Through the years the people of Albert Lea and Freeborn County have obtained their news from several weekly newspapers in both English and even Norwegian. In fact, back in the late 1800s there were four Norwegian publications at various times: Soudre Minnesota, Sanverke, Naorth Star and Albert Lea Posten. However, there was one newspaper issued 67 years ago that seems to be the rarest of all these publications. This was The Southern Minnesota News

In the archives of the Freeborn County Museum are loose, bound or microfilm copies of nearly all the county newspapers of the past and present. Yet, there’s just one copy of The Southern Minnesota News available at the museum on North Bridge Avenue. This copy is dated June 4, 1942, and listed as Volume 1, Number 11 on the front page masthead. This clearly indicates that there were 10 previous issues of this newspaper. However, a recent request by the Tribune for anyone having other copies of this particular newspaper resulted in negative responses.

There’s certainly a real mystery as to how many more issues of The Southern Minnesota News were issued after June 4, 1942. Yet, there’s no mystery as to the source of this particular weekly newspaper. It originated with Trades Publishing Co., then located at the corner of West Main Street and South Washington Avenue.

The Trades firm had published the Freeborn County Standard weekly newspaper from 1857 to 1931. Thus, this company had the facilities to start a new weekly publication to be issued on Thursdays stating in late March 1942.

According to a notation on page four, there were 12,000 copies of The Southern Minnesota News issued each week with “controlled circulation.” No indication was given as to whether this was a free, subscription or newsstand sales publication.

Right at the time this newspaper started publication, the nation had been involved in World War II for four months. As a result, a very high percentage of the news reports and articles were based on wartime events.

Using the only available copy of this newspaper as a guide, here are the highlights of the eight-page June 4, 1942, issue.

On the front page were two photos based on local scenes. One was a view of Katherine Island and Fountain Lake with the added information that dredging of the lake would soon be completed. An added comment said boat sailing and swimming at the city beach were increasingly popular. The second photo was of the West Main Street Viaduct, described as “one of the most beautiful bridges in the state.”

Page two was a full page advertisement placed by Moulton Food Stores, 202 W. Clark St. There were also Moulton stores in Blue Earth and Fairmont, according to this ad.

On page three was the Radio Station KATE weekly schedule, a KATE on the Air feature (promoting several programs), and a large ad for the Skinner, Chamberlain & Co. store, 223-237 S. Broadway Ave.

Several news articles and editorial comments were on page four, plus ads for Hillcrest Gardens, the Palm Garden (a cafe and dance place at 220 S. Washington Ave.), Plymouth Shoe Store, and Ben Franklin Thrift Store, 213 S. Broadway Ave.

Page five was mostly local sports news based on a baseball game between the Austin and Albert Lea teams, plus more World War II news items. There were ads placed by Miller’s Walgreen Drug Store, 325 S. Broadway Ave., Mier Wolf and Sons, Coast-to-Coast Hardware, and Burnsmoor Dairy, 121 W. College St.

Social news dominated page six with a column called Kay Bonner’s Notebook which featured foods and fashions. Ads on this page were placed by optometrist Clayton N. Wulff, 334 S. Broadway Ave., and the area Jack Sprat grocery stores.

Two columns, one by Bob Paulson and the other by Richard W. Morin, were on page seven, plus hints on how to stretch vehicle mileage because of wartime gas rationing which was then just starting. Ads were placed by Hamm’s Beer, a second one by Mier Wolf and Sons, 326-328 S. Broadway Ave., and the Exchange Bargain Store on East Clark Street. The advertised slogan used by this second hand store was, “We take what you can’t use and trade you something you can use,.”

The eighth and last page of this particular 1942 issue of The Southern Minnesota News was an advertisement placed by C. Thomas Super Markets. The Thomas store at 229 S. Newton Ave. had both drive-in indoor vehicle parking and self service features for the convenience of their customers.