Way Back When

Curt Coleman, executive director of Jackson County Regional Health Center was named administrator for Genesis Medical Center, DeWitt. Coleman will continue to serve as the head administrator for the Maquoketa hospital.

Almost 27,000 Iowans aged 10 and older have open-angle glaucoma, a 12 percent increase from just 4 years ago according to 2012 Vision Problems in the U.S. report on Prevent Blindness America and the National Eye Institute.

20 YEARS AGO – 2003

Laundry Max, a coin-operated facility located adjacent to Awesome Car Wash on Highway 64, opened its doors about three weeks ago. Tom and Kim Tiefenthaler are owners of the business.

Maquoketa’s firefighting equipment fleet, is about to get a lift, by as much as 95 feet to be exact. With ladders, hoses and other equipment, a refurbished 1985 model Sutphen aerial platform truck will cost $193,107.

30 YEARS AGO – 1993

Maquoketa City Manager Patrick Callahan resigned at the Jan. 18 Maquoketa City Council meeting after 14 years in the position.

Baldwin farmer Eric Tabor was elected to head of the Iowa Democratic Party in a move that signals a desire for a fresh leadership approach.

The Maquoketa Cardinals are the defending champions as the Big Bend Conference holds its sixth annual wrestling tournament at DeWitt on Jan. 23.

40 YEARS AGO – 1983

Iowa 64 Reopened – Detour signs that had been in place since July of 1981 were removed Nov. 18 as an 11-mile stretch of partly new, partly improved highway between Maquoketa and Monmouth was reopened to traffic. Also ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the near completion of a $16 million project in which 31 miles of 64 between Maquoketa and Anamosa were widened and repaved in some areas and completely relocated in others.

Alvin Barker defeated Howard Elkins a second time Jan. 5. The first election in November 1981 was declared void because election officials had not complied with a state law specifying polling hours. Maquoketa had three mayors in less than a week as Mayor Pro Tem Neil Morehead filled in for four days until Barker took office.

Results of a survey of 201 Maquoketa area residents showed most see Maquoketa as a good place to live, are satisfied with area schools, churches and medical services and do most of their shopping locally. 

50 YEARS AGO – 1973

Funeral services will be held Tuesday for Mrs. Walter Melchert (Helen), who died following a long illness on Jan. 13 at Finley Hospital in Dubuque.

Miss Caroline Lorenzen, 306 North Main Street, is one of the few ladies in the area who still does quilting. Miss Lorenzen has quilted 63 quilts. She also does tatting and has made hundreds of yards of lace.

Funeral services for Mrs. Louise Ellis, 88, of Maquoketa, who died Jan. 18 at Jackson County Public Hospital. Mrs. Ellis taught music and voice for 66 years.

60 YEARS AGO – 1963

Maquoketa city employees both hourly and monthly received a total of $184,515 in salaries and wages the past year. 

Mr. and Mrs. Allen Ripple of Maquoketa R.R. 6 announce the engagement of their daughter Connie to Gerald Owen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Owen of Maquoketa R.R. 4. No date has been set for the wedding.

Ad: Sagers and McCausland listed a Third Ward lot with 70-foot frontage for sale for $2,000.

70 YEARS AGO – 1953

Winfield Rimmer, the county treasurer, urges motorists to purchase their 1953 automobile license plates now.

The county jail in Maquoketa and the county farm and home north of Andrew were found to be neat, clean and well-heated by the Jackson County grand jury in its annual inspection tour.

Eleven Jackson County youths were inducted Jan. 13 into the Armed Forces the selective service in Maquoketa.

80 YEARS AGO – 1943

Service stations throughout the country may stay open not more than 72 hours a week, and for not more than 12 hours a day, the office of petroleum administration ordered. Davie’s said the 12-hour-a-day provision was intended to enable service station operators to reduce operating cost at a time of decreasing business.

Maquoketans were greeted with the coldest weather of the winter Tuesday when temperatures dropped to near the 19 below zero mark. Main highways throughout the area were blocked for several hours and farmers on sideroads were drifted in as the wind piled up huge drifts.

Selective service soon will announce plans to lift the ban on the drafting of married men with children. Reports that the pool of single men is almost at rock bottom despite the newly available 18 and 19-year-olds: and the official estimate that the size of the enlisted personnel of the armed forces will increase 3.5 million before the year ends. Disclosure by the war department that boys who have reached the age of 17 can enlist in the army enlisted reserve corps and air corps enlisted reserve. The navy has been taking 17-year-olds who have their parents’ consent.

90 YEARS AGO – 1933

A deal was closed several days ago whereby Harrison Sons, local morticians, became associated with the George mortuary of Delmar, Mrs. George, wife of the late F.H. George, retaining an interest in the business. She will be assisted by the Harrisons. The Delmar mortuary will be in charge of Mrs. George and those desiring service will call the mortuary there as formerly.

Final naturalization papers were issued this week to Mrs. Herman Rosenberg of this city, and Mrs. Louise Hueneke of near St. Donatus. Mrs. Rosenberg has resided in Maquoketa for 13 years, having come here from Chicago. She is a native of Russia. Mrs. Hueneke was born in Germany.

Searchers who had been continually looking for Harold Tietjen, who disappeared on Dec. 21, were rewarded Friday morning when the body was found in the Mississippi River, where the ice harvest had been made about the time of his disappearance. The sum of money he was known to have carried was found pinned in a pocket of the overall suit in which the body was attired. His watch had stopped at 5:33.

100 YEARS AGO – 1923

The settlement of the slander case of Louis Schmidt vs. John Schmidt between two brothers residing near Spragueville, Iowa, finished the jury cases for the January term of the district court here. During the progress of the trial the brothers got together and settled their grievances out of court.

The Delmar fire siren is now successfully installed in its permanent position on the top of the city pumping station and peals out the time signal at noon each day and will be ready for business should a fire occur. A long-felt want is now supplied.