THIS DAY IN HISTORY

Compiled by Jean Lundquist

The council watchers

May 8, 1975

(This story ran fourth in a series of six)

For Agnes Maxa, the weekly visits to the Mankato and North Mankato council meetings began when the Mankato City Bus Lines Inc. announced it would stop service in the cities in 1972.

Although Maxa owned a car, she relied on the bus to get her where she wanted to go, including work. Maxa served as a member of the Mass Transportation Intergovernmental Coordinating Committee. Even after the public buses were running smoothly in both cities, Maxa continued to attend City Council meetings for years.

The meetings ended too late to give Maxa a ride home, so to save her the cab fare, often a member of the council would give her a ride home.

11,616 polio shots given in county

May 22, 1956

The polio vaccine developed by Jonas Salk was licensed in 1955. Before that, the polio epidemic kept many people isolated.

Many school-age children received their first inoculations that year. But in 1956, 11,616 more were delivered to doctors in Blue Earth County, largely to supply the second doses of the vaccine.

Not all doses were delivered to Blue Earth County residents, as many doctors had patients that came from the surrounding area. The vaccine was still considered scarce because of the strong demand for it.

With the delivery of the 11,616 doses in the county, many parents were able to breathe easier for fears of poliomyelitis infecting their children.

University Square to get a mini-grocery

May 8, 2007

The grocery store that students indicated they needed through surveys and focus groups conducted by University Square management was considered to be a “sure thing,” and would open by mid-July.

It was to be managed by the same people who operated Ray’s Grocery in North Mankato. The location was to be where the A-1 Bike Shop had been located.

Although the store would serve the surrounding residents, it was geared toward college students. It would feature frozen foods, fresh produce, and would have narrower aisles and higher shelves, since fewer elderly customers were expected.

Not intended to be a full-blown grocery store, it was designed to replace some “trips across town to Cub or Hy-Vee” for students.

Albert Lea hen lays large egg

May 5, 1936

Many people lament how “newspapers used to be so much bigger.” If that is true, it’s likely because of news stories like this one from 1936.

Biddy, a 1-year-old white Jersey giant hen, laid an egg that astonished her owner. It was 11 inches in circumference from end to end, and 7 3/4 inches around the center. Biddy’s egg weighed just under half a pound.