Looking back

By The Goodhue County Historical Society

25 years ago, 1983

Goodhue County continues to be one of the state’s leading hay-producing areas. Corn production was down, but soybean and oats production were up in the county during the previous year.

A Northern States Power Co. proposal for burning garbage at its coal-fired plant in east Red Wing will be scrutinized by the City Council’s Public Works and Utilities Committee. NSP contended that the process was clean, adding that more than

$8 million has been spent to install pollution controls.

Red Wing swimmer Stacy Krajna traveled to the Midwest regional meet lin July in Milwaukee, where she qualified for the Junior Nationals. She has been training with the Eden Prairie Foxjets Swim Club this summer.

50 years ago, 1958

The workload at the Goodhue County Sheriff’s Department has increased 80 percent in the last 10 years, but the size of the administrative staff has not been increased. There are only four men on the staff — meaning just one for every 10,706 inhabitants of the county.

Goodhue County Commissioners learned that Pine Island Village is preparing a lawsuit against the county in an effort to collect more than $11,000, which it claims the county promised to contribute in 1952 toward improvement of County Road 22.

Construction of a sewage disposal plant, together with revamping a major portion of the city’s sewage system, won approval of the Red Wing City Council Thursday night. The entire cost of the project is expected to total more than $2 million by the time the project is finished.

100 years ago, 1908

S.B. Foot Tanning Co. is constructing a new production plant — the most modern in the Northwest — which will have 12 times the capacity of the old tannery. The new plant will have a capacity of tanning 500 hides per day. In addition, the new tannery will have its own water plant and provide a sprinkling system for fire protection.

River traffic is booming along the Mississippi. The steamer Red Wing is doing constant daily business between Wabasha and St. Paul, with both passenger and freight traffic increasing. A number of passengers have shown a preference for the steamer rather than taking the train, river authorities said.

The Water Board hired L.P. Wolff, an engineering expert from St. Paul, to investigate and report on improving the water supply for the city of Red Wing. Wolff’s report favors drilling a deep artesian well. The cost to establish an artesian supply is estimated at approximately $32,500.

Compiled using news articles and Goodhue County History Center records.

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