By today's standards, it might not seem like much. But when Andrew Carnegie offered in 1901 to give the city of Grand Forks $20,000 for a library, it was like a small fortune.
The Herald, on Aug. 13, 1901, said, "The announcement is the most gratifying news ever to the public of this city."
Following the announcement, Mayor John Dinnie and other leaders of the city gathered in the city's library room over the post office. The offer was immediately accepted. And then the question of where the library should be located was considered.
The question of where to place the new library today is not as easy as it was 115 years ago. It didn't take long in the old days to reach the decision it should be in the center of the downtown. City leaders then may never have guessed the question would come up again and again. You wonder where they would suggest placing a third proposed library building as the year 2016 gets underway.
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The weekend arrives with the UND hockey team hosting the Minnesota-Duluth team for a second game tonight team at the Ralph Engelstad Arena. ... The UND hoops team will take on Northern Colorado at 2 p.m. today at the Betty. ... And hopefully make up for the one-point loss they were handed earlier out there in Greeley. ... "Harvey" is at Fire Hall Theatre tonight and Sunday. ... The annual Daddy-Daughter dances sponsored by the Grand Forks Park District are underway this weekend and next at the Alerus Center. ... And on the Grand Forks Public Schools' calendar, it says "No School" on Thursday and Friday of the week ahead when it's tournament time with hockey in Grand Forks at the Ralph.
Ask Marilyn
Q. Do catfish in the Red River of the North get bored in the winter time?
A. I think the fish, like all of us people, get a little ''stir crazy." But Brad Durick, who knows his fish, says their bodies slow down, and if they find a nice hole, they make a bed in it. Durick is teaching a course that begins Tuesday on catfishing in the Red River. It runs 7 to 9 p.m. in Room 4 of Community High School.
Q. How does Themis, the goddess of justice, stay warm as she stands atop the Grand Forks County Courthouse holding the scales of justice?
A. I am not sure. And I have been thinking of sending her a hot coffee.
Ken and Barb
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Cheerful people of the week: Ken Dawes and Barb Lunde.
Under consideration: Tim Hennessy.
