1924
L.R. Lisle, Publisher
Jan. 3 Repairs and remodeling of the Episcopal Church and changing the rectory into a Guild Hall have been completed at an approximate cost of $3,000.
Jan. 10 Minnesota Power and Light Co. have purchased Little Falls Power and Light Co. and the Pike Rapids Power Co. The construction on the dam three and half miles west from Royalton is to begin in 30 days at a location about 100 feet north of the Soo line bridge.
Jan. 17 The village council agrees to Minnesota Power and Light Co. purchasing the Royalton Power and Light Co.
Feb. 7 Equipment is to arrive for the construction of a spur of 1,500 feet in length from the Soo tracks for use in the construction of the Royalton dam on the Mississippi River.
Feb. 28 Construction started a month ago on the Royalton dam. 200 men are employed, a mess hall and bunk houses are in use and the first meals being served this week.
Apr. 10 C.E. Bennewitz has arranged to open a barber shop at the dam and the building will be constructed in the near future.
May 15 Otto Barton of Two Rivers Township passed away after four days of suffering from injuries he received while working at the dam Monday morning. Mr. Barton was struck in the back of the head by a bail of a bucket which forced his face upon the edge of the bucket breaking many bones in his face.
May 22 At a meeting of the fire department it was decided to reorganize the department. The affairs of the separate companies will be settled and the department will operate under one head.
May 29 Commencement exercises will be held at the Palace Theatre Friday evening when a class of thirteen will receive their high school diplomas.
June 12 R. Wilde a general store owner of this village for many years is retiring. Mr. Wilde opened his first store here in 1896 and that store was destroyed by fire in 1904. Two years later he opened another store.
June 19 Earl Seawall of Little Falls lost his life Thursday afternoon while working at the dam when he was caught beneath sand which caved in and fell upon the men. Two other men were able to escape unharmed.
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July 17 R.E. Hutchinson, a lineman for the Minnesota Power and Light Co, was killed instantly early Thursday afternoon while working on a pole on the corner of the
Methodist Church. For some unknown reason Mr. Hutchinson reached up and touch a live wire and was electrocuted.
Aug. 7 R.P. Broker has moved his barber shop into new quarters, next door to his former location. He is having a public bath installed at the new shop.
Aug. 14 Small pox has reached a serious stage and vaccinations will be given free of charge at the Royalton school beginning Monday August 18.
Aug. 21 The Blanchard Rapids dam being constructed by James O. Heyworth is half completed and the event was celebrated Saturday afternoon at the location of the dam.
Aug. 21 Taking up the offer of free vaccination offered by the Bellevue Township about a thousand persons were vaccinated the first three days of the week.
Oct. 16 Father Flanagan’s boys, from Boys Town, Nebraska, gave a concert at the Palace Theatre Monday evening which was attended by a large crowd. A similar concert and street program were given in the afternoon. The boys were provided with rooms by people in the village Monday evening and cars donated to take them to Avon Tuesday.
Nov. 2 Calvin Coolidge is elected President of the United States of America.
Dec. 18 Upon opening for business Saturday morning it was learned that burglars had entered four places but the combined loss was slight compared with the opportunity to gain loot. The businesses were The Royalton Mercantile, Royalton Auto Repair, The City Garage, and Werner’s Market.
Dec. 25 Clamps which held a locomotive crane to the rails of the Soo Bridge let go and the crane plunged to the river fifty feet below crushing a steam shovel which was about to be hoisted to the tracks Friday afternoon. No one was hurt.
Dec. 25 For the second time in two weeks the Royalton Auto Repair co garage was broke into Sunday night and tires valued at $250 were taken and $4.10 from the cash register.