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Document - Historical information/data - Martin DesLauriers Constable, Police Chief, Historian -DES LAURIERES, MARTIN (Farm/Police Chief/Historian) DES' E. -S Tra.«s To the best of my knowledge, the material attached to this form is accurate. I hereby give my permission to use this material as presented in the history book for the City of Eagan. Date Name c� / lfit i `> Address Signature Please Print ( / (//f (( ( To the best of my knowledge, the material attached to this form is accurate. I hereby give my permission to use this material as presented in the history book for the City of Eagan. Date Name Address Signature Please Print qqA i MENDOTA PIONEER HAS SEEN ST. PAUL GROW FROM TOWN TO LARGE CITY. 1111.4..111-1 MAT. Immigrated to Old Trading Metropolis • - --• - From Canada 74 Years Ago. --v---- u`vr TrN..... r...• - ..`.. r... I•• •••. —...mime bp di* •hi. �, ...r rm...rr......w rm, u.. n.... ., i e.•.r ... ra »-mini i.r.....r. .-;�;_ a w.a ....•lb r. s W �.~.�..`. r M.ww....:..�... �..ay.. rr r..... ......� -. ...bm.• r..... '��•••r.••►ti...►r -: �s11MiK Mabee&MUM ISM WHi111011 r •, tie. ~• .r r r �.... r.•• V. A.r..1�.w.YYr V sm. V elms r..rA �. eft. .W4. Wr.wvam.r.f....�.. �F _rrt.rrr.�rry r.n......ftiarr. Maw IA De,s L(,tu.riens Telesphore Lemay at age 95 in 1926.. 5'1 • • - - - - ,:r=.s. .- •44.A, it. .r- :. • -• ��y�� 'y .. L\r•� . •. .0-.+.ta..�'il«.-.� ••...w.4 iT.:. ••-1_ o•. =i uc r1'.ti► .:••.MQF1-..- -. a.... ��lv. i..• 'k-YL %'r.....)�1 •-"i► -'� .►s a. ti�.wv -'w s-' -lzert�"' -A:ti yt s.3.viays i.0 !V t: �.r'- *z M `T .t:`_ti _:a,. .• 1 .tea ...: ayr4y7'.4;V:'Pr.i'K?t• i!-`-"tdtl.h. ;"‘y • . yry„ .:� i• 1 .• 0,40-04" J► A.D.. ti p- �T. -. "4. fish The ^esLauriers Family Clement nesTauriers was horn in "anada in 1°37; he married Victorine chapdelaine, who was fifteen years old at the time. "'hey -roved to "•'innesota and had ten children, amon? them r?illiam, who married "artha r'hapdelaine. '.'illiam and "arth.a farmed '. acres of lan i on Yankee ^oo ?1e Road in sections and 1F (northwestern ragan). "'hey were the parents Sethi) of e children, among them Touis, born in 1299 at Inver !'rove. '.ouis Vent to school in ^istrict 12, near his parents' farm; he married "_argaret ^uigley in 1923 and they made their hone on a `arm in section "'heir farm heg;an with Cr' acres, to which 4n more were added; today the rox "idge and 4un':er Till apartment complexes stand there. In the heyday of-az-ants dairy farms Touis performed the important task of hauling the farmers' milk to the creameries in St. ?aul. '-kept the job for almost thirty years,. from 192C to 1949. Petween 1919 and 10'3 Margaret "esTauriers became a schoolteacher and taut at nistricts 12 and 13 an- the Rich Valley school in Inver Grove. Touis and "argaret raised ten children. One of them was artin, who was a constable for ^.agan from 1954 to 1'"4, and the city's first chief of police from 1965 to 19Q'. Refs: Marie nesT,auriers "artin nesT auriers tTe 37 THE •LETENDRE FAMILY On.Wednesday, April 17, 1929, the South St. Paul Daily Re- porter printed a story about one of its more interesting readers. `Abraham ietendre, said the story, came to Dakota County with his parents in 1865 from I•_ontreal and settled with his brother •John, who had come in 1858. Abraham enlisted as a member of a government surveying expedition at Ft. Snelling and made several journeys through the Red River Valley and along the Missouri River as a "chauffeur" on a covered wagon. During his second year in the service, Abraham was a member of "The Big Expedition." Over 200 teams of six mules each started from Ft. Snelling; at St. Cloud they were joined by 75 more teams. They carried everything they would need for nine months: flour, salt, sugar, coffee, blankets, ammunition, tools, instruments and even a. herd of cattle for meat, as well as more food and items to supply the forts along the way.• The huge train covered about fifteen miles a day and had to be split up into several camps to provide enough food and grazing for the animals. Each week the procession grew smaller as companies of soldiers left for the forts to which they were assigned. After four years of service Abraham's term expired; he had enough money to buy an 80-acre farm in Eagan in partnership with his younger brother 'Emanuel. (The brothers later divided the farm and worked their halves separately.) In 1887 Abraham married 'Harriet Lemay. They had no children but adopted a 7-month-old orphan girl who grew up to marry a man named Reinhart Pagel. Two months after giving birth to a daughter, she died; Abraham and Harriet adopted their granddaughter and raised her themselves. 3� Abraham's brothers 'Louis, 'Jean -Baptiste (John) and -Emanuel all had farms in the Nendota/Eagan area. References: Martin and Marie DesLauriers Ronald Eustice Francis Letendre Sig and Theresa LeTendre Mrs. Lillian McCarthy 39 56' Abraham and Harriet letendre (c. 1887) -76 7 tHE QUIGLEY FAMILY In August of 1876 eight travelers posing as a party of land speculators and cattle traders got off the train in St. Paul. After amusing themselves for a while they bought the best horses and tack they could find to continue their journey. Four headed west from Mendota to Mankato; the others went south through Eagan, avoiding the Old Dodge City Trail and riding cross country. •Fatrick Quigley greeted the gentlemen at the gate of his farm, allowed them to pass through and let them water their horses in his yard. They talked while the horses rested, and Patrick was impressed by their polite manners and fine clothes. Finally they asked permission to ride through his property; he told them they were welcome to do so, providing they closed all the gates. They agreed and took their leave. The fine gentlemen and their strange route through Eagan were the topics of conversation at the Quigley supper table that night. It was not until some time after September 7, 1876, that Patrick realized he had given hospitality to members of the Jesse James gang on their way to rob the Northfield National Bank. •Patrick Quigley was born in Kilkenny, Ireland in 1829; *iar- garet O'Gorman was born there in 1826. Patrick came to the United States about 1850 and married Margaret in Galena, Illinois. They came to Eagan in 1851, about the time the first stagecoaches were running from Galen a to St. Paul. The Quigleys built a home in section 27. Their original farm was eighty acres; it was later expanded to three hundred and twenty acres in sections 26 and 27 (in the vicinity of Lexington Avenue 45 and Diffley Road, including part of Quigley Lake). They raised seven sons and four daughters; several more children died in infancy. 'Catherine Quigley Shields and 'Evelyn Quigley Curtis, grand- daughters of Patrick and Margaret, remember their grandmother telling them about the Indians that came to their homestead on hunting trips. Margaret was very much afraid of them. They would point to what they wanted: chicken, bacon, bread, etc., and she would quickly give it to them. When the Indians had finished hunting and fishing in the area they would return to the Quigley home and leave furs and meat in exchange. Unlike his wife, Patrick had a friendly relationship with the Sioux. During the "New Ulm Massacre" of 1862, the Eagan settlers were warned and told to go to Fort Snelling for protection. However, friendly Sioux assured the Quigleys they would not be harmed if they chose to stay. Patrick, i' :arga.ret and their five small children remained at their homestead, guarded by their "trading partners" from the hostile bands. cMrs. Ellen Kalal was told by her mother that her grandmother, .Mrs. Michael Reid, was a good friend of'Margaret Quigley. The women would walk two miles through the woods (which is now part of McCarthy Park) to visit each other. The trees were so thick that they had to tie pieces of white cloth onto bushes to mark their way back again. Patrick Jr., the son of Patrick and Margaret, was born on 1393 • the homestead in 1858. In 1886 he married Eargaret CoM-f, the CL=0n:4 daughter of •Michael and tCa.therine as-rff and the first white girl born in Rosemount, according to the 1886 history of Lakota County. Their son 'Patrick III and daughter Catherine farmed the original homestead until 1945. References: Evelyn Curtis Catherine Shields Martin DesLauriers `� 94 yi 6 TM PATRICK qui GMT FAMILY Cr.:1“ de r -1/ ter5 • - — 'Patrick Quigley Sr. 1 ir 4,,,•-•.' ,,I...;--- ;,., .. — - - _ . i.—'i 4.—X.,:.1..,:- . ti• el 1 - . ' z :., '-"6''?;....•--; '''!;-.C't.c0.•;,... 1...../..01',..z — _ 413147.-;;;.4%;:. _1 i IT • 'VT," --..;:-...- ''' • ,4:4 ).0'''t;41.S",1.—' ' ' -? ??7;•`.----% — 't •17 / 7: i tfy/ /r..-.." ". r • r . i , • Margareiceti0;41°vGic:Cmpaen5L44-ifiglIsy. c_pu_r-1 -y Moistly) O /ate r,e.r5 Patrick Quigley, Jr. i.larga ret O+otriff Quigley. (1 77 Ta.iry During the 1920s dairy farming became the main source of income on most Fagan farms. At one time about 95 area farmers produced milk, each averaging 10-15 gallons a day. Crcps shifted more to corn, oats and alfalfa, which were used as feed. -s the number of dairy farmers increased, regular service was established;so that theicans of milk were picked up direc- tly from the farm (or as close to it as possible). An early route from Rich Valley (now part of Rosemount) into St. Paul, driven by ,Ray Walsh, provided service to farmers in the Wescott area.. ViN.N1u Louis DesLauriers, Sr., boRgu a milk route in Eagan about 1921. It was not long before area farmers had organized a local chapter of the Twin Cities lii]k Producers Association, a cooperative operating around the Pinneapolis-St. Paul area. The milk was delivered to various bottling creameries (the most common was the creamery on University Avenue in St. Paul) and the farmers re- ceived a monthly check for the milk they produced. The annual member picnic of the Twin Cities Nilk Producers Dissociation is remembered as a popular social event for local residents. During the 1950s, however, low prices for milk and other re- lated factors made it uneconomical for many area farmers to con- tinue. There had once been as many as 121 stops on the Des- Lauriers route; this decreased to about 72 in 1955. When new regulations about the production and grading of milk were en- forced, there were only around 21 Eagan farmers who converted to the required bulk tank storage system. By this time, the Twin Cities bilk Producers Association and other cooperatives were consolidated into Mid -America Dairymen, Inc. For a time there were as many as two or three sales auctions a week as residents _r gave up farming completely. 147 74 MIIK NUI FR-- Louis Leslauriers began hauling milk for Fagan farmers when the Twin Cities Milk Producers Association cooperative was formed about 1921. He would pick up the milk cans from farms along Pilot Knob Rd. and its side roads and reload them on trucks to be taken to the creameries in St. Paul. In the early days of his route Leo auriers used horses to pick up the milk from the farms and load it onto a truck on the main road. Particularly in winter, when automobiles couldn't get through the unplowed roads, the horses were a necessity. Leslauriers' first milk truck was a 1924 Graham, purchased from Bernier rectors in ; endota. In winter, Lesl_auriers was often the "trailblazer" for the farmers. Others who wanted to go out would wait until he had broken a path through the snow for them. In very bad weather the farmers who lived on the farthest end of the route would load their cans-and'meet him. In December 1923, 17-year-old Leonard Garrity came to work for Louis DesLauriers and live with his family. Leonard would take the horses to bring the cans to Louis in the truck on the main road. In winter they would often leave before sunrise and not return until dusk. By 1931, roads and road maintenance had improved enough that trucks could do the route without the use of horses. At one time Louis had three or four trucks hauling the milk. Leonard Garrity worked for Louis until 1939, when he married Alice Fee and moved to Mendota Heights. Louis continued the route until he suffered a stroke in 1949; then his sons Louis William, Martin and Richard bought the business and ran it until 1956. 79 • ; -4-j. ./ .„.• f: 4)10 `. •f - • • g-ri. .„4-101\141V . 4 - et --- • .1' ..#4k I i (-our te sy Mari )4 De trakit- '•••• Louis Deslautiers and his first milk truck, a 1924 Graham. 1g I It? Fr3J yt MA:i `[ ss Ca.,r tee Ph? • • . • *P s _(s Laurie District 14 students of 1920 (teacher,Nargaret Quigley not pic- tured): 1st Row (left to right): .Alfred Johnston, James McCarthy, .Tom Cunningham, 'Floyd Kanick, •Relen Naughton, •Ellen hcCarthy, 'Marie Mueller, 'Sara Conn'Illy. 2nd Row: 'George Johnston, Joseph Cunningham, ,Eary LcCarthy, Alice Johnston. 3rd Row: 'iouise Lueller, •Leonard Kanick, Bert I•:ueller, 'Edward NNcCerthy, ►I•.ary C'Connor, •i':ary Connelly, .Edna Johnston. District 14 students of 1923 (teacher'Cecelia Fallon not pictured): 1st Row (left to right) :.Diary McCarthy, ►I•.arie Mooney, 'Helen Eaughton, 'Sara Connelly, .Florence vreierke, 'Cora Weierke, Anna Go, 'Ellen McCarthy, unknown. 2nd Row: 'James McCarthy, Walter GoVAjs, Fred G 'Louis Motz. 'Leo Go, 9110 � 7f�t�• ����.I. "Jct�i �- 4.a Courtesy Martin DesLauriers District 14 school picnic, First row, left to McCarthy, unknown, Motz, James Second Row: right: unknown, • 1923 (teacher r'eceiia Fallon). unknown, unknown, unknown, Ellen Ester Motz, ? ouise Motz, Erwin McCarthy. unknown, unknown, Mary McCarthy, Marie Mooney, Sara Connelly. "'bird Row: Margaret Quigley, 'ors. James McCarthy Sr., Mrs. Patrick Quigley, Mrs. Floyd McCarthy, Mr. rave Quigley, Margaret riffley, Catherine Quigley, Mr. James Mcrartby, unknown. 911F District 12 students of 1908 (teacher'Alice Olson 3rd row, far left): 1st Row: 'Arthur Shields, ...Leslie Stiff,.Albert Stiff, 'Herman Schmidt,'Siegfried Letendre, 'Martin Shields,'Iouis DesI.auriers. 2nd Row: 'Florence Desiauriers, 'Genevieve Letendre, Alice Des- iauriers,,Edith Shields. 3rd Row: 'Alice Olson (teacher),'Louise Auge,.Mary Burow,'Frances Shields, 'Vincent Shields, 'Henry Letendre,.Cmar LesLauriers, 'George Shields. Town .Meeting Perhaps the biggest governmental even in Eagan's township days was the annual town meeting. 0n the second Tuesday in March of each year, the qualified voters of the township met to elect officials, discuss expenditures for the coming year and consider other local matters. The meeting, which usually began at 10:00 a.m., was called to order by the Town Clerk. 1 Amoderator was selected, and after the agenda was read the polls were opened for the election of township officials. In most years, the business at the annual meeting included little more than reading the minutes of the past year's town board meetings and deciding on the total amount of township expenditures for the coming year. Even in the late 1950s, Eagan was small enough to be fairly informal about elections. According to Eagan's first police chief, Martin DesLauriers, town treasurer Herbert Polzin and supervisor Louis Trapp served as election judges at that time. Herb was a mail carrier and Louis issued building permits, so between them they could identify almost all residents personally from their addresses. A central feature of the annual town meeting was the ability of the residents to vote directly on the annual budget. T?ecause it provided limited services for a small population, tbe cost of township government was low. ^ven into the 194^s the amount provided for general township expenses was seldom more than e1,^Or per year, r while the road and bridge expenditure was a similar amount. As Eagan's population increased, changes were made. The Poard of Supervisors began meeting twice a montb, so in 1_961 the reading of minutes at the annual meeting was discontinued. The time 163 allowed for voting was extended from 5:^^ p.m. to C:^^ p.m. in 10'7, and in l932 three voting precincts were established. ?beginning in 1^5]/the annual meetinc was held luring the evening. "wring tbe late 19 6^s j as many as 3r'^ residents would attend. rity ^mployees "ntil the late l') CsJ the elected officials of "a an were ahle to conduct the day-to-day business of township government. As L'agan's population grew, however, it became more economical and effective for "agan to hire its own full-time employees. '"he forerunner of t'^e "agan police nepartment was the "own constable. By law, each township had two constables. ^'he were elected annually until 1920. Thereafter they were elected alternately for two-year terms (although records indicate that there were often vacancies). The duties of the constables were pretty much limited to heing present at the annual town meeting and elections, and to serving papers such as warrants issued by the Justice of the Peace. Much of their actual time on duty was spent attempting to settle fence line disputes. Any major criminal acts were handled by the County Sheriff's office. Before the growth of suburban housing, police activities in Eagan were less formal because the officers knew most of the residents. Juvenile mischief -makers were likely to be taken home to be punished by their parents rather than charged. Constable Martin DesLauriers carried a camera and makeshift fingerprint equipment in his car, but rarely used them. Officers were called directly at home by citizens or the sheriff's office. Regular patroling began in 1956, with the constables using their own cars. Eagan puchased its first police car --a Ford Ranch Wagon -- for $2900 in 1965 (gas for the 26,000 miles covered in its first six months cost $560.) Two part-time policemen were hired in July,of that vaar with a full-time officer hired in December. As the population increased, so did home burglaries, vandalism and domestic incidents. New streets with posted speeds gave rise to more traffic citations. Since shooting was now restricted near the developments, there were more violations of hunting laws. More than once a suburban window was accidently shot out. The crimetates still remained quite low; in 1967 only 100 adults were arrested. At the town meeting of March 1966 the office of constable was abolished* . In May, 1966, the full-time position of Chief of Police was established; Martin DesLauriers, who had served as constable since 1954, was appointed Eagan's Chief of Police at that time. After years of "shirt -pocket" notation of crimes, he set up Eagan's first uniform crime reporting system according to FBI standards, which proved valuable as the town grew. /57 THE DESLAURIERS FAMILY --GENEALOGY The DesLauriers name can be traced to France in the 17th century. 'Clement DesLauriers was born in Canada in 1837 and married Victorine Chapdelaine on Feb. 11, 1861; Victorine, of Sorel, Canada, was fifteen years old at the time. Their children were;, `Clement b. 1863 m.-Marie Beaudricon 'Migry b. 1864 William b. 1866 m. Martha Chapdelaine d. 1940 Caroline b. 1868 m. Victor Lemay d. 1943 Ernest b. 1870 m. Cassie Keller Delea b. 1873 m. William Corrigan Angeline b. 1875 m. Patrick Corcoran Albert b. 1877 m. Stella Rowe Felix b. 1879 m. Elizabeth howe d. 1952 Adalore b. 1881 m. Leoni iabey d. 1945 r Clement died June 7, 1912; Victorine died Sept. 12, 1931. Both are buried in St. Peter's Cemetery, Mendota. Adalore and Leoni were the parents of Wilfred DesLauriers of Mendota Heights. William and Martha were the parents of Alice (m. Henry Rosenberger), Florence (m. Bill Steinhauer, Tom Fitzgerald), Omar .(m. Esther Labey), Dorothy (P. Frank heimel), Evangelane (m. Nick Heider), Lorraine (m. George Mueller) and Louis (m. Margaret Quigley). Louis and Margaret raised ten children: Margaret Mary, Helen, Louis William, Della Rose, Mary Louise, Martin, Kathleen, Richard, Eileen and Alice Jean. Louis died in 1960 and Margaret in 1961; both are buried in St. Peter's cemetery in Mendota. Martin DesLauriers is Eagan's Chief of Police. ' „u r ! e —'5 �fc�rz✓t�z� s ��a fib � o �c_rt;pests-tux! e,r5 • The Letendre Family --Genealogy Jean -Baptiste Letendre and his wife Marie-Celanie Raymond came to the Mendota/Eagan area from Montreal in 1865. Their sons Jean -Baptiste, Abraham, Louis and Emanuel also settled here. Jean -Baptiste, Jr., settled at Mendota in 1858. He married twice at St. Peter's Church in Mendota, first to Marie Cournoyer, daughter of Claude and Marie-Pelagie Herault, on Feb. 13, 1860, and then to Victoria Lemay on March 3, 1878. By his first wife he had one daughter, Marie Philomena, born May 1861. Louis came to Mendota in the summer of 1852 and settled in the central part of section 13 of Eagan. He sold his claim not long afterwards to Dr. F.R. Smith. Abraham, Emanuel and their parents came to Mendota/Eagan in 1865. Around 1871 Abraham and Emanuel bought an Eagan farm in partnership, later dividing it. Abraham married Harriet Lemay in 1887; they adopted an orphan girl who married Reinhart Pagel. Mrs. Pagel died two months after giving birth to a daughter; the baby was adopted by the Letendres and later married Leo Cloutier. Emanuel married Emma Picard of Little Canada on March 3, 1878. They had ten children: Philomena b. Jan. 17, 1879 m. Henry St. Martin d. Feb. 7, 1970 Edmond b. 1880 m. Jennie Perron d. August 1967 (daughter of Adolph Perron and Mary Ann Huard) Eugene b. 1882 m. Minnie Holman d. Dec. 13, 1931 Agnes b. 1884 m. Felix Tousignant d. July 2, 1966 (son of Denery Tousignant and Melede Beaudette) Arthur b. 1887 m. Cassie O'Connell d. May 5, 1970 •I•,ary b. May 5 1889 .m. Henry holman d. Aug 30 1970 rEmil b. Apr 3 1891 i m . Bertha Seidel d. Jul 1 1974 %Henry b. Jul 1 1894 Single d. Jul 22 1972 'Genevieve b. 1897 ,m. John peter Broos ,Sigfried b. Sep 21 1899 m.iTheresa Schreckenberg Edmund and Jennie are the parents of Lillian, Ers. Joseph i•icCarthy. Sigfried and Theresa were gardeners and truck farmers in Eagan and later ran a service station—superette on Sibley iiemorial Highway west of Lone Lak Rd. : Ic:rc.,t , 4.0-1.. Oc.40_ur: �r R .1Jdz/ �f;'.nciS )-.�4E_r1CTf e. //i c41 . (_c,.sr+) y 7 )<} 10 THE QUIGI EY FyNIZY (GEII_CGY SECTION) 'Margaret Veronica Patrick Quigley was born in Kilkenny, Ireland, in 1829; 'Margaret O'Gorman was born there in 1826. Patrick came to the United States c. 1850 and married Nargaret in Galena, I11.; they came to Eagan in 1851. Patrick died April 11, 1894, and Nargaret died May 1918. Both in Mendota. Their eleven children who 1John 'Nary .Michael 'Patrick *James .Julia 'Thomas 'David 'Joseph Margaret .Catherine b. 1852 b. 1855 b. 1856 b. 1858 b. 1870 b. 1865 b. 1878 b. 1869 William b. 1877 b. 1881 b. 1871 are buried in St. Peter's Cemetery survived to adulthood were: m. Enright m.•I1argaret 1886 d. d. d. Coniff d. d. ,m. James Diffley d. d. d. d. d. d. 1931 1923 Feb 2 1888 Sep. 22, 1941 Dec 17, 1958 1931 Jan. 20, 1963 Sept. 3, 1951 Nov. 3, 1896 Jan 22 1900 1892 Patrick Jr.'s wife4Margaret Coniff was the daughter of •Michael Coniff (1830-1878) and Catherine (1822-1874). Patrick Jr. and Margaret had three children: 'Patrick Joseph III b. 1892 d. 1972 "Catherine b. Aug. 9, 1894 m.'Joseph Shields Nay 11, 1955 b. Ear. 3, 1900 m.,Louis DesLauriers d. Nay 22, e.i e.✓1C�S: Eve-iyri Curt Cod-her/el e eJds Mar -Ho Otts icti,Ariers 196( 19 • Courtesy Mildred Smith ca. 1RgO's CL?M?NT AND VICTORIA" CHAPD?LAINE D^S LAURI7RS L blT }Lit 22L, /LJ 1j / L?_+ e c�LLf /9A C C'C L N BOARD he m irs nd to oat for I'm aho to in not lot are illy try, r. I ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS WWW.TWINCITIES.COM THE LITTLE TREASURES Writes JEANNE DesLAURIERS of St. Paul: "This photo shows Louis Deslauriers with his first milk truck, a 1924 Graham. He would pick up milk cans from farms along Pilot Knob Road and side roads, load them on his truck and drive to St. Paul Milk and other creameries to unload them. He continued his route until 1949, when his sons Louis Jr., Martin and Richard bought the business and ran it until 1956." • • The DesLauriers Family The DesLauriers name can be traced to 17th-century France. Clement DesLauriers was born in Canada in 1837 and married Victorine Chapdelaine on February 11, 1861; Victorine, of Sorel, was fifteen years old at the time. Their children were: Clement b. 1763 m. Marie Beaudricon Mary b. 1g6l William b. 1766 m. Martha Chapdelaine d. 1940 Caroline b. 1768 m. Victor Lamay d. 1943 Ernest b. 1%70 m. Cassie Keller Dolma b. 1a73 m. Willieam Corrigan Angeline b. 1g75 m. Patrick Corcoran Albert b. 1777 m. Stella Rowe Felix b. 1779 m. Elizabeth Rowe d. 1952 Adalore b. 1s ski m. Leona Labey d. 1945 Clement died June 7, 1912; Victorine died September 12, 1931. Both are buried in St. Peter's Cemetery in Mendota. Adalore and Leoni were the parents of Wilfred DesLauriers of Mendota Heights. William and Martha were the parents of: Alice m. Henry Rosenberger Florence m. William "Bill" Steinhauer Thomas "Tom " Fitzgerald Omar m. Esther Labey Dorothy m. Frank Heir el Angeline m. Nick Heider Lorraine m. George Mueller Louis m. Margaret Quigley • This is Louis DesLauriers' first new milk truck, a 1924 Graham that was purchased at Bernier Motors in Mendota. As painted on its side, many people in Eagan had a Mendota Post Office address. • Louis went to school in District 12 with Martin and Arthur Shields and Sigfried LeTendre. About 1920 Louis began hauling milk for the farmers in Eagan and the Mendota Heights area. Horses were used to pick up the milk cans from the farms; the cans were then reloaded onto trucks and taken to the creameries in St. Paul. About 95 farmers were involved in producing milk in the area at one time. The average farm in the early days produced between 10 and 15 gallons of milk per day. Many of the farmers also raised garden vegetables such as potatoes, onions, cabbages, cucumbers and berries. Wheat and other grains were also grown. During the winter months Louis hauled the milk to St. Paul with horses, as snow and mud made the roads impossible for a truck. Louis DesLauriers married Margaret Quigley on June 20, 1923. They farmed 40 acres in section 9; the farm later expanded to 80 acres. This land now holds • the Fox Ridge Apartment complex and the Bunker Hill apartments on Yankee Doodle Road. In December 1923, at the age of 17, Leonard Garrity began to work and live at the Louis DesLauriers home. Leonard would pick up milk from the farmers with horses and meet Louis with his truck to reload the milk to be hauled to St. Paul. It wasn't unusual in the wintertime for Leonard and Louis to leave home before sunrise and not return until after dark in the evening. By 1931 trucks were mainly used for hauling milk. Roads became much improved. Over the years production of milk increased and three and four trucks were used each day. Leonard Garrity remained an employee and member of the DesLauriers family until 1939 (sixteen years). He married Alice Fee and they made their residence in Mendota Heights along with three daughers: Kathleen Mary Wright, Mary Patricia • Fair to Remember 150 Yea rs of the Dakota County Fair iS*x r c , f 5 f @ � 4° h,} ',; •. � d �'i i r . t a � ,a a, , ti s "". 9"S � a t is4; A Fair to Remember: 150 Years of the Dakota County Fair Author: Tracy Behrendt Artist: Kim Meisinger © Dakota County Agricultural Society Photos courtesy of Dakota City Heritage Village unless otherwise noted. Previously published in parts by the Dakota County Historical Society. Cover: This postcard shows the Daily News Boys Band of St. Paul playing at the Dakota County Fair in 1908. The bandstand was built to hold musicians at Oak and Third Streets. Page 3: Today the Dakota County Fairgrounds includes 353 total acres, making it the largest county fair in Minnesota. A FAIR TO REMEMBER: 150 YEARS OF THE DAKOTA COUNTY FAIR President James Buchanan leads the nation. The first transatlantic cable is laid. Macy's opens its first department store in New York City. Minnesota becomes the 32nd state. And Dakota County holds its first fair. The year 1858 brought many changes in both the country and county. Though it may not seem to hold the same importance as Minnesota's statehood, the county fair has, in many ways, shaped American rural life. In the mid-1800s, the typical American farmed, just as in Dakota County, and all farmers looked forward to the county fair. It was a time to show off what these farmers had worked so hard to achieve that year. Vegetables, cattle, and pigs were displayed next to quilts, canned preserves, and paintings. Whereas such exhibits are still hallmarks of the county fair today, fairgoers years ago might also have seen girls parading around the grandstand with their doll buggies and frenzied farmers chasing greased pigs for the grand prize. Even as it has changed over the years, the Dakota County Fair still ties us to our agricultural roots. Dakota County's first fair in 1858 started a rural tradition that has now continued for 150 years despite expanding suburbs and disappearing farms. In 1858, poor economy and a desire for change spurred a group of farmers to form an agricultural society. Minnesota had experienced the Panic of 1857, an economic recession caused mainly by failing banks and businesses. As grain prices fell, Dakota County farmers also suffered through a season of bad weather and crops. 'Though they could not control the weather, the farmers could work together to promote the county's otherwise rich farmland. Dakota County provided an ideal location for farmers. Navigable waterways surrounded fertile land perfect for growing oats, wheat, corn, and hay. The city of Hastings and the proximity to the Twin Cities provided easy access to markets and industry. With the Minnesota Territory on the verge of becoming a state, residents were anxious to tout the county's benefits to new settlers. But the slumping economy provided little time for farmers outside their fields. Yet C.P. Collins, a Lewiston farmer, saw an agricultural organization too important to put off any longer. He encouraged Dakota County farmers to form an agricultural society in his letter to Hastings Independent editor Columbus Stebbins on February 11, 1858:' "Now, sir, believing that you feel deeply interested in the permanent prosperity of the agricultural interest of the County, I have thought it best to propound to you, and through you to the farmers of the County the same question, why has not Dakota County an Agricultural Society?...Let the farmers of Dakota County say the word, and we can have before spring opens an Agricultural Society in complete operation - which will not only benefit her citizens but will be an honor to her name."' Stebbins echoed his sentiment by adding, "We heartily commend the remarks of Mr. Collins to our readers, and invite our farmers and those interested in the prosperity of Dakota County to give us their ideas in reference to such an organization...Will our friends all over the County confer together and state when and where the meeting to organize an Agricultural Society shall be held?"' The Agricultural Society first met on March 4`h at the home of Ignatius Donnelly, who had campaigned but lost his bid for governor. This was the second time Dakota County residents had tried to form an agricultural society - Henry Hastings Sibley had tried two years earlier in Mendota. This time, to increase support for the new organization, the Society formed a committee to disperse leaflets to farmers. The leaflets announced the establishment of an Agricultural Society and encouraged them to join their neighbors in support of it at the next meeting.4 But from the outset there were ill feelings surrounding the Society. Some farmers felt that the Society's officers did not reflect the county's agricultural make-up. They did not all have agricultural backgrounds and some controlled the county's farming interests, particularly the grain trade. In addition, most of the officers lived in Hastings or Nininger, a small but growing city of about 1,000 people directly west of Hastings. Even the Nininger's Emigrant Aid journal felt that, while the Society's "Constitution and By Laws were framed by farmers representing districts of a large portion of the County," the Society did not truly represent farmers in all parts of the county. As a result, many farmers were unwilling at first to support the Society. Stebbins, particularly, felt that the Agricultural Society was organized to purely benefit Nininger and Ignatius Donnelly, not county farmers. Donnelly, who went on to be lieutenant governor and a U.S. Congressman, owned most of the land in Nininger and wanted to create interest in the farming community he had formed. Stebbins felt that Donnelly selfishly took over the organization of the Society to bring attention back to Nininger.5 4 The Society therefore set out to prove that its primary concern was the farmers' interests. At its second meeting on March 20`h, the Society elected both Stebbins and A.W. McDonald, editor of the Emigrant Aid Journal and the Independent's competition, as Corresponding Secretaries to report the minutes. The Society also regularly moved its meetings around the eastern part of the county and invited speakers to promote Dakota County agriculture.' Farmers could agree on the importance of a fair to promote the county, but not everyone agreed on where it should be held. Though many farmers wanted a permanent location, the Society felt that only a temporary site was financially plausible. The Agricultural Society first proposed to hold the fair in Empire City, the geographical center of the county. Stebbins felt Hastings should hold the fair because of its size and importance in the county. He published numerous articles throughout 1858 touting the benefits of Hastings, while belittling Nininger and its residents.' Much of Stebbins' animosity stemmed from him not being invited to the Society's first meeting while McDonald attended. Immediately after the snub, Stebbins wrote, "We notice that a primary meeting for the organization of an Agricultural Society has been held at Nininger. We think that the meeting was ill-advised, and that it will be a material injury to such an association for years." From then on, Stebbins felt the Society excluded both he and the Hastings from meetings and ultimately the Fair. Stebbins continued to clash with the Society's board and often took advantage of his position to make his disgruntled opinions known to the public.' Despite the publicity for Hastings, other county residents encouraged the Society to choose Nininger or a ten -acre site on the Vermillion River in Hampton. At an April 29th meeting, Farmington citizens approved the Society to "purchase forty acres of land near the south branch of the Vermillion river for permanent Fair Grounds," in what would become Castle Rock Township. But the Society refused. Tired of the fighting, Collins wrote to the Independent, "We should work for the Society's good; therefore, let none of us be so weak as to say, 'if you don't do so and so, we will have nothing to do with it.' That is simply, selfishness."' 5 The City of .Hastings, Its Adtcantage and Prospecti,. Since Hastings is a ,°yet know ' iahroa 1 on- lyto a limited extent; because i rowth- has been so rapid, Ind because no,.e tra m ►ns 'for advertising have ever been e:nployed,'ti-e 'have concluded to pt ish as a standing ad= vertiscrnent, a few suggestions eoneerning its ,prospects and advantages. Hastings is situated on the.Mississ'ppi,oppo,- site the mouth of Lake St. Croix; abotit 30'miles south of St. Paul, It is cknoti leaked to one of the most .beautifill town sites an the Mississi pppi; abounding in all that contributes to beautify a spot —the plain is reached by :three regular terraces, giving the city ample room for expansion, with the slightest and most gentle grades, giving it the superiority over nearly all other river towns, they being more or less cramped by the bluffs which frown upon them in -the rear. ' Hastings is the natural outlet Rf the 'mag- nificent valleys of the Vermillion, Cannon and Straight rivers, covering an area of upwards of 2,000 square miles. These tallies com- prise the most fertile soil of,M►n.iesota, and,. therefore trade rind commerce most become veryrxtensive as soon as the soil ? is dertselyy settled, which, at the present progress in pop-- ulittion; will be in: less than ten ti years. Pres- cott, which lies nearly opposite Hastings on the Wisconsin side, will be the terminus of a land grant Railroad, and thus Hastings will be the great dtistri.buting-point,on the Mitine, sots side, and a railroad from itto the interior will he the natural consequence. The road i 1 Columbus Stebbins, the editor of the Hastings Independent, worked hard to promote Hastings as the site of the first Dakota County Fair in his newspaper. He published this article multiple times in 1858. His city eventually lost out to Nininger. Litter of weaned Pigs. " Pen of six Hogs. " Fatted Hoge. 140. VIII —HOUSR OLD-MAIiiUFAC' TITRE DAIRT, d�C Best specimen new Butter .. .. firkin Butter u I #bitorg ariarectallWed to state in wn their methodaittruseriutby. Best lonf of Vij eat " Bye Breiid. , _ •• tlraham.Brcad. " ten Biisenit specimen,oT-Cracher '� 4. iiai<se. " - 1 rnit Pie. " Jar Preserves. Bpertmmn Qonfeetion>o:., ' D 'ed Fruit. " Jar Pickl . t'" Pirtin 8Pecin!es.Solp- ,Tatiow Candles. NO.12144NUFA.OTURINO RAEMINO « 4. cc la .. t: :TOOLS Best oft Vilest izlonr Best eist Rye Ft cc r' ppm If r7rt' N �ar But Ttalrt, . -" .13resitingi'11 iP. '!_Cu tivator . " Stirring 1?l. spa P. " Meer " Double Wagon. -' Hay Back ►` P, Single Wagon. " Mower; and- Reaper Horse Rake " Hayand 4gusr Cutter " born Planter. Fanning " Com Sheller `Grain Cradle " Speei nen Roes. " Specimen tram? Rates. r, In 1858, the Dakota County Agricultural Society published the premium list in the newspaper. This copy appeared in the Hastings Independent on August 19th. (9/0„ Speci uen Hoes. " Specimen Hand Rakes. " " Shovels. +� - " Axe Handles. • Collection farming tools, belonging to?tny farmer' in Dakota County. Best Secretaryjand Book -ease. " Bureau.. j Best Set Fine Chairs. .. Bed d .. Common .Chaire. •' Sofit. �' " Din'ning'Fable. ' Bt ket. " Wittdmirsashdtblinds ¢ Broom l" , " Paute1 floor. " Rifeardr Gun. " Horse and Ox Shoes Stbve'P`niniture" 1O0'feet -Lninber.. ". Tin ware " M. Shingles. " Carriage; " Specimen Shingl " Bnggy. Largeet and best col lec n of Carpenter's and Joiner! tools bel ng- ing to any mechanic in Dakota Cou ty. Best Set`Carnage Harness. - • ... B guy Harness. Draft- Harness, " Saddleand Bridle. °' Lady's Saddle. Best pair thick : s �. • Specitn Brick. " " thin : 4 1 s. Lime. " Men's Slraea " Fire Engine. " " Ladiesr4ioe. " • iipciatmen Paint, mixed, plied midi dry r . r...i.etteri-g and mittinpr " " Co4lection Min ss Mi` rats) NO. X--D MESTIC; MANUFACTU Besllliveyards Carpeting.t. ";, Hearth ,Bug. Coverletof wool or mixed._ 4' `.air'wOol Soda. Best cotton ke five ya .+de' i8yiinnel. RA1RED 'WORSTED \Y'ORX $ea6Piano Cover. Best 'able Cover. " 0hair " " Ottoman". " Lamp or Vase Mat. HMBRO1DULY O.Y StLK, FLOSS, -&C. Best dress for Lady. Best Shawl. But, ultimately, the Society was looking for a town to defray most of the fair's costs. The Journal felt that offering the fair to "such place as should give the largest sum over $1000 for that purpose ... would only be a lure to expend their energies for a foreign institution - one that has made the farmer and farming interests of little consideration."' But the Society would not budge. In July, J.R. Case and Ignatius Donnelly, both Society officers, wrote to Stebbins on behalf of Nininger residents. If chosen for the fair, Nininger promised to fence in 10 acres and build and paint proper buildings - all at no cost to the Society. Nininger would also provide a large hotel for business use during the Fair and all money made at the hotel would support the 1858 premiums. With no satisfactory proposals from Hastings, C.P. Collins, the Society's president, announced that, "At last, after rolling on the sea of uncertainty for months, the place for holding the Agricultural Fair has been fixed at Nininger... it is hoped that now every citizen of the county will exert himself in good earnest, to make it what it should be - the most commendable exhibition of the kind in Minnesota." The Society was moving forward. On August 19`h, the Independent published the final draft of the Constitution of the Dakota County Agricultural Society. The Society's purpose was to "promote and improve the agriculture, horticulture, mechanical, household, and fine arts of Dakota County," or as the Independent put it, "To subserve their immediate wants; to exchange views; to compare products, vegetable or animal; and to determine what will give the most wealth with the least amount of labor."12 Like many early agricultural societies in the country, the Dakota County Agricultural Society's primary concern was not to hold a fair, but to enhance the county's agriculture and farm life. The fair was a way to exhibit the results of this hard work at the end of the season. Courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society Many county residents pushed the Dakota County Agricultural Society to purchase a ten -acre site in Hampton for the first fair. Hampton eventually held the Union Fair in 1862 and 1863. Courtesy of David Perez Today, Dakota City Heritage Village portrays a 1900-era village in Dakota County. The village takes its name from the failed plat northeast of Farmington called Dakota City. for rrchtng rams. .ab.o.eee.ee. LIT OF PREMIUMS. IlIVISION I.-P,OYS. AND GIRLS' DEPARTMENT. Mini. C. S. Itasaroao. Superintendent. Tian. l.. l.rwrs, Assi:las.t. /Goys and girls contesting for premiums in this department must ire under fifteen years of age. All articles must he finished or no premium will he given eLAF.S NO. 1.--iitt SE1101.1) Item rig any kind .• pair nooku stocking.,. •' pair woolen sticks °` pair woolen mittens tacimeo or knitting hand made shirt i.a:nd made dress darned stocking mended gloves. " specimen plain senior (' .ASS NO. 2-Q111.T$- I Rest nitrated paled,work quilt. ^bicotton patchwork quilt spread log can quilt specimen quilting i i L CLASS NO. 4- 511r14 ELL:tNEOUS. Viol. Strom!. ((I.:A pl2, .Cal nl _ill .rat .a+ ru -2; .50 .25 .50.23 .2i CLASS ASSS NO. 3--Rlttn'f I ET c,-cchet Nap mat " edging. one rand u inserting .50 '• toilet set .50 tidy 50 Fag. ge mot. (i..d *025 .50 .50 .50 1.00 .75 .75 .75 Fir 100 t.a) 1 1t0 1 lne 100 111entoutline work paper holder feather edge trimming •" "weeklies, seal work whisk hem.= holder toilet set knit edging, one yard tidy collection paper work Xi thermometer car:. _. .50 hand painted scarf and In°.ner -50 .25 tV �..., e. .2i .35 .50 0 *Oslo .ra) .fill :AI it.nomi. *0 50 i i This is the oldest premium book is Dakota City collection. The 40 page premium book from 1891 included 10 divisions, including horses, cattle, sheep and swine, farming implements, and domestic manufactures. Entrants could be from Dakota, Rice, Scott, Goodhue or Washington counties. 9-0•0e4-c000e. i i i I Gray keeps Machine Oils of all kinds. p..r 1.1S'I OF PREMIUMS' CI.ASS NO. 2-I'AIMM, F.tRI) .INIO FIELD ARTICLES. First. Second. (lest three horsecvcncr... .50 " harrow for general ns•• 1.(10 o.5(1 borew coca cultivator 1.00 .50 " broadeast seeder 1.00 .50 ernin drill 1.00 .50 " haod corn planter .fill " horse, corn l)I l oter 1.00 .50 breaking plow .50 '• stubble plow .50 horse hay rake 1.00.i0 " fanning still 1.00 .50" harvester and hinder. 2.00 " mowing otachiery 20D 3 wind mill act up nor! running 2.00t+ feed grinder set 'l :mil running 2 00 " ensilage cutter 2,00 CLASS NO.B--M)AI1tY ANI) IMOUSEl10LI) ARTICLES. Rest cheese press and vat made in county .50 churn for making batter _5O " aim brooms made in comity " washing machine 1.00 " .pivaiae wheel .50 assortment of tinware made in the counI 1.50 ('LASS NO. 4-13OOTS AND S)TOES. Beat pair sewed hoots " pair pegged boot " display ladies' boots and shoes " gentlemen's slippers " ladies' slippers 2.01) 1.00 2.00 .50 50 t,�t�i�t�.t��a•��b�� Society membership cost $1 for one year and included fair admission for the member and his family. In addition, the Constitution outlined the make-up of the board and their duties, including the duty of the Treasurer to draw a $4,000 bond every year mainly for the fair and guarantee the Society paid it back promptly.13 ith the logistics of the organization set, the Agricultural Society was ready to plan its first fair. The Society decided on nine categories for the premiums: farms (for model farms), field crops, fruit and flowers, horses and mules, cattle, sheep, hogs, household manufacture and dairy, and manufacturing farming tools. Entrants had to be members of the Society and the exhibits had to be made or raised in Dakota County. The first Dakota County Fair was held October 7`'' through the 9th, 1858 in Nininger and was not lacking in participation. The Independent encouraged county residents to come out to the fair - "Let every branch of industry be represented at the Agricultural Fair in Nininger, and let every man, woman and child in the country be in attendance." With 148 entries, the Society paid out $41.60 in premiums for "everything from quilts, fancy work and drawings, to oxen and horses." Governor Sibley addressed the crowd on October 8th, celebrating the new state of Minnesota and its agriculture. General William LeDuc's riverboat, the North Star, and the steamboat Bangor transported fairgoers between Nininger and Hastings. Most important to the fair's future, after all bills were paid, the Society still had $8.95 in the bank. The fair was a success.14 The Dakota County Fair continued the next year, though in Hastings and under a new organization. Nininger had fallen victim to hard times and would remain primarily agricultural after it lost the bid for a railroad to Hastings. After two years in Hastings, the fair continued near Cannon Falls. In October of 1862 and 1863, Hampton hosted joint fairs with Rice, Goodhue and Washington counties. The Union Fairs suffered poor attendance and small exhibits. In 1863, the fair featured only 25 horses, three cows, a set of horse shoes, six wheat and seven fruit displays, two agricultural tools and two pieces of art, and a tombstone. After this, there were no records of Society activity until 1867 and no fair until 1869. The Civil War, along with the nearby Dakota Indian conflict, put the fair on hold.15 Though Farmington's attempts to take the county seat from Hastings were unsuccessful in later years, Farmington was able to provide a new home for the fair in 1869. Facing competition from other county agricultural groups, the Agricultural Society reorganized in April 1869 and sought support from a town to host the county fair. The Society sent representatives to almost every community in the county to solicit members and find a town interested in building permanent fairgrounds. After agreeing to purchase land north of the downtown on the Vermillion River and pay for construction in May, Farmington held a three-day fair that October.16 As fter only three years, the growing number of exhibits and visitors needed more space. Five ociety members bought nearly 25 acres about a half -mile northeast of Farmington in Empire Township the next year. This acreage was part of the failed plat known as Dakota City and was being sold by mortgage foreclosure. Before long, the fairgrounds included a half -mile horse racing track and, in 1875, a Floral Hall for both exhibition and dances." At this time, the fair's most noticeable growth was in its entries. By 1885, the fair had 921 entries, he most in "Butter, Cheese and Pantry Stores" and "Domestic Manufactures," and paid out more than $1,000. The Boys' and Girls' Department, an early version of the 4-H, also had 76 entries. In 1900, the Society required all entrants to be county residents and lowered the premiums for horses to allot more money for other classes.18 9 Despite the growing awareness of the fair, the Society was struggling financially. Poor weather plagued the fair with small crowds and the cost was high to maintain a race track and buildings. Farmington citizens continued to support the fairgrounds and encouraged the purchase of land, but it went no further. The Society also refused to pay rent to the five landowners and, with no profit, the men sold the land in 1900.19 Drowning in debt, the Society again turned to Farmington. With no land to build on, Farmington and the Society changed the annual event's structure to a downtown street fair. Though space was limited, Farmington's near -central location and proximity to many of the county's farms provided an ideal location for the fair. Vegetable exhibits lined Farmington's main street. Visitors could participate in three-legged races and ride the Merry-go-round. Store owners removed their merchandise and filled the shelves with fair exhibits. In later years, musicians played on the second level of a two-story bandstand in the middle of the downtown, while visitors purchased ice cream below 2° In 1904, the Northfield Independent described the city's third street fair: "The streets were crowded during the three days of the street fair. Prof. Tony LeBertus the contortionist performed his great act the `Slide for Life' among several other feats...The strong man bent an iron bar in his teeth, having thirteen men suspended on the ends."21 ith the fair once again outgrowing its space, Alexander Empey, a Farmington businessman, approached the Society with an offer to sell his 20 acres, located in Castle Rock Township, in 1913. The Commercial Club in Farmington encouraged the Society to find a permanent site - "It must be taken off the street. It makes it too cheap an affair to have it there. It is worthy of better attention than that, and it is high time we were realizing it."22 Though "a certain city" was rumored to want the fair, Farmington was not about to give it up - "We [Farmington] took it at a time when others would not have it, when it was an expense; we nursed it and promoted it, hustled for it and put up good hard money to keep it alive... "23 But the Society was not ready to move to a permanent site yet. In 1915, "A committee set out to sell 465 shares on the new Dakota county fairgrounds. Shares sold at $15 each."24 Eventually, shares rose to $25 each, but continued to sell. Three years later, with this money, the Society reincorporated and purchased Empey's land.25 The fairgrounds soon felt like home with the addition of a Horticulture Building, horse barn, and cattle barn. With a white octagonal dome perched on top, the tile -constructed Horticulture Building welcomed visitors at the main entrance. The Society added a half -mile racetrack with seating for horse and pony races. Also, in 1916, the Boys and Girls Club Work, the predecessor to the Dakota County 4-H, began to exhibit projects at the fair. Even with new fairgrounds, the Society was still in debt. In 1927, the Dakota County Board of Commissioners purchased the Society's 20 acres and an additional five acres for $7,000, the amount of debt the Society had at the time. With this financial help, the Society remained afloat. County taxes paid off the fair's debt and the Board of Commissioners frequently advanced money for the fair. The Farmington American Legion helped to finance a $12,000 dance pavilion in 1925 and the Society raised money through off-season events such as rodeos and Fourth of July celebrations. The all -year pavilion drew a steady profit with its weekly dances, but it was not enough to meet fair expenses and pay the loans. Even so, county residents and the Dakota County Tribune stressed the importance of keeping the costs down for the public.26 Exhibitors displayed their vegetables on outdoor stands downtown during the 1908 street fair. In 1872, Society members bought land in Empire Township for a new fairgrounds. Before long, this new fairgrounds, the sixth location for the fair, included a half -mile horse -racing track. Dakota County Fair visitors stand near their horses, possibly to be judged at the 1908 fair. This postcard shows the 1908 Dakota County Fair in downtown Farmington. The street fair was held from 1902 to 1917. This 1918 Dakota County Agricultural Society stock certificate sold for $25 and helped the Society fund the purchase of Alexander Empey's land in Castle Rock Township. Dakota County Agricultural Socict%, Inc rated .(wri, /a vozifik "fr*1fr./7/fr/- r/ Dakota County Agricultural Society, Leorporated A7, 4,e7l/ r e4e/A'rlWer/rar, ehr" *i;u;4,e7.irm rr /a€_clikrwf// r en; wrrrrr/�r r/ / /c474, fr�FP/09 REV: pp`rr*/iri 2! cc�c.�(l(rs€'4.nFYl-llrlyea. fJ.K.`1F/!�' � X l `4. !F>'uff1 •Gi,6rrafl�rarr«ne( rrj 12 Courtesy of Marlys Guildner Doll buggies paraded through the grandstand in the 1920s during the Dakota County Fair. 13 The Horticulture Building was one of the first buildings constructed on the new fairgrounds in 1918. Though originally brick, it was painted white years later. The building was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Courtesy ofAusta Harmer In 1925, the Farmington American Legion helped to finance a dance pavilion. The year-round pavilion drew a steady profit with its weekly dances. In later years, the pavilion became a roller rink, with a Hammond electric organ supplying the music. In fall 2003, the Society razed the pavilion due to structural concerns. ,51 Farmington, Minn:man August 24th, 25th, 26th, and 27th, 1927 Day And Night i4og•aT The 1927premium book was 94 pages long. It included entry lists and the four -day fair schedule. DAKOTA COUNTY FAIR PREMIUM LIST 71 CLASS 67. DINING ROOM LINENS. Lot 1st. 2nd. 435. Lunch cloth, embroidered in white .75 .50 436. Lunch cloth, embroidered in colors .75 .50 437. Lunch cloth, crocheted .75 .50 438. Luncheon Set and 1 dozen napkins em- broidered in white 1.50 .75 439. Luncheon set and 1/2 dozen napkins em- broidered in colors 1.50 .75 440. Table set, centerpiece, 6 plate doilies and 6 tumbler doilies 1.50 1.00 441. Table runner, embroidered in white .75 .50 442. Table runner, embroidered in colors .75 .50 443. Table runner, cross stitch .75 .50 444. Table runner, crocheted .75 .50 445. Buffet set, embroidered in white .75 .50 446. Buffet set, embroidered in colors .75 .50 CLASS 68. BEDROOM LINEN 447. Dresser cover, embroidered .75 .50 448. Dresser cover, hand -made lace .75 .50 449. Pillow cases, embroidered .75 .50 460. Pillow cases, hand crocheted lace .. , .76 .50 CLASS 69. QUILTS. 451. Cotton, pieced 1.25 1.00 452. Cotton, applique 1.25 1.00 453. Silk 1.25 1.00 454. Wool 1.25 1.00 CLASS 70. LIBRARY TABLE OR BETWEEN -MEAL CLOTH. 455. Embroidered in cotton, colored .75 .50 466. Cross stitch .75 .50 457. Crocheted .76 .50 CLASS 71. HANDIWORK FOR ELDERLY WOMEN. 458. Cotton patchwork quilt .75 .50 459. Silk patchwork quilt .75 .50 460. Wool patchwork quilt .75 .50 461. Hand quilted cotton quilt .75 .50 462. Knit mittens or gloves .75 .50 "THE VOLCANO" (Spectacular Fireworks) A Fireworks Spectacle that is beautiful and sensational. Won- derful special scenery and great set pieces. A Fireworks display that Is ABSOLUTELY DIFFERENT. 14 N DAKOTA COUNTY FAIR PREMIUM LIST PREMIUM LIST 1 Seventieth Annual DAKOTA COUNTY FAIR Farmington Minnesota SEPT. 18, 19, 20, 21, 935� The 1935 Dakota County Fair premium book featured several classes no longer available, including penmanship. DAKOTA COUNTY FAIR PREMIUM LIST 49 ter, illustrations, arrangement and neatness. For helpful material on H34, send to Main Office, State Fair Grounds, St. Paul. The title of any booklet may be condensed for the cover page. A county is limited to TWO booklets in each lot. CLASS 302. PENMANSH.IP All booklets will be judged according to movement, form, and general appearance. The penmanship exhibit shall consist of work done by each o1 the eight grades. The exhibits are open to all pupils in the rural and semi -graded schools of the state, except in counties having special supervisors of penmanship. Each contestant must submit one penmanship booklet written by himself. The booklet shall consist of ten pages of written work, full letter size (8Y2x11 inches) for upper grades. Grades 1, 2, and 3 may use the same kind of paper cut in half or regulation lower grade penmanship paper. For grades 1, 2 and 3 the first five pages of the booklet must be of the following: Page 1 must contain the following sentence: "Nine men run away." Page 2 must consist of figures. Page 3 must consist of small letters in alphabetical order. Page 4 must consist of capital letters in alphabetical order. Page 5 must consist of a short poem, not to exceed 8 lines in length. The remaining five pages may consist of collections of movement drills, or whatever the pupil wishes to write. In grades 1, 2 and 3, the booklet may be written with a lead pencil; booklets in all other grades must be written in ink. In grades 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 the first page shall consist of the following sentence: "Ink should be black and flow free- ly." Pages 2, 3 and 4 must be of the same work as in grades 1, 2 and 3. Page 5 shall consist of the following business letter: June 1. 1935. Mr. A. W. Wilson, 431 Endicott Bldg., St. Paul, Minnesota. Dear Mr. Wilson: If you have anything to offer by way of the suggestions that you were going to prepare on the bookkeeping, will you 15 To save money, the Society highlighted a variety of shows and displays. Lakeville, Farmington, and South St. Paul constructed buildings to promote their cities' businesses. Pig contests, pageants, horse -pulling, doll buggy and pet parades, women's baseball games, and community tug-o-wars became fair staples. Sunday afternoons featured horse shows and the dance pavilion was open for dances on Friday and Saturday nights. Automobile races, acrobatic shows, and musical and dance acts like South St. Paul's Vavro School of Music took center stage at the grandstand. The fair also hosted bands, minstrel shows and fireworks displays. Roger Bros. also began providing carnival rides and concessions, a tradition they continued for more than 50 years." Though the Fair Board struggled to make a profit on the fair, the Dakota County Tribune expressed the importance of keeping the costs down for county residents. "With the free grandstand and small admission charge at the gate it is difficult for the fair board to break even, but a county fair is put on for the benefit of the public and the fair board greatly appreciates the patronage received this year and cooperation given them by volunteer helpers from Farmington before and during the Fair."" The fair permanently moved to August in 1938, trying to limit the conflicts with local farmers. As the Dakota County Tribune noted on July 23, 1943, "If threshing does not interfere too much there will be a good exhibit of dairy cattle, hogs and sheep on display." Despite the effort, loss of farmers to threshing caused low fair attendance several times in the 1940s.z9 The fair's attendance and exhibits decreased during World War II, but the Society was making important changes. The first woman, Mrs. R.F. Nelson, was elected to the board, along with 20 honorary members, to generate new interest in the fair. The Society increased its non -fair events, such as summer auto races. In 1943, during World War II, the premium book included several new wartime features, including civilian defense activities, remodeling, collections of war -related objects, and Victory Garden exhibits. The fair charged only 25 cents with no grandstand charge and offered free admission to servicemen. But, despite efforts to stay open even during the polio epidemic in 1946, visitation still remained low.3o focused on youth, both on the board and in the fair. Such directors as Leo Aronson, A.C. Smith and Henry Fox joined the board to move the Society in a new direction. By 1953, attendance was up to 11,500 under the guidance of Board President E.W. Ahlberg, who would become the first fair manager six years later and served with the fair until 1994. The dance pavilion continued as a roller rink, with a Hammond electric organ supplying the music. In 1948, it became Massee's Roller Rink and operated for more than 37 years. Popular with local teens, the rink featured open skating, Halloween and New Year's Eve parties, and church, 4-H and birthday parties. The 4-H also came to the forefront of the fair. 4-H members and their leaders led the charge to repair neglected fairgrounds buildings and held painting bees. The 4-H style show, livestock auction, talent show, and tractor -driving contests headlined the grandstand. By 1957, the Society built a new 4-H exhibition hall to display the ever-growing number of 4-H entries and displays.31 The Society also started new events while renewing some traditions. The Plug Horse Derby returned with competitors riding bareback around a half -mile track. In 1957, the Society built a new quarter -mile track, along with bleachers, to accommodate new variety of events in the grandstand. With Farmington's help, the Society introduced "Milk Day" in 1947 with a parade and activities. At the 1967 fair, the Lakeville Creamery introduced "Change," a new milk and honey drink. 16 Courtesy of the Lakeville Historical Society. The Lakeville Creamery's milk and honey drink, debuted at the 1967 Dakota County Fair. It only lasted a few years before production was stopped. flovared milk'n honeY drink ow milk 'n honey ...two of nature's most perfect foods combined into one new milk drink... „arketibd tbrougt, �rHMs, da�rr mM ilk 'n hone drink n catete,,as.'snal 4ban Meatera . wberevar First place winner 'Nellie," ridden by Curtis Theis ofPierz stands next to Martin DesLauriers, who placed second on August 15, 1954. Walter Perron and his horse Bob cross the finish line at the Plug Horse Derby on August 12, 1956. Mary Jo Kees and Arnold Schwolow came in second and third respectively. This photo appeared in the St. Paul Dispatch and Pioneer Press. To address growing concerns about world events at the 1963 fair, the United States Atomic Energy Commission set up an exhibit called "This Atomic World" about nuclear energy. With Dakota County shifting from rural to suburban, the fair continued to celebrate its agricultural past and present while remaining aware of the changing world around them. ith the excitement of the centennial fair in 1965, the Society worked to expand the now seven-day fair. Having grown to more than 1,200 members, the 4-H started an art show. The premium book included entries for antiques and offered more than $7,000 in premiums. Farmers displayed their antique machinery and visitors could attend a threshing demonstration. Senior citizens were honored at Old Settlers Day on Thursday and Saturday featured a 130-unit parade. The fair also grew in size. In the 1960s, the Society had purchased a total of 169 acres, 131 of those from Harold Roche. It also built three new barns and in 1970 opened a new grandstand.33 Thanks to the Centennial Fair, the Society also had a renewed interest in preserving history. The District 96 schoolhouse from Eureka Township had been moved to the fairgrounds in 1960 and first served as the police headquarters. Before long, a log cabin, blacksmith shop, and general store, all open for the fair, joined the school.34 By the 1970s, the face of the fair was changing. The Society appointed two women to the board in 1976. Demolition derbies and rodeos were drawing more people than the variety shows in the grandstand. More than 1,600 4-H members participated in new projects such as aerospace, petroleum power, and veterinary science. In 1974, 4,825 4-H exhibits were displayed and received $7,342.25 in premiums. A new Kiddie Barn with baby animals, Arts and Crafts building, and Beef Barn were also built.35 ith the fairgrounds growing, the Society looked to Dakota County once again for financial support. In 1977, the County Commissioners purchased an additional 160 acres for the Society from D. Doyle. In 1979, when a small group of people created Dakota City Pioneer Village, the historic buildings were moved to this new land.36 Success continued for the Society as it built five new buildings, including Heritage Hall in 1981 to house offices and an agricultural museum. In 1980, the Horticulture Building, built in 1918, was named to the National Register of Historic Places, seemingly guaranteeing that the building would stand for many more fairs. However, in 1984, structural problems surmounted as the dome began to lean to one side. Afraid that it might blow over in another windstorm, the Fair Board chose to raze the building four years later. The dome, the most recognizable part of the building, was saved and now serves as a pavilion on the north end of the fairgrounds. Despite this historical loss, the fair continued to celebrate the county's heritage with ethnic performances, demonstrations, threshing, and an Antique Car, Tractor and Engine Show. 4 Visitors could pay 25 cents for a game of Spaceball" at a 1960s Dakota County Fair. The game is a combination between volleyball and basketball where one tries to get his or her opponent to drop the ball. When invented in the 1960s, Spaceball was played to condition NASA astronauts for space travel. For the fair's 100th anniversary in 1965, the Society went all out. Farmers displayed their antique machinery and visitors could attend a threshing demonstration. 19 1c)Cl Apc (ON The Dakota County Agricultural Society celebrated the 100th Dakota County Fair in 1965. Senior citizens were honored at Old Settlers Day on Thursday and Saturday featured a 130-unit parade. Visitors take a ride on the Ferris wheel at the 1971 Dakota County Fair. The Ferris wheel has been one of the most popular rides at the fair for more than 50 years. After an absence last year, the Ferris wheel will be back for the 2008 fair. Qc • 20 In the 1960s, Harold Roche sold his 131 acres of land to the Dakota County Agricultural Society. The farm outbuildings were removed, including the original barn. The silo remains today next to the Kiddie Barn and the farmhouse is still rented. Much of his land now serves as Dakota City. 41 For more than 50 years, Roger Bros. supplied the carnival and concessions for the fair. Roger Bros. began in 1940 with two rides. By the 1970s, it expanded to about 14 rides. QCDemolition derbies, like this one in the 1980s, have been popular grandstand events for more than 30 years. In recent years, the derbies take up five nights of the fair. 21 C )5' The Society focused on improving the fairgrounds in the 1990s, building a new poultry building and using the buildings for winter storage. Dakota City continued to add buildings, including a reproduced fire hall, and expanded its programming beyond the seven-day fair. ith 353 total acres of land, the Dakota County fairgrounds is the largest in the state today, even larger than the Minnesota State Fair. The fair yearly draws between 120,000 and 150,000 people, which also ranks highest among Minnesota's county fairs. The 4-H also continues to be popular in an increasingly suburban county. In 2007, there were almost 1,000 members and about 60 percent entered at least one item in the fair.37 The growing events and demand for space has increased the income for the Society. The Society began to charge an entrance fee in addition to parking fees. In 2005, 280 vendors sold food and wares to visitors. Some of these vendors have been the face of fair concessions for years, such as Taco Dick's which started in 1979. The demolition derby, one of the most popular fair activities since 1970, was expanded to five nights in the grandstand. Motokazie, which features motocross bikes, debuted in 2004 with 17 classes from ages 4 to 40. And with 3,500 parking spaces, there is room for a large crowd.38 The fairgrounds also continue to change. In fall 2003, the Society razed the former dance pavilion and roller rink due to structural concerns. But the commitment to history continues at on the fairgrounds. Two years ago, Dakota City added an 1875 home from Rosemount to the southwest end of the village. The village now features 22 historic buildings in a 1900-era village setting. The Society also maintains a 219-acre restored prairie on the southwest part of the grounds.39 But competition from other summertime activities and a loss of connection to our agricultural past has slowed attendance to the fair. But, as Fair Board President Henry Fox pointed out in July 2005, "Fairs must evolve and change if they want to survive." The Dakota County Fair is working hard to bring in new music acts, demonstrations, and plan activities that will encourage new county residents to attend the fair. In 2007, the fair targeted recent immigrant groups, such as the Hmong and Latinos, by featuring ethnic food, music, and an immigration exhibit in the Ahlberg Hall Museum. With this effort and continued support from county residents, the Society expects to draw 150,000 people in 2008.4° The Dakota County Agricultural Society has played an important role in preserving the county's rich agricultural history. Now 150 years since the first Dakota County Fair, the Society continues its tradition of preserving and improving our county's agriculture amid change and promoting a sense of community. The old Vermillion Bank, originally built in 1918, was moved on July 31, 1985 to Dakota City. 22 The Horticulture Building was torn down in 1984 due to structural problems. The top dome was removed and made into a pavilion on the north end of the fairgrounds. 23 Open class projects stand on exhibit in August 1984. The grandstand now highlights "Mutton Busting," where children 65 pounds or less ride sheep. The child who stays on the longest wins. 24 4-H students wait with their rabbits as they are judged at the 2004 Dakota County Fair. MORE THAN MOO YEARS OF THE DAKOTA COUNTY 4-H As one of the largest 4-H programs in the state, the Dakota County 4-H has been a vital art of the Dakota County Fair for more than 80 years. Over the years, thousands of students have learned about the county's agriculture and contributed to its high quality of livestock, crops, and produce. The 4-H has also reflected the changing interests of the country, adopting new programs that deal with technology and computers, aerospace, and the environment. For more than 90 years, the Dakota County 4-H has provided the county's youth with opportunities to grow as leaders and volunteers and to enhance their knowledge. Ahistory of the Dakota County 4-H begins with the Dakota County Extension Service, which heads the 4-H today. The Minnesota Farmers' Institute, the forerunners to the Agricultural Extension Service, was established in 1885 and held one -day meetings throughout the state. When farmers' wives also began to attend the meetings, the Institute started a rural home program and focused on "food habits" and "bread baking." At the same time, local public schools started home economics, including cooking and sewing, but many rural schools still lagged behind. In 1907, the Institute became a function of the University of Minnesota and soon home economists hosted demonstrations and talks in cities around the state. Home economists also visited farm homes and judged at county fairs. In 1909, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture established the Minnesota Agricultural Extension Division, five years before the federal extension was founded.' 25 Judges look over 4-H entrants' cows at the 1925 Dakota County Fair outside the dance pavilion. Note the Horticulture Building's dome in the background. Anew focus was being placed on the rural youth as well. The first step came in 1902 when the state founded the Minnesota 4-H. In 1904, Theodore A. Erikson spent $20 to develop a field corn seed at the University of Minnesota. Students could then join Erikson's corn clubs by writing a letter and asking for a pound of seed. Students would then submit the corn to their county fairs. Before long, the University added a potato contest, along with bread, poultry, and tomatoes. In 1912, the University farm hired Erikson to start boys and girls clubs around the state. These clubs would stress to rural children the importance of their "natural environment" and would also help to advance agriculture.' In 1914, Dakota County formed its first extension service and hired a county agent, the first step to forming the 4-H. These extension services were meant to connect the University of Minnesota and agricultural training with rural farmers. The University of Minnesota, the state's agricultural university, focused on agricultural research and development and helped to improve the quality of life on farms. In this same year, the Smith -Lever Act provided federal funds for the extension service, which encouraged education for farm wives and girls on home economics. In 1916, Dakota County, along with many counties in the state, had its first youth program called the Boys and Girls Club Work. This is often marked as the beginning of the Dakota County 4-H. The first county project was swine and, after the first year's success, projects were soon expanded. Before long, cities and towns organized their own clubs along gender and project lines, like the Farmington Boys and Girls clubs and Hastings Bread and Canning clubs. Youth could also join local potato, corn, and onion clubs. Children asked the county agent for seeds and each child planted one acre on their family farm. They could then sell the produce at market, keep them for food, or enter them at local and state shows and county fairs. County farmers would also attend these events to learn which types of potatoes, corn, or onions grew best. In 1918, the Boys and Girls Club Work began to exhibit at the fair.' 26 Two 4-H students perform a cooking demonstration in the 4-H building at the Dakota County Fair in the 1960s. After 1920, the Boys and Girls Club Work groups adopted the name 4-H. The name 4-H tood for head, heart, hands and health, symbolizing the many purposes of the youth organization. The 4-H not only focused on education by making local teachers and adults leaders, but also leadership and highly specialized projects.' Though the Depression hurt many county farmers economically, the thriftiness of this time stimulated the extension office's and 4-H's growth. During the Depression, the extension service worked with the various administrations to connect with rural families. Programs encouraged families to produce gardens, budget food, and assist in setting up canning centers. The slogan "Farm First for Family Food" spurred such projects as low-cost foods, clothing repair and renovation, homemade products, equipment care, home repair, and wise use of money and energy. Leaders, most volunteers, encouraged families to make food at home, reuse old materials at home, and stretch their money.' Though many still associate the 4-H with agriculture, the youth club has transformed over the years. Today, the majority of 4-H students are from urban communities. Children from kindergarten to third grade can participate in the Cloverbud clubs, while students in fourth grade to high school can join 4-H. Students in both clubs must meet project requirements to be members, with the number of projects increasing as the students get older. In addition, the 4-H offers overnight camps for various ages, along with opportunities to learn leadership, organizational, and public speaking skills. Since children often have busy schedules, the 4-H now offers after -school programs, classroom enrichment, camps, and on -site programs.6 4-H students stand outside as their cows are judged at the fair in the 1960s. For many years, the Dakota County 4-H clubs have put on the 4-HArts-In, a musical show during the fair. 28 Brown Swiss cows rest in their stalls during the 1987 Dakota County Fair. Projects have also changed dramatically. 4-H Radio Speaking began in 1943, along with Share the Fun festivals. Agriculture still plays a large role in the 4-H, with many livestock entries during the fair. But other projects are gaining popularity. Family Consumer Science, once called home economics, offers classes on clothing, quilting, and food and nutrition. The project Natural Resources explores the environment through Geology, Wildlife Management, and Fishing Sports. Students can also learn about scrapbooking, robotics, flower gardening, and clowning, among many others. At the end of the fair, many students get the opportunity to take their projects up to the Minnesota State Fair, held in late August. Beyond entries, the 4-H has been increasingly involved in the Dakota County Fair. 4-H members L./often painted and repaired the old 4-H building in the 1940s. 4-H students also put on a Style Revue and talent shows in the grandstand. In more recent years, these students have served malts and food in the 4-H building and booths, set up exhibits and activities, and produced a musical show. To these students, the 4-H offers more than just projects. Dakota County remains one of the few counties with a continuous extension program and staff through war, depression, and today. In 2007, Dakota County had 25 clubs with 994 students enrolled, many of them urban and rural non -farm boys and girls. At the 2007 Dakota County Fair, 629 students exhibited 4-H items and $14,178.50 was awarded in premiums. Of the 2,976 blue ribbons given, 209 exhibits made the trip to the Minnesota State Fair.' Clubs in 2008 4 Ever Green — Lakeville 4 Force — Rosemount Apple Seeds — Apple Valley Bright Stars — Castle Rock Cannon River Clovers — Randolph Cedar Dodd — Lakeville Chub Lake Beavers — Lakeville Dakota Dreamcatchers — Farmington Dakota Ramblers — Eagan Dakota Whisperers — Rosemount Dakota Wranglers — Rosemount Douglas — Miesville Eagan Encores — Mendota Heights Empire Rockets — Farmington Good Neighbors — Hastings Greenvale Cloverites — Northfield Hampton B & B — Hampton Happy Explorers — Apple Valley Happy Go Getters — Coates Hastings Town and Country — Hastings Kaposia Kids — Inver Grove Heights Klover Klub — Hastings Miesville Marigolds — Miesville Top Notchers — Vermillion Working Huskies — Northfield Fair judges look over the entered sheep at the 1985 Dakota County Fair. 29 A FAIR TO REMEMBER: 150 BARS OF THE DAKOTA COUNTY FAIR (Endnotes) 1 Farmington Area Historical Society, "The origins of the Dakota County Agricultural Society" from A Village of Farms, a history of Farmington 1849 to 1899, 2005, 1; Hastings Independent, February 11, 1858, vol. 1, no. 28, 2. 2 "For the Independent," Hastings Independent, February 11, 1858, vol. 1, no. 28, 2. 3 "For the Independent," 2. 4 FAHS, 2. 5 FAHS, 5; Agricultural Meeting," EmigrantAidJournal, May 5, 1858. 6 FAHS, 5. 7 FAHS, 5. 8 FAHS, 2, 6; "Dakota County Agricultural Society," Hastings Independent, March 18, 1858, vol. 1, no. 33, 2. 9 "Read! Read!" Hastings Independent, June 17, 1858, vol. 1, no. 46, 3; "A Meeting of the Agricultural Society," Hastings Independent, July 1, 1858, vol. 1, no. 48, 2; "Agricultural Meeting," Emigrant Aid Journal, May 5, 1858. 10 Agricultural Meeting," Emigrant AidJournal May 5, 1858. 11 "The Agricultural Fair," Hastings Independent, July 22, 1858, vol. 1, no. 51, 2; "A Meeting of the Agricultural Society," Hastings Independent, July 1, 1858, vol. 1, no. 48, 2. 12 "Constitution of the Dakota County Agricultural Society," Hastings Independent, August 19, 1858, vol. 2, no. 3, 4; "The Agricultural Fair," Hastings Independent, August 5, 1858, vol. 2, no. 1, 2. 13 "Constitution of the Dakota County Agricultural Society," Hastings Independent, August 19, 1858, vol. 2, no. 3, 4. 14 "The Agricultural Fair," Hastings Independent, August 5, 1858, vol. 2, no. 1, 2; Dakota County Tribune, December 24, 1885. 15 Shira Kantor, "1863 `Union Fair' in Dakota County drew few exhibits, patrons," October 8, 2003. 16 Farmington Area Historical Society, "Fair's Origin Uncovered!" Rivertown Newspaper Group, Dakota County Fair insert, July 31, 2003, 3. 17 "113th Annual Dakota County Fair," Dakota County Fair Premium Book, 1978. 18 "Largely Attended. The Re -organization Meeting of the Dakota County Agricultural Society the Largest Ever Held," Dakota County Tribune, January 12, 1900. 19 "Redeemed! Farmington Knows a Good Thing When it Has It." Dakota County Tribune, April 7, 1887. 20 Northfield Independent, September 29, 1904; "Dakota County Street Fair in 1908," Dakota County Tribune, July 7, 1960; Farmington Area Historical Society, "Fair's Origin Uncovered!" Rivertown Newspaper Group, Dakota County Fair insert, July 31, 2003, 3. 21 Northfield Independent, September 29, 1904. 22 "The County Fair Question," Dakota County Tribune, November 21, 1913. 23 "Our County Fair Needs a Home," Dakota County Tribune, November 14, 1913. 24 FAHS, "Fair's Origin Uncovered!" 3. 25 FAHS, "Fair's Origin Uncovered!" 3. 26 Dakota County Fair, "A Brief History of the Dakota County Fair, Farmington, Minnesota," 1990, 2; FAHS, "Fair's Origin Uncovered!" 3. 27 Dakota County Fair, "A Brief History of the Dakota County Fair, Farmington, Minnesota," 1990, 4, 6. FANS, "Fair's Origin Uncovered!" 3; "Camera Shots," Dakota County Tribune, July 9, 1937. 28 Dakota County Tribune, August 27, 1943, 1. 29 Dakota County Tribune, July 23, 1943; "113th Annual Dakota County Fair," Dakota County Fair Premium Book, 1978. 30 Dakota County Fair, "A Brief History of the Dakota County Fair, Farmington, Minnesota," 1990, 5; Dakota County Tribune, July 23, 1943; Dakota County Tribune, July 21, 1944; Dakota County Tribune, August 16, 1946. 31 Esther Massee, "History of Farmington Fairgrounds Pavilion from 1948-1985," September 13, 2003; "113`h Annual Dakota County Fair," Dakota County Fair Premium Book, 1978; Dakota County Fair, A Brief History of the Dakota County Fair, Farmington, Minnesota," 1990, 7. 32 Dakota County Tribune, August 1, 1963. "A Brief History of the Dakota County Fair, Farmington, Minnesota," 1990, 8. 33 Dakota County Fair, "A Brief History of the Dakota County Fair, Farmington, Minnesota," 1990, 7. 34 "113`h Annual Dakota County Fair," Dakota County Fair Premium Book, 1978. 35 Dakota County Fair, "A Brief History of the Dakota County Fair, Farmington, Minnesota," 1990, 9-10; Rich Westlund, "The way I see it," Mississippi Valley Star, July 30, 1975. 36 FAHS, "Fair's Origin Uncovered!" Rivertown Newspaper Group, Dakota County Fair insert, July 31, 2003, 3. 37 Nathan Hansen, "4-H Involvement is Evolving," Rivertown Newspaper Group, July 31, 2003, 13. 38 Ruth Dunn, "140th Dakota County Fair runs Aug. 8-14 in Farmington," July 28, 2005; Nathan Hansen, "Motokazie arrives," Rivertown Newspaper Group, August 2004, 10C; Michelle Leonard, "Taco Dick's," Rosemount Town Pages, August 12, 2005, 9A. 39 Michelle Leonard, "Out of the picture," Farmington Independent, October 9, 2003. 40 Ruth Dunn, "140th Dakota County Fair runs Aug. 8-14 in Farmington," July 28, 2005. MORE THAN 100 YEARS OF THE DAKOTA COUNTY 4-H (Endnotes) 1 Agricultural Extension Service, University of Minnesota and U.S. Department of Agriculture, One Hundred Years of Growing: The Development of the Extension Home Program in Minnesota. 1858-1958 May 1958. 2 Karal Ann Manning, Blue Ribbon: A Social and Pictorial History of the Minnesota Fair (St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society Press, September 1990); Michelle Leonard, Farmington This Week, August 4, 2000, Ihttp://www.thisweek-online.com/2000/augusti4sa.html; "4-H's Roots," http://fourh.ucdavis.edu/foundation/about4h/index.asp, February 21, 2003. 3 Michelle Leonard, http://www.thisweek-online.coin/2000/augustl4sa.html. 4 Michelle Leonard, http://www.thisweek-online.com/2000/august/4sa.html. 5 Agricultural Extension Service, University of Minnesota and U.S. Department of Agriculture, May 1958. 6 Michelle Leonard http://www.thisweek-online.com/2000/august/4sa.html. 7 Sifferath, Warren N. "Extension service celebrates an impressive past but is its future?" Extension Line. May 1989. 30 r r Eagan chief leaves job with respect By Mike Barrett Staff Writer Martin DesLauriers' "life of crime" began as a boy when he stopped Eagan traffic by light- ing cornstalks on fire across Minnesota 13. A neighbor saw the prank and called Martin's father, Louis. When Martin arrivd home, his father told him t e sheriff called and Martin was sure he was bound forreform school. Since that time, Martin has 'gone straight," and kept law and order in Eagan as police chief for 30 years. The cornstalk caper is among the tales he re- calls as he looks toward retire- ment in May and the start of a new career as a private investi- gator. His departure from office comes as a surprise to many residents because they have tak- en the 51-year-old chief for granted — like a piece of old and valuable furniture: sturdy, comfortable and always there. To some in his community, he has seemed as much of an insti- tution as a man. "Martin has the respect of his men and the respect of the city," Mayor Bea Blomquist said. "Believe me, we're going to miss him." Her comment echoed miles away another day when a cop on the beat described DesLau- riers as "a good chief." Born and raised in Eagan, DesLauriers began as a part- time constable in 1953 when the township was home to about 3,000 and he knew nearly every- body by his first name. As the community grew, DesLauriers became a full-time cop and the first police chief in 1965. The department was his home where the officers met and his wife Marie kept the records and relayed calls when force was on patrol. When DesLauriers began pa- trolling, he said most residents didn't lock their doors. There were occasional theft reports of gasoline siphoned from car tanks or tools missing from ga- rages but almost no home bur- glaries. That's changed today with a department map sprout- ing colored pins showing crime locations. Now, he directs a department of 23 sworn officers, 13 dispatchers, records clerks and cadets who serve a city of more than 25,000. "As police, we have awesome authority and responsibility," he said. "We have to make deci- sions quickly and let the chips fall where they may. "What disturbs me today is that when a kid gets into serious trouble, say a burglary, and his parents get an attorney for him and get him off without a sen- tence," he said. "Then the kid gets in trouble again and they go through the whole thing with the attorney. Finally, the kid gets in really serious trouble a third time. Nobody can help him and he winds up with a prison sentence. Instead, DesLauriers over the years has advised some parents to let their errant children cool off in jail over the weekend and it has worked as a deterrent to crime. - "I've had at least six young men come up to me years later who told me their spell in jail was the best thing that ever happened to them," he said. "They' -found out- what jail is like, who's in there and they. got Please see Chief/2S Mike Barrett After 30 years on the beat, Eagan Police Chief Martin DesLauriers is calling it a day. He retires at the end of the month. NO tin Deslauriers d alter the ed the crow parade. constables:kept young an peaceful by Amyo'Marro Eagan did not have a police depart- ment until March 1966. "1 knew everyone in the town, police matters were handled in a less formal way," said Eagan's first police chief, Martin DesLauriers. Prior to police officers, Eagan had two town constables. DesLauriers served as constable from 1954 until 1966, when he was appointed as police chief. "There were no police matters until 1959. Most of the time 1 was trying to settle- fence line disputes. I worked part time until 1967, there were just four of us," DesLauriers said. Major criminal acts were handled by the county sheriff. "Parents played the biggest role when kids got into trouble," he said. Two part-time police officers were ad- ded to the force in July 1965 and a full time officer that December. Street patrolling began in 1956 with officers using their own cars. The city purchased police vehicles in 1965. "1 began by patrolling the streets, but as the city grew, my assignment changed and became more administrative: The last 10 years it was strictly ad- ministrative, a growth I experienced with the city," DesLauriers said. DesLauriers set up a uniform crirne reporting system for Eagan. The department moved from City Hall to its own facilities in 1968. Police facilities included squad rooms, anin- terrogation room, police and fire dispatcher equipment and the only cells in western Dakota County. "In the 1950s l knew everybody and: their children. In 1965, I knew 85 per- cent of the people that lived in Eagan. When 1 retired I knew 10 percent or + 4 photo by Amy O'Marro Martin DesLauriers became Eagan's first police chief less of the people living in Eagan," he said. Eagan's beauty is something DesLauriers said has kept him here._ "Eagan has a terrain of hills, lakes and woods. Some of the beauties have been built up, but it is the most beautiful place. I've lived here all my life." DesLauriers retired May 1, 1983. Eagan's current, and d second, police chief is Jay Berthe. records 11 years o By DEL STELLING National Police Week, observed : •throughout the nation` the" week 'of May 14-20, has added significance to the Eagan Police Department, which this year notes 11 years of growth. Police Chief Martin DesLauriers, a lifelong resident of Eagan, has the most years of service in the depart- ment. He was elected township con- stable in 1951 and named chief of the police department in 1965. DesLAURIERS, in anl'interview last week, noted that 1965 was a noteworthy year for his department, as the first squad car was placed into service in June of that year. Also, the following month, in July, two part-time officers Vern Letendre and Donn Smith — com- menced working with the department which was serving a rapidly —grow- ing community. • DesLauriers also recalls that the first two-way radios, hooked up with the Dakota County Sheriff's office in Hastings, were purchased in 1958. IN THE NEARLY 11 years since July 1965, tremendous expansion has been required in the Eagan Police Department to keep pace with the rapidly growing population of the community. At the ' present, DesLauriers re- ports, the staff includes 16 full time officers, two part-time officers, two male cadets, three full time and two - part-time dispatchers, and one office administrative secretary. THE DEPARTMENT'S equipment JAY BERTHE, veteran member of the Eagan Police Department, serves as administrative assistant to Police Chief Martin DesLauriers. As part of his duties, he is in charge of the dispatchers and office records. • presently consists ,.of four marked squad cars and two unmarked'cars, each of which averages 7,000 to 8,000 miles per month. • ., A few years ago, the Eagan police used station wagons as patrol cars, using them occasionallyfor medical emergencies. Since Divine .Re- deemer Hospital moved an ambul- ance to the Eagan Fire Station over a year ago, this is no longer necessary. CHIEF DesLAURIERS, comment-' ing on the growth of thecommunity, says he expects the police staff will be enlarged as the population in- creases. "The department may possibly double the size of the officer staff by.• 1985," he predicts. As a result of the staff growth; the police facilities' are "busting at the seams," a fact which is causing con- cern on the part of city officials. Realizing the problem, the city has hired Architect Jim Horn to draw up plans for possible expansion of the facilities. DesLAURIERS noted that a team concept was initiated in his depart- ment effective the first of this year. Two teams of officers have been formed, each consisting of a sergeant and seven officers. One team is headed by Sgt. Pat Geagan assisted by Roger Slater, while the other is headed by Sgt. Ken Aszmann, assisted by Bob O'Brien. ASKED ABOUT the success of this new program, Chief DesLauriers Staff Photo by David Brewster Eagan Police Chief Martin Des Lauriers, who retires tomorrow after 30 years on the force, surveyed evidence and confiscated property in the department's property room. Retiring chief eyes private work By Ingrid Sundstrom Staff Writer Eagan Police Chief Martin Des Lauriers isn't leaving behind 30 years of law enforcement in Eagan when he re- tires tomorrow. He's just pointing it in a different direction. '1 plan to get a private investiga- ``or's license," he said. "I've al- -eady applied for it. I'd like to get nto some personnel checks, back - ;round checks for companies, that sort of thing. I'll miss this (job), of course I will. I enjoy it. But I've been thinking about this for some time, a year or so." The private eye work won't be a full-time job, however. "I'm look- ing forward to playing a little more golf. I like to walk the golf course. And we've got a trailer in Arizona where we'd like to spend more time." But he and his wife, Marie, plan to keep their permanent residence in Eagan. He'll spend more time with his family: son Paul, a Burnsville police officer, Paul's three chil- dren ("probably the smartest three grandkids in the world," Des Lauri- ers said), and twin daughters, Jayne, of Eagan, and Anne, of Colo- rado. "I've lived here all my life. I like the changing seasons. There's not enough for me to do in Arizona all the time," he said. Des Lauriers, 51, grew up on a farm on Yankee Doodle Rd., where Foxbridge Apartments are now. He worked in the family busi- ness, hauling milk to St. Paul from farms in the Eagan and Mendota Heights area. "Around 1953, the township needed a constable for the town meetings — they were held right across the street in that old building there (on Pilot Knob Rd. at Wescott Rd.). I got the job," he said. Chief continued on page 4 ars on trends that apply to public -private collabora- tion." A school district foundation is a relatively new idea, DeLong said. A foundation is set up, he said, because it is easier, from a tax point of view, to donate from foun- dation to foundation than from foundation to individual. There are two or three cominunity founda- tions in Minnesota, and about 40 "They developed those maintain the quality of in their schools. They g( tween $25,000 and $400, depending on the size c munity," he said. "When you're talking million budget, that do like much. But if yo about reducing a pr might be talking about $300,000," he said. Springtinie Evergreens. NowVa1ue, red For Spring Planting. 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It's a necessary maneuver as our society moves from the industrial age to the infor- mation age, Randall says. "Change within the organization is no longer sufficient," Randall said. "The institution itself will have to change." The proposal for a foundation came from leadership of the teach- PMS Premenstrual Syndrome Our clinic can help you learn what PMS is and what can be done about it. Anyone concerned about the effects of PMS on themselves, family or friends should call: PMS Consultants, PA 925-9348 St. Louis Park Valley Miame �. ,..,.,.. "We stopped working on it for a while because of a concern of the membership that perhaps we were moving too fast," Bierlein said. "There is some concern about whether it would be the proper role of a union to get involved in something like this. We are con- tinuing to look at it and when (DeLong) has studied the options, we'll have something to bring to our membership. The members have had an opportunity for input, but we haven't had a vote on it." Bierlein said administrators and leaders of the federation will meet next month to discuss the propos- als. The foundation's board of directors would include representatives from the administration and the federation, which would be a sepa- rate entity from the school board, DeLong said. Foundation continued on page 8 GOLDEN A 1 TT1 Chief Continued from page 1 "There were maybe 3,000 people in the township then and I guess I knew maybe 90 to 95 percent of them. At first it was really nothing — attend the annual town board meeting, settle a few disputes be- tween farmers, serve papers, round up cattle that got loose, a few barroom fights." Back then there weren't any cor- ner stores, just a bar, Club 13, on Hwy. 13 and Cedar Av., where folks could buy bread and milk and wieners, Des Lauriers said. Most people traded in St. Paul, reaching it try the high bridge or the ferry in Mendota. He made "oh, maybe $1.50 an hour, no more. It was part time. I was on call," he said. But the law enforcement kind of got into his blood, and as the community began growing, Des Lauriers' responsibil- ities grew also, and he liked it. He became part-time police chief in June 1965, when he and Assis- tant Chief Jay Berthe were hired. Des Lauriers' job became full-time in September 1966. Des Lauriers has seen plenty of changes in his community. "Eagan has emerged in a span of 20 to 25 years from a rural community to one of the most progressive of ur- ban areas," he said. The city is now home to about 25,000 people; the police force has 24 sworn officers and 13 civilian employees. It has a top-notch, 5- year-old police station at Pilot Knob"and Wescott Rds. and a $1.3 million budget. "The first budget I made out was $19,415 in March 1965. Now you might miss the budget on car pur- chases by that much," he said. In the late 1950s, Des Lauriers pa- trolled the township in his own car, getting paid about $2.50 an hour and 6 or 7 cents a mile. In the early '60s, Minneapolis and St. Paul residents began to see prom- ise in Eagan and started building homes there. "Those first people to move out here didn't even have to lock their doors. None of us did out here then," Des Lauriers said. The big problems were still fairly easily remedied: "city folks coming out, shooting off their rifles. They'd always done that, but with more people moving in, it wasn't very safe. "Now we have the full gamut of crime," he said. "We have every- thing the core cities have, just not as much of it — murders, burglar- ies." The crime that comes to mind when asked about the most unfor- get'able was in 1969 when a 15- year-old St. Paul girl was raped, beaten and left in an Eagan field. Some neighborhood boys found her almost two days later; she was alive, but paralyzed. An area -wide search was conducted, with the help of the county and metropoli- tan police forces, Des Lauriers said. A suspect was caught and convict- ed, and is still in a state mental hospital, as far as Des Lauriers knows. And the victim is still para- lyzed, he said. "Something like that just stays in your mind," he said. He's carried a gun, "but I've never been shot at and I never had to shoot at anybody. I think that's very fortunate." Over the years, Des Lauriers has taken a lot of police training, crim- inal investigation courses and po- lice administration training. "I probably have had one of the most unique experiences and situa- tions in law enforcement in the metropolitan area," he said. "Most of the people on the city council and the residents have had abso- lute faith in the police department. We've never had a lot of politics involved. We've been able to oper- ate as we see fit. Oh, we've had a lot of questions, but we've always been able to answer all those clues,' tions." Il P1 s, Star + Try' b wne 83 Staff Photo by David Brewster Des Lauriers has worn and worn out several badges since 1953. One of the things he's proudest of is the community's response to the department's crime -prevention and citizen -involvement drive. "We try to educate the citizens to assist, to call if they see a suspicious car or something that doesn't seem right. We've apprehended some suspects because residents saw an unfamil- iar car in their neighborhood in the middle of the night. "We were able to make arrests because, in one case, there was stolen property in the car at the time," he said. Des Lauriers wouldn't talk about specifics, but said he and his offi- cers have had quite a few laughs, too, over the years. "Those things will probably come out in the roast," he said. The department is planning a re- tirement dinner and Des Lauriers roast May 11 at the Republic Air- lines Cafeteria. (For reservations, call Virginia Knight at the Eagan Police Department, 454-3900.) A more informal party is planned for tomorrow at the station, during an open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Des Lauriers is leaving his chiefs seat to his assistant chief and long- time friend, Jay Berthe. "He's been one hell of a boss," Berthe said. "He's made my 17 years in the department very memorable. He's one peach of a guy. He's got the respect of all the troops and of the community. And he also respects them." A group of Cub Scouts thinks so, too. Sharing his office wall with a citation thanking him for 25 years of service to the community is a message from the Webeloes, Den 4: "Thank you for being are (sic) Police Cheif (sic)." Four Area -Youths Are Charged With Theft And Destruction of Property 7 Three minor's -'and one ju venile were charged Ina car, theft and car stripping which reduced a $6,500 Cadillac to a $500 shell:' Charged were . Weldon Hel strom, 18, Cedar Grove; Den nis . Palmquist, 18, , Ce d a r Grove, Douglas Olson, 18, Old Cedar, and an unidentified Ju- venile.` : Helstrom was charged with: auto theft, Palmquist andOl-' son with destruction:of,prop- erty and the juvenile was handled in juvenile court. A Cadillac belonging to Clem Hebel, Mason City,- Iowa was stolen the evening of July 23 from the Metropolitan airport. • The car was driven to the Boy Scout property on County Road 38 just south of the Ray Schwan far"m and -sfripped, Martin Des Lauriers, Eagan constable said. ' Earl Mielke found ' the car Aug. 7 while searching for a lost cow. All that was ' left of the car was the body shell and engine which was loose and ready to be hoisted out. Car parts were located one fourth mile west of Cedar near the" Boy Scout camp. by Con- stables Des Lauriers.and Vern Letendre on Saturday. Also involved in the Investi- gation and arrests were Dakota County Deputy Sheriffs Norman Gould ;and James McClellan. x. the thivecharged a re out . and scheduled : to ap- pear ; court . in : September. EAGAN CONSTABLE Martin Des Lauriers is pictur• ed with some of the parts from the dismantled Cad illaa which were recovered last week along Coda! Ave hear;tI?e Boy Scout Camp. Four area IOIBI are OUI on Mail pending a court appearance.';'• agan's New Police Car Rea READY FOR PATROL is the week-old car of the ° Richard LeMay and Don Smith and Chief Martin Eagan Police Department, shown in front of the new i ` DesLauriers. LeMay and Smith joined the force en town hall. pictured from ,left to right are Patrolmen;. i July ]. Not pictured is Patrolman Vern Letendre. s is pictured above along with a 1965 news clipping. ref DesLauriers: It's never been dull ERS: from p. 1A rs ago, the job of con- ed very little police work, said. 'ople would call him at to and settle fence line veen farmers or to break Drawls at the Halfway )rked in the family iauling milk cans for area a he was a youth, knew just about everyone en he became constable. e early 1960s I would cnew 98 percent of the ived in Eagan by their name, where they lived, "You never know when you come in here in the morning what you're going to be doing the rest of the day —it's never a boring job." Martin DesLauriers jail and how their folks pleaded and lot of it behind you." begged to get them out. And I told DesLauriers said he was fortunate "You can imagine he Every weekend she cou something, then the ph, and whoosh, I'd be gor most family -orientating DesLauriers said he t Paul, and twin daughte Anne, also hated his jo the cancelled family ou He was surprised whi decided to become a pc Paul, now 25, has wort Burnsville Police Depai last five years. "I never dreamed thu be a police officer. But him for it. I think it's a sion if you like it." 1 EAGAN -HRONICLE a Current newspaper A Vol. IV, No. 13, Monday, March 28, 1983 Bringing you the news of the people, the neighborhoods and business of Eagan TWO SE t right are police Chief Martin Des a auriers. The photo at right was taken e chief resigns after 30 years, > to become private investigator nson 'olice Chief Martin DesLauriers teighbor's corn stalks, spread -Iighway 13, and stopped traffic em on fire. almost landed him in reform bably one of the world's worst He started as the township's part-time con- stable in 1953, and became Eagan's first police chief in 1965. After 30 years on the job, DesLauriers has decided to quit and become a private in- vestigator. DesLauriers sat in his sparsely decorated of- fice IACt week rt roc cori i.. ,,i ...7.... -.r L1__ _ 22A DesLauriers resigns (^r DES LAURIERS: from p. 19A ing to be doing the rest of the day —it's never a boring job. "I enjoy the challenge of something coming up and you make a decision (he snapped his fingers), then you sit back and wait for the ---- to fly." But the most enjoyable part of DesLauriers job has been the people he's worked with. "I've been fortunate here. I'll tell you, the biggest headache that most police chiefs have is dealing with the people they work with. And I can't say that. "There isn't one officer in this department that has been here for at least two years who couldn't handle any problem that came up in this city. They might need help, but they'd know where to get it and how to go about it. And that's a nice feeling —to have people like that here." * * * After April 30, DesLauriers, at age 51, will start his career as a private in- vestigator. 3 ct 1 His eyes light up with enthusiasm when he talks about his plans. He plans to specialize in doing background checks on people who apply for such positions as police chiefs and other department heads throughout the state. DesLauriers has sat on several boards involved in hiring police chiefs in the metro area, and he said there is always a problem of trying to find so- meone to check the backgrounds of the top applicants. He also would like to get involved in checking professional degrees and accreditations of job applicants in private industry. "In industry today, they are finding out that more and more people who apply for jobs are not who they say they are —they probably just want to get into the company to get some trade secrets." The variety of a job as private in- vestigator appeals to him, but he also looks forward to doing some traveling as part of the job. "Sounds like a good dream, doesn't it? It won't be boring work and I think I'll enjoy it." Police Chief Martin Des Lauriers in 1969. 7A Marble Lane captures the flag A group of enthusiastic residents of the Retired Police Chief Martin Des Lauriers, Marble Lane neighborhood dressed in silver_ . looking fit and tax, spoke to the crowd. Also suits and riding a futuristic float carried off on the platform were mayor, councilor Ted first -place honors in the 4th of July parade. Wachter; State Rep. Art Seaburg; State Sen. Smiling at the end of the parade route are Howard Knutson. The weather was perfect, Keith Zierden, Brenda Smith, Lori Zierden, and a large crowd lined the parade route Amy and Mark Lemke. Back row: Bobby Gard- along Rahn Road from Cedarvale Center to ner, Nicole, Brent and Trisha Parker. Right: Rahn Park. Letters from readers -We-don't=know their.names, but thank! ro the Editor: Our 4th of July weekend 'started with a bang Friday 'evening when our 5-year-old Brian tumbled 25 feet out of a towering cottonwood tree in our yard and landed flat on his back. He couldn't get his breath and seemed to be going into a convulsion. Ca11 911! Within five minutes a squad car arrived followed by para- medics and an ambulance. Brian was carefully checked over and reassured by a female Eagan officer and then a para- medic. Miracles happen! He had no broken bones and no apparent head injuries, just terribly frightened. They ex- plained what to watch for and to call again should any symp- toms develop. We don't know their names; parents get frightened and excited too. Ft'wIIC An mEt" de, Thank you to each of you who came. We appreciated your help and quick response. Hope you had a wonderful weekend! We did —partly due to you! Francis and Elaine Karel Michelle Mathews, sister Brian Karel tl. r_wr___1 _ t Thanks to you love works year around at Eagan looks proudly to its historic past ,i6/0�'y"i/ Police department celebrates 25 years By TONY TASCHNER In 1965, Martin DesLauriers was hired as the first police chief in the then -township of Eagan. DesLauriers, who had served for 12 years as a constable — a sort of quasi -police and election officer — used his own car to patrol the streets and took police calls 24 hours a day at his house, which served as Eagan's first unofficial police department office. Today, the Eagan Police Department has almost 50 full- time officers, a whole fleet of squad cars, and operates with an a ual budget of more than $3 m lion. The budget in 1965 was ment over the last 25 years have paralleled the growth of the city, as Eagan has matured from a small, mostly rural area to one of the state's fastest growing cities. Eagan police officers, past and present, will mark the 25th an- niversary of the department with an open house on Saturday, Sept. 8, from noon to 4 p.m., at police headquarters, located in the lower level of the Eagan , Municipal Center, 3830 Pilot Knob Rd. Members of the public are in- vited to take part in a number of activities that have been planned for that day. Inside the depart- ment, officers will be giving tours and explaining the 911 emergency a ut $50,000. system from a dispatcher's dog is expected to pay a visit and children can have their finger- prints taken. Several booths will also be set up inside the building, with information on a variety of law enforcement related topics, including the department's crime prevention, police explorers and DARE programs. Outside, several emergency vehicles will be open for public viewing, in- cluding a police car, fire truck, ambulance, the State Patrol and Life Link III helicopters, and the Dakota County Sheriff's Office boat. Members of the sheriff's Mounted Patrol will also be on hand, and a SWAT team and canine unit will be giving demon - hanged in the police' depart- ' '° 'perspective. McGruffthe crime (See Police, p.5 A) ;} r 14 - ` �l Jew. `� '� r�a.�✓\t�.a.r• Restored Old Town Hall ready for public unveiling The city of Eagan will reopen a significant piece of its past on Saturday, Sept. 8, when the recently restored Old Town Hall is opened to the public for the first time in more than 20 years. The celebration will begin with a dedication ceremony at 12:30 p.m., followed by tours of the one -room building. Members of Eagan's past and present village and town boards, and city coun- cils will be on hand to take part in the dedication, along with members of the city's History Committee — which oversaw the renovation project — and individuals and organizations who par- ticipated in the renovation. A barber shop quartet will entertain the crowd following the ceremony. The idea of restoring the Old Town Hall had been talked about for the last couple of years, but work did not begin until this year. Much of the work on the building was performed by volunteers from the Eagan Rotary, the Boy Scouts and the History Com- mittee. (See Hall, p.5A) e............................................................... f a o ago was nations. from front pagey in 1965 consisted tha °made�a in know years ittle someth ng aboutt all squadd to aspects of the job. strations. ci three polices ueeling noise and often faded advances in equip The DesL only q more chiefs, DesLauriers (who served out when they drove through low- m e n t°utechnology , Berthe (`83- lying areas, according Sophisticated training pro - will 1965 83), Jay DesLauriers• and current chief Pat Geagan to Most of the calls back when the grams, specialization and in - with bey at the open house to department f emtergenciesu small law t were sed wages enforcementave field a ethe little talkwitntly,tor. police for Recently, v the three burglaries, or to break up a beer more desireable, the old-timers "oldchand several they the other art that was organized by a admit that there were many etimers,"oo ast call them -party selves, got together to talk about group of kids, according to Smith. things 25 years ago. better about the There were some violent crimes old Onetiof back then, but nothing compared Because Eagan was officers a of the biggesttrproblems of to today, he said. "It used to be a relatively small town, ff ere backbking the streets g to big deal when we seized a knife or knew personally many 25-yinthe veteran0s, accordingn h, from somebody, while nowa- residents. "It made the job a lot wereeear the teDonn Smith, easier because people days it is quite common." part- willing to get involved to help us re streets themselves. The starting wage for a Many of the roads in the city at ►, time officer in 1965 was $2.50 an you and there was ome" Geagan said. le knew type of mutual respect that you had." The old-timers will also say there was something a little more special about the relationship between officers back when the entire force consisted of only a handful of men. that time were gravel, whit sometimes made m of impassable during period heavy rain or snow. Another difficulty, at least for newcomers to the department, was learning where all the different roads the were. There were no maps of city avaialable in 1965, according to Smith, so the officers had to chart their own maps as they learned the different parts of the city. The equipment from 25 years ago was also a little less adv f• ed, and there was a lot lessor duty.Chief Geagan said when patrol car innm9nt The department gotits firstgoes to hire an officer nowadays, 1965 — aanew, Ford � he typically receives more than s ctatsed wagon which was Ped.ur- 200 applications from prospective chased for $2,900 fully -equipped. employees• According to DesLauriers, they purchased aThe biggest change in the law because many of their calls were stationwagon enforcement field over the last 25 ears, according to is for medical emergencies and years, according din. To to Smith, is they needed a car large enough to departments have special unite s transport injured peoplepto the for investigation, patrol, and nar- hospital. The department's mobile communications system cotics, whereas, the police officer hour. Today, the starting salary for an officer with no previous experience is $24,000. Because of the low wages, DesLaure to hadwoa hard time finding people k as officers. Many of the first offi- cers he hired were acquaintences who had no previous police train- ing or experience. Today, police officers in Minnesota are re- quired to complete at least two years of post high school edu- cation, and once they are hired, they receive another three mon- ths of training before they go on "When we were i first hired u knew everybody depart- ment, you knew their wives, you knew their children's names, and you knew if there was a pro blem Ken in the family," said Aszmann, a 24-year veteran and the current operations captain. "We were a real tight group." "Sometimes you u got calu that worried you, everybody else at home wa: listening to their radios, and i you had a problem handling situation you knew these guy would be out in a minute to bac you up," Geagan said. .nued from front page) fhe Old Town Hall, which is located in the shadow of the cur- rent -day Eagan Municipal Center on Pilot Knob Road, was built in 1914, after the original town hall burned down. The 26-foot by 40- foot building, which served as Eagan's meeting hall and polling place during village and township days, was built at a cost of $1,047. In comparison, the restoration project cost about $30,000, and was paid for with grants the city received from Dakota Coun- ty and the state's Celebrate Minnesota 1990 program, and private contributions. As part of the restoration project, the Old Town Hall received a new, hardwood floor and wood siding. Wooden benches, like those which originally stood in the building when it was used for town meetings, were recreated and installed. And the original pot -belly stove was renovated and installed in the middle of the room. The stove will be operational, but a heating system has also been in- stalled so that the building can be used during winter months. A sidewalk and a replica of the outhouse which serviced the town hall are included in the restoration project, but they have not yet been constructed. According to John Olinger, an administrative intern with the city, it has not yet been decided how often the Old Town Hall will be open for public viewing. At this point, he said the building will be used for History Committee meetings and activities, and for special events. He said it might eventually be made available for public use. Mtss,1;1 Dwacag Pa+rud D49a .arch; 8! 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Po lu nd of ornmunity aa Minneapolis Star and Tribune Thursday /April 28/ 198, River South 6 Apple Valley Lakeville Prior Lake Shakopee Burnsville Mendota Rosemount Eagan Mendota Heights Savage Staff Photo by David Brewster Eagan Police Chief Martin Des Lauriers, who retires tomorrow after 30 years on the force, surveyed evidence and confiscated property in the department's property room. Retiring chief eyes private work By Ingrid Sundstrom Staff Writer Eagan Police Chief Martin Des Lauriers isn't leaving behind 30 years Of law enforcement in Eagan when he re- tires tomorrow. He's just pointing it in a different direction. "I plan to get a private investiga- tor's license," he said. "I've al- ready applied for it. I'd like to get into some personnel checks, back- ground checks for companies, that sort of thing. I'll miss this (job), of course I will. I enjoy it. But I've been thinking about this for some time, a year or so." The private eye work won't be a full-time job, however. "I'm look- ing forward to playing a little more golf. I like to walk the golf course. And we've got a trailer in Arizona where we'd like to spend more time." But he and his wife, Marie, plan to keep their permanent residence in Eagan. He'll spend more time with his family: son Paul, a Burnsville police officer, Paul's three chil- dren ("probably the smartest three grandkids in the world," Des Lauri- ers said), and twin daughters, Jayne, of Eagan, and Anne, of Colo- rado. "I've lived here all my life. I like the changing seasons. There's not enough for me to do in Arizona all the time," he said. Des Lauriers, 51, grew up on a farm on Yankee Doodle Rd., where Foxbridge Apartments are now. He worked in the family busi- ness, hauling milk to St. Paul from farms in the Eagan and Mendota Heights area. "Around 1953, the township needed a constable for the town meetings — they were held right across the street in that old building there (on Pilot Knob Rd. at Wescott Rd.). I got the job," he said. Chief continued on page 4 h seminars on trends that apply to public -private collabora- tion." A school district foundation is a relatively new idea, DeLong said. A foundation is set up, he said, because it is easier, from a tax point of view, to donate from foun- dation to foundation than from foundation to individual. There are two or three community founda- tions in Minnesota, and about 40 they developed those in order to maintain the quality of education in their schools. They generate be- tween $25,000 and $400,000 a year, depending on the size of the com- munity," he said. "When you're talking about a $35 million budget, that doesn't sound like much. But if you're talking about reducing a program, you might be talking about $200,000 or $300,000," he said. Springtime Evergreens. NowYalue zed For Spring Planting. 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"This (foundation) is a way of ex- tending the school district's finan- cial base," said Randall. "It's also a way of providing an opportunity to people who want to make a contri- bution to the school district to do it in specific ways that help them to grow also." "We know we can reduce a bud- get," said DeLong. "We've done that, but it's pretty unpleasant to do that year after year." The district isn't seeking financial independence, DeLong saia. "We'll always want state aid. But you can't keep cutting forever." And even if state aid should increase. the district can simply put the grants to work as planned to devel- op a better school system, he said. "Establishing the foundation isn't unusual for a district that is ready for a change.... It's a necessary maneuver as our society moves from the industrial age to the infor- mation age, Randall says. "Change within the organization is no longer sufficient," Randall said. "The institution itself will have to change." . The proposal for a foundation came from leadership of the teach - Premenstrual Syndrome Our clinic can help you learn what PMS is and what can be done about it. Anyone concerned about the effects of PMS on themselves, family or friends should call.' VMS Consultants, PA L925-9348 St. Louis Park Ruth Randall ers' union, the Rosemount Federa- tion of Teachers. The 500 mem- bers haven't endorsed the propos- al, however, said federation Presi- dent Len Bierlein, a teacher at Valley Middle School. "We stopped working on it for a while because of a concern of the membership that perhaps we were moving too fast," Bierlein said. "There is some concern about whether it would be the proper role of a union to get involved in something like this. We are con- tinuing to look at it aria wi.,: (DeLong) has studied the options, we'll have something to bring to our membership. The members have had an opportunity for input, but we haven't had a vote on it." Bierlein said administrators and leaders of the federation will meet next month to discuss the propos- als. The foundation's hoard of directors would include representatives from the administration and the federation, which would be a sepa- rate entity from the school board, DeLong said. Foundation continued on page 8 VI A Community/River South (6) A Mindeapolis Star and Tribune/Thur., April 28, 1983 Chief Continued from page 1 "There were maybe 3,000 people in the township then and I guess I knew maybe 90 to 95 percent of them. At first it was really nothing — attend the annual town board meeting, settle a few disputes be- tween farmers, serve papers, round up cattle that got loose, a few barroom fights." Back then there weren't any cor- ner stores, just a bar, Club 13, on Hwv. 13 and Cedar Av., where folks could buy bread and milk and wieners, Des Lauriers said. Most people traded in St. Paul, reaching it by the high bridge or the ferry in Mendota. He made "oh, maybe $1.50 an hour, no more. It was part time. I was on call," he said. But the law enforcement kind of got into his blood, and as the community began growing, Des Lauriers' responsibil- ities grew also, and he liked it. He became part-time police chief in June 1965, when he and Assis- tant Chief Jav Berthe were hired. Des Lauriers' job became full-time in September 1966. Des Lauriers has seen plenty of changes in his community. "Eagan has emerged in a span of 20 to 25 years from a rural community to one of the most progressive of ur- ban areas," he said. The city is now home to about 25,000 people; the police force has 24 sworn officers and 13 civilian employees. It has a top-notch, 5- year-old police station at Pilot Knob and Wescott Rds. and a $1.3 million budget. "The first budget I made out was $19,415 in March 1965. Now you might miss the budget on car pur- chases by that much," he said. In the late 1950s, Des Lauriers pa- trolled the township in his own car, getting paid about $2.50 an hour and 6 or 7 cents a mile. In the early '60s, Minneapolis and St. Paul residents began to see prom- ise in Eagan and started building homes there. "Those first people to move out here d:an't even have to lock their doors. None of us did out here then," Des Lauriers said. The big problems were still fairly easily remedied: "city folks coming out, shooting off their rifles. They'd always done that, but with more people moving in, it wasn't very safe. "Now we have the full gamut of crime," he said. "We have every- thing the core cities have, just not as much of it — murders, burglar- ies.,, The crime that comes to mind when asked about the most unfor- get'able was in 1969 when a 15- year-old St. Paul girl was raped, beaten and left in an Eagan field. Some neighborhood boys found her almost two days later; she was alive, but paralyzed. An area -wide search' was conducted, with the help of the county and metropoli- tan police forces. Des Lauriers said. A suspect was caught and convict- ed, and is still in a state mental hospital, as far as Des Lauriers knows. And the victim is still para- lyzed, he said. "Something like that just stays in your mind." he said. He's carried a gun, "but I've never been shot at and I never had to shoot at anybody. I think that's very fortunate." Over the years, Des Lauriers has taken a lot of police training, crim- inal investigation courses and po- lice administration training. "I probably have had one of the most unique experiences and situa- tions in law enforcement in the metropolitan area," he said. "Most of the people on the city council and the residents have had abso- lute faith in the police department. We've never had a lot of. politics involved. We've been able to oper- ate as we see fit. Oh, we've had a lot of questions, but we've always been able to answer all those ques- tions." Staff Photo by David Brewster Des Lauriers has worn and worn out several badges since 1953. One of the things he's proudest of is the community's response to the department's crime -prevention and citizen -involvement drive. "We try to educate the citizens to assist, to call if they see a suspicious car or something that doesn't seem right. We've apprehended some suspects because residents saw an unfamil- iar car in their neighborhood in the middle of the night. "We were able to make arrests because, in one case, there was stolen property in the car at the time," he said. specifics, but said he and his offi- cers have had quite a few laughs, too, over the years. "Those things will probably come out in the roast," he said. The department is planning a re- tirement dinner and Des Lauriers roast May 11 at the Republic Air- lines Cafeteria. (For reservations, call Virginia Knight at the Eagan Police Department, 454-3900.) A more informal party is planned for tomorrow at the station, during an open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Des Lauriers is leaving his chiefs seat to his assistant chief and long- time friend, Jay Berthe. "He's been one hell of a boss," Berthe said. "He's made my 17 years in the department very memorable. He's one peach of a guy. He's got the respect of all the troops and of the community. And he also respects them." A group of Cub Scouts thinks so, too. Sharing his office wall with a citation thanking him for 25 years of service to the community is a message from the Webeloes, Den 4: "Thank you for being are (sic) Police Cheif (sic)." Des Lauriers wouldn't talk about AUGUST 27, 1964 Parts Of Stripped Auto Found PIECES OF the car belonging to Clem Hebel, Mason City, Iowa, are shown above, with Constable Martin DesLauriers of Eagan township. Four persons and one juvenile were picked up recently after the $6,500 Cadillac (depreciated to about $4,500) was stripped after it was stolen from the Twin City MetropiiCin airport. It was driven to the Boy Scout. property on County 38 south of th�$ e,ay Sohwa11g, 'farm. DesLauriers said that pieces of the car had been moved from a farm on Ce h2. 6 ooded ;spot. `Portions of the auto brought $500 at a junk yard. DesLauriers and his Eagan p rn LeTendre, had been working on the case. Among the items above are a new air condi, l / , �>. 4 - /9.2 9 / a-,. ± �..�,..� 631-417 f + � OL--p...z,.! er) -0-4 _ , Eagan chief leaves job with respect By Mike Barrett Staff Writer Martin DesLauriers' "life of crime" began as a boy when he stopped Eagan traffic by light- ing cornstalks on fire across Minnesota 13. A neighbor saw the prank and called Martin's father, Louis. When Martin arrived home, his father told him the sheriff called and Martin was sure he was bound for reform school. Since that time, Martin has "gone straight," and kept law and order in Eagan as police chief for 30 years. The cornstalk caper is among the tales he re- calls as he looks toward retire- ment in May and the start of a new career as a private investi- gator. His departure from office comes as a surprise to many residents because they have tak- en the 51-year-old chief for granted — like a piece of old and valuable furniture: sturdy, comfortable and always there. To some in his community, he has seemed as much of an insti- tution as a man. "Martin has the respect of his men and the respect of the city," Mayor Bea Blomquist said. `Believe me, we're going to miss him." Her comment echoed miles away another day when a cop on the beat described DesLau- riers as "a good chief." Born and raised in Eagan, DesLauriers began as a part- time constable in 1953 when the township was home to about 3,000 and he knew nearly every- body by his first name. As the community grew, DesLauriers became a full-time cop and the first police chief in 1965. The department was his home where the officers met and his wife Marie kept the records and relayed calls when force was on patrol. When DesLauriers began pa- trolling, he said most residents didn't lock their doors. There were occasional theft reports of gasoline siphoned from car tanks or tools missing from ga- rages but almost no home bur- glaries. That's changed today with a department map sprout- ing colored pins showing crime locations. Now, he directs a department of 23 sworn officers, 13 dispatchers, records clerks and cadets who serve a city of more than 25,000. "As police, we have awesome authority and responsibility," he said. "We have to make deci- sions quickly and let the chips fall where they may. "What disturbs me today is that when a kid gets into serious trouble, say a burglary, and his parents get an attorney for him and get him off without a sen- tence," he said. "Then the kid gets in trouble again and they go through the whole thing with the attorney. Finally, the kid gets in really serious trouble a third time. Nobody can help him and he winds up with a prison sentence." Instead, DesLauriers over the years has advised some parents to let their errant children cool off in jail over the weekend and it has worked as a deterrent to crime. "I've had at least six young men come up to me years later who told me their spell in jail was the best thing that ever happened to them," he said. "They found out what jail is like, who's in there and they got Please see Chief/2S Mike Barrett After 30 years on the beat, Eagan Police Chief Martin DesLauriers is calling it a day. He retires at the end of the month. Chief ■ Continued from Page 1 S scared off, which is good. They got married, got jobs and became re- sponsible citizens." These are among his good mem- ories but he has others. He remem- bered finding the beaten and para- lyzed teen-age girl near Minnesota 55 one day in the late 1960s. She remains a paraplegic today and the man who apparently assaulted her remains in a mental institution. DesLauriers also recalled arriv- ing at a two -car accident scene on Minnesota 13 with seven persons involved, including five dead and a baby pinned inside the wreckage. "It was terrible," he said. "You remember those things." Even so, DesLauriers said he would miss "the rat race" where every Monday he has looked for- ward to going to work. But his new life will include more time with his wife, his son, Paul, a Burnsville police officer and his wife, two daughters, Anne, and Jayne, and three grandchil- dren. DesLauriers also plans to take an extra turn around the golf course. tait<A01-0 771 fir i3 Under DesLaurier's Leadership, Eagan Police Grow With City By KAREN GROTE Staff Writer EAGAN -- At the age of 21. Martin DesLauriers decided to run for the post of town constable rather than follow in his father's footsteps and be a milk hauler. So, DesLauriers was elected to the post in the farming communi- ty in which he had lived his whole life. The community of Eagan was small then - about 300 people - and DesLauriers didn't have too many tough duties. He drove around in his own car settling dis- putes over fence lines, handled occasional traffic violators and tracked down illegal hunters when necessary. The biggest commotion then was an oc- casional fight at the area's only bar, The Halfway House. Today, 25 years later, DesLauriers has grown with his job. He efficiently heads a modern police department in a growing community of 20,000 people. Under him are 18 full- time officers, two part-time of- ficers, one cadet. three dis- patchers and office personnel. DesLauriers and his staff are now geared to handle murders, burglaries, robberies, domestic squabbles and whatever else may turn up in a typical day in a modern city. He seems comforta MARTIN DesLAURIERS sits back in his chair in his office at Eagan's police station, remembering the days when his own car was the squad car and the biggest offender was a lost steer. ble in his post and says he enjoys the administration part now. The officers who work with him have nothing but praise for him, and he is credited for the good at- mosphere and high morale of the department. As proof. no one has quit the force except to accept an offer from another community of a higher police position. The reason for this is, probably the respect DesLauriers has for the officers. "I don't know of any personnel," DesLauriers stated with pride, "that work as hard as they do. When they are on a case. they will work for 36 hours without going home. They have pride and satisfaction in what they're doing." Part of their pride comes from knowing what they are doing and having the training to do it well. Each officer spends at least 50 hours a year in formal training for the job. When they join the police department, the men must go through a 40-hour crash emergency medical treatment (EMT) course. For that reason. each man knows what to do if he is first on the scene at any emergency situation, according to the chief. DesLauriers believes in good training in making the depart- ment work the most efficiently. Each man knows how to handle every situation, rather than hav- ing Vtheir specialties -such one trained in handling domestic squabbles, one trained in handl- ing drug problems, one trained in handling traffic. "Each man is trained to handle everything and anything. If an of- ficer is first at the scene for a murder, DesLauriers or another officer doesn't step in and take over. It's the first officer's case from beginning to end. This is probably a major reason why the members of the force take pride in their jobs. They have the total 61 UZI. dnu contidence of their chief. To further utilize the force in the best way possible, DesLauriers started the team policing concept in January of 1976. To better cover the large area of Eagan, the chief divided the area into two geographical sections, with one team covering each. This way, the police can get to a crisis more quickly because one team is close by. • Each year, the teams elect a leader and an investigator. This year one team is headed by Ken Azman, with Bob O'Brien as team leader and Dale Brute as in- vestigator. In Pat Gegen's group. Roger Slader is team leader and Peter Poppler is investigator. Next year, the men will shift responsibilities. DesLauriers is proud of the of- ficers and is the first to point out that the life of a policeman isn't easy on him or his family. The men's schedules make it nec- essary for them.to work holidays, nights, weekends and often around the clock. -When a man joins the force," DesLauriers said. "I warn him that in a couple of years, he will lose the close friends he now has." DesLauriers explains that it won't be due to the man not lik- ing them anymore. It's just that when the friends learn they can't count on him for cards on Satur- day night anymore or for the an- nual 4th of July picnic or whatever, they drift apart. This is why the officers become friends with each other. Through their comradeship on the job and their understanding of the com- mitment each of them has made. they are drawn together. -It's not easy on the families, especially when the kids are young." DesLauriers admits. To help officers and their families deal with any problems. DesLauriers encourages them to use the minister he has on call to counsel the men and their families. Recently, the officers and their wives were invited to attend a session that dealt with com- munication between themselves and their wives. DesLauriers and his wjfe. Marie, are living proof that a policeman can have a successful home life. Their three children. Paul. 20, and now a CSO for the Burnsville Public Safety Depart- ment: and twin girls, 17-year-old students at Rosemount High School, are proof that a policeman's children can do weli also. The police department is soon moving into its new quarters across Pilot Knob Rb. from the present one and it is sure to keep expanding. DesLauriers is look- ing forward to the move and the modern equipment they will have to deal with Eagan's growing population and new problems such as the zoo traffic. Anyone who knows him or de- als with him knows he is capable of growing and dealing with anything that comes along - just as he has for the last 25 years. 4 Community/River South (6) Minneapolis Star and Tribune/Thur., April 28, 1983 Chief Continued from page 1 "There were maybe 3,000 people in the township then and I guess I knew maybe 90 to 95 percent of them. At first it was really nothing -- attend the annual town board meeting, settle a few disputes be- tween farmers, serve papers, round up cattle that got loose, a few barroom fights." Back then there weren't any cor- ner stores, just a bar, Club 13, on Hwy. 13 and Cedar Av., where folks could buy bread and milk and wieners, Des Lauriers said. Most people traded in St. Paul, reaching it by the high bridge or the ferry in Mendota. He made "oh, maybe $1.50 an hour, no more. It was part time. I was on call," he said. But the law enforcement kind of got into his blood, and as the community began growing, Des Lauriers' responsibil- ities grew also, and he liked it. He became part-time police chief in June 1965, when he and Assis- tant Chief Jay Berthe were hired. Des Lauriers' job became full-time in September 1966. Des Lauriers has seen plenty of changes in his community. "Eagan has emerged in a span of 20 to 25 years from a rural community to one of the most progressive of ur- ban areas," he said. The city is now home to about 25,000 people; the police force has 24 sworn officers and 13 civilian employees. It has a top-notch, 5- year-old police station at Pilot Knob and Wescott Rds. and a $1.3 million budget. "The first budget I made out was $19,415 in March 1965. Now you might miss the budget on car pur- chases by that much," he said. In the late 1950s, Des Lauriers pa- trolled the township in his own car, getting paid about $2.50 an hour and 6 or 7 cents a mile. In the early '60s, Minneapolis and St. Paul residents began to see prom- ise in Eagan and started building homes there. "Those first people to move out here didn't even have to lock their doors. None of us did out here then," Des Lauriers said. The big problems were still fairly easily remedied: "city folks coming out, shooting off their rifles. They'd always done that, but with more people moving in, it wasn't very safe. "Now we have the full gamut of crime," he said. "We have every- thing the core cities have, just not as much of it — murders, burglar- ies." The crime that comes to mind when asked about the most unfor- get`able was in 1969 when a 15- year-old St. Paul girl was raped, beaten and left in an Eagan field. Some neighborhood boys found her almost two days later; she was alive, but paralyzed. An area -wide search was conducted, with the help of the county and metropoli- tan police forces, Des Lauriers said. A suspect was caught and convict- ed, and is still in a state mental hospital, as far as Des Lauriers knows. And the victim is still para- lyzed, he said. "Something like that just stays in your mind," he said. He's carried a gun, "but I've never been shot at and I never had to shoot at anybody. I think that's very fortunate." Over the years, Des Lauriers has taken a lot of police training, crim- inal investigation courses and po- lice administration training. "I probably have had one of the most unique experiences and situa- tions in law enforcement in the metropolitan area," he said. "Most of the people on the city council and the residents have had abso- lute faith in the police department. We've never had a lot of politics involved. We've been able to oper- ate as we see fit. Oh, we've had a lot of questions, but we've always been able to answer all those ques- tions." Staff Photo by David Brewster Des Lauriers has worn and worn out severai badges since 1953. One of the things he's proudest of is the community's response to the department's crime -prevention and citizen -involvement drive. "We try to educate the citizens to assist, to call if they see a suspicious car or something that doesn't seem right. We've apprehended some suspects because residents saw an unfamii- iar car in their neighborhood in the middle of the night. "We were able to make arrests because, in one case, there was stolen property in the car at the time," he said. Des Lauriers wouldn't talk about specifics, but said he and his offi- cers have had quite a few laughs, too, over the years. "Those things will probably come out in the roast," he said. The department is planning a re- tirement dinner and Des Lauriers roast May 11 at the Republic Air- lines Cafeteria. (For reservations, call Virginia Knight at the Eagan Police Department, 454-3900.) A more informal party is planned for tomorrow at the station, during an open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Des Lauriers is leaving his chiefs seat to his assistant chief and long- time friend, Jay Berthe. "He's been one hell of a boss," Berthe said. "He's made my 17 years in the department very memorable. He's one peach of a guy. He's got the respect of all the troops and of the community. And he also respects them." A group of Cub Scouts thinks so, too. Sharing his office wall with a citation thanking him tor 25 years of service to the community is a message from the Webeloes, Den 4: "Thank you for being are (sic) Police Cheif (sic)." 22A DesLauriers resigns DES LAURIERS: from p. 19A ing to be doing the rest of the day —it's never a boring job. "I enjoy the challenge of something coming up and you make a decision (he snapped his fingers), then you sit back and wait for the ---- to fly." But the most enjoyable part of DesLauriers job has been the people he's worked with. "I've been fortunate here. I'll tell you, the biggest headache that most police chiefs have is dealing with the people they work with. And I can't say that. "There isn't one officer in this department that has been here for at least two years who couldn't handle any problem that came up in this city. They might need help, but they'd know where to get it and how to go about it. And that's a nice feeling —to have people like that here." * * * After April 30, DesLauriers, at age 51, will start his career as a private in- vestigator. His eyes light up with enthusiasm when he talks about his plans. He plans to specialize in doing background checks on people who apply for such positions as police chiefs and other department heads throughout the state. DesLauriers has sat on several boards involved in hiring police chiefs in the metro area, and he said there is always a problem of trying to find so- meone to check the backgrounds of the top applicants. He also would like to get involved in checking professional degrees and accreditations of job applicants in private industry. "In industry today, they are finding out that more and more people who apply for jobs are not who they say they are —they probably just want to get into the company to get some trade secrets." The variety of a job as private in- vestigator appeals to him, but he also looks forward to doing some traveling as part of the job. "Sounds like a good dream, doesn't it? It won't be boring work and I think I'll enjoy it." Police Chief Martin Des Lauriers in 1969. 21A • Aary, Mother youth take part in hunger event Tom Fischer Hunger is something suburban teen- ers don't often encounter. And the ruggles in a place like El Salvador can !em a long way away compared to lore immediate problems at home. But youth group members at Mary, lother of the Church and Church of ie Risen Savior came a little closer to nderstanding both, hunger and El ,alvador, recently. They joined Catholic youth groups rom around the country in spending ix weeks studying hunger and poverty n the United States and abroad. The activities culminated with a 24-hour fast and a three-hour :elebration at a South St. Paul warehouse where they loaded food and clothes on a barge to be shipped to El Salvadorean refugees in Honduras. Twin Cities youth groups sent 15,000 pounds of food to Honduras, and more will be gathered as the barge makes its way down the Mississippi. An equal amount of food will be distributed locally. The highlight of the activities, many of the youth said, was the March 20 celebration with 1,000 other youth. All had been fasting since 6 p.m. the day before. But, spirits were high despite Photo by Tom Fischer Mary, Mother youth group members participating in the fast were front row from left, John Evans, Carolyn Kurimay, Ann Regan, Youth Minister Mary Lou Larson, Jeff Janquart, and Carey Walsh. Back row from left are Jay Karp, Elizabeth Seavey, Terri Krocheski and Dan Shelffo. at their weekly meetings. A refugee from El Salvador showed slides to both groups that left a strong impact. their fast together, having discussions, watching films and staying up until 3 a.m. Council) and also brought 200 to 300 pounds of clothes. People from all over the country came to the gathering, and Archbishop John Roach addressed the group. Also present was Bev Quintavalle, youth program coordinator for the Minneapolis -St. Paul Archdiocese, who developed the idea after hearing of a New Orleans church that had sent two ships of food to Honduras. Participants said the experience has made them look at food differently. "I watched my family have dinner the other day and it was just amazing how much we waste and how much there was. And we don't eat more than the average family," Walsh said. It also made them realize they can make a difference. "I will no longer think that I am totally powerless to do something," Krocheski said. "It'll help some people and it's a good feeling to know that you're helping these people." Participating in the fast from Mary, Mother were Colleen McColl, Tony Aspholm, John Evans, Carolyn Kurimay, Ann Regan, Jeff Janquart, Dan Shelffo, Elizabeth Seavey, Walsh, Krocheski and Karp. Mary Lou Larson is vouth minister there. ,4-'et J/2B/WSJ 19A 1965 Eagan's New Police Car Ready READY FOR PATROL is the week-old car of the -:' Richard LeMay and Don Smith and Chief Martin Eagan Police Department, shown in front of the new ' DesLauriers. LeMay and Smith joined the force on town hall. Pictured from left to right are Patrolmen -; July 1. Not pictured is Patrolman Vern Letendre. DesLauriers is pictured above along with a 1965 news clipping. Chief DesLauriers: It's never been dull DES LAURIERS: from p. 1A Thirty years ago, the job of con- stable involved very little police work, DesLauriers said. He said people would call him at home to come and settle fence line disputes between farmers or to break up drunken brawls at the Halfway House. Having worked in the family business of hauling milk cans for area farmers when he was a youth, DesLauriers knew just about everyone in Eagan when he became constable. "Up to the early 1960s 1 would guess that I knew 98 percent of the people who lived in Eagan by their first and last name, where they lived, and probably who their family was. That's changed," he said and laughed. In addition to hauling milk cans, DesLauriers served a stint in the Ar- my, worked on the family dairy farm on Yankee Doodle Road where Fox - ridge Apartments now stand, hauled fuel oil for Tripp Oil Company, and operated his own landscaping busi- ness —Martin's Asphalt Driveways. But after a few years of part-time police work, DesLauriers knew he wanted to make a career of it. During winters when his blacktopp- ing business had shut down for the season, DesLauriers took law enforce- ment classes offered by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the FBI. * * * DesLauriers believes he's been for- tunate to have lived and worked all his life in Eagan. "It's never been dull and I don't think it ever will be." Looking back over his years of work, DesLauriers said one of the rewards has been having people come back and thank him for his being tough on them when they were acting up in their youth. "1 can think of about four of them, young adults who have families now, who have come up and said they remember the weekend they spent in "You never know when you come in here in the morning what you're going to be doing the rest of the day —it's never a boring job." Martin DesLauriers jail and how their folks pleaded and begged to get them out. And I told them, `Leave 'em sit there till Monday morning.' " He believes parents should be sup- portive of their children when they get into trouble, but they should let them take their lumps. "I think it would be the best educa- tion for a young person who's starting to get into trouble, if he could just spend a Friday night through Monday morning in the county jail with the big boys. A great percentage of these peo- ple would think twice about making a career of it." DesLauriers said he's always believ- ed in enforcing the law equally —regardless of whether the people involved were friends. He said one of the things that sur- prised him about his job was when some of the people he thought were good friends would suddenly become violent when involved in a police mat- ter. "Some of them never spoke to me again. But if you think back on it, they probably weren't such good friends." The job has also had its share of tragic moments. DesLauriers said he sometimes has flashbacks of bad ac- cidents he's been at where children have been injured and torches were needed to get them out of the car. "There are a lot of things you'd like to forget about. Time helps to put a lot of it behind you." DesLauriers said he was fortunate that he never had to shoot anyone, nor was he ever shot at. "But I had a few good tussles once and awhile," the burly chief said. And although he admits police work can be risky, he said other jobs also have their risks. "If you're serious about the job and if you're trained to the best of your ability...you should have the upper hand —if you keep your mind clear." Despite the long hours of work through the years, DesLauriers has managed to squeeze in some fun. He's admits to enjoying a "bump" (drink) now and then, and claims to be a good bridge and poker player. "My wife doesn't think I am, though." Other pastimes include golfing, which he said he's become addicted to in the last few years, and horseback riding. He also likes to chop wood. "It's a good way Yo get rid of frustrations." * * * DesLauriers said his wife never seemed to worry much about the risks of the job, but she still didn't like his chosen profession. "1 don't think Marie ever enjoyed it —she put up with it and she's done a hell of a job. "You can imagine how it was. Every weekend she could plan something, then the phone would ring and whoosh, I'd be Bone. It wasn't the most family -orientating job." DesLauriers said he thought his son, Paul, and twin daughters, Jayne and Anne, also hated his job because of all the cancelled family outings. He was surprised when his son decided to become a police officer. Paul, now 25, has worked with the Burnsville Police Department for the last five years. "I never dreamed that he'd want to be a police officer. But I'm proud of him for it. I think it's a good profes- sion if you like it." * * * DesLauriers's tenure as police chief in Eagan is one of the longest in Min- nesota. With the national average stay on the job for a police chief reported to be five years, he's managed to beat the odds. But in his typically modest fashion, he gives the credit to others. He neglects to mention that he is liked and respected both within the department and in the community. DesLauriers believes that in many cities, the police chief's biggest stress is political pressure from elected of- ficals. But not in Eagan. "There's been no politics here. There really hasn't. From day one, 1 can't think of any pressure to hire a certain person or to get rid of anyone. "I've had a few recommendations," he said and chuckled, "but I've never felt the pressure in that part of the Police Department. In most cases, I wouldn't say in all, the City Council has never got involved in the actual operation, the personnel." The lack of political pressures, and the job's variety, have made his job enjoyable, he said. "You never know when you come in here in the morning what you're go- DESLAURIERS: to p. 22A The Eagan CHRONICLE, March 28, 1983 20A Engagements Community line i Ow- Dawn Everson and Bret Starkweather Everson — Starkweather Dawn Marie Everson, Eagan, will marry Bret Alan Starkweather, Eagan, April 23 at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Eagan. Parents of the couple are Larry and Gloria Everson of Eagan, and Donald and Joan Starkweather of Dallas, Texas. Everson graduated from Burnsville High School in 1981 and is attending Inver Hills Community College. She is employed at Durning's in Eagan. Starkweather graduated from Burnsville High School in 1978 and is employed as vice president of Viking Ac- coustical Corp. in Lakeville. He is attending the College of St. Thomas. Johnson— Otterstetter Denise Elaine Johnson of Eagan and Joseph Henry Ot- terstetter of Minneapolis plan to marry July 2 at the Bethel Lutheran Church in Willmar. Parents of the couple are Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. John- son of Willmar and Mr. and Mrs. C.S. Otterstetter of Anoka. Johnson is an eighth -grade mathematics teacher at Scott Highlands Middle School in Apple Valley. Otterstetter is a first -year law student at the University of Minnesota. Denise Johnson and Joseph Otterstetter Perron— Zanmiller Lynne Marie Perron and Joe Zanmiller plan to marry Aug. 6 at Trinity Lone Oak Lutheran Church in Eagan. Parents of the couple are Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Perron of Eagan and Betty Zanmiller of Rosemount. Perron is a 1979 graduate of Concordia Academy in St. Paul. She is employed at Con- tract Beverage in Eagan. Zan - miller is a 1977 graduate of Rosemount High School and is employed at Control Data in Minneapolis. Health clinic offered in April The Minnesota/Dakota County Early and Periodic Screeing Clinic for county residents ages 6 months to 21 years in scheduled for April 5, 7, 19 and 28. The clinic, which assesses hearing, vision, immunization and nutritional status, and physical, developmental and emotional health, attempts to identify potential health pro - If "South of the River" is home to you, you should know about Castle Crest. There's no doubt about it ... for most people, the most important thing to consider when buying a home is location. And if you're looking for that perfect location south of the Minnesota River, you'll find it at Castle Crest ...Manor Homes uniquely designed for spacious and convenient living. All in the perfect "South of the River" location. Occupancy scheduled for March 1983. Prices start as low as $63,900 FHA/VA Financing Available Castle Crest MANOR HOMES Parkwood Drive at 122nd Street, Burnsville, 890-6263 Site Office Hours: Daily 1-4 PM Closed Fridays Marketed by E.F. Knight ltJ Realtor participation invited. 'O �.U�° "°�UM" ""ilr blems before they become serious. Fees are on a sliding scale. For an appointment or more information, call 894-2880. Forty model store students at the Dakota County Area Vocational Technical Institute won awards at the District VI DECA competition. Of those, 29 will continue in competition at the state DECA Career Development Conference April 10-12 in St. Paul. Those winning awards from Burnsville High School were: Lesley Ronsen and Jean Von Wald. Both will participate in the state competition. Those winning awards from Henry Sibley High School were: Patti Dahn, Joan Isaac, Kelly Roser. Dahn and Isaac will participate in state com- petition. Those winning awards from Rosemount High School were: Serina Gjelhaug, Melanie Prichard, Steve Saunders, Laura Maruna. Attending state competition will be- Maruna and Gjelhaug. Jerry Krogh and Jeff Heimkes, students at Sibley High School, won awards in the eighth annual welding com- petition at the Red Wing Area Vocational Technical Institute. High school students enrolled in the secondary welding pro- gram at Dakota County Voca- tional Center competed in the event. Randi Ness, a senior at Gustavus Adolphus College from Eagan, has been selected for membership in Omicron Delta Epsilon, the interna- tional honor society in economics. Honored for scholastic achievement from St. Cloud State University during winter quarter were Eagan residents: Geraldine Dodge, Debra Koch, Lynnae Koch and Lisa Williams. Kris Vihovde, 4281 Jasper Drive, Eagan, a junior in the school of journalism and mass communication at Drake Uni- versity, was selected for membership in the Omicron Delta Kappa and Mortar Board. Omicron Delta Kappa is an honorary scholastic society for junior and senior students. The Mortar Board Society is an honorary society for seniors. Drake University is in Des Moines, Iowa. Robin M. Johnson, 3942 Mica Trail, a senior at Rose- mount High School, is one of 500 finalists for a Jostens Foundation Scholarship. Her parents are Roger and Annette Johnson. Robin was one of more than 14,000 high school students throughout the United States who applied for the award. The 200 scholarship winners will be announced this spring. Selec- tion is based on outstanding achievements in school and community affairs, mean- ingful work experiences and academic excellence. nttiIaint'I Condominiums from 39,9OO �{ 'yam s t, gm rdi ill l � uil6'.l-4.1 nig .:'lllllli iimilh4it I�VPI_. 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Minneapolis, Minnesota Marketed by: Dermal Smaby Land Sales & Development Division OS Nottingham 454-5800 • Realtor Participation Invited Pennock 8 142nd street The Eagan CHRONICLE, March 28, 1983 EAGAN HRON/CLE a Current newspaper SECTION A Vol. IV, No. 13, Monday, March 28, 1983 Bringing you the news of the people, the neighborhoods and business of Eagan TWO SECTIONS Above and at right are Police Chief Martin Des Lauriers. The photo at right was taken in 1965. Police chief resigns after 30 years, plans to become private investigator by Linda Hanson As a kid, Police Chief Martin DesLauriers once took a neighbor's corn stalks, spread them across Highway 13, and stopped traffic by lighting them on fire. The prank almost landed him in reform school. "I was probably one of the world's worst kids," he said and shook his head ruefully. "I caused my folks a lot of headaches. "The story that it takes one to catch one is probably legitimate." Despite his early life of "crime," DesLauriers has had a long, successful career in law enforcement in Eagan. He started as the township's part-time con- stable in 1953, and became Eagan's first police chief in 1965. After 30 years on the job, DesLauriers has decided to quit and become a private in- vestigator. DesLauriers sat in his sparsely decorated of- fice last week, dressed in shades of blue with a small handcuff tie pin, and admitted he was going to miss being police chief. "I'm looking forward to getting out of it, but I'm going to miss it, I know I will." DES LAURIERS: to p. 19A 2A Nearby news Loeding wins seat on Dakota County Board Steve Loeding defeated Sharon LaComb by 372 votes in a special election Tuesday to fill a vacated seat on the Dakota County Board. Loeding, who lives in Inver Grove Heights, polled 1,544 votes to LaComb's 1,272. LaComb carried her home area of Apple Valley as well as Inver Grove Heights, but Loeding took Rosemount by more than a two to one margin. Loeding expects to take office at the Coun- ty Human Services Board meeting April 5. The certificate of his election cannot be issued until 12 days after the election is canvassed, or April 4. Loeding said he has not decided whether he will remain as administrative assistant to the House of Representatives Transportation Committee. Loeding owns an insurance agency and has had other agents servicing his accounts since he began working in the House in January. The election Tuesday was to fill a vacancy on the County Board from the 4th Commis- sioner District created when Gene Atkins was appointed a District Court judge. The district is comprised of nine of the 11 precincts in Apple Valley, all Rosemount and Inver Grove Heights. Judge dismisses Cybyske lawsuit against 196 by Kevin Gutknecht Citing no "actionable marital discrimination," District Court Judge George Hoey dismissed a lawsuit Feb. 25 filed against District 196 by Lynn Cybyske, a former teacher in the district. The complaint, which was filed in April 1982, alledged that Cybyske, who worked as a long-term substitute at Westview Elementary for the 1979-80 school year was not hired the next year because of her husband's election to the District 191 board. The judge's findings said "the plantiff's cause for action failed to allege actionable marital discrimination under either state or federal law. There were no genuine issues as to material fact pending in the case." A motion by the plaintiff to "FARMLAND" BONELESS Ham (Smoked - Fully Cooked) 6-12 Ib. avg. WHOLE ONLY! $169 LB. "U.S. CHOICE" BONELESS Sirloin Tip Roast (Lean - No Fat) $ 79 amend the complaint to add Daniel Cybyske, husband of Lynn and present chairman of the District 191 school board, as a plaintiff was denied. Robert Keeton, director of human resources for District 196, declined to comment on the case, explaining that district policy was to not discuss with the media matters involving the district and litigation. Five plead guilty to 'chop shop' operation by Dorothy Casserly Investigation of a "chop shop" operation in Rosemount resulted in guilty pleas March 21 by five of 11 men charged with felonies. "It was an insurance rip-off that opened doors to other auto -related crimes," said Richard Bacon, special agent in charge of organized crime for the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA). The operation involved reporting vehicles stolen and collecting insurance money for them. The vehicles were actual- ly chopped up and sold for parts. Three of the guilty pleas in Dakota County District Court were to hiding a truck in an Eagan woods, reporting it stolen, collecting insurance for it and selling it for parts. Pleading guilty to one count of theft by swindle were Douglas Horne, 22, and Brett Lucking, 21, of Rosemount, and Richard Moeller, 25, of Apple Valley. Patrick McCarthy, 24, of Apple Valley, pleaded guilty to one count of theft for stealing a Kawasaki Jet Ski from a Rose- mount residence in 1981. Daniel Rubenzer, 35, of Far- mington pleaded guilty to one THE FINEST IN MEATS & SEAFOOD EASTER SAVINGS r$11.00 OFF Prices Good Thru April 5, 1983 "U.S. CHOICE" BONELESS $11.00 OFF With This Coupon With This Coupon Sirloin Butt Steaks (Tender Delicious) NOW oNL y 5 or 8 oz. portions $2895 per 10 ib. box Reg.$39.95 3 "GRADE A" BONELESS 8 OZ. Chicken Breast $ "HIGHLINER" LARGE Breaded Shrimp Pieces $105 12-16 Ib. avg. count of possession of mari- juana. His barn was searched for car parts, but investigators for the BCA found marijuana instead. Patrick Chesney, 36, of Lino Lakes pleaded guilty March 7 to one count of conspiracy to commit theft: and will be sentenced April 14. He reported his Cadillac stolen and collected $10,000 on his in- surance. The car was recovered in a Rosemount garage used by David Tousignant, 26, of Rosemount. Tousignant, the alleged operator of the chop shop, has been charged with theft with McCarthy of the ski, theft by swindle, receiving stolen pro- perty and conspiracy to com- mit theft. His court appearance was continued until April 4, as were those of Timothy and Dennis Honsa and Robert Widman, all of Eagan. All 10 men are out on bail awaiting sentencing or court appearances, Bacon said. The llth, Russell Vought, 27, of Rosemount, has not ap- peared in court on charges of receiving stolen property. He is in Florida, Bacon said, and will be charged if he returns to Min- nesota. hIIIS "HILLSHIRE FARM" NMI Semi -Boneless Ham elLB. se LEAN OR EXTRA LEAN Ground Beef (8 - 2 Ib. pkgs. scored in 1# sqs.) LEAN X-LEAN $129 $1 49 Above and at right are Police Chief Martin Des Lauriers. The photo at right was taken in 1965. Police chief resigns after 30 years, plans to become private investigator by Linda Hanson As a kid, Police Chief Martin DesLauriers once took a neighbor's corn stalks, spread them across Highway 13, and stopped traffic by lighting them on fire. The prank almost landed him in reform school. "I was probably one of the world's worst kids," he said and shook his head ruefully. "I caused my folks a lot of headaches. "The story that it takes one to catch one is probably legitimate." Despite his early life of "crime," DesLauriers has had a long, successful career in law enforcement in Eagan. He started as the township's part-time con- stable in 1953, and became Eagan's first police chief in 1965. After 30 years on the job, DesLauriers has decided to quit and become a private in- vestigator. DesLauriers sat in his sparsely decorated of- fice last week, dressed in shades of blue with a small handcuff tie pin, and admitted he was going to miss being police chief. "I'm looking forward to getting out of it, but I'm going to miss it, I know I will." DES LAURIERS: to p. 19A 1965 agan's New Police Car Readyg READY FOR PATROL is the week-old car of the Richard LeMay and Don Smith and Chief Martin Eagan Police Department, shown in front of the new Deslouriers. LeMay and Smith joined the force on town hall. Pictured from left to right are Patrolmen July 1. Not pictured is Patrolman Vern Letendre. )esLauriers is pictured above along with a 1965 news clipping. Engagements Dawn Everson and Bret Starkweather Everson— Starkweather Dawn Marie Everson, Eagan, will marry Bret Alan Starkweather, Eagan, April 23 at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Eagan. Parents of the couple are Larry and Gloria Everson of Eagan, and Donald and Joan Starkweather of Dallas, Texas. Everson eraduated from Johnson Otterstetter Denise Elaine Johnson of Eagan and Joseph Henry Ot- terstetter of Minneapolis plan to marry July 2 at the Bethel Lutheran Church in Willmar. Parents of the couple are Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. John- son of Willmar and Mr. and Mrs. C.S. Otterstetter of Anoka. Johnson is an eighth -grade mathematics teacher at Scott Highlands Middle School in Apple Valley. Otterstetter is a first -year law student at the University of Minnesota. Denise Johnson and Joseph Otterstetter Perron— Zanmiller Lynne Marie Perron and Joe Zanmiller plan to marry Aug. 6 at Trinity Lone Oak Lutheran Church in Eagan. Parents of the couple are Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Perron of Eagan and Betty Zanmiller of Rosemount. Perron is a 1979 graduate of Concordia Academy in St. Paul. She is employed at Con- tract Beverage in Eagan. Zan - miller is a 1977 graduate of Rosemount High School and is employed at Control Data in Minneapolis. Community line Forty model store students at the Dakota County Area Vocational Technical Institute won awards at the District VI DECA competition. Of those, 29 will continue in competition at the state DECA Career Development Conference April 10-12 in St. Paul. Those winning awards from Burnsville High School were: Lesley Ronsen and Jean Von Wald. Both will participate in the state competition. Those winning awards from Henry Sibley High School were: Patti Dahn, Joan Isaac, Kelly Roser. Dahn and Isaac will participate in state com- petition. Those winning awards from Rosemount High School were: Serina Gjelhaug, Melanie Prichard, Steve Saunders, Laura Maruna. Attending state competition will be Maruna and Gjelhaug. Jerry Krogh and Jeff Heimkes, students at Sibley High School, won awards in the eighth annual welding com- petition at the Red Wing Area Vocational Technical Institute. High school students enrolled in the secondary welding pro- gram at Dakota County Voca- tional Center competed in the event. Honored for scholastic achievement from St. Cloud State University during winter quarter were Eagan residents: Geraldine Dodge, Debra Koch, Lynnae Koch and Lisa Williams. Kris Vihovde, 4281 Jasper Drive, Eagan, a junior in the school of journalism and mass communication at Drake Uni- versity, was selected foi membership in the Omicror Delta Kappa and Mortar Board. Omicron Delta Kappa is ar honorary scholastic society foi junior and senior students. Th Mortar Board Society is a honorary society for seniors. Drake University is in De Moines, Iowa. Robin M. Johnson, 3942 Mica Trail, a senior at Rose- mount High School, is one of 500 finalists for a Jostens Foundation Scholarship. Her parents are Roger and Annette Johnson. Robin was one of more than 14,000 high school students throughout the United States who applied for the award. The 200 scholarship winners will be announced this spring. Selec- tion is based on outstanding achievements in school an( community affairs, mean Chief DesLauriers: It's never been dull "You never know when you come in here in the morning what you're going to be doing the rest of the day —it's never a boring job." Martin DesLauriers DES LAURIERS: from p. 1A Thirty years ago. the job of con- stable involved very little police work, DesLauriers said. He said people would call him at home to come and settle fence line disputes between farmers or to break up drunken brawls at the Halfway House. Having worked in the family business of hauling milk cans for area farmers when he was a youth, DesLauriers knew just about everyone in Eagan when he became constable. "Up to the early 1960s I would guess that I knew 98 percent of the people who lived in Eagan by their first and last name, where they lived, and probably who their family was. That's changed," he said and laughed. In addition to hauling milk cans, DesLauriers served a stint in the Ar- worked on the family dairy farm (ankee Doodle Road where rox- ridge Apartments now stand, hauled fuel oil for Tripp Oil Company, and operated his own landscaping busi- ness —Martin's Asphalt Driveways. But after a few years of part-time police work, DesLauriers knew he wanted to make a career of it. During winters when his blacktopp- ing business had shut down for the season, DesLauriers took law enforce- ment classes offered by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the FBI. DesLauriers believes he's been for- tunate to have lived and worked all his life in Eagan. "It's never been dull and I don't think it ever will be." Looking back over his years of work, DesLauriers said one of the rewards has been having people come back and thank him for his being tough on them when they were acting up in their youth. `i 'hink of about four of them, young µ tilts who have families now, who have come up and said they remember the weekend they spent in jail and how their folks pleaded and begged to get them out. And I told them, `Leave 'em sit there till Monday morning.' " He believes parents should be sup- portive of their children when they get into trouble, but they should let them take their lumps. "I think it would be the best educa- tion for a young person who's starting to get into trouble, if he could just spend a Friday night through Monday morning in the county jail with the big boys. A great percentage of these peo- ple would think twice about making a career of it." DesLauriers said he's always believ- ed in enforcing the law equally —regardless of whether the people involved were friends. He said one of the things that sur- prised him about his job was when some of the people he thought were good friends would suddenly become violent when involved in a police mat- ter. "Some of them never spoke to me again. But if you think back on it, they probably weren't such good friends." The job has also had its share of tragic moments. DesLauriers said he sometimes has flashbacks of bad ac- cidents he's been at where children have been injured and torches were needed to get them out of the car. "There are a lot of things you'd like to forget about. Time helps to put a lot of it behind you." DesLauriers said he was fortunate that he never had to shoot anyone, nor was he ever shot at. "But I had a few good tussles once and awhile," the burly chief said. And although he admits police work can be risky, he said other jobs also have their risks. "If you're serious about the job and if you're trained to the best of your ability...you should have the upper hand —if you keep your mind clear." Despite the long hours of work through the years, DesLauriers has managed to squeeze in some fun. He's admits to enjoying a "bump" (drink) now and then, and claims to be a good bridge and poker player. "My wife doesn't think I am, though." Other pastimes include golfing, which he said he's become addicted to in the last few years, and horseback riding. He also likes to chop wood. "It's a good way to get rid of frustrations." * * * DesLauriers said his wife never seemed to worry much about the risks of the job, but she still didn't like his chosen profession. "I don't think Marie ever enjoyed it —she put up with it and she's done a hell of a job. "You can imagine how it was. Every weekend she could plan something, then the phone would ring and whoosh, I'd be gone. It wasn't the most family -orientating job." DesLauriers said he thought his son, Paul, and twin daughters, Jayne and Anne, also hated his job because of all the cancelled family outings. He was surprised when his son decided to become a police officer. Paul, now 25, has worked with the Burnsville Police Department for the last five years. "I never dreamed that he'd want to be a police officer. But I'm proud of him for it. I think it's a good profes- sion if you like it." * * * DesLauriers's tenure as police chief in Eagan is one of the longest in Min- nesota. With the national average stay on the job for a police chief reported to be five years, he's managed to beat the odds. But in his typically modest fashion, he gives the credit to others. He neglects to mention that he is liked and respected both within the department and in the community. DesLauriers believes that in many cities, the police chief's biggest stress is political pressure from elected of- ficals. But not in Eagan. "There's been no politics here. There really hasn't. From day one, I can't think of any pressure to hire a certain person or to get rid of anyone. "I've had a few recommendations," he said and chuckled, "but I've never felt the pressure in that part of the Police Department. In most cases, I wouldn't say in all, the City Council has never got involved in the actual operation, the personnel." The lack of political pressures, and the job's variety, have made his job enjoyable, he said. "You never know when you come in here in the morning what you're go- DESLAURIERS: to p. 22A • • • DesLauriers resigns DES LAURIERS: from p. 19A ing to be doing the rest of the day —it's never a boring job. "1 enjoy the challenge of something coming up and you make a decision (he snapped his fingers), then you sit back and wait for the ---- to fly." But the most enjoyable part of DesLauriers job has been the people he's worked with. "I've been fortunate here. I'll tell you, the biggest headache that most police chiefs have is dealing with the people they work with. And I can't say that. "There isn't one officer in this department that has been here for at least two years who couldn't handle any problem that came up in this city. They might need help, but they'd, know where to get it and how to go about it. And that's a nice feeling —to have people like that here." * * * After April 30, DesLauriers, at age 51, will start his career as a private in- vestigator. His eyes light up with enthusiasm when he talks about his plans. He plans to specialize in doing background checks on people who apply for such positions as police chiefs and other department heads throughout the state. DesLauriers has sat on several boards involved in hiring police chiefs in the metro area, and he said there is always a problem of trying to find so- meone to check the backgrounds of the top applicants. He also would like to get involved in checking professional degrees and accreditations of job applicants in private industry. "In industry today, they are finding out that more and more people who apply for jobs are not who they say they are —they probably just want to get into the company to get some trade secrets." The variety of a job as private in- vestigator appeals to him, but he also looks forward to doing some traveling as part of the job. "Sounds like a good dream, doesn't it? It won't be boring work and 1 think I'll enjoy it." City to advertise for police chief The position of Eagan police chief, which will be vacated by Martin DesLauriers April 30, will be advertised state-wide, the City Council decided at a special meeting Thursday. The council also voted unanimously to appoint Assis- tant Police Chief Jay Berthe as acting chief of police, effective May 1. The council decided to advertise state-wide for the position so that if someone from the Eagan Police Depart- ment applies and is hired, everyone will be assured that the person chosen was the best person for the job. Police Chief Martin Des Lauriers in 1969. TEE DES LAURI:EFS OF EAGAN The name of Deslauriers can be traced back in Prance to the sixteen hundreds. Clement DesLauriers was born in 1g37 and was married to Victorine February 11. 11161. At that time Victorine was fif- teen years old. Their son William was born in 1866. He mar- ried Martha Chapdelaine, Martha was born in 1776. William and Martha farmed 160 acres of land on Yankee Doodle Road in sections 9 and 16. They were the parents of Felix born in 1g79 married Elizabeth Rowe Born in 1g90 Albert married Stella Rowe Adalore born lggl Married Leoni lobby born in lRg2 The were the parents of Wilfred DesLauriers of Mendota Heights. Adalore died in 1945 Leonia in 1953. Angeline married Pat Corcoran Clement and rtnest Louis born en April 3, 1g99 in Inver Grove. Louis married Margaret V Quigley born in Eagan March 3, 1900, they were married June 26. 1923. William died in 1940 Martha in 194g, both are buried in St. Peter's Cemetery in Mendota. Louie went to echnol in District #12 and attended school with Martin and Art Shields and Sigfried LeTendre. i_O(4; des � e• /94,o ..-' % y�� p Louis DesLauriers married Margaret Quigley en June 20, 1923 They made their home and farmed 40 acres in section 9, later expanded to S© acres. This is now known as Fox Ridge Apartment Complex and the Bunker Hill Apartments on Yankee Doodle Road. Between ] 4] G Are ��z Ionia DesLauriers was a pioneer milk hauler in the area. All his life he played an important part in the life of Tagan. He began hauling milk about the time the Twin City Milk Assn. was organized as a co-operative marketing co-op. The members were limited to farmers living within 40 miles of St. Paul and Minneapolis. In the winter he had to break a trail on the roads as there was no snowplowing. If the weather was very severe, the farmers in the far end would load up and come to meet him. In the winter if there was a snow storm, he would break a trail then people who wanted to go out would wait until Louis had gone past. Many times farmers would catch a ride to town and return with him. He picked up the milk from most every farm on Pilot Inof and the other aide roads for the length of Eagan. This Louts Des Lauriers first new milk truck it is a 1924 Graham Truck and was purchased at Bernier Motors, in Mendota. You notice the postal address, many people in Fagan had a Mendota Post Office address. At one time there were three and four trunks operating on the Des Lauriers milk route. s�. y. .ors Approximately 1920 Louie4 eegan sling milk for the far- mers in 'Eagan and the Mendota Height& area. Horses were used to pick up the milk cane from the farms, then reloaded onto trucks to be taken to the creameries in St. Paul. About 95 farmers were involve& in producing milk in the area at one time. The average farm in the early days produced between 10 and 15 gals of milk per day. Many of the farmers also rasied garden vegtables such as potatoes, onions, cabbage, cueustibers and berries. Wheat and other grains were also grown. During the winter months horses were the only means of travel and Louis hauled the milk to St. Paul with horses as the roads were not passible for a truck, because of snow and mud. In December 1923, at the age of 17, Leonard Garrity began to work and reside at the Louis DesLauriers home. Leonard Garrity was a very important person in the milk hauling business. He would pick up milk from the farmers with horses and meet Louis DesLauriere with his truck. Then reload the milk to be hauled to St. Paul. It wasn't unuecal in the winter time for Leonard and Louis to leave home befor sunrise and not return until after dark in the evening. Horses along with trucks were used until approximately 1931 at that time trucks were mainly used. Roads became much im- proved. Over the years production of milk increased and three and four trucks were used each day. Leonard Garrity remained en employee and member of the Des- Lauriers family until 1939 (sixteen years). LOUIS IJES LAURIERS BEGAN HAULING MILK FOR LAGAN FARMERS WHEN THE TWIN CITIES I`IILK PRODUCERS ASS'N WAS FORMED, HE IS PICTURED WITH HIS NEW TRUCK - A 1924 GRAHAM, HE WOULD PICK UP MILK CANS ALONG PILOT KNOB KD AND SIDE ROADS AND -rWF THEM TO CREAMERIES IN ST, PAUL PU I S HAD 5 TRUCKS HAULING MILT,