THAT REMINDS ME: Missile protection was Job 1 in August 1958

Fifty years ago, people were concerned about missiles and the focus was on developing an anti-missile program. The U.S. Senate sent President Eisenhower a military construction bill authorizing more than $4 million in future building at Grand Forks Air Force Base.

In Grand Forks, Riverside Park was a popular camping area. And when Grand Forks merchants sponsored Canadian American Days, the city was thronged with visitors. There was a parade and a football contest between the Blue and Gold teams of the Winnipeg Rugby Football Association.

There was trouble, too. About 60 teenage boys of the community staged a pop bottle and stone throwing demonstration at East Hall on the UND campus. That unit was housing boys attending UND's hockey clinic. Dean Charles Lewis of UND believed the attack came because of hockey players dating local girls. And, he said, it was the time of year when youngsters get bored.

A late heat wave hit the city on Aug. 9, 1958, bringing the temperature to 102. That was the highest that had been recorded here since 1947. On Aug. 11, 1958, a brief, violent storm hit the Ole Flaat farm two miles south of the city. The concrete foundation of a granary was about all that remained.

Through it all, the crops were good. The banner headline in the Herald on Aug. 19, 1958, said, "Valley Yields Exceptional." Averages for wheat were running 40 to 50 bushels to the acre, the Herald reported. Oats were averaging 70 bushels per acre. Some said it was the best wheat yield in more than 30 years.

At Oslo, Minn., work was started to replace the 1913 Red River bridge. The bridge originally had lifts, but the river was low and commercial boat travel had been abandoned.

On the sports scene:

n The Chiefs were in the news. The Herald reported:

"Reliable Rex Rupert pitched a seven-hitter as Grand Forks shaded Northern League leading Winnipeg Goldeyes 2 to 1 in the nightcap of a doubleheader before 2,389 fans."

The Goldeyes took the opener 8 to 4. The next night, right hander Octavio Acosta hurled the Chiefs to a 6 to 3 victory over the Goldeyes in Winnipeg.

The Chiefs were having an up and down season. On Aug. 13, 1958, the Herald said, "Rupert put the Chiefs back on the victory trail by hurling a six-hit, 3-2 win over Eau Claire (Wis.)." Later in the month, the Chiefs were in a skid. But Rupert got his 16th victory of the season to preserve a win against the Aberdeen (S.D.) Pheasants.

n Coach Marv Helling was entering his second season as football coach at UND. He invited 42 candidates for early drills, the largest fall squad in years.

n Edward "Red" Van Duyn and D.C. "Del" Peterson were selected players of the year in Grand Forks Softball for 1958.

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Names in the news 50 years ago in August:

n W.W. "Billy" Reis retired as proprietor of Ontario Grocery. It was the end of an era when the store closed Aug. 9, 1958.

Reis had purchased the store from the late R.B. Griffith in 1931. Earlier as a grocer in Hannah, N.D., Reis sold the first grapefruit in North Dakota. When they opened the case, workers wondered if it was a cross between a lemon and an orange.

Reis also was credited for bringing the first broccoli to Grand Forks.

n Edward Gillig, Grand Forks attorney, spoke at UND on "Tort Liability of Public Schools and School Districts."

n Robert Hadlich was president of Aaker's Business College, where 103 graduated in August 1958. Professor Erich Selke of UND was the commencement speaker.

n A.J. Mahowald was elected president of St.Michael's Hospital board. Art Greenberg was vice president. T.P. McElroy Jr. was named secretary.

n Mrs. E.J. Jelinek, of Pisek, N.D., was grand prize winner in the Herald's annual cook book contest. She submitted a recipe for Meringue Cradle Cake. More than 4,300 entries were received.