By MELANIE PILTINGSRUD
Copy Editor
One year after a tornado tore through Hartland, devastating a number of prominent businesses, Arcadian Bank is well on its way toward rebuilding.
Formerly called Farmers State Bank of Hartland, the bank has existed on 601 North Broadway in Hartland since 1912. In January 2021, the name was changed to Arcadian, and on Dec. 15 of that same year, a tornado took off most of the wall on the southwest corner of the bank, causing the south wall to buckle, and cracking the brickwork on the north side of the building. “The assessment of the insurance company was that, in theory, the basement was still sound, but that everything from the first floor up had to come down,” said Mark Heinemann, president of Arcadian, who has been associated with the bank for the last 18 years.
Ultimately, it was decided to demolish the entire building, removing the basement as well, so that a brand new construction could be built on a slab-on-grade foundation. Once they can start work in the spring, Henkel Construction of Mason City will erect the new building. “We're hoping to be in [the new building] in the latter part of 2023,” said Heinemann.
Meanwhile, the two employees who normally work at Arcadian Bank of Hartland have been working at the Freeborn and Albert Lea locations.
“Our customers have been very gracious in making either the sixmile drive to Freeborn, or the 13mile drive to Albert Lea,” said Heinemann. Many customers have begun making increased use of technologies like mobile deposit and online banking and bill-pay that Arcadian offers. These services mean that people need to make fewer trips to the bank.
The safe-deposit boxes at the Hartland branch were unharmed in the tornado, so they have been moved to the Albert Lea branch of Arcadian.
“We still remain grateful there were no injuries or deaths,” said Heinemann. “That's always the first thing you think of when something like that happens to a community, so we're grateful for that. The damage can be repaired.”
As for rebuilding damaged businesses in Hartland, Heinemann throws a positive light on the subject: “We're trying to look at this as an opportunity for renewal in the Hartland community,” he said, mentioning not only Arcadian, but also L & D Ag and the Post Office.
“We're hoping that the reconstruction effort can breathe a little life into the community, because it's a lovely little community – a lot of great people, and we want to see it continue to thrive.”
A rendering of the projected new Arcadian Bank building can be viewed at the Freeborn and Albert Lea branches of the bank. “So far people have been very excited about the look,” said Heinemann of the new building, which, unlike the old building, will have a drive-up window. “I think it's going to look very nice [and] fit in with the aesthetics of the community.”
