Information regarding the new Grygla History book

A May 30th, 2016, deadline has been set for families, individuals, clubs, organizations and businesses to submit information and/or photos for the new Grygla history book, which will be available for the 2017 Centennial celebration.

Even though the book won’t go to print for several months, committee members need to spend a considerable amount of time in organizing, typing, proofing, condensing and arranging the material. Decisions need to be made regarding the content and the layout before the book can be advertised for sale. 

At this time, members need to know the approximate size of the book in order to estimate costs per book. Additions and corrections can be accepted later, but the bulk of the information is needed by May 30th in order to move forward with the necessary steps.

Please submit your material to Joy Nordby (294-6122) or Sheldon Peterson (294-6176). You may also mail to: Joy Nordby, PO Box 13, Grygla, 56727; or email to joynordby@gvtel.com.

So far, committee members have gone through a wealth of material and loads of interesting facts and photos, including this article below! Joy Nordby included this clip from a story about the costs of running the city of Grygla. It was taken from an issue of the Grygla Eagle in January of 1918.

“Receipts after Grygla’s first year (1917) of incorporation included: cigarette licenses, pool hall license, road and bridge funds, “dragging” taxes and fines. Disbursements were election judge payments ($1.00 each), clerk payment for two meetings ($2.00), Grygla

Eagle publishing notices and printing ballots, $27.81; planks for street crossings, $59.76; nails for bridge, $1.51; clearing the street on Evelyn Avenue, $25.00; assessing the village, $8.25; Marshal salary, $5.00; and a number of small payments to nine different people for brushing, grading and other street work.

Total receipts for the first year of the incorporated village were $476.01. Total disbursements for the year were $345.27, leaving a cash on hand in Farmers State Bank of $130.74.”

Joy also included that the article mentions “dragging”, a word that may be unfamiliar to this generation. She says, “In 1917, there were no tar roads in the area, and very little gravel. Ruts and mud holes were something dealt with every day, not only in the country but on the city streets. Dragging was done either with horses or tractors, pulling logs or pieces of lumber behind to smooth out the rough roads and fill the holes. Even in winter, dragging was done to clear the snow or pack it down on the roads.”

The following poem was printed in a 1917 issue of the Eagle. It is rather comical and refers to “dragging”.

What made our roads so bad last fall,

What made our crops so hard to haul,

What made us close the country school,

And boys forget the golden rule?

No dragging.

Last winter in the stormy blast,

What made the auto go so fast,

What made the roads as smooth as glass,

Two loads of hay could even pass?

Road dragging.

Last spring when blossoms filled the air,

What made the busy farmer swear,

And rave and rant and tear his hair,

Because he wanted that repair?

No dragging.

Road dragging paves the way to town,

The man who drags should wear a crown,

And have his picture of the wall,

In every school made big from small,

By dragging.