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Past President Kent kicked off today's meeting by presenting newest member Charlie Oltman with his formal "packet" of Rotary information as well as his member pin. Charlie is a wonderful addition to the group and we are thrilled he has decided to join us! Speaker for the day was Shoreview resident Mike Cunningham who provided a very interesting look at the earliest days of Shoreview's history. Mike is the youngest of nine children and his family now spans six generations in Shoreview. His grandfather was employed by the railroad at "Cardigan Junction" in Shoreview, which we learned was the first train station in the state. Mike is a member of Shoreview's Historical Society and is well versed in the earliest days of this area, going back to the early 1800's at which time the area was inhabited by Sioux/Dakota and Ojibwe/Chippwa native Americans. It wasn't until 1850 that Socrates Thompson became the very first white settler in the area. He was responsible for the naming of both Pleasant Lake and Turtule Lake. His homestead claim on 160 acres includes the area that is now the intersection of Hodgson Road and Tanglewood Drive where Mike and his wife Judy reside. Mike's comments took us up through the wild 1930's, when St. Paul, including the bars and restaurants in our area were well known "safe zones" for gangsters including John Dillinger and Ma Barker. Joe Ziskovsky arranged for Mike's presentation and promises a "Part II" at a later date!