• Aug. 16, 1945

After six long years of war the world was finally at peace when President Harry S. Truman announced that the Japanese imperial government had accepted the terms of unconditional surrender to the Allies. The proclamation of V-J Day waited upon the formal signing of the surrender terms by Japan.

The news was greeted in Hartley with thanksgiving. Stores closed their doors and Hartley took on the appearance of sobriety rather than of wild excitement which had been expected and planned for. It was felt by the majority of civic leaders that the churches would be the gathering spots for grateful worshipers, and that no festivity was in order. Other evidence of the war’s end was the burning of Hirohito at the stake on Main Street by a group of joyous youngsters, and flag-bedecked streets.

• August 13, 1970

A new boat, motor and trailer, and a new snowmobile were two of the door prizes to be awarded at the Hartley Chamber of Commerce dinner-dance to be held Oct. 3 at Danceland. Another door prize was a color TV set. Only 550 tickets for the event were to be sold.

Pastor A.O. Bleeke, of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hartley, was retiring from the ministry. He delivered his farewell sermon on Aug. 9. He was pastor at St. Paul’s for 17 years, after previously serving parishes at Lake City, Carroll and Storm Lake.

Announcement was made that the Spencer Foods plant in Spencer was closing for an indefinite period for the purpose of remodeling. According to company officials, the breaking plant in Hartley, which received most of its meat from the Spencer facility, would continue to operate.

• Aug. 17, 1995

A new sign was built and placed at the entrance to the Hartley Community Center drive off 8th Avenue East. Volunteers who helped build the new sign included Ed Harders, Gaylord Taylor, Mark Guggisberg, Darrel Hennings and Beth Harders. Assisting with the landscaping were Jarold Jager and Bev Heimsoth. The City of Hartley assisted with erecting the sign into place.

The majority of 161 respondents to a survey indicated they were against the City of Hartley developing a housing subdivision on property that it owned. Fifty-five percent of respondents to the survey indicated they did not support the city developing the property located north of Highway 18 next to Sweeney Chiropractic Clinic, and 65 percent said they wanted the city to sell the property.

“From Our Files” is compiled by Sentinel-News sports editor/staff writer Mike Petersen.