Our Yesterdays

Pilot Grove Savings Bank in Packwood has added a state-of-the-art Automated Teller Machine (ATM) to the residents of Packwood and the surrounding area.

Richard and Ruby Dorothy of Richland celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with an open house November 1 at the Ollie Baptist church. Ruby Synder and Richard Dorothy were married November 1, 1953 at the First Baptist Church in Danville, Iowa.

Maya Jean Parsons, six-week-old daughter of Matthew and Jen Parsons of Oskaloosa, and Ashlyn Naomi Huff, five-week-old daughter of Mike and Lisa Huff of Montezuma, were honored at a baby shower on October 18 at the home of Irene Ritchie.

Haley Sue Westercamp celebrated her second birthday on Saturday, October 18, at the home of her grandparents Rita and Dennis Eastman.

1993, 30 years ago

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 purchased 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 nation.

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 pastor of their church. He currently teaches at Pekin Schools and will continue to do so along with part time duties as pastor at Packwood.

1953, 70 years ago

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.