Looking Back
News from Bertha's and Hewitt's Pasts
25 Years Ago
August 21, 1996
Recently, the Umland family had special visitors. The visitors were from Belgium and they stayed with the Mark Umland family from July 25-29. After college in 1991, Mark had gone to Belgium through the International 4-H Youth Exchange Program. During that time he stayed with six families in a six-month time period. The visitors were Robert Marchal and Marie Joisie Lecler from Steimnach, Belgium and Anne Schloune and Bernard Schreurs from Tavigny, Belgium. Anne was one of the hosts Mark had stayed with.
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“Our doors are open to all,” has been the slogan of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Hewitt for many years, probably since its beginning. Only recently, however, have members of the church decided that “open to all” means they need equal accessibility for all and that meant getting rid of the old steps to the church, installing new ones and a ramp.
75 Years Ago
August 26, 1946
The day set aside by citizens of the Bertha community to mark the 40th anniversary of Dr. Will’s service to the people of this area has been changed from September 8 to September 22. State medical officials suggest the delay is advisable in view of the present polio epidemic. Governor Edward J. Thye and several prominent medical people plan to be part of the observance.
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The Bertha School opening has been delayed two weeks to September 16 on the recommendation of the State Board of Health as a precautionary measure to prevent further spread of polio. The schools of the state will delay their usual opening from September 3.