An Email Recollection of Dining

Northwood Anchor - September 6, 1962: The Coffee Cup Cafe on Central Avenue will re-open Thursday under new management. Mr. and Mrs. E. Vaale, new owners and operators, have redecorated the cafe and installed new, modern equipment. A grand opening is planned in the near future. 

Ann Johnson: We were not in Northwood from ‘56 through ‘67. Does anyone know where this was on Central?  

Janis Hendrickson: It sounds familiar to both Chuck and me, but unfortunately neither of us can remember the location. Hopefully someone who was paying attention back then will have an answer for you

Ann: Was the café on the west end near the steps to the park always known as the “Maid-Rite Café”?

I only know of the Paramount, the Midway (formerly Rex Café), Quality Café, Chat n’ Chew and the Maid-Rite.......and in the late 50s there was Hazel’s Restaurant in a house on S. 8th St., south of the post office. Was there Jumbo’s on the north end of town?

Janis: Can’t remember a restaurant near the steps to the park, but it’s possible.

Hazel was Hazel Thompto (mother of Ralph, class of ’62 and Liz Thompto Kenison, class of ‘66). She had a restaurant in their home. Jumbo’s was on 65 north somewhere near the current bus barn. I “think” Jumbo’s last name might have been Thompson?? I remember Thea Seibreit (wrong spelling, I’m sure) worked there as a cook. I recall being a guest of my friend’s family several times at Jumbo’s Restaurant eating yummy fried shrimp.

Bonnie Mack Wopperer: I know for a fact that Jumbo's last name was Thompson. :)

I remember Hazel's restaurant, the Paramount, the Chat 'N' Chew and the Grill adjacent to the old theater, across from Mack Drugs. Didn't that grill change names with new ownerships......2 or 3 times??? Beyond that, my memory is very fuzzy.

Neither do I remember a restaurant near the steps to Crescent Park. I'm lots of help

Ann: The Grill (adjacent to the theatre) was the Rex Café owned by JoAnna Cooley’s dad, Hugh Cooley until about 1952. The name may have been changed to The Grill after Cooleys sold it...it was the Midway Café from the ‘60s through the early ‘90s and then was closed and sold and it hasn’t been a café since that time.

I guess I’d forgotten how young you kids are when I mention the Maid-Rite Café by the park steps (where the Civic Center is now). There were several buildings there that were demolished including the café, a hatchery, a gas station.... However, I guess I’m talking about late ‘40s and early ‘50s when I talk about the Maid-Rite.

I think Jumbo’s was on North 65... Yes, it was probably about where the bus barn is now.

The Quality Café: Again, I might be talking about ‘40s through early ‘50s. On the corner of Central Ave and 8th St. N (Hwy. 65 N) was a huge old building that was Bowen’s Grocery in the ‘40s-‘50s and I’m not sure when it ceased to be a grocery store. It has since burned and is now a mini-park. North of the park is a very small building that was a barber shop, then the alley, then the Quality Café, then the IA State Liquor Store, then Hallands’ Beauty & Barber Shop, then Plowman’s Café (now the Daily Buzz tavern)

Does anyone remember Mr. Marshall and his popcorn machine? I’m wondering if the Coffee Cup Café might have been there where he had his popcorn machine on the sidewalk in the summer time. (That would have been right next to the dry cleaners)

Anyone? Anyone? .

The N-K Vikings played their season home opener tonight against Rockford....first varsity game on the new field, part of the new N-K Athletic Complex which, at this point, has cost $850,000 and still counting. This year N-K started playing eight-man football.....L (Did’ja ever think you’d enjoy sitting in one spot watching a creek freeze over?)

The Vikings came away with a 44-34 victory.

Bonnie: Yessss! I remember Mr. Marshall and his popcorn machine, in front of a small cafe, next to the dry cleaners. OMG hadn't thought about that since forever! I used to ask him for the partially popped kernels that fell through to a container underneath......my favorites AND I didn't have to pay for them.

Was one of Mr. Marshall's legs shorter than the other...............I seem to remember he wore a special shoe for that.

That could have very well been the Coffee Cup Cafe.........not sure.

O.k.......I'm trying to visualize that corner of Central Ave. and I-65 No. If Fallgatter's Grocery was on the northwest corner, then Bowen's must have been on the northeast (NEC),, correct? I think it later became Nelson Hardware Store (or maybe that's the wrong corner). I do remember the Halland Barber and Beauty shops (one of the barbers who worked there was a man by the name of Bass Bergo........wonder if that was his "real" name). Wasn't the Masonic Temple (Lodge ?) near there also......maybe on the next corner north of Central? Well, you've got me going........will probably be dreaming about Northwood tonight.

And GO, VIKINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ann: The more I think about it, the more I think that café by Mr. Marshall’s (Albert Marshall) popcorn machine must have been the Coffee Cup Café and now I do remember that he wore one shoe that was built up higher than the other. He was such a nice guy and he loved kids. (Can anyone imagine our kids today referring to ANYONE as “Mr.”?!) That MIGHT be the building we’re looking for....I remember that there was a café there and that it did close at one time.

This bit from the Anchor is from September of ‘62 so most of you might have left for college by that time. Maybe someone from the class of ‘63 can help us out...or later....what can you tell us, Richard???

Yes, Bowen’s Grocery was on the NE corner of that intersection...Bowen’s Grocery, Gildner’s Clothing, the post office, Fallgatter’s Grocery (the new Northwood Theatre) were the businesses in the four buildings at that intersection. Nelson’s Hardware was in the building next to Bowen’s where the Extension Office is now...the front of that building has been bricked and totally changed. I don’t know what Bass Bergo’s real name might have been; he was an avid fisherman with a huge love for (spirits) but I understand he was a great barber.

You’re right, the Masonic Temple is on the north end of that block. I can’t think of anything between Plowman’s Café (that became Gertie’s Tavern) and the Masonic Temple...maybe that was just a vacant lot...Northwood Electric is there now.

Another bit of Northwood’s past....The building that housed Bowen’s Grocery was built at the turn of the century by Nels Christianson and was a general store. Nels later became a banker. A biographical sketch in a history book tells us:

“N.T. Christianson was born in Denmark in 1867. When he was eight years of age, he was thrown upon his own resources and from that time till the present, he has rustled for himself. He came to America in 1886 and shortly after arrived in Northwood with a dollar and a half in capital and a determination to amount to something and make a career for himself which was worth far more than capital. Early in 1887 he began his experience in merchandising in the general store of the late Al Smith..........”

We can’t even believe that....orphaned at eight, came to Northwood at age 19 or 20 with a buck and a half.

Nels built the house that was later Bakke’s Funeral Home....the one with the curved glass in the windows...it became Connor’s Funeral Home and then it burned in ‘93 or ‘94 and another funeral home has been built on that corner.

Today we celebrate Founders’ Day in Northwood...the first settlers in what is now Northwood...and Worth County....Gulbrand and Karina Mellem came here in 1853. The Founders’ Day activities start with a 5K run/walk this morning so I’d better get my track shoes on and get outta here.

Janis: Bowens Grocery later became Applequist Grocery. Harold and Louise Applequist lived on S. 12th street and Jeannie was one of my playmates. Chuck reminded me that Falgatter’s took over the store west of them at some point in the late 50’s or early 60’s to make a larger grocery store. Would that have been the old Rexall store (Veenker Drug)?

YES! This has been fun – we might run into you today, Ann! It’s a beautiful day for Founders’ Day.

Bonnie: Veenker's Rexall was either adjacent to, or a couple of doors further west from, Fallgatters (I think). Oh yes......now that you mention it, Janis, I do remember the Applequist store..............and the friendly little price wars with Fallgatter's. hahaha I can recall my Grandma Lau making her daily trek to town from her home on 11th St. to shop at whichever store had the best price on peaches.....or flour....or bread.....whatever the major item(s) on her list for that day. A very similar competitive spirit existed between Mack Drug & Jewelry and Veenkers Rexall Drugs. After all, competition is what keeps prices down, right? Ahhh memories......this IS fun!



Me: somebody draw me a map. I'm lost.

a dastardly act

Four young locals were caught in the act of climbing the Northwood water tower last week, as reported in the Anchor.  Their penalty is probably enough to deter others from embarking on this dangerous event, once undertaken by some of our peers with no such penalty. Today you won't have Arnold Lien or Floyd Skellenger glaring at you on the way down so the cost is more than a loss of pride.  And no matter how old you are I can't imagine it's a good idea to get drunk and climb the water tower.

Read the story here . . .

Old News from the Anchor

February 22, 1962 -

Members of the Northwood-Kensett Vikings basketball team were named champions of the North Iowa Conference when they defeated Forest City in grand style here on Friday night, 93-73.  Phil Johnson had 27 points in the first half and Mike Lien added 15 in the first half to gain a comfortable lead.  Johnson completed the game with a record 36 points.

And we all know what's going to happen next.  That "comfortable lead" referenced in the article was 66 - 33.  Clearly things slowed down in the second half.  You'll recall that Johnson said in an earlier post that the team was determined not to be beaten for the season, not on the home court.

February 25, 1937 - 

Dr. H F Johnson has leased the suite in the Holland building recently occupied by Dr Paul Kase and will move his dental offices from the second floor of the Kean building to the new ground floor location Monday.  Dr. Kase will occupy the suite formerly occupied by Dr. C T Bergen.  Attorney L A Baken, who has his offices on the second floor of the Holland Building, will move to the rooms now occupied by Dr. Kase.

This history is notable for the names - H F Johnson and C T Bergen - both of them pretty directly connected to the Class of '62.  Presumably the ground floor location occupied by Johnson in 1937 is the same location as the one he used in the 50s and 60s.

L T Dillon, Northwood band director and outstanding musician, will officiate as one of the judges of the home contest of band and orchestra at the Mason City High School next Saturday.  There will be 82 band soloists and 60 orchestra soloists taking part in the contest.

Dillon, of course, has been cited frequently in this blog and once the blogmaster has in his hands the collection of photos now coming his way, will be featured in a musical slideshow focusing on his career.

Old News from the Anchor

February 15, 1962

A meeting for boys 14 years and older, explaining DeMolay, a fraternal and social lodge, will be held at the Masonic Temple in Northwood on Tuesday, February 20, according to an announcement made by the DeMolay committee consisting of Charlie Jones, Jack McMullen and Don Harris.

The same Anchor revealing the history behind the names of the County and Cities included this news bit in the Early Files section.  Note the reference to the above report in the blog post about General Worth.  Any additional information regarding the formation of that group and its success could be emailed to nkhs62@gmail.com.  The perception, which may not be accurate, is that the group was formed but was not a long-term success.

City of Northwood Slide Show

Sometimes when searching the internet you bump into things.  Here is a slideshow that is posted on the Home Page of the City of Northwood with some pretty nice photos of "home" by Joel Rohne.

"Worth-y" Names Identified

The chances that you know anything about the background of the names of the county/cities where you grew up is highly unlikely, unless you subscribe to or buy the Northwood Anchor when it comes out.  A front page story in this week's issues tells all . . .

Worth County was named for a prominent general of the mid-1800s, William Jenkins Worth.  Background on Worth came by way of Alice Barnes Madson and a monument to the general, the second oldest in New York City, built in 1857 and standing in a small park, Worth Square, on Broadway and Fifth Avenue.

Not surprisingly, the statue was the source of her information, gleaned in 1992, prior to The Google.  Today there is a boatload of information about this general online, including his involvement as a Freemason in a "filibuster" invasion of Cuba.

He was a hero of three wars, apparently, the Spanish-American, the Mexican, and the Seminole.  His membership in the Masons may be an indirect connection to the longevity of the Masons in Northwood, though this is a conjecture of the author and not necessarily fact.

The Northwood Masons invited a large group of high school students to attend an information meeting about their organization in the early 60s, but whether any joined in one fashion or another is unknown.

Northwood was named almost by mistake.  Originally called Gulbrand after Gulbrand Mellem, the first settler here, it found its name from the coincidence of two groves situated on the ends of the town called North Woods and South Woods.  When the post office was established the town was named Northwood because it was in these woods that the post office was originally built.  Ironically the post office was later moved to the south grove, but the town retained the name Northwood.

Kensett had its own unique origins.  Like many small communities, it was formed around the railroad and named after Thomas Kensett, a Baltimore oyster packer, and director of the Central of Iowa Railroad.  Kensett promised that if the town were named after him, he would build a church in the town.  The church was never built.

The source of the information on Northwood and Kensett came from a book by local historian Lois Hogen, Worth County Heritage 1853-1976.  The timing of the book may have had something to do with the Bicentennial of 1976 although that, too, is conjecture, and corresponds with the founding of the county in 1853.

So now you know.  

The Jefferson Highway Garage in Kensett

Photo Courtesy of L M Forland Family

Photo Courtesy of L M Forland Family

These photos are taken at the Jefferson Highway Garage in Kensett, established about the same time Highway 65 was built to run the north-south length of Iowa.  The Top photo was taken facing north and the other was facing south.  Here is the story behind the photos as told by Stan Arendts:

That is a picture of my grandfather, "Doc" Arendts. My father and grandfather were partners after WW2. The original Jefferson Highway Garage was established in the 1920's by my grandfather and as I recall was the oldest Ford dealership in the state, at one time. Huso was a competiter in Northwood as was Pritchard in Mason City. Prichard was a friendly competitor, Huso, not so much.

When I got my drivers license, I became the "gofer" and made many trips to other dealerships in the area to get parts, etc. I was very well respected among the group due to my family's longevity in the business and history of fair dealing. The garage was named after US 65, which was originally known as the Jefferson Highway, much like US 30 was the Lincoln Highway.

I could add that the building blew up twice, both caused by natural gas leaks. After the first time, the gas company added "aroma" to the odorless natural gas, to assist in recognizing leaks. The first explosion injured Johnnie Olsen, a Northwood resident, who was a mechanic. It occurred during the day and was caused by Johnnie lighting a cigarette.

The building was rebuilt and business continued. The second time was after my father sold the building to a Mason City hot-rodder, who used it as storage and a place to work on his cars. The second explosion happened at night and no one was injured. As far as I know, the building was not rebuilt. Maybe he didn't have insurance?

I have a lot of fond memories about that place. Spent a lot of time there and created many projects.........a wooden car, go-carts, tandem bicycles, flagpoles, hot rods, bazookas, sleds, etc.

Stan's memories are hopefully being shared with his offspring, totally unedited as he would demand.

The name "Jefferson Highway" may be unknown to many outside of Kensett, but the story is told in this History of the Interstate Trail provided by the Iowa DOT.  A different photo is included in the DOT report, of the Iowa/Minnesota marker commemorating the completion of the highway in both states in 1930, sitting along Hwy 65.  I have passed the marker and noticed it hundreds of times and never knew what it was.

The cigarette explosion reminds of a story told probably by Don Faris or possibly Maynard Midtgaard, of a service station worker who for years threw his cigarette butts into a pail of used oil, with nary a problem . . . until one very warm day when the oil was warm enough to combust.  The lesson, of course, explained the ingredients required to cause fire.  (Why in the world do we remember such trivia as a story like this?)

A View of the Past

Mary Nelson Groe sent along, by way of Marilyn Weidler Ulve, this photo show from the Denver Post, and though the archives are mostly before our time, they are still of our time.  Spend some time - there are 70 of them.

Mary Nelson Groe in 2007

Click here - 70 photos from '39 to '43

Even better - her comments about the era:  I remember wearing shirts made of chicken feed sacks. Never wearing shoes in summer except to funerals or church. No shoes, no shirt,no service was never heard of.  Child labor law??? Took bath once a week. Made dirt roads to play with toy cars. Most adult men smoked or chewed but tobacco was not laced with chemicals. What was an inside toilet? This was fun viewing my past.


Add to the list long-sleeved shirts worn to school to start the year that became short-sleeved in the spring.  Sisters whose mother would sew dresses from feed sacks.  Mud squishing up between the toes after a good rain - or even in the barnyard.  Animals on every farm including the duke's mixture of cattle, hogs, chicken.  Child labor?  Free, and expected.  Baths?  Early on, in a dishpan.  Tobacco?  Practically every man and few women.

Send along your thoughts to nkhs62@gmail.com.

Old News from the Anchor

Miss Mantz - correcting papers, as typical.

January 14, 1987 - two teachers at Northwood-Kensett schools have resigned effective at the end of the current school year.  Eileen Mantz, who teachers computer science and mathematics, and Diane Groon, who teaches German and English, have resigned their contracts.  Both resignations were accepted by the board of education. 

An obituary  for Eileen Mantz was published in the Northwood Anchor in 2001.


January 11, 1962 - patrons of the Carpenter Consolidated School district favor reorganization with the St Ansgar - Grafton District, according to a recent ballot.  Out of 270 ballots mailed, some 196 ballots were returned and St Ansgar had 104 votes and Northwood-Kensett, 92, for a small margin of victory for St Ansgar.  

Beginning of the end for the NK School District?

January 14, 1937 - Moving his office equipment to Britt by truck early this week, Dr. C. T. Bergen has taken up his active practice t that city with Dr. B. F. Denny, old established physician and surgeon of Britt, with whom he has formed a partnership.  Dr. Bergen was located in Northwood over three years.  

The blogmaster will need confirmation from someone that this is the same Dr. Bergen whose daughter Ann graduated with the class of '62, apparently after a move back to Northwood.  According to class history, Ann became a classmate in fifth grade.

Names from Back Home

One story begets another:


There was a similar character In Kensett, when I was a youngster. His name was Ole Nubson. I know he had some patents to his credit and had a shop next to my father's dealership. I think he was a bachelor and had no family that I knew of, so when he died, my grandfather took care of the arrangements. Probably not much history about Ole, but he was quite an entrepreneur. I used to hang out with him, as a kid, and learned many practical lessons.  Editor's Note: Ole (and his patent) is one of many Kensett natives described in this Backroads North Iowa from the Globe Gazette printed last November.

-- Stan Arendts

Wilma Helgeland, like most all of our teachers in Northwood, had little sayings that she would often repeat.  She’d say, “One never knows, does one?"  That was her way of keeping the students on their toes …. Someone would ask, “Will there be a quiz on this or that subject”? Wilma would say, “One never knows, does one”.

I tried some reverse psychology on her one time. I said to her, “This subject - diagramming sentences - is really fun and interesting. Could we please have a quiz on this tomorrow?”

The answer was the same --- "One never knows, does one?" --- but she did have “a satisfied smile” on her face that maybe she had taught us something valuable.


-- Richard Holstad

Evelyn Wolfe used to take care of my brother, sister and me when we were just little squirts and my parents needed a babysitter for a night out. I remember her well. One of her favorite songs at the time was Jambalaya and I remember how interested I was in the shell case she carried as a small purse. They became a big fad with all us young girls for awhile. We'd purchase them at the Army surplus store in Mason City, color them with shoe polish.........I think ? ? Of course, you guys wouldn't know anything about that.

Went to school with a boy in Garner, IA, whose last name was Toothacher. Needless to say, he became a dentist. Seriously! Did he really have a choice ? ?

Mother told me there was a farmer who lived somewhere on the outskirts of Northwood. Believe it or not, his name was Norbert Hogbin. Really ? 

-- Bonnie Mack

For more on any other "name" use the Search Box on the right.  Enter the name and press enter - stories and comments in the blog, if any, will be listed.

Just a Couple Things

Those who live in California today need to be reminded on occasion of the beauty of winter in the midwest.  Considering free desktop wallpaper from an online issue of Midwest Living, Merrilee Reid says:

It is beautiful to look at but I am a California girl and like the beach weather. This gave me goose bumps thinking about laying in the snow and spreading our arms and legs to make an angel - oh, the good ole days when you could get up by yourself when you were down on the ground!!

Incidentally, the bridge shown is a lift bridge that goes across the St Croix River between Wisconsin and Stillwater, MN, the final home of Jon Swenson.  In this span the water is probably open year-round.  Farther downstream folks from Hudson who work at the Andersen Window factory in Bayport drive across all winter, taking several minutes off their commute, and have designated individuals who plow their path open all winter.  Click on the photo for a larger view.

Another conversation revealed that Bonnie Mack (also living in California) took organ lessons from the fabled Opal Randall at the First Lutheran Church, then relatively new:

I used to practice for an upcoming wedding on the pipe organ in that church, sometimes late evening or early nighttime. The organ was located in the balcony so the only way anyone seated at the organ could see the front of the church was by looking into a mirror that had been installed above the keyboards (like a rear view mirror). I recall seeing that flickering red flame (of the eternal candle on the alter) on those occasions and, if it happened to also be raining and thundering at the time, it created a rather eerie atmosphere. One time in particular, I was so frightened, I didn't even turn the organ off and went flying down the flights of stairs and out of the church. What had occurred, Opal Randall later explained to me, was that air sometimes gets into the pipes and creates a howling sound.........a very LOUD howling sound. It was like someone had lit a fire under my behind. Gosh, how the memories that surface at the mere mention of a single event.........or a sound, a song.........a fragrance like newly cut grass or hay, etc. can transport us back in time so many, many years!

Bonnie also corrects the ownership of the local drug stores.  There were two in town, the Mack Drugstore owned by her family that was later sold to the Conner family (Eve, '63), and Veenker Drug, plenty of competition for a town the size of Northwood.  At least there was no Wal-Mart then.

Musician, Jeweler, Businessman, Promoter

The newspaper clipping on the left was marked as being published in 1955, celebrating the clock that was built by L T Dillon, he of the 1936 Band Concert.  Notice the archway on the left  indicating the entrance to the old Northwood Bank Building, and Mack Drug was somewhere in this vicinity.

Richard Holstad has pointed out that the clock was moved to the south side of the street where it still stands today, photo below.

Bonnie Mack Wopperer ('60) gave a great more detail about Dillon, his relationship with the Macks, and his work in the drug and jewelry store as well as his musicianship:

L.T. Dillon was a very special, influential man in his day, and his contributions to that community are almost countless. I can still see/hear him walking from the fron of the store to the back while whistling some John Phillips Sousa  song and almost marching to the beat. He loved his music. I'd go so far as to say it was the love of his life! L.T. also owned the watch/clock repair shop in the back of the drug store and employed a watch smith (isn't that what they called people experienced in clock repair?), named Bob Helgeland. Bob was a kindly man, forever a bachelor; spoke somewhat broken English and lived with and cared for his elderly, ailing mother until she passed, I think in '58 or '59. He may have been German as well. 

L.T. was the licensed pharmacist under whom my father was able to work as a druggist & dispense medications. I'm not sure how that worked............maybe LT instructed my father and my father was eventually certified or something, but he never did go to school to obtain a pharmaceutical degree. Back in those days, it was legal to do that; it certainly would not be today! Think I also told you that LT instructed me on the flute (it was actually HIS flute; on loan to me until I bought my own). I outgrew any desire to play that instrument, much to the disappointment of both L.T. and my father. I didn't want to play in the band, so I stuck with piano and organ (electric and pipe) exclusively. L.T's. flute was returned and there was never a need for me to purchase one.

Regarding L.T. Dillon's background and musical instruction.........I'm afraid I don't know anything OR I have forgotten it, if I ever did. But now that you mention it, I seem to recall someone (maybe my dad) saying that L.T. was self taught. One may be blessed with the gift to play a musical instrument or sing a song "by ear" but L.T. could read music and that doesn't just happen naturally...........but it wouldn't surprise me if he taught himself.

I'm not surprised that the Northwood School Band, under his direction, won the competition. He was a perfectionist...........a driven man........very goal oriented. He wanted the best for his students and his energy was contagious......I think they tuned in to it, if you will.

Bonnie lists herself as a "Soda Jerk" in the family store on this photo, held in the collection of Richard Holstad, who asked her to sign and date it for posterity when she confirmed that it was she behind the counter.  Click on the photo for a larger image.

Straying from the story of L T Dillon, the days of the soda fountain may be well gone, along with the fabulous syrup that Bonnie mentions. Seems there were several in town including Mack's, Connor Drug, Veenkers perhaps, and Young's Paramount Cafe. Must have been a substantial need for all things sweet!

The Gildner-Johnson Red Light Mystery - Solved

The NKHS Blog team put its crack researchers to work to uncover the real mystery behind the Gilder-Johnson Red Light.  The primary issue is whether the light in truth existed or was just another case of hometown lore?  And if it did exist, where was it located?

Richard Holstad and Bonnie Mack stayed awake nights trying to track down/recall the truth, and at last the full story is available.

The subject came up on the blog site months ago regarding the red light mounted somewhere on the corner of the Gildner-Johnson clothing store in downtown Northwood.  The light was allegedly controlled by the telephone operators whose offices were half a block south on the same side of the street.

Notice the wood pole in the bottom right of the photo below carrying an array of phone lines which undoubtedly emanated from the nearby telephone office and spread out around Northwood up and down the alley ways.

The story goes that if a Northwood resident called the phone operator with a trouble call, Mel Horgan, or the officer on night-duty would see the light and promptly check with the telephone office to see where and what the trouble was.  At the telephone office, there were live operators in charge of the switchboard 24 hours a day.  (The phone system back then is a whole n’other wonderful story of its own.) 

It goes without saying that this was the time period before 2-way car radios or cell phones. It is pretty sure that we had a fire siren that would wake the whole town if the emergency was that great.  In today’s jargon the light can be thought of as a very efficient, totally silent, very high-speed, communication interface link between every telephone in Northwood and the Police / Emergency Department.

Some Northwood trivia fans claimed “no knowledge” of the light. They contend that it is difficult to believe that Northwood was ever that unsophisticated.  But the “simplicity” of it all seems to resonate …. simply sophisticated. No moving parts.  Of course during the daylight hours the system wasn’t very effective.

But Larry Patterson’s Christmas Eve story about spinning doughnuts, in his car, in the fresh snow, on main street proved how effective the system worked at night.  Mel nabbed him, he went home, and Mayberry never knew the difference ….. except the operator’s switch board lit up like a Christmas tree for a short time.  

Comments on the subject ranged from, “Yah that’s a likely story”, to “We lived on the farm so we’d never see it”, to “There definitely was a light but it’s function was not generally public knowledge”.

It was a fun subject for awhile on the blog site, however, it was never really proven or disproven.  The matter was dropped and essentially nothing more was heard about it for many months …… until now.

On Dec 23rd Bonnie sent a frustrated message stating that the red light subject was taking far more of her attention than she could afford to spend.  She needed to get packed to leave for the Christmas Holidays with her family ….. but the red light subject kept surfacing, even in her subconscious.

She thought she could see something “curious” in the photo ….. if the photo were just “a little more clear.”  I was chuckling to myself because I have been hooked the same way when in pursuit of some detail like this.  But I had no idea that she was working on this riddle the whole time since it was first brought up to her.

I figured that this woman needs some satisfaction or it was going to make her crazier than she already is.  So I recommended she get herself packed and ready to leave …. In the meantime, I volunteered to enlarge the part of the photo that she was interested in .….  Then I would send the close-up to her.

It seemed to me that Bonnie needed to “let go” of this pursuit for a few days …. at least she shouldn’t lose any more rest over it.  Many people had already looked for the light and not found it …. I would humor her. Maybe she would have taken off by the time I returned the photo for her.

It wasn’t necessary to “zoom in” very much (see the photo below) and THERE IT IS!  Right along the roof line in the top left corner of the photo.

Click Photo for a Larger View

It is amazing how in the world the rest of us have not seen this before.  Looking at the photo now IT IS OBVIOUS.

The mystery is solved!

-- Richard Holstad, assisted by Bonnie Mack

Penny Postcards

The Penny Postcard is before our time if you count pre-1952 as "before our time."  And when Marilyn Weidler forwarded a link to a Penny Postcards website, I couldn't resist adding it to the blog.

Go to that website for at least a little history on the penny postcard, and view some classic old pictures like those below.  Choose your state and county and you can see what has been submitted by historians and buffs.  Those below are the only four that have been submitted for Worth County, IA.

I also found a website providing the History of Postage Rates in America.  It confirms that the postcards, first authorized by Congress in 1898, remained a "standard" (with a couple years of exception) rate of one cent for the card.  The Penny Postcards site lists the evolution of the card, as you will see.

Arnold Lien was normally our mail carrier.  When we had a letter to mail but no stamps, we would put 3 cents in the mailbox on top of the letter and he would stamp and forward the letter for us.  At some point in time that neighborly practice was discontinued, unfortunately.  Nonetheless, enjoy these old old views of Northwood.

Old Baptist Church

Central Avenue Looking West - One Block East of Hwy 65 Turn

City Park - later Swensrud Park - 1941

Russell's Cabins on Hwy 65 North

All the postcards were scanned and donated for use on the website.

What Cheerleaders and Jukeboxes Have in Common

Click for a larger view

It was one of those email threads again, starting with Richard Holstad attaching this photo of our cheerleaders about 1960 or so.  He was sending it to one of his employees, who is restoring a jukebox, in an effort to make a comparison and possibly identify the model in the cheerleader photo.

His engineer thinks it is a 1953 Seeburg Model C, and reports there is one for sale on the internet, professionally restored, for $6995.  He also told Richard about a 1952 Seeburg Model C near Fort Collins, pictured below, and for sale at $2500.  Richard is probably on his way to check that out at the same time this post is being written, since he gets into this kind of thing.

The jukebox with cheerleaders was located in the old bowling alley, in the basement of Stan's Bowling Lanes.  I don't recall seeing it, having never spent much time there, even on a supervised visit with my dad like you may have enjoyed.

And the real story here is the reaction this series of emails has brought, including this email from Larry Holstad to Richard:  Pretty cool stuff.  You have done remarkable things with the history of NKHS.  I remember the jukebox as I worked in the basement for Stan Nelson.  It was a promotion from when Mike Lien and I set pins for him above Axel's.  When he built the new bowling alley with automatic pin machines, he gave me a job racking up pool tables.  Oh the fond memories it brings back.  Also the picture of the cheerleaders.  I believe I know all of them and one real well.  It is nice to have the history so we never forget where we came from.


Along the way the email conversation turned to cheerleaders in general.  It seemed to be a nice juxtaposition, and the answer to the question: what two things are designed primarily to rev you up?  You got it - a jukebox and cheerleaders!

So it's totally appropriate to include the photo here, taken around 1956 or 57, and I only recognize Judy Nelson Holtan in the middle.  Richard points out Cheerleaders are related to sports.  Everyone loves the cheerleaders.  The more I thought it over it makes sense that the cheerleaders have some terrific memories to share.  I asked Cynthia Vold Forde if she recalled such things as the physical conditioning required, the hard work, the social prestige, higher expectations of you because of being a cheerleader, embarrassing moments, rude spectators.  (She) has lots of stories and comments, (but) I want to know how to draw out more memories and perhaps photos that didn't make it into the class annuals.


Ladies, bring it on!  We're looking for your memories because you stir us up.  I'll keep asking the Bulldog cheerleader in my house, although her comments will be of a different color, so to speak.

Click for a larger view

And one more photo courtesy of Mike Lien, since we're talking of Axel's and the bowling alley.  White shirts, long sleeves, and ties.  And the other day I wrote of the bowler wearing pants hanging below his butt...  times have changed.  Anyway, here's the 40-41 Champs.  I assume that's Ansel Conner 3rd from right, and Morris Holstad, related to all us Holstads and the owner of Holstad Motors where Larry's dad Irving worked sales.  Bowling alleys - jukeboxes - cheerleaders.  Keep revved up!

Did Your Dentist Sing to You?

Recently I lost an inlay (precious metal valued at $14.10).  While reclining in the dentist chair and thinking of the Class of '62 blog, I couldn't help but think of Dr. H. F. Johnson, so I asked my dentist if he would sing to me like my dentist did 50 years ago.  But he demurred.

While in high school, a trip to see Doc Johnson was normally painful even if beneficial.  Seemed he was always coming up with gadgets to help avoid the pain, but never used Novocaine as a solution.  The very last gadget that I recall being used was a water hose affixed to the drill, and I was directed to squeeze a trigger of some type whenever I felt any pain.

"We're not hitting a nerve," he insisted.  "It's the high heat that the drill generates that causes the pain."  And thus the water was a cooling agent.  Theoretically at least.  It still hurt.

When the drilling ended he would direct me to lean over the spit bowl that had water spiraling downward, carrying away all the blood, tooth chips, and other crap that had been in my mouth during the event.

Then he shoved amalgam into the hole he had just created, and screwed down with a thumbscrew the forms used to hold it there.  And then I would heave a sigh of relief.  For the moment there was peace.  He often would leave the room to do paperwork or whatever, or perhaps he stayed right there, right foot up on the radiator while he pulled the blinds down to peak through them and into the street.

And then he would ask how good our football team would be that fall.  Or he would break into song.  It's a song I can repeat after all these years, because it didn't have many words, and was extraordinarily memorable.  It was a simple tune with simple words:  "Because LeRoy is the best guy in town!!"

They don't make dentists like that anymore.  Even though I taught him the words last week, my new dentist wouldn't sing it.

Old News

Really old news, that is, like from 50 years ago.

Just received the Anchor today with a report from 50 years ago when we were entering our final year of school. The tentative reported enrollment stood at 1,051 students, which is just about double the enrollment I saw a couple weeks ago.  Rural America is getting smaller.

The same issue reported that Bill Mansur, our principal the prior year, had accepted a position of Principal in the Atkinson, NE, public schools beginning September 5.  Bob Scheib, the former band man, became our principal. I most remember him for the speech he gave at Prom, something about world economics, as I recall.  It seemed a bit out of place but it might have been practice for him, who knows.

Janis Hendrickson probably also noted in this report " . . . one of the final touches in closing the Northwood Theatre: the wrecking of the lighted marquee at the entrance.  Workmen with a loader lowered it on a flatbed truck and it was (hauled away)."  Another part of our lives, memories, and passion that disappeared without our realizing it.  Progress.

When Walmart Came to Town

Even though Walmart did not come to Northwood, it did.  Every small town mom and pop retailer felt the long arm of Sam Walton no matter the distance to the nearest Walmart, and the local retail venue was changed forever.  Elsewhere in this blog you can view a slideshow of Main Street Memories, not including this picture forwarded by Richard Holstad, and you can affirm things just aren't the same anymore.

Just as much as a retailer suffered from the low low prices of Walmart, the local theater was a victim of market forces in the form of that modern device called the television.  Hardware and craft stores couldn't give enough advice to win the hearts and souls of the buyers, and often gave away the advice and the buyer bought at Walmart.  The theater owner never had much of a chance to sell his vision one-on-one because the dial was already tuned in at home.

Perhaps the first movie I ever watched on television was "The River of No Return" starring Robert Mitchum, Rory Calhoun, and Marilyn Monroe, now available on Netflix Streaming.  (MORE competition.)  But it was in the theater pictured above that I saw the Hitchcock thrillers "North by Northwest" and "Psycho," and Charlton Heston fighting the wall of water in "The Ten Commandments."  I mean, as a Norwegian Lutheran, how could you NOT go to that movie?

My grandparents treated me to "The Greatest Show on Earth" in the early 50s, featuring a perilous fall from the trapeze by Cornel Wilde after he removed the safety nets, and though he didn't die, he did bleed copiously from the mouth.  And you remember things like that.  Though Cirque du Soleil it ain't.  (You really need to look up "Show" on Wikipedia - it was a real soap opera.)

Back to the theater itself - at first glance I was shocked to see admission was $1.25 until I realized that was the night's apparent giveaway of $125, and I'm sure you had to be there to win.  And when I looked at the late 30s model car, the barbershop and Rex Cafe on either side, I realized this was probably before my time.  It is.  "Ghost Breakers" is a 1940 movie starring Bob Hope and the lovely Paulette Goddard, so it's probably before your time, too, but it is available online as a classic.  YouTube has a number of clips you might enjoy.  Click here for one featuring Democrats.

Today Northwood apparently has a top-notch theater due to local philanthropy, and I hear often about the movies and events scheduled there including the "All Class Reunion" held last September.  If you still live in Northwood you already knew that, but most of us don't live there anymore.

These photos are the "before" and "after" or more suitably "then" and "now" versions of the J. B. Thompson Building on the corner of Highways 105 and 65 that houses the theater.  Growing up, I heard the old-timers sitting on the steps on the East side telling their stories, many in Norwegian, every Saturday night when we came to town to sell our eggs and buy groceries.  That's another tradition gone by the wayside, replaced by Walmart and thankfully by the good will and funding of the folks who make a theater like this one available.

I'm not sure - do we call all this progress?  Or not?

The Northwood Anchor

Click this link to go to the page with a Photo Slideshow of a bunch of ads from the Northwood Anchor published in 1953 or 54. Here are some comments from the original posting of the ads in this blog in 2010:

Richard Holstad said...

The Home Town News Paper ads are ever so entertaining --- The Quality Cafe must have paid extra to Mr Vanderlinden to have their ad placed so close to the Veenker Drug Store ad ... or would it be vice versa.

This BLOG routine goes on and on .... I just recalled that there is a photo of Mr Vanderlinden and Mr Whitcome here in the archives too.

Marilyn said...

Richard, where did you get these ads? My mom was a saver. I'll have to see what I can come up with. Do you or anyone else remember where they used to have dances. It was upstairs somewhere, I'm thinking above the Connor Drug or across the street. I think my grandpa may have played his fiddle some. I remember going to dances & all the kids would get in line and do the bunny hop. Anyone else remember this?

BadgerHawk said...

Vaughn Monroe used to have a 15 minute radio show that I think was on Sunday evenings? His theme song was "When the Blue of the Night Meets the Dawn of the Day". Just a regular crooner.

Richard Holstad said...

These ads are from the Northwood Anchor approximately 1953 or 1954. Ann Johnson sent them to me for use in the class of 1956 DVD program.

Regarding the dance hall? -- I know there was an "action spot" above the Ford Garage as well as another one on the top floor of the what is now the historical society building.

I recall my mother being a den-mother for the cub-scouts when my brother Donn (class of 1960) was a scout ....they had the scout meetings in the big open space above the historical society building.

That space was also ideal for having a dance like you are describing, Marilyn.

I recall talking with someone from the class of 1962 about about how it took so little to entertain us back then .... The cub scout meetings were in that big open space with literally nothing there except a couple of tables ..... but when you got a group of young kids together like that, all you need is a cardboard box and away you go.

How many ways have your seen kids have fun with a card board box?

Marilyn said...

My cousin said the dances that I recall were at the Odd Fellow's Hall a couple buildings west of where the old locker stood.

Phone Service and the Phone Book

Click this link to view the page on this blog that has scanned photos from the Phone Book from our era. From an earlier posting on this blog, here are comments made in discussion regarding the phone book and life with telephone service as we knew it:

Richard Holstad said...

The Class of 1959 - Mike McQuarters - forwarded the phone book above. Only selected pages are provided here but the entire 22 pages are available upon request. Notice the phone numbers above for the Paramount Cafe, Pats Super Service, and Mack Drug and Jewelry ... and the Quality Cafe!

For me, I didn't use a phone book, I just picked up the phone and asked if the operator knew where Leroy went today.

We always knew where our friends were hanging out by where their bikes were parked where their dogs were waiting by the door.

Marilyn said...

Just imagine, the kids now have cell phones. What a difference in technology. I think my phone number in the country was something like B-12 & of course you had to make sure someone else wasn't using the line.

BadgerHawk said...

Marilyn, we were on a party line, too. I don't know if we had a "number" per se but I do know we were "two longs and a short" or something like that. The party line was a good way to pick up some gossip or find out what was going on if something good or bad happened. On a long conversation we could hear the phone click from time to time when others would pick up to see if the line was "available."
It's a little vague but I think you could call others on the same line by turning the crank to correspond to their signal. Like rip-rip was 2 shorts, if you know what I mean.
I thought Mason City was really big-time when they put in the dial system, GArden 3- and GArden 4. Anybody born after 19?? wouldn't know what that was...