Over the Years

50 YEARS AGO
February 14, 1957 — Engineers estimated it would cost about $2.25 per lineal foot to install curb and gutter on all Hillsboro city streets, less if the streets were paved at the same time. Engineers discouraged the commissioners from having the city crew do the paving work, instead advising the city to hire professional pavers.
Banner editor Bill Kremer heard from a longtime local resident that the old Traill County Jail in Hillsboro should not be demolished but instead used as a museum or a library.
Eight teams were set to play in the Class C District 7 tournament at Hillsboro — defending champion Clifford plus Emerado, Buxton, Logan Center, Galesburg, Thompson, Reynolds and Caledonia.
40 YEARS AGO
February 15, 1967 — Hillsboro’s $70,000 iron removal water treatment plant went into operation. Utilities supt. Ralph Byars said the plant removed iron and manganese using aeration and chemicals. The plant was built by Alex Vettel Const. and Bob’s Plumbing and Heating, both of Hillsboro. The plant was to be paid for through a $1 monthly charge on customers’ bills.
Hillsboro Hospital showed a profit of $15,500 in 1966, according to administrator Allen Swan. The nursing home had a profit of $97. Both facilities had reported losses in 1965.
The City of Hillsboro appointed auditor John Nelson and utility supt. Ralph Byars as housing code inspectors for the city to satisfy a requirement for a federal grant application. Code checks were to include health and fire hazards, electrical, plumbing and outbuildings.
30 YEARS AGO
February 17, 1977 — Les Anderson and Jay Boeddeker were the first Hillsboro wrestlers to ever qualify for a state tournament. The wrestling team was coached by Dave Hedland during its first season.
Heating costs were stretching the school’s budget thin. Using 1,600 to 1,700 gallons of fuel oil per week was costing $600 to $650 a week to heat the high school. The elementary school was using 500 to 600 gallons per week. The cost of fuel oil was about 39.5 cents per gallon.
20 YEARS AGO
February 16, 1987 — Edith Lerfald of Mayville was named “N.D. Mother of the Year.” The 64-year-old mother of 10 and grandmother of 20 advised the 3Ls of mothering — love, listen and let them go.
Hillsboro school board members were “looking for $130,000″ to cut from the 1987-88 budget. The cuts were needed because state student aid was expected to fall below the present $1,370 per student level, advised supt. Art Morlock.
After seven months, work was nearly complete on a $100,000 handicap access project at the Traill County Courthouse, which included an elevator, new plumbing and revamped rain gutter system.
10 YEARS AGO
February 17, 1997 — A smoky fire, likely caused by a halogen lamp, nearly destroyed the St. John Lutheran Church parsonage in Hillsboro. Pastor Brad Viken and his family were not harmed.
A Quonset collapsed from the weight of snow on the roof at the Donnie Rye farm near Buxton, N.D. The 160×60 foot shed housed eight trucks, a pickup, a combine and a camper along with other farm equipment, all worth about $750,000. Damages were less than expected once Rye started sifting through the debris.

— compiled by Michelle McLean