Bio: Bergemann, Harland M. (Retires - 1978)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
 
Surnames: Bergemann, Landry, Raab, Adler

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 2/02/1978

Bergemann, Harland M. (Retires – 28 January 1978)

The quiet little retirement party has some “shock” to Harland M. Bergemann at St. Mary’s auditorium in Greenwood last Saturday evening. His children who had excuses that they couldn’t come planned with their spouses to make it a family affair. Even a representative of Dairyland Power Cooperative was on hand to present a 40 year service award.

It was just 40 years ago, on January 28, 1938 to be exact, that Bergemann became the first bookkeeper for the Clark Electric Cooperative. The Willard Electric Cooperative and the Big-4 Electric Cooperative, Spencer, had forfeited their charters to join and strengthen Clark Electric. It was in the office of County Agent Wallace Landry where the bookkeeping began. That March, the first patron at Thorp received service from Eagle Point, which became part of Dairyland in 1941.

“We had the largest loan through the Rural Electrification Act (REA) and 702 miles of lines with too few meters. We were known as a ‘white elephant’ among the electric cooperatives,” Bergemann recalls. He went on to explain that not everyone understood the monthly billing and would pull the plug when the minimum was reached. At that time, electricity was used for lighting. Farmers didn’t have the equipment then.

“It wasn’t until World War II, with the shortage of food, that the value of electricity was realized, and electricity was used for power and production.” Bergemann added, “Then we continued to grow faster. Our first fleet was a total of two three-quarter ton trucks housed in the garages behind the old bank building in Greenwood which had become our office.” The cooperative now has approximately 7,000 meters on 1,590 miles of lines, according to the last annual report.

“Although it was begun for the benefit of the rural population, the city of Greenwood recognized the value of the growing cooperative and donated the land where the present office is now located. In time, we purchased more land to expand,” Bergemann explained.

Bergemann grew up in the Granton area and continued his education at the Milwaukee Business School. He worked in the banking field before becoming the co-op’s bookkeeper. “It was August 1, 1964, when I became the general manager.” Bergeman added, “I waited to the end of this month to retire to complete the 40 years.”

Through the years, he worked for the expansion of the cooperative and saw state and national organizations organized. He will be attending the national convention in the near future as part of the last stamp on his retirement.

It was in 1942, that he married the former Evelyn Raab of Loyal. They have five children and thirteen grandchildren, who make a big event of coming home for Father’s Day when a little “camping” adds to the excitement. As he looks back over the years, he said, “Once I had been enticed to leave for another cooperative, but I am glad I changed my mind and stayed. Greenwood is our home, and we will stay here.

Saturday evening, Bergemann’s love of golfing was brightened for retirement when the cooperative presented him with an electric golf cart. Then the employees came up with a two-year membership in the Neillsville Country Club. To keep those memories, the board of directors presented him with a camera.

Richard Adler, who has been with the cooperative for 17 years is stepping up from assistant manager to general manager to replace Bergemann.