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DARING BURGLARY: Safe in W.F. Stute’s Saloon Blown Open and $51 in Cash Stolen From It

This is a newspaper clipping found today tucked in the Cram’s Unrivaled Family Atlas of the World published in 1891. The clipping has written on in pencil March 21, 1922. There was no indication of what newspaper it was but we checked the Hector Mirror March/April 1922 newspaper and didn’t find a mention of the burglary.

“Hector was the scene of a daring robbery Thursday night, or early Friday morning. The safe of W.F. Stute’s saloon was blown open and the robbers made away with $51 in cash. The culprits were evidently “onto the job,” for the safe cracking had all the signs of being done by experts.

“The blacksmith shop of G.F. Berggren was entered and some of his tools stolen, which were found afterwards in the saloon. The thieves first broke off the dial of the combination lock, drilled in and put in a charge of dynamite. The explosion completely wrecked the safe, blowing the door several feet against the partitions. The glass in the door and also the cigar showcase was shattered, while the oak woodwork of the door and partitions was demolished. The sum of $51, which was in the safe, was gone.

Suspicion for the burglary rests on two young fellows who were seen around town Thursday afternoon, but who could not be found the next day. One of them is a son of respectable parents living near town and the other resides in the neighboring town. They were in the saloon in the afternoon and in the early evening were seen down the track having a very confidential conversation with each other. Late in the evening one of the youths applied to Liverman Brown for permission to sleep in the barn but was refused. Brown, however, offered to pay for a bed at the Clifton, which the fellow accepted. There he told Landlord Dodge that he wished to get up at 5 o’clock and was given an alarm clock. The next morning he was gone and the alarm dial of the clock showed that it had been set for 1:45 a.m.

The county attorney was notified of the case the next day and with Sheriff Vick is now hunting up the burglars. It is quite likely that they will be captured.

Seventeeth of May Celebration Held Recently: Norway’s Independence Day was Observed May 16 at Hawk Creek Bridge by A.A. Davidson published in the Renville Star Farmer May 27, 1937

The 17th of May celebration, Norway’s Independence Day was celebrated last Sunday at the new Hawk Creek bridge. It was a success as to program and attendance. In fact we never did know Lief Errickson had so many decendents in this country. The crowd almost filled the Minnesota valley from bluff to bluff. Parking space was at ta premium, cars stood along the road a half a mile from the picnic grounds.

The Colorful Tom Davis of statewide political fame pointed a crown of golry to the Skandinaven race fro their achievement as citizens in our state. Also mising in a little politics. Tom is gifted with a oritorical ability possessed by very few men in our state. Attorney Haugland of Monty gave a review of the significate of the day going back 500 years into the history of Norway.

A male quartett from Sacred Heart sung several patriotic songs in two languages.

Miss Froyis Kittlsland, a fourth generation American born school teacher, sung the Norwegian National song in Norwegian.

Hawk Creek is a most beautiful place. Digging into its early history we find John C. Fremont once a candidate for the presidency of the United States. On an exploring expedition up the Minnesota river in 1862 mapped this region and gave the vailley its name on his map of that date.

We also find Louis Roberts a steam boat captain whom Roberts Street in St. Paul is named visited this place in 1858 and was so taken up with its beauty he decided to establish a town there. A store was built and stocked. It flourished althrough the Indian outbreak of 1862, had a post office call Jannett. This village was in existence till 1878 when the railroad came through and Sacred Heart was established.

Editor’s Note: A.A. Davidson was a charter member of the Renville County Historical Society helping establish it in 1940. According the the Renville County History book of 1980 published by RCHS “Hawk Creek Post Office, also called Jeanetville was established about 1869 by J.S. Earl. Later postmasters were G.B. Mulford and F.W. Brasch. The last postmaster was Ole Fugleskjel, who kept it at his place in section 10 until it was discontinued.”

2024 Featured City: Buffalo Lake

Buffalo Lake won the 2022 Donate to Vote which was held at the Renville County Fair. Buffalo will be on exhibit through July 2024.

RCHS will begin phasing in the 2024/2024 Renville County featured city of Hector after the 2024 Renville County Fair.

Grover Cleveland Jaehning, Morton Pharmacist 1908-1958

Dr. Fletcher Penhall in front of the City Drug Store owned by Grover Jaehning in Morton, Minnesota. This building is currently the River Valley Art Center building on the corner at the four-way stop. The children are unidentified. The photograph is copy and very pixilated when scanned. There isn’t a year on the image.

Grover Cleveland Jaehning was the first subject Reverand Leroy Lothert wrote about in the “Profiles of the Past” published in the Morton Reminder. Rev. Lothert’s book, “Profiles of the Past”, a collection of his articles is available on the online gift store or at the Museum.

Grover C. Jaehning came to Morton in November 1908 at the age of 23 and purchased the Morton Drug Store from Charles Orth. The store featured the latest in gas lighting, and all popular brands of cigars. In the Morton Enterprise on July 20, 1917 it states Jaehning bought the stock of drugs from H.H. Logan who at the time owned the Red Cross Pharmancy. He started his pharmacy career in Sleepy Eye where he met his wife, Louise Ott. They were married June 15, 1910. They had three children: Julia (Charles) Lothrup; Richard George and Ruth Nurmi.

Grover sold his business in 1951 when he retired but when the business was changing hands again in November 1958 he got behind the counter again. The business when to Al Tourville in December 1958.

Grover & Louise lived out their lives in Morton, Minnesota except after retirement they would winter on the west coast. Louise passed away March 5, 1978 and Grover on October 13, 1986. Both services were held at the Morton Methodist Church and burial at the Redwood Falls Cemetery. Grove’s brother, Alfred H. and George Jaehning was a hardware dealers in Redwood Falls. There was an article published in the Redwood Gazette on March 5, 1959 by Perry Galvin with an interview with Grover about the changes in the pharmacy world over his years. Stop by the Museum to learn more!

Grover Cleveland Jaehning in his retirement years.
Grover Cleveland Jaehning at the 1984 Morton Centennial Celebration!

Donation Items for the Museum: RCHS preserves the history of Renville County from Yesterday until Tomorrow

Have you ever considered donating items to the Renville County Historical Society? While cleaning out your closets, attics or garages keep RCHS in mind for Renville County related items. RCHS preserves the history of Renville County from yesterday until tomorrow. It is the Mission of RCHS to discover, preserve and share the history of Renville County. Before you throw it away give Nicole a call at the Museum to see if it is needed for the RCHS artifact or archive collection.

Keep the following list in mind:

· Obituaries & funeral cards, feature stories from across the county, church anniversary booklets, graduation & wedding invitations, wedding & birth announcements

· Yearbooks for ALL schools in Renville County. See the RCHS BLOG for a list of the Yearbooks we have in the research library.

· Items that have business names on them and given out as gifts/premiums (prior 2019)

· Renville County Related Photographs (family, sports, activities, businesses, churches, etc.)

· Additional history & photographs on the ‘Old Villages’ of Renville County

· Renville County Related Military items & photographs and Legion & VFW histories

· Renville County Platbooks & Maps. See the RCHS BLOG for a list of the platbooks in the Research Library.

RCHS also accepts Day-to-Day items

· Office Supplies: 1/5 Cut Manila File Folders, #10 Envelopes and First Class Stamps, Copy Paper (8 1/2” x 11” & 11”x17”, 110# 8 1/2” x 11” multi-colored cardstock); 9”x12” manila envelopes

· Other Supplies: toilet paper, paper towels, dusting wipes, antibacterial wipes, bathroom & kitchen cleaning solutions, toilet bowl cleaner, etc.