The Ford Endurance Run

T his week's history, at least the pieces from 1930, is a little more heartwarming. The images of endurance tests, champion coffee drinkers, the "yo yo craze," and tree sitters all conjure up a Norman Rockwell vision of America. If nothing else, they show us how easily and simply our ancestors were entertained. But, as I've often indicated before, there is always a flip side to that equation, or a yin to that yang. In 1930, among other things, America was just falling into the grips of the Great Depression, and Prohibition was tearing the country apart at the seams, so nothing about life was simple for the average American at this time. But, with that said, enjoy.

-Jason Scorich

TEST DRIVER TO VISIT HIBBING

Will Stage Demonstration in Hibbing Next Thursday Afternoon

Morris Tavilinsky, world’s youngest test driver, and his two associates, Harry Tavilinsky and Sam Armstong, will ride in Hibbing and nearby cities for 10 days and 10 nights starting Tuesday night in an open challenge Ford endurance run. To anyone who can keep up with the trio in a car of a value of approximately $1,000 or less for the period will go the $250 prize that has been posted.

The ace’s car will travel at a speed of 55 miles per hour in a circuit route including Hibbing, Duluth, Cloquet, and range cities. It is due to appear here every night at 7:30 p.m.

Another offer is announced by Lee Spanner, manager of the Range Motor Service, carrying a prize of $25 credit allowance on the purchase of a new or used car for the person who guesses most closely the number of miles the speed car will travel during the 10 days. Hibbing Daily Tribune— Thursday, July 10, 1930

Coffee Drinking Champion Here Soon

Albert E. Baker, recognized as the greatest coffee drinker in the world, will be in Hibbing Wednesday afternoon between the hours of four and five o’clock. Mr. Baker is appearing here under the auspices of the Andresen- Ryan company of Superior.

The exhibition will take place in the old Markell building on the corner of Second avenue and Howard street. Hibbing Daily Tribune— Monday, July 7, 1930

22 YEAR OLD CHISHOLM MOTHER ON PAROLE, HELD ON A CHARGE OF PASSING BOGUS CHECKS HERE

Although on parole, Mrs. Mary Sevenich of Chisholm, aged 22, arrested yesterday for forgery, is alleged to be the woman who passed the bogus checks on the four Virginia stores yesterday. They amounted to $160. Mrs. Sevenich,

whose husband is a miner at the Shenango mine at Chisholm, about three weeks ago was placed on parole by Judge Hughes. She had been found guilty of passing a worthless check on a Chisholm bank. Her story was that her little son had brought home two Liberty Loan bonds that he had found. She burned one of them, and sold the other to a Chisholm clothing man for $40. When the real owner of the bond learned that Mrs. Sevenich had sold his bond, he demanded payment. She then issued a worthless check for $80 and paid him for the bond.

In Trouble Before

After much questioning by Judge Hughes, Mrs. Sevenich admitted she had been in trouble before; that she had taken a hat from her employer at the home at which she had been working.

Mrs. Sevenich is ill and was brought to a Virginia hospital last evening. It is expected she will be able to face the Virginians, whom she is alleged to have passed the checks on, tomorrow for identification. Virginia Daily Enterprise— Friday, May 17, 1918

CHALLENGE FORD WILL VISIT HERE THIS AfTERNOON

Driver Tavlinsky Offers $250 to Owner of Any Car That Can Stand Non-stop Test

The challenge Ford, with Morris Tavlinsky at the wheel, will arrive in Hibbing at the Range Motor Service at 5:20 this afternoon on the first lap of its 10-day non-stop endurance and economy test run.

Mr. Tavlinsky wishes to issue an open challenge to any car costing under $1,000 to follow his car for 10 days and 10 nights, and offers a $250 prize to the driver of any car that can undergo such a test and finish under the same conditions. To the persons who make the best estimation of the total number of miles that the Ford will travel during its 10-day tour, Mr. Tavlinsky offers a prize of $25.

The car left Duluth today at 12:15 noon and arrived in Floodwood at 1:40 p.m., where it remained for five minutes before leaving for Grand Rapids, thence to Deer River, back to Coleraine, Nashwauk and Hibbing. After leaving Hibbing the car will travel to Chisholm, Buhl, Virginia, Eveleth, Tower, Two Harbors, and back to Duluth at 12:15 midnight. Tomorrow it will travel to Superior, Spooner, Shell Lake, Cumberland, Turtle Lake, Oseola, New Richmond, Hudson, Stillwater, White Bear, Forest Lake, Lindstrom, Moose Lake, Cloquet and back to Duluth at 12:15 a.m.

The car will appear in each town mentioned once each day, being scheduled to stop in Hibbing at 5:00 a.m. on the mornings of July 23, 25, 27, 29, and 31, and at 5:20 p.m. on July 22, 24, 26, 28, and 30. Hibbing Daily Tribune— Tuesday, July 22, 1930

YO-YO EPIDEMIc SPREADS TO CITy

Fascination of Bouncing Top Grips Children

And now the Yo-Yo epidemic that has spread through the country gripping the various cities and towns has reached Hibbing, although it is yet in its milder stages here.

The fascination of this new spinning toy has reached several in Hibbing and it is beginning to spread. But it is not only a toy for children. Adults are seen with it as well.

Many of the larger cities have established camps for children that they may learn the art of performing tricks with it, and contests are being held to determine who has achieved the greatest skill.

Demonstrations of its use were given in Hibbing and Virginia by W. B. Vandegrift, who is directing the Duluth training camp and who reports that the streets were blocked in both cities while he gave lessons to the children. Hibbing Daily Tribune— Wednesday, July 30, 1930

MAN RUNS AMUCK AT BUHL; SLASHES FIVE WITH KNIFE

Buhl, June 3—Five persons were slashed with a claspknife, some of them seriously, when Peter Berg, age 20, a Serbian, it is claimed, last night ran amuck at the home of Nicholas Marice, his brother-in-law. Neighbors summoned by the screams of Mrs. Marice, overpowered Berg, but were badly slashed. Berg, Chief of Police Moore alleges, tried

to cut his brother-in-law’s throat and nearly succeeded. The woman sustained numerous cuts about the face. Berg was locked up. Virginia Daily Enterprise— Monday, June 3, 1918

CHARGED WITH PASSING BOGUS CHECKS

Is Mrs. Mary Savanich, 22-year old mother, suffering from some effect that makes it impossible for her to resist obtaining money under false pretense? This is the question that is being asked by range authorities who have been working on the case of the Chisholm woman, held for passing bogus checks totaling more than $250.

Mrs. Savanich last week gave birth to a boy, her third child. Some of her criminal work is alleged to have been done a few days before the birth of the infant, and authorities are of the opinion that her latest offspring may suffer from some taints of heredity. She has two other children.

To Stand Trial

Mrs. Savanich, who has been in a local hospital for a few days, will be ready to stand trial in a few days. The defendant does not need money, for her husband is a hard worker and their living expenses are not very heavy. Recently she admitted passing a bogus check at Chisholm. She was arrested and placed on parole. A Stillwater sentence is now staring her in the face, if she is convicted of the latest crime.

The case is one of the most unusual that has developed on the range. Mrs. Savanich is blank-faced, appears dull and not capable of forgery. Virginia Daily Enterprise— Monday, May 20, 1918

NOn-MOTOR STOP FORD WILL VIsIT HERE AT 5:15 P.m.

Setting a grueling pace that Driver Morris Tavilinsky challenges any driver to follow in a car costing less than $1,000, the Ford non-motor-stop challenge car will make its third visit to Hibbing in front of the Range Motor Service building at 1931 Third avenue at 5:15 this afternoon. With a goal of 10 days and nights of non-stop performance, the car will have been operating continuously for over 53 hours when it visits Hibbing this afternoon. During this time it has traveled through 30 towns including all of the major range villages, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

The car, a regular stock model Ford, is being operated alternately by four drivers, all with racing experience. Morris Tavilinsky, owner, is expected to be at the wheel when the car is brought to a stop in front of the Range Motor Service this afternoon. Hibbing Daily Tribune— Thursday, July 24, 1930

TREE-sITTER MAY ATTEmPT TO STAY UP fOR 300 hOuRs

MINNEAPOLIS, July 24—Even though his mother would like otherwise, David Hogan, Minneapolis’ national tree-sitting champion, may stay in his tree-top until Saturday instead of coming to earth tonight with a record of 300 hours as he planned a few days ago.

Scores of persons who have visited David at his home have urged him to stay up until Saturday night, his mother said. David had been aloft 293 hours at 10 a.m. today. Hibbing Daily Tribune— Thursday, July 24, 1930

FIRM GRIP ON STERING GEAR SAVES LIFE OF LE BARET IN AUTO SMASH NEAR KINNEY

The firm grip of the steering gear saved the life of Lee Barrett, Hibbing, traveling representative of the Stone- Ordean-Wells company of Duluth, whose Winton was hit by a motorcycle yesterday afternoon at the intersection of the Kinney and county roads. When Barrett’s automobile turned completely over, he was under the steering gear and that kept

the weight of the car off of him. He was knocked unconscious and when he was revived, he still had parts of the steering gear in his hands.

The Winton is a wreck. Mr. Barrett was driving toward Hibbing when his car and the motorcycle collided. The cyclist was not badly hurt. Mr. Barrett was badly shaken up and suffered bruises to his head, shoulders and hands. He is in a Hibbing hospital, but is expected to be about in a few days.

Has Brother Here

Mr. Barrett is a brother of Lawrence M. Barrett of Virginia. He has resided in Hibbing for several years. His brother is also a representative of the Stone- Ordean-Wells company. His brother, James of Buhl, had left yesterday noon to enter military service. Virginia Daily Enterprise— Wednesday, June 5, 1918

CROwD ThRILLED bY FORD DRIvER

Morris Tavilinsky Offers Fine Exhibition of Turning in Challenge Roadster

Morris Tavilinsky, […] offered a 10-minute, thrilling exhibition to a large crowd which gathered near the Great Northern square at 5:15 last evening.

For the purpose of discrediting the contention of many persons that the Ford is too light and that it consequently turns over easily if directed around a corner at high speed, Mr. Tavilinsky made a circular turn, in fact several of them, at the intersection of Third Avenue and Wilson St. while travelling at more than 40 miles an hour. In addition, while traveling at a slightly greater rate of speed, he swerved the car abruptly from one side of the road to another in a manner that caused spectators to gasp. One of his horseshoe turns, attempted on Third Avenue near the Great Northern railway tracks, nearly ended in a mishap when his machine skidded several feet and headed directly for a car owned by a spectator. Mr. Tavilinsky proved his driving ability by swinging the wheel sharply to the right, bringing the car out of its skid, and evading the parked machine by a scant margin.

Lee Spanner of the Range Motor Service is attempting to arrange a similar exhibition tomorrow afternoon when the challenge Ford is scheduled to arrive on the fourth day of its 10-day endurance run. Hibbing Daily Tribune— Thursday, July 24, 1930

DIsTILLERY SEIZED NORTh Of HIbbIng bY FEDERAL AgEnTs

Olaf Hendrickson, Martin Marinac Arrested on Manufacturing Liquor Charge

A 200-gallon distillery, the largest confiscated in northern Minnesota in many months, was seized Wednesday by Duluth federal prohibition agents in an unorganized township 16 miles north of Hibbing.

Olaf Hendrickson and Martin Marinac were arrested by agents on a charge of manufacturing intoxicating liquor and lodged in the Duluth county jail pending arraignment today before Lloyd J. Palmer, United States court commissioner. Martin Nelson, wanted in connection with the same distillery, was notified to appear before the commissioner today, agents said.

The still was located in the woods. Prohibition agents also seized and dumped 1,650 gallons of mash and 15 gallons of liquor. Hibbing Daily Tribune— Thursday, July 31, 1930

FORD COMPLETES ENDURANCE RUN

Roadster Averages 42.5 Miles Per Hour

The Range Motor Service company has received a telegram from Morris Tavlinsky, driver of the Ford endurance run, stating that the stock model Ford roadster used for the 10-day grueling test is in perfect condition.

After driving 8,462 miles in the day and night drive, the contest ended in Duluth Friday morning. An average speed of 42.5 miles per hour was maintained by the four drivers who alternated at the wheel. The car averaged 19.9 miles per gallon of gasoline.

Two and one-half gallons of motor oil were used. This was actual consumption as the oil could not be changed in the ten-day period when the motor never stopped.

Nicholas Rodell, with a guess of 8,235 miles, came the nearest of the Hibbing mileage guessers to the actual total for the period. Hibbing Daily Tribune— Saturday, August 2, 1930