From Our Files

• July 21, 1949

Two fireplaces were added in the park just south of the athletic field, and picnic tables donated by the Friday Club and fire department were ready for public use. A sandbox was also erected and the park board planned to place swings and other equipment in the area.

H.C. Britzmann, superintendent of the Hartley schools in 1933 and 1934, retired from schoolwork and was the owner and operator of The Smart Shop at Hawarden. He had been in the Hawarden schools for 15 years after leaving Hartley.

Thirteen members of the local Boy Scout Troop left for Camp Mini Wakan to enjoy a week of activities and fun. Activities were planned from tallies of the five things each scout wanted to do most at camp, thus ensuring an all-around enjoyable program.

• July 18, 1974

Dedication ceremonies for the new scoreboard at Fanning Field featured a program that included several speakers. One of them was Jim Fanning, for whom the diamond was named. He grew up in Moneta and was a Junior Legion baseball player for Hartley.

Construction of the workhouse at the Cook Industries elevator complex just west of Hartley had begun. Approximately 90 employees were working on two 12-hour shifts pouring concrete constantly. Eight silos for grain storage would be constructed after the 220-foot workhouse was completed.

The hospital board voted to replace the facility’s X-ray intensifying screens. The screens were needed for the safety of patients and had to be replaced every seven years.

• July 22, 1999

The O’Brien County Youth Center was awarded a Safe and Stable Families Grant totaling $15,000. The grant from the Department of Human Services was to be used to begin a mentoring program called “Kinship” and for startup costs related to the youth center.

Hartley was readying for the arrival of thousands of bike riders on the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa. The local organizing committee, Chamber of Commerce, city officials and numerous volunteers worked for several months to organize the effort. More than 25 vendors, including clubs, civic groups, churches and other organizations, businesses and other groups would have booths set up in the downtown area. Riders could also enjoy live music, other entertainment and water fights.

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