Remember When 4-24-2019

(Above) Businesses from a by-gone era - Lauritz “Pappy” and Etneta “Mom” Henningsen came to Clear Lake in 1925 and purchased the Vick’s Burg general store and rowboat rental operation.  At about the same time, Pappy Henningsen built a garage/filling station next door to the store.  Vick’s Burg/Touristville was located at present day Tourist Park on South Shore Drive.  -Photo courtesy of Mike Watson. Information from the Remember When Clear Lake Iowa pictorial book

by Michelle Watson

25 Years Ago

April 1994

High winds Saturday fanned the embers of a two-day old controlled fire at the George Lunn fair and ignited a vacant building close to a barn and residence.  Another fire occurred on the Brad Cosgriff farm in Lincoln Township north of Clear Lake Friday afternoon.  The Clear Lake Fire Department was called.  The barn was fully involved when firefighters arrived.  The fire is believed to have been caused by boys who were preparing to roast marshmallows in the barn.

The Clear Lake Fishing Club and local merchants have joined forces to tag a walleye worth $1,000.

The Clear Lake High School prom will once again feature a grand march with parents and other interested people invited to attend in the high school gymnasium,  Prom will be followed by the post-prom C.A.R.E.S. party in the junior high commons until 5 a.m.  Music will be provided by Gambit featuring CLHS students Travis Sedars, Jayme Sedars, Jesse Reimer and David Severtson.  Karaoke will be provided by Al Dickes.

Renovations are underway at Galilean Lutheran Church.  Two walls inside the church were torn down to create more sanctuary space and utilize heat from the church’s south windows.

Jennifer Norris, daughter of Charlie and Louise Norris, of Clear Lake, and Todd Cash, son of Mike and Nancy Cash, of Ventura, announce their engagement.  A June 10 wedding will be held at the United Methodist Church, Clear Lake.

Kathy Brown, owner and director of Little Treasure Preschool an Day Care, invites the public to visit the new location for the business, 1304 4th Ave. S., during an open house on Sunday, May 1.

Trish Schlobohm, supervisor of Health Services at Handicap Village, has been elected president for a two-year term of the new Iowa Chapter of the Developmental Disabilities Nursing Association.

Members of the Open Bible Church will participate in “Meet at City Hall” on the National Day of Prayer, Thursday, May 5.  On that day, concerned citizens from across America will gather at their local city hall to pray for a moral rebirth in our land.

All interested persons are invited to attend a planning meeting for the upcoming Ventura centennial.  Many volunteers are needed and suggestions and ideas are welcomed.  Central committee members for the event are Chris Ayers, Pat Kuhlemeier, Patsy Steffey, Judy Coe, Sharon Kaster and Jackie Howard.

The Ventura girls golf team has played for meets and four times sophomore Abby Ringus has claimed medalist honors.  The rest of the Lady Vikes are following her success as they have posted a 5-2 mark.

The Clear Lake girls golf team was off to a 3-0 start when the tough North Central Conference schedule reared its head.  While their record was battered to 5-4, Coach Fred Wieck feels his team is in good shape for the rest of the season.  Jodi Grabinski led the team against Algona with a 47 to take runner-up medalist honors.  Again Hampton-Dumont, freshman Bre Pleggenkuhle was medalist with a 51.

The five-person Ventura girls track team showed in their first two meets the only restraint on their success is the fact each girl can only run in three events.  With limited options, Coach Steve Sandvig concentrated on relays and his strategy paid off to the tune of 74 points.  The Lady Vikings showed their potential with three relay wins.  Members of the team are Sara Hinrichs, Heather Nordman, Jennifer Rockow, Allison Cooper and Mindy Coe.

50 Years Ago

April 1969

Sunday, April 13, has been recorded as the day the “ice went out.”  Last year the ice-out date was March 18, with the lake 13.44 inches below the weir.  The gauge to measure the level is not working this year.

The Cerro Gordo County Conservation Board has purchased a 70-acre tract on the north edge of Clear Lake for development of a year-round recreation center.  The land is known as the “Garden of Eden.”  The area has been a popular sledding area for years.  A high ridge dominates the tract, and its slopes are ideal for all types of winter activity.

Clear Lake’s track squad finished third Saturday in the Class B division of the Valley Relays at West Des Moines.  The Lion relay teams were impressive, setting new school records in winning the 880 and mile.  Bill Wistey ran the anchor leg in :51.5 to help the mile crew to victory.  The other legs were run by Mike Byington, Tom Lewis and Tom Leonard.  The group ran the race in 3:34.  The old school mark was 3:36.9, set in 1968.  Clear Lake’s 880 team of Byington, Leonard, Wistey and Al Kappmeyer was clocked in 1:34.4, beating a seven-year school mark of 1:34.5.

75 Years Ago

April 1944

H.H. Huntley brought to this office yesterday a Leghorn egg measuring 9 and one-half inches in circumference.  Almost the size of a goose egg.

Pvt. Keith E. Neal was operated on at Truax Field, Madison, Wis. for appendicitis.

Mrs. Louisa Wistey has four sons in the service.  They are Edwin, Clarence, Glenn and Lloyd.

Don W. Loftus, of Ft. Dodge, has taken over the management of the Lake Theatre.

Those from Clear Lake who left for induction in the army were Warren Dusenberg, Cecil Shoop, Chas. Cunningham Jr., Kenneth Fistler, Leonard Bowers and Earl Spaans.

100 Years Ago

April 1919

In the window of the Silsby restaurant are several relics sent from Italy by Harry Whitney.  Among the collection is a German helmet, machine gun shells, etc.

Walter Cash returned Friday from Chicago where he had gone with a load of cattle which brought top prices.

Bruce Kennedy is now getting his ice cream stand on the corner of Main and Third ready for the summer business.

Friday evening as Mrs. T.E. Sondrol was driving along north Fourth Street near the Wagner Garage, the right front wheel of the auto came off.  The axle scraped along the cement until the car came to a stop.  If she had been going at a rapid rate serious repercussions may have occurred, both to the auto and Mrs. Sondrol’s person.