From Our Files

The following is based on stories published in the Hartley Sentinel on Jan. 16 and Jan. 23, 1975

The blizzard that hit this area of Iowa and much of Minnesota last Friday, Saturday and Sunday was proclaimed by many as the "worst storm of the century." The combination of snow, cold and wind may well have been the worst in many years.

The snow with some wind started rather early on Friday and increased as the day went on. Hartley students were dismissed early that day and returned home. The storm continued through Saturday with the wind keeping up through Sunday, piling snow into drifts packed so hard that many would support a man's weight. Total snowfall was estimated at 14 inches.

Greatest loss in the storm was to livestock, which in O'Brien County was estimated at nearly $500,000. A number of Hartley farmers lost cattle. Steve Hoper, who farmed north of Hartley, lost 8,500 chickens when the chicken house collapsed under the weight of the snow. There were also numerous losses by hog raisers when the chilled animals piled up, smothering those on the bottom.

In Hartley, the east wall of the new state liquor store being constructed on the north side of Highway 18 collapsed in the wind. Considerable damage was also done at the new Cook Grain complex just west of Hartley when one of the 5,000-pound dust collectors on top of the elevator was blown off. The heavy object landed on one of the silos, doing excessive damage. Other business places had windows blown out during the storm, tree limbs were down and many vehicles parked on the streets were buried under drifts.

After the storm, opening main highways in the area was a challenge. The final big drifts, including one blocking Highway 18 in Hartley, were cut through when a rotary arrived on the scene. Many rural roads were stilled blocked, however, and school, which had not been in full session since the previous Thursday, was stilled closed on Jan. 15.

Snowmobilers rescued numerous persons who were stranded as a result of the storm. They also took personnel to work at the Community Memorial Hospital and transported two young patients and their parents to the hospital.

Raymond Mayou, of Spencer, died when he was separated from two other snowmobilers who were helping stranded motorists on Highway 71. He apparently lost his way and went across a field. His snowmobile became entangled in a barbed wire fence and could not be freed. He was the son of Elmer Mayou, of Hartley.

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