1986 — 25 years ago
The Olmsted County Fair demolition derby drew a large crowd as beat-up cars raced around the track trying to bash each other. The top three finishers were Tom Jennings, Dan Moen and Mike Madden.
1961 — 50 years ago
The first Croix de Guerre, French decoration for bravery in action, ever awarded to an American nurse is now in the possession of Saint Marys School of Nursing. A World War I Red Cross nurse, Florence Church Bullard, a graduate of Saint Marys in 1913, sent her decoration along with the framed citation to the school. Bullard served on the front lines for three years. She was given the French flag of her field hospital before she sailed for home. In a letter she wrote, "My feeling is that they are not mine at all — but that surely they (the decorations) were presented to me in recognition of the Sisters of St. Marys and their wonderful work in creating and carrying on their School of Nursing, and as such, I bequeath them to you."
1936 — 75 years ago
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Three buildings on the LeRoy main street were destroyed by fire and two others were badly damaged when a blaze, which started in back of the Naiman store, caused a barrel of distillate and a can of kerosene to explode. The fire was fought by seven fire departments from Iowa and Minnesota. Destroyed were the Zingler cafe, the Naiman grocery store and the Jacob Naiman house. The total loss might exceed $10,000.
An average of 237 men might be given work for six months on a $214,497 Public Works Administration project that will build about 30 miles of road.
