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Articles written by Gwen Cornwell


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  • Rogers' Food Store

    Gwen Cornwell, For The Courier|Mar 13, 2024

    Our Courier Editor opened the door for this article by one of the items in "Yesterday's Memories" mentioned in the issue of Feb. 28, 2024. Of course, I do remember the Rogers' Food Store and many of the other grocery stores that Glasgow had in days past. Our community had an abundance of small grocers, which I would like to address at a later date. Of course, back in the day, we did not have convenience stores like Holiday or Ezzies, where you could stop and grab a quick gallon of milk or other...

  • Marching Bands

    Gwen Cornwell, For the Courier|Feb 28, 2024

    I was remembering marching bands of the past. Since I do not live in town I shouldn’t make statements that I cannot verify, but I am pretty sure that folks living in the vicinity of the high school and middle school today do not get to see the band and baton twirlers practicing. As a youngster I lived on 4th Ave. No. in Glasgow and always thought it was really cool to get to watch the High School band practice on our streets. I remember going to Moose Jaw, Sask., for a band marching competition at one time (I can remember that but do not...

  • Dement Beach

    Gwen Cornwell, For the Courier|Feb 21, 2024

    Remember Dement Beach? Not many have even heard of it. Dement Beach was a recreational facility located about 10 miles north of Opheim or approximately six miles north of Glentana. I have remembered this recreational facility in the past but it does amaze me that many of the local residents of Opheim and Glentana haven’t heard of it. I am fortunate to have several original pictures of this resort as well as finding old news items concerning it. In my young days of living in that area it was a great place for ice skating parties. Speaking of...

  • Half Day School Days

    Gwen Cornwell, For the Courier|Jan 17, 2024

    Do you remember when Glasgow had half day school days? I remember moving from Opheim the summer between my junior and senior year. I was lucky enough to be hired by a Bank here in Glasgow that summer and decided to finish my schooling in Glasgow. What a deal, I could go to school in the mornings, and then go to my job after lunch. Not many of us had the opportunity to make money and attend school all at the same time, unless you had an extremely good baby-sitting job somewhere. I am pretty sure these days came about due to the extra population...

  • Grain Trucks

    Gwen Cornwell, For the Courier|Dec 20, 2023

    Noticing the picture of grain trucks in the Buzz as well as all the activity at the elevators has made me remember the moving of grain in my young days. The use of 2-ton trucks with side boards and hoists. How the world does change. I am sure my grandfather, or maybe even my Dad could not imagine the present day grain trucks, the ease of dumping them, and the amount of grain they could have hauled. I understand that grain elevators of days past were set up for wagons to dump. I can only assume that this began in horse and wagon...

  • Glass Jars

    Gwen Cornwell, For the Courier|Dec 6, 2023

    How long has it been since you purchased Mayonnaise in a glass jar? Since it has been canning season, I had reason to be checking my jar inventory. I always saved these unmarked jars to use to share cream, pickles, etc . rather than have to purchase more canning jars. I only remember Ball and Kerr, although there may have been other brands marketed. Of course, I did have a small supply of blue glass jars that had been passed on to me from family, but they were definitely not passed on. Of course now days, blue glass jars get used for...

  • Remember County School Picnics

    Gwen Cornwell, For the Courier|Nov 29, 2023

    Although I am submitting this and do remember these picnics, this was written by my significant other, Paul “Bud.” I will talk about Tampico School picnics in particular. I remember the site being the Bob Cornwell place across the Milk River from Tampico. This site was up by the mouth of Buggy Creek in a hay field along the river. We would cut the hay crop so there was a clear spot to play baseball. One time, as we arrived, someone hollered “Bud, catch.” I reached out and the ball caught the end of my thumb and bent it backward. Needles...

  • Halloween

    Gwen Cornwell, For the Courier|Oct 25, 2023

    Remember Halloween’s from your past? Did you do more than just go to the neighborhood homes to request a treat, or were you involved in trickery too? I don’t know if all young people in small town used to get so involved with trickery but the Town of Opheim was quite lively Halloween night You might find your outhouse moved, as one was once found on the steps of the school house come morning. You didn’t want to leave any windows open in your office or home as you may find it inhabited with chickens, or the implement dealer may have found...

  • Columbus Day

    Gwen Cornwell, For the Courier|Oct 18, 2023

    Remember when you were in school and Columbus Day was a part of our history lessons from early grades on and we learned about Christopher Columbus, the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. I guess even as a young gal I knew that things change, but I naïvely thought that history was something to remember and did not change. I could always remember the date of Columbus Day recognition (maybe because it was my Grandmother’s birthday). I could ramble on, but since we can change names, dates, etc. of history that generations studied, I do...

  • Cowboy Sweetheart

    Gwen Cornwell, For the Courier|Sep 20, 2023

    Since it has been a few weeks since remembering and I have been traveling, not on the highway, but by air, I thought I would share another Burma Shave - Asked what he did for exercise Gallo, a Spanish bull fighter, replied that he smoked Havana Cigars.   Now on to my trip to Missouri, I got to see a girl that I went to school with in the fifth grade in Missouri. We used to stand on our farm house back porch and sing “I want to be a Cowboy Sweetheart.” So, I shared with her just how silly and naïve we were.  Sharing old memories is...

  • Burma Shave Signs - Fire Season

    Gwen Cornwell, For the Courier|Aug 23, 2023

    Back to Burma Shave signs. Chaperone your cigarettes! They should not go out alone. I think this signage along the highways was, and still would be, very appropriate, especially with the fire season that we have had. I have seen several grass fires. Not horrible fires like we are hearing about on the news but devastating enough to make me very fearful of them. Say your prayers, knock on wood, or whatever you feel brings you luck, but be prepared the best you can and take extreme care. None of us want that as a “Remember....

  • Riding The Train

    Gwen Cornwell, For the Courier|Aug 2, 2023

    I am struggling to make train reservations today. Do you remember when we had a staffed depot and you could purchase your tickets at the train depot? Much simpler than trying to do it online, especially if you belong to the older generation. Of course, back then you could always call the depot to get times for departures and arrivals also. I have not traveled by train for some years and am well aware that I see many changes from the days my family or myself used the train to travel a distance. Got to meet some really nice porters and...

  • Remember When

    Gwen Cornwell, For the Courier|Jul 26, 2023

    I am sure that many of you guys out there can remember getting a summer job picking up bales. It seemed like many of the young high school football players liked to get the job as they got to “keep in shape” over the summer. When I go outside to help, I can’t help but remember my days in the hay field and I got to run air-conditioned outfits. I can’t imagine what it would be like picking bales the hard way on those 90-degree days. Thankfully, modern equipment and bale size has brought about many changes in that respect. For those of...

  • Cow Chips

    Gwen Cornwell, For the Courier|Jul 5, 2023

    If you were not a “country kid” you may not have any memories of the following, however I think that several of us can remember getting to head outside to the pasture on Mom’s baking day to collect “cow chips.” This was not a real unpleasant job if it was one that you had done in the past. The trick of course was to be sure that these were dry ones that you were picking up. My husband shared that he and his sister got to go looking for cottonwood bark. Coming from the North Country, I do know that cow chips were no doubt more...

  • Sharpening Knifes

    Gwen Cornwell, For the Courier|Jun 7, 2023

    With all of the smoke filled skies we had in the past month I thought Burma Shave #2 appropriate. Chaperone your cigarettes, they shouldn't go out alone! On to other memories. Be careful what you wish for. At one point in my younger life I wished for an exercise bike. My husband happily purchased one for me at an auction that he attended. Needless to say, it was not what I had in my mind, but I was told I could sharpen my knives while I exercised. Many of our parents and grandparents used this...

  • Burma Shave Ads

    Gwen Cornwell, For the Courier|May 17, 2023

    Thanks to the reader that sent me a few Burma Shave ads. For those of you that do not remember, Burma Shave was a brushless shaving cream sold in the early 20s and 30s. I remember them as quite entertaining as a child as we traveled the highways. Burma Shave opted to advertise it a different way, as they typically chose to post four to six signs along the highways containing verses advertising their product. I thought it might be fun to start our memories with a different slogan for the next couple of issues so #1: Only a convict likes to be...

  • Service Stations

    Gwen Cornwell, For the Courier|May 10, 2023

    I know that I have mentioned all the gas stations located in Glasgow in years past. These were service stations that offered full service. Services like checking your oil, filling your tank, washing your windows, airing up a tire or many were able to change or make repairs to tires while you waited. Now we fill our own tank (make sure you choose the correct fuel, gas or diesel) and wash our own windows. That was an adjustment for many of us senior women especially. I am wondering if my great-grandchildren will see the day that these filling...

  • Flooding

    Gwen Cornwell, For the Courier|May 3, 2023

    Remembering a few floods of the past. I have a picture of my Dad’s family sitting on their porch overhang outside a window of the second floor of their house located on 3rd Ave. So. He would tell me how the milk cows were moved (maybe to Markles Transfer) and they managed to house the calves in the loft of the barn. This house and barn are still located on 3rd Ave. This was before the dike was built so you can maybe imagine the water that flowed into town....

  • Recycling

    Gwen Cornwell, For the Courier|Apr 26, 2023

    Recycling products has been on our Country’s agenda for some years now but does anyone remember when recycling of some items were specifically prohibited? I just ran into an old bottle (yes, I will admit that it appears to be a vintage “Spirits” bottle). Molded into the glass is a warning stating that FEDERAL LAW FORBIDS SALE OR REUSE OF THIS BOTTLE. How our world does change. Do you think this might have been during Prohibition days?...

  • Hobo Jungle

    Gwen Cornwell, For the Courier|Apr 19, 2023

    I am sure that most of you folks in the Glasgow and surrounding area have noticed the huge crane and work being done on the railroad just west of Glasgow. Of course many of us slow down as we go by to see what progress is being made. Observing this has prompted memories of Hobo Jungle for many of us that travel that highway. That was located just a little further from town where there are more trees. I’m sure this “camp” originated in the days when railroad cars were not all enclosed and there were a number of people that hitched rides...

  • Easter Bonnets

    Gwen Cornwell, For the Courier|Apr 12, 2023

    Remembering the song, “In your Easter bonnet With all the frills upon it, you will be the grandest lady in the Easter parade.” I don’t remember our area ever having an Easter Parade, but I do remember the Easter Bonnets or Hats. I did not see any in the Church I attend and of course I did not wear one either. I do probably have a closet shelf-full of hats from by- gone days, but think back to your childhood and how many young girls were attired in new Easter clothing as well as a little bonnet. Maybe an Easter bonnet for girls just went...

  • Sugar Beets

    Gwen Cornwell, For the Courier|Mar 22, 2023

    With the closing of the Sugar Beet facility in Sidney brings to mind all of the sugar beet dumps located along the Hi-Line area. How many remember local train depots that had facilities for dumping beets for shipment, or the prisoners of war that were housed at the old airport facility. I understand that these “prisoners” were marched to our downtown area to be taken to the sugar beet fields to provide labor. If you remember sugar beets, you may remember one of the tools used in harvesting these beets, these sugar beet k...

  • March Winter Storms

    Gwen Cornwell, For the Courier|Mar 15, 2023

    March has brought us winter storms like we haven’t seen in a few years. I am sure there are residents of the Opheim area that will remember winters of snow banks higher than your car along the side of the road. These were quite fascinating to a young kid, but not so much in my senior years. I am sure it was not just the North Country that experienced those snow piles along the roads and equally sure that none of us have any desire to see banks quite that high as we drive to our destinations. I am quite thankful for the snow removal equipment...

  • Term Papers

    Gwen Cornwell, For the Courier|Mar 8, 2023

    Do any of you remember doing term papers in your high school days? I just found one that I had written all of those years ago. Even had a good grade on it! As I read through it I couldn’t help but think how much time it must have taken us to do those papers. Our small town had a school library but that was it. Some of us were fortunate enough to have parents that were able to afford a set of encyclopedias which were a great help but think how easy it would have been to do all that research today on our computers! I would hate to be a teacher...

  • Nickel Candy Bar

    Gwen Cornwell, For the Courier|Mar 1, 2023

    How about the nickel candy bar? It is hard for me to believe what they do cost today. I am sure there are still a few of us around that remember going to the grocery store or maybe stopping at the local drug store for a treat for yourself. I remember my high school days when we would stop at the drug store after school for a bottle of Coke or Pepsi and a bag of salted peanuts. I do not remember for sure the cost, but I do remember asking my Dad for a quarter one day so that I could make the stop and I was told that he was sure there were some...

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