Our Yesterdays

In the Ten Acre Yield Contest, seven fields in Richland territory made above 100 bushels as follows: Baker Bros., 115.85; Albert Horras, 115.04; G.I. Dutton, 113.28; Logan Sellars, 112.78; Everett Jones, 112.67; Aaron Wonderlich, 107.59; and John V. Adam, 102.27.

J.W. Hendrickson, our well known auctioneer and McCormick Deering dealer in Richland, attended at Mexico, Missouri the Saddle Horse Sale where 700 head of horses were sold at auction and pur-chased three head of the horses.

Andy Hoekstra has bought the I.G.A. grocery store in Hedrick. Howard Stroud has been connected with the Hoekstra store here in Richland for several years and will be the manager. Nellie Bray takes Stroud’s place in the store in Richland.

November 1953

Gilbert Starr has purchased the business interest of his partner, Ralph Steel, in the Starr and Steel grocery. Mr. Steel begins his new duties as acting postmaster soon. Mr. Starr became the sole owner of the business.

The Iowa highway commission has added something new to the state’s highway scene? red stop signs. The new red reflector-type signs have replaced the standard yellow and black signs at 30 of the state?s most dangerous highway crossings and intersections. With the placing of the new signs the commission begins a two-year study to obtain detailed data on driver’s reactions to them. One of the signs have been installed at the intersection of highway 78 and 1, two miles east of Richland on the blacktop.

Three young doctors, all of them graduates from the Washington University School of Medicine at St. Louis, MO, will launch the formal opening of the Fairfield Clinic on October 16. The three doctors who have chosen Fairfield as a location to open their general practice of medicine and surgery are Dr. James Dunlevy, Dr. Jack N. Morgan, and Dr. Chris L. Palcheff.

November 1959

Mrs. Lorene Reinier and family of Ollie have moved to the Frank Andrews property recently vacated by Mr. and Mrs. Bill Emmack and family.

Ben Young Farm Market has purchased the building on the east side of the Richland square recently occupied by the Hollingsworth Manufacturing Company. Purchase was made from Mrs. Florence Bridger. Mr. Young plans to use the building for storage.

New mayor for Richland will be Stanley Singer who will replace LeRoy Sheetz who was elected to the town council. Singer is a present member of the council. Voting for councilmen resulted in two new members, Richard Conklin and George Hendrickson. They will replace Leo V. Forinash and Keith Towsend who were not candidates. Other councilmen elected include Louie Egbert, Ray Ward, and Sheetz.

November 1989

A new business opened in Brighton. It will be known as J.B.’s Livestock Equipment and is owned and operated by Judith Bohlen. It will feature all types of livestock equipment and is located at the north edge of Brighton at the log cabin house, which is also their home.

John King, Richland, was inducted into the “Coaches Hall of Fame” at a ceremony in Des Moines hosted by the Iowa Athletic Coaches Association. King’s coaching career consists of 35 years, with 23 of those years dedicated to girls basketball. His teams won the State Championship in 1941, placed second in 1947, third in 1940, and fourth place in 1942. His record can boast of 490 games won, with only 124 losses.

November 1993

A landmark of over a century is no more. The Packwood elevator that served the surrounding area since 1884 is no more. Many farmers had stored grain, brought grain into grind, and commercial feed mixed with it, but this is now a memory. A city business and the old landmark. The scales and the building will be left. The new owners are Hammes Brothers of Richland. The bins that are left will now be used for their own storage.

A bench was recently placed in the Richland Central Park in memory of Frank Bottger. It was pur-chased by Harlene Bottger, Frank’s wife, and Robert McKenzie with memorial money that was given to the family at the time of Frank’s death. The bench was thoughtfully placed facing east in the southwest corner of the park so as to be near the Richland Lodge A.F. & A.M. Frank Bottger was the first blind man to become a Mason in the state of Iowa. He was 69 years old when he became a member and was a past Master of the Richland Lodge. He was a very devoted and enthusiastic member. Frank Bottger will always be remembered as a friend to all and a dedicated citizen to this community, state, and na-tion.

Dr. Arnold, Ed. D, is the new superintendent of the Pekin Community School District. He and his family moved here from Kansas City, Missouri, where he served as principal at Park Hill Middle School.

The Packwood Christian Church is happy to announce the appointment of Harlan Van Voorst as pas-tor of their church. He currently teaches at Pekin Schools and will continue to do so along with part time duties as pastor at Packwood.