2. Askov's four-room “Hans Christian Andersen School” was built in 1910. The school's name reflected the community's Danish heritage, and in fact, all Askov students received lessons in Danish reading, writing, story-telling, and singing as part of their regular curriculum.
3. The Askov American newspaper was founded in 1914 by owner and editor Hjalmar Petersen. Its first issue appeared on September 17 and featured an optimistic message from the editor entitled “Birth of an American”; local and personal notices; a letter to the editor in Danish; and an advertisement for the First State Bank of Askov. Like most small town newspapers, The Askov American covered local happenings like births, deaths, and marriages, organizational meetings, and neighborly visits. It also provided advertising space to local businesses and updated readers on state, national, and world news. An annual subscription in 1914 cost $1.00
4. Hjalmar Peterson also founded Askov's brass band on October 22, 1914. Founding members were Jeppe Sorensen, Carl Sorensen, Albert Sorensen, Evald Sorensen, Sigvard Sorensen, Hans Sorensen, William Jensen, Herluf Rasmussen, John Sorensen, Carl Krantz, Thorkild Ravnholdt, Hans Mosbaek, Martin Sorensen, Henry Andersen, Albert Johnsen, Arnold Sorensen, J.R. Petersen, Einer Dixen, Folmer Sorensen, Martin Andersen, and Alfred Jacobsen. Most of the band members were talented musicians, but it took a while for others to find their niche. Hans Mosbaek, for instance, started out as a drummer. His fellow band members soon discovered that he “marched to a different tune.” He took up the trombone instead with much more success.
5. The village of Askov was incorporated in the spring of 1918. By this time it could boast over 200 residents. Incorporation helped provide for improvements to streets and sidewalks, street lights, fire protection, and other necessities. The first mayor was L.C. Petersen, and the council members were Carl Miller, N.S. Petersen, and Christian Sorensen. Hjalmar Petersen served as village clerk, and his brother, Svend Petersen, was treasurer. T.N. Thomsen and Rasmus Pedersen shared the office of justice of the peace. Christian Hansen and N.C. Bendiks were the village constables. The first health officer in Askov was Dr. P.N. Fenger.
6. Askov High School's first graduating class, Nanna Rodholm and Ruth Kilstofte, received their diplomas in June of 1921.
7. Also in 1921, Askov residents formed four “meat rings.” Each ring consisted of thirty families, and for thirty weeks out of the year (April through October), each family took a turn contributing a steer. The steer was butchered and divided into thirty parts, one part for each family. Using this system, everyone in the meat ring enjoyed fresh meat on a weekly basis.
8. Telephone service arrived in Askov in the late fall of 1923. A.M. DeYoung, Secretary and Treasurer of the Askov Telephone Company, obtained the necessary permits and helped get the exchange up and running. Rates were $1.50 per month for a rural multi-party line, $2.00 per month for an individual personal line; and $2.75 per month for an individual business line.
9. Askov businessmen organized the Askov Commercial Club in 1934. Jens C. Jensen served as president, Rasmus Petersen as vice president, A.W. Conoway as secretary, J.R. Petersen as financial secretary, and Svend Petersen as treasurer. The Club sponsored the first Rutabaga Festival in August of 1937. The community enjoyed exhibits, music, dancing, a parade, and other entertainment. Josephine Petersen was crowned the first “Rutabaga Queen.”
10. Newspaper editor Hjalmar Petersen was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1934. When Governor Floyd B. Olson died of cancer in 1936, Petersen was sworn in as the 23rd governor of Minnesota for the remaining two years of Olson's term.
Sources: A Northern Light: The Story of Askov, Minnesota by Victor Buck; Askov American newspaper, July 1, 1976; Celebrating a Century: Askov 1906-2006; From Partridge to Askov published by the Danish Ladies' Aid, Second Edition, 1991.
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