1920
L.R. Lisle, Publisher
Jan. 8 Fire destroyed Dr. E.L. McGonagle home. The fire which was discovered by Mr. and Mrs. E.L. McGonagle when they returned home from visiting Mr. McGonagle parents next door started in the furnace. Some furniture was saved but all clothing and other personal effects were lost.
Jan. 22 The First National Bank has become the owners of the Commercial Hotel, the hotel will be torn down and a new bank built on its site. It had been owned by Mr. and Mrs. Newman for the past 27 years.
Mar. 4 Mike Skroch will open a grocery store in the building vacated by Frank Karlinski. Mr. Karlinski will move his general merchandise a few doors down on Front Street to the building he bought from William Gilmer.
Mar. 18 Cyril Stodolka purchased 60 acres of land west of town, part of which lies within city limits, and will this spring make a first class landing place for airships and he will build a hanger for the Curtiss plane he purchased a short time ago. It is believe that no town north of the Twin Cities owns an airship.
Apr. 1 The west end of the bridge across the Platte River in the south end of the town was washed out last Thursday night by high water. It is not known at this time if the bridge will be rebuilt.
Apr. 1 The Royalton Power and Light Co., which was incorporated in 1908 and built on the site of the flour mill, which burnt to the ground that year, was sold to Arvig Brothers of Pine River.
Apr. 15 C.L. Stodolka drove from Minneapolis Sunday afternoon in his new Curtiss plane making a non-stop flight in an hour and thirty minutes.
Apr. 22 Work of remodeling Hotel Royalton has been completed by the new owners, Mr. and Mrs. M.M. Parks, and a banquet was held which over 300 people were served and a dance was held afterward at the Palace.
Apr. 22 The Methodist Episcopal Church has been raised several feet above the foundation. A basement will be added as many other needed repairs will be made to the building.
May 31 Six students graduated from High School. Commencent exercises were held at the Palace.
June 10 Hon. Charles W. Bouck,68, prominent business man of Royalton for forty years passed away last Friday of heart failure, following a short illness with pneumonia. Mr. Bouck came to Royalton in 1880 and built many buildings and ran a hardware business until 1914 when he sold out to his son, A.C. Bouck. Mr. Bouck was also elected representive at a large from this district, Morrison and Crow Wing counties, in 1910 and has won every election since. He had planned to run this fall for re-election.
July 1 Tony Kalis, local mechanic employed at the Royalton Auto Repair Co. garage, tried out his parachute last evening for the big July 4th celebration. He attached a 150 pound sack of sand to the parachute and dropped it from the airship. It floated slowly to the ground.
July 8 The July 5th celebration was considered the largest crowd ever gathered in Royalton on Monday to enjoy the day. Bad weather interfered with the big feature of the day which was to be stunt flying and Tony Kalis dropping from an airship. The parade and ball game were held.
Aug. 5 The mason work of red brick on the new First National Bank building began on Monday. The work is being done under the supervision of C.P. Hunter.
Sept. 16 Fire, which possibly started from a passing train, completely destroyed the J.G. Bargabos and Son implement shop. The entire east end of the office of the Independent Elevator was burned out but no damage was done to the elevator. Buildings on Front Street were in danger of flying embers but were quickly put out. The Graham building had broken windows and smoke damage.
Sept. 16 R.C. Kuschel has sold the Merchant Hotel to C.A. Sherer of Sartell, who plans on re-opening the dinning room at the hotel.
Sept. 23 The first piece of mail to be carried by air service arrived at Royalton Tuesday. The letter came from San Francisco, California and was three days and nineteen hours in route.
Oct. 14 Morrison County Census Report for 1920. Royalton village 690.
Oct. 21 The mason work on the Methodist church was completed Wednesday and the building, when completed, will have an entirely different appearance.
Oct. 28 The decorators have about completed their work at the new First National Bank building and cashier Rhoda excepts to move in Saturday and open for business on Monday.
Oct. 28 J.P. Jenson will move his grocery stock the first of next week from the Mike Skroch building to the rooms to be vacated by the First National Bank in the Graham block.
Nov. 4 Warren G. Harding is voted in as the new President of the United Sates of America.
Nov. 4 The remains of Pvt. Osmer J. Leigh, World War One solider, will arrive soon from France. Pvt. Leigh while serving at the front with the Fourth Division was wounded. Upon recovery he returned to the front and was taken ill with influenza, followed by pneumonia which proved to be fatal. He died September 22, 1918. (The local post No. 137 American Legion bears his name.)
Nov. 11 All bells in the village rang for fifteen minutes at eleven o’clock today. As a reminder of the Armistice that ended the war in Europe