A few days past, I encountered two people I did not know as I went outside to retrieve that all-important mail (which, as usual, was hardly worth the effort). They introduced themselves and handed me a local candidate’s “door hanger” for the upcoming election. This began a normal (for me) 30-minute conversation concerning almost every subject imaginable, short of the one dealing with politics.

Again, I was directed toward one of the residents of Our Neighborhood that I didn’t already know. This is of little surprise to me; I’ve written some 50 articles and covered nearly 100 or so of the residents … out of nearly 15,000 that reside there. Scott and April Ely are a delight and we spent many minutes discussing Scott’s appreciation of his grandpa’s participation in our nation’s military.

Alfred Huisinga was born on January 7, 1923, in nearby Kamrar to his parents Jacob and Tillie. He graduated from Blairsburg High School and was attending the University of Utah when he was drafted by the U S Army. From April of 1943, Huisinga served well and received two Bronze Stars prior to his discharge in 1946, following the war.

He returned to Iowa and, in October of 1951, wed Alice Smedley in the Church of Christ in Clarion. The couple lived on a farm outside of Kamrar before moving to Webster City in 1954.

Al was interested in, and good at, construction; he became partners in a company along with a brother, Henry, and John Peterson of Webster City.

In 1957, Al and John bought out Henry’s share of the business. Huisinga and Peterson Construction continued to grow and soon became, so I’m told, the largest builder of homes in Webster City by the early 1960s. There are numerous ads in the local papers (I show a few here) about their products. The company was known for innovative building techniques; not exactly “prefab” styles, but they did assemble parts of house frames in their facility before assembling them onsite, saving on costs and being able to offer better prices to customers.

An article in the February 14, 1997 The Daily Freeman Journal states: “During those same years the business began putting its mark on Webster City community. The construction of Crestview Nursing Home became its first bonded commercial project in 1963. It took on another high-profile commercial project in 1969 with the construction of the new city hall in Webster City.”

An article from March 16, 1979, announced the buyout of Al’s interest in the business by his partner. It’s reprinted alongside this article; they had been partners for some 22 years and had left a mark on Webster City home, retail and commercial construction that was unmatched to that point.

Al and Alice enjoyed their retired life together, especially the grandchildren, spending time on the road in their motorhome as well as time on the farm. Al particularly enjoyed his woodworking and carpentry projects.

Al was a longtime member of American Legion Post 191. Alice passed in 2007 and Al joined her in Our Neighborhood in May of 2017.

Our Neighborhood is a column by Michael Eckers focusing on the men and women whose presence populates Graceland Cemetery in Webster City.

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