This Day in History

Corporate Graphics

Your Printing Solutions Company

1750 Northway Drive North Mankato, MN 56003 800-729-7575 www.corpgraph.com

Compiled by Jean Lundquist

Minneopa birthday party to go on

July 2, 2005

Minnesota’s governor and the state Legislature reached an impasse that shut down the entire state government in 2005. Minneopa State Park’s birthday party was in peril, as all state parks were shuttered.

But enough pressure was applied to the state politicians that the state parks system was reopened for the Fourth of July holiday. “Minneopa Memories,” as the park’s 100th birthday party was called, was back on. Dixieland music, old-time games, free cake and root-beer floats were offered.

Minnesota’s governor and the state Legislature reached an impasse that shut down the entire state government in 2005. Minneopa State Park’s birthday party was in peril, as all state parks were shuttered.

But enough pressure was applied to the state politicians that the state parks system was reopened for the Fourth of July holiday. “Minneopa Memories,” as the park’s 100th birthday party was called, was back on. Dixieland music, old-time games, free cake and root-beer floats were offered.

Toe bitten by a rat

July 7, 1914

The infant son of Mr. and Mrs. A.B. Von Reiner was brought to Mankato from his rural home with a well-gnawed toe. The child was asleep in a carriage in his parents’ bedroom when his crying awoke them. They saw a rat jump from the carriage.

In Mankato, the attending doctor told the media that the child’s fever reached 103 degrees (in the days before patient privacy was an important thing). He also said it was the first such injury in Mankato, to his knowledge. The boy was 2 months old.

Tilt-A-Whirl still spinning success

July 3, 1995

In 1995, the Tilt-A-Whirl turned 69 years old and was still being manufactured by the family of the man who invented it in Faribault. Herbert Sellner was the inventor, and Sellner Manufacturing in Faribault built it.

The ride was popular in amusement parks and at fairs across the country — and still is. The goal was to create a ride parents and their kids could ride and enjoy together.

As technology changed, the design of the ride also changed. But the spinning and whirling of the ride was only improved. The Sellner family built the ride until 2011, when Sellner Manufacturing was sold to Larson International and moved to Texas as a result.

THANK YOU MANKATO!

The Free Press