New London Newspapers

Probably all small Iowa towns in the ‘30s, ‘40s, ‘50s, and even the early ‘60s mirrored what was going on in New London. During those years, New London wouldn’t have been thought of as a “bedroom” community. I doubt if that term had even be coined. New London was essentially a full-service town. There were no Walmarts or Lowe’s. Whatever a person needed, they could most likely find it in a store on Main Street and never have to leave town.

Another interesting observation was that most of the men of the community were employed in New London, often at a business that they owned and operated. Petzinger’s Grocery Store was owned and operated by Earl Petzinger; Bert and Bob Harper ran Harper’s Grocery Store; and Shores Pharmacy was owned and operated by Rocky Shores and later by Bob Shores, to name just a few. It was that way up and down Main Street. These businesses in turn created local jobs for adult workers and teenagers.

The buying was between merchant and customers who were friends and neighbors. Giving the customer a good product and good service were very important because you knew each other. Having grown up in the ‘50s and ‘60s, and the daughter of a dad that owned and operated his own business along with his two brothers, it just gave the town a sort of cohesiveness that it doesn’t have anymore, or at least not to the same degree.

Because the New London newspaper was always being sold, it made it difficult for it to provide any continuity. C.W. Von Coelln (last week’s featured owner) and daughter Anna changed that “fly by night” feeling, and paved the way for the next owner of the Journal who would bring much needed changes.

E. E. “Ed” Wessel hailed from St. Paul, Minnesota. He’d attended the University of Minnesota. He had tried his hand at teaching, but most importantly, he had worked on newspapers in Michigan, Minnesota, and North Dakota. He married Esther Buor of Nampa, Idaho in 1923. They had met while she was teaching in St. Paul and Ed was working on a newspaper. They had one daughter, Suzanne, who graduated from NLHS in 1950.

In November of 1923, Ed and Esther, the newlyweds, arrived in New London. He was 28 years old and was the new editor and publisher of the New London Journal. He would continue in this position until 1960.

He counted F. W. “Judge” Walters as a good friend. It seems that they had the same sense of civic pride and probably more importantly, the same sense of humor. Judge Walters wrote a column called “Buckeye Letters” under a pseudonym. It was humor that depression-weary folks appreciated. The secret of the Judge’s authorship wasn’t made known until after his death in 1965. The Judge and the Editor certainly enjoyed the long running secret.

Under Ed’s tutelage, the paper became more professionally edited. The Journal’s editorial position was progressive and lobbied for the town to put in improvements such as a sewer system and paved streets. Ed also had a weekly column called Journalette. He used it to discuss what was on his mind. He eulogized some, commented on town activities, and always called for the betterment of New London. He often took a stand on certain issues. Other times it was a commentary about a certain subject that faced the town or it was Ed’s opinion on a variety of topics. But it was always interesting.

Esther Wessel gave piano lessons to New London children for decades. She was always kind but firm, as she urged her sometimes less than cooperative students to practice. (Yes, I speak from experience.)

Both she and Ed could be counted on for community needs. Esther provided piano accompaniment at various events and joined several clubs. Ed was credited with being a driving force in getting a chamber of commerce started in New London. He was also listed as someone who continued to push for improvements to Geode State Park. They both embraced New London as their home and sought opportunities to improve it.

During Ed’s long years as editor, he had many New London people as employees. He also provided many part-time jobs to high school students.

He hired high school student Evelyn (Weigert) Garmoe in 1947. She became full time in 1948 when she became office manager, being able to do almost every job from story writing to billing. She “retired” after a fall at the age of 83 after 67 years … amazing!

In around 1949, Ed hired Merlin “Dauby” Daubendick. He was the Linotype operator and worked for the paper for several years.

Ed was a newspaper man and a citizen who was willing to work for civic betterment and the causes he believed in. After selling the Journal in 1960, Ed was elected the mayor of New London from 1960 through 1967. His fellow citizens elected him repeatedly because he had earned their trust. He was also a past president of the Iowa Press Association. It seems he earned his fellow newspaper men’s trust as well.

Ed and Esther moved permanently to Florida in 1971. Ed died Aug. 8, 1978 at the age of 84. Esther died on Feb. 11, 1980 at the age of 80. They were both “doers” in the best sense of the word. They were both well-educated, involved citizens who brought a certain sophistication to their adopted hometown. They were just what New London and the Journal needed as times were changing.

During their years in New London, they lived at 306 North Pine Street. The house was yellow then and had a distinctive roof line over the front entrance. During the years the Wessels were part of New London, everyone called that area where they lived Wessel’s Hill. You can still to this day date someone by what they call that stretch of road. If it’s Wessel’s Hill they are senior citizens. All the “youngsters” call it Pine Hill. What do I call it? For me, it will always be Ed and Esther’s Hill.

Next week — Part 4 — Toward a New Millennium