Looking Back in Story City

50 Years Ago

September 1963

Willard Anderson, Kenneth Bickelhaupt, Dorrel Doolittle, Raymond Kammin and Eugene Voga are running for election int he regular Story City school board election on Monday, Sept. 9. Two directors will be elected.

Dick Mason, Alan Hermanson and Duane Murken of the Story City FFA Chapter received silver ratings at the FFA Livestock and Meat Judging Contest held at the Iowa State Fair on August 24. The silver rating is the second highest rating given at the contest, in which 81 teams participated.

Paul Pedersen, son of Rev. and Mrs. Pernie Pedersen, has been selected as a Peace Corps volunteer to teach English in the secondary school of Nigeria.

Wally Gandrup, registered pharmacist for 12 years, will hold an open house to celebrate the grand opening of his newly remodeled store on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 6 and 7.

The Viqueens girls’ softball team won the Roland tournament, winning over Hubbard 8-4, in the finals on Monday, Sept. 9 after beating Roland 3-2 on Saturday, Sept. 7. Jo Henderson pitched both games for the locals.

Hubert Bickelhaupt of the Loyal Lafayette Lads received a plaque at the county fair on an end table. He went on to the State Fair and received a blue ribbon in woodworking.

Willard Anderson (182 votes) and Raymond Kammin (158 votes) will return to the Story City School Board following the Sept. 9 election. A total of 367 citizens voted. Eugene Voga received 113 votes, followed by Dorrel Doolittle (72) and Kenneth Bickelhaupt (66).

The new Suburban Restaurant and Brown’s Texaco Station on Highway 69 at the Gilbert corner held their grand opening on Saturday, Sept. 14. (A full page ad appeared in the Sept. 12 issue of the Herald.)

The Vikings managed a 13-13 tie with Radcliffe last Friday night, Sept. 13, at Radcliffe.

Barry Benson, yeoman third class USN, son of Jennie Benson of Nevada, and formerly of this place, recently represented the Great Lakes Naval Training Center as Sailor of the Month at the 1963 Annual Armed Forces Benefit football game held August 31. Benson entered the Navy in August 1961 and is stationed at Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Illinois.

Both of Story City’s auto dealers will have open houses September 26 and 27. Munsen Chevrolet-Buick will be showing the 1964 Chevrolets, including the new Chevelle on Thursday, Sept. 26. Donhowe Motors Company is showing the new Fords on Friday, Sept. 27.

Laura Larson and Racy Peters are among 13,500 senior high school students to attain semifinal status in the 1963-64 Merit Scholarship competition. The test was given to 16,500 high schools last March. Laura is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peter B. Larson. Racy is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M.L. Peters.

The locals completely dominated play Friday night, Sept. 20, with United Community by blanking the Comets 26-0. Mike Shaw scored two touchdowns, Mark Perisho scored another, as did Van Cleave. Story rushed for 303 yards, while holding United to just 26 yards.

40 Years Ago

September 1973

Bill Gabrielson of Story City has opened a new self-service car wash in Randall, and it is now in operation. Bill also owns the car wash in Jewell.

Milford Baldus has opened a new auto parts business. Baldus Auto Supply is located at 610 Story Street and is an affiliate of American Parts System.

The new baseball field south on Hillcrest is nearing completion. Sodding along the third and first base lines was completed the last week of August. Sodding inside the base paths was completed earlier, with all remaining spots scheduled to be finished the first part of September. Don Finnegan donated the sod, Jim Shaw furnished the sod cutter and athletic director Dallas Kray prepared the field and lined up volunteers to help lay the sod.

Dr. Forrest Barnes (2nd term) and Harris Twedt, Jr. (1st term) are running unopposed for the R-S school board in the election set for Tuesday, Sept. 11. Both men were elected, obviously.

Susan Romsey, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Romsey, has been crowned Story County Beef Queen for 1974. Susan is a 1970 graduate of Gilbert High School and is a senior at Iowa State majoring in elementary education.

Several hundred people attended the O’s Gold Field Day last week (from the Sept. 12 issue) at the Kenneth Brooks farm east of Story City.

Leon Skeie, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Skeie of Story City, has accepted a teaching position at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, CA.

Roland-Story won their opening game of the season over Nesco Friday night, Sept. 7, 40-0. LeRoy Nunn scored the first two touchdowns. Galen Stole kicked four extra points. Darrel Posegate rushed for 151 yards, while Nunn collected 112 yards. Nunn and Sheldon Bolstad each had nine tackles.

Dine at the Sign of the Happy Chef! Sunday noon special is Roast Beef Dinner, sliced to order!

Moonlight Madness came to town on Thursday, Sept. 27 on the streets of Story City from 7 to 10 p.m. Free hot dogs and pop were served on the east side of Story Cafe.

Carlisle came back from a 6-0 halftime deficit to defeat the Norsemen 20-6 Friday night, Sept. 14, in the first home game of the season. LeRoy Nunn’s 83 yard scamper in the first quarter was Roland-Story’s only score.

Roland-Story’s girls’ softball team defeated Northeast Hamilton 12-2 to run their fall season record to 5-1 the week of Sept. 12. Lori Auestad hurled a five-hitter, struck out six and walked three.

Eugene Raymond of Roland was awarded a recognition plaque for his service on the Roland and Roland-Story school boards from 1966 to 1973.

Jean Olson, 71, retired co-editor and former owner of the Story City Herald, passed away on Sept. 20. She retired in 1966 along with her first husband Art Olson after many years as co-editor of the Herald. Art died in 1969. She was re-married to Henry B. Olson in 1971. Her and Henry B.’s visits to the Herald will be missed.

Mr. and Mrs. Melbourne Henderson were winners of a January Caribbean holiday trip sponsored by O’s Gold Seed Company.

Roland-Story held off the North Polk Comets 19-12 Friday night, Sept. 21, on the local field. The Norse led at halftime 13-0. Brian Sansgaard scored the first two touchdowns, while DeWayne Teig raced 50 yards for the final R-S score on a broken punt play.