A few answers to local, historical questions
Published 9:13 am Friday, July 25, 2008
A few days ago a subscriber called and wanted to know what the answers are for the quiz published on page 8 of the Tribune’s July 30 issue. Before I deal with those 10 questions and answers, maybe an explanation regarding this particular quiz and how it was conceived is in order.
Last month I was asked by the advertising department to create 20 questions and answers for a proposed quiz. I might also add here that the answers to several of the historical questions were double-checked with Linda Evenson of the Freeborn County Historical Museum.
One of my original questions was flawed. This left 19 to be used. The final quiz was based on 10 questions and 26 possible answers. These possible answers were scattered around in the ads on pages 8 and 9 of the June 30 issue. Incidentally, I had nothing to do with the title selected for this particular quiz.
The first question was based on the year Freeborn County was created. Maybe an even better word would have been organized. Anyway, the answer is 1857.
Shell Rock was the original name given to what’s now Glenville. However, the railroad company suggested the name change. There was another town named Shell Rock on the same river and rail line down in Butler County, Iowa, and having two towns with the same name on the railroad could cause a lot of confusion for the train crews.
There were two possible answers for the third question based on which actor was born in Albert Lea — Marion Ross or Richard Carlson. And the correct answer is Richard Carlson. Marion Ross was born in Watertown. I confirmed this years ago with the Carver County Courthouse in Chaska.
The original name for what’s now the Abbott Apartments was Cargill, or to be even more detailed, the Cargill Science Hall which was built as a part of the Albert Lea College for Women.
There were five possible choices for the name once given to the Civil War soldier statue in front of the Freeborn County Courthouse. Those choices were Freddie, Abe, Ray, Ezra and Edward. Ezra was the correct choice.
The name of Lancers was used for the sports teams of Lea College.
Eddie Cochran’s real name as shown on his birth certificate was Ray Edward Cochran. In fact, this was emphasized with a reproduction of his birth certificate on one of the murals created by Eloise Adams several years ago for an Eddie Cochran. Weekend.
Question eight was based on what business was once in the building at the corner of South Broadway Avenue and West Clark Street now occupied by the Taco King. The answer is a drug store and this is confirmed with a partial Rexall sign still visible on the brick wall on the Clark Street side of the building.
Fredrick Kappel was the president and chairman of the AT&T Corp., an abbreviation for American Telephone and Telegraph Company.
The last question in this quiz asked for the name of the dancing pavilion once located at the north end of Newton Avenue. Casino, and not Surf, is the correct answer.
Congratulations go to Marilyn Wendt and Marcia Larson were the winners of the $50 gift certificates for their correct answers. And special recognition goes to the advertisers who sponsored this quiz and those who sent in entries.
Ed Shannon’s column has been appearing in the Tribune every Friday since December 1984.