Victoria Gazette - Victoria Moments

THESE 40 YEARS CONTINUED.

I was also privileged in that centennial year to interview and feature direct descendants of the original Victoria settlers. I entitled that personal and historical story, "Dancing with the Diethelms."

Forty Years of Features

Over these 40 years, I featured the Victoria Fire Department in 1981 ("Our Friends the Firemen"), in 2002 ("When the Siren Sings"), in 2006 ("Fire and Water"), and, most significantly, in 2013 ("The Victoria Firemen of 100 Years Ago").

The Victoria Fire Department was founded in 1913, two years before the City of Victoria was incorporated. In the 2013 feature story, I wrote about each of the 19 original Victoria firefighters and where they lived and worked. Such information is not found in written minutes but in memories of old-timers as recorded in the early archives of the Victoria Gazette. Most all of those first firemen were business people in downtown Victoria, and I included several historical photos of those 1913 businesses.

I continue to regularly feature the Fire Department's Annual Fishing Contests and Annual Open Houses.

Over these 40 years, I featured the Victoria Lions' 15th anniversary in 1981 ("It's Great to be a Lion"), their 20th anniversary in 1986 ("It's Grand to be On Hand"), the 30-year history of their tournament weekend in 1999 ("One Giant Step"), and their 50th anniversary in 2016 ("Victoria Lions 50 Years Later").

I continue to regularly feature Lions events, especially the softball tournament weekend since it's the largest and only three-day community event in Victoria.

Over these 40 years, I featured Victoria business people and businesses like the Notermann Store, Victoria Lumber, HEI, Victoria Dinner Theater, the Schmid Bros., the Victoria Cafe, Leuthner Well, Old Town Saloon, Leo's Bar, Lake Auburn Home for the Aged, the Victoria Dairy Queen, Tony's Tavern, Mount Olivet Rolling Acres, Schmitty's, Victoria Farms, Pirate's Cove, Victoria Auto Body, Hartman Construction, MABSCCO Step Group Home, Victoria State Bank, Emerald Crest, Victoria Repair Shop, Deer Run, Kid Talk, Floyd's Bar, Cabin Fever, the Victoria House, Victoria Bar and Grill, the Apple Farm, Victoria Care Center, Marsh Lake Hunting Club, Hartman Tree Farm, Carver Park Reserve, Lowry Nature Center, Storms & Alpaugh, The Blessing House, Fresh Seasons Market, Victoria Flats, Winchester & Rye.

Over these 40 years I featured Victoria churches and pastors including Lake Auburn Moravian, Faith Lutheran and Pastor Arnold Lemke, Fr. Agnellus Sobolewski, Fr. Robert Schmieg, St. Victoria Catholic, Fr. Elstan Coghill, Christ Victorious Lutheran and Pastor Larry Bell, Pastor Graham West, Fr. Conran Schneider, Fr. Landelin Robling, Pastor Frank Jones, Sister Rolaine Diethelm, Fr. Bob White, Fr. Butch Rowan, Fr. Brennan Schmieg, Fr. Fred Schneider, Fr. Larry Blake, Pastor Susan Plocher Thomas, Waterbrooke Fellowship, Pastors Bill and Maureen Bonner, Pastor Brian Dixon, Fr. Bernardine Hahn, Pastors Bill Monday, Eric Youngdahl, and Kevin Dibbley, and Pastor Gail Berger.

Over these 40 years, I featured every candidate who stepped forward to run for the Victoria City Council. I estimate those candidates to be nearly 100 in number.

Over these 40 years, I featured nearly every Touch of Bavaria, Concert in the Park, Classic Car Night, Victoria Volksfest, and Downtown Victoria Halloween Party.

Over these 40 years, I featured Groundbreakings (Victoria Elementary School), Grand Openings (Victoria Field House/Rec Center), Dedications (Holy Family High School), and many more.

Over these 40 years, I featured Victoria organizations that no longer exist, like the Victoria Concert Band, the Victoria Commercial Club, the Victoria Chamber of Commerce, and the Victoria Senior Center.

Beyond the Front Page

Most prominent within the inside pages of each Gazette is the centerfold of city scoop. Over these 40 years, I've written and reported much, if not most, of what is said and done at Victoria City Council meetings. I estimate those meetings to be nearly 1,000 in number. Plus workshops.

I've photographed and given space to most businesses that participated in the former Victoria Business Expos and Discover Victoria Days. As new businesses have come into town, I've tried to stop by, meet them, and introduce them in the Gazette.

I continue to give inside space and voice to residents through the "Victoria Moments" pages. I unabashedly include a myriad of notes and letters from residents as well as readers beyond Victoria. And I gratefully accept the writings of tenacious and talented columnists and others who contribute with heart and soul.

Beyond the front page of this 40th anniversary edition of the Gazette, I've included pdf's of past front pages -- not all 480 front pages, just some of those featuring people who have died since I sat in their homes, getting to know them, enjoying them, and writing their life stories.

These 40 years have gone by very fast. God bless Victoria and all those who grace the pages of the Victoria Gazette.

IF YOU’D LIKE TO SEE MY PDF OF THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION OF THE VICTORIA GAZETTE, RETURN TO MY HOME PAGE AND CLICK ON THE ARCHIVES. BEWARE: YOU COULD GET LOST IN THOSE FRONT PAGES.

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