The Oronoco Area History Center was pleased to find this gem, a copy of a 1935 newspaper containing many interesting advertisements and articles too numerous to mention. The paper itself is not in good condition and would be difficult to preserve if further investigation were to be made.
Oronoco Couple Observe Anniversary
(Excerpt from the Pine Island Record, March 14, 1935)
Several Guests Were Present That Attended Ceremony Fifty Years Ago; Open House Was Held At Their Home Tuesday Afternoon
At the home in Oronoco village where fifty years ago, Miss Carrie J. Fifield, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John C. Fifield, pioneers of this section, became the wife of Lanteen Huntsinger, son of Mr. Arthur Huntsinger and wife, also pioneer residents of Pine Island township, over half a hundred relatives and friends gathered Sunday to do them honor. The bride was born in South Mazeppa, Wabasha County, and came to a farm a mile and a half east of this village in 1864, when but an infant. The groom’s birthplace was in Waushara County, Wisconsin, near Wautoma, when a small boy, his parents brought him to Pine Island township, Goodhue County, where his mother died a few years later. In 1874 the father having remarried, the family moved to the old homestead a mile east of Oronoco village now owned by E. A Huntsinger.
On that March day of 1885, the bride was attended by Miss Lillian Terwilliger and the groomsman was T. D. Ellithorpe, both of Oronoco village. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Akers of the Pine Island Methodist Church in presence of near relatives of the contracting parties, five of whom, besides Mr. and Mrs. Huntsinger, participated in the celebration Sunday. The groom of fifty years had donned his wedding suit while the bride wore a pin and carried the handkerchief of the day of half a century ago; both wore golden roses. During the afternoon, their daughter, Mrs. W. J. Bassett of Minneapolis, wore the bride’s dress.
At the time of their marriage, Mr. Huntsinger, who had taught both in Wisconsin and Minnesota schools, was deputy county auditor with C.A. Whited, but having decided to become a farmer, he purchased land adjoining the home of his wife’s parents and here they have lived since with the exception of eight years when their only daughter, Lillian, and two sons, John A. and Ross L., were attending high school and university. Then their time was divided between the two homes. Of their children, Mrs. Basset, wife of W. J. Bassett, resides in Minneapolis and they have a daughter Alice and son Ross. John A. Huntsinger, who is unmarried lives in Miami, Oklahoma. He was unable to be present. Ross L. Huntsinger, who is married, has two children, Joan and Miles, and lives near his parents. At present, he is acting county agent in Jackson County.
After the guests had assembled and greetings and congratulations were over, an abundant supply of food came into evidence as if by magic and was served ala buffet, Mrs. John Meyers and daughter, Mrs. Lloyd Moulton, assisting. A water set given the couple as a wedding gift and a linen tablecloth ninety years old was displayed. Two beautiful wedding cakes, one with white frosting with gold roses, the other white and displaying a miniature bride and groom were much admired and were cut by Mrs. Huntsinger and served before the guests departed. The first was the gift of Wesley Huntsinger and wife, St. Paul, and the other the gift of their daughter and family. Beautiful flowers, roses, tulips, and jonquils adorned the rooms.
A musical program of vocal solos by Mrs. Archie Dieter and Miss Myra Huntsinger accompanied on the piano by Mrs. O. F. Nickle and an instrumental number by Richard Rossi was given and “God Be With You Till We Meet Again” was sung by Mrs. Dieter with the refrain, a chorus by the assembly. Mr. Huntsinger, in a few words, thanked those present for their kindliness in this honoring him and his life partner.
Those present were Mrs. Ada Rueber, Pine Island; Wesley Huntsinger, St. Paul; Mrs. Augie Dieter and husband, Rochester; Earl Huntsinger and daughter Miss Myra, Oronoco; Mrs. O. F. Nickle and husband and son Merlin, Byron; sisters and brothers of Mrs. Huntsinger and their families; J. H. Fifield, Oronoco; Mrs. A. W. Bryan and husband, Five Corners, cousins of Mrs. Huntsinger; W. J. Bassett and family; Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Tillefson, Minneapolis; William Smith and wife and daughter, Anoka; Mrs. Iva McCutcheon and son William, Pine Island; George McCutcheon and wife, Hanska; Edward Rossi and wife and sons Bryan and Richard, Five Corners; A. W. Dieter and wife and daughter Dorothy; Mrs. Elizabeth Newhouse and daughter Elizabeth and son Frank; and Miss Florence Swinborn; Carl Huntsinger and wife; Miss Cora Bassett; Mrs. May Ellithorpe and daughter Alice; Mrs. Winnie Clay and daughter Nina, Rochester; Ross L. Huntsinger and family; W. P. Rice and sister, Oronoco; Eric Bergseth and family of South Mazeppa.
This event took place Tuesday afternoon from 2 until 5 o’clock in the afternoon. Relatives and friends attended the open house. Receiving with Mrs. Huntsinger were her daughter, Mrs. Bassett, and Mrs. Ross Huntsinger. Coffee and cake was served at this function. The guests joined in felicitating the worthy couple during the day. (End of this story)
This article started with some sentences about who was present fifty years ago, but the sentences were cut off. The one name listed was Mrs. Ada (assumed to be Mrs. Ada Rueber.) Later in the article, it appears the sentence was finished and more about the earlier part of the celebration was added. Also, some punctuation has been changed in an effort to make it more clear. It may still not be completely accurate. For example, was Mrs. McCutcheon a daughter of Mrs. Ada Rueber? or was she a separate guest? At any rate, it appeared that the event was a fine celebration and the article a good and interesting piece of history.
Another article in this same newspaper is shown below. It demonstrates a typical way people got the news in the old days.
ORONOCO NEWS
– Donald Newell and George Befort of Rochester took a truck load of corn to Hinckley Wednesday returning with a load of potatoes for the market.
– Mrs. H. J. Glabe entertained the Presbyterian Ladies Aid society Wednesday afternoon.
– R. V. Hellenholt who spent two weeks at the Dr. Tressel home in Alliance, Oregon, returned home Wednesday evening.
– Walter J. Bassett and family came from Minneapolis, Friday Evening to attend the Golden Wedding of Mrs. Bassett’s parents,
– Mr. and Mrs. L. Huntsinger. Mrs. Bassett remained until Wednesday. The family returned home Sunday evening.
– J. M. Loos spent Saturday in Rochester on business.
– The Royal Neighbors met Thursday afternoon with Mrs. Edward Conley and daughter, Miss Alice Conley.
– Dorothy Kunz entertained a group of schoolmates Friday evening in celebration of her twelfth birthday anniversary. Games were played and later a dainty lunch was served by the small hostess’ mother, Mrs. Norman Kunz. Dorothy received many gifts from her young friends.
– Edward Cowden is again able to be about after an attack of influenza.
– Mr. Fanning has returned home to Zumbro Falls after a visit with is brother Arthur Fanning.
– Miss Esther Wanke of Rochester spent Wednesday evening with friends here.
– Postmaster J. H. Tiedeman of Oronoco and Postmaster Charles Springer of Douglas attended the opening ceremonies of the new post office in Minneapolis Saturday.
– Mrs. Amiel Glabe of Rochester spent Saturday at the J. H. Tiedeman home.
Some Interesting Tidbits from the same 1935 Pine Island Record
False Teeth in Hock for Booze (from Grand Marais)
The high price of whisky, a universal complaint, took another form this week when the price of whisky was a brand new set of false teeth, uppers and lowers. It happened recently when a man appeared in a local restaurant and wanted to hock his set of false teeth for one dollar. The dollar was lent to him and he dropped over to the liquor dispensary and purchased a pint bottle of “bottled in bond.” Then he came back to the cafe and promoted another 75 cents on the teeth, with which to buy a meal. The teeth, uppers and lowers, repose in a glass at the restaurant.
Farmer Refuses Aid to Motorist at 35 Below (from Wabasha)
Denied entrance to a farmhouse near Weaver while temperatures hovered 35 degrees below zero, S. M. Quigley, accompanied by Roy Schurmammer, was returning from Winona when their car stalled along the roadside. The two men sought admittance to a farmhouse to phone for aid but were refused. They were forced to walk back to Weaver, and in the hike, Quigley froze both arms. Neither of the men could identify the place from which they were turned away because of the blinding snow storm.
Suit Bought 60 Years Ago Still in Service (from Litchfield)
A suit of clothes purchased 60 years ago in Sweden, but still well preserved and showing little or no wear, was hauled out of the truck the other day by Andrew W. Nelson at Litchfield. Nelson bought the suit in 1875 as a boy of 15. He worked as a hired man for a year for 50 Swedish crowns, almost $13.00 in U.S. money, in addition to a few work clothes. There was no NRA hours then and he got up at 4 o’clock in the morning and kept on the job until around 10 at night. When the time of his service was over, he got his money and went to a nearby town to buy the cloth for his suit which cost 49 1/2 crowns. The balance of his wages, 1/2 crown, he spent for a haircut. His parents hired the tailor who made the cloth into a suit. The material is heavy black goods similar to what used to be called doeskin in this country years ago.
Slap On Back Causes Barber to Swallow Pin (from Caledonia)
Walter Akre, of Spring Grove, like most barbers, has a lot of friends, but one slapped him on the back at the wrong time the other day. Walter placed a long pin with a white head on it in his mouth while preparing to pin a cloth about a customer’s neck, according to his usual custom. Just as he was about to remove the pin, however, someone slapped him on the back and he accidentally swallowed it. An X-ray was taken and the pin can be seen lodged in Walter’s chest. Up to the present he has suffered no ill effects. One of Walter’s assistants completed the shave.
And The Following Joke, Still Timely Today
One fellow asks another “How’s your boy doing in college?”
The father replies “I reckon he is a mite discouraged. You see he is used to acting like he knows it all. He’s not pleased to meet a lot of professors who know more than he does and can prove it.”
Playing at the State Theater in Pine Island
• Thur., Fri., Sat.: “Marie Gallante” starring Spencer Tracy and Ketti Gallian, also a comedy. Prices 10 and 15 cents.
• Sun., Mon., Tue. “Straight From the Heart” with Baby Jane and starring Mary Astor and Roger Pryor. Prices 10 and 15 cents.
• Wed., & Thur., Bargain Nights. “Bachelor of Art,” a thrilling comedy drama of college life, starring Anita Louise and Tom Brown. Also a comedy. Prices only 10 and 15 cents.
