a number of the old horse patrols.
         Residents of the community can expect from this additional equipment, located right here in the community, winter travel facilities that have never been afforded in previous winters. Not only is the new road cleaning apparatus much more powerful and efficient than that used in previous winters but heretofore all of the equipment has been located farther up toward the cities and the extreme southwestern part of the state often laid blockaded for days before the equipment could reach this section.
         Following completion of their business here, Mr. Chard went to Pipestone and to Ortonville, from which points he planned to return to Saint Paul, and Superintendent O’Meara returned to Windom.
         Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, 312 E. Main Street, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.
 

The following appeared in The Rock County Star on October 4, 1929.
 
Frank Clague Is Luverne Visitor
         Luverne was favored on Monday of this week with a visit from Congressman Frank Clague, the Representative of the Second District. The Congressman spent most of the day in the city, visiting friends and renewing political contacts. At luncheon, he was the guest of the Luncheon Club and spoke for a few moments on his recent trip in the submarine and his experiences in air traveling.
         The Congressman told luncheon club guests that he had visited every county in the district and talked with over five hundred farmers in the past few weeks. “There is a spirit of contentment in the district,” Mr. Clague declared, “indicating that conditions are much better than they have been for the past several years. There is quite a movement in land, as a whole. In our county there has been a big land movement and one firm in Redwood Falls has sold twenty farms in the past six weeks. I think I can say that there is a general improvement among the farmers and business men in the district.”
         Club members especially enjoyed the legislator’s account of a trip in a submarine which Mr. Clague and other House members recently under-took as a part of their investigation, as a House committee of submarine conditions. The Congress-man told how he and four other members of his committee went out from Norfolk in the S 5 and went down with it in 135 feet of water, remaining there for two and one-half hours and enjoying an undersea luncheon during their submergence. Luncheoners enjoyed the description of the submerging and raising apparatus and a general account of sub operations and limitations.
         Equally entertaining was the versatile law-maker’s account of an air voyage from Lakehurst to New York, in the army’s dirigible, Los Angeles.
         The Congressman made no comment on the pending tariff legislation, but in private conversation he seemed worried about the fate of farm schedules and inclined to feel that the President should intervene in behalf of farm rates and against industrial rates just as he intervened for the flexible provision.
         Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, 312 E. Main Street, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.
 

The following appeared in The Rock County Star on September 20, 1929.
 
Hills Picnic Is Successful Event
Former Senator Magnus Johnson Delivers Feature Address of Day
Nearly a thousand people are estimated to have turned out for the annual picnic of the Hills Co-operative Creamery Association held at Hills Saturday and the event was a successful one from every standpoint. Weather conditions were good and the season was opportune enabling the farmers to be present.
The feature of the day’s program was an address by former United States Senator Magnus Johnson, who talked on agricultural problems and emphasized the necessity for co-operation among farmers in order to place them on a par with other industries. The former Minnesota senator compared farmers to the roots of a tree furnishing nutriment for the success of the central trunk or the agricultural industry as a whole.
         Other features of the day’s program were a variety of field sports and a baseball game between Brandon and Valley Springs. Music for the event was furnished by the Hills band.
         The Women’s Civic League of Hills dispensed food to those who did not bring their lunches to the grounds. The Hills Co-operatives Creamery boasts a membership of nearly 500.            
         Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, 312 E. Main Street, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.
 

The following appeared in The Rock County Star on September 20, 1929.
 
Excursion to Land O’ Lakes
 
Arrangements Made for Special Train to Land O’ Lakes Plant in Cities Next Thursday
 
         An opportunity to see the Land O’ Lakes Creamery plant in the twin cities at specially reduced rates will be afforded the people of this community Thursday, September 26th, according to an announce-ment made yesterday by County Agent C. G. Gaylord. Included in the special features arranged for those who will be members of this excursion are the low round trip rate, free dinner at noon, special entertainment on the train, thorough inspection of the Land O’ Lakes plant, and time for visiting in the cities.
         The round trip fare for this excursion will be $4.00 from Worthington at which point the excursion train will start on its journey. The train will leave Worthington at 5:15 o’clock Thursday morning and return there at midnight of the same day. The train will leave St. Paul at 7:30 o’clock Thursday evening.
         This excursion is being sponsored by the Omaha railroad and by the local creamery units of the Land O’ Lakes Association located in the counties of southwestern Minnesota adjacent to the Omaha railroad. An attempt will be made to the trip interesting both coming and going and the Land O’ Lakes plant in the cities will be ready to give the visitors a royal welcome.
         All those interested in making the trip are requested to leave word to that effect at the Luverne Co-operative Creamery as soon as possible.
         Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, 312 E. Main Street, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.
 

The following appeared in the Rock County Star Herald on September 7, 1967.
 
Crowds Throng Here To Make Centennial Whopping Success
         Luverne’s 100th anniversary birthday party was a whopping success.
         Young and old alike came to celebrate ­— many in costume, many in whiskers, the rest in modern day garb appropriate for the occasion.
         It was a fun event for three days and nights, and now that the official centennial observance is over, virtually everyone is agreed that it was a success in every way.
         For one thing, the weatherman cooperated. Temperatures were just right Sunday to watch the horse show. It may have been a little cool for the old timers picnic Sunday evening, but it was clear and there was no wind. The weather was also ideal for outdoor dancing Saturday night. Square dancers on Kenny’s parking lot, and teen agers on the First National Bank parking lot found the temperatures ideal for enjoying them-selves out of doors. Spectators, too, were comfortable — not too hot, and not too cold.
Many Window Lookers
         Main street was crowded with “window lookers” Sunday, with many coming considerable distances to view the antiques and mementoes of yesteryear on display in the various business places. The hobby show at the floral hall in the fairgrounds had a big crowd of viewers after the horse show, which drew the biggest crowd of any horse show ever held in Luverne.
Biggest Crowd Sees Parade
         The biggest crowd was on hand for the parade on Sunday. With the sky bright and clear, and the temperatures in the high 70s, the day was ideal for parade watching.
         Over 100 units, counting everything, took part. The crowd, lining Main Street from Estey street to Oakley, with overflow on the side streets, was estimated in excess of 11,000. One report that over 50,000 were on hand for the three-day event was considered to be exaggerated somewhat, but no one would argue that it was the largest crowd that had ever watched a parade in Luverne during the past 100 years. Floats, antique cars, horses, buggies, wagons, surries and even a yoke of oxen lent a pioneer flavor to the centennial parade.
         Even the beard judging contest, which started at 10 a.m. Monday, attracted nearly 500 persons, it was estimated. The Palace theatre was packed for the judging of the Centennial costumes on Saturday afternoon. Master of ceremonies for the beard judging was David Smith Mrs. Cletus Gacke, narrated the costume show.
         Sixty-seven registered at the pioneer picnic.
Pioneer Descendents Honored
         About 50 attended the pioneer picnic. Descen-dents of pioneer families received pioneer citizen-ship certificates. The Reverend Martin Hauser paid eloquent tribute to the pioneers in a talk, and Frederick Manfred read a chapter from his forthcoming book which deals with pioneer life. Several members of the pioneer families told of their early life in the county.
Many See Talent Show
         At the talent show, attended by about 1,500 persons Monday night, the Sundem Brothers of Hills, who did some old time “fiddling”, and Olaf Severt-son, Luverne, who played his harmonica, were given special senior citizen recognition for their contribution to the program.
         In the adult category, Gary Hocking, Ellsworth vocalist, placed first, and Mrs. Willie Eichmann Luverne, who sang a solo, and Mrs. Walter Klosterbuer, who played the accordion, tied for second. In the youth division, first prize went to Tony Scheidt, who played the organ, and second prize went to Susan Bailey for her tumbling act. Bill Skewes served as master of ceremonies. Background music was furnished by “The Empty Set” local dance combo.
         Klein’s Amusement Co. did a big business Monday afternoon, but one of the best concessions was the locally owned and operated beer garden, sponsored by the Cooties. A two-man dance band provided music, and there was fun for all. Proceeds will be used by the Cooties in their hospital visitation program.
         Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, 312 E. Main Street, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.
 

The following appeared in the Rock County Star Herald on August 17, 1967.
 
Fairgrounds Barn Leveled In Spectacular Blaze
 
Costly Fire Hits One Week After The Fair
         Two boys, ages 9 and 10 admitted to the deputy state fire marshal and local police that they had been smoking in the livestock barn at the fairgrounds before it was destroyed by fire Sunday evening.
         Deputy Marshal Mel Hardy, Marshall, investigated the blaze, coming here Sunday night, and working all day Monday with Fire Chief Curt Maxwell and the Luverne police department. No charges were filed.
         The spectacular blaze, which was reported about 6:10 p.m. Sunday, destroyed the barn which had housed thousands of dollars worth of livestock during the Rock County Fair, just eight days earlier. Except for fair week, the barn, with an adjoining sales pavilion and a small office building to the north of it, was rented by Marcel Reisch, owner of the Luverne Livestock Association. Reisch came here in April, after purchasing the business from Gerrit Smith. He conducted livestock auctions there each Saturday.
Around $40,000
         Best estimate as to the amount of the loss to the Rock County Agriculture Society, which owns the fairgrounds and building, was between $30,000 and $40,000. This figure was based on one property appraiser’s estimate. However, it was generally agreed that a building like it could not be built today for that figure. The fair board had the barn and sales pavilion insured for $21,600. The small office building was insured for $300.
         Reisch estimated his loss of property and loss of business at about $5,000. He said he had some insurance, “but not nearly enough.”
         He lost a registered Dalmatian dog and a pig in the fire. Several horses and cows which he owned were outside the building at the time of the blaze, so there was no livestock destroyed. However, he did lose 13 tons of hay and a load of straw which had just been hauled into the barn after the fair was over. Also in the barn was a 10 cu. ft. food freezer, filled with food, some saddles, some trunks filled with clothing, and a few other personal items.
         The alarm was believed to have been turned in almost simultaneously by Russell Roos and Mrs. Ted Schneekloth, who lives on south Freeman just west of the fair grounds. Mr. and Mrs. Roos were walking to a neighbor’s home when they saw the fire break through the roof of the barn. Mr. Roos ran back home to place the fire call. About the same time, Mrs. Ted Schneekloth saw it from her home and turned in the alarm. Mrs. Roos went to the Tony Van Engelenhoven home, knowing that Mr. Van Engelenhoven was a fireman. She told Mr. Van Engelenhoven, who tried to call the fire number. The line was busy, indicating that it was already being reported.
         The blaze started in the south end of the building where the two boys told the officials they had been smoking in the middle alley, a short time earlier. They said they had put their cigarettes out, and there was no fire in the building when they left for home, according to the officials. There were no other boys with them, they said.
         The fire spread through the hay and straw to the tinder-dry framework of the building so rapidly that the firemen had no opportunity to bring it under control.  A south wind fanned the blaze after it broke through the roof in several places, and billows of black smoke and cinders rose high in the air. Several persons saw the smoke from a distance as far away as 25 miles, it was reported.
Wind Carries Burning Cinders
         Cinders sailed northward, one of the burning pieces falling on the apartment building on East main street, known as the Skoland house. Andy Vatland, who lives in the house, saw the fire on the west slope of the roof as he was driving down the street. He found a ladder which was long enough for him to reach a television antenna wire, and he climbed up the side of the building using the wire as a support until he got on the roof. After getting on the roof, someone threw a blanket up to him which he used to beat out the blaze. Meanwhile, a fire truck was called from the fairgrounds to help, but the blaze was out before they could get to it.
         About 15 or 20 minutes earlier, one of the trucks raced to the Chicago and Northwestern right of way, about a block north and a short distance east of the fairgrounds. There, some utility poles lying on the ground had been ignited by burning embers.
         The firemen pulled away from the fairgrounds a third time when there was a report of a fire in the east part of town. One truck went as far as the sewage disposal plant, found nothing and returned to the fairground.
Other Buildings Threatened
         Houses and out buildings near the fair grounds were momentarily threatened. Garden hoses and buckets of water were used extinguishing smoldering shingles and siding. There was no serious damage to these buildings, however.
         Damage was done to the electrical line leading south on Cedar street into the fair grounds. Near the barn, a transformer which was atop a burning utility pole was shorting out, causing a sharp crackling noise and an intense, white light.
Heat Is Intense
         As soon as Alex Aanenson heard about the fire, he drove to the fair grounds with the tractor part of his semi truck in the hope that he would be able to pull the trailer away from the burning building. By that time, however, the heat was so intense and the building was burning with such a fury that he couldn’t get close enough to the trailer. He then used a chain to hook up to the lunch wagon trailer to try to pull it away, but he couldn’t move it from the angle at which he had to pull it, so he gave up.
         Reisch was eating supper when he heard of the fire. He managed to get his records out of the office building before the fire reached it.
         “I’d like to stay here and stay in business,” he said Monday, “but there isn’t anything I can do unless they rebuild for me.”
         Replacing the building, according to Carl Husen, fair board secretary, is another matter. It will depend upon the insurance settlement, and also upon action of the fair board as to how extensively they decide to build.
         The board is not expected to meet until early next week as several members, including President Leonard Hagen, are out of town on vacation.
         The older portion of the barn was 52 years old, having been built in 1915. It had since been enlarged from its original 32 by 96 foot size. Dimensions of the stock barn at the time of the fire was 96 x 136 feet. The sale barn was 48 x 80 feet. The barn had been rewired and re-shingled during the past two years at a cost of about $5,000.
         Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, 312 E. Main Street, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.
 

The following appeared in the Rock County Star Herald on Aug. 5, 1965.
 
OPEN HOUSE SATURDAY-
Kanaranzi Bank Has Served Community Half A Century
Open house will be held Saturday afternoon from 2 to 5 p.m. at the First Farmers State Bank in Kanaranzi, commemor-ating the 50th anniversary of the bank’s founding.
Free coffee and doughnuts will be served during the afternoon to visitors, and a number of valuable door prizes will be given. Registration is open to adults and young people alike, according to Eddie Hansen, cashier, and the winners do not have to be present to win.
“This celebration is for everybody,” Hansen emphasized this week. “Naturally, we welcome our many customers, but we want all our friends to stop in. It will be an informal get together, and there will be plenty of opportunity to visit.”
Founded in 1915
The bank’s charter is dated Decemeber 1, 1915. Original incorporators were O. E. Holly, Larchwood, Iowa, who became the bank’s first president; J. M. Baker, Kanaranzi, who was elected as the fist cashier; J. J. Welsh, J. W. Williams and Goerge S. Snover, who became directors. Starting salary for the cashier was $900 a year.
The first directors’ meeting was held January 11, 1916. Both Paul Untiedt and Henry Hansen had purchased some share in the new bank in December, 1915, and they were elected to the board of directors then on January 11. Capital stock was originally set at $10,000.00.
Served By 3 Presidents
In 1927, Mr. Holly sold his bank shares and Paul Untiedt was elected the second president of the bank. He served until his death in 1941. In 1942, J. M. Baker sold his shares in the business, and Elmer H. Wellendorf was elected to become the third president. Eddie Hansen was elected cashier at the same time. Both still hold the positions to which they were then elected.
In 1951, the bank’s capital stock was increased from $10,000.00 to $25,000.00 by a stock dividend.
Today, deposits are well over the million dollar mark, and surplus and undivided profits are over $145,000.00
Two of the men who helped found the bank, J. M. Baker and Henry Hansen, are still living. Mr. Hansen has served as a director ever since he was first elected in 1916.
Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, 312 E. Main Street, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.
 

The following appeared in the Rock County Star Herald on July 8, 1965
 
First National Bank To Open In New Location On Monday
Moving day for the First National Bank of Luverne is this weekend.
First National will move to its new building at Main and McKenzie over the July 10 weekend and will be open for business as usual at the new location Monday morning.
The Grand Opening is scheduled for July 16 and 17. On Friday morning a colorful ribbon cutting ceremony is planned to officially open the bank.
Area residents will receive in the mail “mystery teller cards.” The cards can be read only by the mystery teller in a booth at the bank. The public can present their cards at the mystery teller window on either side of the open house days.
Prizes include a 16-piece set of stainless flatware, an electric hostess server, a set of stainless mixing bowls and a blanket.
A pleasing change from the architecture along Luverne’s Main Street, the new First National Bank is unique in its round design.
It has a diameter of 74 feet. The dome at the apex is 21 feet above the bank floor. A row of clear and red glass celestial windows add a flair of color and brightness to the interior immediately beneath the dome.
With  entrances on both Main and McKenzie streets, the parking area has room enough for 19 cars. The bank offers drive-up teller service with the entrance on Main and exit on McKenzie.
First National Bank of Luverne is an affiliate of First Bank Stock Corporation and was organized and chartered on April 21, 1931, as the Luverne National Bank. Capitalization at the time was $65,000.
Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, 312 E. Main Street, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.