I admit there are times when I get a bit confused. A recent example, at least from before today, is when I first heard about Webster City being the location for Doodle Bug manufacturing in the 1940s. In my defense, most other military historians would also assume this refers to the dreaded V-1 rockets used by the Nazis to pulverize London in World War II.

I now stand corrected, after seeing the amused looks around me. I didn’t know, indeed hadn’t even heard of, THE Doodle Bug, made by Beam Manufacturing from 1946-48. Of course, once I learned that the general manager of Beam, during those production years, resides right here in Our Neighborhood, it became a topic of great interest to me.

The timing of this epiphany is also important, this being the week of the Doodle Bug Reunion.

I don’t know all that much about my neighbor, George P. Castner, other than he was born in 1895, had family in Blairsburg, was a high school principal in Litchfield, Minnesota (where my family had a lake home in my youth), and, as mentioned, was the general manager of Beam during the Doodle Bug years.

Beam Manufacturing began producing washing machines in Webster City late in the 1930s. An article — from the Daily Freeman Journal — dated March 16, 1942, states that Beam would discontinue this line of production to focus on war essential items for the government. It was happening all over the U.S. as we geared up for the war.

Singer Sewing Machine was starting to make machine guns, Gibson Refrigerators was switching over to constructing Waco gliders, Ford Motor Company was building B-24 bombers, and so on.

When the war ended a few years later, companies around the country returned to their original products and also expanded into new areas. America’s economy was no longer in the Depression; new car production soared, all kinds of other “fun” things came on the market, including a host of amazing items like televisions and … the Doodle Bug.

Apparently, George Castner was a forward-looking manager. He saw the renewed demand for washing machines and a desire for other products.

The Doodle Bug was brought to Hollywood to be shown off and received a tremendous reception. Many were ordered for use on movie production lots. Warner Brothers, Republic Pictures and MGM all wanted them; many young stars (and starlets) were photographed on them.

Still, Mr. Castner was quoted as saying the company set out to produce “a motor-driven vehicle that would be safe and easy to operate, light and sturdily constructed, low in initial cost and operation, and suitable for various purposes. The Doodle Bug is the result.”

It also had a half-gallon gas tank and could achieve 100 miles on a gallon of fuel (a much better sales pitch today). First models cost about $69, though the price increased to $149 by the end of production in 1948.

A total of an estimated 40,000 were made.

And George P. Castner?

George moved from Webster City to Florida when Beam Manufacturing Co. was bought by another company in 1955. He passed in 1962. He and his first wife, Mabel, both reside in Our Neighborhood to this day.