clearlakeiowa.com
2002
United Shows extended their stay.
sponsored by the Chamber.
Talent Search
2004
was christened
2005
Iowa Tourism Event of the Year
2006
of the Chamber
2008
2010
NIACC, which began as Mason City Junior College in 1918, has the distinction of being the very first
public two-year college in Iowa and one of the first such institutions in the country. The idea
formulated at a PTA meeting in 1916 and their first classes were held on the top floor of the high
school building with only 28 students.
In the mid 1950s, the College moved from the high school building to the Memorial University
Building on Roosevelt campus. It remained there for twelve years and grew in enrollment by
twenty percent.
NIACC moved to its new home in 1970 and construction began on adding new buildings. In 1972,
dormitories were built to house over 450 students, and by 1979 the Auditorium was completed.
Today, the 500-acre campus consists of multiple state of the art facilities, including the recent
addition of the new dormitories. They offer more than 50 programs that take one or two years to
complete, and many transferable classes to those looking to move on toward their Bachelor’s Degree.
On average, the College serves over 3,700 degree students each year and thousands more through
non-credit programs.
Originally Corner Drug, the pharmacy opened in 1934 on the corner of 4th & 3rd Street in Clear Lake
(which is now the Red Geranium). The store was started by pharmacist Guy Wiskerhoff and a school
teacher by the name of John Roseland. While in business, it became the ‘place to be’ for an after
school refresher of Cherry Cokes and Milkshakes.
In 1959, Jack Roseland bought out his father’s share of the company. A year later, in 1960, Bob Tanner
bought out Guy Wiskerhoff. Eventually, Gordan Rosenthal bought Jack’s half of the company and it
was owned and operated by him and Bob Tanner.
In 1970, the two men had the opportunity to purchase the old bank building on the corner of 4th &
Main. Being that the new location was on a corner, they were able to keep the same name, Corner
Drug, until 2004 when they sold the business to Thrifty White.
Thrifty White was founded in 1957 with the first store being in Brainerd, Minnesota. Today, they
have 95 locations throughout the Midwest. Their primary focus is pharmacy business along with
associated drug store operations.
In 2015, they moved into their current location on Hwy 18. Their commitment to community starts
with the local business owner.
2009
Legend has it that E.B. Stillman rode into Clear Lake on his Indian Motor Coach and just set up shop as a
one person attorney office. The new law firm was aptly named Stillman Law Firm. That was in 1913.
The firm that survives Mr. Stillman covers many areas of law practice. There is the general practice of law,
and the following specialty areas: estate planning, real estate, legal service plans, and family law.
Attorneys that are or have been part of the firm include: Don Goranson, retired, who joined the firm in
the 1940’s; Phil Stone became active with the firm in 1977; Tom Lovell, now General Manager of CL Tel,
joined the firm in the 1970’s; and finally Charlie Bieberscheimer, who joined the firm in the 1990’s.
If you add up all of the years of legal practice among the attorneys who have worked at Stillman Law
Firm, it would be over 180 years of experience. The office is located on Main Avenue in Clear Lake.
Here are several interesting pieces of important historical trivia related to Mr. Stillman. He served as the
School Board attorney for over 60 years. That is the key reason the high school auditorium has been
Club when it was founded in 1920. That particular club was the first club in the country granted a charter
to a community with under 10,000 residents.
We want to thank Stillman Law Firm for being a long and loyal Chamber member over the years.