Remember When 4-13-2016

(Above) Fishing in 1966 - Even though the weather was cold and windy in 1966, these young lads tried their luck fishing off the bridge which crosses the lake outlet.  They said they managed only one fish, but managed quite a few snags.  Pictured front (L-R): Nick Melhus, Jim Buck, Ken Jenkins, Greg Evenson and Kim Young.  Back row is David Larsen and Mike Teff.

25 Years Ago

April 1991

The Clear Lake City Council accepted the low bid for the replacement of the boat ramp near the Sea Wall in downtown Clear Lake.  The Anderson Co. bid $15,228.70 to replace the ramp, which was damaged by the ice over the winter.

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad was in Clear Lake to present an award to the Clear Lake Convention Visitors Bureau (CVB).  Marie Steenlage accepted a plaque from Branstad honoring the efforts made in conjunction with the state’s Community Economic Preparedness Program.  Also present to accept the award were Bob Gougler, president of CVB, Terry Peterson, Chamber of Commerce president and Mark Snell, executive director of the Chamber and Clear Lake Business and Industrial Development Corp.

Local artist John Larsen created a heavy stained and leaded glass window to honor Clear Lake’s Lon Whitney, a noted costume designer for Broadway and other stage plays.  The window follows a quilt pattern Whitney hand-sewed as gifts for family and friends from costume scraps.  The window, which contains 780 pieces of hand blown glass in 10 colors, will hang in the Clear Lake Public Library.

A grass fire, caused by juveniles playing with fire, burned about two acres Saturday afternoon.  The wooded area was located behind the 1200 block of North 6th Street.

Ventura High School students will present, “The Matchmaker” by Thornton Wilder.  This delightful farce is the play that was the basis for the musical, “Hello Dolly.”

Clear Lake United Methodist Camp, located on the South Shore of Clear Lake, named Gene Simon as the new executive director.  Simon is a Clear Lake native and graduated from Clear Lake High School.

Ted Beran has been named as assistant vice president/branch manager of the Clear Lake office for Liberty Bank and Trust, 300 1st Ave. N., Clear Lake.

Competing on the UNI men’s tennis team, Clear Lake native Doug Abbas won his singles match against Westman, 6-1, 6-2.

Ninety boys track teams participated in the Dickenson Relays.  Clear Lake’s 4x200 relay team captured fourth place.  Running the relay were Aaron Marken, J.D. Miller, Mark Whalen and Paul Ebeling.

The grand opening of Captain’s Landing will be held April 10.  The restaurant is located at 211 North 4th St.  A dixieland band and door prizes will be part of the fun.

50 Years Ago

April 1966

The Clear Lake Police Department transferred to the new Municipal Building during the night Tuesday.  The police departments new address is 511 1st Ave. N.

Four Jaycees won “Key Men” awards for outstanding contributions to Jaycee programs.  The men were Dean Nelson, Elgin Morris, Les Landaus and Craig Pross.

Clear Lake police reported that vandals have been breaking windows of area merchants with B.B. or pellet guns.

Grocery specials at Jensen’s Supermarket for the week include:  picnic hams, lb., 37¢; green onions and radishes, bunch, 59¢; Style Hair Spray, 77¢; Folgers Coffee, 3 lbs., $1.89; and Shurbest Ice Cream, 1/2 gallon, 49¢.

60 Years Ago

March 1956

Explosion and fire hits P.M. Park.  The fire started with an explosion in the large apartment dormitory building.  The explosion rocked the entire Clear Lake area at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday night.  When Clear Lake firemen arrived on the scene the fire had enveloped both buildings.  Damage was estimated at $40,000.

The way was cleared last week for the opening of a dance hall on 7th Ave. N. by Sam Napolitano, operator of Sammy’s Elbow Room tavern, in Mason City.

A driverless auto figured in a minor collision that caused more excitement than carnage.  A car owned by Dr. Wurtzer was parked in front of his office with the motor running began backing out into the street.  With onlookers gaping it backed across the street into a bar belonging to Gus Bowers.

Snowfall during the month of March totaled 14”.

100 Years Ago

April 1916

Otis Wooldridge is walking around these days with a cane as the result of a sprained ankle.  That Ford of his became imbedded in the mud, in attempting to lift it out on to dry land, he sustained the injury.

Check out these specials for the week: Coffee is 40¢ a pound; Priscella dust caps and bonnets are 15¢ each; a peck of apples is 50¢; children’s black sateen bloomers are 30¢; ladies auto hoods are 35¢ and salted peanuts are 10¢ a pound.

Farmers who furnish Chicago with her daily supply of milk have gone on strike and a milk famine is a result.  The producers are asking $1.55 per 100 lbs. and have been refused.