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National Sewer plant sold
Dickey buys National Sewer Pipe Co.
Walter S. Dickey of Kansas City, largest clay manufacturer in the world, has purchased the plant, equipment and ware on hand of The National Sewer Pipe company, of this city.
The consideration has not been made public, but is said to have been something in excess of $200,000. The new owner plans extensive repairs and the addition of several new lines to the output of the plant, which will make it one of the largest and most important of the kind in Iowa.
The plant will thereafter be known as the W. S. Dickey clay manufacturing plant and will be operated on a 12 month basis--in other words a full time plant. The sale of this institution means much to Webster City and the community hereabouts. It means work the year around for employees of the plant and it means the gradual improvement and enlargement of the institution and a larger importance in clay working field industry.
The National Sewer Pipe Company was organized in Webster City in 1913 and the plant completed and operations began in 1913. The officerts of the company are: President, C.H. Clifton; Vice President, vacant since the death of H.R. Dodge; Secretary, Mrs. Bessie Peterson; Treasurer, B.F. Paine.
The board of directors is composed of the above officers and the following: L.V. Mills, W.A. Johnson, A.E. Womeldorf, Elmer Boynton and J.L. Peterson.
Since Mr. Dickey did not buy the stock issue of the sewer pipe company, the corporation will be continued until its affairs are all wound up, when it's charter will be surrendered. Payment of the purchase price by Mr. Dickey extends over a period of years, which necessitates the continuation of the corporation at least until the close of the payment period. The books, accounts and warrants on hand remain the property of the corporation.
Since it's establishment here, the National Company has been Webster City's biggest industry, working some 50 men and more during it's peak times. It has always meant a great deal to the city and the community because of the employment it furnishes and the large quantities of tile of various kinds shipped from this point.
1956
4-H girls ready for fair
The Cass Red Peppers held their local 4-H achievement day at White Fox school Monday. Twenty-two girls made 125 entries of canned goods, baked goods and table settings in the 15 classes judged.
Five individual and team demonstrations were given. These demonstrations will be given at the Hamiton County fair in August. The girls are led be Mrs. A.W. Crystal and assistant leaders are Mrs. Lionel Nicholson and Mrs. Jack Nicholson.
The girls who worked on exhibits are Linda Nicholson, Mary Nicholson, Kathryn Butler, Marlene Ferguson, Cheryl Ruhl, Shirley Stewart, Joan Turner and Michele Cleveland.
1986
Chelesvig out of tourney
Webster City's Bart Chelesvig has been eliminated from competition in the Junior World Freestyle Wrestling Championships in West Germany.
Chelesvig, who was competing for the United States team at 165 pounds, wrestled a foe from Korea in the opening round of competition Wednesday. Chelesvig led the match early by a 7-5 margin, but was then caught in a move by his opponent and pinned.
In the second round of competition, Chelesvig faced a wrestler from Iran and lost a decision by 12 points.
1996
Committee seeks to expand Doodle Bug reunion
STRATFORD-- The Hamilton County SEED Tourism Committee is planning to expand the Doodle Bug celebration.
The event, which will be held Sept. 13, 14 and 15 at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds, is being expanded in honor of the 50th anniversary of the manufacture of the Doodle Bug, as well as the 10th anniversary of the first Doodle Bug reunion, said SEED Executive Director Lew Sanders.
The events will begin the night of Friday, Sept. 13, with a reunion of people who manufactured, owned or restored Doodle Bugs. On Saturday, a Doodle Bug exhibition will take place, and a pizza party would take place that evening.
On Sunday, a parade would proceed down Highway 17, from Webster City to Country Relics in Stanhope where a breakfast will be served. The significance of the parade route is that Highway 17 was the original test run for Doodle Bugs, Sanders explained.
To publicize the event, the committee is planning to have volunteers rush into local board meetings, such as the school or city council meetings, yell “I’m the Doodle Bug!” and hand out Doodle Bug stickers.
The board is busy trying to recruit a major celebrity to come to town for the event In addition, the oldest and the last Doodle Bug test drivers are planning to attend the festivities. The committee has several other projects in the works.
The committee is working to establish a county-wide “Borrow a Bicycle” program. Tourists staying at any town in Hamilton County would go to a public bike rack, borrow a bicycle and tour local sites via county roads. To discourage bike thieves, the cycles would be painted with outlandish colors so people would know who they belonged to, Sanders said.
The committee is planning to create a map to inform tourists that would include county roads and prominent sites. The committee is planning to apply for grants from the Central Iowa Tourism Region to raise funds to make the map.
When the program gets underway, SEED will be looking for individuals to donate old bikes or bike parts, Sanders said. Even those bikes which cannot be used will be cannibalized to repair other bikes. The tourism committee came up with this idea after members saw Pella had a similar program.
The committee is also working to bring back the Boone Bash River Dash. This used to be an annual event, sponsored by the Webster City Chamber of Commerce, which featured canoe races and other water activities. The tourism board has established a subcommittee to reestablish the event by 1997