Caledonia Argus

The Saga of Jens Thompson

Posted: 4/23/02

The first in a series
By Aggie Tippery

The following story is based on a true event. I changed the names of the victims. The sources for my story are my own and other personís memories, and from 1937:

La Crosse Tribune, Winona Republican-Herald, Evening Tribune of Albert Lea, MN, Hokah Chief, Caledonia Argus, Elmer ìHappyî Hillís written statement and the State of Minnesota Prison records.

It was 1937: Franklin D Roosevelt was president of the United States. The nation was still in depression, but there were signs of recovery. The presidentís New Deal with the P.W.A. had built 21,700 new homes, the R.E.A. extended power lines far into isolated areas and the W.P.A. employed over two million jobless. The giant airship, the Hindenburg, exploded on May 6 over the Lakehurst Naval Station, killing 36 persons.

Amelia Earhart, female pilot, and her co-pilot, Frederick Noonan, disappeared in the South Pacific on July 18. The Golden Gate Bridge opened on May 27, spanning Frisco Bay in California. Joe Louis took the heavyweight crown by knocking out Jim Braddock in the 8th round.

Here in Hokah, the Hokah Chief advertised a Farmall 12 tractor for 625.00 at the Hokah Hardware. The Hokah Co-Operative Oil Company advertised the Oliver brand of machinery. The Hokah Midget Millís ad stated, ìIf you are paying more than $3.00 a hundred for a pig meal it is costing you more than necessary.î

There was an announcement that the Prairie Farmer WLS Home Talent Show would be held in the Caledonia City Hall, July 22-24. Admission: 25 cents for adults and 15 cents for children. Charlie Sauer stated in the Chief: ìTemperatures all day were 96ƒ to 100ƒ in the shade that July week.î

That summer, my Dad and Mom had moved from Grandpaís Union Ridge farm to Hokah when Uncle Clarence hurt his leg and couldnít milk. He and aunt Edith moved their cows to Grandpaís farm so Grandpa could help him with the chores. They moved into the house with Grandma and Grandpa. We moved into one part of a house across from the Catholic Church. My aunt Catherine and Uncle Deb Lee lived in the other part of the house. There were Mom and Dad, myself, Marian and Billy Joe. The Lees had Mary Jean, Betty, Margaret and Charlotte. I was eight that summer. Dad worked for his sister Ella Mae and Cabby, hauling beer from Minneapolis to Hokah.

Mom had a garden up at Grandpaís that summer. ìCome on girls, we are going to the garden.î ìYou have to help with Billy Joe, while I pick beans and peas with Ma.î ìThen we are going to can them.î I moped to the car. ìWhy canít we stay here and play.î ìWeíll be good.î

It was a lot more fun to stay in town, where we could play with our cousins and the little girl next door.

ìYou are coming with me, now get in the car!î So it was another long hot day on the farm, nothing to do, except play with Marian and Billy, and listen to the grownups talk about the dry, hot weather. Mom and Grandma discussed the prices they had paid at the Ford Hopkins Drug Store. The quart of ammonia was 11 cents, a box of 40 clothespins were 8 cents. ìI bought a dozen sugar sacks for dish towels for 7 cents each,î Grandma said. ìI will embroider the days of the week on them.î

At Happy Hillís bar in Hokah, it was a normal day. The doors were open to let in what little breeze might come through from the creek out behind. A few men were playing their daily card game. They complained about the dry weather. After the long day at Grandmaís, we were back in Hokah. Dad came home for supper. Afterward, we walked up the street and sat in front of Cabbyís with my aunt Ella Mae. She had a radio tuned to the news. ìThey still havenít found that woman pilot,î Ella Mae remarked. ìWhatís her name?î Dad asked. ìI think it was Earhart; Amelia, I believe. She went down in the South Pacific,î Ella Mae replied. Then she tuned it to Fibber McGee and Molly, a show we all loved to hear.

Near Austin Minnesota that July week a man named Jens Thompson was cleaning his gun and planning murder. His plans would soon change things at Happy Hillís Bar in Hokah. Elmer ìHappyî Hill would not see a ìnormal dayî for a while.

--Continued next week! Aggie

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