1949
J. Parr Godfrey, Publisher
Feb. 10 in an editorial by Mr. Godfrey… We have seen almost a complete revolution in the creamery business (here in Royalton) in less then a decade. Farmers used to haul their own cream to the creamery. Now trucks go out over a larger territory. The load is more whole milk then cream. The creamery still turns cream into butter and it sells millions of gallons of whole milk to the Kraft Food Co.
Mar. 10 David Boss has purchased the Royalton Blacksmith Shop from Louis Klisch. He will be equipped to do plow work and repair farm machinery.
Apr. 14 at least 500 persons howled with pure glee as they watched high school boys and girls and others old enough to know better, engage in a wild game of “donkey-basketball”.
Apr. 21 Frank Karlinski is installing a modern front in the north half of his hardware store building on Front Street.
Apr. 28 work was started this week on construction of a new baseball diamond. The new diamond is located on the Waligorski property just south of the lumber yard and west of the railroad tracks.
May 26 the close of a dignified but simple Commencement ceremony saw 19graduates receive their diplomas from Royalton High School.
May 26 trees were the first objects to be removed this week, giving Royalton a ragged, naked look as crews begun the work of widening Hwy 10.
June 9 excavation for the construction of a new heating plant and shower rooms at the Royalton School has begun.
June 9 Re-interment for T/4 John E. Motzko, who was killed in action in Luxembourg, Dec. 20, 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge, was held in Elmdale Wednesday.
June 23 re-burial for Cpl. Willard J. DeZurik was held Thursday in the National Cemetery at Ft. Snelling. Cpl. DeZurik died July 29, 1944, of wounds received in action on July 28, 1944.
June 20th in the early hours of the morning saw a swath 2 miles wide and many miles long of complete and/or nearly complete hailed out of crops and many farm buildings damaged or destroyed by very high winds.
The Banner runs 3 columns of names of people who had damage done to their farms north, west and east of Royalton.
July 7 William Grettum is having the old frame office on his elevator torn down to be replaced by a 20 by 30 feet two room office that over looks the enlarged driveway and scale. The entire building will be covered in steel for fire protection.
July 7 on-sale liquor licenses increase from $900 to $1,250 per year.
At this time Royalton has 3 bars.
July 21 sale of the Kasella Hardware store to Alphonse Janski of Rice will be completed this week.
July 21 highway construction crews finished the 24 foot slab between the Platte River Bridge and Center Street. This week they began pouring the 6 foot strip to widen the old paving in the village and the way to Sauk Rapids.
Aug. 4 at 12:30 P.M. Wednesday the first car came over the new Hwy 10 paving from the south, opening the new road for traffic.
Aug. 11 S.C. Lodermeirer has purchased the grocery store known as Shorty’s Market from M.H. Dimitch, in the Bouck building between the post office and the doctor’s offices. The store will operate under the trade name of Lody’s Market.
Aug. 11 a crowd was estimated at 4,000 people, the largest ever, at the 20th annual Pow Wow. A new food building and installation of electric lights allowed the event to go on into the evening when at 9:30 a large crowd watched a 20 minute fireworks display.
Aug. 18 a break-in at L.B. Billig’s service station was the first burglary reported in Royalton in many months, candy, gum and many other small items were reported missing.
Sept. 8 many Royaltonites got their first look at television during the past week after Ben Ebensteiner installed the first set in Royalton. The picture is not clear and the sound is not good either, so it was reported.
Oct. 20 a pep-fest around a huge bonfire on the school playground, following a parade through the down town streets, climaxed the pre-game Homecoming festivities.
Dec. 8 a pair of small Christmas trees will be erected on the balcony of the Royal Theatre and illuminated with strings of colored lights.
Dec. 28 every on of the 400 odd seats in the Royal Theatre were filled for the annual children’s Christmas matinee sponsored by the Royalton Civic Club.