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A Guided Tour of The Old Hometown

     “The old hometown looks just like I remember, it hasn’t change one bit.

     “Son, I think a guided tour down Lombard Street is in order. Let me point out all the changes since you left here the year of our Centennial and, perhaps, it would be smoother if we followed the format used in the Centennial Book of 1959. I’m so glad the town authorized the erection of street signs and number assignments for all houses and business places. Makes it a lot easier for visitors and strangers to find us. Let’s start here on 5th Avenue, just before it crosses Lombard Street, and give you the changes on the south side of old ‘Lincoln Highway’. To your right, before I stop for the sign, is the office of Dr. Frederick Drexler, D.D.S., one of three services not every small town has. We are most fortunate he opened his office in Clarence on July 1, 1975.

     “Casey’s General Store, and our only ‘uptown’ filling station, was built and opened the last of May in 1980 after tearing down what you knew as the Cities Service Station. Wilbert Gottschalk operated the station into June of ’78 and then Mr. and Mrs. Ferman Allman continued operation until March 1980 as the Clarence Union ’76 Station.

     “The building at 504 Lombard, on the west side of the alley, is still a tavern and is operated as Bo-Jack’s Tap by Gary Roelf.

     “Progressing east, you get the hint of city trends coming to small town. Right there, that two story brick building, is our own Mini-Mall. Noel Mast bought the building to use as a hardware and appliance outlet in conjunction with his Plumbing, Heating and Electrical business. The hardware and appliance unit was sold, in October 1977, but closed a little bit over a year later and, in 1980 we got our cluster of three. See that door, in the middle of the building? Walk in and you’ll see, to the right, a door for the Claney and Corbett Tax and Accounting Service. Straight ahead of the entrance is the main attraction for many ladies of the community. As its name, Mane Attraction, implies-a beauty salon owned by Mrs. Rory Dewell. If you take the left door you’ll find yourself doing business with Velma Ruttenbeck and Marilou Skinner, owner of The Shoppe. Their lines are gifts, decorations, and their specialty is craft supplies and completed creations for the various holidays and special occasions. The second floor was known as Woodman Hall and later was called K & M Hall. It has been converted into apartments.

     “Hey, what about that sign? You don’t remember seeing anything like Cake Crafts 25 years ago? Helen Lund provides us with a wonderful variety of supplies for ‘do it yourself’ bakers and decorators as well as sewing advocates and a wide selection of gifts.

     “There, the last building before the vacant corner lot, is another professional business which makes everyone feel more comfortable and at ease. It houses Dr. George Utley’s medical practice. Dr. Utley came here in 1961, quickly widening his patient area to surrounding communities. We feel the community is fortunate!

     “Now there is a change you can’t miss. The B and K Store was finally sold, by Orlo Baltisberger who had bought out Lawrence Kline on his retirement, to newcomers and these folks operated it as a Convenience Store. This venture failed to survive and several years later the building and lot were purchased by Pat Thein and the old store razed.

     “As we turn onto 6th Avenue you are looking at the American Legion and Auxiliary home which continues to serve the community with its facilities for organizational meetings as well as family and social functions.

     “We are now approaching building #52216, our Post Office. In 1963 the Post Office moved into this building. Following Postmaster Vern Freeman’s retirement, Robert F. Miller was appointed to the position in 1967. We now have one local carrier, handling the two routes we formerly had here and the Lowden carrier handles a supplemental route from this office.

     “I’ll just drive through their driveway and turn around in their parking lot. Right …

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… ahead of us, is a business that runs from here to Smith Street and caters to people with a need for one or two bedroom apartments. They are the Hasenbank Apartments, providing 21 units close to shopping facilities with the Post Office easily accessible.

     “On your right, the Enda Zybell Library continues to flourish in serving the community at all age levels, with books ranging from fiction to historical fact, ‘Story Hour’ to microfilm and audiovisual materials and related equipment.

     “Do you know what the next building houses? You’re wrong! Bill Banks sold his business in 1978 and the new owner closed out the business after 4 years. Since February 1st of this year, it has been leased to the M (Al Miller) and K (Steve Kirk) Feed Service, Inc.

     “Before I turn back onto Lombard, 25 years ago the 3rd floor of this building was owned by the Masonic Lodge where the Masons and the Order of the Eastern Star held their meetings. These organizations now hold their meetings in rental space at the Legion Hall. In May of 1978 the 3rd floor was sold to Ron Shebetka and he, in turn, then sold the entire structure and business. It was in October of 1979 that Joe Capagna opened Joe’s Bar and Grill. The upper two floors are now living space.

     “You know, it isn’t every small town around here lucky enough to have a legitimate drug store with a licensed pharmacist. There was a time when we were happy with a sundry store, but Ron Hebdon changed all that when he purchased the building and opened Hebdon Pharmacy in July of 1976.

     “What did you mean, the old hometown looks just like I remember? If you take your shoes into Malin’s Shoe Repair you’ll really get a surprise because that is now a beaty shop. You’ll have to admit that, with a name like Fashion Flair, it would imply a flair for fashionable coiffures. I’d have to declare a tie in the naming of our two downtown beauty shops.

     “Remember the quaint little city park that laid just east of the telephone office? It lost its appeal when the Centennial observance made possible the larger park at the west end of Smith Street. The band shell, Saturday evening concerts, and those once a week shopping trips for groceries had gradually phased out. The growth of the Clarence Telephone Co. Inc. necessitated a more physical plant so the small city park was sold to that company and the facilities of the plant now occupy all the lots up to the grocery store in the middle of the block. With the advent of Cable T.V. this utility company now offers the additional service of television viewing through use of cable.

     “I’ll bet you’d call 618 Lombard Claney’s Store, but it was sold, first to Ron and Dee Remington and, at his untimely death, it was purchased by Dan and Jennie Lange and operates under the name of Lange’s Groceries and Meats. The upstairs still has living quarters.

     “Don’t let anyone tell you that all small towns are dying ‘cause it isn’t necessarily so, but they do have to change. Did you ever think the old harness and shoe shop would become a Laundromat and now be known, throughout the area, as Lambert’s carpets, Floor Coverings and draperies? The east half of the building remained an eating establishment for a good part of these 25 years, but now Bob Niermeyer occupies these quarters for his Niermeyer Insurance Service, Ltd.

     “I know you remember that building, on the corner, as the Dodge Dealership. Now it houses equipment of the AJJ Hasenbank, Inc., also known as Arlo and Jerry Hasenbank, Builders and Masonry work.

     “Remember when Highway 30 still went up 7th Avenue out to the mile corner? Here on this corner I’ll turn around and you notice that the Methodist Church is strong and healthy. The Sunday School addition and the Parsonage are recent projects of the congregation.

     “Oh, remember? The Dayton Creamery stood right there. Another adjustment, for small towns, has been to compete with trend toward super size. Our creamery survived many changes by adapting to the trends of the time. One of those remaining …

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… buildings housed the machinery for drying milk into powder form. Milk, produced by fewer farmers with larger and better producing herds, still goes out of this community to large creameries through their Dairy Production Associations.

     “If the old town still looks the same then tell me what this used car lot was. Your memory is okay—it was the Standard Oil Company’s Station and later, even a barbershop for a short time.

     “Those buildings, sitting on the east end of the Creamery and adjacent lot, are owned and used by the Cooperative for storage.

    The new building on the east half of this block is the Thein Motor Sales-Dodge, a Chrysler product dealer. This new building has been built and operated by Reid Thein, a second generation businessman.

     “You will have trouble placing this business because they and their livestock trucks were a fixture at the west end of Ames Street on 1st Avenue. Since there is a short volume of livestock on farms in this area, truckers have found it necessary to place even more emphasis on diversified operations. This is the Frahm Shelling and Hauling operation.

     “I’ll just make a loop here at this alley so I can come down 9th for you to view some more new building. On my left, the Feddersen Welding and Repair Shop building was purchased from Chester Rouse, Sr., who had used it for his pump and well work. Merle upgraded the facilities to fit his operation which includes sales and repair of small engine machines along with welding and repair of large equipment. In addition, the other new buildings house his backhoe, trenching machinery, and supplies.

     “Here is another surprise for you even though it is the same location and the same congregation. It does have a little different name as the former St. John’s E. and R. Church became St. John’s United Church of Christ through a national merger of two denominations in 1957. The new edifice was completed and dedicated in 1972.

     “Back on Lombard heading east and that is the new gas station on your right, in the former home of an I.H. dealership and Dayton Enterprises. A very nice facility; and much safer than crossing the track. It entailed moving their established T.B.A. and petroleum operation into a more readily accessible home for their customers.

     “From here let’s go to their old location. Look back and check the tracks to make sure I can safely cross over to the north side. You know, the Chicago and Northwestern Line has updated its trackage and rolling stock and is as busy as ever, but no longer has passenger trains using its facilities. These buildings, on your right were built for ARCO and then in 1974, sold to the Clarence Co-Operative for their petroleum, related products and the fertilizer facilities. They have retained the fertilizer, storage, LP department, and have also moved some uptown departments to that location.

     “How about that sky line? The sign on the first rural skyscraper is FELCO (Land O’Lakes) and you’ll see that logo on many building throughout the middle of this country of ours. They are a manufacturing and processing plant of livestock feeds. They maintain their own fleet of trucks for delivering to Co-Ops and dealers in a wide area.

     “As we drive toward the RR crossing on the Oxford Junction road we have Bixler Bros. (Don and Jim) Truck Line. I guess you’d have to say the only change here is that their boys have grown up and one son of each family has joined the operation.

     “Between us and the tracks is the former base for Dayton Enterprises, a truck line, and it is now operated by KKD Enterprises. The owners are Keith and Karen Dennis. Bob Knight, operates his Clarence Repair and Service in part of the KKD building. (As of press time he has sold his business to Ernie Anderson, who has also been doing Plumbing, Heating, and Cement Work).

     “Now, on the way back, we’ll cover the last 25 years’ changes on the north side. Oh, by the way, the middle of July is hardly the time to point this out, but the street …

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… really dons a festive display for the Christmas Season. The decorations are put up, now, by the S.O.C. (Save Our Community) organization and the Lions Club and we still raise additional money each year for replacement and repairs. Have you forgotten how that wind blows down main street? Another big improvement on this street is the cement work of sidewalks and curb and gutter work; the Highway will get a much needed overcoating yet by winter. This service station is owned and used for additional showing space for the dealer’s cars. Just across the tracks is the stockyard facilities which has also suffered from the small amount of cattle shipped in here for finishing in recent years.

     “From the west edge of this station’s property line, with but one interruption, is more Clarence Co-Operative facilities. The lumber and hardware business remains the same sans competition but we feel fortunate to have one. Here is the exception and it is the home of Mast Enterprises. You knew this as part of H. D. Kemmann Sons.

     “Gone are the Kemmann Garage and Showroom, Hasenbank Produce, Ruprecht Lumber Yard, Tacker’s Bakery and the Schluter Law Office over the bakery. The Clarence Co-Operative built its offices in 1978 just east of what you remember as Wayne Merritt’s Barbershop.

     “James and Mille Sawyer own the barbershop and former LIercke Appliance store, living in the quarters above the store and operating the J and M Shoppe, as antique sales store, from the two locations.

     “Len Fictor’s business place is now a private home.

     “605 still carries the name of Penny’s Market but is now owned by Kenneth Richmann, who has done extensive remodeling and broadened the line of processed and cured meats.

     “Oh, the next time you get home that building will have a new name. The Clarence Savings Bank will become the Community State Bank with offices in Olin and Stanwood, where it bought the existing Union Trust and Savings Bank. You do notice it seems larger? A number of years ago they bought that building, which formerly housed Rhatigan’s Drug Store, in order to expand the physical facilities and provide more office and working space.

     “Moving west, past 5th Avenue, I point out the Maurer Agency Inc., who bought the former business of Kenneth Morehead. The back half of this location is the law office of Durwood and Russell Dircks. The second floor has been living quarters and was the last pace of business for the Clarence Sun owned by the Seaton family.

     “Next door is an 84 year old established location for clothing sales. Greta Havel bought the business from Henry Thies in 1983 and has renamed it the Clothing Corral.

     “Le-Hi’s Café continues service with these additional owners since the Clarence Centennial: the Paul Kennedys, John Hasenbanks, George Shrivers, Marty Shrivers, and the present owners, Larry and Marie McLeod.

     “Bingo! You do remember that it was Leroy Kemmann Seed and Feed business, but the shingle now says Norton and Freese Law Practice. Roger Freese is resident attorney, with hours at the Clarence office limited to afternoon hours.

     “The next business has housed the agency of Raymond Doermann since 1961. They say, ‘There’s no one with endurance, like the man who sells insurance’ and Ray certainly proves that old adage. Even though selling part of his business, he is now in his 53rd year in business in our town. When you get to the Grand Marshal’s position in a parade, you have proven your endurance.

     “Clarence Motor Company became a partnership in 1967 with Leon Mensing becoming a partner of William Kirchner. Then, in 1979, the business became the partnership of Leon Mensing and Junior Hegarty. Before you ask what happened to our Fire Station, look over where the Presbyterian Church once stood. That is now the Municipal Building. The old City Hall is part of the Ford Motor Company along with the lot and the idle gas station next door where their new cars are displayed.

     “Along the south part of the Municipal Building are located the City Council …

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… Chambers, a room for the Firemen, and an office for the City Clerk. This room is also used by and shared with the Mayor and our City Police Officer. This building program was very fortunate to receive a substantial gift from the Ditz Estate. The Council Room also serves as a polling place for Dayton and Fairfield Townships along with the City of Clarence. The big doors, opening to the east, house the city and rural fire trucks, tanker crash truck, ambulance with related EMT equipment, and the town vehicle. The basement facilities are in regular weekly use by the Senior Citizens of Clarence and it is also rented for organizational meetings and private parties. A welcome and useable facility. Add these names to your list of Mayors since the Centennial: Henry Dircks – Moved to Clinton September, 1959; Paul Busching – Appointed October 1959 to December 1959; Henry Von Muenster – 1960 to 1963; Paul Busching – 1964-1973; Ralph McIntosh – 1974 to present.

     “Just north of where we turn east on Ames Street is the Hasenbank Feed Service, Ind. Owned and operated by Elwood Hasenbank until he accepted a partner, Wayne Syring, in October 1967. Now Elwood has retired and the Syrings are alone in the venture. You can see the storage tanks and building in the block to the west and the new scale and sales building to the right of 5th Avenue. Also, additional facilities are north of the C. and N.W. switch track.

     “That Quonset, is another storage facility back there, and it is an additional Co-Operative bin facility.

     “511 Ames Street was the business home of John Dettmann with his line of Allis-Chalmers farm equipment, etc. In 25 years we have lost all but one farm machinery dealer in our town. Ron Bixler now houses his Toby’s Sandblasting equipment at this location and it also serves AMPI Association a location for their milk truck. Local milk collection is hauled to the creamery west of Strawberry Point

     “Clarence still has its cement pant although it is now owned and known as Manatts Concrete Co. of Tipton, with operations limited to the warmer months here in Clarence and the main plant handling sales year around when suitable conditions exist.

     “From this vantage point, on Ames Street, notice the smokehouse, on the back of Penny’s Meat Market, for curing and adding that special smoked flavor. Would you believe he even smokes turkeys for people?

     “On the left side of the extension of this street, lies the scale and grain receiving office along with sales, storage, and holding facilities which stretch the rest of this block. Those concrete storage silos really provided first class entertainment for our sidewalk superintendents when they were poured.

     “I’ll turn around here, under the elevator silos, and we’ll head west on Ames so I can show you more businesses around the perimeter of the town. Right here, between 4th and 2nd Avenues, looking toward the railroad tracks, the first building is a warehouse belonging to the Hunwardsen Construction Co. located at 406 4th Avenue and operating out of his father’s carpenter shop.

     “The next 2 buildings, on your right, are the new maintenance shop, erected by Cedar County, along with the existing building for housing road equipment operating out of Clarence.

     “Then look toward Highway 30 and you will notice the large maintenance facilities of DeWayne Arends for servicing their Truck Line.

     “Crossing 2nd Avenue you’ll see many storage buildings erected at the back of the lots, there, by the tracks. Actually, they are all storage except for the one next to the road here and that garage has been closed.

     “The hog buying station, north of 1st Avenue, is listed under the name FDL Foods, Inc. There is something quite new where 1st Avenue crosses the railroad track. See the controlled crossing signal? It gives us some much needed protection when crossing the tracks on the way to the Clarence Cemetery. The Cemetery …

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… Association bought additional ground on the west side of the cemetery and also secured a roadway entering from the west.

     “Before I turn this corner, onto 1st Avenue, you are looking at the former home of Frahm Bros. who sold the site and building to Dayton Enterprises and it is now rented for parking of trucks.

     “By the way, your car looked like it needed cleaning when you got here this morning. Before you folks head for home maybe you can slip down and use this car washing equipment owned and operated by Harley Conrad.

     “Here on the corner, before we head east on the highway again, I want you to notice the Clarence Motel. It is owned and operated by the Dale Schroeders.

     “You have to have perfect recall or you will not believe what this next business place was 25 years ago! You can still say, ‘Fill me up’, but now you give that order to the attendant in the kitchen and be prepared for some enjoyable eating. The old gas station was purchased by Gary Oster 3 ½ years ago and is now Oster’s Drive-In.

     “Since we have covered the rest of Lombard Street I’ll head up to Smith Street by turning on 2nd Avenue. At that residence Ellis Stonerook uses facilities attached to the back of the house and warehouse down 2nd Avenue to operate the Clarence Plumbing and Heating business.

     “Here, at 2nd and Smith, is the Clarence Nursing Home. It was dedicated in 1968 and the wing, to the west, was added in 1972. The 46 residents are cared for by a staff of 21 full and 22 part-time personnel. The Nursing Home was made possible by the community and the estate of Mr. Joe Ditz. It has been enhanced by the loving care of staff, family, community, and organizations of this and neighboring towns. The operation is managed by an administrator, the board of directors, and by the community through its annual membership meeting.

     “Remember bringing the pets up here? Dr. Paul has retired, but we got lucky when Dr. Dennis Stresemann bought this office and home in 1972 and has now added more vehicle and storage space.

     “We need the time so I’ll tell of the changes at the park when we come up for the activities and games tomorrow afternoon and then on Sunday morning for the combined Church Services.

     “There are more businesses in the south part of town so let’s slip over to Piatt Street from here. We’ll start right here with Hunwardsen Equipment at 408 Piatt. You know, this is the sole surviving farm implement dealer in the community and this is a trend of the times attributed to changing farm styles and a reflection of the business direction taken by farm equipment manufacturers. The business is now operated by another second generation businessman, Don Hunwardsen.

     “Adjacent to this operation is the saw mill and tree cutting and tree removal business of Irwin Frahm now in its 34th year of operation.

     “There is a new business venture there at 604 Piatt. See that dish-like receiver or antenna behind his house? That is a way of receiving unlimited TV channels where cable TV can’t economically reach. Todd Christophersen Electric handles that item.

     “Ahead of us, on the corner of Piatt and old #30, is the location of the former John Deere dealership. Mr. and Mrs. George Ibsen opened the G & E Farm Store in 1969. They are engaged in feeds, seeds, and the processing of soybeans for local feeders. For an unfortunate short period of years the late Ralph Christiansen operated a jewelry and watch repair business from his home when illness forced to close the John Deere business in this location.

     “There, at 570 7th Avenue, is a service which was here 25 years ago, but is now called Carnation Genetics and managed by Wayne Paul, son of John Paul who was an early technician in this field.

     “Forgot to point out, when we were close, the Chiropractic office of Dr. H. A. Bouschlicner at 201 8th Avenue. Would have missed another one if it hadn’t been for the sign on that lot back there when I was directing your attention to where Dr. lives. The realty sign, listing that house for sale, is advertising for Al Christophersen, a …

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… representative for Real Estate of East Iowa and he also handles AF Homes Ltd.

    On the way to show you the oldest business location we have, I can tell you of a few other businesses. Since you know their old business location I can tell you of it without driving past. The first two I give will prove my point. Helen (Thies) and June’s (Rowser) Beauty Shops have remained at their same spot for the last quarter of a century, neighbors and friends. The same will go for the Chapman Funeral Homes, Inc. now operated by a second generation, Paul Chapman, with additional facilities in Wheatland and a furniture operation between the two towns. In addition to the buildings I have given you we have Clarence Cabinet Shop operated by Robert and Jim Debner who have taken over from their father and the Bill Tuel Construction out of 414 9th Avenue. Also related is the construction work of Jack Williams in his Masonry Construction business.

     “Remember the little Go-carts and Drive-in east of town on #30? That is now the location of Wilson Foods Hog Buying Station.

     “Now we are just a mile east of town and we’ll head north, but I can point out the other cemetery, St. John’s, which has also expanded since you were home last time.

     “Here we are, about 2 miles northeast of the spot on Mill Creek, where all this Quasquicentennial business came from over a 125 years ago, even before we were called Clarence. This is quite an operation. Leen-Line, Inc. was originally started, on this location, by a group of local people to produce a better grade of hogs, in a germ reduced environment, for breeding and feeder sales. It has been sold to Kleen-Leen Research Center to provide them a second facility. They have greatly enlarged their operation.

     “Now we can head back to town and show you the biggest physical change in the area. Recognize that spot with the bridge over Mill Creek and the Onion Grove Quarry? I remember this quarry being open during the depression as a WPA project. Something else I remember is the older folks attending 4th of July and Church picnics out here. I wonder if they could believe the size of this operation now? You know, when I was a kid, we went into the basement of what used to be the original buildings on this site and they were right there in front of the piles of gravel of this Onion Grove quarry.

     “Boy, it’s time I get you back to town for the program at the Schoolhouse.

     “Let’s just run around the block once so you can see all sides of the school facility and then I’ll drop you off at the front door. Did the trip around the building point out anything you haven’t seen before? The addition west of the gymnasium was there already at the time of our Centennial, but, in the 25 years since that time, there have been several other changes. We have seen an addition built across the back of the building incorporating a new library, classrooms, administration offices, etc. in 1967. This too was another recipient of the fund administered on behalf of the Ditz estate. Then came the merger of the Clarence and Lowden School systems into the C-L Community School for the fall term of 1974. Gone is the original two story school building you knew. That came down early in the progress of this present project which will be completed during this current year. Since Superintendent M. R. Johnson’s death, in 1960, we have had the following superintendents: C. W. Joachim, Jerrel Gallagher, Lynn Hansen, Richard Drey, and this summer, Donald Lamm has accepted the leadership position. The High School and Junior High Attendance Center is located in Clarence and the Elementary Center at Lowden. Athletic events are held in both communities thereby utilizing the large gymnasium in Lowden and a second gym facility in Clarence. Even the respective city parks offer facilities for other athletic programs. The football field is laid out in our park at the west end of Smith Street as well as a two court tennis facility. We even have girls’ and boys’ golf teams utilizing the golf course (3/30 Club) in Lowden. Here we are, close to the entrance, but before I pull up there I must point out another business …

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… that I saved for the trip up here to the schoolhouse. Just diagonally across from the west addition is the Don Johnson Electrical Services.

     “Whoops, I didn’t see that trombone case sticking out from behind the car. Do you recognize the gentleman? Sure, you’re right, its Senator Merlin Hulse and that is a name you can add to the list of men, from this community, who have served us well. Merlin has served as a Senator in the Iowa general Assembly from 1976-1984. Tonight he is just another graduate of Clarence High School supporting this endeavor by participating in the Community Band.

     “My, they have a full house tonight; I hope it is as large tomorrow night. The committee and directors have worked hard on this production. You’ll be amazed at the size of the community chorus and the band. This may be a farming community, but don’t you believe all of our ham is restricted to farm acres.”

Picture:
“Seated left to right: Lorence Thien, Ralph McIntosh, mayor; Bob Plueger.
Standing l-r: Mike Ellingson, Ellis Stonerook and Jerry Hasenbank.