Glenfield Community Development Corp.

The Glenfield Community Development Corporation was organized June 25, 1975. Incorporated July 1975.

Organized to promote business activity in Glenfield.

First board of directors included: Kenneth Walen, chairman; Darold Anderson, vice chairman; directors Milton Walen, Orlando Tenneson and LeRoy Johnson. Noel Drummond served as secretary-treasurer.

One hundred seventy-four shares of common stock were sold to gain financing of future businesses.

The major project was to assist Jerald and Elton Tufte to start a manufacturing business in Glenfield. Land was purchased from Donald and Joyce Hinrichs at the intersection of Highways 200 and 20.

Financing and a small business association loan were obtained by the Tufte brothers with the assistance of the corporation.

E & J Manufacturing was in operation in April 1976. The name of this business was changed to Tough-T Manufacturing after Elton Tufte left Glenfield for other employment.

The corporation also assisted Mearl and Gail Nelson to purchase the Glenfield Grocery. The corporation assisted in the offering of notes on behalf of the grocery, which assisted the Nelsons in stocking a very fine grocery store.

The city of Glenfield annexed the development property to the city and provided water and sewer to entire property.

Present members of the board of directors are Jon Johnson, chairman; Roger Edland, vice chairman; and directors Maurice Brandvold, Myron Gader and Leander Walen.

Patty Hegvik serves as secretary-treasurer.

Glenfield Housing Authority

The Glenfield Housing Authority was organized on February 10, 1976. Sponsoring the organization was the Glenfield City Council. Object was to acquire financing for much needed housing in the city of Glenfield.

A seven-member board of directors included: Harland Erickson, chairman; Gene Grinager, vice chairman; and directors Ted Johnson, Leonard Talle, Maurice Brandvold, Robert Balvitsch, and Kenneth Walen, secretary-treasurer. John Halvorson served as city auditor.

At the annual meeting of February 22, 1977, Kenneth Walen was elected chairman and Maurice Brandvold, vice chairman. John Halvorson continued as secretary-treasurer.

Land was purchased and two apartments were built with four apartments in each unit. Financing was obtained through an FHA loan.

This was a very good adventure as the occupancy has been close to 100 percent since buildings were completed.

Present board of directors consist of Barton Johnson, Jerald Tufte, Roger Kolpin, Robert Balvitsch, and Betty Johnson.

Snirt Storm

January 9, 1975 - Blizzard left hundreds of cattle dead in the area during a snirt storm January 9-12. High winds with snow mixed with dirt was the cause of the problem.

Glenfield City Park

Glenfield is still showing continued civic improvement in this Bicentennial year of 1976. A city park, planted in the early '20s, by John Overbeck and August Johnson and A. I. Sharpe, has lately been newly equipped and is in frequent use today by local residents and by out-of-state travelers. A new city water and sewer system was implemented in 1975, and a new apartment house construction was recently begun.

Glenfield going great guns.

March 10, 1976 - As if infected with a fever of promise, the community of Glenfield has recently initiated several major improvements and continues planning for future expansion and industrial development.

Spurring much of the community enthusiasm is the Community Development Corporation, formed one year ago. This group, with help from federal financiers, is promoting the development of industry and housing in Glenfield.

Its first project, the E & J Repair Shop, is expected to open April 1, according to Kenneth Walen, director of the corporation.

The building for the shop, located on the northeast side of town, is already completed with only interiors yet to be installed. In its operations the shop will do diesel repair and manufacture drags.

The corporation financed the building project with money from the Small Business Administration. It owns the land and building and will lease it to its operators, Jerold and Elton Tufte of McHenry.

The corporation is also promoting the development of a sunflower-processing plant in Glenfield. Three avenues of financing are being considered for the project, the Farmers Home Administration, SBA and county industrial revenue bonds.

The Foster County Commissioners have been approached about the industrial revenue bonds, but so far the corporation has received no favorable response. Bonds such as these would allow both the buyer and the industry a tax-break, according to North Dakota law.

New apartment housing, financed by the FHA, is expected to be completed by this fall, says Walen. Eight to 12 apartments are planned with rents averaging $140 a piece.

This is "moderate housing", notes Walen, meaning no rent subsidies for the occupants. Location of the housing will be a city block on Main Street.

Walen is board chairman of the corporation. Other board members are Darold Anderson, vice chairman; Milton Walen, Herman Johnson and Theodore Johnson.

Even before the Community Development Corporation, Glenfield made strides to insure in its future. Over the past five years, the community has installed both a water plant and sewage disposal, financed by special assessments on property owners.

Because of such improvements, the Glenfield Park may soon have flush toilet facilities, says Mrs. Theodore Johnson of Glenfield.

Her Homemaker's club, the Scissors and Pans, sponsored the latest additions to the park. With money earned from a variety show, the club was able to provide the park with new playground equipment, including baby swings, a bench, monkey bars and a barbeque grill. Besides toilet facilities, hopeful new additions to the park will be shelters and new picnic tables. Water and electrical hookups for campers are already among the park facilities.

Within the private business sector of Glenfield, at least one young man is confident in the future prosperity of Glenfield. Wayne Walen, a lifetime Glenfield resident, quit his work with Melroe Manufacturing Company at Cooperstown to buy a grocery store on Main Street, now called Wayne's Market.

With this purchase last January, Wayne Walen intends to build an addition on the market to house Laundromat and beauty parlor. These advancements are expected to be finished by June 1, he says.

But Wayne's Market already boasts one of the greatest attractions for business. Coffee and delicious homemade cookies are "on the house" as Wayne says.

Source:  Glenfield History 1886 €“ 1987 Page 100