Back in the Day by Olivia

The following story was a news clipping from the Tuesday, January 5th, 1915 edition of the Minneapolis Morning Tribune submitted by Michael and Mary Barrett of Minneapolis. They said they found an old Bible in their attic, and this news clipping was inside.

Real crowned Queen is guest in Minneapolis

Margaret Eckes of Morris, winner of Western Minnesota Contest, visits Minneapolis

Royal time for her, as part of ruler’s prerogatives.

Miss Margaret Eckes, Morris, Minn., crowned Queen of Queens by Governor Eberhart at the West Central Minnesota Development Association meeting in November, is in Minneapolis as the guest of the L. S. Donaldson Company. 

Young, vivacious, dare-eyed, Miss Eckes looked quite capable of queening it over Western Minnesota when she stepped off the train to be greeted by Miss Corinne Knight of Donaldson’s. 

Miss Eckes is staying at the Radison. She was taken to Donaldson’s, visiting every department from hairdressers to shoes, and was presented with suit, hat, gloves, everything her heart could desire, all in recognition of her title – Queen of Queens.

Then came the luncheon in the tearoom with Miss Knight and several department heads.

Miss Eckes and Miss Knight spent the afternoon motoring around the city and this evening the Queen will go to the Metropolitan with W. I. Haliday, advertising manager for Donaldson’s, this ending her “Queening” visit to Minneapolis. 

Miss Eckes said, in describing the winning of her title: “It all started with the county fairs, where the preliminary contest was conducted. I live in Stevens County and there were seventeen candidates at that fair. Someone put up my name and my friends helped me work and win out. Sixteen counties were represented in the general contest started by the Development Association, and every candidate had to sell stock at $1 a share. Every share sold entitled us to 1000 votes and I raised more than $1800 for the association. It was organized more than a year ago for the good of the counties interested. The contest closed two days after Thanksgiving, when the association met in Benson.”

Miss Eckes is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Eckes. Mr Eckes is said to be one of the expert potato growers of Western Minnesota.