Roseville resident Mrs. McCue stands in her dining room for the “Lifestyle ’76” feature in the May 5, 1976 edition of The Roseville Review. Courtesy of Etta Bucholtz.
An archived 1976 edition of The Roseville Review provides a snapshot of suburban life 50 years ago
The Roseville Review was Roseville’s source of local news for over 80 years until its publisher, Lillie News, folded in 2019.
Today, as the United States approaches its 250th birthday, it seems a good time to look back on what was happening in Roseville 50 years ago, at its bicentennial. The May 5, 1976 edition of the Roseville Review provides us a little glimpse.
A snapshot of suburban life
Citizens regularly wrote to the paper to voice their thoughts on local issues. In this edition, citizens discussed whether the drinking age should change to Roseville losing its way as a “nice quiet suburb.”
“New buildings, businesses, shopping centers and other establishments are popping up everywhere,” resident John Doran wrote. “It won’t be long until Roseville is like downtown St. Paul.”
This edition also featured Roseville Central Park Auxiliary’s “parade” of homes entitled “Lifestyle ’76.” Tickets were $3, with proceeds going to support the development of Central Park. Here are entries of just two of the homes on the tour.
Recipes and grocery hauls
Anne Warner, a favorite columnist, was starting a new recipe swap as part of her food articles for the Roseville Review. She began by entering one of her own favorites from Van’s Café in Brainerd, Minn: their famous bean salad.
If you wanted to try your hand at Van’s Famous Bean Salad, you could find great deals for the ingredients and other groceries in the Review’s advertisements for Tom Thumb or the Country Club Market.
From lettuce at Tom Thumb for $0.29 head to 20 pounds of potatoes for $2.00, $0.49 for a pint of strawberries and four rolls of Charmin for $0.69 at Country Club Market, you can’t beat these deals today!
School spirit
In 1976, the Roseville Review was abound with sporting news from the schools. Now, too, as the school year wraps up, students are participating in play offs and seeking individual and team championships.
One student, John Goedeke, a champion hurdler from Kellogg High School, was captured demonstrating his skills. Goedeke went on to become an outstanding educator and valued and respected public servant in Roseville, serving two terms on the City Council.
Hope you enjoyed this glimpse at Roseville’s past!
