2005 — Five years ago
Rushford’s past 150 years will be celebrated in a weeklong sesquicentennial celebration. Some of the week’s events include the Rushford queen pageant, three dances, a tractor pull, a parade and fireworks. "Festival on the Prairie," which resembles an 1850 village, is one of the celebration's main attractions and includes tomahawk-throwing, fur-trading and log cabins.
1985 — 25 years ago
Twenty-nine Boy Scouts and four leaders left Rochester for the 1985 National Scout Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill near Fredericksburg, Va. They will represent the Gamehaven Council at the Boy Scouts' 11th national jamboree.
Beth McManimon, daughter of Edward and Rose McManimon, was named homecoming queen for the four-day homecoming celebration in Rushford.
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A base hourly rate of $12.50 and an increase in the number of workers are reportedly being sought by local P-9 of the Geo A. Hormel Co. in contract negotiations.
1960 — 50 years ago
The longest freight train to ever go through Rochester passed through on the Chicago and North Western Railroad tracks. Headed to South Dakota for the wheat harvest, 178 empty grain cars were pulled by six diesel units. The train was 1½ miles long.
About 60 couples attended the "Beachcombers Ball," an informal dance for all students of the Methodist-Kahler School of Nursing and their escorts in the Cloud Room of the Kahler Hotel.
