BECAUSE WE ARE ALL
UNIQUE Dr. Jackie McCall
7870 Excelsior Rd., Baxter Brainerd Office: 218.828.9545 • 877.338.3957
Treatment of Eye Infections, Injuries & Glaucoma Consultations for Laser and Cataract Surgery Eye Exams • Contact Lenses • Eye Wear
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Voted #1 Two years in a row!
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2019
EANER
VOTED #1
CL THE BRAINERD LAKES
THE BRAINERD LAKES es
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classes were hosted there in September 1968. Washington officially became a middle school in 1983. BRAINERD BANK HOLDUP IN 1933 The First National Bank in downtown Brainerd was robbed of $32,000 by George “Baby Face” Nelson and four other gangsters on the morning of Oct. 23, 1933. As the gang left the bank, they opened fire in downtown Brainerd. More than 50 shots were fired, and the bullet marks are still visible on some buildings. The gangsters got away from pursuing officers by throwing roofing tacks on the road, which popped the tires of the police cars in pursuit. Nelson had been staying at a small resort north of Brainerd. LOSS OF BRAINERD SOLDIERS AT BATAAN One of the greatest tragedies in area history came in 1942 with the loss of 43 Brainerd men who were members of the 194th Armor battalion sent to fight in the war against Japan. The National Guardsmen left Brainerd and arrived on the island of Luzon in September of 1941, and several months later were in the middle of war. Surrender came on April 9, 1942, on the Bataan Peninsula. The soldiers were placed in groups and the infamous Bataan Death March covering 79 to 100 miles began. Most of the prisoners who didn’t keep up on the walk to prison camps were killed. CITY FLUORIDATION BATTLE IN 1980 Brainerd’s 30-year fight to keep fluoride from its water supply, or at least decide for itself if the chemical should be placed in the town’s water, ended on Feb. 7, 1980, when, with a flick of a switch, fluoride was injected into the water system as ordered by the state Department of Health. Brainerd gained statewide fame for its lengthy battle against fluoride as reporters and television cameras came to Brainerd to cover the fluoride battle. HWY. 371 BYPASS OPENS IN 2005 In 2005, the remaining segment of the project that converted Highway 371 to a four-lane expressway from Little Falls to Baxter was completed. This project included a five-mile bypass of Brainerd, which opened in the year 2000. The old route through Brainerd was switched to Highway 371 Business. Before the opening of the Brainerd bypass, Old Highway 371 went through downtown Brainerd and then proceeded west on a two-mile concurrency with Highway 210 before resuming north at its current intersection in Baxter. The bypass made for more efficient travel, especially for tourists visiting the lakes area.
a en isp ted by the Brainerd D
2019
Superior Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Wood and Vinyl Cleaning Tile & Grout and Granite Counter Top Renewal
Chem-Dry of the Lakes
218-828-4320 • cdofthelakes@midco.net Independently owned & operated by Owners Jeff & Tracy Serving Crow Wing, Aitkin, Southern Cass, North Mille Lacs, Morrison and Todd Counties.
Liz Timothy… a houseSOLD name since 1997.
218-839-7000 liztimothy@edinarealty.com Crow Wing County Residential Resource Guide | 51
