40 Years Ago
October 1979
Mrs. Hazel Puckett of Route 2, Humboldt, was recently named Woman of the Year by the Humboldt Business and Professional Womens Club because of her determination and faith as she has dealt with her daughters battle with the ravages of polio for 27 years.
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Because of the lack of a long-term lease commitment, representatives from Methodist Youthville last night recommended to the Circle B Boys Ranch board of directors that the home be closed on Nov. 9. The board members agreed. The home was located on the Allen County Farm five miles north of Iola.
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Norman Michael of Iola has worked in area oil fields for the past 30 to 35 years setting up drilling rigs, fixing them when they fail and collecting ideas on how to do a better job of both. Last year Michael built not one, but two brand new drilling rigs. He sold both for about $300,000 each. He is pictured standing beside the truck-mounted oil derrick he designed and constructed.
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Allen County commissioners this morning sold the old county farm north of Iola to Allen County Community Junior College for $108,000. The purchase price which includes all buildings, improvements and mineral rights on the 240-acre farm translates to $450 an acre. That is the base price the commissioners established for sale of the farm when they offered it at auction in June. No one bid on the farm at that time.
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The old Horton barn, one of Iolas most interesting and notable historical landmarks, will soon enter a new phase in its life. The hayloft of the structure is being renovated into two apartments by the present owner, Dr. Frank Lenski. Other pictures in this issue show how structures taken from local demolished business and homes are used in the renovation. In an accompanying article, Ethel (Horton) Reid of Iola tells about her father, Fred J. Horton, who built the barn to house teams of horses and ponies.
