Looking Back: 1937 - Worthington's State Theater redecorated

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One year ago

The Avoca Municipal Liquor Store was under new management, with Jonelle Loehlein of Slayton filling that role as of March 1. Scott Burger of Avoca was the brand-new assistant manager.

The Recycled Treasures store of Worthington was seeking additional donations to sell. Proceeds from the store go to Specialized Vocational Services, which provides jobs for people with disabilities.

Planning for the newly proposed fire station in Worthington continued this week as city council members met in a special work session.

Playing this week at Northland Cinema 5, Worthington, were “Hop,” “Insidious,” “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules,” “Limitless” and “Little Red Riding Hood.”

Five years ago

Worthington High School sophomore Brittany Berger was selected to represent Worthington in Crailsheim, Germany, as the 2007-08 exchange student. Brittany was the daughter of Jeff and Janice Berger, Worthington.

Slayton native Whitney Buesgens, founder of Camp Love’s Embrace, was the guest speaker at the 14th annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast in Worthington.

Rex Hennings was the new owner of Worthington Glass Inc., having purchased the business from 25-year owner Roger Nelson.

Jade Giese, a Murray County Central Elementary fourth-grader and the daughter of Renee and Joe Giese, Slayton, was named the 2007 State Handwriting winner.

Karen Buchman retired after 29 years of employment with the City of Worthington, having spent the last eight years as city clerk.

10 years ago

The Worthington High School speech team placed second at the Fairmont Speech Invitational.

At the Lake Bella well field south of Worthington, the water level in Well #26 was about 12 feet higher than at this time last year and two feet higher than in 2000, reported Scott Hain, Worthington Public Utilities utilities coordinator.

An indoor Easter egg hunt at Minnesota West Community and Technical College drew about 500 youngsters.

Counties that send their jail inmates to Nobles County were to pay $10 more per day ($70 vs. $60) when the new Prairie Justice Center in Worthington opened.

Worthington High School presented “The Music Man” at Memorial Auditorium.

Twenty-four Worthington High School students were inducted into the National Honor Society. Worthington’s NHS chapter had been active since 1926.

25 years ago

Nobles County received $62 million in federal aid in 1986, of which $31 million was spent on direct payments to individuals, according to a report by the national Census Bureau. In Nobles County, which had a population of 21,300, the federal government spent $3.2 million to pay postal workers and other federal employees. Of the $622,000 the government spent in Nobles County for defense-related activities, $305,000 went for salaries.

The Area 8 Special Olympics track and field meet was scheduled for May 9 at Worthington Junior High School. Up to 250 athletes from eight counties were expected to participate in the meet, including 22 Worthington youths.

Playing this week at Worthington’s Northland Cinema were “Black Widow,” “Police Academy 4,” “Hoosiers,” “Lethal Weapon” and “An American Tail.”

Highland Manufacturing of Worthington, which had been in business for a little more than a year, was producing 84 different models of manufactured homes. Shannon Rickert was president of the company, and Greg DeGroot was executive vice president of operations.

A 19-year-old Tracy woman, who worked as a nursing assistant, was missing from Revere. A search was under way for the woman, who was last seen at 1:30 a.m. Thursday.

50 years ago

Authorities used four cases of dynamite in attempting to break three threatening ice jams on the Des Moines River at Jackson. Officials said the river rose 15 inches above stream from Jackson Sunday, but that the river in town rose only five inches because the jams were holding back the stream flow.

Seven persons were injured about 8 p.m. Sunday in a two-car collision at the junction of a county road and Highway 62 about five miles north of Heron Lake. Among the injured were four children, ages 8 and younger.

Workmen were called for emergency assistance when a snow dam holding back water in a field west of Worthington let go, sending a one-foot deep flood of water through the Cherry Point section. Some people were even evacuated from their homes, due to the threat of water moving foundations.

Steve Goff, son of Mr. and Mrs. Al Goff of Worthington, was selected from a field of seven candidates as the next exchange student to Crailsheim, Germany. Hanns von Bosse was the current Crailsheim student spending a year in Worthington.

Two men charged with armed robbery of a Lincoln County, South Dakota, service station were picked up in Worthington and turned over to South Dakota authorities. The two were arrested at a Worthington hotel after local officers received a tip they were heading this way. Sheriff Harry Nackerud and Police Chief A. W. Shelquist routed the men out of bed; neither offered resistance.

75 years ago

March 1937 was colder than the average March and had almost twice as much snowfall as the average March, according to a weather summary released by J. V. Westerlund, U.S. weather observer for Worthington. The average maximum temperature over the previous 40 years was 40 degrees; the month just past showed a maximum average of 37 degrees.

Enthusiastically hailed as the most brilliant affair of the year, the second annual Daily Times Better Homes show opened last night to one of the largest crowds ever housed by the armory. The balcony was packed to the limit; it was a complete success from the very start.

Eleven months after the arrival of the Howers in the Worthington theatre field, the new State Theatre had undergone a major redecoration, which had greatly enhanced the beauty of southwestern Minnesota’s “most beautiful theatre.” Not only had the foyer of the house been completely done over, but also the second floor lounge, and the pilasters in the main body of the theatre. In the foyer, the original black and silver panel greeting the public had given place to a modernistic treatment of the episode in the Garden of Eden involving the serpent and the apple, all worked out in shades of rose.

Snowfall ranging from two to seven inches fell in the area, three days into April and two weeks past the vernal equinox. “The icy grip of winter continued its clutch locally, when a furious sleet storm howled as day broke.” A covering of snow followed, which, coupled with the coating of ice on highway pavements, made driving extra hazardous.

Tags: looking back, lifestyle, columns, reminiscing