This Day in History

Compiled by Jean Lundquist

New sorghum mill producing the goods

Oct. 11, 1911

Described as “an enterprising hardware merchant” in Eagle Lake, Fred Day went to Mankato to “renew acquaintances” and sell his sorghum molasses to the fine citizens of Mankato at 70 cents per gallon.

His mill could crush and grind out 300 gallons per day. All sorghum producers from around Mankato and Eagle Lake, as well as surrounding counties, were bringing their cane to Day’s facility for processing.

The citizens of Eagle Lake were very proud of this new facility in their village. It was said to be able to provide enough syrup to sweeten all of southern Minnesota.

Corn husking bee in Mankato

Oct. 27, 1959

It was hoped that a growing divide between rural and urban Mankato could be healed by a corn husking bee to be held within the city limits. The coming of farm machinery was blamed in part for the divide because it caused the once-popular event to pass from the scene.

The picking site was a 3-acre plot of corn planted near the intersection of East Main Street and Highway 22. The hope was that a church would one day replace the cornfield, in part, with money raised from the bee.

All money was pure profit: The land was donated, the seed corn donated and no machinery was needed as all the labor was by hand and donated..

Tax tilts field to online competitors, retailer says

Oct. 29, 2011

It may seem like a long time ago that online sales carried no sales taxes. Brick-and-mortar establishments began to take notice and called it an unfair advantage. Locally, a manager at the Mankato Scheels took notice and called foul.

After sending letters to local representatives asking for relief, the only one he heard back from was then-Sen. Al Franken, who said the matter was being looked into.

Brandon Scheel was confident the issue would be resolved, saying it could be because governments were always after more money in taxes.

In June 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed that sales taxes must be applied to online purchases.

MSU urged to hire professional security

Oct. 4, 1990

In all, 37 recommendations were made by a Security Program Review Committee looking at how campus security could be improved at Mankato State University.

Undergraduate students were hired to work security part time on the campus, but they were unable to keep pace with the day’s problems. Increasing alcohol use was considered a major problem of the day.

While funding was procured for a professional force, students would still be useful as building and parking patrol and as escorts around campus. Officials estimated it would take three years to implement a professional force to replace the student force.

MSU Vice President of Operations Joe Metro said the student force was doing a good job. At issue was that the turnover as students graduating meant two-thirds of the force was new every year. Hiring and training this student force was an inefficient system, he said.