1973: Neepawa sportsman honoured at playoffs

By Casper Wehrhahn Neepawa Banner & Press

125 years ago, Wednesday, August 3, 1898

Rajah, the largest elephant in captivity; the only boxing kangaroo; and the only white sea lions on exhibit belong to the Lemen Bros. circus which appears here next Tuesday.

J. Rennie and staff of carpenters have just finished a contract taken by R. C. Ennis to erect a bank barn for Donald Fraser of Eden and those who have seen it pronounce it a most complete structure.

100 years ago, Friday, August 3, 1923

Seizure was made in Winnipeg this week of 50 cases of genuine French brandy. It is now stored in the vaults of the law courts, from whence its disappearance will forever remain a mystery.

W. H. Worrell will start a fishing business in Neepawa next week and will call at all homes for orders. He will carry an assorted stock received daily. This is something of a city-like service and will no doubt meet with a generous patronage.

75 years ago, Thursday, August 5, 1948

Paying tribute to Percy Murray and his hardworking Lions Club Playground committee, Lion president Harry Smith officially presented the local children’s playground to Mayor Dr. Paul Cleave at a public function held at the grounds Wednesday evening…

The ceremony started with a motorcade from Riverside Park to the corner of Second and Mill Street.

50 years ago, Thursday, August 2, 1973

A well known Neepawa sportsman, Roy Rush, was honoured at the first provincial senior play-off series held in Neepawa’s new baseball stadium by being asked to throw out the first ball to get the big event underway Saturday morning.

Note: Roy Rush had started his baseball career in 1918, the same date the event in 1973 was held. Dubbed a “fireball right-hander”, he was noted for his pitching speed in particular, but his capability to play any position. He was also a former coach of minor league teams and the senior Neepawa Cubs team.

The day of the 1973 event was also said to be the occasion of his 72nd birthday.

20 years ago, Monday, August 11, 2003

The Neepawa Area Development Corporation (NADCO) has made an offer to purchase a parcel of land from Good Life Foods for the construction of a community daycare.

Disclaimer: The information gathered and used each week in the Looking Back feature is directly taken from the original print copy of the Neepawa Press and Neepawa Banner newspapers. Any errors or omissions from stories (Factually or otherwise) are the result of the original print and not the responsibility of the archivist for the current version of the Neepawa Banner & Press.

By Chad Carpenter