K.A. Bergdahl, contractor - 1949

BERGDAHL, WHITNEY, MOSELY, WAUGH, ROGERS

Posted By: Pat Ryan White (email)
Date: 1/5/2015 at 12:17:30

THE BYSTANDER'S NOTES

In the death of Mr. K.A. Bergdahl we lose a friend of half century, the community a splendid citizen and southeastern Iowa a distinguished representative of civic construction in all its phases. We first came to know Mr. Bergdahl nearly fifty yeas ago. In 1900 we built our first home in this community, the residence on East Washington street, and now owned and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. H.T. Waugh.

The foundation was, as were all foundations of those days, laid up with native limestone from our nearby quarries. Moses Mosely, colored and a stone mason of unusual ability in his profession, built the foundation, the standard width being a full 18 inches. The stone was blasted out at the quarries south of town, reduced to handling size and delivered to the site of our new home. There Mr. Mosely fashioned them into the permanent foundation. Concrete foundation were unheard of at the period.

The carpenter work was given to Mr. J.L. Whitney, who together with several of his brothers had worked under the direction of his father, W.H. Whitney, one of the prominent contractors of the day, but at the time of the erection of our new home, J.L., or Louie as he was known, was contracting and building himself. While our home was going up the firm of Whitney & Bergdahl was formed, the first of the many structures built by them in and about Mt. Pleasant. And it was during the building of our home that we became so well acquainted with Mr. Bergdahl. And so, for almost a half century we have maintained that friendship and watched with deep interest his career as a master builder, a builder with integrity, clear understanding and skill.

During his active years Mr. Bergdahl was an invaluable factor in municipal affairs. Hardly a public enterprise was undertaken without the advice, and usually the superintendency of this gifted and honest builder. No finer or more eloquent tribute to Mr. Bergdahl's character and skill than our municipal building - City Hall - in construction as sturdy as his character and the final finish reflecting his skill. Our appraisal of our old friend is not over drawn. We are very certain that all who knew him, endorse all that we have written.

[Bystander's Notes, by Charles S. Rogers, editor, "The News", Mt. Pleasant, IA, Wednesday, October 5, 1949]