From Our Files
1946: Hartley’s first bank owner dies at age 87
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• Jan. 3, 1946
Jay Meiske received a $50 War Bond for having the most perfect 4-H record book in the county. Lela Mae Baumeister won the second prize of a $25 bond.
Ted Henning leased the Bartelson Oil Co. and was operating it under the name Henning Oil Co. Mr. Bartelson continued to operate his garage and Dodge-Plymouth agency.
Frank Patch, 87, prominent Hartley resident, passed away on Dec. 30 after suffering a stroke. Born in a log cabin in Illinois, he came to O’Brien County in 1878 and took his first position as a teacher near Sutherland. He came to Hartley in 1882 and opened the first bank in this community, serving as president until 1926. He was a charter member of Beacon Lodge and Golden Sheaf Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star, and was a 32nd Degree Mason.
• Dec. 31, 1970
Mr. and Mrs. Joel Montgomery, of Sutherland, were winners of the grand prize given by the Hartley Chamber of Commerce during the pre-Christmas promotion. Secretary Ingwer L. Hansen presented the lucky winners with a certificate for a week’s vacation in Arizona.
The Town of Hartley arranged a special collection day for all Christmas trees. A new state law prohibited the burning of any material not raised upon the premises, so the burning of trees by private individuals was no longer permitted.
Adult evening classes to be offered in Hartley for 10 weeks included sewing knits, furniture upholstering, psychology for parents, welding, speed reading and golf.
• Jan. 4, 1996
Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Middle School students set a goal of contributing 1,000 items to needy people during the holidays. In just one week that goal was more than realized as 1,632 items were to be distributed by Upper Des Moines Opportunity to persons in the counties served by the district. The idea originated with the sixth grade teachers as a way to focus on the giving aspect of the holidays.
For the ninth-straight year, farmland values increased in Iowa. The value of land increased an average of $99 per acre according to Iowa State University’s annual survey. Land values in Clay County increased 5.7 percent while those in O’Brien and Osceola counties increased 5.6 and 5.5 percent, respectively. The highest average value was estimated for Scott County at $2,332 per acre.
“From Our Files” is compiled by Sentinel-News sports editor/staff writer Mike Petersen.
