From the Des Moines Register, 1960:
IN ACKLEY GENERAL STORE
70-Year Career On Main Street
By Herb Owens
Ackley, IA - Seventy years ago Frank George Goettel started his main street career here by sprouting potatoes and turning the hand crank on a coffee roaster at the Esser and Goettel general store.
Goettel, who was 80 on July 27, worked before and after school, on Saturdays, and full time in the summers, even staying out of high school two years to help his father when the Esser interests were purchased.
"There was an Esser boy about my age," Goettel recalled. "My parents nagged me with the fact that young Esser was working full time, on salary, as the delivery boy while I had the privilege of going to school. The idea was: Don't let this schooling be a waste of time." "When Dad bought out Esser, going deeply in debt, I agreed to quit school and help him - only if I could return to school later," Goettel said.
"After two years I did return - and was graduated from high school in 1903."
Ackley High Track Star
What Goettel's scholastic work amounted to probably is a matter of record somewhere. But his athletic record is pointed to with pride even today. In the Hardin County High School Athletic Association track meet of 1903, Ackley High won with 37 points - and Goettel, who did the sprints, hurdles, hammer throw and broad jump, garnered 32 of those points. He still carried in this wallet the first individual gold medal awarded to him. And Goettel played high school football against Ellsworth College in the days when a single play ended only when the ball carrier himself yelled "down".
Looking back over his seven decades on Main street, Goettel recalls the kerosene lights, the wooden boardwalks and crosswalks. He remembers the curiosity of Ackley residents when he hung out the first bunch of bananas to reach town. "Some customers bought a single banana just to taste one - and many of them did not like the taste," Goettel said. He remembers the same curiosity when he displayed the first grapefruit in town - and the same reactions.
Wife Manages Millinery Unit
Goettel married Nelle B. Tool, who was born across the street from the Goettel home. She had become a milliner and worked in several millinery departments before opening one in the Goettel store. Mrs. Goettel now has been managing the millinery and dry goods departments of the store for more than ?? years. The Goettels - pronounced "Gettle" - have one daughter, Mrs. Temple of Sheldon, and one grandchild. Goettel continues to work full days in the store. He has served the Ackley city council, the Chamber of Commerce, and has been secretary-treasurer of the Ackley Presbyterian Church, where he also served as Sunday school superintendent. "The grocery business certainly has changed," said Goettel, looking back to days of butter brought to the store in stone jars, roosters purchased at
10 cents each, carload shipments of barreled apples and potatoes, and kerosene barrels with spigots.
There was no refrigeration, no paper bag supply, no packaged goods," he said. "I'm very happy to accept things as they are today."
IN ACKLEY GENERAL STORE
70-Year Career On Main Street
By Herb Owens
Ackley, IA - Seventy years ago Frank George Goettel started his main street career here by sprouting potatoes and turning the hand crank on a coffee roaster at the Esser and Goettel general store.
Goettel, who was 80 on July 27, worked before and after school, on Saturdays, and full time in the summers, even staying out of high school two years to help his father when the Esser interests were purchased.
"There was an Esser boy about my age," Goettel recalled. "My parents nagged me with the fact that young Esser was working full time, on salary, as the delivery boy while I had the privilege of going to school. The idea was: Don't let this schooling be a waste of time." "When Dad bought out Esser, going deeply in debt, I agreed to quit school and help him - only if I could return to school later," Goettel said.
"After two years I did return - and was graduated from high school in 1903."
Ackley High Track Star
What Goettel's scholastic work amounted to probably is a matter of record somewhere. But his athletic record is pointed to with pride even today. In the Hardin County High School Athletic Association track meet of 1903, Ackley High won with 37 points - and Goettel, who did the sprints, hurdles, hammer throw and broad jump, garnered 32 of those points. He still carried in this wallet the first individual gold medal awarded to him. And Goettel played high school football against Ellsworth College in the days when a single play ended only when the ball carrier himself yelled "down".
Looking back over his seven decades on Main street, Goettel recalls the kerosene lights, the wooden boardwalks and crosswalks. He remembers the curiosity of Ackley residents when he hung out the first bunch of bananas to reach town. "Some customers bought a single banana just to taste one - and many of them did not like the taste," Goettel said. He remembers the same curiosity when he displayed the first grapefruit in town - and the same reactions.
Wife Manages Millinery Unit
Goettel married Nelle B. Tool, who was born across the street from the Goettel home. She had become a milliner and worked in several millinery departments before opening one in the Goettel store. Mrs. Goettel now has been managing the millinery and dry goods departments of the store for more than ?? years. The Goettels - pronounced "Gettle" - have one daughter, Mrs. Temple of Sheldon, and one grandchild. Goettel continues to work full days in the store. He has served the Ackley city council, the Chamber of Commerce, and has been secretary-treasurer of the Ackley Presbyterian Church, where he also served as Sunday school superintendent. "The grocery business certainly has changed," said Goettel, looking back to days of butter brought to the store in stone jars, roosters purchased at
10 cents each, carload shipments of barreled apples and potatoes, and kerosene barrels with spigots.
There was no refrigeration, no paper bag supply, no packaged goods," he said. "I'm very happy to accept things as they are today."
From the Des Moines Register, 1960:
IN ACKLEY GENERAL STORE
70-Year Career On Main Street
By Herb Owens
Ackley, IA - Seventy years ago Frank George Goettel started his main street career here by sprouting potatoes and turning the hand crank on a coffee roaster at the Esser and Goettel general store.
Goettel, who was 80 on July 27, worked before and after school, on Saturdays, and full time in the summers, even staying out of high school two years to help his father when the Esser interests were purchased.
"There was an Esser boy about my age," Goettel recalled. "My parents nagged me with the fact that young Esser was working full time, on salary, as the delivery boy while I had the privilege of going to school. The idea was: Don't let this schooling be a waste of time." "When Dad bought out Esser, going deeply in debt, I agreed to quit school and help him - only if I could return to school later," Goettel said.
"After two years I did return - and was graduated from high school in 1903."
Ackley High Track Star
What Goettel's scholastic work amounted to probably is a matter of record somewhere. But his athletic record is pointed to with pride even today. In the Hardin County High School Athletic Association track meet of 1903, Ackley High won with 37 points - and Goettel, who did the sprints, hurdles, hammer throw and broad jump, garnered 32 of those points. He still carried in this wallet the first individual gold medal awarded to him. And Goettel played high school football against Ellsworth College in the days when a single play ended only when the ball carrier himself yelled "down".
Looking back over his seven decades on Main street, Goettel recalls the kerosene lights, the wooden boardwalks and crosswalks. He remembers the curiosity of Ackley residents when he hung out the first bunch of bananas to reach town. "Some customers bought a single banana just to taste one - and many of them did not like the taste," Goettel said. He remembers the same curiosity when he displayed the first grapefruit in town - and the same reactions.
Wife Manages Millinery Unit
Goettel married Nelle B. Tool, who was born across the street from the Goettel home. She had become a milliner and worked in several millinery departments before opening one in the Goettel store. Mrs. Goettel now has been managing the millinery and dry goods departments of the store for more than ?? years. The Goettels - pronounced "Gettle" - have one daughter, Mrs. Temple of Sheldon, and one grandchild. Goettel continues to work full days in the store. He has served the Ackley city council, the Chamber of Commerce, and has been secretary-treasurer of the Ackley Presbyterian Church, where he also served as Sunday school superintendent. "The grocery business certainly has changed," said Goettel, looking back to days of butter brought to the store in stone jars, roosters purchased at
10 cents each, carload shipments of barreled apples and potatoes, and kerosene barrels with spigots.
There was no refrigeration, no paper bag supply, no packaged goods," he said. "I'm very happy to accept things as they are today."
IN ACKLEY GENERAL STORE
70-Year Career On Main Street
By Herb Owens
Ackley, IA - Seventy years ago Frank George Goettel started his main street career here by sprouting potatoes and turning the hand crank on a coffee roaster at the Esser and Goettel general store.
Goettel, who was 80 on July 27, worked before and after school, on Saturdays, and full time in the summers, even staying out of high school two years to help his father when the Esser interests were purchased.
"There was an Esser boy about my age," Goettel recalled. "My parents nagged me with the fact that young Esser was working full time, on salary, as the delivery boy while I had the privilege of going to school. The idea was: Don't let this schooling be a waste of time." "When Dad bought out Esser, going deeply in debt, I agreed to quit school and help him - only if I could return to school later," Goettel said.
"After two years I did return - and was graduated from high school in 1903."
Ackley High Track Star
What Goettel's scholastic work amounted to probably is a matter of record somewhere. But his athletic record is pointed to with pride even today. In the Hardin County High School Athletic Association track meet of 1903, Ackley High won with 37 points - and Goettel, who did the sprints, hurdles, hammer throw and broad jump, garnered 32 of those points. He still carried in this wallet the first individual gold medal awarded to him. And Goettel played high school football against Ellsworth College in the days when a single play ended only when the ball carrier himself yelled "down".
Looking back over his seven decades on Main street, Goettel recalls the kerosene lights, the wooden boardwalks and crosswalks. He remembers the curiosity of Ackley residents when he hung out the first bunch of bananas to reach town. "Some customers bought a single banana just to taste one - and many of them did not like the taste," Goettel said. He remembers the same curiosity when he displayed the first grapefruit in town - and the same reactions.
Wife Manages Millinery Unit
Goettel married Nelle B. Tool, who was born across the street from the Goettel home. She had become a milliner and worked in several millinery departments before opening one in the Goettel store. Mrs. Goettel now has been managing the millinery and dry goods departments of the store for more than ?? years. The Goettels - pronounced "Gettle" - have one daughter, Mrs. Temple of Sheldon, and one grandchild. Goettel continues to work full days in the store. He has served the Ackley city council, the Chamber of Commerce, and has been secretary-treasurer of the Ackley Presbyterian Church, where he also served as Sunday school superintendent. "The grocery business certainly has changed," said Goettel, looking back to days of butter brought to the store in stone jars, roosters purchased at
10 cents each, carload shipments of barreled apples and potatoes, and kerosene barrels with spigots.
There was no refrigeration, no paper bag supply, no packaged goods," he said. "I'm very happy to accept things as they are today."
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