From Our Files

• Dec. 18, 1947

A record holiday crowd gathered in Hartley Saturday afternoon to witness the Christmas parade presented by the various schools in the area, and to meet Santa. Saint Nick arrived promptly in his plane and was escorted through the business district in the fire engine.

George Albright, of Hartley, was appointed to the O’Brien County Board of Review. The board reviewed assessments in the county in place of city councils, as was the practice in the past. Albright was appointed to serve a four-year term.

The O’Brien County Soil Conservation District had been active for nearly a year. Considerable interest had been shown in many fields of conservation work, chiefly tilling. Progress had also been made toward completing farm plans on several farms in the county.

• Dec. 14, 1972

The Hartley School Board discussed the possibility of selling the superintendent’s house as a means of bolstering the school house fund. The property was purchased in 1924 at a cost of $5,000, but it was expected that the value would be double that. The board authorized an appraisal of the property.

Rev. L.C. Gebhardt was installed as pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church at May City. A native of Minnesota, Pastor Gebhardt was a graduate of Concordia Theological Seminary in Illinois and had served a church in Canada. He and his wife had two sons.

The Town of Hartley received the first half of the 1972 federal revenue sharing funds. The check for $9,321 was $4,000 more than what was expected. Hartley had received close to $100,000 for the five-year duration of the revenue sharing program.

• Dec. 18, 1997

Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn school board members and Hartley Public Library trustees discussed the possibility of a joint library to serve area residents and H-M-S students. A number of options were discussed regarding location of a joint facility. The library board’s main concerns were timing of getting a bond issue passed and the location. The school board suggested the idea as a way to provide needed services to patrons while benefiting taxpayers.

Mark Dodge, son of Mr. and Mrs. Darrel Dodge, of Hartley, was awarded a $500 scholarship through a special project of the National FFA Organization. Dodge planned to use the funds to pursue a degree in Farm Equipment Tech at Iowa Lakes Community College. He was among nearly 7,400 applicants from across the country.

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