Celebrating 110 years of Astoria

By Violet Nelson

Astoria, S.D. observed its 110th anniversary July 30, 31 and Aug. 1 at a celebration hosted by locals. The event, which showed a strong sense of community, was pulled off without a hitch. The weather was good and everybody had a wonderful time getting reacquainted.

The community was named after Astoria, Ore. In 2000 the population was approximately 155.
I learned to love the little town early on. My parents farmed five miles southeast of Astoria, so we spent many hours involved in Astoria activities and socializing.

My earlier recollections of the town were going Christmas shopping. We would shop at the Coast to Coast store located across the street from the Astoria Village Inn. During my high school days, Erickson’s Cafe was the place to hang out. It was so much fun to drive up and down main street and socialize with the kids my age.

When my mother, sister and I would make our weekly trip to Gina Trooien’s Drygoods Store, it seemed as if we always came home with a piece of fabric. Gina stocked her fabric on shelves behind the counter and in the back of the store she sold shoes and boots. She stocked a line of men’s work clothes, gifts, clothing, school supplies, toiletries and greeting cards. The trip to Astoria was fun. Occasionally we made a stop at Matt Kruse’s service station for, I suppose, a dollar or two of gas. Matt would pump gas, come over to the window, put his arm on the roof of our car and kindly chat with all of us.  Otterdahl’s Grocery Store was another stop we usually had to make. I’ll never forget winning fifty cents in a sixth grade poppy poster contest and buying a box of potato chips from Lloyd Otterdahl with the prize money. I also remember not sharing them with anyone, not even my sister. These were mine.

The auditorium hosted class plays and the Astoria Comets basketball team. We would have to go quite early to get a seat because there were bleachers on only one side. Later on, our children would roller skate on Saturday nights in the auditorium.  PTO Fun Nights were probably the last events held there.

Other people also learned to love the little town. They returned back to the community last weekend with heartfelt stories to tell.

Donna Aaberg Lenander, class of 1958, came from Yucca Valley, Calif. to attend the all-school-reunion. It had been twenty years since she had been in the area and she was estatic about seeing her old friends.

Bonnie Aaberg Gilbertson and her husband Harvey Gilbertson formerly from Hendricks, who live by Pelican Lake, still have feelings for the area. They marveled at the wonderful attendance. “Hat’s off to the great committee,” Bonnie said.

Mary Arneson Stanton, Rapid City, and her sister, Andeline Arneson Reed, San Jose, Calif., not only came special for the town’s 110th, but they got to see each other. “Our parents are no longer living,” Mary said, “we had an excuse to come back.”  At the all-school reunion, Andeline received the honor of coming the farthest.

Mary Erickson Arneson and her husband John Arneson, Chicago, both attended Astoria Public School, but different years. They marveled at the large attendance. “The committee did a tremendous job,” Mary said.

Ninety two year-old Ohmar Solem was the oldest attendee at the reunion. “It was the best of times when I was in school,” he said. “I have many good memories of time long past.”

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