These stories can also be heard on Sunday mornings around 10 am on WILD 102’s “Look Back in Time” program. Each week’s radio story will be posted here on our website.
Weekly radio stories are researched, compiled, and read by Sheila Winstead, RCHS Board Member.
June 29, 2025
A full-page ad for the Legion Carnival to be held at the New Memorial Skating Rink appeared in the September 18, 1925 issue of the Roseau Times-Region. The following week a full description was written about the Benefit Carnival to start that night. The subheading said “Katzenjammer Kids have Run Away from the Captain and Have Arrived”. Here’s the full article:
The bright lights, confetti, balloons, squeakers and all the rest that goes with a carnival are all provided for, so that after the opening number of the big event, this evening will become noisier and jollier as the hours fly.
A large U. S. flag will be hung in the center of the rink and at 7 o’clock this evening (Friday) it will be unfurled, giving a signal for the band to play The Star Spangled Banner. Then the fun will be on. Be there for the opening.
It has been learned that the Captain and his wife are missing the Katzenjammer Kids and that they have arrived in Roseau to raise Cain at the carnival. If the kids behave fairly well it is suggested that they be allowed to remain; otherwise the local bachelors will be notified to take them in hand and train them.
Andy Gump, Min, Bim and Chester have notified the local committee that, barring accidents, they will be here for the two-night revelry. Barney Google, Mutt and Jeff and Mr. and Mrs. Jiggs are also on the way and if the Great Northern “cannon ball” can manage to crawl in here anywhere near on time they will also be here to meet their Roseau friends.
Among the free attractions on the big bowery floor are booked some of the most noted entertainers from the East. A movie cast will produce “Wild Nell, the Pet of the Plains”; The Goops from Goopland, Chorus Girls and Acrobats, the likes of which have never been seen on a local platform, have been engaged for this big event.
There will be any amount of interesting features to be investigated along Midway. The management has had in mind to allow only those concessions which promised quality rather than quantity.
Stirring music during the earlier part of the evening will be furnished by the Roseau Band. An eight-piece orchestra will be on the job later on to play for the dance. Refreshments will be on sale by the Auxiliary.
It sounded like a very ambitious carnival for those days. I remember hearing the older generation talking about some of those entertainers, remembering them as characters in the “funny papers”.
Now here’s the rest of that article I read from last week that told the chronology of the arena’s creation:
A meeting of representative subscribers met, October 13th, and voted to turn the ownership of the rink over to the Legion Post, the sentiment being that since the Post was assuming the refundment obligation it was also entitled to have title to the property. The Post accepted the offer, with the full
sense of the responsibility it conferred as regards the stewardship of this community undertaking. The Post vested the management in its executive committee.
The season soon came when the rink had to be made ready for skating. Water and sewer connections had to be made and a caretaker for the season had to be engaged. The Post dug deeper into its pockets, hired Alex Johnson to lay the water main and to put in the sewer, the village co-operating as in the past years. Mr. Johnson was also hired as caretaker. The rink is ready for the season as far as men can make it without installing artificial ice equipment. The rink has been flooded and a thin ice has formed, but it is not probable that it can be opened for skating before next week.
The Post believes the building should render the biggest possible service to the community and for that reason has established a rule that gatherings not classed as of political nature or for money raising purposes shall not be charged a rental except such charge as may be made for light or other actual expenses incurred in connection therewith.
One of the prominent businessmen of the village sees in the building a community gathering place during the summer months where large conventions and meetings can be held. A crowd of two thousand people can be housed there. The acoustics of the building are exceptionally good, making it an ideal auditorium. And that is the way it is being generally considered. Its asset to the community in that respect will be more and more realized.
Its uses in winter time, however, were the convincing argument for the rink. In the covered rink the children and the other folks of the community may gather to enjoy a healthy sport in fair or stormy weather. No longer will the rink be closed because of snow or storm. Rules have been laid down whereby those who frequent the rink will be governed in order that the maximum enjoyment may be had. Undoubtedly the memorial enclosed rink will play a big part in promoting the spirit of clean play and sportsmanship and in this way be an influence in making good citizens.
The men who so faithfully performed their tasks in giving Roseau the rink are not reaping any other remuneration for their sacrifice of time and effort except as due credit is given them. It will be found that as they were willing to shoulder the tasks allotted each one and carried them to a successful finish, so they have and will continue to advance the progress of Roseau and its territory. Credit is also due to those who played the part as privates – subscribing their share and giving their moral support. They would have done the work as well had the job been assigned to them. Such is a fine manifestation of the real live community spirit that needs no “community specialist’ to arouse it from dormant condition.
Next week I’ll tell a little about another building project in that same part of Roseau.
Thank you to 
for letting us share our county’s history with your listeners by donating air time, studio time, and production staff every week.