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Hartington's story is bound in a new book
HARTINGTON — Hartington’s past has been given new life, thanks to a passionate group of local residents who spent more than three years piecing together the community’s story from its frontier beginnings to the vibrant city it is today.
The result is a richly detailed new history book that traces Hartington’s 140 years of growth — from the arrival of the railroad to its deep agricultural roots and the people who helped the town thrive.
What began as a simple plan to update the city’s centennial history book evolved into a sweeping project that highlights not only the community’s past but also its present.
The book features the stories of longtime businesses, civic organizations, and volunteers who helped shape Hartington into what it is today.
The final portion of the book is dedicated to several historic homes.
Committee member Lisa Becker was able to reach out to many current and former residents who shared personal photos and family memories.
The group gathered stories, photographs, and records from across the region — and from residents near and far — to capture Hartington’s evolution since the 1880s.
Committee member Leah Wiedenfeld credited the Cedar County News for its major role in editing, formatting, and producing the finished book.
“We were so fortunate to work with Rob and Peggy, who helped bring this project over the finish line,” Wiedenfeld said. “Their expertise gave us the polished final product we were looking for.”
The Cedar County News digital archives, available through the Hartington Public Library, served as a key research tool. Library Director Tami Anderson guided volunteers through countless searches, while Julie Meirose spent hours transforming historic newspaper articles into text for the book.
Preserving the town’s visual history was equally important.
Many photographs came from the Cedar County Historical Society’s glass-negative collection. Committee member Jenny Sage digitized dozens of these historic images to preserve them for future generations, while Brooke Kleinschmit provided updated photographs for the book.
The project also benefited from the insights of local historians Andy Anderson, Laurie Kathol and Elaine Arens, who shared personal stories and memories to fill in historical gaps.
The authors hope the new book will serve as both a reference and a keepsake for residents, historians and anyone interested in Hartington’s heritage. Many of the surnames found in the early pages of Hartington’s story, they noted, are still prominent in the community’s businesses and civic organizations today.
Copies of the book are available for purchase at the Cedar County Museum, the Bank of Hartington, the Hartington Public Library, Floral Designs, and through the museum’s website.
“We are so thankful for everyone who took the time to share their story with us,” Wiedenfeld said. “At times, this project felt like a big puzzle, and we were lucky to have so many helpful hands to put it all together.”
