Remember When 7-6-2016

(Above) Pretty smiles in 1966 - There was all sorts of interesting scenery in Clear Lake for aspiring young photographers in 1966.  The enterprising lensman at right apparently has an appreciative eye for beauty as he snaps this photo of two lovelies at City Beach.  Ahhhh, youth.

25 Years Ago • July 1991

The musician who became known as the “new age Chubby Checker who got America dancing” and made the European discotheque style of entertainment popular at Whisky Au Go Go in California, will appear in Clear Lake at the Surf Ballroom. Johnny Rivers will perform on Friday, July 5.  Rivers’ 17 gold records sold more than 30 million copies include: Memphis, Seventh Son, Midnight Special, Secret Agent Man, Poor Side of Town, Summer Rain, Swayin’ to the Music, and Maybelline.  Tickets are $12.50.

In conjunction with its 43rd anniversary, the management of the Surf Ballroom has unveiled the original beach scenes in the ballroom.  The scenes, which were designed to resemble a Florida beach club, were uncovered on the back walls of the ballroom.  The scenes had not been displayed at the Surf in more than 15-years.

Two men were charged by the Clear Lake Police Department and the Division of Criminal Investigation in connection with the burglary at the Brayton Chemical warehouse in Clear Lake.

Jim Hanson Ford, Clear Lake, in cooperation with the Armed Forces Appreciation Program, has donated $500 toward the recognitions and celebrations on the Fourth of July and the Celebrate Clear Lake event Aug. 9.

Marty Fredericks, son of Dr. and Mrs. Mike Fredericks, and Jason Salge, son of Mr. and Mrs. Larry Salge, all of Clear Lake, attended the American Legion Boy’s State at Camp Dodge.  The junior high boys were selected for this honor by the school counselors.

Mike Ball, of Clear Lake, is the owner and mechanic at the new Sam’s Service, located at the corner of Highway 18 and North 8th St.  The station features self-service price for full service care.  Racing gas is also available.  This month the station will also be getting U-Hauls.

The long awaited first victory of the season came for the Clear Lake softball team as they defeated Northwood-Kennett, 12-9.  The Lions were led by eighth grade pitcher Jamie Copley, who was getting her first varsity start.  Kathy Walls had four hits, including one homerun.  Kendra Berge had two hits for the Lions.

Although the Ventura baseball game lost all four match-ups last week, Coach Mark Kuehl is optimistic about his young team.  “We’re getting good comments from other teams we’ve played twice.  They believe we’re improving.”

Out of seven softball games last week, Ventura came away with four wins, two by one-run margins.

50 Years Ago • July 1966

Sunny and humid weather were perfect conditions for thousands of people to spend the long Fourth of July weekend in Clear Lake.  It was reported that every motel and hotel room, cottage and privately owned homes with rooms to rent, were full to capacity with hundreds being turned away.  Some of the overflow were housed in surrounding towns.  The Surf Ballroom reported the largest July 4 weekend attendance in 16 years.

Eight youths from Des Moines were injured in a boat explosion Sunday night and are reported to be improving.

The Cobblestone Players present the first play of the six offered for viewing, beginning Tuesday night will “A Thousand Clowns.”

Work on Main Ave., originally scheduled to begin July 18, was postponed until mid-August at the request of retailers.

60 Years Ago • July 1956

Processing of whole milk was started Monday by the Cooperative Creamery Ass’n marking the competition of the installation of $30,000 in new equipment.  The association consists of 700 farmer members who furnish the raw products for the plant.

Investments in U.S. Savings Bonds during May totaled $991,480.

Two deer, a four-point buck and a doe, took an extended trip across the lake, going almost the full length.

Precipitation was above the last 10 year average during the month of May. The coldest day in May was May 16 when temperatures dipped down to 29 degrees.

100 Years Ago • July 1916

E. Tompkins was out to the farm on Thursday of last week.  He drove a stick down by a hill of corn and measured the exact height.  Twenty-four hours later he measured the corn again and it had grown exactly five inches.

During the rain storm on Sunday, a bolt of lightning struck the steeple of the Bethlehem church burning several round holes in the cornice.

Larson and Nelson, the local wholesale ice cream dealer, made 600 gallons of ice cream for the Fourth of July patrons.

James Dawson and family from Cogswell, N.D. came to spend the 4th of July at the lake.  They made the trip in a Ford, the distance was 450 miles.  They covered it in two days with eight persons in the auto.  The last day they made 250 miles.  Dawson owns 240 acres of good land in North Dakota which he would readily sell for $60 per acre.