From Our Files
1971: Water in Hartley deemed safe to drink following bacteria scare
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• Nov. 14, 1946
Main speaker for the annual football banquet was Don O’Brien, sportscaster for station WNAX. He gave a very interesting and amusing talk on the value of athletics and their heritage. The high school auditorium was decorated and a dinner was prepared by mothers of the squad members.
One of the newest additions to the business circle of Hartley was the Hugh Manufacturing Co., located in the new Wedlake building. The company built conversion oil burners for installation in furnaces. Laurence A. Grotewohl was owner of the company. Helping him was his son, Harrison. Both were active in the engineering field.
Abel Anderson, Sieb Johnson, W.R. Wagner, Ingwer L. Hansen and W.R. Vezina, Jr. represented Hartley at the Regional National Affairs Conference at Spencer. The meeting was held to learn the sentiment of members of the various Chambers of Commerce relative to proposed legislation.
• Nov. 18, 1971
Paula Riedemann, of Hartley, placed first in the junior division of the district “Make It with Wool” contest, wearing a pair of knickers with matching vest. She qualified to compete at the state fashion show at Ames.
A new greenhouse was completed at the Jacobson Hatchery, located west of Hartley on Highway 18. The new venture, which was owned by Vernon Jacobson, would begin operations the following spring under the supervision of Harvey Patton. The building was completely covered with plastic and was 100 feet long and 20 feet wide.
Reports were circulating that samples of Hartley water sent to Iowa City for tests came back “unsafe.” Additional samples from the affected areas were sent in for testing and all were marked “safe.” Superintendent of Utilities Wilferd Schmeling said that water was safe when it left the reservoir but there was the possibility of bacteria buildup in homes with old iron pipes.
• Nov. 21, 1996
Pauline Houston, of Hartley, established the Pauline and Arlene Houston Endowed Scholarship Fund at Buena Vista University in memory of her twin sister, Arlene. The Houstons had taught in O’Brien County for a combined 83 years. Both started their careers in rural schools. Pauline then taught English and art at Primghar while Arlene taught English and social studies at Hartley. Both earned their bachelor’s degrees in secondary education at Buena Vista.
A crowd of nearly 500 people attended the 49th Farmers Cooperative annual meeting. Brian Bailey, Bob Fahnlander and Jim Warburton were elected to the board. President Tom Goeken retired after many years of service.
H-M-S Elementary students conducted their annual clothing drive and the results were impressive. A full van load of clothing that had been brought to the school was taken to the Upper Des Moines Opportunity office at Sheldon.
“From Our Files” is compiled by Sentinel-News sports editor/staff writer Mike Petersen.
