Over the Years

60 YEARS AGO
July 16, 1948 — Over 4,000 Traill County residents voted in the June primary.
Electric use was up in Hillsboro. City auditor R.W. Johnston reported that Northern States Power Co. billed the city for 105,000 kwh in the month of June. A large number of water heaters had been installed in the city in recent months after the city implemented a new rate for the service. The heaters were rigged with clocks that cut power for five hours a day when the electric load was at its peak. 
50 YEARS AGO
July 17, 1958 — More than 600 people jammed the Traill Theatre in Hillsboro for the first of weekly free movie sponsored by local merchants. The Wednesday night pass was to be in effect until October.
Items in the local news accounts included brief stories about a wedding, a farewell party, a golden anniversary celebration, shopping trips and a unfortunate accident that injured a woman’s hand in a power mower while she was mowing the grass at a church cemetery.
40 YEARS AGO
July 18, 1968 — Extensive street work began in Hillsboro. New curb and gutter was being placed for new streets. Some streets were being cut down two to three feet in order to provide drainage to storm sewers, which were installed two years ago.
Earl Halverson won the Goose River men’s golf championship at the Hillsboro course. His score was 119 over 27 holes.
Hillsboro Equipment advertised used car specials — a 1966 Volkswagen for $1,250; a 1964 Chevy Malibu for $895 and a 1964 Chevy Impala for $1,295.
30 YEARS AGO
July 20, 1978 — Three Irish children were spending their summer with the Loren and Jane Grage family of Grandin, far away from strife-ridden Northern Ireland. Twenty-eight children came to North Dakota as part of the Sarah Hughes Holiday for Irish Children program started in 1973 when Sarah’s mother wrote 200 U.S. newspapers looking for a summer “sanctuary” for her son and other children.
Hillsboro staged the Goose River Festival to dedicate the city’s new sidewalks, mini park and senior citizens center. Other activities included a parade, arts and crafts show, puppet show, beef barbecue, community band concert and street dance.
20 YEARS AGO
July 18, 1988 — HHS music and drama teacher Brad Sherwood resigned from his teaching position in order to return to UND as a graduate student. Vo-ag teacher Greg Tufte requested a year’s sabbatical but was denied by the school board when he could not guarantee he would return to HHS after completing graduate studies. Grade school teacher Jan Leidholm was granted a request to teach 2nd grade part-time. The district agreed to advertise for another half-time teacher.
10 YEARS AGO
July 18, 1998 — Brenda Muller was hired as the Hillsboro Elementary school secretary. She replaced Sandy Kerr, who retired.
The Hillsboro Fire Department sponsored a weekend demolition derby.
— compiled by Michelle McLean