Dr. Vern Cullen: A Life of Service

A few months ago I was working on the names of places in Austin. A thoughtful reader sent me some information on the man that Cullen Park is named after. Cullen Park is on the east side of 12th Street SW, across from Sacred Heart Care Center.
From the May 31, 1969 Austin Daily Herald:
“Dr. Vern R. Cullen, 73, Austin dentist and former alderman, died Friday at St. Olaf Hospital.
Surviving are his widow, Augusta; a son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Vern (Joanne) Torrens, Bloomington, Minn.; four grandsons, Scott, Steven, Jay and Jeff; nieces and nephews.
Dr. Cullen was born in Austin. He served with the Army in World War I and with the Navy Dental Corps in World War II, discharged as a commander after serving in the Pacific theater. He graduated from the University of Minnesota Dental School in 1923 and came directly to Austin to practice. After World War II he did post-graduate work in orthodontics at the University of Minnesota and returned to Austin to open his practice in 1946...
Dr. Cullen was a city alderman 1933 until 1941 and Cullen Park was named after him. He was a charter member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and a life member of the University of Minnesota Alumni Club; a member of Austin Post 91, American Legion, the 40 and 8, Olaf B. Damm Post 1216, VFW, Eagles, Southeastern Minnesota Dental Society, American Association of Orthodontists, Osmond Temple Shrine, Legion of Honor, Austin Shrine Club, Unity Chapter 29, OES, Fidelity Lodge 39, AF & AM, from which he received his 50-pin in 1967, St. Bernard Commandry, Royal Arch Masons Ch. 14, National League of Masonic Clubs, Square and Compass Club. He was the first commander of Chapter 27, Disabled American Veterans...”

For more on Cullen Park: http://www.ci.austin.mn.us/Parkandrec/Parks/cullen.html

Some new information on Klagge’s Ice Cream: In the 1980s, there were two Klagge’s locations. One at Oak Park Mall was managed then owned by Phil Buck. Phil’s brother Paul owned and operated the 4th Ave NE location. In 1985, Paul took over ownership of the mall store again. During those years, the ice cream was made at the 4th Ave NE location for both restaurants.
Another reader let me know that Elmer Klagge opened the store in 1939. He had Austin’s first frosted malt machine in the mid-1940s. No one had heard of a frosted malt, which was soft serve chocolate ice cream served in a cone. At 5 cents, it was an affordable treat and as a result, some believe that Elmer Klagge knew every kid in Austin. 

Summer Memories: Klagge's Ice Cream

During our recent rash of hot weather, I was visiting with some folks out at the Mower County Historical Society. They told me that it used to be a summer tradition to cool off at Klagges Ice Cream Store. The original Klagges was a few blocks east of the Hormel Historic Home (then the YWCA) at 701 4th Ave NE,  just east of the bridge.
Established in 1939, an advertisement from 1963 says “When Mom’s Tired of Cooking Call Klagge’s for Hot Take-Out Dinners, Chicken Supreme Dinner $1, Jumbo Shrimp Dinner $1.25, Walleyed Pike Dinner $1.10.”
The 4th Ave building was destroyed by fire and reopened in 1971. In 1972, an Austin Daily Herald article stated: “Located at 701 4th Ave NE, Klagges new ice cream store re-opened in September, 1971, after a fire destroyed the building at the same location. Owned by Mr. and Mrs. William Wilkinson, Klagges sells homemade ice cream, meals to eat in the car and to take out.”
In 1988, Dave and Tam Christopherson purchased the Klagges business and offered a complete breakfast, lunch and dinner menu.
I also found an advertisement for Klagges in Oak Park Mall that ran in the Austin Daily Herald in 1982. That ad lists owner Phil Buck, a variety of menu choices and 20 flavors of ice cream. I’m sure someone will tell me if there were two competing Klagges ice cream shops in the 1980s—it’s sure looks that way to me.

First National Bank Gives Away 4,000 Cigars at Opening Celebration

After reading about the 1931 open house at the First National Bank in Austin, I couldn't resist sharing some of these charming details, from the Mower County News on February 26, 1931:
“When the new First National Bank opened its doors to the public last Saturday afternoon in dedication and celebration of the completion of its lovely new structure, more than 12,000 visitors passed thru the Colonial portals to view this splendid achievement.
Several prominent bankers visited our city to attend the reception as did a number of managing officers of the First Bank Stock Corporation with which the merging Austin banks are affiliated. Many people came from the various villages of the country and several delegations from Albert Lea, Owatonna and Rochester.
During the reception hours which were from two to five o'clock in the afternoon and from seven to nine o'clock in the evening, mementos were passed to each visitor who passed thru the building. It is estimated that 5,000 roses were distributed to the ladies  while 4,000 cigars were given to the men.
The Boy Scouts gave their efficient assistance in guiding the throngs about the new bank structure thus avoiding any confusion as the people filed thru orderly in rows. A company of charming ladies, employees of the banks, gowned in quaint Colonial costumes in harmony with the Colonial type of architecture and furnishings greeted us with a smile and presented us with souvenirs.”


While the article did not feature photos, this is what I imagine the 'quaint Colonial costumes' looked like.

Bank Open House Draws 12,000 in 1931

The First National Bank was chartered in 1868 in Austin and 63 years later, the institution merged with the Austin National Bank and moved across Main Street into a new building. Having been established on the northeast corner of Main Street and 2nd Ave NW (then Bridge Street), the bank occupied a new building on the northwest corner of the same intersection in 1931.
From the Mower County News on February 19, 1931:
“Celebrating the completion of the new First National Bank building and the consolidation of the city’s two leading financial institutions, the Austin National Bank and the First National Bank, an open house party unique in the city’s history will be held Saturday afternoon and evening...
In harmony with the setting, a bevy of girls in colonial costumes will assist in the public reception and will distribute souvenirs of the occasion to all.
Actual consolidation of the bank, the details of which are being announced today, will not be effective until Tuesday morning when the new building will be occupied by the merged organization...
As construction has progressed residents of Austin have become familiar with the beautiful exterior combining white stone with the vari-colored brick of the early American method of construction. The interior follows the colonial style in as complete detail and every piece of furniture is an authentic copy of an early American piece.”
A report in the same newspaper the following week indicated that 12,000 people attended the open house. The 1931 colonial building was remodeled in 1956 and is now known as the U.S. Bank building, housing U.S. Bank, the United Way of Mower County, Mower County Vehicle Registration and other offices.

What Does $100,000 Look Like?

Austin’s First National Bank was founded in 1868 and in 1896 the business remodeled to the present design, recently restored, and seen at 300 North Main Street—the corner of Main and 2nd Ave NE, north of the old courthouse square. The bank eventually merged with Austin National Bank and the newly formed organization built a new building which opened in 1931. The story of that new bank, I’ll save for next week.
First, a few tidbits on the old days of banking in Austin:
“In 1886, an acute problem was faced by N. F. Banfield, the young bank cashier. Mr. Shaw [editor’s note: O. W. Shaw was then bank president] had gone east on a visit. On Saturday night, June 10th, it was learned that the Mower County Bank could not open its doors the following Monday. Banfield took the train to St. Paul, called upon the president of the First National Bank, explained the situation and was assured that $100,000 in currency would be on hand by Monday morning. When worried customers came into the bank on Monday morning, they saw the money piled high behind the bank’s grillwork. Instead of a run on the bank there was an increase in deposits.
In a time of tight money conditions in 1907 the bank issued script. It was accepted by the merchants and workers for several months. Every piece of script was paid through the New York bank.”
From Mill on the Willow: A History of Mower County, Minnesota.