From Our Files

• Aug. 23, 1945

The estimated number of farms in O’Brien County was 1,956. That compared to 2,006 farms in the county 10 years earlier. The average size of farms in the county in 1945 was 184 acres, compared to 176 acres in 1935.

A large extension was added at the rear of the Fairmont Produce house for a feeding room. The structure could house 8,200 birds as well as accommodate a picking room. A new driveway was also made to the facility.

Bus routes to serve the Hartley school area for high school students were established by the school board. It was estimated that the cost of transportation would be from $3-$4 per month to the parent.

D.A. Faber was the new principal of the Hartley high school. He had 10 years of experience as an instructor of mathematics, industrial arts, coaching and secondary school administration.

• August 20, 1970

The Institute of Agriculture at the University of Minnesota made a number of promotions, including that of Dr. Jay Meiske from Associate Professor to Professor by the Department of Animal Science. Dr. Meiske was a 1948 graduate of Hartley High School.

Fines totaling $12,360.65 were apportioned to the 11 school districts with territory in O’Brien County. The Hartley Community School District received $1,857.60. The fines were collected by the clerk of court, eight justices of the peace and three mayors’ courts.

Lew Trusty, Hartley’s chief of police since Jan. 1, 1968, submitted his resignation. He had accepted a position with a casino in Las Vegas, Nev. Chief Trusty was very sorry to leave his many friends in the area, but after 27 years in uniform he wanted to try something else. He also said that Hartley was one of the best towns in which he had lived and worked.

• Aug. 24, 1995

Rural mail carrier Bob Kluender would travel his 108-mile route for the final time on Sept. 1. Kluender was wrapping up a 32-year career with the United States Postal Service in which he had “done it all.” His plans for retirement were to work at his hobbies as well as odd jobs to keep busy.

One of the restaurants featured in the October 1995 issue of Midwest Living was Hartley’s own Pete’s Supper Club. The article told about the restaurant’s inventive pork recipes, homemade bread and their famous Sunday buffet. Pete’s received several inquiries about the restaurant following release of the issue.

The use of technology to educate Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn elementary students expanded again with the establishment of the integrated learning system (ILS) lab. The district had invested over $90,000 for computer equipment and software for 23 stations to be used daily by students in grades 1-4.

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