100 years ago
October 7, 1909
Local news
I noticed a crowd of town people on the street the other day watching the farmer owner of an automobile which he had just bought and over heard this remark: "I wonder if he mortgaged his farm for it?"
Friends of Frank Pieper were pleased to see him on the streets of Kalona again a few days ago.
Don't forget to attend the cloak sale at the Chicago Store.
Mr. Close, who used to conduct a store here, and is now located at Independence, Missouri, treated his daughter, Mrs. W. J. Snair, to a little surprise, one day last week. She was called to the phone and recognized her father's voice talking to her from Wellman.
A very pretty wedding was solemised at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Otto Conrad, two miles north of town, Wednesday, when their daughter Elizabeth, was united in marriage to Mr. Fred Heinrich of California, Missouri.
Lloyd Shetler left Monday for Goshen, Indiana, where he will attend college.
Clem Grady of the S. U. I. came hoe Saturday morning and helped the boys play ball.
Miss Stella Weimer, a student of the S. U. I., visited her friend, miss Edna Allen over Sunday.
John Whitmore has been elected janitor at the school house, to take the place of John Carpenter.
We understand that three Kalona residence properties changed hands yesterday. Jno. A. Yoder sold his place on west Barnes Street, to Yost Stutzman and John Carpenter sold his two places to R. S. Fry.
Sam Manatt, Sr. returned this week, from several weeks, spent at Lenox, Iowa, and in the state of Texas. He came over from Washington, Sunday and A. B. Rogers in his auto and they made about the quickest trip on record, just 30 minutes from the Benz Hotel in Washington to the Kalona House.
Frank Friese started for South Dakota, again Tuesday in company with two more farmers, Ezra Smith, from over on the south prairie and Tom Shebek of English River township.
A. Z. Rawson and wife returned Monday from their trip to Olathe, Colorado. They had an extra fine time, were present at the opening of the big Gunnison, irrigation tunnel, met President Taft, and had a general good time.
Mrs. J. G. Myers has returned to Kalona, to spend the winter with her daughter Mrs. Frank Figgins.
John and Cloyd Carpenter returned Tuesday, from Nebraska. They bought out a good big piece of Nebraska land and will go into the ranch business.
Richmond
Horshowsky Bros. are sawing lumber for Tony and Joe Escher east of town.
Wm. Kiefer and wife are getting their house ready to move into.
Frank Vodichka has made a cement walk in front of his property now occupied by Anson Small.
Kos & Spevacek are repairing their store room.
Joe Freund is tiling for John Duwa this week.
Egypt
James Yansky Jr., part owner of the firm of F. L. Prebyl & Co., of Riverside, Sundayed at the Ed Shalla home.
Several of our young folks attended a dance at the James Knotek home Saturday.
Miss Vlasta Vacha is doing some sewing this week for Mrs. S. P. Keiffer at Washington.
Prairie Flower
The Wm. Myres family attended the Whiting Cummings wedding which took place near Riverside last Wednesday.
Friends in this vicinity have received the announcement of the birth of a son to Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Rathmell of Colwater, Okla.
Sharon Center
Iva Stahl is sewing for Mrs. W. D. Berkey this week.
A large number of friends attended the funeral of Christian Sommer at the Lutheran church.
Noah Yoder had the misfortune to lose a valuable cow last Saturday night.
Dan Gingerich's child is very ill with pneumonia.
J. M. Hartsock is acting as juror in Iowa City this week.
Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Nagy visited at the Frank Lewis home in Windham, last week.
Fred Buck spent Sunday at the Albert Garnett home near hills.
Amish
The corn crop will be good in this locality this year.
Forrest Jones bought the Ed Jones farm last week for $85 per acre.
English River
Joe Keifer received two carloads of cattle that he bought in South Dakota.
Gus Kern had a barn raising last week.
Henry Kron had a barn raising Monday.
Fred Wieland had a barn raising Tuesday.
The dance at Frank Kron's Tuesday night was well attended.
Frank Pierce
A. W. Roup is having his barn painted. Perry Livzey is doing the work.
Frank and Gerald Fry were both helping Miller & Kitzmiller the first of the week getting ready for their big sale.
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Maske and daughters Minnie and Alta, were Sunday visitors at Frank Kline's.
75 years ago
October 4, 1934
Local news
The Stoltzfus and Miller Produce firm are quite busy in their new industry of dressing poultry. They have nine men picking four days a week and shipped seven barrels of dressed poultry east.
C. E. Strickler has been busy the last few days doing electrical work in Iowa City. Miss Norma Grady has been running his store during his absence.
A horse sale will be held at the Oldaker and Michum barns Saturday afternoon. Charley Brown of Washington is the manager and will have a carload here.
Harold Morgan is the new man in charge. Weldon Yoder had been operating the cleaning and pressing business until recently when he took his brother, Paul's place in the Beck and Son store.
Ed Kern is the owner of the Buick coach recently owned by W. H. Plank.
Joe C. Miller who lives three miles east of town met with a serious accident last Thursday when he lost the ends of the first and second fingers of his right hand in a sausage grinder.
L. E. Strickler is working with the Horiban Construction Co. of Iowa City at the present time putting in some new pavement at the University town. Jake J. Miller is driving Lloyd's oil truck while Lloyd is working at Iowa City.
D. B. Hochstetler has sold his farm to John A. Stutzman and will move to Kalona according to reports. Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Hochstetler will live on the Hochstetler farm when it is vacated by them.
Joe J. Miller will leave this week for Stuttgart, Arkansas where he has a farm under cultivation for the raising of rice.
Albert Hershberger, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Hershberger, who is in the employ of the DuPont Co. at Buffalo, New York, is enjoying a week of his vacation visiting at the parental home.
L. D. Zook had hard luck last Sunday while he was away from home east of town. During his absence some dogs got into his chicken yard and killed 32 of his fine pullets.
Among the six boys from Washington county to go to the CCC camp this week, Joe Levy of this place was one chosen.
Friends and relatives came in and pleasantly surprised Miss Velma Eash at her home Sunday. The occasion was in honor of her twentieth birthday which came on Wednesday.
Aaron Spicher Joe Erb and Mose Ropp drove to Waterloo today, Thursday, where they will attend the annual Cattle Congress.
Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Reif, Mrs. Logan Reif, Mrs. Mae Osborn, Mrs. Gerald Teets and Miss Adelaide Swartzendruber went to Chicago Sunday to visit the Century of Progress Show.
World news
Mussolini drove ahead with vigor today to make Italy a super-militaristic nation. The Duce took personal charge of the program which will put boys at the age of eight and upward in uniform.
Hummer
Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Benell with Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Ihrig left Tuesday for Chicago and the Century of Progress. Little Colleen Benell is spending the time with her grandparents, John Benell, near Kalona while her parents are away.
Miss Geraldine Butterbaugh is doing the housework at the Leslie Ihrig home while they are in Chicago.
Mrs. Ivan Hummer and her daughter, Mrs. Merrill Maske attended the funeral of Chas. Bush.
Middleburg
Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Logan and son, Dale, Mr. and Mrs. Dave Hostetler, Mr. and Mrs. Christ Yoder and family, Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Yoder, Katie and Velma, and Miss Barbara Miller were Sunday dinner guests at the Will Stutsman home.
Evergreen
Leland Butterbaugh of Frytown is selling the new Plymouth car. He was through these parts last Friday.
Freeman Gingerich and Frank Snider cut a lot of fodder for Jesse Shetler last week. This week they are cutting for Joe F. Miller.
There is still some clover to hull in this neighborhood, but the weather is not fit for it, but we need the rain too.
Amish
Rev. and Mrs. Meeker motored to Cedar Rapids last Wednesday and returned Thursday.
Mr. and Mrs. Chester Miller and Arlen spent Thursday evening at the parental M. E. Yoder home
Mrs. Lloyd Brenneman, Wava and Goldie spent last Tuesday at the parental M. E. Yoder home.
The interior of the Lower Deer Creek church is being painted. The Miller Bros. of Kalona have the work in charge.
Center High School
Editor-in-Chief - Vera Fry
Associate Editors - Freda Brenneman and Simon Wertz
We are glad to add another member to our Sophomore class, Cleo Gascho, who has been absent for three weeks. This brings the total enrollment of our school to thirty-two.
This year the grade school and high school students again received Knot Hole tickets. With this ticket they can attend each football game at the University of Iowa football field for twenty-five cents.
Those absent from school last week are as follows: Monday - Doris Slaubaugh, Eldon Swartzendruber, Simon Wertz and Wilbur Miller; Tuesday - Elman Bontrager; Wednesday - Claude Cappe and Donald Schlabaugh; Thursday - Freda Brenneman; Friday - Lynn Wertz.
Kalona School Notes
Sophomores English Class taught by Mr. Bragg, has organized a "Better Speech Club." Jack Boone is president this week and Irma Roman and Billy were his helpers.
Kalona held U. High scoreless the second half, outplaying them through out the third quarter. Ehrenfelt got free for several long runs. Jirsa and Benell played a good defensive game, making the greater share of the tackles. Final U. High 13, Kalona 0
7th and 8th grade notes
We invited the fifth and sixth grade over because we thought they would enjoy the meeting too. Norma Erickson read the minutes after Marvin Gingerich called the meeting to order.
Next all sang America, Harry Levy gave a talk on "The Story of the Constitution", and Virginia Bush read "Some Famous Portraits."
Other numbers of the program are as follows:
Trio- Dayle Teets, Donald Hesselschwerdt and Richard
Charades - Robert Swartzendruber and Alvin Miller
Duet - Lydia and Fannie Miller
Story of Leading Americans at time Constitution was written - Marie Hesselschwerdt
History of Painter of Wash. - Audrey Boone
5th and 6th grade news
The fifth and sixth grades are going on a wiener roast. The Weiner roast committee is James Boone, Harold Peterseim Pauline Moomey and Helen Rogers. We are going to roast apples too. Kenneth Gingerich is supposed to get the wiener roast sticks. Each of us will bring a nickel to pay for the rolls and wieners. Charles Fleming is going to haul the food and other things out to the bluffs with his wagon.
50 years ago
October 8, 1959
Local news
Community Club Committees, 1959-60
Executives; Paul McAndrew, H. V. Beck, Cecil Miller, Roger Miller, E.J. Hesselschwerdt
Nominations papers were filed with town clerk, H. V. Beck in behalf of candidates for the town election on November 3.
Candidates include: O.C. Steigleder for mayor; V. D. Hochstetler, treasurer; for councilmen; Joe Allen, Tom Russell, Gerald Teets, Reese Trusler, and John J. Yoder.
The date of the annual Benefit Sale in behalf of the local Home for the Aged is set for November 20. This sale will be held at the Kalona Sales Barn and the committee in charge of the sale includes D. G. Yoder and Ben M. Miller of Kalona and Omar Yoder of Wellman.
Ground is being broken for the new Farmers Savings Bank building on the former Mellinger property west of the Kalona Creamery.
Anna Mae Miller, who has been employed at the Bake-Rite Bakery is now working in the grocery department at Reif's.
E. F. (Jim) Kruger is employed as butter maker at the Kalona Creamery. Kruger had 30 years experience at the trade. Mr. and Mrs. Kruger are living in the Mrs. M. L. Friese property in the north part of town recently vacated by Mrs. Westrick.
Mr. and Mrs. Loren Spicher and family have moved into their new home in the Sunnyside addition in the east part of Kalona.
A/3 Ronnie Spicher of Rantoul, Illinois, and Staff Sgt. and Mrs. W. Dean Spicher and son, Bruce, of Lincoln, Nebraska were weekend guests in the parental Mrs. Velma Spicher home, and with other relatives here.
Mrs. C. E. Semler and Mrs. Ray Johnson of Story City visited Thursday afternoon and evening with their daughters who are students in Iowa City.
Among the students registered at the Eastern Mennonite College at Harrisonburg, Virginia are the following from Kalona: Esther Schrock, Lulu J. Brenneman, Norma Ropp, Erma Ropp, Ada Bontrager, Rhoda Hershberger, E. Grace Bontrager, Delmar Yoder and Ray Gingerich.
David Rhodes, son of Mr. and Mrs. O. J. Rhodes, Kalona, began a two year term of voluntary service for the Mennonite church recently. He has been assigned to the unit at Paris, France, and Brussels, Belgium.
John Allen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Allen observed his second birthday Monday, October 5, and was honored at a birthday dinner that evening. Guests sharing the occasion with the Allen family were John's grandmothers, Mrs. Dona Allen and Mrs. Mary TeBockhorst.
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Malichky Sr. entertained relatives at dinner in the Cloud Room at the Airport Inn in Iowa City, Sunday in observance of the Malichky's forty-fifth wedding anniversary which was October 7.
Mrs. Cora Smith of Iowa City and her two daughters, Mrs. Jim Parke and son, Wesley of new Jersey and Mrs. Delbert Miller and Ann of Sharon Center were Saturday dinner guests of Mr. and Mrs. Ivan Yoder.
Samuel W. Yoder, died at his home in Kalona, Thursday, October 1, 1959 at the age of 71 years. Mr. Yoder was married to Maude E. Peterseim.
Surviving him are his wife, Maude, two sons, Paul W. of Houston, Texas; Weldon C. of Kalona; four grandchildren, Tony, Diana and Bradford C of Kalona and Paul M. of Houston, Texas.
Richmond
Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Shalla entertained at a birthday party in honor of their daughter, Candy, September 28.
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Werner returned to their home at Mason City on Friday after attending the funeral of their uncle, Will Chapek.
Mrs. Ardell Pieper, Mrs. Anna Escher and Claude Escher attended the funeral of Rex Dillinger at Washington on Tuesday.
Mr. and Mrs. L. J. Keifer accompanied Mr. and Mrs. Joe Sedlacek of Iowa City on a trip over the weekend to Boy's Town and West Bend and Clear Lake, Iowa.
Mrs. Margaret Pieper was the guest of honor on her birthday Sunday when her family came to the Ardell Pieper home.
Pilotburg
Gene Scott started his Sophomore year at the University of Iowa at Iowa City last week.
Mrs. Gene Scott began her teaching duties in school at Kalona last Thursday. Grandma Jeanette Scott will care for baby Carol Diane while her mother teaches.
Mrs. Lydia Horak and Harold visited in the John Kienie home near Washington Wednesday evening.
Mr. and Mrs. Cy Bush went to Ainsworth Sunday to help two of their granddaughters celebrate their birthdays, Mr. and Mrs. Don Bush are their parents.
Mr. and Mrs. Dick Beckley and two little sons visited relatives at South English Sunday.
Kalona High School
Class Officers Elected
Student Council President: Jim Yoder.
Results of elections for class officers.
Seniors: President: Jim Yoder. Vice-President: Sharon Malichky. Sec. Treas.: Kate Meyers. Reporter: Steve Reif. Student Council Representatives: Harold Stout and Jim Yoder.
Juniors: President: Sally Skola. Vice-President: Phil Hershberger. Sec. Treas: Linda Swartzendruber. Reporter: Kathy Pieper. Student Council Representatives: Ross Rhodes and Sally Skola.
Sophomores: President: Virginia Yoder. Vice-President: Dale Stout Sec. Treas.: Ron Eichelberger. Reporter: Curtis Cox. Student Council Representative: Curtis Cox.
Freshmen: President: Ken Kepler. Vice-President: Tom Jirsa. Secretary: Gene Stromley. Treasurer: Duane Chalupa. Student Council Representative: Ellis Miller
Sixth Grade
This week is opening exercises, Dennis Fisher read us the poem "Barbara Frietchie"; John Helmuth and John Kos read "Old Man Rain"; and Randy Swartzendruber and Rudy Gorbatjuk read, "Watching the Moon," and Christa Showman showed us her collection of coins.
We have elected new officers. The president is Bonnie Yoder, Vice president, Mary Agnes Yoder; Secretary, John Helmuth. The reporter for the class newspaper is Timmy TeBockhorst and the Assistant Reporter is Gary Kos. Reporter Beverly Kinsinger.
Fifth Grade
The following names are the ones who were the reporters in September; Connie Westrick, Susan Hartzler, Claudia Shaver, Nancy Hoffer, Joy Yoder, and Gloria Yoder.
In Physical Education, we are having a Hula Hoop contest. We have to let it to around our waist at least 100 times.
Mr. Clark rang the fire alarm, and we filed out of our room while our fire chief, Bill Henss shut the windows and put out the lights. It took everybody in the school house one minute to get out.
Fourth Grade
John White treated the class Friday in honor of his birthday.
We are happy to have Bill Stagner back with us after a week absence due to illness.
Multi-Grade
This week the second grade dramatized two stores from their reader that took place in Mrs. Hill's Store. Debra Jones and Cherie Beckman did the narration. Judy Schlabaugh and Mary Ann Gingerich were the student directors of the choral readings given by the third grade.
Visitors in our room the past week were Tom and Lorene's mothers, Mrs. Kenneth Muller and Mrs. Donald W. Yoder