In May 1956 the building now occupied by Schlapia, Inc., was purchased from Dalbey Lumber Co.  by Hugh Schlapia.  The feed, seed, and fuel business established was called Hugh Schlapia and Sons.  The firm incorporated in 1965 and then became known as Schlapia, Inc.

Hugh and his oldest son, Jerry, were the main organizers and principles.  The second oldest son, Alvin, after completing college and spending ten years in Omaha, Nebraska, returned to work with them in 1970.  The third son, Ron, joined the business in 1972, after three years of college and three years of military service.  Robert, the youngest of the four, started to work full-time after graduating from high school in 1972.  Mark, Jerry’s son, joined the firm in 1978, after completing two years of college.  Alvin, Ron, Robert, and Mark all had worked part-time during their school years.  Wives were, and are an important part of the business.  Vivian (Hugh), Vonnie and Rosemary (Jerry), Mary Ann (Alvin), Toni, (Ron), Cindy (Robert), and Ruthie (Mark) have all “pitched in” when needed.  Hugh was a victim of a massive coronary in 1976, and Jerry succumbed to complications of lifetime diabetes in 1978.  The firm practices the standards and remembers proudly the achievements of Hugh and Jerry.

            Much of the first year was spent revising the purchased building to accommodate various services and inventory.  Included were a feed warehouse, stationary hammer mill and mixer, and some grain storage.  The first brand line of feed sold was Rath Feed.  The firm also began to sell Sargents, which was later purchased by Supersweet.  Supersweet became the mainstay and was sold for approximately 20 years.  In 1972, Tru Pro, a private line, was manufactured for resale.  The firm changed to Wayne Feed in 1981.  Supersweet again became the main line in 1986.

Many people hauled grain to town, put it through the hammer mill and mixer, and hauled it back home just so they could scoop it off into a feeder.  As livestock feeding increased in the area, it was simplified by the purchase of a used mobile mill in 1962.  A new replacement mill was purchased in 1965.  Many people can remember the long hours, mud, and other experiences with the mills.  In 1972, a permanent feed mill was erected at the store.  To increase grain storage at the mill, a 15,000-bushel steel bin was built the same year.

            The firm’s first addition to its grain facilities were three 6,000-bushel bins just to the north of the store in 1959.  Seeing a need for more storage and a corn-drying system, the firm purchased the two flat buildings and scales by the railroad from Howard and Eugene Pine in 1967.  A Chicago Eastern dryer and its support system were installed on this site.  As farm technology increased, and the need arose, more storage was built.  In 1982, grain-cleaning equipment was installed and extensive work was done to the dryer.  In 1983, the firm purchased its first pneumatic grain conveyor and has since added two power takeoff conveyors to its line of grain handling equipment. 

            Another division of the firm is its petroleum business, both retail and wholesale.  Hugh had experience in the petroleum business by operating the Phillips 66 station in the late 1940s.  He purchased his first tank wagon in 1950 when he became a Skelly agent, hauling product from the Skelly bulk plant in Mount Ayr.  The tank wagon service was incorporated into the business at the beginning.  As business increased, a bulk plant was shipped by rail from Webster City, Iowa and set up on the west edge of Diagonal in the winter of 1957.  Schlapia, Inc. became a Skelly jobber and supplied wholesale product to gas stations in neighboring communities.  The firm’s brand affiliation changed to Texaco acquired by the Skelly/Getty Refining Company in 1985.

            Many things have changed since the days of being open on Wednesday and Saturday nights, the ice cream socials in “Hop” Snodgrass’ building and the Saturday night shows.  Schlapia, Inc. is proud to have been a part of Diagonal’s history and plans to continue meeting the need for services in the Diagonal community.