The Best Olde Fashioned Christmas memories in Harlan
A reader recalls growing up in Harlan Iowa during 1953 to 1964 and the town square’s Christmas magic. He details the block near 7th and Hill, local shops, and the courthouse lit like an Egyptian pyramid. Santa’s house, his helper moments, and the community’s festive lights left a lasting memory.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Iowa
Harlan
Earth
7Th
Hill Streets
John Deere Tractor
Public Works Department
Santa Claus
Santa
Cooper becomes November bride at Immanuel Lutheran Church
Clarise Dede Cooper of Council Bluffs wed Steve Schmettgen of Defiance on November 22 1986 at Immanuel Lutheran Church Harlan. Officiants were Pastor Paul R Olsen and Father Larry Beeson. The ceremony featured organ trumpet and vocal solos with a reception at St Peters Parish Hall followed by travel to Florida and a Bahama cruise.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Clarise
Dede
Coucil Bluffs
Steve Schmettgen
Defiance
Immanuel Lutheran Church
Harlan
Paul R. Olsen
Larry Beeson
Lloyd
Shirley Cooper
Rose Ann Schmettgen
Gus Schmettgen
Sheryl Dinklage
Bob Brue
Kim Elias
Omaha
Lori
Keith Ahrenholtz
Cindi Knudsen
Liberal
Mary Ann Arkfeld
Colorado Springs
Janice Powers
Newport News
Jennifer Lytle
Englewood, CO
Heidi Knudsen
Christina Lewis
Council Bluffs
Amanda Knudsen
Deb Lewis
Chuck
Terri Emschler
Tana Netsch
Phil Heller
Rich Heller
Portsmouth
Tom Fake
Denison
Stephanie Emschler
Megan Holden
Chris Netsch
Harlan Community High School
Iowa Western Community College
Oral Maxillofacial Surgeons, Inc
Florida
Bahama Islands
Garden club hosts Christmas dinner and plans January meeting
The Shelby County Garden Club held a Christmas dinner and party on December 9 at 6 p.m. at a local restaurant with 21 attendees. Nita Larsen Signe Madsen and Goldie Hansen led entertainment and holiday cookies were packed for former members. The next meeting will be January 13 at Signe Madsen's home co hosted by Mr and Mrs Norman Piercy.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Shelby County
Signe Madsen
Norman Piercy
Stowe Wins Bridge Club High Score Honor
All members attended the Wednesday afternoon session on December 10. Mrs Edward Stowe won high score and Mrs Leland Sunderland was second as Mrs Phil Phelps hosted the bridge club. A dessert lunch followed, and Mrs Stowe will host the January meeting.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Phil Phelps
Edward Stowe
Leland Sunderland
Stowe
Earling Mealsite celebrates 10th anniversary with meal
Earling Mealsite marked its tenth anniversary with an evening Dec dinner for 111 guests. The event featured a fried chicken supper, entertainment by Troop of Girl Scouts and mothers, carols, penny bingo, and prize drawings including a wooden butterfly, a yarn wreath, and a frozen turkey. Dozens of gifts were won during drawings as participants brought Christmas presents. Attendees traveled from Dunlap Defiance Earling Westphalia Panama Portsmouth and Harlan. Grace Gaul read a commemorative poem about the Mealsite.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Earling Mealsite
Girl Scouts
Norbert Gross
John Weiland
Irene Mahlberg
Laverne Foxhaven
Mealsite
Larry Finken
Mealsite Council
New Meal
Helen Blum
Josephine Schomers
Helen Bieker
Catherine Book
Dominic Lickteig
Wilfred Coenen
Edgar Blum
Lavine Thraen
Marie Stessman
Agnes Schwery
Lena Leinen
Esther Gaul
al Book
Virginia Bissen
Alf Klein
Lavine Rosman
Mary Thraen
Mike Gross
Viola Leinen
Ida Faye Lickteig
Sylvia Weiland
Corrine Bissen
Leonard Assman
Dorothy Graeve
Lawrence
Woltmanns to celebrate 25th anniversary at Walnut open house
Mr and Mrs David C Woltmann of rural Walnut will observe their 25th wedding anniversary with an open house at the Villager in Walnut on Saturday December 27. They were married January 7 1962 at Walnut Presbyterian Church and have two sons Michael in Stillwater Oklahoma and John a student at Northwest Missouri State University. Relatives and friends are invited. gifts are not desired.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
David C. Woltmann
Walnut
Dave Woltmann
Mary Ellen Griffith
Walnut Presbyterian Church
Michael
John
Gayle
Stillwater
Oklahoma State University
Northwest Missouri State University
Mary
Kleffman Rios wedin Harlan Kleffman Rios wedding in Harlan
Martha Ann Kleffman and Albert Rios united in marriage on November 29 1986 at St Michael's Catholic Church Harlan officiated by Father David Polich The bride given in marriage by her father The ceremony included readings by Joleen Doty and Mary Alyce Dotzler music by Lois Holder and others Guests included relatives from Omaha Corley Corley Par. The couple will reside in El Paso Texas after a wedding trip to Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Martha Ann Kleffman
Albert Rios
St. Michael’s Catholic Church
Harlan
David Polich
Harold Kleffman
Joe Rios
el Paso
Joleen Doty
Omaha
Lois Holder
Westphalia
Mary Alyce Dotzler
Sarah Kleffman
Therese Jacobs
Corley
Brenda Farris
Tracie Schaer
Mary Carroll
al Moreno
Ernie Tobias
San Diego
John Kleffman
Jeff Kleffman
Joe
Tom
Mike Kleffman
Portsmouth
Mr and
Mary Schaer
Margaret Gross
Lottie McDermott
Nebraska College of Business
Liberty Mutual Insurance Company
University of Texas At
Library to Buy Christmas Treats for Local Children
The Harlan Community Library will fund Christmas treats for grade school students from the $1,000 bequest by Mr H.H., with library board members handling purchases and deliveries. Donations by Mr Paup supported the City library. The original library opened in 1924, served until 1981, then moved to 718 Court Street, and the old building now hosts Library Restaurant.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Harlan Community Library
H.H. Library
Paup
UMW Cookie Walk at United Methodist Church Harlan
United Methodist Women hosted their annual Cookie Walk and Bake Sale on December 10 at the United Methodist Church in Harlan. Liz Hall reported 220 lunch meals served and 167 cookie boxes filled, with pre-filled boxes available. Junior high sold candy and senior youth sold crafts while a soup and sandwich lunch accompanied the event.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
United Methodist Women
United Methodist Church
Harlan
Liz Hall
Marilyn Lange
Mary Jackson
Jane Mathiasen
Adeline Maxwell
Barb Morgan
Phyllis Rickers
Susan Tupper
Norma Lansman
Sandy Lansman
Chewy Peanut Butter Bars by Marcie Cave Harlan
A simple recipe yields chewy bars. Mix Karo syrup sugar and peanut butter over medium heat until near boiling then fold in Rice Krispies. Press into an 11x14 pan and cool. Melt chocolate chips with peanut butter for frosting and spread atop bars.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Marcie Cave
Harlan
Also Mentioned on This Page
Lance Poldberg
Calvary Lutheran Church
Monterey Avenue
Cooper
November Bride
Steve Schnuettgen
Schomers
Josephine Thielen Schomer
Panama
Audra
Cathy Ratigan Justice
Groton
Mrs Schomer
Bob
Pam Schomer Ratigan
Neola
Faye L. Jacobsen
Garden Club
Meen
Woltmanns
Kleffman
Rios Wedin Harlan
Mrs Albert Rios
UMW
Cookie
Sat
Ainbow
Court
Harlan Hearing Aid Service
Jorgensen Chiropractic
David H. Pedersen
M.S
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!