From Our Files

• Nov. 20, 1947

R.C. Birdsall sold his general store of groceries and dry goods at Moneta to Jim Gaines, of Sioux City. Mr. and Mrs. Birdsall were undecided as to what they would do. Gale Birdsall continued to operate the Moneta Lockers and buy poultry.

F.A. Albright won the first prize in the soybean contest sponsored locally by the Chamber of Commerce, Mann and Mann, and the Huntting Elevator. Albright’s yield on a five-acre plot was 26.6 bushels per acre. All plots were planted 3’4” except for that of George Groen, Sr., whose plot was double-rowed.

The Hartley Chamber of Commerce purchased 100 aluminum bells to add to the local Yuletide street decorations. The streets were to be decorated in the near future and promised to be exceedingly attractive during the Christmas season.

• Nov. 16, 1972

The Hartley community was shocked when word was received that Dr. J.C. and Neva Peterson, Jr. had met a tragic death when the car in which they were riding was struck virtually head-on by a car which crossed the median on Interstate 80, three miles east of Williamsburg. The Petersons had left the Iowa-Michigan football game at half time and were traveling west at the time of the accident.

The Petersons had lived in Hartley for 30 years. “Doc Pete” was chief of staff of the Community Memorial Hospital and was active in professional and community organizations. Mrs. Peterson was also active in a number of community groups. They were members of the United Methodist Church, where the funeral service was held. The Hartley Community School was closed the day of the funeral in their honor. Dr. Peterson had recently retired from the school board after 17 years of service.

• Nov. 20, 1997

Kalyn Van Engen, Emily Vander Broek and Paul Olson, vocal students at Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Middle School, were selected to perform in the 1997 Opus Junior High State Honor Choir at Ames. Only 700 of the approximately 3,000 students who auditioned were chosen for one of the four honor choirs.

Some Hartley Betterment Club members would go to great lengths to get attention. Randy Menke, Mark Fredericks, Lynwood Mohni, Pat Maloney, Keith Jacobs and Bill Treimer braved sub-zero wind chills to check out the pool slide which was made possible through the club’s fundraising efforts.

Plans were finalized for H-M-S High School band and choir members to go to Disney World in Orlando, Fla., June 4-9, 1998. Approximately 130 students and 20 chaperones were expected to make the trip. A performance by the students was planned, upon acceptance at Disney World.

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