The following appeared in The Rock County Herald on June 24, 1892.
 
Death and Disaster
 
One Death in the County and Serious Injuries to Buildings and Crops Occasioned by the Storm Monday Evening
 
Between four and five o’clock last Monday afternoon one of the severest storms of wind and hail ever known in this section swept over a narrow strip of country in the southern part of the county and did great damage to buildings and the growing crops. The loss to individuals in the destruction of property in many cases is very serious but everything fades into insignificance beside the sad calamity which befell the family of Ole Nelson Toppol, in Martin township, and resulted in the instant death of his wife and serious injuries to one of her twin daughters, two years of age. The family lived about six miles northwest of Hills. When the storm came on, they felt the house giving way and attempted to escape to the barn, the father taking the two other children and the mother and the twins. Just as they got outside, the wind carried the woman against the side of the house and a moment later the building went over, burying the victim in the ruins. When the body was rescued it was found that the head had been crushed and that death must have been instantaneous.
The first reports of the storm were received from Manley, on the west line of this county. As nearly as its course can be traced, it appears that the storm passed from that point in a southeasterly direction, over portions of Martin, Clinton, and Kanaranzi townships. After leaving Manley the storm seems to have divided, and a distance of about half a mile can be traced between the two tracks in which but little damage was done. One section of the storm swept diagonally across the center of Martin township, but this branch seems to have been accompanied by less hail and did less damage to the crops. The other section extended as far north as Mr. A. Engels’s farm in the northeast corner of Martin township but missed the German church in the adjoining corner of Luverne township. No damage of importance is reported beyond a mile west of Mr. Engel’s farm. From that point southeastward, through a strip from two to three miles wide, extending as far north as T. Johnson’s place on section 7 in Kanaranzi, and as far south as Ash Creek, great damage was done by the hail. As the storms passed southeastward, it appears to have increased in severity.
Considerable damage was done at Manley and in the surrounding country. J. L. Helm, of this place, was a passenger on the belated Omaha train Monday evening, and is quoted by the Sioux Falls Press as follows:
“The open prairie between Valley Springs and Beaver Creek was in one place a perfect lake of water, horses in the pastures being knee-deep in the water. At Valley Springs numberless chimneys were laid low. We were able to get a view of Manley from the train as we passed by. The roof of the Great Northern depot was blown off and the north end knocked out. The leading mercantile house was swung around and the store front was completely ruined. Every house in the town seemed wrecked except Lasche’s bottling works and that seemed to have escaped uninjured.”
At Valley Springs many windows were broken. T. B. Riley’s lumber office was blown to pieces and piles of lumber more or less disturbed. The creamery, the ice house and outhouses generally were tumbled about greatly to their damage. One outhouse was picked up and blown against a dwelling, knocking in a side of the residence.
All along the entire course of the storm most of the window lights exposed to the storm were broken. In some cases the sash was broken, wire window screens were cut and curtains were torn. At Ash Creek a wagon was blown against Mr. Baker’s house and the wagon tongue was driven its entire length through the wall. E. A. Brown’s wind mill was blown down, and windows in all the buildings were broken. Wm. Spracher’s windmill on section 6 in Clinton was blown down and his crops were badly damaged.
It is impossible to give anything like an approximate estimate of the losses sustained by reason of injury to the crops. On some farms it is claimed that the crops are totally destroyed, while on others the injury is confined to portions of the crop. It is hoped, however, that the injured crops will recover to a large extent and that the loss will not be so large as at first seemed to be certain. Among those who have suffered loss are A. Engel, John Lynch, Ed. Maloney, James Fitzgerald, James McCeon, C. Webster, Linnel Brothers, George Griffith, L. B. McCollum, J. W. Johnson of the Eau Claire farm, L. Appleby, T. Johnson, N. P. Jensen, Sid Johnson, Ed Morgan and S. H. Griffin. It is reported that the crops on the Sunnyside farm in Kanaranzi were totally destroyed. The list above given is by no means complete and it is probable that full reports would add many names to it.
A letter received by R. E. Moreland from his son at Ocheyedan states that half the buildings in town were racked and that 12 or 13 were blown down. Three men were badly hurt.
The funeral of Mrs. Ole Nelson Toppol took place at Hills Tuesday afternoon. The deceased was a sister of Nels, Gullick, and Andrew Sunden, and Mrs. Andrew Rogeness.
Later reports state that one of the twin daughters of Mr. Toppol above referred to is not expected to live. All the other members of the family are considerably injured.
 
         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 Herald on Sept. 16, 1932.
 
Highway Dept. Shows Interesting Figures
 
Assorted Activities of State Highway Patrol Summarized for August; 100 Cars Taken Into Custody
 
The report of activities of the state highway patrol for the month of August, as summarized by a recent highway bulletin, shows that in addition to giving directions and other information to 117,000 motorists and first aid to twelve persons injured into traffic accidents, patrolmen found time to check up a large number of vehicles and issue tags calling for corrections of unsafe or illegal equipment.
A total of 1,277 drivers were given tags for failure to have rear lamps lighted; 1,274 because of head lamps being out of adjustment; 742 one lamp dark; 373 on account of glaring lights; 145 insufficient light; 119 illegal lights, and 106 because of no clearance lights displayed on wide vehicles.
Faulty brakes were found on 49 vehicles; 45 had defective warning devices; 48 had no rear view mirror, and 50 no windshield wiper. Failure to have exhaust pipes properly muffled brought tags to 58, and 149 were tagged because of swinging license plates, obscured license plates, or because of the license plates not being illuminated at night.
Improper operation of motor vehicles brought many motorists to the attention of the patrolmen, the report shows. Warnings were given to 3,044 for improper parking; to 659 for failing to stop at arterial highway “Stop” signs; to 572 for driving too fast in congested areas, and to 316 for not driving in the correct traffic lane. Others given warnings included 164 for improper passing of other vehicles; 80 for passing on curves, and 32 for passing on crests of hills.
Infractions for which tags, calling for corrections within 48 hours, were issued by the patrol officers included 212 vehicles with expired licenses or large trailers without licenses; 125 no Minnesota license plates; 30 wrong class of license, and 75 having only one license plate displayed. Chauffeurs to the number of 81 were tagged for failure to have proper license. Corrections in this class of irregularities required the payment of vehicle tax to a total of $3,337.25.
All violators of traffic regulations were not, however, fortunate enough to but get tags, according to the report. Motorists to the number or 72 were arrested for driving while drunk, and paid fines totaling $5,716.00. Others placed under arrest were: 29 for failure to stop before entering on or crossing arterial highways; 19 for careless driving, and 17 for having improper license plates on their vehicles. These latter paid fines amounting to $995.50.
Cars taken into custody by the patrol officers numbered an even one hundred. The majority of these were on account of drunken drivers.
Patrolmen required the removal of 285 signs improperly placed on state trunk highways.
 
         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 Herald on Aug. 26, 1932.
 
Burial Association Buys Long Residence Property
 
Commodious Dwelling on West Main Street Will be Converted into Modern Funeral Home
 
         Through the purchase of the L. D. Long residence property on West Main street, known as the Wright place, the latter part of last week, the Rock County Co-Operative Burial association arranged for the establishment of a funeral home with undertaking parlors. In this connection it is announced that the association’s headquarters in the Kennedy building will be vacated and in addition to the undertaking parlors, Manager Lloyd Johnson will occupy an apartment in the new location.
         The burial association has had the establishment of a funeral home under consideration for some time and the purchase of the Long residence property had been pending for the last few weeks. In acquiring the property the association plans to thoroughly remodel the large residence and convert it into a modern, convenient funeral home in every respect.
         Possession is to be given September 1st, when Mr. and Mrs. Long will move to their other residence on the west end of Main street, known as the Watson place. The sale to the burial association was made through the agency of Wm. Larkin.
         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 Herald on Septmeber 18, 1931.
 
Luverne Lagoon Will Be Recreation Center
 
Excellent Swimming and Skating Facilities for Grading; Bridge Nears Completion
     
      An excellent opportunity for swimming and skating will be afforded the people of Luverne and Rock county when the new lagoon now under construction north of the Luverne public park is completed. Lack of space, which has hampered facilities for a “good swimmin’ hole” and skating rink, will be a thing of the past. Not only that, but there will be a good sand and gravel bottom and the depth of the lagoon will be sufficient to make diving apparatus feasible.
         The lagoon, which will be slightly larger than three acres in area, presents a scene of pronounced activity. There is a continual line of spectators watching the huge tractor-propelled dump carts carry the dirt used for grading the highway approaches to the new Rock river bridge. A dragline was secured last week from the Graupmann Brothers company, at Adrian, and has been operating twenty-four hours a day speeding the immense fills. Flood lights illuminate the area under excavation, in order that the work might go on uninterrupted by dark-ness.
         In making the fill east of the bridge it was found necessary to divert the channel of the river. The drag-line machine first corrected this by digging a new channel about 300 feet north of the old one. The lagoon, nearly rectangular in shape, will parallel the new highway. Rock river will flow into it from the east, make a curve to the north and flow under the bridge at a direct angle from the north.
         Workmen are busy painting the railings of the bridge of a light green this week, and these will be put in place as soon as concrete supports have been finished. Four lamps approximately eight feet high will illuminate each side of the bridge. The large amount of filling required on the west approach of the new structure made it necessary to construct a concrete tunnel for the steam heat pipes which run under Main street. A manhole is being built flush with the street and bridge level so that access to the steam pipes will be available without tearing up the paving after it has once been laid.
 
         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 Rose History in 1911.
 
Rock County Village (continued from 02-18-20 edition of the Star Herald)
 
Other Places
         Warner is the name given to a grain station, three miles east of Luverne, on section 7, Magnolia township, on the Worthington-Mitchell branch of the Omaha railroad. It has never advanced beyond the condition originally intended. Late in July, 1877, a grain warehouse, 20x40 feet in dimensions, was erected at this point to house the products of the farms of Capt. Blakely and Messrs. Thompson and Seney, capitalists who controlled vast agricultural interests in Magnolia township at that early day. For a year this point was designated as Hill Siding, then came by its present name Warner, in honor of Eling F. Warner, one of the original directors of the Sioux City & St. Paul railroad. An elevator marks the site of Warner today. It was built in August, 1901, by the Hubbard & Palmer company.
         During the eighties plans for a town at the foot of the Blue mounds, a short distance north of Luverne, were made. The quarrying industry had developed to quite an extent, and it was a scheme of J. F. Shoemaker, the head of the controlling company, to found a small town or colony, where the men employed in the quarries might establish convenient homes. The first activity toward this end was the construction of 2000 feet of side track to the proposed site in November, 1884. For a time appearances led to the belief that the station the Burlington company had decided to locate in Rock county north of Luverne (Hardwick) was to lie at the foot of the mounds.21 In the spring of 1885 Mr. Shoemaker made preparations to plat a townsite,22 but the intention was never carried into effect. A station at Mound, established in June, was maintained for a short period, but no agent was located there. A few temporary dwelling houses were erected, but beyond that no improvements were ever made in the “town.”
         In the days of star mail routes it was the custom to maintain country postoffices at convenient points. There were a number of such in Rock county prior to the founding of villages and the establishment of rural mail routes, which carry daily mail to all parts of the country. With the modern methods of distributing the mail came the abandonment of country postoffices, and there is now none maintained in Rock county.
         Denver was the name of one country postoffice. It was located at the residence of H. Goodale, on section 10, in the township of the same name. The office, established in February, 1885, with Mr. Goodale as postmaster, existed for a number of years. The Burlington railroad traversed section 10, and a “mail catcher” was put up at the most convenient point to the Denver postoffice in May, 1886, and thereafter mail was received at the office Monday and Friday mornings of each week.
         Handy postoffice, located on the east line of Kanaranzi township, came into existence during the first decade of the county’s history. The first postmaster, Mr. Meris, was succeeded in December, 1877, by O. D. Bryan. The office was maintained several years.
         A postoffice in Martin township, known as Martin, was established in June, 1876. John D. Tyler was the first postmaster. With the coming of railroads Martin postoffice was discontinued.
         Clinton postoffice, in the township of that name, was established the same month as Martin and Nels Clemetson commissioned postmaster. In April, 1877, the name of the office was changed from Clinton to Kongsberg. It was discontinued in November, 1884, and the mail formerly consigned to that office was sent to Ashcreek.
         In eastern Rose Dell township was located Meadow postoffice, established in the early eighties. K. K. Steen was postmaster for many years.
         Pleasant Valley postoffice had an existence of a few years in the late seventies. It was discontinued in December, 1880, and the patrons thereafter received their mail at Luverne.
         21“The delay in laying out the proposed townsite on section 26, Denver, coupled with the character of the work in progress at the mounds, has excited the suspicion that the town of Jasper [Hardwick], instead of being located at the point originally proposed, will be located at the foot of the mound.”—Rock county Herald, October 31, 1884.
         22J. F. Shoemaker has decided to plat a portion of his land in the vicinity of the quarries for the use of employees of the quarry company, and it is understood that a considerable number of residences will be built. The plat, however, will not be recorded, and none of the lots will be sold, as Mr. Shoemaker is determined that no saloons shall be there.”—Rock County Herald, March 20, 1885.
 
         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 Rose History in 1911.
 
Rock County Village (continued from 02-11-20 edition of the Star Herald)
 
         At this early stage of Manley’s development an invitation was extended to both Beaver Creek and Valley Springs to join forces with the new town, before circumstances should force such a procedure.18 The boom that was expected to eventuate in 1890 did not materialize so fully as anticipated. In April an elevator was erected by C. N. Bell, of St. Paul, and F. C. Bell was placed in charge. After much bargaining, L. K. Lee was induced to build a roller mill at Manley. The enterprise was launched early in August. Late in July a postoffice was established and Miss Mary E. McCallen appointed postmistress. The office was housed in a small building erected for the purpose.
         To encourage the development of the town the townsite owners extensively advertised and held an auction sale of town lots that resulted successfully so far as their pockets were concerned. The sale was held on July 30, 1890. For the occasion a free excursion train was run from Sioux City, which carried prospective investors, the majority of whom were laboring men. It was reported that 588 persons were entertained by the company on the day of the sale and that seventy-five lots were sold.19 The many promises of building projects that were made before the wholesale disposal of lots were not fulfilled. The activities of the year 1890 from the first of August may be summarized: A small bottling works was put in operation; several small residences, one by E. M. Percival and another by Mr. Sturtevant, were erected; the first and only store in the town was established by H. H. Loeffler in December; the firm of Rood Bros. engaged in the fuel business and stock buying; an ice house with a storage capacity of 160 tons was completed by Albert Johnson in December.
         There were a few additions to Manley in 1891. John Butler erected a 24x50 feet grain warehouse in time for the fall season, and in December a blacksmith and wagon maker located in the town. The Manley mill was closed in March, 1892, and from that time the deadline of the junction city was rapid, while Beaver Creek and Valley Springs continued to prosper. In the course of the next few years every industry in the town, with the exception of the grain elevators, were withdrawn.
         The store building and the few residences remained unoccupied for a period and were eventually moved away.20 A fire on the morning of October 8, 1901, destroyed one of the two elevators, entailing a loss of $2500. In 1904 the station was closed but was later opened for a period. No agent is maintained at Manley at the present time.
         18“A representative of the Northern Land company, which owns the towns along the Sioux City & Northern railway, has been interviewing the merchants and residents of the towns of Beaver Creek and Valley Springs, with a view to induce the two towns to unite  and form a thriving town and the junction of the Sioux City & Northern and Omaha railways.”—Beaver Creek News-Letter, November, 1889.
         19“The sale of town lots at Manley last week is said to have been a big affair, the purchases aggregating about $4000, at prices ranging from $50 to $150 a lot. The free excursion from Sioux City drew a big crowd.”—Rock Rapids Review, August, 1890.
         20“Manley will soon be a has-been town. One by one the buildings of that place are being taken away. The last building to be removed, and about all that remains of Manley, will be the two story building. The building was sold this week to A. N. Nerison, of Hills. The building will be removed to Hills and used as a dwelling.”—Valley Springs Vidette, March, 1900.
 
         The story of other places will start in the Feb. 25 edition of the Star Herald.
         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 Rose History in 1911.
 
Rock County Village (continued from 02-04-20 edition of the Star Herald)
 
         No sooner was the town-to-be laid out than activity in its promotion became evident. The first to build on the site was A. E. Patterson, who completed a grain warehouse about the first of September, 1885. Ezra Rice put up the second grain house later in the same month, which was opened for business with Thomas Ganfield in charge. The depot was also erected during the fall of 1885, but it was not until October 18, 1886, that the station was formally opened. G. T. Bandy, formerly of Cazenovia, was installed as agent. A number of residences covered the improvements of the latter year. Mr. Bandy became Kanaranzi’s first postmaster, assuming charge at the opening of the office on January 28, 1887. As a result of the heavy wind storm on August 2, 1887, Kanaranzi was for a time with only one grain warehouse, the establishment of E. A. Brown who had succeeded A. E. Patterson, suffering complete destruction. It was immediately rebuilt. In October, 1887, a correspondent boasted for the town two grain buyers, a newly established stock yard and a photographer.
         Kanaranzi was without a mercantile establishment for the first three years of existence. The first store was opened by C. Northrup and E. Milne in a building they erected early in October, 1888. Several months later this firm sold to G. T. Bandy, the station agent, who during the season of 1889 also engaged in the lumber business. Mr. Bandy disposed of his interests in 1891 to Elias M. Blakeslee, who in June succeeded him as postmaster.
         With the addition of a lumber yard, blacksmith shop and saloon late in the year 1892, Kanaranzi  reached the high point in its development. The last two decades have changed but little the appearance of the village, but it has experienced all the healthful tendencies of improvement which a community of its size can exhibit. A substantial $1200 school building was erected in the village in 1899.
      The story of the village of Manley will continue in the Feb. 18 edition of the Star Herald.
         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 Rose History in 1911.
 
Rock County Village (continued from 01-28-20 edition of the Star Herald)
 
         But Bruce refused to entirely forfeit its lease of life. There were few signs of activity during 1890, but none of a nature that assured a regeneration. J. N. Jacobson, upon moving to Hills, resigned as postmaster of Bruce, and was succeeded in May by F. T. Miller. Mr. Miller laid plans for the opening of a general store but did not put them into execution. A store was established, however, by Hans N. Kjergaard. Postmaster Miller served only a few months in that capacity and withdrew in favor of Mr. Kjergaard, who has ever since held the office. For six months, during 1890 Bruce came in to prominence as a wholesale center. Two liquor firms, Hickey & Mecknemar and the North Star Drug company, which were forced from South Dakota by prohibition laws, located for business at Bruce, the first town over the state line, but their career was run within a short period.
         All later efforts to “boost” Bruce have ended in failure. During the spring of 1893, N. T. Burroughs, of  Cherokee, Iowa, who was interested in the townsite, proposed to once more establish the place on a firm footing.13 But the hopes thus awakened never saw fulfillment. A year prior to this the two grain warehouses at Bruce became the property of Edmonds & Londergan, and were converted into elevators. Disaster visited Bruce on the morning of October 16, 1900, when fire destroyed the Illinois Central depot, which was later rebuilt on a smaller scale.
         The town of Bruce is today virtually controlled by one man, Hans N. Kjergaard, who is postmaster, only merchant, proprietor of the two elevators, stock buyer and station agent. He was one of the few who refused to leave Bruce in the day of its crisis, and largely through his determination to stay, Bruce has maintained its place on the map.
         13T. F. Shannon and T. E. Munger, officials of the Illinois Central railroad, and N. T. Burroughs, of Cherokee, were in town Tuesday on townsite business. Mr. Burroughs proposes to start Bruce up again and will make a first-class country town of it. Mr. Burroughs is a man of great wealth and he intends to offer every inducement he can to business enterprises which he can get started at this place, and there is no doubt that in a short time Bruce will be one of the best country towns in this section of the country. We will have three good general stores running within a month from now.”—Correspondence in Rock County Herald, April 21, 1893.
 
Kanaranzi
         Numbered among the half dozen smaller villages of Rock county is Kanaranzi, named after the township within which it is located. Stated specifically, it is situated on the southeast quarter of section 3, seven miles from the county seat on the Watertown-Ellsworth branch of the Rock Island railroad. The business town consists of a store, elevators and shops that derive their support from the agricultural country adjoining.
         The building of the Burlington railroad into Rock county in 1884 brought with it the possibility of new towns, and among the places to materialize was the station in Kanaranzi township. The grading of the proposed  line was hardly commenced before there were negotiations between the railroad authorities and representatives of the farmers and landowners of Kanaranzi township in regard to locating a town, which it was expected would satisfy a long felt want for a more convenient market.14
         But a whole year was allowed to pass before the agitators’ hopes were realized. In August, 1885, the townsite company connected with the railroad took action. A survey was made during that month by LeRoy Grant, from which a town plat of nine blocks was made. The dedication occurred Septmeber 28, 1885, and on October 14 the instrument was placed on record.15 The land on which the town was located was originally the property of Charles Thompson.
         14“The people here have not yet given up all hopes of obtaining a depot in Kanaranzi township. The distance from Luverne to some good location will be about ten or eleven miles, and the country around here will support a good town, as it will get much of the trade that now goes to Adrian and Rock Rapids. We believe the railroad company is working for its own interest, and, allowing this to be a fact, we see no reason why we should feel in doubt.”—Correspondence in Rock County Herald, May, 16, 1884.
         15One addition has been attached to the original townsite of Kanaranzi: Kanaranzi Village Outlots, by G. S. Snover, December 27, 1904.
 
         The story of the village of Kanaranzi will continue in the Feb. 11 edition of the Star Herald.
         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 Rose History in 1911.
 
Rock County Village (continued from 01-21-20 edition of the Star Herald)
 
Bruce
         On section 30, Martin township, two miles west of Hills, is located the Illinois Central station of Bruce. In addition to the depot the business houses of the unpretentious hamlet are confined to a general store and two elevators. Bruce has known better days. At the time of its founding, it gave promise of eventually taking high rank among the communities of Rock county. Its season of glory was short lived, however, and it was forced to bow to the stern decree of fate while yet an infant.
         The first intimation of a Rock county town on the Martin township prairies was received in November, 1887, when the Illinois Central authorities, whose railroad had just made entry into the county, located a station on J. H. Helgeson’s farm, on section 30.10 Before December was over, the company had built a side track on the side of the town-to-be, which it proposed to name Martin. The station bore that appellation only a few months, and then was christened Bruce, in honor of one of the chief officials of the Illinois Central.
         Unlike some of Rock county’s towns, there was no long lapse of time before it responded to the hopes of its sponsors. Activity began with a rush in Bruce during the first year of its existence, which was also the one of its fullest development. The survey of the townsite was made in May, 1888, by J. F. Whalen. The plat, indicative of the expectation of the promoters, was made to include sixteen blocks. The dedication by John Butler and Charles E. Moore took place May 22 and the day following record was made in the office of the register of deeds.11
         The boom commenced at once. Hickey & Co. were the first on the ground and built a grain warehouse. The depot was erected about the same time, in the month of June, and G. B. Hartley was installed as the first agent. John Butler, one of the owners of the townsite, was especially active in the promotion of building operations. During the summer he erected a hotel, which was first conducted by M. McCarthy and later in the same year by Andrew Nelson; a store building, in which the first merchants, Fransen & Miller, were located; and a second warehouse, with a capacity of 30,000 bushels of grain. A second general store was established by Jacobson & Sexe before the year was over, as was also a blacksmith shop by Ole Lund. During the summer an attempt was made by George Bollinger to conduct a saloon in Bruce. He was refused the necessary license by the county commissioners, but proceeded, nevertheless, in violation of the law. This action led to his arrest and conviction in December.
         The postoffice was established in the store of Jacobson & Sexe in 1888. J. N. Jacobson conducted the office as deputy until September, 1889, when he was regularly commissioned postmaster. Bruce progressed to a noticeable degree during the second year of life.
         Early in the spring of 1890 the existence of Bruce was threatened, because of the founding of the town of Hills, two miles away at the intersection of the Illinois Central with the new Sioux City & Northern railroad. It became evident to the business men of Bruce that their interests were certain to suffer in competition with the rival favored by a more strategic location. In February a hotel closed its doors and March witnessed the removal across the fields of Bruce’s leading business establishment, the Jacobson & Sexe store, as well as the blacksmith shop.12 What few buildings remained in the once promising community of Bruce were deserted.
         11“Bruce, the new station in Rock county, Minnesota, midway between Sioux Falls and Rock Rapids, has been platted and no doubt will be a town of two hundred souls before the leaves begin to fall.”—Rock Rapids Reporter, May, 1888.
         12“The little town of Bruce on the Sioux Falls branch of the Illinois Central, in Martin township, Rock county, is about depopulated on account of its people moving, bag and baggage, over to Hills, the new town on the Northern named after the general manager of the road, Hills is about a mile and a half east of Bruce, and the only blacksmith shop, grain buying establishment and general store in Bruce have been moved to Hills. The postoffice will probably follow in short order.”—Sioux City Journal, March, 1900.
 
         The story of the village of Bruce will continue and the village of Kanaranzi will begin in the Feb. 4 edition of the Star Herald.
         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.