John Clifford Webermeier is pictured when he was a boy on his family’s farm. He was born March 25, 1900, on a farm known as the Toadstool Ranch, which was 6 miles east and 1/2 mile north of Holyoke. After graduating from Phillips County High School in 1919, he attended Barnes Business College in Denver. He worked at First National Bank in Holyoke for a time, but he decided that he preferred working on his family farm. He took an interest in trying to get electricity into the area through REA and was one of the first directors when it was incorporated in 1938. He also served many years on the country school board and had an active interest in 4-H work. — Source: Phillips County Museum
Peekin’ into the past
Five Years Ago
June 23, 2016
Amassing somewhere in the ballpark of 100,000 hours of service, Robert Jacobs is set to retire June 30 after 29 years with the Holyoke School District. He began in 1987 as the transportation supervisor and over the years has also taken on more duties with the maintenance department.
Organized by Trisha Herman of Holyoke Fitness Club and co-sponsored by PC Telcom, the Dandelion Dash 5K was a nice addition to the annual Dandelion Daze festivities. Promoted as a family fun run/walk, the Dandelion Dash also attracted youth bike riders and many youngsters in strollers.
Ten Years Ago
June 23, 2011
Storms ran through Phillips County and northeast Colorado Sunday night, June 19, causing all sorts of damage. Everything from stripped wheat, torn-up corn, overturned center pivots, totaled grain bins, and broken windows on homes and vehicles was reported.
Ballyneal Golf Club caddie Ben Cox and his father and Ballyneal member Jim Colton golfed two holes in a Father’s Day outing — Ben’s first golf outing since a March 17 ski accident left him paralyzed from the chest down. Ballyneal personnel made arrangements to get a specially designed golf cart with a seat that swivels for Ben to get into position to hit the ball.
Twenty-Five Years Ago
June 27, 1996
After an unsuccessful attempt to sell Holyoke Auto Supply in the last six months, owners Jack and Patricia McLavey of Sterling chose to close the local NAPA store, effective June 22.
Fifty-nine people of all ages took part in the 3-5-6 Intensive English Program conducted through the Re-1J school district during the past three weeks. Six hours a day, five days a week for the first three full weeks in June provided a concentrated time for those whose first language is Spanish to become familiar and comfortable with speaking and thinking in English.
Fifty Years Ago
June 24, 1971
Irvin Speer, owner of Speer Cushion and Upholstery Co., has formed Speer Trailer Sales, which will feature the Montrose DeLuxe line of mobile homes made by Central Homes Inc. Within a few weeks, display homes will arrive in Holyoke. The company also plans a new modern mobile trailer park, which will be constructed shortly.
On July 1, the United States Postal Service will be inaugurated with ceremonies in Washington, D.C., and in every post office across the land. The old Post Office department goes out of existence at this time. The new United States Postal Service brings new concepts of business management to solve the problems created by the changing transportation patterns.
Loren Ayers, who will be Midwest Cable TV’s manager for both Holyoke and Haxtun, has moved his family to Holyoke. Latest reports are that a verbal agreement has been reached by a land owner and the cable company for a piece of land on which to erect the TV tower.
Seventy-Five Years Ago
June 27, 1946
Congress has passed, and the president has signed, a bill giving permanent status to the National School Lunch Program. This has long been the objective of the National PTA and other interested groups. Previously, the Department of Agriculture has operated the program on a year-to-year basis. While the new act did not itself carry an appropriation, $75 million was provided in the agricultural appropriation for next year’s operation of the program.
For the first time in many years, swimming lessons are available at the Holyoke Municipal Swimming Pool, with trained instructors. Two of Holyoke’s young people, Donald Lindberg and Norma Yowell, have just returned from attending a school of instruction in swimming near Des Moines, Iowa, and are conducting classes in swimming in the local pool.
The members and friends of the Methodist church are having a covered dish dinner for their new pastor, Rev. Haruf, and family, Sunday immediately following the church service.