Pride of Main Street Dairy Closes; Photos from the Parade

Sunday, August 9, 2015. Last month I talked about the Ding Dong Cafe's owner getting ready to retire. The Ding Dong will, I'm confident, still be around when a new owner's found.

Pride of Main Street Dairy, not so much. This week's Sauk Centre Herald top story, after Jeff Otte's deep fried cheese curds and other Stearns County Fair fare, was "Pride of Main Street Dairy closed indefinitely."


The headline says it all: "Pride of Main Street Dairy closed...." (August 6, 2015)

Sounds like Lifeway Foods, an Illinois-based company, is moving the production processes Main Street Dairy handled to Wisconsin or Illinois. That's put 11 of the 13 folks who worked at Main Street Dairy: out of work.

Someone's working in the office, and another doing building maintenance; the building's up for sale, and the small retail dairy store that was in the building is gone. I remember seeing Pride of Main Street Dairy's skim, 1%, 2%, whole and chocolate milk; and a few ice cream flavors; in Coborn's.

It was nice having locally-made dairy products, and looking for work is anything but fun: my experience, anyway. But I understand that change happens.

On a happier note, I don't think I shared these photos from the Sinclair Lewis Day parade, week before last.


Someone noted that kids scooting out to pick up goodies thrown from Sinclair Lewis Days Parade units reminded him of chickens going after corn. (July 18, 2015)


Sauk Centre's fire/emergency response department: new equipment - - - (July 18, 2015)


- - - and anything-but-new equipment. (July 18, 2015)

I've probably got photos from the Stearns County Fair, too: but those will wait until next week. Or the week after that, or whenever. That depends partly on whether I get any nifty pictures.

Mostly the Sinclair Lewis Days Parade

Sunday, July 19, 2015. It's been an interesting few weeks for the family. Among other things, my son-in-law and son have been designing and programming an industrial robot for Spiral Light Candle. That brought me and the other Sauk Centre Gills to North Dakota earlier this week. It's not quite 'life in Sauk Centre,' but — I'm a proud in-law/parent.


Spiral Light Candle factory, after hours. (July 13, 2015)

Meanwhile, back in Sauk Centre, the downtown mural on Sinclair Lewis Avenue is getting closer to completion.


Work in progress: the mural on Sinclair Lewis Avenue, at the corner of Sinclair and Main. (July 15, 2015)


Road work near the Interstate. (July 15, 2015)

It's an old joke. Minnesota's four seasons: fall, winter, spring, and road work. There's something to it.

Sinclair Lewis Days is over now. The parade route went by our house twice: which took a bit of coordination, letting an  outbound unit through the intersection while a returning one waited for its turn. It worked out fine, though.


Sinclair Lewis Days parade begins. (July 18, 2015)


Someone observed that the kids running out before another unit came, to pick up candy, reminded him of chickens going after seed. I see his point: and they were having fun. (July 18, 2015)


Sauk Centre fire/emergency department has at least one new(ish) vehicle - - - (July 18, 2015)


- - - and one that's very vintage. (July 18, 2015)

I've got more photos from the parade: but will spread them out over the next few weeks: along with pictures from the county fair. That's the plan, anyway.

Sun, Rain, and Road Work

Sunday, June 28, 2015. It's an old joke. Minnesota, the land of four seasons: fall, winter, spring, and road work.


Construction at St. Paul's. The house that was in that lot has been moved: where to, I don't know. (June 24, 2015)


Construction St. Paul's, most likely. Probably setting up new connections to utilities. Or maybe something else. (June 24, 2015)


The mural downtown is nearly finished. (June 24, 2015)


One of several days with rain. (June 26, 2015)

I see that next Saturday is the Fourth of July. Oddly enough, Sauk Centre's big fireworks display is during Sinclair Lewis Days.

Blessing a Billboard

Sunday, April 19, 2015. We got a little rain this morning: but not as much as forecast, or hoped for.

I've heard that Nick's, downtown at the corner of Sinclair Lewis and Main, has a new owner.


Monday afternoon, Sauk Centre public school. (April 13, 2015)


Blessing a billboard last Sunday, from the Sauk Centre Herald. (April 12, 2015)


Billboard blessing got pretty good coverage: front page, and back of the 1st section. (April 12, 2015)

The 'Divine Mercy' billboard near Interstate 94, east of town between here and Melrose, got blessed last Sunday. I wasn't there, but the Sauk Centre Herald did a pretty good writeup on the event.

And yes, that's a slingshot they used to deliver the holy water: in a balloon. That billboard is a long way from the ground.

The Flu, Empty Storefronts, and All That

Sunday, February 1, 2015. The flu left town, so the nursing home is back to its usual visiting times. I'm feeling better, myself.

I'm not happy about the number of 'for rent/sale' signs in empty storefronts downtown. But we've been through this sort of thing before.


Main Street and South 4th: the corner building's been used as offices most recently. Now it's bleakly empty: or ready for new tenants, depending on your viewpoint. (January 26, 2015)


Left to right, a for-rent storefront; Centre of Attention, a new-to-me fashion store; and Centre Floral. (January 26, 2015)


The corner building, at one time home to Winter's drug store, is for sale. (January 26, 2015)

The old mansion that housed Vocational Biographies for the 20 years I worked there has been for sale for some time. Driving by this week, I noticed something new.


Tax forfeiture property. Not exactly a cheerful sign: but one of my kids pointed out that this means there's a better chance of someone buying the place. (January 26, 2015)

I'm old enough to start being a surly old coot, constantly kvetching about newfangled — everything. Never could see the percentage in that. Besides, I've got a pretty good memory, 'good old days' weren't, and that's another topic.

Downtown was a tad empty in the mid-1980s, when my family and I moved here. Things picked up a few years later: and I'm pretty sure that will happen again this time around.

A Little Rain, a Little Sleet, a Little Snow: Christmas is Coming

Sunday, December 7, 2014. There's a winter weather advisory out until midnight: a little freezing rain, a little sleet, a little snow. I'm sincerely glad I could stay inside for most of the day.

Holiday decorations are up on Main and Sinclair Lewis Avenue, near downtown. December 3, 2014.

The family has Christmas decorations up in the living room, Sauk Centre's garlands are in place over parts of Main and Sinclair Lewis Avenue: and I'm looking forward to a good night's sleep. See you next week.

Farewell, Ungers; Hello Hillcrest Plaza

Sunday, November 16, 2014. Winter started this Monday, when about nine inches of snow fell. Since then, it's been below zero, Fahrenheit, several nights, and we've had a few 'cat track' snowfalls.


Snow, about 1:30 p.m. on Monday. November 10, 2014.


By Tuesday, we had about nine inches. November 11, 2014.

I was sorry to see a 'going out of business' sign in front of Unger's Furniture, downtown. That place has been a landmark here since the start of the 20th century. Looks like they couldn't pay off the estate taxes. (September 27, 2011)

I'll remember the 'good times,' including Unger's participation in the 2008 Sinclair Lewis Days parade. (July 19, 2008)


Ungers: a Sauk Centre fixture for 113 years, going out of business. November 12, 2014.


The Hillcrest Motel on south Main is now Hillcrest Plaza: rental office space. November 12, 2014.

Another change in town: the Hillcrest Motel on south Main is now Hillcrest Plaza, an office park.

The Community Mural

Sunday, September 7, 2014 It's rained, we've had clear skies, and the Community Mural is taking shape.


Sauk Centre's Community Mural: in progress. September 3, 2014.

I like the old red-and-white design: but the new mural looks pretty good, too. One more thing: school is back in session, so there's a lot of traffic outside, just before and just after.

No More Mead's

Sunday, August 24, 2014. I've got a few photos left to share, from the Stearns County Fair.


Stearns County Fair, Conservation building: the duck in the water pan is okay. He's got his head underwater, looking for food. July 30, 2014.


Stearns County Fair, the midway: near sunset. July 30, 2014.


Stearns County Fair, near the Bingo booth: a family having fun with a high striker. July 30, 2014.


Stearns County Fair, midway: on my way home. July 30, 2014.

Mead's department store, downtown, won't be there soon. I gather that the Mead's are selling the store: and that another outfit will open a similar outlet in the building. I may know more about it next week. Then again, maybe I won't.

Mostly Photos

Sunday, July 6, 2014. I mentioned the Sauk Herald's "Mural project to spruce up corner on Main Street" article back on May 25, 2014. As I said then, I like the red-on-white paint job that the Belmont building has been sporting lately: but the mural could look good, too.


The 'umbrella fountain' at Sinclair Lewis Park. June 30, 2014.


Downtown Sauk Centre. June 30, 2003.


"Let's Get The Red OUT!" June 30, 2010.


The park by the Sinclair Lewis Museum. June 30, 2003.


Fireworks being sold from a truck. June 30, 2003.


North Dakota sky. July 4, 2003.

"North Dakota?" There's an explanation for that. My wife, son, and #3 daughter went to North Dakota over the weekend to visit #2 daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter. Elizabeth was fascinated by what was going on across the room when I had a camera handy: so I got a picture of her left ear.


Our granddaughter, Elizabeth. July 22, 2010.

That's it for now: but I'm pretty sure that there'll be something to show again next week.

Nic's Diner Changes Hands

Sunday, June 15, 2014. It's been one of those weeks: I haven't gotten much done, and took all week doing it. The weather isn't helping: it rained on three days this week. I've heard that crops around here are not looking good. Water is good for plants: but too much at the wrong time: not so much.


Thursday's Sauk Herald. June 12, 2014.

On a happier note, the Sauk Centre Herald put the new owners of Nic's Diner on the front page: Gary and Karyn Nelson. The paper says they're planning a Grand Opening for Sinclair Lewis Days.

Downtown Mural in the Works

Sunday, May 25, 2014. Memorial Day weekend. My wife, son, and #3 daughter went to Itasca State Park this week, meeting #2 daughter and son-in-law there. I'm told that they had a good time, and #2 daughter took some photos.


Itasca State Park. May 21, 2014.


Headwaters of the Mississippi, Itasca State Park. May 21, 2014.

The May 22, 2014, Sauk Centre Herald ran "Mural project to spruce up corner on Main Street" on the front page. Looks like there's a plan to paint a mural on the side of the Belmont building. I gather that's the one Nic's Diner is in these days.

Since the theme is "let's get the red out," the mural will probably go on the north side of the building. I like the dapper red-on-white paint job it's got: but the mural could turn out nicely, too.

The paper says that three artists will be involved: Roger Reinardy's developing the design, working with Minneapolis artist Carole Bersin, and Diane Schmiesing will get involved, too.

That's about enough name-dropping for one day.

I plan to spend the rest of this three-day weekend doing not much in particular: and be back next Sunday with photos I've taken.

Springtime in Minnesota: After the Rain

Sunday, May 18, 2014. Our youngest child was confirmed today, along with 54 other young people in the three parishes: Our Lady of the Angels, St. Paul's, and St. Alexius in West Union. I also took a few photos this week.


Sauk Lake, and very green grass. May 14, 2014.


The 'umbrella' fountain and gazebo, Sauk Lake Park. The fountain isn't there yet, apart from the base. It's typically re-installed for Memorial Day Weekend. May 14, 2014.


Nic's Diner, downtown. May 14, 2014.


This house, and matching birdhouse, has been one of my favorite spots in town, ever since my family and I moved to Sauk Centre in 1986. May 18, 2014.


The birdhouse is a reasonably accurate scale model of the house. Someone had a nice idea. May 18, 2014.

I heard that 12 out of 19 days recently had significant rain. I believe it. It's been damp: and cloudy more often than not. This week it was cold, then warmish, then around freezing again: from one day's morning to mid-afternoon. Springtime in Minnesota: there's nothing quite like it.

"Walking with the Enemy," Followed by Q&A With Charles Hubbell

Wednesday, May 7, 2014. Main Street Theatre is celebrating their 75th year of operation. The Douvier family has operated the movie theatre since 1976.

This year, "In Conjunction with the 75th Anniversary of Main Street Theatre and the Sauk Centre Premiere of 'Walking with the Enemy' we are Announcing a Special Event for Opening Night on Friday, May 9. Meet one of the actors, Charles Hubbell, a Minnesota Native who will be available for a 'Q&A' following the showing of the film which will continue to run for a 2 week period!"


Advertisement from the May 4th Dairyland Peach.

I won't be there: I don't get out much. But don't let that stop you.

Dairyland Peach ran an article about Main Street Theatre, the Douviers, and a planned attraction, last year. (May 13, 2013)

New Places, and Shoveling the Roof

Sunday, February 16, 2014. I still haven't been in La Central Market and Isabella Boutique, unless you count their website: www.lacentralmarketmn.com. I did get a photo of the storefront, though. It's where Corner Drug used to be.


LaCentral Market and Isabella Boutique, at the corner of Sinclair Lewis Avenue and Main. February 1, 2014.


Shoveling Coborn's roof. February 11, 2014.


Sunshine, snow, clear sky, and the industrial park windmill. February 12, 2014.


New-to-me: Elmerz, west of Walmart. February 12, 2014.

We've had quite a bit of snow this winter. It's scenic, but means more work for folks with sidewalks, driveways, parking lots: and, in some cases, roofs.

ElmerZ restaurant and bar opened recently. It's whereGerard's used to be. The Sauk Centre Herald did a pretty good writeup on the new place: "Zimmer family to reopen popular establishment," Sauk Centre Herald. (November 8, 2013)