125 Years Ago – 1896
The terrific storm last week cut a 2 mile wide path and spread devastation wherever it hit. C.D. Luther and Andrew Galigan, both north of Marcus, suffered heavy losses.
The business places of Marcus have petitioned the railroad company to put in and maintain a stock scale here. It is believed that they will do so.

115 Years Ago – 1906
Mr.and Mrs. Peterson closed the Marcus Hardware Monday morning and departed for Sioux City with their family. They will make their home in the city.

105 Years Ago – 1916
Louis Gund is having a 50X56 barn built on his farm occupied by Joe Alesch. It will replace the one burned.
J.A. Hamad and son, Dean, returned from Rochester Mayo Clinic. Dean is afflicted with rheumatism and eye trouble.
The local Commercial Club is planning a festival and colt show here about September 1st.

95 Years Ago – 1926
H.F. Treinen and James Collins, Jr. purchased the Black Sox colored baseball club of Pipestone, MN and have scheduled 25 games for the season.
The J.F. Collins Agency sold the J.A. Keys 80 acre farm to Joseph Keffeler for $18,000 and the V.F. Sylvester 160 acre farm to Elmer Goodburn for $34,000.

90 Years Ago – 1931
Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Barnes, Vera and Lee, Cora Minor and Mr. and Mrs. Verne Barnes, drove to West Bend Sunday and visited the Grotto.
Miss Dorothy McDaniel began work as a clerk in the Satterlee Pharmacy Monday, succeeding Bobbie Bennett. Bobbie will go to Seattle, WA to work in a similar job.
Miss Turzah Lyle of Primghar visited in the Floyd Hamilton home. Miss Lyle will be teaching in the public school in Ames.
Oscar Ekblad has been hired as janitor of Marcus Public School, replacing Henry Staecker, who resigned.

85 Years Ago -1936
Ronald Colman and Claudette Colbert star in “Under Two Flags” showing in the Lyric Friday and Saturday. Robert Montgomery and Myrna Loy star in “Petticoat Fever” showing Sunday and Monday.

80 Years Ago – 1941
The mercury here has soared above 100 degrees every day of the past week. The area farmers are threshing and carry salt to the fields with them to add to the drinking water to help quench thirst and prevent sunstroke.
The “Marcus Bundles for Britain” unit with Mrs. Roger Leavitt as chairman, and the Mt. Pleasant area with Mrs. Melvin Simons as chairman, have sent 1030 garments and 93 comforters to headquarters in Sioux City.
Miss Iris Smith of Cleghorn spent Thursday and Friday with her sister and brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Gunnar Osterling.

75 Years Ago -1946
Mr. and Mrs. Claude Grey and Nancy Ziegler returned home from a 6,200 mile trip through 14 western states, including Los Angeles, CA and Utah.
Roy Rogers, King of the cowboys, and Trigger star in “Man From Oklahoma” showing in the Lyric Friday and Saturday.
Leo Alesch purchased the Elmer Hansen 100 acre farm just west of Marcus for $300 per acre and will take possession March 1st.

70 Years Ago – 1951
Janet Petersen, Donald Grey, Paul Christensen and Eddie Dean Miller are attending the Nazareth Lutheran Bible Camp at Lake Okoboji for a week.
Jack Reynolds received a broken nose while umpiring behind the plate in a ball game here. A foul tip struck his mask and sprung the bars, hitting his nose and lodging in the mask.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Rae of Meriden are the parents of a daughter born Sunday, July 29. She weighed 7 pounds four ounces and is named Cynthia Beth.
Myrna Ament of Marcus and Jewett Dunham of Dexter, IA are planning an August 14th wedding in Marcus Holy Name Church.

65 Years Ago -1956
Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Roseen and Karen of Marcus were Wednesday evening callers in the Roy Nelson home at Cleghorn.
Mr. and Mrs. Matt Schmillen, Mary Jo, Jerry and Don,departed for Torrance, CA to spend two weeks. While there, they will attend the wedding of their son/brother, Kenneth, to Diane Anderson of Torrance.
Fern Letsche, DeVera Wendt, Audrey Lauters, Kathleen Boever, Marlene Lauters, Mary Offerman, Patty Sand, Carol Keffeler and Peggy Boever, spent from Sunday through Saturday at Lake Okoboji.

60 Years Ago – 1961
Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Grauer are the parents of a six pound 12 ounce daughter, born Saturday. July 29. She is named Luann Renee and has 3 sisters and 1 brother.
Karen Fischer was the lucky winner of the Shetland pony given away by Sand Seed. She named her pony, Victory, and received a saddle, bridle and blanket for her new pet.
Mrs. June Nastasi, Jakie, John and Jeffery and Mrs. Gertrude Mc Namara, returned to their homes in New Orleans, LA after spending 10 days with June’s mother, Mrs. Antonette Carey.

55 Years Ago – 1966
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Dorr returned home Wednesday after a three week vacation touring Alaska
Bob Galles, Marcus Mets horseshoe pitcher, has won three first places recently, at Schaller, Aurelia and Quimby.
Mr. and Mrs, Kenneth Irwin enjoyed a trip to Lima, Ohio where they drove home a school bus for the Marcus Community School. They visited daughters, Ila and Ina, in Ames on the way home.

50 Years Ago – 1971
Mrs. Phillip Ladenthin and daughter, Krista, are spending 2 weeks in the Harold Ladenthin home before joining Phillip in Rhoda, Spain.
Ho-hum! Joe Fisch of Remsen, scored his third hole-in-one on the Marcus Golf Course, two on #9 and the latest on #4.
Loren Carver, 60, died suddenly at his Grand Meadow farm home Sunday morning, July 25. Services were held in Meadow Star United Methodist Church with burial in the Grand Meadow Cemetery. Survivors include his wife, 6 sons, a sister and a brother.

45 Years Ago – 1976
The Cherokee Community Theater will present “Oliver” with locals John Bryant of Marcus as the “Artful Dodger” and Joan Bryan of Marcus and Neil Mc Intosh of Cleghorn in the chorus.
Mr. and Mrs. Brian Nelson are the parents of an 8 lb. 15 oz. son, born Friday, July 23 and named Nathaniel Wittkop Nelson.
The annual Specht family reunion was held in the Cleghorn shelterhouse Sunday with over 90 in attendance.

40 Years Ago – 1981
Our Marcus Merchants have declared July 31 and August 1 as Marcus Madness Days.
Bargains galore will be offered, inside and outside. Join in the fun and save a bundle of $$$$.
Julie Rosener, Julie Seggerman, Diane Lauters and Camie Pottebaum will compete for the 1981 Marcus Fair Queen.
Sandra Marie Schnoes of Marcus and Kyle Jon Tapper of Cherokee are planning a November 7th wedding.

35 Years Ago – 1986
The Marcus Jaycees held “Take Another Look Project” during the month of May in Marcus to help the Community however they could.
Gerald A.Pallesen, Commander of the F.I. Goodburn Post 517, Marcus, IA was sworn in as Ninth District Vice-Commander.
Kyra Wilcox,of Cleghorn and bride-elect of Craig Conley, has been honored at several bridal showers. They will be married August 9 in St. Paul’s Methodist Church in Cherokee.

30 Years Ago – 1991
Gary Pillman became the shared superintendent for Marcus and Meriden-Cleghorn Community Schools July 1,1991. He and his wife, Betty, and 3 children moved to Marcus June 15 and he is busy getting ready for the new school year.
The annual Heinl family reunion was held in the Meriden Community Building Saturday. Two of the Heinl daughters, Madge Sullivan of Freeport, IL and Margaret Lohnes of Watsonville, CA, were present.
Nels Arne Everett Alm, 66, formerly of Cleghorn passed away Monday, July 29 at Carson, CA. Survivors include his wife, 2 daughters and 2 sisters. Funeral services were held at Green Hills Mortuary Chapel with burial in Green Hills. Rancho Palos Verdes. CA.

25 Years Ago – 1996
Marcus will celebrate its Quasquicentennial and its 60th annual Marcus Fair August 7th through 11th. The 125th birthday of our fair city and the 60th fair anniversary combined will bring many former area residents home. Lots of fun and memories for everyone!
Hillbilly Bob and his 1929 Model A Ford that he calls “Old Ruthie” will be chugging along in the parade and all over town.
Marie Bork will be the featured cook at the Marcus Fair Cooking School.
Help us celebrate Marcus, the Gem of the Prairie’s 125th birthday, something for everyone.

20 Years Ago – 2001
Jim Coleman is recuperating at home following heart surgery in Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City.
Melvin Schlenger, 62, of Meriden died Thursday, July 26.Funeral services were held in the Meriden Evangelical Free Church with burial in Liberty Cemetery. Survivors include his wife, a son, 2 daughters, a brother and a sister.

15 Years Ago – 2006