This 1942 Chevy, left, was the first truck owned by Roy Soll; he purchased it in 1946. Les Soll, right, hauled livestock during the mid-1950s.

Mayburn Ramsey started a trucking business in Aspinwall in 1934, but after several months, moved to Manning where the firm is being continued today by his widow and son Jim Ramsey.

Holland Phillips operated a straight truck in the early 1940s, hauling grain to and from the Aspinwall elevator. His wife Mildred, meanwhile, hauled hogs to the stockyards with a pickup. Holland bought a new Dodge truck in 1942; this was during World War II and equipment was so scarce that nearly everyone in and around town was asked to sign a petition asking that Holland be allowed to purchase the vehicle.

Roy Soll operated a trucking business during the 1940s and early 1950s; Roy's brother Les was also in the business, first hauling livestock, then running a roller mill which could be hauled from farm to farm to crack corn, and later operating a gravel truck. Roy Soll sold his truck to Robert Schilling in 1952, who ran it until becoming manager of the Aspinwall Co-op in 1956. Don Meggers then bought the truck and continued running it for several years.

Ed Hinners started in the trucking business with one truck in 1950, and when he bought a second truck with a 20 foot livestock box, he had the longest straight truck in this area. Ed sold his trucks to Milton Sinow in 1956, who operated the livestock and grain hauling business for 20 years. After Milton sold the trucks to Wade Mohr of Manning in 1976, Wade's son Steve operated the business out of Aspinwall for several years. Meanwhile, Milton purchased a gravel truck from Chris Schmidt, and later bought a new gravel truck which he ran until November, 1980. Milton then bought the Aspinwall Tap and sold the gravel truck to Wayne Schroeder of Manning.

Reuben Stoberl had been driving trucks for about three years when he moved to a farm near Aspinwall in 1948. He has owned a

straight truck nearly all the years he has farmed, and during the late 1940s and early 1950s he bought "killer" horses for mink farmers such as Felix "Dotty" Greteman, Templeton, Jack Uckelman, Carroll, and shipped many to Estherville. Richard Stoberl, his son, helped drive trucks since he could see around the steering wheel, and as of October, 1981, has headquartered his part of the livestock and truck operation from a home in Aspinwall.

CORN SHELLING/GRINDING
Corn shelling was a necessity for area farmers since they began planting corn, and several area farmers such as Alfred Ehrichs and his son John had custom corn shelling operations and went from farm to farm with equipment operated by horses.

With the advent of motorized equipment, moving the corn sheller became easier, the territory became larger, and the number of corn shelters grew fewer. Eddie Hensen had one of the first corn shelters in Aspinwall, operating it during the early 1940s. He stored it in the former blacksmith shop and had to add bigger doors to be able to drive the sheller in; the shop today is Alfred Schroeder's garage. Hensen later left for California, but returned to Aspinwall in the 1950s, operating a portable feed grinder for awhile and then managing the garage.

Louie Ehrichs converted his livestock truck into a corn sheller in the late 1940s, and he continued the business until his retirement in 1961. The sheller was purchased by Melvin Sinow, who operated it until his death in 1970. Melvin's brother Milton operated the sheller for several months before selling it and concentrating on his trucking business.

Dewey Schilling left the service in 1960, drove trucks for about a year, and then bought a corn sheller. He ran the sheller until 1967; his brother Roy Schilling operated it in later years, discontinuing the business in 1980.

Today, many farmers combine their corn, shelling it as they pick it and the need for separate corn shelters is starting to vanish.

Roy Soll while operating the trucking business, also had a feed grinder which was operated by Roy Schilling. When Soll sold his trucks to Robert Schilling, Alvin Schilling bought the portable grinder, which he operated for about four years. Alvin sold the grinder to Eddie Hensen, who later sold it to Alvin Jansen. The business grew so much that Jansen added a second grinder and hired Joel Grundmeier to operate it. The business was discontinued in 1961 when Jansen was named patrol operator for the county.

Grinding services are now provided by the Aspinwall Co-op.

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Pictured above is Aspinwall's newest building, Doug's Body and Paint Shop. Below, Doug is shown working on a car.

DOUG'S BODY AND PAINT SHOP
Doug Mohr, a native of Manning, became interested in car repair and body work, while a high school student at Manning. After high school graduation he attended W.I.T. at Sioux City where he completed a course in auto body repair. After graduation from W.I.T., he moved to Des Moines where he worked at the Ken Shibley Shop. In the fall of 1977, he decided to open a shop of his own in the Manning-Manilla area. He chose Aspinwall, as a building was available there. After two months of remodeling and installing equipment, he opened for business January 2, 1978. His shop is a two stall body shop, plus one paint room.

Doug's building was formerly the Milton Sinow truck shed. The building and location adapted very well to the use of a body shop, and Doug has continued to add more tools and equipment as an improvement to his business. His latest addition is a frame machine so he no longer has to "job out" his frame work. He has also attended various meetings and short courses on updated techniques. He has had two employees at various times, but is working alone at present.

In the spring of 1981, Doug placed a mobile home near his shop, and now resides here, too.

ODDS AND ENDS
Wiese and Thomsen have a very fine flock of Partridge Wyandotte chickens. This variety is very scarce, and can't be beat. If interested, ask to see them.
Aspinwall News, August 4, 1904

ODDS AND ENDS
Hayes Township: John Costello is building a nice hen house, we think the only one in Hayes Township with a shingle roof.
The Denison Bulletin, November 8, 1884

ODDS AND ENDS
I remember the dance hall, pool hall and barber shop all in one large building located where the grain bins now stand. My Grandpa, Henry Schade, worked at the pool hall then and later lived with us until his death in 1939.
After a fire destroyed the large building, the new pool hall was built to the southwest. It is now called the Aspinwall Tap and is run by my cousin Betty and her husband, Milton Sinow.
I also remember the barber shop in a corner of the pool hall where, as a child, I got my hair cut.
Ellen (Schade) Trout

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Kelly Musfeldt's Rendering Service has served area farmers for the last 28 years.

MUSFELDT RENDERING SERVICE
"Hey, Mr. Farmer! Do you have a dead animal? Well, call Kelly!"

And many farmers in the area have done just that since 1954. The Musfeldt Rendering Service started when the Carroll Rendering Company wanted to start a route in this area. Carl (Kelly) Musfeldt, having just had back surgery in September and unable to do heavy labor, seemed to be a pretty good candidate. So, with a used truck, no experience in this line, competition all around, not much money, and a wife and five kids to support, Kelly set out on his new venture.

It seemed at first to be a vicious and unending circle. To make money you had to have business! To have business you had to advertise! To advertise you had to have money! The problems were real! Kelly never knew from one week to the next how much money was coming in because he was paid for the pounds of "dead" brought to the rendering plant. There were some good weeks and some bad weeks. After about 15 years of "hanging in there," Kelly was in for keeps! He has served, in some instances, three generations of farmers. Kelly's famous line, when someone asks him "How's business?" is always, "Dead!"

Keith (Beaver), the Musfeldt's only son, is also in the rendering business and has his own service in Audubon and the surrounding area.

ODDS AND ENDS
It is rumored that a bank will be opened in Aspinwall about the first of September. It is very much needed.
Manning Monitor, August 19, 1886

SOLL'S SERVICE
Roy Soll began his own business known as Soll's Service in December of 1969. His shop was located in the basement of Sal's Garage, which was entered from the alley on the west side of the building. As his business grew, he needed more room, so he purchased the Charles Schroeder property from Margaret Kuchel. He put up a new building on this location in 1974. Soll's Service is a plumbing, heating and electrical business.

In 1979, Roy added a car wash to his business. This made it convenient for the people of Aspinwall and surrounding farmers who had to go to Manning to wash their cars and machinery. His car wash is built on the north side of his new building.

At the present time, Roy has two part-time employees, Audrey Phillips and Arlo Clausen.

Soll's Service and the adjoining car wash have added much to the town of Aspinwall.

ODDS AND ENDS
The longest drought that ever occurred in America was in the summer of 1752. No rain fell from the first of May to the 15th of September.
Manning Monitor, July 29, 1886

ODDS AND ENDS
I can remember putting balls of vanilla ice cream on a stick and dipping them in chocolate syrup for Fred Boyens in his tavern. Pay was all we kids could eat in lollipops.
Ruth (Brady) Hiatt

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Business Scenes

1) Aspinwall's Main Street is shown in 1912 or 1913; the lone car is parked in front of where the Ehrichs' Garage was built in 1915, with hitching posts lining the other side of the street in front of the Opera House.
2) Richard Schacht walks past wagon wheels and other merchandise sold at the general store.
3) Eddy Dahleen worked for the Aspinwall Co-op in the 1950s.
4) Attending an open house at the Ehrichs' Garage in about 1950 were, from left, Richard Swanson, unidentified, Marie Schroeder, and Emma Ehrichs.
5) The brick store built in 1916 included the post office, entered from the lower door, and poultry store - cream station, entered from the door to the south.