This was Brainerd

20 years ago (1989)

Minnesota Department of Human Services Commissioner Sandra Gardebring and State Rep. Paul Ogren, DFL-Aitkin, have announced their engagement. The two were quoted as saying that a fall wedding is planned.

30 years ago (1979)

Franklin E. (Babe) Ebner, a former state senator and Crow Wing County attorney, passed away at age 75. Ebner practiced law in Brainerd from 1929 to 1959 and operated the Korner Kut Rate Drug Store for 26 years.

40 years ago (1969)

(Photo) These men gathered at Van's Caf to discuss the proposed Highway 371 bypass around Brainerd. Included were Rep. Don Samuelson, Mayors Clyde Gorham of Brainerd and Don Sande of Baxter, plus aldermen and county commissioners.

60 years ago (1949)

George Drake, owner of the Land O' Lakes Caf and one of Brainerd's best bowlers, leaves today for a visit to his native Greece. He vows to bring back the Greek bowling championship medal, providing Greece has bowling alleys.

80 years ago (1929)

Do Brainerd people like the talkies? Well, if you've read news in the Dispatch this week of the number of people who motored to Little Falls to see talking pictures there, it's only the beginning. We hope owners of the Brainerd movie house will install talkies here.

100 years ago (1909)

The exhibition of the films of the Burns vs. Johnson fight shown at the opera house was not greeted by a very large crowd. The pictures were fine but most of the boys think Johnson is overrated as a fighter.

-Compiled by Terry McCollough