Outside Central Junior High

Tegland Archives

Kathy, Marilyn, Billy Jo, Rose. . . just to name a few. Can you name the rest? We hope so. Please help the editor at Rolfsrud@gmail.com. These junior high girls were apparently attracted to Karl Tegland or to his camera, we're not sure which.

Sara Sevey writes:
Okay, here you go:

1st row: Kathy Carlson, Diane Hoffman, Carol Charter, Marilyn Olson, Gloria Nord

2nd row: Sandy Larson, Lynn Deitz and Kathy Sherry.

Sara

Ain't she sweet?

You betcha, says Mark, with a wink.

Tegland Archives

Classmates Mark and Karen Benson will celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary next summer. Karen still manages the class checkbook and reports a small surplus. Watson, did you hear that?

65er Parade participation doubles!

Joe Drexler joined Tom Obert this year at the annual homecoming parade down Broadway, thereby doubling the Class of '65 participation over last year, and making our magnificent class over-achievers again. (You can exhale now, boys)

The mighty mighty Cardinals won the football game, 28-17 over Bemidji and are now 3-1 on the season.

Here's Obert's report on the first half:

Our quarterback outweighed Bemidji's quarterback by 103 pounds - which must be some sort of record. Our Colin Erickson is a 6' 2", 238 pound senior; their quarterback is a 135 pound sophomore. But diminutive as he was, we had no answer for him. He wasn't particularly fast and didn't have much of an arm, but made all the right decisions.

In the half, the Lumberjacks probably controlled the ball for 3/4's of time, going on long, extended marches of 5 yard plays. The Cards were the opposite. The second time they had the ball, Erickson launched about a 60-yard pass that hit the receiver in stride, but was caught just out of bounds. He tried again, and hit Mark Whiting, our 6'5", 4.5 in the 40, wide receiver, for a 58-yard touchdown. For some reason, we never tried a long pass again. The Cards also scored on a long run. At the half, Bemidji led 17-14.

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Due to cutbacks and economic conditions, there was no streaker this year. Unless Obert missed her.

Pom poms at the ready, these gung ho members of the Class of 1967 were dutifully photographed by the Cub Reporter. Underclassman Al Grundei, back left, was informed that 65ers could have easily surpassed this modest turnout, but were already celebrating homecoming at the big All-Classes keg party at Woodtick Lodge.

"What keg party?" Grundei asked. "Nobody told me about any keg party. Is there a party?"

Three added to Alex Hall of Fame

Click to enlarge. Thanks to Tom Obert for supplying award photos. Congratulations to the inductees, key people, indeed, during our tenure at Jefferson High.

Note to Cub Reporter

Re: Exclusive uncoverage of Homecoming festivities. Be sure to pack telephoto lens in the event of streaking tradition revival. (Photo, right) EchoPress won't touch story. Be ready. Be steady. Don't be caught with pants down again.

Working weekend at Woodtick Lodge

2010 Reunion Chairman Robert Watson will be taking a working holiday at the reunion offices on the second floor of Woodtick Lodge, West Little Darling, this weekend. He hopes to flesh out committee assignments and develop a comprehensive agenda and talking points for the next organizational meeting. It's not going to be all work though. Mr. Watson hopes to have enough time to enjoy this splendid view of Lake Darling. No word on whether his 1947 Packard convertible will appear in the Homecoming Parade tomorrow. This photograph was taken 100 years ago and one of a collection of 700 postcards our classmate Lorlee Bartos is placing on the internet, honoring her great aunt Annie. Lorlee's story was featured in the Echo Press this week. Take a look at her work. It is very impressive. Click here:

http://anniebartos.blogspot.com/

Nine candles, ten boys

Tegland Archives

Before there were Toga Parties, there were Birthday parties. No girls allowed at this event hosted by birthday boy, Karl Tegland. From left, Lonnie Thornton, Paul Strandberg, Mark Benson, Mike Geiser, Barry Jenson, John Conrad, Karl Tegland, Jerry Teeson, Calvin Jenson and Dick Johnson.

Toga 1962! Toga! Toga!

All photos courtesy Tegland Archives

Jane and LaVonne

From The Central Junior High Cardette, Spring, 1962:

Jeff Berg, the late Gary Goodrich, Rich Divine
Meanwhile, in the men's can, Mike Foss, Mike Geiser and, climbing the walls, Tom Tessmer.

Pity the Lakers. . .

The Cardette: Spring, 1962

The chairman and his date

Tegland Archives

2010 Reunion Chairman Bob Watson with Diane Hoffman O'Brien at what appears to be a very important event 44 years ago. Probably not a pizza party.

The worst car washer

washes Mr. Elton's car.

Here's the assignment sheet for a spring of 1965 Car wash organized by the Key Club. Lunch was provided to workers by McCarthy's. . . if you brought money. Click to enlarge and read the rules.

60s Graphic Arts

Before there were computers, there was phototypsetting. Before that, there was letterpress typesetting at Lakeland Printing in Alexandria. Very expensive. So we did the best we could with what was at hand.

Above is the actual cover to the mimeographed program for the Student Council Banquet in 1965. You gotta love the extra effort for the scroll effect.

Special events, like a high school graduation, called for special high-end typesetting and job work at a print shop. Here's the official program for the Class of 1965. Click to enlarge and find your name, just to be sure you graduated.

1965 Alexandria Cardinal Marching Band

Fall is the season for marching bands. None finer than this one, no doubt. Click to enlarge and spot your old friends.

Testing, testing

We're testing some equipment designed to digitize a recently unearthed trove of old black and white images made by a classmate in the 60's. Here's a shot of Karl and Morrie. Looks pretty good. We'll make more.
(Think that tie will ever come back in style? Or should Karl just give up and donate it to The Goodwill?)
-- Editor.

A smug underclassman chimes in

Al Grundei, underclassman, writes:
Not only was the Class of ’65 outdone by the Class of 1942 in last year's homecoming parade participation, we additionally note that the Class of 1938 has had two entrants in recent years and plans on doing so again this year. That would be double the performance of the Class of '65.
Appearing will be Gladys Drexler (mother of Joe '65 and Doug '67) as well as my mother, Rosemary Grundei. So, historically, the class of ’65 has been outdone by two classes where members are in their upper 80’s or low 90’s.
Perhaps you are using the wrong bait, by trolling the cub reporter out there?
-----------------------
The editor responds:
Dear Mr. Grundei: Our class does not mind an occasional ass-kicking from our elders. It is the smug attitude of an underclassman that we can't abide. And please show some respect for our parade drum major. He may not be the sexiest or most charismatic, but he is quite harmless, cheerful when properly medicated, has two legs and good shoes. We think him to be eminently qualified to march down Broadway behind your mother's car and are confident that a few others may even follow his good example this year.
So let's try to keep this all in perspective. In the wise words of our leader, Bob Watson: "Geez. What do you expect from our class? This is just a doggone parade, not a kegger."

Lawrence Rupert

Lawrence Clifford Rupert, 62, Alexandria, died September 9, 2009 at his home.
Larry was born October 18, 1946 in Alexandria to Bernadine and Clarence Rupert. He graduated from Jefferson High School in 1965.
In 1966, Larry met Bertha Jane Morris and they were united in marriage on December 9, 1967 at St. John’s Nepomuk Church in Lowry. The couple made their home in Alexandria, where they lived on a hobby farm and raised five children. In 1966, Lawrence began working at Alexandria Concrete and worked there for 13 years. For the last 29 years he was working at Hubbard Feeds in Alexandria. He recently retired in October 2008.
Larry enjoyed fishing, hunting, collecting everything and anything from auction sales, farming and especially gardening. He always had a sense of humor and enjoyed telling many stories and jokes. He was the master at pranks. Most of all, he enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.
He is survived by his wife, Jane “Bert” of Alexandria; son, Camron “Camel filters” (Jessica) Rupert; four daughters, Shelly “Mickey” (Bob) Steidl, Carrie “Corky” (Bob) Hvezda, Leslie “Grandma” (Shad) Schmidt and Holly “Big eyes” (Jeff) Chlian, all of Alexandria; five grandsons, Ethan “Eaterbug,” Riley “Rilo,” Logan “Yoder,” Gavin “Grimus” and Mitchell “Blue eyes;” three granddaughters, Skyler “Little Grandma,” Shelbe “Shelbert” and Addison “Dolly;” brothers, Jerry (Linda) Rupert, Jim (Marlene) Rupert, Barry Rupert and Tom (Pat) Rupert; and sisters, Sandy (Richard) Sullivan and Judy Hedstrom.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents; grandparents; son-in-law; nephew; and mother-in-law.
He was one of a kind and will be missed by many.

C'mon 65ers. You could use the exercise!

Donna Podratz writes:
This is in response to Tom's plea.
For those who would like to walk in the Homecoming parade and do not have a shirt, they can be ordered through Jill Johnson at jjohnson@alexandria.k12.mn.us
Cowing-Robards is coordinating this event and the shirts can be purchased for a mere $5.
If the class of 1942 has two alums, you would think someone from the class of 1965 could trot along with Tom.
For those that feel they cannot walk, I believe Viking Towing is pulling a flatbed trailer with mixed alumni. Once again, 12 noon, Saturday, Sept. 26th.
I am assuming the route will be the same as last year.
Start at Jefferson, all the way down Broadway as far as ACE Hardware.

Ah, the humiliation

How can we spare Tom the embarassment of being overwhelmed by old people?

Every year, our class stalwart marches down Broadway in the Alexandria Cardinal Homecoming Parade. Faithful alums flock from far and wide to strut for good ol' Jeff Hi.

Today Tom Obert made an outdoor appearance in his pajamas and alumna tee-shirt to make this plea:

"Homecoming is a little over a week away - any 65ers going to join me this year in the homecoming parade (Saturday, Sep. 26, noon)? Bonita? Diane? It's a little embarrassing to be overwhelmed in turnout by the class of '48!"
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Stan says: Nice photo, Ruthie. Great color in the trees. Now get out and march with your man. Anybody else? C'mon, you, too, can get your picture posted on this blog.

We're still good to go

Office of the Chairman
2010 Reunion Committee
200 Woodtick Lodge
West Little Darling, Alexandria, Minn.
56308

September 12, 2009

Dear Stan,
Just a brief note to say that everything is still on track after a minor misunderstanding and a gracious settlement.
Due to an outstanding arrest warrant, dated April of 1965, and some other matters of historical record, we were initially unable to reserve the reunion site in my name without paying an extra $500 damage deposit. Unfortunately, we no longer have that kind of money in the class treasury, after all the expenses of our last organizational meeting.
It was also requested that we hire a private company to provide security, which would just be another costly, totally unnecessary expense.
As you know, I was initially willing to simply transfer the room reservation into someone else's name. That will no longer be necessary, so we can go ahead as originally planned.
I made them a second offer, which they did not refuse.
So it's all fixed now. I am sorry for any confusion or concern this may have caused as I was totally unaware of that old business. But I don't think any of us has perfect memory anymore.
Please let our classmates know. We're still on for August 21.
Sincerely yours,

Bob Watson
Reunion Chairman
JHS Class of 1965

Anybody got Wendy's number?

A classmate has requested we post an item seeking info on Wendy Isley.

She writes: "Wendy and I were good friends in school, and I so, so remember the horse riding (couldn’t walk for days!!) at their place (which we drive past all the time up at the lake). I would love to contact her and see how she’s doing.

Bev Korkowski

Can anybody help us? Rolfsrud@gmail.com

Flash! Pizza crust recipe revealed!

Hi Stan,
I certainly don't want to out do Diane, but it just so happens I have the crust recipe for the Indian Mounds Pizza.
My ex-mother-in-law used to work at the Indian Mounds with Nell, so George Schackel and I spent a lot of time there back in the 60's. Nell was a vegetarian and fabulous cook.
She claimed it was the crust that was the key ingredient in her pizza. Her favorite and mine was green olive/cashew. That was her idea of great vegetarian pizza.
Here's the recipe for the crust....not as easy as frozen dough, I'll promise you that.
INDIAN MOUND PIZZA CRUST - Nell Hoffman
2 cups water
1 Tablespoon salt
1 Tablespoon sugar
1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning
1/4 teaspoon yeast (or less)
1/4-1/2 cup oil
6 cups flour (approx)
Add 2 cups flour to first six ingredients. Mix well. Add remaining flour and mix until stiff and firm. Oil and divide into six sections and freeze in plastic bags. Thaw when ready to use and roll dough very thin. Bake on sheet for 10 min at 400-450 degrees. Add favorite topping and bake til cheese is melted. (Be sure and bake the crust before adding the toppings or else it gets very soggy.)
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This was published in my dad, Erc Aga's, newspaper column in April of 1979. My parents wintered with Nell and Jerry in Harlingen, Texas during the late 70s and 80s.
Don't know if this helps, but the class of '66 is always looking after our older classmates.
Kathryn Aga Lee '66
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Thanks, Kid. So you put the pizza in the oven twice, eh? Hmmm. This IS getting to be a lot of work. You didn't say if you have actually ever made this. -- Stan

Hungry for real pizza, like Nell's?

This is the Indian Mounds store, an historic site at the intersection of County Roads 42 and 34 in Alexandria. The photo was taken in 1954. At one time there were six Native American burial mounds in the triangle formed there.
But what has Alex boomers buzzing these days is the search for the memorable taste and crunch of the amazing pizza pie once served up here by Nell Hoffman.

Comments like: "It was my very first pizza. Amazing. There I was, an Alexandria girl, being treated to my first pizza by an out-of-towner."

"For 20 years I've been looking for pizza that tasted like those simple early-days pizzas. Thin crust. Wonderfully herbal sauce. Just a little bit of greasy cheese. But wow! I still get high thinking about the aroma and flavor of those pizzas. If anybody knows the secret to them, please email to me."

"We've had the same exact thoughts. What happened? Would the young people today think we were nuts if they tasted what we remember as being "real" pizza? The Indian Mounds Pizza was fabulous..."

And so on. Suggestions for finding such classic pizza include possibilities in the Twin Cities: Carboni's, Third Street, etc.

Fortunately, we have an expert on the topic: Nell's daughter and our classmate, Diane Hoffman O'Brien.

Diane says:
"The Indian Mound Pizza recipe came from the Carusos. They owned a well-known Italian restaurant in St Paul. The recipe had been passed down for generations. The Carusos took my mother under their wing after trying my mother's first version of Norwegian spaghetti.

"They had a home on Government Point, if I remember right. All our ingredients came from an Italian market in St Paul. I have the recipe. It takes a day to make. It includes spices wrapped in cheese cloth, then riced after several hours of cooking in the sauce. It was lots of work.

"The onions went through a meat grinder. They were cooked with oil and meatballs then sauce was added.

"Now I just doctor up jarred sauce to make it taste like my Mom's. When making pizza I use Rhodes frozen bread dough. Make sure it's completely thawed. I get three crusts from each loaf. Roll out all the dough. Par-bake the crusts at 450 degrees. Make sure you pierce the dough several times so it doesn't rise.

"Place the crusts in a brown grocery bag when cooled until you use. I serve pizza on ripped and folded brown bags."

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Thanks for sharing that, Diane. Wow. The secret seems to be hard work and caring about the result. Who's ready for a real Pizza Party!

Go Granny, Go

We don't know if she dragged Broadway, but 90-year-old Leona (Wright) Diedrich and her pal Audrey Cline recently took a spin around Alexandria in Audrey's Mustang. Proud daughter Carolyn Wright Hoffland, '68, sent us this action shot.

Yes, we have fun at Wallweeds lunches

This gathering of JHS alums at the Sunshine Factory in New Hope was certainly no planning session --- unless you count picking next month's meeting time as planning. The monthly sessions are open to all Alexandria boomers.

A report from the Bug-a-Booo Bay mini-reunion held a couple of weeks ago was heard, chiefly recounting Bob Watson's hilarious tale of how he and an accomplice once upon a time instantly reupholstered the back seat of his friend's parents' car after it got wrecked by an errant cigarette butt. More on that some other time. Suffice that the word "busted" was used in the retelling.

Yes, the 2010 Reunion was discussed momentarily, but other than the date and place (Aug. 21, Broadway Ballroom in Alexandria) little else is known, owing to the absence of the chairman, who was called away to other pressing affairs at the last minute.

Lynn Nordstrom, far right, mentioned that her hubby, Roger, had a black-and-white photograph selected for showing at the prestigious State Fair Art Show. The classmate saw it at the Fair today, and reports that, indeed, it was a fine piece of work. Then there was that memory about playing "In Between" with Mark "Sparkie" Larson and friends in the back of the cheerleader's bus driving to away games.

Kathy Sherry confirmed that a block of rooms is being held for next year's reunion at the luxurious new Hampton Inn, stumbling distance from the Broadway Ballroom. Details to come.

(From left, Theresa Wadsworth Widstrom, Paula Widstrom Hanson, Bev Roers Korkowski, Kathy Sherry Skadsberg, Lynn Hopfner Nordstrom. Photo by Stan Rolfsrud who is balancing on a chair so as to get the absolutely very best light on everyone.)

Local sleuth spots 'Murder' star

Bev Roers Korkowski, JHS '65, pictured below left, writes breathlessly from somewhere in Alexandria:

Stan:
Here’s a little “star power” tidbit for you…..
I just got back from Osakis, where I was shopping at Just Like Grandmas.

When I arrived, people were standing around in clusters, looking at these three people headed to their car with ice cream cones. I heard them talking about “her” but figured it was some local person that everyone knew. Only upon checking out and asking the clerk if they had had a famous visitor today, she confirmed that indeed they had: Angela Lansbury, who starred in “Murder She Wrote” for 12 years on television.

The clerk asked the lady if anyone had ever told her she looked like Angela Lansbury, to which she was told “Yes, I’ve been told that before." Then a person accompanying her nodded his head up and down, mouthing the words “she IS Angela Lansbury."

Seems she has relatives in the Lake Miltona area where she is visiting and they came to Osakis for a bit of boutique shopping and an ice cream cone. Next time I’d better gussy up a bit more….never know who’ll be in Osakis next!

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More on Miss Lansbury from Wikipedia:
Angela Brigid Lansbury, CBE (born October 16, 1925) is an English actress and singer whose career has spanned seven decades. Her first film appearance was in Gaslight (1944), for which she received an Academy Award nomination, and she expanded her repertoire to Broadway and television in the 1950s. Highly respected for her versatility, Lansbury has won five Tony Awards, six Golden Globes, and has been nominated for three Oscars and eighteen Emmys.
Her more popular films include The Manchurian Candidate (1962), Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971) and Beauty and the Beast (1991) and she was successful in such Broadway musicals as Gypsy, Mame and Sweeney Todd. Lansbury is more recently known for her role as mystery writer Jessica Fletcher on the U.S. television series Murder, She Wrote, in which she starred from 1984 to 1996.

The Fountain of Youth

The recent Echo editorial about the "Fountain" brought an outpouring of affection for the old place:

It was Connie Hanson, as owner, It was called the Fountain of Youth and it was the BBQ that had all of us rushing across the street during lunch period. My two older sisters worked there. I have no idea what the recipe was.
- Paul Donley (Alex, class of '64)
Conrad Hanson. His daughter Cindy was in our class. Funny, I didn't remember a barbecue, either. But I sure remember the hamburgers and cherry cokes. And the "standing room only". What a great little place that was.
- Patty Wicken (Alex, class of '67)
ya sloppy joes.
- Diane O'Brien (Alex, class of '65)
It was a high spot for kids when the Law Enforcement Center was Central High (later, Junior High) School. Lunch there could be had for $.25 - composed of a delicious $.15 hamburger, and nickel Coke, and a nickel bag of chips (for another nickel, one could get a fried roll). The "Fountain" was a summer long dining experience as little league baseball was played on a ball field where the library now resides. I recall enjoying Roy Orbison's "Dear One" one summer afternoon as I left the "Fountain" for the ball field. I don't recall the owners' names, but the last name of Hanson sticks in my mind. I have sent out feelers. -
Tom Obert
We thought the Fountain was the best. I worked there during noon hours and got to leave class about 5 minutes early to get there.Do you remember the chocolate cake with the white frosting? The kids would order suicides (soda pop) which combined every combo of coke, squirt, orange, etc. that you could think of.I do remember the pot of sloppy joes on the stove in the back kitchen. They were good but the hamburgers were the best.
- Linda Akenson (Alex, class of '68)
The Fountain did serve fried rolls. They bought them from the bakery. Yeutter's, Blue Ribbon or Tubby's. All were such good bakeries.
- Patty Wicken
Didn't they also serve those fried rolls - is that what the were called - or was that another bakery in town?
- Judy Blanchard (Alex, class of '65)
Dave and I were talking about the Fountain this morning and we don't remember bbqs either but we do remember burgers and pop for 25cents and of course fried rolls! Thank goodness I never had a lot of money or I would have been as wide as I was tall. We also remember going to Shorty's on Broadway and getting hot gravy and pop for a quarter. More low cal fare. :-)
- Bonita Gilbertson (Alex, class of '65)
Don't remember a barbecue hamburger but that doesn't mean they didn't have it. Didn't they have penny candy too??? Couldn't you buy wax red lips and the wax pop bottles filled with that gawd-awful liquid sugary substance? Also the black licorice rolls with the red candy centers? Were they supposed to be tires? I think they also had fried rolls. I remember Mrs. Hanson the most. Didn't she wear an apron tied around her waist in which she carried change in the little pockets? She also wore white anklet socks with "practical" shoes to be on her feet all day. At times, didn't she even wear a hairnet? I remember her having thin dishwater blond hair with a slight curl. Very pretty and young looking to have a child in junior high school. I think Cindy was the oldest of their children and she had two younger brothers. Am I correct?
- Gretchen Obert