The old and the new

One day, I was sitting at my computer, like most kids do nowadays when they have many better things they could be doing, and googled the most notable people in Walker, Minnesota. Mary Walsh, the fourth wife of Ernest Hemingway, came up first, and the second name to come up was Jimmy Kellogg.

Jimmy Kellogg! I know that guy! Upon reading further, I discovered the name on the list was better known as Jimmy Darts — the grandson of the Jimmy Kellogg I knew. The Jimmy Kellogg I knew, however, could just as well be included on the list of the most notable people in Walker too!

Right out of Austin High School, in Southern Minnesota, Jim renovated an old garage in Austin into a sit-down diner, and called it, Oak Grill. As it was close to the school, the little restaurant became very popular with the students and teachers.

After serving with the National Guard as a cook, he returned to Austin and opened another restaurant called, The Oak Leaf. Later he opened his third restaurant called, The Old Mill, which became very popular hosting company events with Hormel Foods, which was a huge meat packing establishment in Austin.

Jimmy and his wife Karen purchased a cabin on Ten Mile Lake, fell in love with our beautiful northern Minnesota, and in 1978, opened Jimmy’s Deli in Hackensack. In 1987, Jim and Karen moved their family to Walker, where Jim built the American Inn, with Jimmy’s Restaurant right next door.

My first association with Jim Kellogg happened in 1992 when our Walker Rotary Club wanted to have a huge celebration someplace in Walker to celebrate our 50th anniversary. As president of the club, I asked Jimmy if we could reserve the swimming pool of his American Inn, to conduct our program, and his restaurant for a sit-down dinner. Being the businessman that he was, Jimmy was quick to ask me, “You mean you want me to close the pool of my motel and close the entire restaurant for you guys to have a party? You’ll have to have a lot of Rotarians to make it worthwhile for me to do that!”

Luckily, we did have a lot of Rotarians with their wives and their friends! We had so many people for Jim to serve, that he told us we would have to have our program in the pool area and eat dinner in shifts in the restaurant!

The pool room was a great place for the program! It was a wonderful atmosphere with the only lights in the room coming from the lights in the pool, and one little light on a podium for all the past presidents to give a short rendition of their year in Rotary.

After the program, we conducted our social hour in the same dimly-lit pool area, while five parties of 20 hungry participants enjoyed an excellent dinner. All in all, the event was beautifully executed by the master of restaurant management — Jimmy Kellogg and his staff!

Since that memorable event 32 years ago, Jim and I have had 32 years of friendship, as our paths often crossed at the post office and Hope Lutheran Church! It seemed we always picked up our mail at the same time, and every Sunday we would meet at church — oftentimes to discuss the affairs of our little town.

Jim was a very community-minded person, and he wanted his little town of Walker to be run just as efficiently as he ran his restaurants! When it came to discussion of our little town, Jim and I were always in agreement, but now he is gone. So long old friend and may you rest in peace! It has been a pleasure walking life’s pathway with you!

The views and opinions expressed in the “The old and the new” column belong solely to the author, and not The Pilot-Independent or an organization, committee or individual.