RANIER — Several residents marked the centennial anniversary of this city Monday evening with cake and fellowship in the Ranier Community Building.
It was 100 years earlier, to the day, that the Koochiching Board of Commissioners voted to incorporate the Village of Ranier on March 17, 1908.
The event began as the Ranier City Council concluded business at its regular meeting. Mayor Edgar Oerichbauer reconvened minutes later to read an official centennial proclamation and to declare the day as the 100th birthday of the city of Ranier. He said the event was to signal the beginnings of upcoming celebrations to honor the historic milestone.
The proclamation notes that the city founders acted under the authority of the Minnesota Constitution to establish a village to better provide governmental services. The Koochiching Board of Commissioners approved an election and electors voted for the village petition at Malloy's Hardware Store on March 17, 1908.
Oerichbauer is making the centennial project a part of his duties as director of Koochiching Museums. There are old records and photographs to go through and organizers of the celebration hope to produce a booklet and displays for the many events planned throughout the year.
Andy Garvey, a landowner in Ranier, volunteered to work on the centennial project with Oerichbauer. He created the logo that will appear with the many event announcements and publications regarding the centennial.
Though most guests at the celebration were longtime Ranier residents, there were just three present who could say they were children of the original village founders: Ed Anderson, Arden Barnes and Dorothy Anderson. Barnes is the daughter of Johnny Erickson, and Dorothy Anderson the daughter of Harry Erickson, Sr.
The three noted that at one time or another, their fathers operated local businesses, and helped to build and paint the railroad bridge. Many of the dwellings and business built at the time still stand.
Phil Paulbeck, who is restoring the former creamery and service station, said he is not a resident but wanted to be present to congratulate the city and its colorful history.
“I am glad to be part of this community," he added.
Len Millard, owner of Carved Cactus in Effie, spoke of the event with irony. He noted that a century ago, freight and passenger trains passed through here so regularly that you could travel easily and get daily newspapers from all over country. Today, he added, there are no more passenger trains or bus lines. Had that service continued as the village developed into a city, the place wouldhave been much more bustling than it is now.