From Our Files

• July 28, 1949

The Hartley Future Farmers chapter was selected by the Northwest District to prepare an educational booth for the Iowa State Fair. The booth featured activities and accomplishments of the FFA members.

The Melvin Fire Department was called to the John Graves farm when the barn caught on fire from a burning straw pile. The barn burned to the ground in a short time. A large group of folks gathered to see the fire and assist in trying to put it out.

One of the seven national youth caravans of the Evangelical and Reformed Church was in Hartley. The four young persons presented an explanation of the caravan’s work and what the youth were doing for the church and the spiritual life of all people. Ten young people of Trinity Church attended a presentation by the youth caravan at the Peterson church.

• July 25, 1974

The city council approved contracts with Rohlin Construction for two paving projects in Hartley. The company submitted a bid of $27,882 for compacting the municipal airport runway, completing drainage work and sealcoating the surface. The engineer felt that would make a runway of sufficient strength to handle any plane that the length of the runway could accommodate.

Rohlin also bid $37,893 to resurface First Street Southeast and First Avenue East. The cost was approximately double what was paid per block the previous year, but the surfacing was increased to 1-1/2 inches due to heavy traffic on both streets, and the cost of asphaltic materials had gone up considerably.

• July 29, 1999

RAGBRAI riders kept coming and coming on the opening day of the statewide ride. The first group arrived in Hartley at around 8 a.m. and riders were still coming late in the afternoon. No accurate count could be made, but many riders were high in their praise of the preparation the community made for their arrival. Sprinklers set up by the fire department and the water fights were appreciated, as it was a hot day for all involved.

Republican presidential candidate Steve Forbes was popular among RAGBRAI riders, not because of his politics but because he was handing out water at a stand set up on the seed plot at the Mort and Karen Rosenboom farm north of Hartley. The stop offered riders a break from the heat as well as a chance to meet the successful magazine publisher. His wife, Sabina, and one of their five daughters accompanied him.

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