Todays Gazette is being brought to you by Ingwald Radford, Grafton
Municipal Power Plant Engineer.
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The current temperature is 12 degrees.
Yesterdays H/L temperature was 29/17
Normal H/L temp for this date is 17/-2
It sounds like we can expect another day of "winter like" weather on
Friday.
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"Profanity makes ignorance audible."
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L O C A L news & stuff,.. mostly stuff.
Rumor has it the Convent built by the Sisters of St. Catherines for use
as a parochial school has been abandoned. The structure, once owned by
W.T. DePuy, who converted it to an apartment building, also has been
owned by J.J O'Brien, among others.
I have recently been told by a roomer (pardon the pun) that several
weeks ago the heat had been shut off to the building. Next,... according
to the roomer (same pun, now intended) members of the GMU (Grafton
Municipal Utilities) stopped by - we think shortly before Santa hit the
local chimneys - and shut off the water supply. Unfortunately, according
to the "roomer" that didn't happen until the water created another
northern North Dakota winterland ice display all over the second floor
and the ceiling of the first floor.
Rumor has it, the last remaining roomer is looking for a new rooming
house and will be moving out as soon as he can get his furniture chipped
out of the ice.
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The interesting ice formations on the house at 243 Kittson Avenue
continues to grow. The stalagmite under the chimney has now reached the
top of the chimney. It appears that it will be heading for the basement
in the next few days.
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The Second Time Around portion of the old Ben Franklin building is
ready for occupancy. It sounds like the move will take place within the
next few days. Rumor has it Charlie Thompson has offered his horse
trailer for the move. The trailer should work relatively well. It's also
"possible" that some of the western wear could end up looking,......
and, smelling like it just came in, off the ranch. That I'm guessing,
will all come at no extra charge. Or so it seems to me.
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Bev Demers cared to share the following story of this Christmas past.
>>>
On Thanksgiving Day Grandma D made the comment that she wished we
could all get together "one more time". So Uncle Donald, Aunt Alice,
Uncle Philip, Aunt Mary Jane, Dad and Mom started planning. Location and
menus were planned. We walked in shortly after noon yesterday greeted by
the biggest smile from Grandma D. All she could say was "I got my wish".
All three of her children, 19 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren,
spouses and significant others were there. People traveled from near
and far to make Grandma's dream come true. We traveled from Oakwood,
Grafton, Grand Forks, Larimore, Crookston, Thief River, Fargo, Moorhead,
Wisconsin, California and Dickinson to be with Grandma. We hugged, ate
too much, laughed and smiled for each and every picture that was taken.
Memories are wonderful and thankfully we all got "one more". When I took
Grandma home last night, I told her to "wish the same for next year".
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Bev <<< Thanks a million for caring and sharing Bev.
Memories truly are wonderful.
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More "Joeism's"
Hi Gary, There is more to Joe Birkeland music-wise than the great
band he built and loved. Joe directed the best choir the Grafton
Lutheran Church ever had, it filled the choir loft area so you had to be
one of the best and most reliable to sing in it as there were no empty
chairs.
And then there was the Grafton Mens Chorusalso erected and
directed by Joe. Many of us in the band sang in the mens chorus, it was
non-denominational and we sang a Christmas concert every year at the
high school auditorium to a packed house. Back in the early 40's the
mens chorustraveled to Mpls. to sing a concert over "Voice Of
America". I can still hear George Chruthers singing the solo to "King
All Glorius" and Tenor Frank Willey soloing 'Beautiful Savior". It was
an honor singing in it which I did until leaving for the military during
Korea. There are not many left nowthat sang in the mens chorus, It
would be nice to hear a memory from some others that were members. I am
looking at 76 years and I was, I am sure, the youngest active member.
Bert A. Overland <<< Thanks for caring and sharing Bert. I'm sure
there are as many stories as there are people the knew Joe. The
challenge will be to find the key that will open their past, so that it
might be shared with the future.
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Subject: Joe Birkeland / Grafton Parade Band
Happy New Year to you andeveryone in Grafton. We certainly enjoy
the Shivercity Gazette.
While I never knew Joe Birkeland, I do remember the Grafton Parade
Band when they stopped in Chinook on their way to the Rose Festival in
Portland (at least I think that is where they were going.) They
paraded in Chinook, and all members of our high school band (I was the
bass drummer) were required to be there to watch, listen and learn from
the pros..Wewere able to masterturning the corners the way the
Grafton band did them that night and were quite a hit when we did those
turnsat our High School May Festival later. Of course I came to
know Al Johnson, Sr., who played in that bandwhen he and Lux lived in
Chinook for a time. (I've been married to Al, Jr.for the past 53
years.) Al Sr. continued to play in the city band while he livedin
Chinookand was also a member ofits clown band. Certainly it
would be appropriate to name something (street, school band room, or
something else) forJoe Birkeland,who meant so much in the lives of
so many from Grafton.
Al and Icome backto Grafton every year to see his sisters,
Peggy Nybo and Hope Torkelson, along withour brother-in-law, Marlin,
and other family and friends from the area. We usually try to be
there during Summerfest.
Eleanor (Anderson) Johnson <<<< Thanks a million for caring and
sharing Eleanor. Stories like yours add significant value to the idea of
"commemorating our former Band Leader Joe Birkeland".
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Grafton Parade Band has appeared in 42 states. Through the years
1949 to 1960 they were appointed by various governors as the "Official
Band of North Dakota."
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I am pleased to welcome Darlene to the Gazette family tree.
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GOTTA GO WORK ON MY DASH
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If we expect Bert's "seed" to bear fruit. It must be fertilized with
copious amounts of wonderful memories.
Or so it seems to me.
Write if you can, call if you can't, and, tell your loved ones they
are,..... before it's too late.
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