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Akron’s 125th Supplement to The Akron Hometowner
August 1, 2007
Akron sees many changes in business during the last 25 years by Dodie Hook Many businesses have come and gone and many have stayed during the last 25 years. This a compiling of most of the businesses we could find that have changed since the Centennial celebration in 1982. • Nov. 29, 1982 - Jon Chicoine opens chiropractic clinic at 232 Reed St. In March of 1985 he closed it and moved to Louisiana. • Oct. 1982 - Double D Sales opens, a wholesale fresh produce outlet at Heyl Truck Lines. • Jan. 1983 - Jay Dirks joins his dad, John , at Dirks Hardware. • Oct. 17, 1983 O’Keefe Law Office opens, Robert O’Keefe, attorney. • Jan. 23, 1984 - Plueger’s Coop opens. Randy Plueger purchases Nielsen Coop Service from Roger Nielsen. • Arlene’s Gift Gallery opens, owner Arlene Klemme. • April 1984 - Work begins to combine Arvin Finzen Standard Oil and Wally’s Jack & Jill into new concept of marketing food and gasoline. The Amoco station was torn down and in Sept. of 1984 the remodeling was complete for the one stop convenience facility. • April 1984 - Center for Management Systems, operated by John and Marianne Siefer, relocates to former Akron Savings Bank building. They later relocate to the Professional Building. • Sept, 8, 1984 - T’s Catering owned by Thea Leekley opens.
• Oct. 1984 - R ‘n D Variety opens owned by Darlis and Roger Nielsen. Nov. 1984 - Barb Hemmingson purchases Ed’s Barber Shop and renames it to Barb’s Barber and Style Shop. • March 29-30,1985 Open house held for Carol’s Country Ceramics, a new business owned by Carol Kroksh. • April, 1985 - Centennial Toys and Gifts by Dave Morin holds grand opening for his new and larger location in the Opera House building. • April 12, 1985 - Akron Chiropractic opens, Dr. Tim Allard, owner. • June 1985 - Ron Wilmot and Brian Osterbuhr open I/Owest, a computer programming business in the historical granite building on Reed St. • July 1985 - CJ and Jeanne Hinrichsen sell GW Market to the Brteks of Norfolk, NE, and it is renamed Akron Supermarket with managers Dave and Patsy Jasa. • July 30, 1985 - Victorian restaurant opens owned by Dorothy Ruby and Hal Shoemaker of Hawarden. • August 1985 - Grand opening held at Lou’s, Inc. in Akron. Jim and Ann McLaughlin of Beresford purchased the business in May. • Aug. 6, 1985 - B&J’s Pizza ‘n Stuff opens, operated by Brenda and Jody Mitchell. • Aug. 1985 - Bob and Harriet Tucker sell Akron Lumber Co. to Brad and Marjorie Kraft and Tim
AUGUST 6 JULY 20 First National Bank robbed at 9:07 a.m.
Girls softball wins state championship in Class 2A and repeat in 2006 in Class 1A
and Valorie Philips. June 2, 1991, Tim and Val become sole owners. • Jan. 1986 - Akron Feed Bin, Inc. is purchased by Jerry Johnson of Akron along with three men from Alcester. Jerry is named the manager. • Oct. 1986 - Larry’s Fitness Center owned by Larry Tentinger opens in the former Westside Church of Christ building. • Oct. 19, 1987 - The Beauty Boutique is purchased by Linda Tillman of Akron from Valerie Appley. • Nov. 15, 1987 - Elvin and Charlotte Hopp sell E-Z Do Laundromat to Charles and Frances McMahon and Steve McMahon of Westfield. • March 1988 - Akron Clinic, owned by Dr. Joseph Torbert, was purchased by Floyd Valley Hospital of Le Mars. • May 1988 - Brown Insurance Services, owned by Wayne Brown and brother, Bill Brown, open a new office in Akron. In March of 1993 the business was sold to First National Insurance Agency. • Aug. 4, 1988 - Double D Spreader restaurant at 223 Reed St. opens, owned by Don and Deb Feauto. • Aug. 15, 1988 - Maynard’s Food Center opens, replaces Akron Supermarket, owners are Larry Larson of Hendricks, MN and Maynard Kramer of Elton, SD. Manager is Jim Bundy. • July 1989 - Siouxland Propane opens in Akron and
OCTOBER First spec house in Portlandville Heights put up by the Akron Development Corp, and Akron Housing Committee sells it to Holly and Shane Kutz. More specs are built and sold
is managed by Marlin Osterbuhr. • July 1990 - Pizza Ranch opens in Akron at 223 Reed St. replacing Double D Spreader. Owners are Bruce Koele of Akron and Darrell Westra of Hawarden. • Aug. 1, 1990 - The Battery Barn begins operation along Highway 12 south. Owners are Donald and Linda McCollam of Cherokee. They were also the first recipients of the Akron Gold Rush program and received $1,000 for locating in Akron. • Aug. 20, 1990 - Akron Children’s Center opens in the Wesley United Methodist Church education wing. In 2004 they move to their brand new facility located near the park. • Sept. 1990 - Cy Larsen retires from his Akron New York Life Insurance Agency, LaNay Welch of Westfield and Terry Meekma of Orange City take over operation of the agency. • Feb. 11, 1991 - J&S Plumbing & Heating opens owned by John and Sandy Koch. • April 7, 1991 - Akron Health Club opens by the golf course. It was built from a concept by Bob Klemme, Doug Manley, and Gary Horton. • April 1991 - Center for Management Systems, located in the Professional Building and owned by John and Marianne Siefer, was sold to Aspen Publishing, Inc. of Gaithersburg, MD. • July 1991 - Don and
past&
We have been proud to serve the Akron Area for 84 years and look forward to the future of our town.
present
www.dirksmotor.com (712) 568-2431
was built by Harold Higman on the lot. • July 1995 - Dr. Warren Thompson purchases Boyd Veterinary Clinic and changes name to Akron Veterinary Clinic. • Sept. 1995 - City employees settle into their new offices at 220 Reed St. (former Akron Savings Bank building). • Sept. 1995 - Old Depot turned into a dance studio by Tim and Val Philips. • Oct. 1995 - Former Victorian is purchased by Tracy Fritz and Troy Henry of Sioux City and turned into Birdie’s Feed Lot and Bar. Grand opening was held March 15-17, 1996. • Nov. 1995 - Heyl Truck Lines holds open house for their new office building which houses the executive offices, transportation, and accounting department for 25 employees. • March 1, 1996 - Bruce and Susan Odson and Mrs. Urban Odson of Sioux Falls purchase the Akron Register-Tribune from Good News, Inc. • April 1996 - Remodeling complete at Akron Pizza Ranch under manager Mike Houston. • April 23, 1996 - Farmers Coop purchases Akron Thermogas plant. Coop now offers liquid fertilizer and propane. • May 11, 1996 - Open house held at new Portlandville Guest House, Condominium, Hotel room, and apartment. Owners are David and Rosanne Moffatt of Aurora, CO.
2006 MAY 21 Highway 3 dedicated with Blue Star Marker to honor veterans
2005
celebrating
Deb Feauto, and Jim Feauto establish Feauto Real Estate & Auction Service. • Oct. 1, 1991 - Pronto, owned by Nancy and Ken Engle of Le Mars, is sold to Wayne and Joyce Sands of Moville. • Nov. 1, 1991- Dennis Henrich, DDS, opens full time dental office in Akron. • June 1992 - Attorney Darin Raymond opens Raymond Law Office in Akron. • Aug. 10, 1992 - Akron Floral Shop opens in historical granite building on Reed St. and is owned by Robin Smith. • Sept. 1992 - Holiday Crafts in Akron changes name to Lavender Blue owned by Mary Lou Klemme. • May 1993 - Mike’s Tankwagon expands to include Coop gas and products. The pumps are now available 24 hours with a Mike’s gas card. • Aug. 1993 - Construction begins on a new building being erected by Wilcox Electric. The building also houses Everett Williams’ dental practice. • Aug. 1993 - CJ & Jeanne Hinrichsen open Wildflower Log Cabin Bed & Breakfast. • Feb. 1994 - Don and Deb Feauto purchase the Car Wash and E-Z Do Laundromat. • May 1994 - First Baptist Church dedicates new facility at 300 Country Club Lane. The old facility was torn down and later a building with four apartments
FEBRUARY 7
MARCH 2
National Hockey League’s Stanley Cup makes once-ina-lifetime stop in Akron
Announcement made ethanol plant is coming to Akron by Little Sioux Processors of Marcus. Then March 21 announcement is made that a biodiesel plant will be coming to Akron
Five States Engineering Would like to
Congratulate Akron
on 125 years of success! We look forward to watching the community continue to grow and succeed.
Happy 125th Akron! Elliot Waddell, Westfield, IA
568-2162
Proudly serving the members of the Akron Community Congratulations as you celebrate your 125th Birthday!
Curt Harris 251 Reed St. • Akron, IA 51001