Henry T. Gassert is pictured in his Army uniform. He came to Holyoke in 1915 after working briefly for the Union Pacific Railroad. In Holyoke, he worked as an engineer and lineman until 1918, when he joined the Army. He served as a medic overseas during World War I and returned to Holyoke after his discharge in 1919. He was made city superintendent in 1922 and served as chairman of the local draft board during World War II. In 1967, he was appointed by the governor to serve on the nominating committee for the 13th Judicial District of Colorado. — Source: Phillips County Museum
Peekin’ into the past
Five Years Ago
Feb. 16, 2017
Giving a solid seven months’ notice, Stan Kreider submitted his resignation from the Holyoke School District maintenance director position, effective Sept. 1. The Re-1J Board of Education accepted the resignation at its Feb. 7 meeting. Kreider has been working in the industry for 42 years and with the local school district for the past 14 years.
Holyoke High School’s Knowledge Bowl team qualified for the state competition after the regional meet in Greeley on Feb. 11. With 1A-5A schools all at regionals together, the top schools from each classification earned the chance to go on to state at Colorado State University in Fort Collins on March 13-14.
Ten Years Ago
Feb. 16, 2012
Phillips County and Holyoke School District Re-1J are partnering for a $350,000 grant application to Great Outdoors Colorado for a new all-weather track.
Four Colorado State University civil engineering students spent a couple of hours in Holyoke on Feb. 12 looking at the mini park located at the intersection of Denver Street and Interocean Avenue. Settling ground is believed to be the cause of sinking sidewalks, a cracking gazebo foundation and a cracking wall. The students took notes and photographs, which they will use to build an assessment to present to the city council.
Twenty-Five Years Ago
Feb. 20, 1997
Phillips County Family Education Services is the new name for Literacy for the ’90s.
Alyson Colver was chosen as Colorado’s state eighth grade winner in the Daughters of the American Revolution American History Essay Contest. Colver will be honored at the state conference in March, and her essay will go on to the southwestern region competition.
A conversational Spanish class for the Holyoke community is being considered, if enough interest is shown. The class would be held at the hospital and taught by local resident Susan Vogelgesang.
Fifty Years Ago
Feb. 17, 1972
The Holyoke Lions Club will sponsor Moore’s All-American Red Heads, world champion girls basketball team, at the high school gym on April 7. The Red Heads will be challenged by a local mens team. Playing first-class basketball and entertaining sports fans with their skilled basketball wizardry, laugh-provoking antics and acts, the Red Heads are America’s favorite basketball performers.
The 1970 census of housing counted 1,644 housing units in Phillips County, and 1,431 households had at least one TV set. The report shows that in the county, there were 446 housing units with air conditioning (372 with room units and 74 with central systems), 1,365 units with a clothes washing machine, 1,019 with a clothes dryer and 512 with a dishwasher.
Sherrilyn Smith, business and office instructor at Holyoke High School, was awarded the Educator Award by the Colorado Advisory Committee for Business and Office Education at its first annual awards banquet, Feb. 11 in Denver.
Seventy-Five Years Ago
Feb. 20, 1947
Mr. and Mrs. J.G. Scholl received word Tuesday of this week that their son James, who is attending Colorado State College at Greeley, had his 1940 Ford convertible coupe stolen Monday night from in front of the dormitory where he stays. They recovered it the following day a short distance from Greeley.
FFA members of the Holyoke Hampshire Boar Cooperative Association purchased a Hampshire boar from Albert Hanson of Parks, Nebraska, for use by the members of this organization. Through this boar, the boys hope to improve their swine herds.