Fort Dodge, Iowa Iconic Events Iconic Events General22 Cubs vs White Sox at Dodger Stadium Read More Chicago Cubs vs. Chicago White Sox at Dodger Stadium Exhibition Game at Dodger Stadium Baseball Field April 9th, 1942 was a thrilling day for the estimated 8,000 people who filled the Dodger Stadium baseball field to watch an exhibition game between the Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Cubs. After the game, Bob Lewis, traveling secretary for the Chicago Cubs, said this was one of the largest crowds he has witnessed for a Cubs exhibition game. Both White Sox and Cub officials were amazed at the way the Fort Dodge handled the game, the crowd and the entire affair. The legendary sports editor and writer for the Des Moines Register, Sec Taylor, attended this game. In his column for the Sunday Register, he wrote “Fort Dodge promoted the recent Chicago Cubs – White Sox game in a big way and in major league style. The results were so satisfactory that those in charge of the promotion hope to make the contest an annual affair.” Taylor went on to say “the Chamber of Commerce committee in charge of the game, headed by O. C. Pfaff, its chairman, did such a good job that I heard only two complaints, neither of which is serious – one was because the ball park gates were not opened before 1:30 p.m. The other was from two women who had come to Fort Dodge with their men folk. They had planned to do some shopping while their husbands attended the game, only to discover that the town had not arranged the contest to bring shoppers to it. The stores were closed.” It was noted that fans from five different states and 75 Iowa counties came to Fort Dodge to watch this game. Most of the fans arrived at the ballpark when the gates opened at 1:30 p.m. hoping to get a good seat and watch the teams go through their pre-game drills and batting practice. However, the train that brought the Cubs and White Sox to Fort Dodge from their previous game in Tulsa, Oklahoma, did not arrive until almost 3:00 p. m., which was the scheduled start time for this contest. After very brief warm-ups, the game got underway- and it did not disappoint. In the bottom of the ninth inning with the Cubs up to bat and trailing the White Sox, Babe Dahlgren, the Cubs’ first baseman, blasted a 2-run home run to beat the White Sox, 16 – 14. The teams combined for 30 runs scored, 38 hits, five of which were home runs. Below are the players that played in that game: Chicago White Sox Chicago Cubs Don Kolloway Stan Hack Wally Moses Charlie Gilbert Joe Kuhel Bill Nicholson Luke Appling (Hall of Fame) Dom Dallessandro Taffy Wright Phil Cavarretta Myril Hoag Babe Dahlgren Bob Kennedy Clyde McCullough Mike Tresh Bob Scheffing Thurman Tucker Lou Stringer Tom Turner Bobby Sturgeon Buck Ross Lennie Merullo Joe Haynes Jake Mooty Orval Grove Paul Erickson Jake Jones Bill Novikoff Pete Appleton Johnny Schmitz Bill Fleming Sources: *The Des Moines Register. April 10, 1942 *The Des Moines Register. April 12, 1942 https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined Historical Eras Iconic People Iconic Buildings Iconic Places Iconic Events Nostalgia Places of Worship Industry Education Healthcare Sports Archives General160 Buddy Holly Winter Dance Party Read More Buddy Holly – Winter Dance Party https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined On January 30, 1959, the Laramar Ballroom was jumping when the Winter Dance Party and its headliners – Buddy Holly and the Crickets, the Big Bopper, Ritchie Valens, and Dion and the Belmonts - performed on its stage on a cold, snowy night in Fort Dodge. The Laramar Ballroom, and some 1,000 fans crowded into the downtown building at 710 First Avenue North to watch, dance and sing along as the musicians played their hit songs - never imagining that a few days later, in the early hours of Feb. 3, 1959, three of them – Holly, J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson Jr. and Valens — would die in a plane crash after performing at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake. "The whole show was great. Little did we know that this was the last time we would see them,” said Wes Trickel, of Fort Dodge, who was at the Laramar with his wife, Bertha, that night and got to meet Richardson and Valens. “We were so sad when we heard the news that we all never wanted to believe what had happened.” https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined That tragic moment on a wintry night in a cornfield north of Clear Lake was “the day the music died” as Don McLean would sing in his 1971 classic "American Pie.” That moment in history has become known as the “day the music died.” At the time, Holly and his band, The Crickets, were playing on the Winter Dance Party tour across the Midwest. At the Laramar, rising artists Valens and Richardson had joined the tour as well. The live concert performance included two hours of unbridled, high-voltage entertainment featuring hit songs of the ’50s era. This picture of Buddy Holly taken backstage at the Laramar Ballroom in Fort Dodge, Iowa on January 30, 1959 during the Winter Dance Party tour. He is ready to leave, has on his yellow leather coat with the fur collar, and is holding his overnight bag. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined HISTORY Buddy Holly Plays at the Laramar January 30, 1959 710 1st Ave N The Laramar Ballroom, and some 1,000 fans crowded into the downtown building at 710 First Avenue North to watch, dance and sing along as the musicians played their hit songs. Cubs vs White Sox @ Dodger Stadium April 9, 1942 April 9th, 1942 was a thrilling day for the estimated 8,000 people who filled the Dodger Stadium baseball field to watch an exhibition game between the Chicago White Sox play the Chicago Cubs. Harvest Festival August 1946-August 1959 From 1946 to 1959, the Harvest Festival was a major celebration each August held in Dodger Stadium. Sponsored by local businesses, free tickets were given away to people in surrounding communities as a thank you for their patronage. The three-day festival contained performances by the Karl King Band and featured a vaudeville-type format ranging from acrobats and other circus-like acts, motorcycle racing around in a cage, horses diving into a small pool of water and fireworks. Every year, the Harvest Festival would attract thousands of spectators. In 1947, an estimated 35,000 people attended the festival over the course of three days. General161 JFK Visit Read More https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined On Thursday, September 22, 1960, democratic presidential candidate Senator John F. Kennedy visited Fort Dodge. He arrived at the Fort Dodge Municipal Airport to a crowd of thousands on hand to welcome him. Senator Kennedy was accompanied by Mrs. Eunice Shriver (Mrs. Sargent Shriver, sister of Senator Kennedy) of Chicago and 6th District Iowa Congressman Merwin Coad. Fort Dodge Democratic national committeeman Donald Mitchell was also with Senator Kennedy. Senator Kennedy was greeted in Fort Dodge by Mayor Albert Habhab. Iowa Governor Herschel Loveless was forced to circle the Fort Dodge Airport due to poor landing conditions, which prevented him from being on hand to greet Senator Kennedy. More than 80 news, radio and television reporters and photographers had landed earlier and were able to provide national coverage of this visit. Senator Kennedy’s plane had been delayed due to a low ceiling; however, he was able to visit Fort Dodge for ninety minutes, using the occasion to outline a 6-Point Farm Program of “Work and Sacrifice and Discipline”, a program he said aimed at “Bringing good incomes and a decent standard of living to all our farmers”. Following a lively parade on Central Avenue, which featured twenty one bands, dignitaries, local businesses, floats, beauty queens, covered wagons and mules, Senator Kennedy gave a speech on the City Square to an estimated crowd of 15,000. He addressed mainly agricultural issues. The basic points of his speech were: 1. Full parity of income for farmers 2. Achievement of parity of income primarily through supply management of crops. This would include government purchases and loans in order to manage the crop supplies 3. Use of farmer’s excessive productive capacity to feed the hungry and undernourished both here and abroad 4. Use of a sound system of soil conservation which does not destroy entire farms and which is administered at the local level by farmers 5. Modernization of the governments specialized farm agencies to meet the farm revolution – by revitalizing agricultural credit agencies so farmers could get the credit they need at interest rates they can afford so they could modernize and expand 6. Initiation of a special program for low production farmers, those who must work with inadequate resources, and who live in rural poverty Senator Kennedy stated that “America’s ability to grow quantities of food with a small percentage of her people is an asset “greater than the Sputnik” and one which the Soviet Union envies. (It was anticipated that Republican presidential nominee Richard Nixon would also address farm issues on his visit to Iowa the following day). https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined During a five minute speech at the airport prior to his departure, Senator Kennedy spoke on the theme that “we can and should do more; conditions are not as they should be”. Kennedy contended that a Democratic president would be better able to improve the nation’s position in the world, especially in regards to the threats posed by Khrushchev and Russia, and Castro in Cuba. It was estimated that between 15,000 and 20,000 people gathered to see Senator Kennedy during his visit to Fort Dodge. School children were given a holiday from school in order to see the presidential nominee. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined JFK's Visit to Fort Dodge September 22, 1960 John F. Kennedy arrived at the Fort Dodge Municipal Airport to a crowd of thousands on hand to welcome him. General163 Pres Theodore Roosevelt visits FD Read More https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined President Theodore Roosevelt spent one hour visiting Fort Dodge in 1903. He arrived at the Illinois Central Station by train around 11:25 am. His train was drawn by a great engine, decked with hundreds of flags, coming from Denison, Iowa. President Roosevelt was warmly welcomed by the citizens. Many businesses closed, machinery and manufacturing stopped, employees were given permission to hear the president speak and school children gathered at Lincoln School (located south of the current Phillips Middle School Building/North Junior High School/Fort Dodge High School), where he greeted the children with “I am very glad to have seen you, and as I have six children of my own, I take particular interest in all the pertains to you. The Fort Dodge reception committee greeted him from the platform and welcomed him from his train car. He was then taken to a carriage, which proceeded from the station along Central Avenue. There were hundreds of people along the route, welcoming President Roosevelt with cheers of “Teddy!” Store windows, porches and every vantage point were crowded with people who wanted to see the president. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined President Roosevelt was taken through various residential districts of Fort Dodge, accompanied by his bodyguard and Fort Dodge residents W.T. Chantland (businessman), B.J. Price (Webster County Attorney), Dan Rhodes (Webster County Auditor) and Frederic Larrabee (State Senator from Webster and Calhoun Counties). After the tour of Fort Dodge, the entourage joined the remaining procession from President Roosevelt’s troupe which proceeded down Central Avenue to the City Square. He was introduced to the thousands who had gathered to hear him speak by Senator J.P. Dolliver. He spoke to the crowd, mentioning his past experiences when he had a cattle ranch and how he could relate to people in Iowa. He also said that the trip he was making was essential to the unity of the American people. During this speech, President Roosevelt acknowledged those who had served in the Civil War, answering President Lincoln’s call to service, and how their service had resulted in a unified nation. He said those veterans taught us two things. Here is an excerpt from Roosevelt’s speech in Fort Dodge in 1903: https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined ”….The lesson of appreciating what is really important in life and the lesson of brotherhood. The lesson of appreciating what is really important in life – It is not important to have an easy time, it , however, unimportant to try to lead a life of mere pleasure. It is vitally important to see what is worth doing and then try to do it at any cost. And here today, as everywhere throughout this union, as in every meeting of Americans, you, the men of the Civil War are given the place of honor, forever and always, and your deeds shall live to be told by our children’s children on and on through generation after generation as long as there shall be a country to have a recorded history on this continent.. They shall be told. Why? Because in ‘61 and the years following, you chose not the easy places, but the places that led across the stony slopes of greatness to the goal of triumph for the age and the nation. When Lincoln called, the easy thing to do was not to answer the call. You did not choose the life of comfort, you did not choose the life which was easy, you did not walk silently in earth’s soft places, you did not pay need to your own material wellbeing, on the contrary, the men of the Civil War abandoned for the time that they were in battle the hope of all material gain. The faces suffering by cold in winter nights, suffering by heat in summer days of the march, the knowledge, the practical experience of great fatigue, of hunger and thirst and the ever present chance of death in battle, death on the fever cots of the hospital, and they did all that gladly because they had in them the lofty things which go with generous souls; because they had in them the spirit that bade them distinguish between the things that are essential in life. It is unessential to have an easy time. It is vitally essential to do well your duty, to do well all things worth doing… …The other one, the lesson of brotherhood. Brotherhood – the recognition of each man as a man, of seeing what is important in his character and disregarding the individual. To each one of you as you moved forward into the battle it made a good deal of difference whether the man on your right hand or on you left had the right stuff in him. That was the essential thing. You wanted to know that when he moved he would move the right way. That is what you wanted to know. It was absolutely of no consequence what the creed was in accordance with which he worshipped, his social position or his birthplace. You cared nothing whether he were a capitalist, or a wage earner merchant, farmer, lawyers, businessman. What you wanted to know was whether when the crisis came, he would stay put. That is what you wanted to know exactly. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined It is just so in civil life. I believe this country is going forward to rise to a pitch, not merely of power, but of high and true greatness such as no other country has ever shown, because I believe that our average citizen now in peace has profited and will profit by the lessons taught in the Civil War by the men of ’61 and that we shall apply practically the two lessons of which I have spoken. That we show as a nation that what we seek is not mere ease, not mere comport, not mere material well-being important though that well-being is – but that we shall try to do in our lives individually and collectively as a nation the things worth doing and to do them well and finally that we shall realize so far as in human power it can be realized, the brotherhood in fact as well as in name and shall continue to treat this government as a system under which, so far as finite human ability reach us, to reach that knowledge and system, under which each man is treated, not with regard to his wealth or his possessions or occupation, or his social position, but with reference to his fundamental qualities as a man among his fellows. …. …..Goodbye, and good luck.” Sources: *Fort Dodge, 1850 – 1970 by Roger Natte *www.inoldfortdodge.com Teddy Roosevelt's Visit to Fort Dodge June 2, 1903 President Theodore Roosevelt spent one hour visiting Fort Dodge in 1903. He arrived at the Illinois Central Station by train around 11:25 am. His train was drawn by a great engine, decked with hundreds of flags, coming from Denison, Iowa. Cardiff Giant Read More The Cardiff Giant 1869 https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined The Cardiff Giant is known as one of the biggest hoaxes of all time in the United States. Fort Dodge and its gypsum deposits gained a world-wide notoriety from the "Cardiff Giant." because it was developed from the gypsum ledges in the Fort Dodge area. New York tobacconist George Hull was engaged in a friendly discussion with a clergyman regarding the Biblical story about the Sons of Anak. These were biblical giants who were part of a tribe that was referenced in a number of locations in the Bible. Hull and the clergyman were debating whether there ever had been, in fact, giants living on earth. After considering this possibility, Hull hatched a scheme to manufacture a “giant” that could be buried and later “discovered” and be passed off as a petrified man. It is safe to assume that Hull’s fraudulent hoax was probably founded on a scheme to make a great deal of money. About a year later, Hull travelled to Fort Dodge in order to by a large block of gypsum. Gypsum was chosen because of the various colored veins that ran through the rock. Hull thought these colors would look like the veins in a human body. Hull and a friend visited Fort Dodge and soon appeared to be suspicious in character, so many local residents wanted nothing to do with them. Hull supposedly bought an acre of land in Gypsum Hollow in Webster County, although no record of this transaction has been found in the Webster County Courthouse. He recruited local miners to facture out a large block of gypsum of this land, telling them he wanted it so that it could be used to create a monument to Abraham Lincoln in Washington, D.C. Hull had difficulty convincing miners to excavate such a large block of gypsum (12’long, 4’wide and 22 inches thick) because the miners told Hull that size would be too heavy to ship. He eventually succeeded in convincing them to excavate the gypsum and after three weeks, it was loaded on a wagon and then a train and shipped to Chicago. Along the trip to the train station, some of the gypsum was shaved off the block of gypsum to reduce its weight and make it easier to transport. A sculptor in Chicago, Edward Burkhardt, was commissioned to carve a large human form from the block of gypsum. Burkhardt was sworn to secrecy. Various stains and acids were used to make the figure look old and weathered. Hull also rubbed the figure with a wet sponge filled with sand to get rid of any traces of chisel marks on the sculpture. The finished figure weighed approximately three tons. Hull then transported the giant by railroad to his cousin William Newell’s farm in near Cardiff, New York, a town near Syracuse, New York, where he had it buried on Newell’s land. Nearly a year later, in October of 1869, Newell hired some men to dig a well. As the men began digging, their shovels came in contact with something that seemed to be a very large rock. As they continued digging, the “discovered” what appeared to be a very large petrified man. Word of the unearthing of a petrified man spread quickly around the countryside. People came from miles around to see the Giant, which was identified as an example of an ancient race mentioned in Genesis by some believers. “Found” in the heart of New York’s Burnt Over District, the Giant benefited from the religious fervor sweeping the area. News of this discovery spread quickly, and people began coming to Newell’s farm from miles around to see the giant. A tent was set up over the giant, and Newell charged 25 cents per person to see the figure. It rapidly became so popular that Newell raised the price to 50 cents per person. Hundreds came to see the figure and receipts often reached $1,000 per day. It was soon raised from its “grave” and exhibited in various cities. P.T. Barnum found that it was competing with his museum and purportedly offered to buy it for $40,000. This offer was refused. A local syndicate was soon organized and became owners, with Newell retaining 25% ownership in the giant. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined There was skepticism as to the veracity of the claim that this was indeed a petrified human giant. Scientific experts offered another theory on the Giant’s origin. Dr. John F. Boynton, scientific lecturer, declared that the Giant was a statue created by a Jesuit priest during the early 17th century to awe local Indian tribes. Noted geologist Dr. James Hall (who was the first State Geologist of Iowa and later in Wisconsin) examined the giant and made a lengthy report, stating that the figures was indeed an ancient statue and not an actual human being. But by Hall’s observation of the soil erosion and water flow around the figure, he stated that the statue “was an ancient statue and had not been buried in recent times.” The public wasn’t quite convinced, and continued to view the figure under the understanding that it could quite possibly be a mummified human form. After the figure had been exhibited in a number of cities, another noted paleontologist, a Professor March, stated that it was a hoax, a “humbug”. Farmers were found who remembered having seen Hull hauling an immense box on the road between Binghamton, New York and Cardiff, and with affidavits from men of good character in Iowa, the scheme started to unravel. When the evidence became too strong to be successfully combated, and Hull disposed of his interest in his "invention" for $23,000. He was elated over the fame he had acquired and admitted that he was the originator of the "Petrified Giant" and enjoyed greatly the discomfiture of the scientists whom he had deceived. Finally he made a full confession confirming every important aspect of the history of the deception and published it in the Fort Dodge pamphlet in 1870. This confession should forever have settled the thirty year controversy, but thousands of people continued to believe in the "petrified giant" to the end of their lives. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined The original Cardiff Giant was put on exhibition at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York in 1901. In 1947, the Giant was sold to The Farmers’ Museum in Cooperstown, New York, where it remains on display inside the main barn of the museum. A replica of the Giant is on display at the Fort Museum and Frontier Village in Fort Dodge, Iowa, from where one of the greatest American hoaxes originated. Sources: *The Des Moines Register *Fort Dodge: America’s Frontier Town, by Alan Foster Nelson *Roadsideamerica.com *farmersmuseum.org *National Gypsum: www.ngc-heritage.com (www.ngc-heritage.com) Cardiff Giant 1869 The Cardiff Giant is known as one of the biggest hoaxes of all time in the United States. Fort Dodge and its gypsum deposits gained a world-wide notoriety from the "Cardiff Giant." because it was developed from the gypsum ledges in the Fort Dodge area. Eve's Kitchen 1930 Eve Rubenstein was born in Fort Dodge. She attended public schools. In 1930 at age 24 she married Charles Rubenstein, who was 27. Charles died suddenly in 1953. Casting around for a career, she was approached by Ed Breen, the owner of KVFD radio station. He had recently purchased a television station, KQTV - Channel 21, and was looking for programming ideas.

The Fort Dodge Community Foundation is a 501-C-3 public charity. As a nationally certified community foundation, the Fort Dodge Community Foundation develops lasting legacies for community-minded citizens through funds that are designed to support the charitable goals of donors. From these funds, gr ABOUT US General3 Who and Why Who We Are: Fort Dodge Community Foundation The Fort Dodge Community Foundation is a 501-C-3 public charity. As a nationally certified community foundation, the Fort Dodge Community Foundation develops lasting legacies for community-minded citizens through funds that are designed to support the charitable goals of donors. From these funds, grants are made in support of a wide range of charitable causes, community projects and non-profit organizations that address a broad scope of current and long-term community needs and community betterment opportunities. The Fort Dodge Community Foundation makes a constant effort to stay ahead of emerging issues in our community and county. We work in partnership with civic, government, business, educational and nonprofit leaders to identify and address important community needs and opportunities that will enhance the prosperity and vitality of our community and region. Constantly working to enhance the quality of life in our community, our mission is to help make the Fort Dodge area a place where people will want to live, work, play and raise their families. For more information about the Fort Dodge Community Foundation please visit our website at www.fd-foundation.org.(http://www.fd-foundation.org/) Our Sources We greatly appreciate the helpful assistance we have received from the Webster County Historical Society and the Messenger newspaper as sources of information used on this website. We have also used numerous other sources to help us glean historical information on the various people, periods, places and events that comprise our robust history and culture. The information included in the bios and articles on this website has been garnered from numerous credible sources that we have used to accumulate and compile the information. Because this information is gleaned from different sources, we cannot attest to complete accuracy, but based on the credibility of our sources, we believe the information is truthful or very close to being accurate. Historical research is not an exact science, and the accuracy of information on historical people and events can vary at times. This can occur because many of the accounts of history on people, places, and events is passed down from generation to generation based on people’s memories and personal perspectives. This information is usually transferred by oral or written communication, or in some cases, it is recorded in government records and newspaper articles. Sometimes historical information can create differences of opinion regarding certain facts and dates dealing with specific subject matter. For people that want to dig deeper into the subject matter presented on this website, we encourage them to do more extensive research. We welcome any feedback. Purpose of This Website Some people think history is boring. Unfortunately, they probably don’t realize what they are missing. Our history is a giant story that tells us about the lives of people who lived decades, even hundreds of years before us. It can help us understand who we are and how we got here, and the culture we live in today. We are fortunate to live (or have lived) in Fort Dodge and Webster County which has such a rich history that reflects the American pioneer spirit that made our country great. Our community of Fort Dodge is blessed with a dynamic history, vibrant culture, valued traditions, and cherished nostalgia. This website places this information at your fingertips and encourages people of all ages to learn and embrace the robust history, culture, and fond memories of our community. The purpose of this website is to encourage people of all ages to learn about and appreciate the interesting and robust history, tradition, culture and nostalgia of our wonderful community of Fort Dodge. Ten Reasons Why Learning, Embracing And Celebrating Our History Is Important 1. It Helps us Understand Fort Dodge and its Culture One of the most important reasons to know our community’s history is so we can understand our community and culture today by knowing who and what created it. Learning about and understanding the events and people that built and shaped our community is incredibly important. Embracing our history and the people who made it will create respect for our community and pride in the place that we live. 2. It Provides us with a Sense of Identity People are intrigued to know where they came from. How did my previous relatives come here? Is there any interesting family history? Were any of my relatives difference-makers for my community? Knowing the history of our community is very important in finding our own sense of identity. 3. It Helps us Understand Change To understand society, knowing our history allows us a look into what causes change. The events that led to change in our community helps us understand how and why our community progressed through the decades. History gives us the opportunity to see how daily life changed over the years, and what went into the fostering that change. Knowing this can help us advance change for the better for our community today. 4. It Helps us Relate our own History to our Nation’s History Educating ourselves about our community’s history can bring to life the history of our great nation and helps make our national history much more personal. When we learn about the stories of the pioneer settlers that risked everything, including their lives, to migrate across the uncharted territories and difficult terrain to come to Fort Dodge, we gain a much greater perspective and appreciation for our own history. It brings history to life. 5. It Helps us Preserves Stories It is important to know about the stories of those before us. It is important to understand what those before us had to say, how they thought, and why they did what they had to do to survive and advance. We need to hear their stories, preserve them, and pass them down to those that will follow us. 6. It Inspire Us Hearing the stories of those before us can inspire us to take action in our own lives and community. Knowing that our ancestors came to this country and had to overcome amazing obstacles and work their hardest for a better life, inspires us to work our hardest to continue that tradition for ourselves and for the sake of future generations. Our past can have a huge impact on our future, and we need that inspiration to teach us that. 7. It Teaches Us Warning Signs Learning from our history is very important. Knowing about and understanding the positive and negative events of the past can teach us a lot about addressing the future. It will teach us about the warning signs of challenges ahead. Society has been able to take these warning signs and fight against them when they see them in the present day. Knowing what events led up to a large occasion helps up better predict and influence our future. 8. It Helps Us Be Better People Some people view history as a boring and unimportant, but one of the most critical reasons to study history is that it will make us better people. We will have a better understanding of our community and culture and how it shaped us into the community we are today. We will understand the suffering, the joy, and the chaos that was necessary to make the present day happen. 9. It Helps us Sustain Wonderful Traditions The traditions of a community that are passed on to future generations help us maintain a sense of appreciation and understanding or who we are. They often become a part of our persona. We certainly understand this about our personal family traditions, but the same is true for our community traditions. It is important to embrace them and celebrate them. 10. It Offers us Memorable Nostalgia Memories of our past, especially the good times – the fun times, can truly enrich our lives. They create an indelible place in our hearts. They warm our hearts, they bring smiles to our faces, and they even inspire us. The fun and heart-warming events of the past helped form our character and our identity. They are important to us and need to be appreciated, embraced, enjoyed, and never forgotten.

Fort Dodge, Iowa Churches History Places of Worship Historical Eras Iconic People Iconic Buildings Iconic Places Iconic Events Nostalgia Places of Worship Industry Education Healthcare Sports Archives HISTORY Read More Beth El Synagogue The first Jewish families moved to Fort Dodge in the early 1900s. By 1912 there were 20 families who formed a congregation and incorporated under the name Congregation Tifereth Israel (Splendor of Israel). For many years the congregation conducted religious services and classes in rented rooms. In the early 1940s, with the dream of one day having their own synagogue, the congregation initiated a capital campaign. The generosity and leadership provided by Max Spilka made this dream a reality, and in the summer of 1948 the congregation moved to its permanent home at 501 North 12th Street. The new synagogue was named Beth El Synagogue (House of God). Architecture Designed by Griffith Architects of Fort Dodge, the blond brick synagogue building has amber colored glass windows and a large Jewish star on its façade. The sanctuary on the main floor had seating for 100 people, a balcony provided seating for an additional 20. At the front of the sanctuary was the Bimah, a raised platform from which services were led and the Torah (scrolls of the Five Books of Moses) read. On the back wall of the Bimah was the Aron Kodesh (Holy Ark), an ornately draped cabinet containing the Torah scrolls. Above the Ark hung the Ner Tamid (eternal light), a lamp representing God’s constant presence. Written in Hebrew above the Ark was a phrase commonly seen in synagogues: דע לפני מי אתה עומד Know Before Whom You Are Standing On a wall of the sanctuary were memorial boards with the names of Beth El members who had passed away. On the Yahrzeit (anniversary of one’s death) a small light was lit next to their name and a special memorial prayer recited. The names on the board also served as an informal historical record of former members of the congregation. The Spilka, Robinson, Glazer, Lurie, and Rabiner families were some of the founding members of Beth El Synagogue, as well as pillars of the Fort Dodge community as early as the turn of the century. The basement of the synagogue had a social hall that could be converted to classrooms and a full Kosher (adhering to Jewish dietary laws) kitchen for hosting holiday meals and congregational celebrations. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_f846b883f71c4c63b15836ddfafb1aa9~mv2.jpg Rabbinic Leadership In the 1940s, Rabbi Eugene Mannheimer from Temple B’nai Jeshurun in Des Moines came to Fort Dodge to lead Confirmation classes for the teenagers in the congregation. In later years, Beth El Synagogue affiliated with United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, the national umbrella organization for Conservative Judaism in the United States. In the 1960s the congregation built a house next to the synagogue. This became the home of its Rabbi. Over the years, Beth El Synagogue was served by rabbis from across the United States, including Rabbi Samuel Levi who served the congregation from 1965-1983. Rabbi Levi, who was ordained in France, was a Holocaust survivor who escaped from a Nazi concentration camp and then fought in the French Resistance. His son and first wife were murdered in the Auschwitz concentration camp. After WWII he married Lore Furst and served congregations in Ohio and Florida before coming to Fort Dodge. At times the congregation had no rabbinic leadership and depended upon its members to lead Sabbath and holiday services and to teach religious classes. Herbert Jonas often filled that role. Dr. Jonas, who came to Fort Dodge with his family in 1956, was a local veterinarian who had studied in Jewish schools during his youth in Germany. He often led services and helped prepare students for their Bar/Bat Mitzvahs (a religious ceremony marking the beginning of adulthood). In 1979, Michael Libbie moved to Fort Dodge and he too often led services and helped with synagogue administration. Mr. Libbie later became the lay leader of Adas Israel Synagogue (Community of Israel) in Mason City. In the later years, Beth El Synagogue brought guest rabbis to Fort Dodge to assist in leading services on the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Two of these leaders were Rabbi Dr. Bezalel Porten, a rabbi and scholar of Biblical Archaeology in Israel, and Dr. David Passig, a professor of Anticipatory Anthropology, also in Israel. Community Beth El Synagogue also had an active Sisterhood. The Sisterhood organized and prepared meals for Jewish holidays such as the Passover Seder and the break-the-fast meal served after Yom Kippur. The women of the Sisterhood also contributed financial support to the synagogue. Each spring Beth El Sisterhood hosted a dinner-dance gala at the Fort Dodge Country Club for the entire Fort Dodge community. The women of Beth El prepared traditional Jewish foods, such as handmade cheese blintzes and other Jewish delicacies for the event. For many years the annual dinner-dance was a must-attend event among business and community leaders of Fort Dodge. At its peak, Beth El Synagogue’s membership included 25-30 households, attracting families not only from Fort Dodge, but also Webster City, Algona and other surrounding communities. In the late 1980s, Beth El began to experience a decline as younger members of the congregation moved out of town and older members either passed away or left Fort Dodge in order to live closer to their families. In 2000, the congregation officially disbanded and the synagogue building was sold to the First Presbyterian Church. Now called the Shalom (Peace) Center, the church uses the former synagogue building as a youth center. When the synagogue closed, a portion of the assets were donated to The Fort Dodge Community Schools Foundation. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_5a5e43ae52144c9eb063de30473cfd59~mv2.jpg Beth El Synagogue 1948 The generosity and leadership provided by Max Spilka lead to the construction and opening of Fort Dodge's first synagogue, Beth El Synagogue. Read More More information to come! Read More More information to come! Coppin Chapel 1979 Fort Dodge Coppin Chapel A.M.E. Church is part of the national group of Coppin Chapels. Read More The Early Catholic Church in Webster County Prior to 1856, there were little Catholics within the state. A few mission priests traveled the prairies and wilderness on horseback from house to house to find the scattered members of the church. Among these men was Rev. Matthias Hannon, who came from the southeast in 1853. Father John Vahey was the first priest to come to Fort Dodge as a regular pastor in 1859. He built a small cabin to live in and started building the first of the church from rough-hewn logs. Among those who helped cut and hew the logs were Dr. W. L. Nicholson, Peter Reilly, William Reilly, and John P. White. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined In the fall of 1857, Father Vahey left. Father McCullough came and remained for the winter. He was succeeded by Father Ellwood who remained for about two years. After Father Ellwood, Father Marsh came in 1860. He was well beloved and gentle, and he remained until his death in 1865. His remains are resting in the Catholic cemetery north of the city. A gentler, kindlier, and more well-known man never stepped on the soil that constituted his parish, which extended from Fort Dodge to Emmetsburg and Spirit Lake on the north, and to Sioux City on the west. Often, in the dead of winter, he would drive with his ox team across the prairies to minister to those in distant parts of his parish. Father Marsh and some of his parishioners cut logs and lumber from the hillside near Arnold’s damn to build the first Catholic school in Fort Dodge. After the death of Father Marsh in 1865, Fathers Delany and Butler came and remained until 1870. Along came Father Thomas M. Lenehan whose long and successful pastorate is a part of the general history of the state. He remained until 1897, when he was made Bishop of Cheyenne. Father Lenehan built the present Corpus Christ Church which was dedicated January 1, 1883. He also built the Old Convent and began construction of the present school. Bishop Lenehan was succeeded by Father Campbell under a temporary appoint. In September 1897, Rev. P. J. Burke was assigned as pastor and remained until September 1903. Rev. B. C. Lenehan, the vicar general of the Sioux City diocese, whose long and faithful service as priest earned him the honor of promotion as Monsignor, came in 1905. He was succeeded by Rev. James T. Saunders. Corpus Christi 1859 Father John Vahey was the first priest to come to Fort Dodge as a regular pastor in 1859. He built a small cabin to live in and started building the first of the church from rough-hewn logs. Read More The First Baptist congregation has been serving the Fort Dodge community for almost 145 years. Prior to 1871, occasional services were held in Fort Dodge by pioneering Baptist ministers such as Rev. H. D. Weaver who lived in Webster City, east of Fort Dodge. He continued to be alert to Baptists arriving in Fort Dodge, keeping in touch with them as he conducted these occasional services. At last, this group of Baptists numbered 17 and the conviction was reached that the time for organization had come. On June 16, 1871, this group met and Rev. Weaver was elected moderator of the group. The New Hampshire confession of faith was adopted, officers elected and so the First Baptist congregation of Fort Dodge came into being. Shortly thereafter, Rev. Weaver was called as the first pastor of this new congregation, a Sunday school was formed and a meeting place was secured. Its first services were held in the old brick schoolhouse on Second Avenue south. In 1876 the congregation built a church on the corner of Central Avenue and Tenth street, where the Wahkonsa Hotel now stands. Rev. George W. Freeman was pastor at this time. The church was closed for several years and the congregation disbanded. In the winter of 1892. Rev. T. S. Bovell reorganized the church, holding a series of meetings which resulted in a number of additions to the church membership, and also served to increase the interest. Rev. Bovell served as pastor for seven years, and was followed by Rev. Arthur Parks, who was ordained by the church in June, 1899. Rev. Robert Carroll succeeded Rev. Parks in 1901. During his leadership a church building on First Avenue north and Tenth street was erected. The dedication took place in November, 1903. First Baptist is part of a wider fellowship of Baptists in the Mid-American Baptist Churches (Iowa-Minnesota) and American Baptist Churches USA. First Baptist is also committed to cooperation with other churches and Christians in our community and world. Source: *https://firstbaptistfortdodge.wordpress.com/ First Baptist 1871 The First Baptist congregation has been serving the Fort Dodge community for almost 145 years. Read More The First Congregational Church was founded on February 29, 1856. On that day, Mr. and Mrs. William Plumb, Jr., Mrs. D. A. Haviland, and Mrs. A. J. Haviland met at William Plumb’s home. His home was one of the houses of the old fort. In that home, the organization was created. Officers were elected as follows: William Plumb, clerk; A. J. Haviland, treasurer; D. A. Haviland, deacon. Sunday services were held at the old schoolhouse, which is just back of where the Wahkonsa school building now stands. Rev. T. N. Skinner, a missionary with headquarters at Webster City, met with them and preached their first sermon. At this meeting, they celebrated their first communion service. Rev. Skinner supplied the new church until spring, when Rev. William Kent, the first pastor, came from Waterloo. He served only a short time. Up until 1864, there was no regular pastor, but the church missionaries satisfied the needs of the church. The well beloved Father Taylor, the "Bishop of Iowa" ministered frequently at the church. In 1864, Rev. H. E. Boardman became the first permanent pastor. The yearbook for 1865 gives the following data: members, nineteen; received during the year, seven by letter and five on profession of faith; one dismissed, and one absent. One baby baptized; one adult baptized; eighty in the congregation; forty-five in Sunday school; benevolent contributions $32.00. In the year 1866, the Congregationalists formed a partnership with the Presbyterians, where services were being held in the Presbyterian Church. During this year, Rev. Boardman resigned, and Rev. C. F. Boynton began his ministry and remained until 1868 until Rev. Phillips came. However, Rev. Phillips was not pastor for long due to health problems, forcing him to give up the work. For a year, the church was without a pastor, and they continued to meet with the Presbyterians. A meeting on May 29, 1869 decided the Congregationalist should form a separate organization if Congregationalism were to be preserved. Letters of dismission were granted to all who wished to join other churches. Nine Congregationalists remained: George Killam, Mr. and Mrs. L. W. Smith, Mr. and Mrs. O. P. Fuller, Mr. and Mrs. G. S. Killam, and Mr. and Mrs. G. S. Webber. Rev. David Wirt was called in 1869, and the following became members: Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Payne, William K. Laughlin, Jr., Thomas A. Laughlin, Mr. and Mrs. Clark Fuller, Mr. and Mrs. Bronson R. Merritt and daughter Miss Helen R. Merritt, Rev. and Mrs. David Wirt, and daughter Aliss Julia Wirt, making twenty-one members in all. For a while, services were held in Henry’s Hall, located on the north side of Central Avenue between Sixth and Seventh. Services were then held in the Child’s Block, located south of the present courthouse. Services were also held in the courtroom in the old courthouse. In 1869, a new constitution was adopted and the following officers were elected: C. H. Payne, deacon; O. P. Fuller, treasurer; and G. S. Killam, clerk. The five trustees were Thomas Laughlin, L. W. Smith, O. P. Fuller, William K. Laughlin, and G. S. Killam. The congregation decided to build, so the following made up the building committee: Rev. David Wirt, O. P. Fuller, G. S. Killam, and G. S. Webber. During the same year, a contract for a building was given to B. D. Beach for $1,750.00. The location was the present site of the Carter Building, which was located in the middle of Tenth and Eleventh Streets on the north side of Central Avenue. This building was dedicated on January 23, 1870. Rev. C. F. Boynton gave the scripture reading and prayers. The dedicatory address was made by Rev. J. Guernsey. When the Congregationalists moved in 1887, the old building was used by the Christian Church and the Salvation Army. It was a plain, unpretentious brick structure that could seat, at the most, about three hundred people. The first baby baptized in the “little brick church” was Perry Page Killam. Hon. George E. Roberts, who was the director of the United States mint, was a janitor of this church building. The records show he received a salary of one dollar for a month's labor. Rev. Wirt resigned in the latter part of 1870, and for a year, Rev. William A. Patton and Rev. Julius House supplied the pulpit. In 1872, Rev. Thomas O. Douglas was called as pastor and served the church for two years. He was followed by Rev. D. M. Breckenridge, who remained for four years. During Rev. Breckenridge's pastorate, the church membership increased to one hundred and nineteen. In 1878, Rev. L. L. West became pastor. During his leadership, the present church on the corner of First Avenue North and Seventh Street was built. This structure cost $10,000.00, and was dedicated on January 1, 1887. Rev. Thomas O. Douglas and President William Brooks of Tabor College conducted the dedicatory exercises. Rev. West's pastorate was the longest in the history of the church, extending over a period of twelve years. He was succeeded by Rev. E. S. Carr in 1890 who served until 1894. He was followed by Rev. E. R. Latham. Rev. Latham served three years and in 1897, Rev. H. D. Wiard was called and remained until 1901. Rev. W. I. Suckow began his pastorate in June 1902 and continued until 1905. In that year, Rev. Reuben L. Breed came to the church and served until the fall of 1909 when the present pastor, Rev. Nelson Wehrhan, began his work. First Congregational 1856 First German Methodist 1873 The First German Methodist Episcopal society was organized in 1873. At first, services were held in private homes and halls. In 1879, a lot was purchased, and a church was built on the corner of First Avenue North and Twelfth Street. Afterward, the lot was sold to the Christian Science Church. Currently, the church does not have an organization in Fort Dodge. Read More In the fall of 1851, in the hospital tent of the military post in Fort Dodge, the first congregation gathered to hear the word of God. The congregation consisted primarily of soldiers, a few carpenters, a few trappers, and frontiersmen. The meeting, conducted by Rev. J. A. Burleigh, a Methodist minister, lasted three days. First United Methodist Church of Fort Dodge had its beginnings in the 1850's. In 1851, a traveling Methodist preacher, the Reverend J. H. Burleigh, came to Fort Dodge to minister to the soldiers, the carpenters and the laborers in and around a forty mile strip of neutral ground near the Des Moines River where a military headquarters called Fort Dodge was established. This first congregation gathered to hear the word of God by Rev. Burleigh. The meeting lasted three days. By 1854 a Methodist Class was organized and the following year (1855) the Fort Dodge Methodist Church was organized, originally named First Methodist Episcopal Church. Rev. S. B. Guiberson, the pastor, was sent east to raise money and through persistent effort and liberality on part of the public, the church was built. Within three years a white frame structure was built on the southeast corner of Seventh Street and Second Avenue South. Until that time the congregation had been meeting in a brick school house across the street. It was the first church built in the city. It was a large, roomy building, and its erection was an exciting development for the young town. With twenty years passed and under Rev. Lozier’s pastorate, the church membership largely increased and the need for a new church became apparent. At a session of the quarterly conference held on May 15, 1873, the matter was up for discussion and a committee was appointed to formulate church building plans. This committee consisted of E. E. Prusia, Isaac Garmoe, D. M. Crosby, D. A. Weller, John F. Duncombe, N. M. Page, G. R. Pearsons and F. M. Grant. Within two months, they had raised two thousand dollars. With this amount, the trustees of the church decided to go ahead with the building. Isaac Garmoe, E. E. Prusia, D. M. Crosby, G. R. Pearsons, N. M. Page and F. M. Grant were appointed to the building committee, with Mr. Pearsons as chairman. At a session of the board of trustees January 8, 1874, plans were submitted for the new building. The board chose Mr. A. V. Lambert’s plans, and he was chosen as the architect. His instructions were to furnish designs and specifications for a church building to cost not less than fifteen thousand nor more than twenty-five thousand dollars. The construction started soon after, and the foundations were laid by Patrick O'Conner. The cornerstone for the new church building of Gothic architecture was laid in 1874 at the corner of First Avenue North and Tenth Street. The work on the church was carried on during fall and winter. Messrs. Mitchell and Sulzbach had the contract for the brick work, and Mr. Israel Jenkins had the supervision of the structure. The First Methodist Episcopal Church was first occupied for services in August, 1875, although the building was not yet completed. Lack of funds made it necessary to postpone the completion of the building. Under his pastorate of Rex. I. N. Pardee, the church building was completed and formally dedicated on June 3, 1878. The building costs total was just share of twenty-two thousand dollars. Fifteen years later, the parsonage was built at a cost of $3,000. The date when the First Methodist Episcopal Church’s name was changed to First United Methodist Church is not known. The present church building of Greco-Roman design, was built on the same site and was https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined dedicated in 1915, to become known as the "One Foot in Heaven" church because of a book of that same name written by Hartzell Spence, son of the Reverend William Spence, pastor of the church during its construction. An Austin pipe organ was installed and has provided music leadership through the years with a new console and pipework added in 1955. Additional work in rebuilding was continued in 1969, 1988 and 1992. The building features a beautiful center dome and a bell tower. Bells, eleven in number, were given in 1915 by Mrs. Jonathan P. Dolliver in memory of her husband and other family members. Through the years, members of the congregation were involved in the formation of other Methodist congregations including Riverside United Methodist (1892) and Epworth United Methodist (1906), development of Friendship Haven, a United Methodist related retirement center in Fort Dodge, creation of the Mission in the Valley, known as Urban Visions, the Lord's Cupboard - a food pantry housed in the church's office building and operated as an ecumenical project in the community, and a host of other projects dedicated to the ministry of Jesus Christ in this community. In 1975 a medical clinic building to the north of the church was purchased and renovated to house our offices as well as additional class and meeting rooms. The year 2003 saw extensive renovations begun on the 1914 building. New boilers, air handling and air conditioning were installed. In 2004 and 2005 the interior of the sanctuary and adjacent hallways were redecorated and newly carpeted. The chancel area of the church was enlarged. In 2004, the congregation, led by its pastors, embarked on an outreach ministry - "Taking It To The People". An 18 wheel diesel tractor was fitted to bring the ministry of the church to people. Sidewalk Sunday School sessions, Worship in the Park, extended visits to other congregations and sites in other communities encompass an extended ministry outside the walls of our church. In 2005, the congregation celebrated 150 years of ministry and mission in this community. Various worship services and program activities allowed us to "Remember our Past --- and Embrace the Future. The congregation gave thanks to God for members and friends from 1851 to the present day who have assisted in all the ministries of First United Methodist Church. Sources: *History of Fort Dodge and Webster County… by H.M. Pratt *First United Methodist Church website First Methodist Episcopal 1914 First United Methodist Church of Fort Dodge had its beginnings in the 1850's. This first congregation gathered to hear the word of God by Rev. Burleigh. The meeting lasted three days. Read More First Presbyterian Church was organized on September 22, 1856 by Rev. S. T. Wells, a missionary. The first members were Maj. W. Williams, Jeanette J. Williams, Samuel Rees, Eleanor Rees, and Andrew Miller. The first minister was Rev. Edward L. Dodder. Andrew Miller and Samuel Rees were ordained elders. On July 21, 1856, William Wilson, Jr., of Philadelphia, of the firm of Wilson, McBane & Co., https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined drew up a subscription paper soliciting aid "to build a Presbyterian meeting house in Fort Dodge." On September 22, 1856, the trustees received a donation from the proprietors of the town of lot three, block twenty-five, valued at $100.00. Money to erect a building was raised by subscription, and the church was completed and dedicated on February 25, 1856. The cost was $2,207.00. As the church grew, this edifice proved too small, and two lots were secured in 1880 on the corner of First Avenue South and Eighth Street for $1,600.00. Donations of $10,292 were raised. Work began the same year, and the church was dedicated on October 7, 1881 under the pastorate of Dr. Robert F. Coyle. During the years 1861-69, the Presbyterians and Congregationalists held union services. The church has always been active in missionary work, and has supported a mission west of Moorland, at the Duncombe mills, and the Memorial Chapel on the corner of Fourteenth and Tenth Avenue South. The Memorial Chapel was built by Mr. E. H. Rich in memory of his son, Willis Rich. The following have served the church as pastors: Rev. Edward L. Dodder, Rev. Lyman C. Gray, Rev. R. F. Coyle, Rev. Ezra B. Newcomb, Rev. J. Milton Greene, Rev. Phil C. Baird, and Dr. E. E. Hastings, who has been pastor since 1908. The belonged to the Presbytery of Dubuque, but now forms a part of the Presbytery of Fort Dodge. First Presbyterian Church of Fort Dodge traces its roots to the very beginnings of the community. When the military post was abandoned in 1853 only a handful of civilians remained behind and the future was uncertain. It was only when the federal land office for North central Iowa was located in Fort Dodge that the economy of the new community began to boom. In 1855 and 1856 five churches were organized: Methodist, Congregational, Episcopal, Presbyterian and Catholic. Credit for the organization of the Fort Dodge Presbyterian Church can be given to Rev. S. T. Wells, the first minister commissioned by the Board of Domestic Missions of the Presbyterian Church as a missionary and evangelist for the Synod of Iowa. Rev. Wells sent Rev. E.I. Dodder to serve as the first pastor in October of 1856. During the first two months, the congregation met in people’s homes but in December services were moved to the new but uncompleted public school. The first members were Major William Williams (founder of Fort Dodge), Jeanette J. Williams, Samuel Rees, Eleanor Rees, and Andrew Miller. The first minister was Rev. Edward L. Dodder. Andrew Miller and Samuel Rees were ordained elders. On September 22, 1856, the trustees received a donation from the proprietors of the town of lot located on the east side of Seventh Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenue North. Money to erect a building was raised in the community and the church was completed and dedicated on in July of 1857. The cost was $2,207.00. The new church, like most frontier churches, suffered through difficult times. When Rev. Dodder left in 1861, membership had fallen to sixteen. Without a pastor, regular worship services were suspended temporarily. In 1863, the Presbyterian Church and the local Congregational Church agreed to unite for worship and share a pastor. Under this agreement, which lasted until 1866, Presbyterian membership fell to only ten members. Over the next thirteen years, the church had eight different pastors. When Dr. Coyle arrived, membership had reached 119 with 175 in the Sunday school. Under Dr. Coyle’s leadership a new church was built at 1st Avenue South and 9th Street, the largest church in the city, capable of seating nine hundred. With the support of the First Presbyterian Church membership, the Fort Dodge Collegiate Institute was established, the predecessor of Buena Vista University. As the church began to grow, the building proved too small, and two lots were secured in 1880 on the corner of First Avenue South and Eighth Street for $1,600.00. Donations of $10,292 were raised. Work began the same year on a new building and the church was dedicated on October 7, 1881 under the pastorate of Dr. Robert F. Coyle. Growth continued over the next few years as the church was blessed with several excellent pastors. Especially noteworthy was Dr. J. Milton Greene, who came to the church in 1893. He led the church to greater commitment to Christian outreach, including the organization of the First Presbyterian Calvary Church of Barnum in 1899. Under Dr. Green’s successors, the Rich Memorial Chapel was organized in the Pleasant Valley neighborhood and Sunday school centers near Duncombe School, at the gypsum mills, and at the brick and tile plants were established. Several women’s groups were established and successful efforts were also made to establish church youth groups. Dr. Greene was succeeded by Phil Baird, a brilliant preacher and lecturer, and Dr. Hastings who entered the ministry after a career in law. In 1916, Dr. Harless assumed the pastorate and served twenty years, the longest pastorate in the history of the church. During his term, membership grew and eventually exceeded one thousand, making it the 4th largest Presbyterian church in Iowa. In 1922, lots were bought at the site of the current church and a new building fund was started. The Depression of the 1930’s and World War II created financial hardships for the church, and plans for the new building were placed on hold. Rev William Paden became pastor in 1936 and he brought a new vitality to the church. For the first time, focus was placed on families with the organization of the Mariners clubs. Church life was disrupted by the coming of the Second World War. One hundred and thirty-eight members served in the armed forces, roughly 15% of the membership. Others moved to new places to work in defense plants. In 1945, Rev. Paden entered the military as a chaplain and his position as pastor was filled by Rev. Harrison Hilscher, former missionary to China. The return of peace brought a renewal for the church. The drive for a new church building was revived and in 1948 ground was finally broken. The new church was opened a year later in 1949. With expanding church programming, the congregation raised the money to add the East wing (the Commons) in 1970, offering staff office space, youth classrooms, a new kitchen and a commons for small church gatherings. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined During the post-war, baby-booming 1950s, there was a revival of religion. Indeed, some at the time considered it a third great awakening. Then came the societal changes of the 1960s, which included a questioning of religious institutions. American culture changed drastically in the 1960s and 70s and the change was apparent in church life as well. Church attendance nationally declined and worship styles, which satisfied the previous generation, lost their appeal for the baby boomers and later generations. First Presbyterian responded by placing an increased focus on its youth programs, hiring full time professionals to expand the offerings. Traditional styles of worship were also reconsidered and it was determined that an alternate style of contemporary worship might more effectively meet new needs. In response, the congregation purchased the former Jewish synagogue and named it the Shalom Center. First Presbyterian also committed itself to the construction of another addition, the Christian Life Center (CLC). Funds were raised in 2011-2012 and the new addition was completed in 2013. The CLC is a beautiful multipurpose facility that houses a new, more contemporary worship service for church members. It also was space used for large group meetings as well as youth recreational activities. A Hispanic ministry was added in 2004, which started its own church in the Spring of 2010. Vida y Esperanza Iglesia Presbyteriana was the first new church development of North Central Iowa Presbytery in roughly forty years. In the first decade of the new century, First Presbyterian began two other new ministries that continue to enrich our community today. In 2003, the church began the KidZone Christian Childcare Center. The program has since expanded to include a three and four year old preschool, and care for children through elementary school. The ministry is a wonderful and valuable service to families throughout the community of Fort Dodge. In 2004, First Presbyterian completed the Outreach Ministry Center, located across the street and just south of the church. This facility houses First Presbyterian’s wheelchair ministry and provides a space where people come together to work on a variety of projects for others. Through the tools and machinery in the OMC, members of the church are able to refurbish wheelchairs for Hope Haven International, help repair items for community events, and help others in need. In the most recent years, First Presbyterian has mobilized numerous mission trips in other states and countries, helping the less fortunate while spreading the Gospel of Christ. In addition to these short-term mission projects, multiple members have begun non-profit ministries here in Fort Dodge and beyond including Gateway for Discovery, a women’s recovery home in Fort Dodge that opened in 2013. The history of First Presbyterian Church is a story of commitment to advancing the ministry of the church by constantly striving to attract new members to the church and to embrace God’s Word. It is also a ministry that continually strives to reach and help people where they are in the community and even in other countries. This same ministry continues today and people of all ages are invited to join the First Presbyterian ministry and make their story part of the ongoing history of First Presbyterian Church. Pastors through the Years 1856-1861 The Rev. W.I. Dodder 1863-1866 (The church had 8 different pastors during this time) 1867-? The Rev. Dr. Coyle 1893-? The Rev. Dr. J. Milton Greene ?-? The Rev. Phil Baird ?-? The Rev. Dr. Hastings 1916-1936 The Rev. Dr. Harless 1936-1945 The Rev. William Paden ?-? The Rev. Dan Ogada 1945-? The Rev. Harrison Hilscher ?-? The Rev. Dr. Gene Seikman ?-? The Rev. Gary Heinman 1990-2006 The Rev. David A. Feltman 2006-2007 The Rev. James H. Guyer (Interim Pastor) 2008-2012 The Rev. Jeffrey J. Martens 2012-2013 The Rev. Dr. Nancy A. DeVries (Interim Pastor) 2013-Current The Rev. Dr. Austin D. Hill First Presbyterian 1856 First Presbyterian Church was organized on September 22, 1856 by Rev. S. T. Wells, a missionary. Riverside Methodist 1892 Fort Dodge was growing, so dividing the First Methodist Church was needed. In 1892, the Riverside Methodist Church, located in West Fort Dodge, was organized. A church structure was built the same year. Rev. C. E. Leitzell was the pastor, ad he also was in charge of the Epworth Methodist Church, located at the corner of Eleventh Avenue South and Twenty-First Street. Read More Sacred Heart Parish was established June 3, 1897 by Arch Bishop Henessy. Father Edmond Heelan, rector of the Cathedral at Dubuque, was appointed to take charge of the new congregation. On July 21, 1897, work began on a church costing about $4,500.00. On Sunday, October 24, 1897, mass was celebrated in it for the first time and on Sunday, November 7, 1897, the church was dedicated with solemn and appropriate ceremonies by Monsignor Ryan and a large number of priests. Rev. R. Slattery of New Hampton preached the dedicatory sermon at morning mass, and at the evening service, Rev. W. Halpin lectured to a large audience. The two Fort Dodge congregations are now among the most prosperous in the state. In 1910, the Knights of Columbus erected their building on First Avenue South and Ninth Street. St. Joseph's Hospital, built in 1908, was dedicated March 21, 1909 by Bishop Garrigan. When Father T. M. Lenehan came here in 1870, there was only the little old. Today there are two churches in Fort Dodge, two parochial schools and residences, a fine brick church, a school in Clare, and churches in Barnum, Moorland, Lehigh, Duncombe, Vincent, Coalville, and the church on the Lizard, almost on the Pocahontas county line. The parish he had in 1870 has now over one hundred sub-divisions but few of his old co-laborers are living. The soldiers left the old fort in 1854, and fast upon the advancing and protecting rifle came the Catholic pioneers. In 1855, Mrs. Hannah Reilly and family came. They settled upon the north half of section thirty-three in the Cooper township. They received a patent from the United States government. This patent was held for nine years, and then they were evicted. George Crilly was another of the vanguard coming in 1855. He settled upon the quarter section of land that is now a part of Oleson Park. He, too, had a title from the government but lost his land. For many years, Mrs. Reilly and George Crilly fought for their homes. Mrs. Reilly's case went to the United States Supreme Court, and George Crilly stormed the chambers of congress pleading for his home. They both lost but bravely turned their faces to the future and began again. Mrs. Reilly died here in Fort Dodge, and George Crilly died a few years ago in South Dakota. Sacred Heart Parish 1897 Sacred Heart Parish was established June 3, 1897 by Arch Bishop Henessy. Father Edmond Heelan, rector of the Cathedral at Dubuque, was appointed to take charge of the new congregation. Read More On July 22, 1855, a community meeting called together by Rev. Mr. Peet, rector of the St. Paul’s Church in Des Moines, organized St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. The first work of the congregation was to obtain a church building. Just one year after the organization, Bishop Lee offered to raise the remaining funds necessary for a chapel if Fort Dodge raised $1,000.00. The offer was not accepted. On February 17, 1858, the vestry resolved to build a church the next summer. Mr. J. L. Cheney, Mr. E. Bagg, and Dr. S. B. Olney were appointed the building committee. This building was a frame structure, standing just north of where Tobin College now stands. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined The building was not completed until 1873-76 due to the panic of 1857 and the Civil War. This was made possible through the generosity of J. F. Duncombe, Webb Vincent, Beth Vincent, B. Grayson, H. Beecher, and Dr. S. B. Olney. On June 28, 1876, the church was consecrated by the Rt. Rev. H. B. Whipple and D. D., bishop of Minnesota. The church was destroyed by fire on January 5, 1892. Immediately, steps were taken for the erection of a new structure. The vestry headed by Rev. J. W. Paige and Mr. Leon Vincent were appointed as the building committee. In the early spring of 1893, Rev. Page died. On April 23, 1893, the vestry appointed Messrs. J. C. Cheney, Webb Vincent, Leon Vincent, and A. J. Arthur as the new building committee. On May 24 1894, Mr. C. B. Hepler presented a proposal to build the new church with a cost of $7,000.00. This was accepted, and the building was erected. In 1898, the chancel was enlarged and a new organ was installed at a cost of $2,683.00. St. Mark's Episcopal 1855 On July 22, 1855, a community meeting called together by Rev. Mr. Peet, rector of the St. Paul’s Church in Des Moines, organized St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. St. Olaf's Norwegian Lutheran 1891 St. Olaf's Norwegian Lutheran Church was organized on September 22, 1891 by Rev. B. K. Berkeland with twenty members. For three years, services were held in the Swedish Lutheran Church. During the summer of 1893, a movement was started to raise funds to build a new church. Plans were drawn and accepted. In September of the same year, the foundation was laid. The church was finished and dedicated the last Sunday in October 1894. The pastor was Rev. P. C. Danielson. Read More https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined The first Lutheran church service was conducted in the home of Leonard Fessel on January 20, 1861 by Pastor Frederick Fickenscher, an immigrant from Germany. The earliest entries of baptisms, marriages and deaths in the records of St. Paul Lutheran Church were signed by Pastor Fickenscher. In 1864, a building site was acquired on 3rd Avenue South where the first St. Paul Church was erected. It was built of native gypsum rock recovered from quarries by members of the congregation. The original church was 24’ x 40’ by 16’ tall. The wood in the edifice was of black walnut. The church was also used as a school. The pews were made so that a drop leaf on the back of each pew could be used for the students’ desks. St. Paul was the first congregation in Iowa to be affiliated with the Missouri Synod. The congregation enjoyed rapid growth from the years after 1864. Many Lutheran immigrants were arriving in Iowa during those years and became members of the church. Growth was so substantial, that in 1882, the congregation decided to build a new church on a new site. A plot of ground with a house on the corner of 4th Avenue South and 13th Street was purchased for $2,300. The house was used as a parsonage. A newly constructed church was dedicated on November 28, 1886. The church was built in Gothic style, measuring 99’ x 40’ x 33. The old church was converted into a school. For many years, church services were conducted in both English and German. In 1924, members of the St. Paul Lutheran Church congregation contributed funds to support the newly formed Lutheran Slovaks Congregation of Fort Dodge. A new church was completed in 1926, now known as Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. In 1928, St. Paul Lutheran Church participated in a fundraising campaign for the building of a Children’s Home, located at 234 9th Avenue North, completed in 1930. The organization was now known as the Lutheran Home Finding Society. By the early 1950’s the home had cared for more than 1,000 children. Lutheran congregations took direct responsibility for the physical care and spiritual nurture of these children. In the 1960’s, society was changing dramatically. Children awaiting placement with a permanent family were being cared for in foster homes, so the Children’s Home was no longer needed. The ministry remained focused on reaching out to those in need. Some unmarried women who became pregnant were not accepted in their home communities and needed a place to stay until their babies were born. The Children’s Home became a home for unwed mothers. Also in 1960, the St. Paul congregation decided to enlarge the church, add a new heating system and a new pipe organ for a total cost of $50,000. During the same time, the church helped to open Lutheran Hospital, now UnityPoint Regional Medical Center on Kenyon Road. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined The church’s ministry continued to grow through the decades, but in 1999, the church was destroyed by a fire that was started by vandals. This loss was crushing, but the congregation rallied and began a fundraising campaign to build a new church, which was called “Ashes to Glory – Lift High the Cross”. In 2003, a cornerstone ceremony was held and the cornerstone that was spared by the fire was placed in the corner of the new building. A new church was erected, and in subsequent years, a new fellowship hall, church kitchen and hallway to the school and church library were completed under the direction of Pastor Al Henderson. In October, 2019, St. Paul Lutheran Church suffered another tragedy. Pastor Al Henderson was assaulted outside the church and died from his injuries. The congregation and the community were devastated and heartbroken. Pastor Henderson was a well-known and much beloved member of not only the St. Paul community, but of the Fort Dodge community and the First Responders and EMS community, having also served as the pastor to local law enforcement agencies. St. Paul Lutheran Church continues to be a strong leader and asset in the Fort Dodge Community. It continues to provide education, leadership and spiritual guidance to residents in the region. Sources: *St. Paul Lutheran Church History...The Messenger St. Paul's German Lutheran 1861 The first worship service of the small congregation in Fort Dodge was held in the Leonard Fessel home on January 20, 1861 . The Rev. Dr. Frederick Fickenscher walked from Boone to Fort Dodge to conduct services once every 4 weeks.

Fort Dodge, Iowa Iconic Places Iconic Places Historical Eras Iconic People Iconic Buildings Iconic Places Iconic Events Nostalgia Places of Worship Industry Education Healthcare Sports Archives HISTORY General17 Bennett Viaduct General18 Oleson Park Bandshell General19 Ringland Smeltzer House General25 Treloars Restaurant Iconic Places YMCA General180 Laramar Ballroom General181 Harlan and Hazel Rogers Park YWCA Read More https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined The Bennett Viaduct over the Des Moines River and the Illinois Central and Chicago and Northwestern Railroads rights of way was erected in 1910 and 1911. The 1,492 foot long bridge connected the two sections of Fort Dodge; at 3rd Street, then going west across the Des Moines River and connecting at G Street in “West” Fort Dodge. The civilian settlement of Fort Dodge can be dated from the establishment of the federal land office in 1855. On the west side of the river, across from the original town site, was the area that became known as West Fort Dodge. Originally preempted by Elliot Colburn, it was platted as Colburn’s Addition on 1858. Over the years it was also known as Riverside and Swedetown, the latter name because of the sizable Swedish community that settled there. By 1900, West Fort Dodge had a business district which included a general store, a grocery, a meat market, hardware store, tobacco and confectionary shop, coal yard, the Swedish Covenant Mission Church, Riverside School and a post office. Access to areas west of the river and the growth of Fort Dodge and West Fort Dodge was dependent upon an adequate river crossing. Crossing the river was only possible during very dry times when it was shallow enough to cross on foot or horseback, or across the ice in the winter. In the late 1850s and early 1860s, two rope ferries were established; McCaulley’s ferry at the location of the present Hawkeye Avenue Bridge, and the Colburn ferry at the site of what would become the Bennett Viaduct. These rope ferries were a large wooden raft that was guided across the river by rope that was connected to the land. Although these were somewhat useful, they were extremely dangerous- especially during high water or when there was a fast river current. In the early 1870s, the county constructed two wooden bridges to replace the rope ferries. After just six years, due to the deteriorating and dangerous condition of the wooden Colburn Bridge, the Fort Dodge City Council informed the county board of supervisors that any liability for injury in connection with the bridge would belong solely to the county. Shortly after this, the wooden Colburn Bridge was replaced by a new iron bridge, which was referred to as the Farley Street Bridge and/or the West Fort Dodge Wagon Bridge. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined This bridge remained adequate for the community’s needs until difficulties developed with vehicular traffic across the railroad tracts. The location of the tracts at the base of the bridge created a hazardous situation for the heavy Farley Street traffic. Another source of complaints were about the trains impeding traffic. In 1899, the city council adopted two new ordinances; for the necessity of a viaduct and requiring the railroads to construct and maintain the portion over their rights of way, and another that added the stipulation that provision should be made for the possibility of a street car line on the viaduct. The viaduct proposal lay dormant until 1906, when plans were prepared for the structure and the city and county officials agreed that each would pay one half of the project’s costs. The agreement also stipulated that the city would assume all responsibility for the structure when the city’s population increased to a certain point. In 1907, the city reached an agreement with the railroads which called for the railroads to construct and maintain a steel viaduct over their own rights of way. With various alterations to the structure plans and contract negotiations between the different entities involved in this project, actual construction did not begin until September of 1910 and the dismantling of the old iron Farley Street Bridge started in November of that same year. As the work began and started to progress, various problems in the delivery of the steel and other materials coupled with mistakes in certain parts of the construction plans led to the completion of the viaduct in May of 1911, four months behind schedule. The demolition of the old bridge and the slowness in the erection of the new viaduct cause considerable economic disruption in the county. The Messenger of December 1, 1910 told of one farmer who lost a considerable amount of money on 3,000 bushels of oats because he was unable to get his grain to market at the time the price of oats was at the season’s high. Mail delivery was suspended to the rural areas southwest of the city until the river could safely be crossed. Merchandise deliveries were also stopped and milk deliveries were limited for a short time to hotels and families with babies. The viaduct was named on April 18, 1911 for Captain Sydney Bennett, a former mayor of Fort Dodge. Bennett served in the military for four years, earned the rank of captain and fought in the Civil War. After the war, Bennett made his way to Boone then settled in Fort Dodge in 1867 to enter the tobacco business. In 1884, he went west to Washington and joined a brother as a construction engineer for the Northern Pacific Railroad. In the early 1900s, Bennett returned to Fort Dodge where he became a community leader- serving terms on the county board of supervisors, the Fort Dodge city council, and four terms as mayor. As a county supervisor, he was most instrumental in the construction of the new courthouse in 1910 – 1913. Bennett was mayor of Fort Dodge at the time the new viaduct was being planned and constructed but ill health forced him to refuse to run for reelection in 1910. He died on May 5, 1911, seventeen days after his name was given to the viaduct and shortly before its completion. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined As a major thoroughfare for the city and a link between several residential areas, the new viaduct was not only of economic importance, but had recreational value as well. The depth of the river made it a popular swimming area and the bridge’s lower girders made ideal diving platforms for the average swimmer, while the more courageous jumped from the higher deck level. During the winter, the frozen river around the bridge was the community’s skating area. During the 1930s, the city placed spotlights on the bridge for night skating. The viaduct was often used as a platform for viewing the trains coming and going from the depot, the arrival and unloading of the circus trains and the whistle stop of the Wendell Wilkie campaign train of 1940. Over the years the importance of the viaduct declined. In the late 1920s, the completion of the Herring Viaduct (Kenyon Road Bridge) took a lot of the traffic away from the Bennett Viaduct. In the early 1960s, the construction of the Karl King Bridge just up the river provided still another alternative route. Urban renewal of the late 1970s transformed the residential area Pleasant Valley into the Sunkissed Meadows golf course further reduced viaduct traffic.On August 16, 1980, the viaduct was permanently closed. The Bob Madget Construction Company of St. Joseph, Missouri was awarded the contract for demolishing the entire structure, which was completed in 1981. The only remnant remaining of this iconic structure now serves as a base for Old Glory on the Des Moines River. Bennett Viaduct 1910 The 1,492 foot long bridge connected the two sections of Fort Dodge; at 3rd Street, then going west across the Des Moines River and connecting at G Street in “West” Fort Dodge. Blanden Art Museum 1932 The Blanden Memorial Art Museum was constructed in 1932 as the first art museum in Iowa in the Historic Oak Hill District. Charles Blanden donated the funding to build the museum. Blanden had been the mayor of Fort Dodge from 1887 – 1889. He later became a banker in Chicago, and subsequently devoted his time to creating poetry. He was renowned for his poetry, receiving many awards throughout the United States. Mr. Blanden’s wife Elizabeth was a teacher in Fort Dodge when they lived here. She was the daughter of a Fort Dodge clergyman, Reverend Mills, one time pastor of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. Later in their lives they moved to California and in 1929, Mrs. Blanden passed away suddenly and unexpectedly.Mr. Blanden wanted to something to honor his wife’s life and decided to build an art museum, but he wasn’t sure if he should build it in Fort Dodge or in San Diego, California. A group of ladies that lived in Fort Dodge in the late 1920’s really wanted Mr. Blanden to build the museum here. But at that time, there was a state law that only allowed cities with a population of 50,000 or more people to have a municipal museum. Fort Dodge had around 30,000 people living in it at that time, not enough for a municipal museum. A State Senator from Fort Dodge helped the group and through the Iowa government system, sponsored a law that lowered the population requirement to 20,000 – this way; Fort Dodge could build a museum. The Blanden was designed by architect E. O. Damon, Jr., of Fort Dodge in 1931 and was modeled after the neo-classical design of the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, Ohio. The façade (front) of the Blanden was influenced by the architectural design of other builds, such as the Petit Trianon at Versailles near Paris, France. At the time of the Blanden’s opening, there were not light fixtures in the galleries, so skylights open to the outside were on the ceilings. These have since been covered, and special light fixtures added that better protect the artwork. The Blanden Memorial Art Museum continues to be a vibrant art museum in northwest Iowa today. It has multiple exhibits each year, art classes for adults and children, creative community outreach and artist talks throughout the year. The Blanden permanent collection includes the Ann R. Smeltzer Modernist collection of European and American painting and sculpture, the Harold D. Peterson collection of European and American prints, American photography, contemporary American art, Iowa artists and Japanese screens and prints. The Blanden’s mission continues to be to integrate visual arts into everyday life. Fort Dodge Messengerwww.blanden.orgWebster County Historical Society City Square and Gazebo 1851 The “Square” has been a gathering place since Fort Dodge was first settled. In the year 1851, the square extended down to what is now 3rd Street and the area was used as a parade ground for the garrison of soldiers who were stationed at the nearby fort that was located north of the Square. General2 The Square Read More The “Square” has been a gathering place since Fort Dodge was first settled. In the year 1851, the square extended down to what is now 3rd Street and the area was used as a parade ground for the garrison of soldiers who were stationed at the nearby fort that was located north of the Square. In the 1870’s, gas lights were installed on the Square. In the early 1880’s, the public Square (as it was known then) was an unpaved market place where farmers got together with their loads of grain and racks of hay, etc. It was dusty and muddy, with no trees or sidewalks except the board walks in front of the stores that lined the square. Horses were unhitched and tied to the back of the wagons when farmers came to town. There was always a supply of hay and oats in the wagon box for the horses and each farmer brought a bucket to provide his team with water. When it was decided to improve the square around 1896, the “Hay Market” (as it was often called) was moved to the northwest corner of what is now Central Avenue and 3rd Street. Local citizens who wanted to improve the area stated that its original state was an “eyesore and an embarrassment” to the city, and that people visiting Fort Dodge would be disgusted by the appearance of the Square. There was some discussion of placing a fountain in the park, similar to the fountain in Lincoln Park in Chicago, but on a smaller scale. It took some convincing, but the City moved forward to begin improvements, although without the fountain. There were specific setback requirements and dimensions, so that its look would be appealing. A scale house was constructed at that site and a weighmaster employed. Businesses that surrounded the area were: * The original Duncombe house (where the Eilers Hotel later stood) *Porter home, Carrie Morrison Drake Home *Albee home (where the Hotel Fort Dodger later stood) *Newberry Livery Barn *Colby Livery Barn *Dunning Livery Barn *Koch’s Harness Shop *Robertson Hardware *Granger and Mitchell’s farm implement company *Furlong & Brennan’s store *Ford Farm Implement Store *Dan Farrel’s Grocery and Shoe Repair Shop *J.C. Parsons feed, hay and grocery store *Down & Scally Grocery *LS Kennedy Grocery *William Robinson Grocery *H.A. Platt’s Grocery *A restaurant (and later, Sackett & Haire Drug) *Billiard Hall *Arnold building *Robinson Building Around 1907, a band stand was constructed on the Square. Architect J.H. Albright created the main plans, with Frank Griffith also participating. The band stand stood 6.5 feet off the ground and was octagonal in shape, with pillars standing at each point to support the roof. Trees were planted and sidewalks installed. It was used for speakers, politicians’ visits and band concerts. In May of 1910, residents gathered in the City Square to view Halley’s Comet. Around 1917, more discussion was held regarding construction of a larger, covered structure. This was eventually built and remained at the location for decades. Most notably, this is where Karl L. King hosted some of his earliest concerts. Local resident S.S. “Pinky” Beers was one of the original members of the Karl L. King Band at the age of fourteen. He said that when the band performed concerts in the band stand, people would park their cars around the square and blow their horns to let the band members know they liked the music. The louder they blew, the better the band played. Pinky also stated that it was difficult to march in a parade in the area after it rained because the streets were made of wooden blocks, and “the wooden blocks would float away and you’d trip over them and couldn’t play very well.” https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined A new band stand was constructed in 1929 for a cost of $4,635 (approximately $68,000 in 2019). Eventually, the City Square’s band shell took second place to the newly constructed Oleson Park Band Shell in the late 1930’s. The Oleson Park Band Shell was a magnificent, larger and award winning structure which hosted the Karl L. King Band for decades. The City Square was the location that presidential candidate John F. Kennedy visited and addressed the residents in 1960. A replacement band shell/gazebo was constructed in 1993 with the help of the Fort Dodge Questers. In 2001, a new library was built on the City Square, replacing the Carnegie Library on 1st Avenue North. Sources: *The Messenger, interviewing Mrs. Myrtle Parsons, 1958 *The Messenger *Webster County Historical Society Dodger Stadium 1939 Dodger Stadium stands as one of the most impressive high school outdoor sports facilities in the state. Read More A vision of Board of Education President O.C. Pfaff, Dodger Stadium was the product of FDR's Works Progress Administration which put millions of unemployed to work in the wake of the Great Depression, constructing public buildings and roads. Work began on the stadium in 1939 with workers using 385,000 salvaged bricks from the fire-destroyed Lincoln Junior High building on the corner of First Avenue North and Tenth Street. With an additional 60,000 bricks from a demolished soybean plant, two permanent spectator stands were constructed, as well as Pfaff's recommended 1O-foot high wall around the perimeter of the property. The total cost of the facility was $150,000. Photo of stadium wall made from reclaimed bricks was taken by Bob Wood. The football stadium was dedicated October 4, 1940, when the Fort Dodge Dodgers played rival Boone and won the contest, 13-7. With permanent seating for 5,000, Dodger Stadium has been the host site for both St. Edmond High School and Iowa Central Community College football teams, Dodgers’ boys and girl’s track and soccer teams and state marching band competitions. Dodger Field/ J.H. Nitzke track has been host for the Dodger Relays and other boys and girl’s track and field meets since 1940. Although running surfaces have changed and school records broken, it remains a prime location for invitational and other large events. During the summer 2010, a new track timing system was installed allowing district meets to continue at the stadium. In 2016, the all-weather track was re-surfaced offering an outstanding venue for regional track meets. The adjacent tennis courts, also part of the original plan, are continuously used for school and community tennis meets. New tennis courts were completed in 2010, then resurfaced in 2019. The Dodger Baseball Field, designed by renowned hitting coach, Lew Fonesca, resembles a miniature version of the Chicago Cubs’ Wrigley Field with its brick ivy-covered outfield walls. The inaugural game played on Dodger Baseball Field was on April 9th, 1942, when the Chicago White Sox played an exhibition game against their rival, the Chicago Cubs. An estimated 8,500 fans — from five states and 75 Iowa counties came and watched that memorable game. That still stands as the largest crowd for an athletic event in Fort Dodge history. In 1993, in honor of the longtime and legendary coach who produced a number of great teams, the baseball field was renamed Ed McNeil Field. But there’s much more to Dodger Stadium than footballs, baseballs, soccer balls and track cleats used by thousands of athletes over the years. Each May since shortly after the stadium was built, Fort Dodge Senior High has held graduation ceremonies for its seniors and their families inside the stadium. An estimated 25,000 seniors have taken part over those years. The Stadium is host to the FDSH Band Invitational there and the state band tournament in the fall, the North Central Area for Special Olympics Iowa Track and Field event; the National Guard, State Patrol and Fort Dodge Police Department use it for physical training testing and youth tackle football games are played in the legendary stadium on weekends in the fall. From 1946 to 1959, an event called The Harvest Festival was held in Dodger Stadium. The three-day festival featured performances by the Karl King Band and featured circus-like acts, motorcycles racing around in a cage, horses diving into a small pool of water and fireworks. In 1947, an estimated 35,000 people attended the festival over the course of three days. Improvements and upgrades to Dodger Stadium have helped keep it one of the iconic sporting venues in Iowa. The west press box was renovated to include separate booths for the press and scouts, scoreboard operators and coach-to-bench communications. A second floor video-taping station assists both the athletic and marching band programs. In 2008, the sod/natural grass on the football field was replaced with new, state-of-the-art synthetic turf (field turf) to improve the quality and durability of the playing field. A new football scoreboard was installed in 2010. Continued improvements to Ed McNeil Field include a digital scoreboard in 1994, new batting cages, lights were installed in 2015, which now allowed for night games and the latest addition has been an elevated, permanent grandstand with seating for up to 300 people, along with improvements for the concession stand and press box. Dodger Stadium is not only an iconic and renowned sporting venue, but also a significant piece of Fort Dodge history and source of great pride for the community. Today, Dodger Stadium continues to be recognized as one of the most iconic and beautiful high school stadiums in Iowa. *The Works Progress Administration (WPA) was an ambitious employment and infrastructure program created by President Roosevelt in 1935, during the bleakest years of the Great Depression. Over its eight years of existence, the WPA put roughly 8.5 million Americans to work. Perhaps best known for its public works projects, the WPA also sponsored projects in the arts – the agency employed tens of thousands of actors, musicians, writers and other artists. President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the WPA with an executive order on May 6, 1935. It was part of his New Deal plan to lift the country out of the Great Depression by reforming the financial system and restoring the economy to pre-Depression levels. The unemployment rate in 1935 was at a staggering 20 percent. The WPA was designed to provide relief for the unemployed by providing jobs and income for millions of Americans. At its height in late 1938, more than 3.3 million Americans worked for the WPA. Source: Fort Dodge Senior High School Alumni Directory 2013 The Messenger. “If Dodger Stadium bricks could talk…” July 2, 2017 www.history.com General186 Chicago Great Western Bridge Read More https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined Also called the Chicago Great Western Railroad Viaduct. One of the most massive bridges in Central Iowa crosses high above the Des Moines River and a neighborhood in Fort Dodge. Construction on the bridge began in 1901. The rationale for the bridge was to avoid the large grades that would otherwise be required in Fort Dodge. By 1902, the bridge would be complete and open for service. The west approach consists of 11 spans, resting on large steel towers. The east approach consists of 19 spans of the same design. The four main spans of the bridge are massive Baltimore Deck Trusses which are significant as a relatively uncommon truss design and are aesthetically pleasing due to the complex geometry. These four main spans carry the bridge over the river and other features on the east side of the river. These trusses consist of 7 panels each, with pinned connections. The system of main spans are flanked on each end by an extremely long series of deck plate girder spans supported by steel bents of a design that are sometimes called "towers" on large high level railroad bridges like this one. Another unique piece of the bridge is the towers on which the trusses sit. These towers rest on large stone piers below. The approach towers rest on simple stone bases. The bridge not only crosses the Des Moines River, but also several streets and a rail yard. In 1886, the Mason City and Fort Dodge Railroad began construction on a 72 mile line between Mason City, Iowa and Fort Dodge, Iowa. The route served as a diagonal railroad in an area otherwise dominated by a gridline rail network. Due to the success, the route was expanded in 1903. Another 133 miles was built towards Council Bluffs, Iowa. In 1905, the route had attracted the Chicago Great Western Railway which purchased the line to access the Missouri River town of Council Bluffs. The line served as the quickest way between Mason City and Council Bluffs. The rationale for the Fort Dodge High Bridge was to avoid the large grades that would otherwise be required in Fort Dodge. The is massive Fort Dodge High Bridge is considered the second largest railroad bridge in the state of Iowa. The extremely long length of the bridge, combined with rare multi-span pin-connected Baltimore deck truss spans, and the age of this 1902 bridge make it an extremely significant engineering achievement that is both historically and technologically significant. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined The Des Moines River Valley has had several large high bridges, past and present. This is one of the larger structures. In this area, the Kate Shelley High Bridge in Boone County gets the most recognition because it has the distinction of being the tallest and longest known double-track railroad bridge. However, the Fort Dodge structure is actually longer than the Kate Shelley Bridge, and has four trusses compared to one. The Kate Shelley Bridge in Boone, Iowa, is similar in configuration to the Fort Dodge Railroad Bridge except that it has only a single truss span instead of four. It is unfortunate that the Fort Dodge High Bridge has not received more attention, since both bridges are extremely important historic bridges, and both deserve attention and research. While the Fort Dodge High Bridge may not have the record-breaking statistic, it is actually 54 feet long than the Kate Shelley Bridge. The Fort Dodge High Bridge is over a half mile long (2,719 feet long) and 182 feet high and only a couple years newer than the Kate Shelley Bridge. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined The Chicago Great Western Railway had a history of financial struggles almost since its beginnings. This rail line’s history included Fort Dodge. In 1886 the Mason City & Fort Dodge Line completed the rail line between Mason City and Fort Dodge, connecting the two communities by rail. Work to extend the rail line to Omaha began a year later and was finally competed in 1903. Thirty-eight years later, the Mason City & Fort Dodge Line was merged into the Chicago Great Western Railway in 1941. The rail line’s last passenger train ran from Omaha, through Fort Dodge, to St. Paul on September 29, 1965. Three years later, the Chicago Great Western Railway merged into the Chicago & North Western Railway on July 1st, 1968. The Chicago and North Western Railway was acquired by the Union Pacific Railroad on June 23, 1995. Today, the Fort Dodge High Bridge continues to serve the Union Pacific Railroad. UP trains can be seen today crossing the Fort Dodge High Bridge at a speed of 10mph. Sources: *John Marvig Railroad Bridge Photography *Historicbridges.org *Chicago and North Western Historical Society *industrialsceneryblogspot.com Fort Dodge High Bridge 1901 One of the most massive bridges in Central Iowa crosses high above the Des Moines River and a neighborhood in Fort Dodge. General181 Harlan and Hazel Rogers Park Read More Harlan and Hazel Rogers Ball Park is one of the best athletic and recreational facilities in the state. The family that gave the land for the park is Harlan and Hazel Rogers. In 1967, Harlan and Hazel Rogers donated the land for the baseball and softball diamonds at Rogers Sports Complex which now host the Iowa High School Girls Softball Tournament. In 1967, Harlan and his wife Hazel donated 13 acres of their land for the purpose of building an outdoor recreation complex. Construction began on Rogers Park in the fall of 1967. The initial layout included a pair of softball fields and a baseball diamond. The first official game was played on July 11, 1968 between Sandy’s Distributing (a men’s softball team in Fort Dodge) and Webster City John Deere. The park was used throughout that summer and had its official ribbon cutting in 1969. Construction began on Rogers Park in the fall of 1967. The initial layout included a pair of softball fields and a baseball diamond. All three are still the facility’s main attractions to this day. With a number of men’s and women’s fast-pitch teams desperately needing local fields to use for practice and games, Dean Williams - a 2002 Iowa softball Hall of Fame inductee - approached the city about potentially finding a plot of land for a couple of softball diamonds. After being appointed to the city's recreation commission, Williams met with Harlan Rogers in the spring of 1967. The Rogers family made the donation to Fort Dodge, and the complex was built under the supervision of the local recreation department. City funds were used to finance the project at a cost of $144,000 - the equivalent of $1.148 million today - covered by a $200,000 bond issued for recreational purposes and sold by the Fort Dodge city council in September of 1967. lt was the first municipally-owned facility of its type. The first official game played at Rogers Park was on July 11, 1968 between Sandy's Distributing - a men's softball team of Fort Dodge - and Webster City John Deere. The complex was used through the fall, then formally recognized with a ribbon-cutting ceremony the next summer. The Messenger called it a "dream of baseball and softball enthusiasts come true" at the time. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined The 13-acre donation by the Rogers family was more than doubled by 1975 to accommodate a larger parking lot and three more recreational softball diamonds. In 2004, a group of local business and community leaders saw a need to renovate and expand the complex. With an innovative plan to add three more diamonds for youth baseball and softball, the group was successful in raising over $1 million in private donations and another $750,000 state grant to overhaul and expand the sports complex. The unique plan included building replicas of Wrigley Field, Fenway Park, Yankee Stadium and Dodger Stadium, along with a dedicated Veterans Field, on the north side. ln 2005 and '06, the "Mini-Major" portion of the complex opened. Today, the Rogers Sports Complex covers over 100 acres of land. There are 11 baseball/softball fields and 13 soccer fields on the grounds. lt is home to the Fort Dodge softball team, the St. Edmond baseball and softball squads, the lowa Central softball program, local slow-pitch softball leagues, and numerous youth baseball, softball and soccer leagues and tournaments. Thousand our youth and adults use the park every year. The Rogers Sports Complex is also the home of the Girls State Softball Tournament and has been since 1970. The Girls State Athletic Union views it as the premier softball facility in the state. Looking for the right place to host for the Iowa State Girls Softball Tournament, E. Wayne Cooley, the executive director of the Girls Athletic Union at the time, chose Fort Dodge and the Rogers Sports Complex as its home because it was a first-class, all-encompassing facility, and he know the Fort Dodge community would welcome and embrace the event. Many other local and region tournaments and games are also held at the park. In addition, the northeast soccer fields are used as the location for the annual Shellabration music event that draws thousands of people every summer. ln an interview less than four years before his death in 1985, Harlan Rogers said. "it’s great to see so many people enjoying themselves at the park - either playing or watching. I didn't know much about softball until watching the games out there, but l've played baseball and have always enjoyed it. When the park was first planned, I was thinking mostly about the baseball diamond. But it's softball (that became) the really big draw." Liddy Hora, granddaughter of Harlan and Hazel Rogers states; “Whether it’s state softball, or youth tournaments, or soccer – it’s a place that brings generations together to make memories.” Source: *The Messenger’s Hometown Pride, 2019 Harlan Rogers Park 1967 1628 Nelson Avenue Harlan and Hazel Rogers Ball Park is one of the best athletic and recreational facilities in the state. In 1967, Harlan and Hazel Rogers donated the land for the baseball and softball diamonds at Rogers Sports Complex which now host the Iowa High School Girls Softball Tournament. General180 Laramar Ballroom Read More For most of its 115 years, this joint was jumpin' – On January 30, 1959, the Laramar Ballroom was hoppin’ when the Winter Dance Party and its headliners – Buddy Holly and the Crickets, the Big Bopper, Ritchie Valens, and Dion and the Belmonts - performed on its stage on a cold, snowy night in Fort Dodge. It was the Laramar Ballroom, and some 1,000 fans crowded into the downtown building at 710 First Avenue North to watch, dance and sing along as the musicians played their hit songs - never imagining that a few days later, in the early hours of Feb. 3, 1959, three of them – Holly, J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson Jr. and Valens — would die in a plane crash after performing at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake. "The whole show was great. Little did we know that this was the last time we would see them,” said Wes Trickel, of Fort Dodge, who was at the Laramar with his wife, Bertha, that night and got to meet Richardson and Valens. “We were so sad when we heard the news that we all never wanted to believe what had happened.” That tragic moment on a wintry night in a cornfield north of Clear Lake was “the day the music died” as Don McLean would sing in his 1971 classic "American Pie.” But until the last few years, there was still plenty of music left to play at the Laramar - later known as the Plamor and then the Twilight Ballroom before becoming the Laramar again. The old brick building that started as the Fort Dodge Armory in 1904 is now vacant and for sale. For the thousands who frequented the ballroom over the years, the brick building with loft seating that rings the wooden dance floor holds many special memories. For some, it was where they met their future spouse. Many of the top performers of the day – playing all genre of music - mesmerized their audiences. And newbies to the dance floor were introduced to the “trap.” A trap would be set up by three or more girls or three or more boys, who would wander through the dance floor and surround a dancing couple. If it was a guy trap, the girl dancing would choose one of those in the trap or stay with her partner. If it was a girl trap, the guy dancing would choose one of those in trap or stay with his partner. Some remember a Laramar bouncer of the late 1960s - John Matuszak, an All American football player at Fort Dodge Junior College for one season who later became the No. 1 pick in the 1973 NFL draft. Big John played several years for the Oakland Raiders of the NFL and then went on to appear on television and in movies (He died in 1989 at age 38). The history of the Laramar Ballroom began in 1903 when the Armory in Fort Dodge was built, spearheaded by the City’s Commercial Club (Chamber of Commerce). $8,000 was raised to construct the castle-like building that housed the National Guard Regiment and provided a venue for the 56th Regiment Band, the community band and various civic events. The Armory was equipped with a gymnasium and a bowling alley. The basement was first used as a rifle range; it has also been used as a shower all for horses, skaters, locker room, and restaurants. The building was designed to resemble an impregnable fortress, with imitation spots for gun placements. Especially durable, hard paving brick was used in the front part. The grand opening and dedication on February 11, 1904 was “the most brilliant function Fort Dodge social life had ever witnessed,” according to the Messenger. In the 1920s, the Armory also offered commercial space for various businesses and organizations. By 1927, the Traffic Bureau, C of 1929, Iowa Airways, A. M. Auto Association, Ft. Dodge Grocers Association, and the Geer Dancing Emporium were added to its use. Over the years, other companies: R. L. Polk Company, Men’s Civic Glee Club, F. D. Drum Corp, Allied Food Stories, F. D. Community Chest, and the Iowa National Guard and many others would be located there. During the two World Wars, soldiers were drafted at the Armory and ration books were issued there to Fort Dodge residents. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, many were worried that armories would be attacked so soldiers were stationed around the building. Over the years, the Armory was the scene of many charity balls, police and firemen's balls, craft shows, reunions, banquets, dance parties and much more. Music has always been part of the building's DNA from the outset, when it was built so the Company G, 56th Infantry would have a place for a regimental band under the direction of Carl Quist to rehearse and perform. The end of World War I marked an upswing across the country in ballrooms where people would gather to dance to the new music of the times. The Jazz Era was where they got their start and the 1930s and 40s were the highpoint of the ballroom era. Ballrooms, some elegant and some plain, could be found in the biggest cities or smallest rural areas. All shared a common denominator of music and dancing. Gradually, it became an entertainment center. As a dance hall, its fame was legendary in Iowa. The first dance was held in 1925. When the ‘Big Bands’ and singers were touring the country, as well as the territorial bands and other musical performers, one could find the best of them at the Armory or later at the Laramar. Such names as Lawrence Welk, Guy Lombardo, Glen Miller Orchestra, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Skippy Anderson, Guy Deleo, Leo Piper, Benny Goodman, Kay Kaiser, The Dorsey Brothers, Woody Herman, Al Minke, Jan Gaber, Johnny Cash and others all performed at the Laramar. The Armory was purchased by Larry and Margaret Geer from the Chamber of Commerce around the time they were married in 1938. Larry Geer had operated the ballroom at the armory since the 1920s, possibly before. Their first names – Larry and Margaret — were merged to create the name Laramar. Geer said that at one of Welk's appearances, his father had to loan Welk enough money for gas so he and his five-piece band to get to their next stop. The biggest crowd was brought in by Guy Lombardo when a record 2,400 were crowded in elbow to elbow. The Geers sold the business around 1964, when it became the Plamor for the next eight years. In the '50s-'60s teen era, performers Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and the Big Bopper performed at the Laramar just three days before the fatal plane crash in 1959 during the ‘Winter Dance Party’ tour. Some other stars that appeared at the Laramar included: Johnny Cash, Barbara Mandrell, Del Shannon, Gary Lewis & the Playboys, Bobby Vee, the Coasters, Tommy James and the Shondells, Freddie Cannon, Jimmy Clanton, the Crew Cuts, the Everly Brothers, the Diamonds, the Fabulous Flippers, and the famous Midwest band, the Rumbles, among others. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined Over the years, there have been charity balls, Police and Fireman’s Balls, craft showers, wedding receptions, class reunions, banquets, and so much more. This building is truly a part of Fort Dodge history. Geer was 15 at the time of the Winter Dance Party performance in 1959 and as the son of the owners, it was not his first chance to be around big stars. One of his lasting memories was helping Johnny Cash climb through a back window and back stairway to his dressing room one night, to get through the crowds." About 1,000 people were on hand that night 60 years ago, with the balcony reserved for adult spectators and the dance floor for teens only, Geer said. The 11 performers arrived late on an old bus that didn't have a heater that worked. One of the members of Holly's Crickets band was future country star Waylon Jennings. The book, “The Day the Music Died: The Last Tour of Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens - and the Fatal Air Crash That Took Their Lives" detailed the musicians' appearance at the Laramar. The ballroom's next owners were Dick and Lee Derrig. Dick had worked at the ballroom under two different owners prior to buying the building. Dick and his wife Lee loved the ballroom and when they had the opportunity, they took the leap into proprietorship. Dick and Lee began running the ballroom as The Twilight on New Year’s Eve 1972. In 1979, Dick and Lee actually purchased the ballroom. For twelve years, they had a great reputation for bringing quality entertainment to Fort Dodge. People would come not just from Fort Dodge but also miles from the surrounding towns to enjoy the fun. The Twilight Ballroom was always known as ‘the Fun Spot and rock n' roll wasn't all the Laramar offered as there were old-time dances on Thursday nights with waltzes, swing, polkas and even square dances. Thursdays at the Twilight was the place to be for great big bands and ballroom dancing. Some favorite big bands Dick and Lee brought to you are: Jeff & Eddie Skeets, Kenny Hofer, Erv Reutzel, Jack Schultz, Al Godfredsen, Jan Garber, Don Glasser, Greg Spevak, Billy Redman, Riney Rinehart, Vern Claussen, Al Pierson (currently director of Guy Lombardo orchestra), Wayne King, Don Hoy, Ted Weems, Sammy Jensen, Russ Morgan (under direction of Jack Morgan), and many others. On Saturdays, you would find 50s and 60s rock n roll. Many ‘oldies’ bands that Dick and Lee brought back for repeat performances here were: The Cleavettes, The Do’s & The Dont’s, Rockin’ Hollywoods, American Grease, Faze Four, Hot Moose & Da Sharks, Spirits of the Past, Sundown, Travelin’ Band, Studebaker, Reflections, Last Shades of Dawn, Nifty Fifties, White Sidewalls, The Backbeats, Buckeye, Phoenix, Fantasia, Vixen, and so many more; too numerous to name them all who also donated their time for benefits. Aside from the local and regional bands, Dick and Lee also brought their share of major recording artists from the 50s and 60s to town: Tommy James & the Shondells, Bobby Vee, The Coasters, and Gary Lewis & the Playboys. Lee was also well known in town for her cake decorating. The Twilight was pretty much ‘one-stop shopping’ for wedding receptions. You could pick out your cake, decorations, food, and entertainment. Dick and Lee took care of most of the decorating for you as well as the clean-up. Reunions, retirement and anniversary parties, charity events, craft shows, and other benefits were also held here. They donated the ballroom for use and many bands donated their time for benefits held here. The Twilight was simply the place to have a big event. Crowds would gather for some of the dances, filling the main floor and the balcony both. The Fireman’s Balls and the Policeman’s Balls used to always be held at the Twilight and they were always packed! People liked Dick and Lee and how they managed and promoted the Twilight Ballroom. The Twilight enjoyed a good reputation. There were very few problems or disturbances. People, young and old, were there to have fun. In 1985, the Derrigs sold the Twilight and the ballroom retained its original name as the Laramar. The ballroom continued to offer various events for the next three decades. In recent years, the Laramar has been used for a variety of purposes: as a site for weddings, mixed martial arts bouts and as a Spanish bar with music and dancing, but has struggled for an identity. Sometime between 2001 – 2013, Jorge Blanco, whose family owned Blanco roofing business in Fort Dodge, purchased the Laramar. Since that time, the Laramar has been used sporadically for various events and is now vacant and for sale. The hope of many is that someone will purchase the building, restore it and bring it back as a recreational asset for our community, like it once was. Sources: *Messenger Spotlight…. January 30, 2019 by Paul Stevens *Twilight Ballroom Memories… 1972-1985… Dick and Lee Derrig *www.iowarockandroll.co/ballrooms *www.rockandrollroadmap.com Laramar Ballroom 1920s 710 1st Ave N For the thousands who frequented the ballroom over the years, the brick building with loft seating that rings the wooden dance floor holds many special memories. General18 Oleson Park Bandshell Read More https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined The Oleson Park Band Shell was designed by Sioux City architect Henry Kamphoefner in 1936. It was built by the WPA* in 1938. O.M. Oleson donated the park in which the Band Shell stands. O.M. Oleson was born in Norway and migrated to the United States in 1870 with cash resources of less than one dollar. He came to Fort Dodge after working on area farms and in a retail drug business. He understood the value of education, so decided to enroll in the Philadelphia School of Pharmacy. He graduated with honors, and returned to Fort Dodge in 1876, where he established the Oleson Drug Company, which remained in business at the same location until 1965. Oleson was a successful businessman and was instrumental in the development of other local businesses: Fort Dodge Light and Power Company, O.M. Oleson Land Company, the Fort Dodge Hotel Company, The Iowa Trust and Livestock Company and the Fort Dodge Telephone Company. He also served in the Iowa Senate from 1892-1896. He and his wife Julie (nee Haskell) were generous philanthropists in Fort Dodge. With their financial support, Lutheran Hospital and the Congregational Church were built. The Oleson Park Band Shell’s architecture style is Modern Movement Architecture (sleek, smooth, and streamlined). Architect Henry Kamphaffner designed the building which is made wholly of reinforced concrete cast in smooth – lined forms. It has acoustical perfection – its concrete sculpture encloses performers in a shell and projects their music for blocks without electronic assistance. The original structure was fronted with lighted waterfalls and pools. The interior of the band shell was lighted with soft colored lights. The Oleson Park Band Shell marked a major departure from the small gazebo type bandstands which were constructed in the U.S. after the Civil War. WPA funding paid for 85% of the cost of construction (total coast was $45,000) and the City of Fort Dodge paid the remaining 15%. It had seating capacity of 3,500 when it was completed in 1938. Its construction reflected a sense of optimism and hope for the future during the Great Depression and as a WPA project, provided economic relief by providing jobs and stimulation of the local economy. The State of Iowa chose this band shell as its example of architectural excellence at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York. The band shell is closely associated with composer Karl L. King as well as the Karl L. King Municipal Band, which performs summer concerts to date (2019). https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined The dedication of the band shell was held June 7, 1938 in conjunction with the annual convention of the Iowa Bandmasters Association and was one of the largest celebrations in Fort Dodge history. More than 15,000 people attended the dedicatory concert. Eighteen bands, made up of 800 musicians, performed the concert for the dedication. Senator Edward Breen presided over the dedication and a representative of the W.P.A. spoke of the wonder of this project. He said “All men are brothers, that there is enough for everyone in this country, and that when we, as individuals, fail to provide work for those who have no work, that we as a community and as a state will do together what we have failed to do alone.” The Chamber of Commerce entertained Karl King and other visiting notables after the dedication ceremony and concert. By the early 2000’s, the band shell had deteriorated substantially. Local citizens Jim Reed and John Hale took it upon themselves to address the situation and began raising funds for the band shell’s renovation. Working closely with the City of Fort Dodge and the Fort Dodge Community Foundation, Jim Reed and John Hale embarked on a capital campaign called the Oleson Park Bandshell Project that was kicked off with The Fab Four concert (a Beatles tribute band) on Friday, July 3rd, 2002. Between direct contributions and net proceeds from concert events between 2002-2006, over $585,000 was raised in private funding that was used as the required match for a $249,822 “Save America’s Treasures” federal preservation grant and a $34,500 Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) grant through the State of Iowa DNR. After meeting rigorous requirements through the State Historical Preservation Office (SHPO), the City completed the renovation of the Bandshell in August 2008 at a cost of just over $1 million. Restorations included renewing the Band Shell’s electrical, light and sound systems, restoring and preserving the structure as well as marketing the venue as a place for more events. Existing seating was removed in 2004 in anticipation of the restoration work. Ultimately, the work was completed after the City Council voted to seek bids for its restoration 2007. Concerts were again held in the Oleson Park Band Shell beginning in 2008. Jim Reed continued his tradition of hosting wonderful concerts for Fort Dodge with the annual event “Shellabration”. Some of these concerts have been held in the Oleson Park Band Shell. *The Works Progress Administration (WPA) was an ambitious employment and infrastructure program created by President Roosevelt in 1935, during the bleakest years of the Great Depression. Over its eight years of existence, the WPA put roughly 8.5 million Americans to work. Perhaps best known for its public works projects, the WPA also sponsored projects in the arts – the agency employed tens of thousands of actors, musicians, writers and other artists. President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the WPA with an executive order on May 6, 1935. It was part of his New Deal plan to lift the country out of the Great Depression by reforming the financial system and restoring the economy to pre-Depression levels. The unemployment rate in 1935 was at a staggering 20 percent. The WPA was designed to provide relief for the unemployed by providing jobs and income for millions of Americans. At its height in late 1938, more than 3.3 million Americans worked for the WPA. Source: *www.history.com Oleson Park Band Shell 1938 1400 Oleson Park Ave The Oleson Park Band Shell marked a major departure from the small gazebo type bandstands which were constructed in the U.S. after the Civil War. General25 Treloars Restaurant Read More https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined The most legendary of all the Fort Dodge restaurants was Treloar’s Inn. In its day, Treloar’s Inn was known all over the mid-west and seated over 500 people. It all began with a 120 square foot building. Lester Dewey Treloar was born on September 14. 1898, in Ogden, Iowa. L.D. “Les” Treloar , worked boyhood jobs shining shoes, selling newspapers to coal miners and clerking in a grocery store. He ended his formal education at the eighth grade and eventually became a signal lamp man and then a brakeman for the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad. He came to Fort Dodge in 1920, when he was 22, worked briefly for the U.S. Gypsum Co. and then became a switchman in the Illinois Central yards. He wasn’t making enough money to support his family, so he and his wife, Hazel, and a younger brother O.L (Orsie) started a small business, using a self-made sandwich wagon, they began selling popcorn and peanuts up and down Central Avenue and also at northern Iowa fairs and farm sales. Les Treloar had an instinct for pleasing the public and a business acumen and work ethic that many saw as unmatched. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined Les Treloar also had what he called “Treloar’s First Aid to the Hungry” in a small building at 1022 Central Ave. But, in 1928, he and Hazel started operating a restaurant from the Theiss farm site just on the north edge of the Fort Dodge city limits on North 15th Street. At this location his first restaurant was housed in a small garage they bought at a farm auction. This makeshift restaurant had a 10’ x 12’ lunchroom with four wooden benches to seat eight customers on a small corner of a cornfield. Lights were supplied by gasoline lanterns. Water was hauled from the City, and there were no sewer facilities. Hazel did the cooking that included hamburgers, fried chicken and ribs. This was the beginning of the iconic Treloar’s Inn restaurant. Word of the restaurant’s food spread quickly and so did its seating: By 1941, 64 diners could be accommodated; by 1946, there was seating for 210; by 1950, 425, and in 1957, Treloar’s Inn could seat 508 patrons. At times, Les had to use a public address system to handle its large crowds of customers. In 1947, Treloar’s Curb Service (later called Treloar’s Country Boy Drive-In) was opened on the same two-acre plot of land where the Inn stood. In 1950, Les and Hazel’s oldest son, Max, became manager of the fast growing business. In the summers, Treloar’s offered drive-in service with car hops on roller skates bringing food on trays and attaching them to car windows. The popular drive-in service was one the first in Iowa as they became very popular a few years later in the mid-1950s through the 1960’s. Over the years, the restaurant went through many changes and improvements. The photo at the top of this article is a rendering of the Treloar’s Restaurant in 1946. Les, known in Fort Dodge as Papa Treloar, also catered many community events at a time when most businesses and organizations had annual employee or member picnics. Many civic groups held their regular meetings at Treloar’s Restaurant. It offered meeting space, great food and a 16mm movie projector that was often used by the groups. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined In the summers, Treloar’s offered drive-in service with car hops. As the restaurant continued to expand, Les invested in the latest equipment: walk-in refrigerators, gas steak broilers, electric dishwashers, automatic potato peelers and an intercom system between the basement office, the cashier’s counter, the kitchen and the outdoor drive-in lot. Les Treloar invented and patented the Treloar Bar-B-Que Oven. It was a BBQ oven roasting apparatus with movably mounted food supports with movable heating implements about a vertical axis. In 1949, Treloar’s served more than 53,000 pounds of ribs, 33,000 chickens and replaced its well with City water – which, they said, made the coffee taste much better! Treloar’s kept a six week supply of frozen chickens (which he got from his son-in-law Delbert Porter’s chicken farm) in his basement freezers. Fresh shrimp was shipped to Treloar’s in half ton size shipments. They made their own ice cream and baked their own pies, bread and other baked goods. One outstanding specialty was Treloar’s barbequed beans. Some say the secret to the baked beans was that they sat beneath the vertically roasting ribs, which allowed the juices to drip into the barbequed beans. Papa Treloar’s two daughters worked at the restaurant for a period of time and his son, Max, worked as the assistant manager. His twin sons, Dewey and Dean, helped out by washing dishes and “rescuing” dishes and silver that were inadvertently thrown in the trash – they were paid two cents per rescued item. At its height, Treloar’s operated five restaurants in Fort Dodge – the main Inn and the Country Boy were joined by Max Treloar’s Pancake Feast in 1961 (sold three years later to Max’s sister Billie and her husband Delbert Porter, to become “Del Porter’s Pancake Feast”); a restaurant and lounge in the then-new Holiday Inn in 1964, and the Treloar’s Crossroads Restaurant at the Crossroads Shopping Center in 1969. Hundreds of employees worked for the restaurants over the years. In the 1950’s, 1960’s and early 1970’s, people from a hundred miles away would travel to Fort Dodge to eat at Treloar’s Restaurant. It was the place to go to savor a fine meal and especially enjoy an iconic chicken or rib dinner. Treloar’s Inn was a restaurant that appealed to all generations, teens, young families and older adults. Many special events and moments were celebrated there; birthdays, homecoming and proms, family reunions, weddings and anniversaries. It was so popular that people would wait for hours to get seated on a Mother’s Day or an Easter Sunday. Papa Treloar understood that great food was the key to keeping customers coming back. Whether it was the baby back ribs, the fried chicken and shrimp, the steaks, the 15-cent burgers, the barbeque beans, the homemade salad dressings and that special barbeque sauce, Treloar’s built its statewide reputation on its delicious food. Papa also knew the importance of providing his customers with great service. He hired good people and he valued his employees of which many worked for him for years. “The customer always came first” was the Treloar’s mantra. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined Known as a bird aficionado, Les Treloar had a green macaw that sat on a perch (unleashed) inside the front door of the restaurant and the lobby aviary had 15 pairs of parakeets. No doubt, Treloar’s Restaurant offered it patrons a unique dining experience. Papa Treloar and his wife Hazel also loved monkeys and kept two, Maggie and Judy, in a cage out behind the restaurant. That was for the entertainment of the people waiting in line to get in for dinner. In the wintertime, Maggie and Judy were housed in a heated building next to their home. Les, “Papa” Treloar was an iconic restaurateur. He filled many important offices in state and U.S. Restaurant Associations. He was also an active member of the Fort Dodge Lions Club. The restaurant business back in its day, was no easy business to manage. Treloar’s Restaurant survived fires in 1956, 1957 and 1969. Treloar’s Inn Restaurant closed in November 1975, the result of a combination of business decisions and the health issues of Max Treloar. The building was demolished in 1977. The Village Inn Restaurant was built in 1981 at the same location, at the intersection of 15th Street and 20th Avenue North. Les Treloar died in 1983 and is interred at North lawn Cemetery in Fort Dodge. The gravesites for the Treloar’s founder and his wife Hazel, their son Max and other family members are located just across the highway in North Lawn Cemetery. Papa and Hazel Treloar remain nearby to the location of their iconic Fort Dodge restaurant. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined Today, the location of Treloar’s Inn is now the site of the Village Inn Restaurant. Memorabilia of days past is displayed in the lobby of the restaurant. Even though Treloar’s Inn has been closed for over four decades, so many fond memories remain and the taste of those Treloar ribs and chicken still linger on our tongues today. Treloar's Inn 1928 North 15th Street The most legendary of all the Fort Dodge restaurants was Treloar’s Inn. In its day, Treloar’s Inn was known all over the mid-west and seated over 500 people. It all began with a 120 square foot building. General19 Ringland Smeltzer House Read More https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined The Ringland/Smeltzer House was built in 1903 by George Ringland. Ringland was a founder of U.S. Gypsum and held the patent for improving plaster. This patent contributed to the growth of the gypsum industry and changed the nature of building construction. The house, located on the corner of South 12th Street and 2nd Avenue South in the historic Oak Hill District, was designed by Chicago architect Solon Spencer Beman. Beman was the foremost American church architect of his time and one of the founders of the American Institute of Architecture. Beman designed a home for the Ringlands that exhibited Jacobethan Revival architecture, which featured unique brickwork, tall chimneys, multiple gables and rectangular window frames with leaded glass panes. Beman moved to Chicago when he was offered a commission to design the town of Pullman, Illinois, the company town for the Pullman Railroad Car Company. Included among his most noteworthy buildings were two major buildings in the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893, the Fine Arts/ Studebaker Building in downtown Chicago and the Mother Church of Christian Science in Boston. The original style of the home comes from the English manors of the early 16th century reign of James I. This style achieved some popularity between 1895 and 1920 but is relatively uncommon in Iowa. It exists more frequently in educational buildings than in residential structures. The only other local example is the Phillips Middle School, formerly the Fort Dodge Public High School, constructed in 1922. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined In Fort Dodge, the Beman firm also designed the Christian Science Church, now the Hawkeye Community Theatre (521 N. 12th Street), and the Roberts/Deardorf house (1414 3rd Ave. South) in the Oak Hill Historic District. The Ringland/Smeltzer House is also significant as part of the Oak Hill District, a four block district placed on the National Register of Historical Places in 1977. The district consists of 15 homes which together reflect the changing architectural styles of the post-Civil War period, 1870-1910, and the prosperity and optimism which dominated in Fort Dodge during its golden era. The styles of homes in the district include French Second Empire, East Lake, Queen Anne, Craftsman, Jacobethean Revival, and Prairie, a virtual showcase of the architectural evolution of that period. Each family sought to outdo the neighbors in size, quality and elegance of their home, reflecting on the local level the “conspicuous consumption” ethic of America’s “Gilded Age.” The Ringland/Smeltzer house reflects the zenith of the local development. The Oak Hill District, which was originally the southeastern edge of the city, included the homes of the community’s business leaders and leading citizens. Among its residents were a U.S. senator, an inspector for the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs, Iowa’s state printer, the director of the U.S. Mint, the president of U.S. Gypsum Company, the publisher of the local newspaper, and most of the city’s early bankers and entrepreneurs. Beman’s plans for the house are dated May 13, 1902 but the contract for its construction was not let until September 3, 1903. The contractor was the W. J. Zitterell Company of Webster City, one of the largest and best known construction companies in northern Iowa during this period. The contract price was $25,000; $6,000 of which went just for plumbing and heating. There are no other buildings remaining in Fort Dodge that are associated with the family. Records and newspaper accounts make no mention of any out-buildings on the grounds. The lack of a carriage house may be explained by the fact that Ringland’s downtown office was located on Central Avenue in close proximity to the city’s largest livery stable. Likewise, with the advent of the automobile, it might have been expected that the family would have added a garage, but Ann, even in later years, never had the inclination to do so and kept her automobile outside all year long. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined There appears to have been no formal attempts at landscaping at the time of its construction although over the years shrubs and trees were obviously added. Ann, the last member of the family, was less interested in formal gardens than she was in a more natural state. Over the years there have been few changes in the house, either internally or externally, or the grounds, with the exception of the removal of the main entrance porch on the north side of the house. In 2008 this porch was restored to its original appearance. The house is important locally because the Ringland/Smeltzer family played a significant role both economically and culturally in the history and development of both Fort Dodge and North Central Iowa. From the very first years of settlement in the 1850s until the end of the twentieth century and the death of Ann Smeltzer, the last member of the family, the Ringland-Smeltzer family was a foundational family of Fort Dodge. The house epitomizes the industry and success of its owners and the Fort Dodge community. It is important nationally because George Ringland was an entrepreneur whose patent for the improvement of plaster contributed to the growth of the gypsum industry and changed the nature of building construction. Ringland was also one of the founders of one of the nation’s leading corporations in the building industry, the U.S. Gypsum Company. Jeannie Ringland Smeltzer was a cultural leader in the community. Under her, the Smeltzer house became a cultural center of the community. Concerts were held in the third floor ballroom and featured nationally recognized musicians. In addition to her music school, Mrs. Smeltzer operated a private school for local children in the home’s third floor ball room as an alternative to the public schools. In developing the curriculum she consulted and worked with Dr. A. A. Berle, America’s first and foremost advocate of and innovator in home schooling at a time that the movement was first attracting popular attention. Over the years, the daughter of Charles and Jeannie Smeltzer, Ann, acquired many renowned pieces of art which later became part of the Blanden Art Museum’s permanent collection. The Ringland/Smeltzer Home continues to display many pieces of valuable art throughout the house. Today, the Ringland/Smeltzer House is used for many events. Musical performances in the living room, dinners in the dining room, meetings, showers and wedding receptions are some of the events held in the home. The furniture is original to the home and there are over 5,000 books in the home, many are signed first editions. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined Ann Smeltzer, who never married, was a very strong supporter of the community, both personally and civically. She would often allow the neighborhood children to play in her third floor ballroom. This was quite generous of her, because between the three houses to the south of hers, there were eighteen children! The neighborhood children would roller-skate in the ballroom and would perform plays on its stage for the neighborhood. With the death of Ann Smeltzer in 1999, the property came under the control of the Ann Smeltzer Charitable Trust which maintains the home as a house museum. It stands today as a reminder of a period in which Fort Dodge flourished and the contributions that the Ringland/Smeltzer family made and continues to make to the community through its charitable trust. The Ringland/Smeltzer House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is a property that is associated with the lives of a person or persons significant in the past whose activities are demonstrably important within a local, state and national context. George Ringland, who built the house, and his family, clearly met the requirements on both the local and national level. The Ringland/Smeltzer house was a family home; when Ringland’s daughter, Jeannie, married Charles Smeltzer, a banker and land manager, the couple and their daughter Ann lived with Jeannie and Charles all their married life in the home. Sources: *https://www.smeltzertrust.org/ *Des Moines Register *Photos: Ryan Paschke Ringland/Smeltzer House 1903 1019 2nd Ave. S Spencer Beman designed a home for the Ringlands that exhibited Jacobethan Revival architecture, which featured unique brickwork, tall chimneys, multiple gables and rectangular window frames with leaded glass panes. The Vincent House 1872 824 3rd Avenue South Located at 824 3rd Avenue South in the historic Oak Hill District in Fort Dodge, The Vincent House speaks of the compelling history of the very beginnings of the city. YMCA 1891 1422 1st Ave S This space probably was used to provide temporary housing for homeless men and a space for socialization and meetings for prayer. Iconic Places YMCA Read More In 1844, the first YMCA was opened in London, England, by George Williams, a farmer-turned-department store worker who was troubled by how many young men in London were coping with the hazards of life on the streets. This first YMCA offered something unique for its time. In the United States, the first YMCA was founded in Boston, MA. by a retired Boston sea captain Thomas Valentine Sullivan. Sullivan noticed a similar need to create a safe “home away from home” for sailors and merchants. Inspired by the stories of the YMCA in England, Sullivan led the formation of the first U.S. YMCA at the Old South Church in Boston on December 29, 1851. With so many young men moving to cities from rural areas, YMCA housing was started in the 1860’s for the purpose of giving these young men safe and affordable lodging and opportunities for recreation so they could have a healthy release from their difficult lives. Facilities included gyms, auditoriums and hotel-like rooms. Chicago’s Farwell Hall, the first known YMCA dormitory, was completed in 1867. Between 1922 and 1940, YMCA accommodations grew from approximately 55,000 rooms to more than 100,000, more than any hotel chain at the time. In Fort Dodge, a group of Fort Dodge businessmen organized a YMCA and was incorporated it in 1891. The first location (unknown) had a fire in January of 1892. The YMCA then lease a few rooms over C.E. Black’s meat market. In February of 1892, John Parsons offered one of his lots for a new building. A campaign for a new YMCA began but only $2,000 was raised and the project never got off the ground. In July 1894, a special meeting was held to discuss renting rooms in George W. Mason’s building, above Craft’s grocery store, located at the corner of Central Avenue and 9th Street. The rooms would be used a reading and lecture rooms and a room for games. A shower and tub baths would also be added to the location. These new rooms were opened in August of 1894. In November of 1897 -with the need for more space, the board members of the YMCA agreed to lease the 2nd and 3rd floors of the new Sanderson Building that was nearing the completion for being built. Sanderson Building was located one door east of the Post Office on Central Avenue, (today this would be on the 900 block on Central Avenue). The new building was being built for the Sanderson Candy Factory, which later become the Fort Dodge Candy Factory. The YMCA officially opened its doors in the Sanderson Building in February of 1898. This new site provided five rooms on the second floor; Director’s room, two reading rooms, the secretary’s office and a game room. On the third floor, there was 51 x 39 ft. gymnasium with gallery seating for 70 people and five bath rooms. The rooms of the second floor were also used for socialization and meetings for prayer. F.A. Garrison was the board president. J.G. Early was the board secretary. Other charter board members included E.H. Rich, C.W. Ackerman, C.H. Smith, S.A. Smith, L.L. Leighton, C. Craft, W.U. Turpin, E.E. Prusia, E. Berschein, T.H Wright, J.F. Nelson, J.J. Rutke, T.E. Deereaux, and F. Gates. In September of 1909, O.M. Oleson, a renowned Fort Dodge businessman and philanthropist, announced that he would be donating property for the location of a new building for the YMCA . The location would be on north side of 1st Avenue North and North 6th Street, across the street from the former Fort Dodge Carnegie Library. In October, a group of Fort Dodge business leaders led a fundraising campaign to raise $70,000 to build a new YMCA building. Ten days later on November 5, 1909, it was announced that over $76,000 had been raised or pledged for the new building. The preliminary floor plans for the new YMCA included: * Sub-basement: locker rooms with bath/shower rooms, swimming pool, and bowling alley * First floor: offices, parlors, reading and recreation rooms, 45 x 78 foot gymnasium with a raised running track above gymnasium and a cafeteria * Second floor: dormitories, educational department and a large room/ banqueting hall which may be cut into smaller class rooms when needed. * Third floor: more dormitories, which will be one of the chief sources of income (44 dormitories total) Construction of new building began on March 10, 1910. Jensen Construction Company was retained as the general contractor. On February 18, 1911, the new YMCA building opened. At the time, M. W. Parsons, state secretary for the YMCA, declared that Fort Dodge had the finest YMCA building in the state and that it is the largest project carried to successful conclusion through popular subscription and pledges. No doubt, from the day it was built until 1964, the Fort Dodge YMCA was considered a wonderful recreational asset for the community. The building had a magnificent gymnasium with two main baskets and four baskets on the side walls. It also had an indoor pool that was used by kids and adults alike. This original Y had Family Nights when women and girls could come and swim and participate with their family. The Y even had a lunch counter where kids and adults could grab a snack, maybe even a bowl of chili before going home. The YMCA was truly a great place for fun, exercise and socialization. The original building that opened in 1911, operated until 1964. By this time, the original YMCA facility had aged and was no longer large enough to accommodate the needs of the members. Board members and community leaders began the planning for a new and larger facility. The cost was estimated to be close to one million dollars. Again, this money was raised through a community fundraising campaign led by Ed Breen, Fred Seifer, Herb Bennett, Board Chairman George Gildemeister and Glen Davies who was the YMCA executive director. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined In January of 1965, the new YMCA facility opened it doors at the corner of 15th Street and 1st Avenue South. It was Glen Davies who led the lobbying for construction of a new YMCA when the original building, at the time, was over 50 years old and in desperate need of updates. By engaging the community about need and importance of a new facility, Davies and the campaign committee were successful raising the necessary funds. Glen Davies was highly respected throughout the community as a person who loved community work, physical activity, people and most of all kids. During this period of transition from the original YMCA to the new facility, Glen Davies served as the Y’s executive director from 1957 to 1966 and Bruce Wilde was the physical director and was instrumental in establishing a volleyball program. Jerry Patterson was the youth sports directors for several years and established the YMCA Teener Baseball Program. Many of the “Teener” baseball games were played at Jerry’s own Patterson Field. In Fort Dodge, the YMCA remained affiliated with the YMCA of America until 2010. Due to a new partnership with Iowa Central Community College that offered additional fitness services to college students and the general public, the YMCA was converted to the Fort Dodge Community Recreation Center. An obscure policy of the National YMCA would not approve this successful partnership with Iowa Central Community College because the fitness facility on its campus did not allow those under age 18 to use it. This led to the ending of the Fort Dodge YMCA’s storied relationship with the national YMCA. Today, the Fort Dodge REC remains a strong and active organization providing a wide range of recreation and fitness programs through its four locations. Besides the main building at 15th Street and 1st Avenue South, there is an exercise facility at Iowa Central Community College, a multipurpose cross training facility at the old Fareway Store location at Second Avenue South and Seventh Street, and a 24-hour fitness center at Fifth Avenue South and 21st Street that was purchased from Snap Fitness in 2015. Youth programs designed for kindergarteners through sixth-graders, in partnership with the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, are basketball, flag football, martial arts, aquatic programs, soccer and baseball. Adults are offered more than 50 different fitness classes that include Pilates, cycle, step, boot camp, yoga, core strengthening, Zumba and blast. The REC has found heightened interest among senior citizens in using the pool for low-impact exercise and has increased the number of water fitness classes. Adults continue to use the gymnasium for basketball, volleyball and a new and very popular activity, pickleball. Sources: *Messenger Spotlight…. by Paul Stevens *Messenger newspaper YWCA 1909 826 1st Ave N The Young Woman's Christian Association was organized July 8, 1909. Mrs. John P. Dolliver was the first president and served until October, 1910, when she resigned and Mrs. George Ringland was elected president. YWCA Read More The Young Woman's Christian Association was organized July 8, 1909. Mrs. John P. Dolliver was the first president and served until October, 1910, when she resigned and Mrs. George Ringland was elected president. The work was conducted for a time in the frame building just north of the Commercial National Bank building on Central Avenue. In the fall of 1909, the Reynolds property on the corner of First avenue north and Ninth street was purchased, and became the home of the YWCA, and is still there today. At the time of buying the location, $13,000.00 of the purchase price was raised by subscriptions, of which $10,000.00 was paid for the site. Later the lot adjoining on the west was purchased at a cost of $4,500.00. On January 17, 1913, the mortgage on the YWCA building was paid. An event celebrating the “burning of the mortgage” was held on January 21, 1913 with Dr. Sarah Kime in charge of the ceremony. The three-story building was designed to house permanent and transient women. With dorm style private housing throughout, residents shared kitchen, laundry, bath and lounge space. The building also included club rooms and a gymnasium with showers. Thirty-six rooms were available for rent by women coming into the community for education and employment. The directors at that time were: Mrs. George Ringland, president; Mrs. J. I. Rutledge, first vice president; Mrs. E. H. Williams, second vice president ; Mrs. W. H. Blakely, corresponding secretary ; Mrs. Charles Findlay, recording secretary, and Dr. Sarah Kime, treasurer. The remaining board of directors included Mesdames Anna Beatty, W. H. Blakely, C. V. Findlay, J. F. Russell, E. H. Williams, D. M. Woodard, George H. Williams, F. B. Olney, G. L. Lindquist, and Phillip Dorr. During the year 1912-13, there were 126 girls were enrolled in YWCA programs. By 1930, the membership of the YWCA totaled 700 women. From 1915 to 1943, the YWCA Cafeteria served 3 meal daily. Meals were provided a nourishment for low income and transient women and for the women living at the Y. The cafeteria continued serving meals until 1961. During its peak of operation, the YWCA Cafeteria was recognized as a social center for motorists and the traveling public. Nationally, since its beginnings in the 1860’s, the YWCA has advocated for women’s economic advancement, empowerment, health, fitness and well-being, education and leadership development. In Fort Dodge, YWCA programs and offerings have evolved with the changing needs and interests of women and girls in the area. Early classes and clubs involved “working girls.” The YWCA began the Fort Dodge Business and Professional Women's Club, the Fort Dodge Business Girl's Club, and the Young Adult Club. The woman's movement saw great participation by the Girl Reserves in Fort Dodge, and most notably the Black Girl Reserves. From their inception, YWCA programs have been visionary -- encouraging every woman and girl to perform at her maximum level to achieve self-sufficiency, maintain healthy habits, empower herself and work toward resolving racial justice issues. The YWCA has served thousands of women and children in its 100+ years in Fort Dodge, and will continue to serve for many years to come. Today, the YWCA Center for Life Empowerment operates a Licensed Residential Treatment Center for women. The Center is a state licensed substance abuse treatment facility, which functions to provide clinically managed residential treatment for women and women with children. The organization also provides intensive and extended outpatient care both females and males. Treatment is directed toward applying recovery skills, preventing relapse, promoting personally responsibility, skills, and reintegrating the resident into the world of work, education, and family life. The YWCA supports and directs clients by offering guidance in all aspects of their recovery. It encourage a comprehensive approach to goal setting, development of life skills, physical and mental health, employment, vocational or education enrichment and family support. The YWCA remains dedicated to empowering women and women with children by supporting their recovery and reunifying their families.

Fort Dodge, Iowa Sports History Sports General22 Cubs vs White Sox at Dodger Stadium Read More Chicago Cubs vs. Chicago White Sox at Dodger Stadium Exhibition Game at Dodger Stadium Baseball Field April 9th, 1942 was a thrilling day for the estimated 8,000 people who filled the Dodger Stadium baseball field to watch an exhibition game between the Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Cubs. After the game, Bob Lewis, traveling secretary for the Chicago Cubs, said this was one of the largest crowds he has witnessed for a Cubs exhibition game. Both White Sox and Cub officials were amazed at the way the Fort Dodge handled the game, the crowd and the entire affair. The legendary sports editor and writer for the Des Moines Register, Sec Taylor, attended this game. In his column for the Sunday Register, he wrote “Fort Dodge promoted the recent Chicago Cubs – White Sox game in a big way and in major league style. The results were so satisfactory that those in charge of the promotion hope to make the contest an annual affair.” Taylor went on to say “the Chamber of Commerce committee in charge of the game, headed by O. C. Pfaff, its chairman, did such a good job that I heard only two complaints, neither of which is serious – one was because the ball park gates were not opened before 1:30 p.m. The other was from two women who had come to Fort Dodge with their men folk. They had planned to do some shopping while their husbands attended the game, only to discover that the town had not arranged the contest to bring shoppers to it. The stores were closed.” It was noted that fans from five different states and 75 Iowa counties came to Fort Dodge to watch this game. Most of the fans arrived at the ballpark when the gates opened at 1:30 p.m. hoping to get a good seat and watch the teams go through their pre-game drills and batting practice. However, the train that brought the Cubs and White Sox to Fort Dodge from their previous game in Tulsa, Oklahoma, did not arrive until almost 3:00 p. m., which was the scheduled start time for this contest. After very brief warm-ups, the game got underway- and it did not disappoint. In the bottom of the ninth inning with the Cubs up to bat and trailing the White Sox, Babe Dahlgren, the Cubs’ first baseman, blasted a 2-run home run to beat the White Sox, 16 – 14. The teams combined for 30 runs scored, 38 hits, five of which were home runs. Below are the players that played in that game: Chicago White Sox Chicago Cubs Don Kolloway Stan Hack Wally Moses Charlie Gilbert Joe Kuhel Bill Nicholson Luke Appling (Hall of Fame) Dom Dallessandro Taffy Wright Phil Cavarretta Myril Hoag Babe Dahlgren Bob Kennedy Clyde McCullough Mike Tresh Bob Scheffing Thurman Tucker Lou Stringer Tom Turner Bobby Sturgeon Buck Ross Lennie Merullo Joe Haynes Jake Mooty Orval Grove Paul Erickson Jake Jones Bill Novikoff Pete Appleton Johnny Schmitz Bill Fleming Sources: *The Des Moines Register. April 10, 1942 *The Des Moines Register. April 12, 1942 https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined Cubs vs White Sox @ Dodger Stadium April 9, 1942 April 9th, 1942 was a thrilling day for the estimated 8,000 people who filled the Dodger Stadium baseball field to watch an exhibition game between the Chicago White Sox play the Chicago Cubs. Historical Eras Iconic People Iconic Buildings Iconic Places Iconic Events Nostalgia Places of Worship Industry Education Healthcare Sports Archives HISTORY From its early beginnings and through the decades, sports has been intertwined in the fabric of Fort Dodge history, culture and nostalgia. General23 Baseball Greats Read More https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined Fort Dodge sports history for the past 120 years is filled with many iconic teams. One of them is the Fort Dodge Demons that was developed and led by legendary baseball enthusiast and coach Jerry Patterson. In 1956, the 12 years of age and under youth baseball team, Butler Demons, finished their season by winning their last 19 games. Picking up where they left off, they went 35-0 during the 1957 season. In 1958, that same bunch of kids, under coach Jerry Patterson, became the Fort Dodge Demons and won their first 13 games of that ’58 season. That legendary Butler/Fort Dodge Demons team amassed a 67 game winning streak that spanned across three seasons. This continues to be the longest streak by Fort Dodge baseball team at any level. The Demons team played baseball in Fort Dodge from 1956 to 1964. Bill Goodman was a phenomenal young outfielder and pitcher for the Fort Dodge Demons baseball team. He belted 15 home runs for the Demons in the summer of 1962. Goodman went on to star at Fort Dodge Senior High under legendary coach Ed McNeil then later played six years of professional baseball, four in the Cincinnati Reds organization and two in the Minnesota Twins farm system. A visual handicap which severely hindered Goodman during night games prevented him from making it to and staying in the big leagues. The Fort Dodge Demons baseball team will remain a legendary team in Fort Dodge baseball history for decades to come. Fort Dodge Demons 1956 Fort Dodge sports history for the past 120 years is filled with many iconic teams. One of them is the Fort Dodge Demons that was developed and led by legendary baseball enthusiast and coach Jerry Patterson. General24 Golf Hall of Famers Read More Hall of Famers Hagen, Armour, Sarazen all played exhibition matches at the FD Country Club The next time you’re standing over a shot at the Fort Dodge Country Club, consider this: Hall of Fame golf legends Walter Hagen, Tommy Armour and Gene Sarazen did the same some 90 years ago. Before PGA professionals became household names raking in multi-million dollar purses and superstar endorsement deals, they spent a lot more time in the trenches of our country. That often meant barnstorming tours to help supplement income or even make ends meet, and during an eight-year period of time, three of the game’s all-time best rubbed shoulders with the citizens of Fort Dodge. “It would be like bringing Tiger Woods to our community,” said Dave Sergeant, a local attorney and Iowa Golf Association Hall of Fame member. “Just having the chance to see some of the better professional golfers in the world up close … you’re standing next to Walter Hagen the year after he won the British Open and right in the middle of his PGA Championship heyday (Hagen won four consecutive titles from 1924-27). The same could be said for Armour, who won the Open in ’31 and was here in ’32, and Sarazen, who was in the prime of his career. “Right in the middle of all this success, they’re teeing off here at the Country Club.” The details of how and why the sport’s icons made stops in Fort Dodge for exhibition matches during that period of time aren’t exactly known. Sergeant and local historian Al Nelson deduced it had a little to do with location and a lot to do with money. “You can’t think of a professional golfer from that era the same way you do with modern (PGA Tour) players in terms of fame or fortune,” the 75-year-old Sergeant said. “In a lot of ways, the pros were even secondary actors compared to the amateurs of the time. The pros were just trying to put food on the table (a typical major winner from that era would only collect around $1,000). “When the Great Depression hit especially (1929-33), they probably had to get even more creative. Fort Dodge could’ve been a stop and a way to make some extra cash if they were migrating west from Chicago on either (Highway) 20 or 30.” Hagen — a man who, to this day, only trails only Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods on the career major list with 11 victories — played in an exhibition at the FDCC on Oct. 1, 1925. He teamed with Country Club pro Jack Canavan to defeat Bob McKee of Des Moines and Severt Thompson of Fort Dodge — a state Kiwanis champion — 1-up. Hagen carded a 36-33–69 on the par-34 layout. Though newspaper records didn’t verify, it would have to be assumed that the foursome played the nine-hole course twice, given the FDCC didn’t become an 18-hole layout until the next year. An estimated crowd of 400 followed the action. Armour, who captured the U.S. Open in 1927, the PGA Championship in 1930 and the British Open in 1931, teed off at the FDCC on Sept. 8, 1932. Armour and Canavan, a pro from Des Moines, were defeated by state amateur champ Denmar Miller and Pete Jordan of Des Moines. “Armour had just won the British the year before,” said Sergeant, who has lived in Fort Dodge since 1949. “Again, it’s not like these guys were coming to Fort Dodge after they’d retired or something. They were in the prime of their careers. They were headliners in the sport.” The Messenger newspaper article on the Armour exhibition did note the gallery was paltry, drawing only around 100 onlookers. “(The crowd) was pitifully small in spite of the presence of the young men who hold Iowa’s two most glittering golf titles and an internationally-famous professional,” the article said. “The admission price ($1.10) was to blame for the paucity of the spectators, a dollar and a dime looming unnaturally large through the Depression haze that fogs the horizon these days.” Armrour carded an even-par round of 70, with just one birdie. Sarazen, a seven-time major winner, is one of five players in history to own a career “grand slam” (victories in all four majors). Like Hagen and Armour, he came to town during the apex of both his skill and popularity — on Aug. 30, 1933. “Sarazen had won both the U.S. and British Open in 1932, and the PGA in ’33,” Sergeant said. Sarazen had been named Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year in ’32 as well. Sarazen and Joe Kirkwood — a famous trick-shot artist at the time — faced Miller and fellow Des Moines standout Pete Jordan. The match — with 200 fans following — ended in a draw. Sarazen shot 37-37–74. The Fort Dodge Country Club formally opened as a new nine-hole course on May 29, 1912. Renowned golf designer and IGA Hall of Famer Warren Dickinson of Des Moines was the lead architect and supervisor of the project. The original clubhouse, which was also dedicated in 1912, still stands today. A second nine was added in 1926, when it became a 6,498-yard, 18-hole course. The current 18-hole Country Club layout was completed in 1977. “It’s just a fascinating look back into the history (of the FDCC) — both the course design and knowing these iconic golfers were here,” Sergeant said. “When I played (in the 2003 United States Senior Open) at Inverness (Club in Toledo, Ohio), I noticed that some of the original designs from their clubhouse were almost identical to ours. And it was built at almost the exact same time. “There’s just so much rich golf tradition in our community. In my mind, knowing Hagen, Armour and Sarazen played here only adds to the mystique of it all.” Source: *Eric Pratt, The Messenger, Fort Dodge, IA., May 8, 2020 Giants of the Game 1925 The next time you’re standing over a shot at the Fort Dodge Country Club, consider this: Hall of Fame golf legends Walter Hagen, Tommy Armour and Gene Sarazen did the same some 90 years ago. Anyone who would like to recommend a story about an iconic sporting event, accomplishment, or exceptional athletic team is encouraged to contact the Fort Dodge Community Foundation by emailing Randy Kuhlman at rk@fd-foundation.org or call 515-573-3171.

Historical Eras Iconic People Iconic Buildings Iconic Places Iconic Events Nostalgia Places of Worship Industry Education Healthcare Sports Government Archives Fort Dodge and Webster County Governments have always been active and productive. Government in Fort Dodge and Webster County City Government in Fort Dodge From its beginnings in the 1850’s, Fort Dodge was led by mayors who led the growth and development of the fledging city. Fort Dodge’s first mayor was William Williams, who is recognized as the founder of Fort Dodge. Williams platted the early layout of the city and was Fort Dodge’s first postmaster. He was elected mayor in 1869. Major Williams Williams https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_5e20dd08261446a2b406f96a54b52357~mv2.png In the early beginning, Fort Dodge used a “strong mayor” form of government. With this form of government, the mayor served as the chief executive with significant administrative authority over city government. In the early 1900’s, Fort Dodge changed to the Des Moines Plan form of government. This plan, initially implemented in Des Moines, Iowa, was based on municipal government that had commissioners. In order to address issues such as corruption, cronyism and unfair practices within city governments, Des Moines created a new form of government that was approved by the Iowa State Legislature. Initially, only cities with populations larger than 25,000 could implement the Des Moines Plan, but, after seeing its success, the Legislature approved this plan for cities of populations of 7,000 or larger. Fort Dodge voted to implement the Des Moines Plan form of government on August 15, 1910. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_c16903d449a5402d908d9d16045212aa~mv2.png The philosophy behind the Des Moines Plan was to fairly represent the local constituents and their needs, values, and ideas. It was comprised primarily of a democratically elected council (not based on party affiliation or geographical area) and a mayor. The mayor and council/commissioners are the only elected municipal government officials under this plan. The council members/commissioners are all “At Large” representatives – they didn’t represent specific areas of the city (as does Fort Dodge’s current form of government). The council/commissioners were responsible for either hiring or appointing the department heads of city government. The five departments named under The Des Moines Plan were Department of Public Affairs, Department of Accounts and Finances, Department of Public Safety, Department of Streets and Public Improvements and Department of Parks and Public Property. The mayor was the “Superintendent” of the Department of Government Affairs, and each council member/commissioner was the “Superintendent” one of the four remaining departments. The mayor also served as “overseer” of the other four departments. Under the Des Moines Plan, two elections were held to fill the positions of Mayor and Council / Commissioners, The Primary election listed all mayoral candidates (the voters could vote for two mayoral candidates).and the list of council/commissioner candidates (listed in alphabetical order) followed. Voters could vote for up to four council/commissioner candidates. The top 2 vote winners in the mayoral race and the top eight winners then appeared on the official ballot for general election. The person who received the highest number of votes in the mayoral race became the mayor, and the four who received the highest number of votes in the council/commissioner races assumed those positions. It was believed that this system of governing was a very democratic way to represent members of the community and the best way to get rid of “corrupt, machine politics”. The mayor and council members/commissioners were not allowed to own any electrical, telephone, heating, utility, etc. businesses and were prohibited from accepting “favors” from any businesses. This was a direct way to address corruption and favoritism. As further proof of this, members of both the police and fire departments were prohibited from donating any funds to council members’ campaigns. There were also ample provisions in the Des Moines Plan, “The Recall”, that allowed commissioners to be removed, should they do something illegal or considered “intolerable conduct.” The Des Moines Plan also allowed the public to have referendum for any laws that were being enacted. If there was disagreement about the new laws, the public could garner a specific number of signatures and ask the council to reconsider the new laws. It was believed that the “wishes of the people” were much more fairly represented under The Des Moines Plan, and that the people had avenues through which to directly affect local government. Fort Dodge used this type of government for many decades. However, in 1953, a committee of citizens, chaired by Claude Van Gundy, wanted to change the form of government to a Council-Manager system. This proposed form of city government was likened to a corporate structure, with the citizens as the stockholders, the city council as the board of directors and a city manager as management/CEO hired by the council. Proponents of this type of government believed there would be more efficiencies because city government would be run like a business. A city referendum was held on June 9, 1953, and the referendum was defeated by a vote of 2,723 to 2,361. Van Gundy and his committee accepted the defeat graciously, but noted that there was a high voter turnout, indicating strong interest in the plan. The group opposing the city manager plan accepted their victory and encouraged all involved to continue to work together harmoniously for the betterment of the Fort Dodge community. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_46c4c09ccdfd4ed88f448babe06c8dcb~mv2.jpg Fort Dodge continued to use the Des Moines Plan type of government until 1981, when it changed to a strong mayor form of local government with a mayor and a city council elected by the voters. A strong mayor form of government is a system where the mayor serves as the city's chief executive, with significant power over day-to-day operations. The mayor typically has the authority to appoint and remove department heads, prepare and propose the budget, veto council actions, and manage city administration, while the city council has legislative authority. The city council serves as the governing body with council members elected to represent the citizens. The city council structure provides for a seven-member council with one council member elected for each of the city’s four wards and three council members elected at large. Because the mayor in a strong mayor system is up for reelection every four years, the management of city government often lacks strong continuity when new mayors are elected. This usually leads to turnover with department heads and other appointed positions. In 2005, Fort Dodge voters changed the city's form of government by a referendum vote, transitioning from a strong-mayor system to a council-manager system. The referendum passed with 61% of voters voting in favor of amending the City Charter and changing the form of government. Before the vote, a Government Study Commission was appointed by the Fort Dodge city council. The Committee was chaired by Randy Kuhlman. Other committee members included Matt Bemrich, Mel Schroeder, Dale Struecker, Doug Sanders, Jennifer Leiting, John Nelson, Hans Nielsen, and Dennis O'Farrell. The Government Study Commission spent five months reviewing and investigating various forms of local government including interviewing government leaders from other cities. The Commission ultimately recommended that the City of Fort Dodge change to the council - manager structure. Chairman Kuhlman stated, “almost all cities with the population of Fort Dodge and larger use the council-manager system. Having a professionally trained city manager to oversee the multimillion-dollar budget and complex operations of a city the size of Fort Dodge is greatly needed and just made sense.” The council–manager governing system was born out of the U.S. progressive reform movement at the turn of the 20th century to combat corruption and unethical activity within local government by promoting nonpolitical management that is effective, transparent, responsive, and accountable. It was first used in 1908 in Staunton, Virginia. Thereafter, the plan's popularity enjoyed steady growth, and then after World War II, this form of governing experienced dramatic growth across the nation. At that time, many cities were confronted with long lists of needed services and improvements that had backlogged from the Depression years of the 1930s. Faced with such challenges, many municipalities adopted the council-manager system which has been especially attractive to small and medium-sized cities. Today, it is used in most American municipalities with populations of 10,000 to 500,000 and is the most popular structure of local government in the United States. The council-manager form of government recognizes the critical role of elected officials to map out a collective vision for the community, address community issues, and adopt policies that direct the operation of the city. All power and authority to set policy rests with the city council, the elected governing body. The council-manager form of government combines the strong political leadership of elected officials with the effective managerial experience of an appointed city manager who is devoted to managing the day-to-day operations of the city and providing effective delivery of services to the residents. City council members and the mayor are elected by the voters of the city to represent their community. Council members are responsive to residents’ needs and wishes. Because decisions on policy and the future of the community are made by the elected city council rather than a single individual, council-manager governments are designed to engage and involve their residents in decision-making. Residents guide their community by communicating with the mayor and their elected council members, serving on boards and commissions, and participating in visioning and strategic planning meetings. To ensure that policies are carried out and that the entire community is properly served, the city council appoints a professional manager based on his/her education, experience, skills, and abilities (and not their political allegiances). The city manager carries out the policies established by the elected governing body with the responsibility of providing the effective and efficient delivery of city services. If the manager is not responsive to the governing body or is not meeting their expectations, the city council has the authority to terminate the manager at any time. The mayor in a council-manager system presides over council meetings, assigns agenda items to committees, facilitates communication and understanding between elected and appointed officials, and assists the city council in setting goals and advocating policy decisions. The mayor also has ceremonial duties representing the community as the ceremonial head of the city. The mayor provides leadership to the council but does not vote on issues before the council. In Fort Dodge, the mayor has veto power over city council decisions, but the city council can override a mayor’s veto when five of the seven council members vote to override the veto. Today, the council-manager system remains successful, as evidenced by its widespread adoption across thousands of cities across the U.S., and studies show that it leads to more efficient city management. This system is effective because it separates political leadership from professional administration. This separation enhances efficiency and professional management and allows for greater administrative continuity because appointed city managers are not subject to the same political whims and changes as elected officials.

Fort Dodge, Iowa Education History Education Historical Eras Iconic People Iconic Buildings Iconic Places Iconic Events Nostalgia Places of Worship Industry Education Healthcare Sports Archives HISTORY General183 History of Education Read More Fort Dodge has a long history of education. The first school in Fort Dodge was taught by C. C. Carpenter, (a young surveyor who later became the Governor of Iowa) in the winter of 1854-55. The first school in Fort Dodge was housed in the bake house of garrison soldiers, prior to 1956. There were twenty students. With the need for more space, the second school was located further west of the original school in the only church and temperance hall in Fort Dodge. Dexter Weller was the teacher and there were forty students. Legend has it that the school was so cold during the winter that the ink froze while the students were using it and the drinking water froze in the pails before the students could drink it. The third school, started in 1856, was the first public school. Henry Gunn was the first teacher. This school was located at the corner of 2nd Avenue South and 7th Street. It was a two-story brick building known as “Old Brick” and served as a public school for twelve years. “Old Brick” was the only public building in town and was used for holding court, political meetings, church, festivals and other public affairs. After the Spirit Lake Massacre, many local settlers living north and west of Fort Dodge took refuge in “Old Brick”. It was also where the two companies for the Spirit Lake expedition were organized to make the trek to bury the dead and confront the Indians after the Massacre. Fort Dodge had its first divided school in 1860, with an upper and a lower grade. The school continued for three years. Following the war, the number of students grew in Fort Dodge grew significant by 1868. The school board built a large frame school house at Second Avenue South and Eighth Street to house the extra students. It had three rooms and was used until 1869. In 1869, Fort Dodge had grown in population, so bonds were issued and a new twelve-room school was started at the corner of 2nd Avenue North and 10th Street. However, five months later on January 20, 1870, the school building burned to the ground. The school board used the insurance they collected and began a new building on the same location, Second Avenue North and Tenth Street. This new building was ready for use in the fall of 1872. Until it was completed, classes were held in various places: churches, empty store rooms, etc. The new building was named for D. K. Lincoln, president of the school board and an outstanding citizen. The building was then on the edge of town, and people complained of having to send their children “way out on the prairie” to school. It was often referred to as the “School on the Prairie.” The Lincoln School housed all grades, with the high school on the third floor. In 1869, the Lincoln School was the only public school building in Fort Dodge. In 1872 the teaching staff consisted of ten women and one man. Early records do not speak of anyone as principal but refer simply to superintendent, or professor, as he was called. The high school became known for its progressive ideas. New supplies needed in the building were paid for by socials, programs, bazaars, suppers, etc., which students and teachers worked out as money-making projects. Lincoln School had about 350 pupils in attendance. The first high school graduating class was in 1875 – two young women and one young man made up the graduating class. In 1877 there was no graduating class. In 1878 seven students graduated and in 1879 only four. This was at a time when most Iowa towns only carried education through 8th grade. In 1875, there were very few high schools in Iowa, as many Iowans did not see high school as an educational necessity. Even by 1890, high school level education was still fairly rare in Iowa as there were only 88 school districts in the state that offered four years of high school. Government and educational leaders at the state harbored concerns about the education system in Iowa. They argued that the organization of high schools reflected the growing public need for higher education and the high school should be the crowning glory of Iowa’s public education system. At that time, the existing high school curriculum was influenced by college admission requirements. This was a problem, because most students at that time required education and training for bookkeeping, business, journalism, dressmaking, agriculture and other “trade” type jobs, rather than a university education. The 1890s were a time of soul-searching for Iowa educators. Out of the ferment of debate and discussion emerged a consensus around the belief that public schools must identify with the democratic, scientific, and technological forces of modern society and that they must reach out to all segments of the population. In so doing, the schools must work with other social agencies, such as the home, the church, and business, to educate the whole child: "the head, the heart, and the hand," to use a recurring phrase of the time. Outside of the city in the county, one-room school houses were very common. In fact, in the state of Iowa there were as many as 12,000 to 14,000 one-room school houses at one time. Some national educational reports indicated that Iowa had more one-room school houses than any other state in the nation. Generally, a school was constructed near the center of the sub-district in every township so that no child had to travel more than two miles to school. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the kids all walked to school. By 1897 the population of Fort Dodge had grown to 14,000. A new high school building was necessary. It was built on First Avenue North and Tenth Street. It was a three story building of yellow brick with many large windows and three outstanding entrances. Every foot of space in it was used. An unusually high basement had been built so that it could house the superintendent’s office, three recitation rooms, a bicycle room, a gymnasium, coal, boiler, and heating coil rooms. The period between 1890 to 1920 was a time of educational growth and reform in Iowa which impacted education in Fort Dodge. The education movement began transitioning from the small, one-room country school approach, to a more regulated and large school model for providing public education. Consolidations started occurring shortly after the turn of the 20th century, but they started reaching a fever pitch when the automobile – and reliable roads – became a mainstay. Turn-of-the-last-century education reform – compulsory attendance through age 14 and required curriculum and textbooks – put the one-room schools on track to eventual demise. Between 1890 to 1922, the population of Fort Dodge grew significantly and the need for more schools became a priority. During this time period, eleven schools were organized and constructed in Fort Dodge. 1890: Arey School was built 1891: Wahkonsa School was built 1893: The first Riverside School was built 1897: New High School on 1st Ave. North 1910: Butler School built 1912: Second Wahkonsa School built to replace the first one that burnt 1912: Duncombe School built 1914: Pleasant Valley School built 1917: Carpenter School built 1917: Hawley School built 1922: Fort Dodge High School In 1899, there were thirty-eight teachers employed, not including the superintendent, and the buildings then in use were the Pottery, First Ward, West Fort Dodge, Arey, Wahkonsa, Lincoln, and the new high school building. Most of the social activities held by high school groups in the early days were held in the homes. Football was introduced into the school in 1894. Interclass baseball was also played. In 1897 basketball for both boys and girls appeared. Those who played football in those days furnished their own equipment and did the coaching themselves. The music department of the high school did not get underway until 1909. Then the first orchestra had six members. Athletics continued to grow in importance and around 1910 a coach was hired. An area for an athletic field was bought just east of Duncombe School. In June of 1907. the high school building was damaged by fire. Because it was not totally destroyed, it was restored and ready for school in the fall. Due to an increased enrollment, several rooms were enlarged. By 1918, the high school building on First Avenue North rapidly became outgrown. In 1919, petitions were started to ask the Board of Education to call an election to vote to issue bonds so a new lot might be bought and a new school be built and equipped. The vote for a new school carried easily. Because Fort Dodge had spread out on both sides of the river and the distances from outlying districts were great, the question of a location for a new school was important. A consultant from Iowa City surveyed the city, found the center of population, and suggested a location. The Board then chose the site located at 1015 5th Ave North. The building was ready in September, 1922. It was built of dark red brick and is three stories high. Compared to the previous high school, it looked large and massive. (This building eventually became North Junior High after the new high school was built in 1958). In 1921 the Fort Dodge School system added advanced courses beyond the regular four year high school program as the first step toward the establishment of a junior college, a new educational concept of the times. The college classes occupied the third floor of the new high school. The junior college was an extension of the Fort Dodge School System. The first teachers were high school teachers given additional assignments, a practice necessary because state funding did not extend beyond high school. The practice continued until the 1950s. Fort Dodge was the third school in the state to establish such a program. During the following three decades, education continued to transform but no new school buildings were built until World War II ended. In the late 1940s and through the 1950’s, the rural population began to decline and with educational regulations increasing and stricter teacher qualification standards, maintaining the country schools was no longer feasible. As county roads continued to develop and vehicles improved, bus transportation also became a better option. When country school students began attending school “in town” in the late 50’s and early 60’s, it put a squeeze on the available space. The “Baby Boom” generation of students hit Fort Dodge and the community had to respond by building five new schools including a new high school in 1958. By the early 1970’s, public school enrollment hit all-time highs. The schools listed here were built during this period: Fort Dodge Senior High and Junior College (1958) Highland Park School (1952) Hillcrest School (1956) Cooper School (1956) New High School (1958) Feelhaver School (1968) At the start of the 21st century, the schools built in the 1950’s had aged and three new schools have been built; the new Butler Elementary School in 1999; the new Middle School in 2013 and the new Duncombe Elementary School in 2017. All four Fort Dodge elementary schools were named after iconic Fort Dodge leaders; Butler Elementary: Name after J.B. Butler, an education leader and school board member for 27 years. Feelhaver Elementary: Named after Charles Feelhaver, a highly respected school superintendent for Fort Dodge for twenty years. Duncombe Elementary: Named after the renowned Fort Dodge attorney, school board president and community leader, Charles Duncombe. Cooper Elementary: Name after Fred Cooper, renowned coach and educational leader. Today, public school enrollment is approximately 3,600 students. Fort Dodge Community Schools offer one early learning center, four elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. The Fort Dodge Community School System offers students a wide range of academic courses, vocation classes, athletic, arts and extracurricular activities. Sources: *Iowa Department of Education *Iowa Biographies Project: History of Fort Dodge and Webster County, Iowa… by H. M. Pratt 1913 - Chicago: The Pioneer Publishing Company *Fort Dodge in Pioneer Days …. 1944… by Lucy Taff *Wikipedia General21 Arey School Read More Arey School The streets of Fort Dodge were not always named as they now are. In the earlier days of Fort Dodge Arey School would have been located between Walnut and Locust, Morrison and Main streets. Today these streets have become First and Second avenues, Sixteenth and Seventeenth streets. The school was located at intersection of 1st Avenue South and South 17th Street. The first Arey School was built between 1889 and 1890. It was named for Melvin F. Arey who was superintendent of schools at the time. This first building had only four rooms. These four rooms were torn down in 1900 so that a larger building (shown here) could be built that was finished in 1901. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined At first the playground was very small so in 1915 the board of education bought the north half of the block. There was a house on the lot so they moved it west of the main building and made a kindergarten room and a room for domestic science classes in it. Later the domestic science classes were sent to another building. In the same year they also made a basement room of the main building into a classroom where the preliminary class met. The preliminary class was really the kindergarten A class, but in the earlier years the children learned how to read and had a separate teacher. Arey Grade School Alumni – Around the late 50’s The large lot which had been purchased for a playground was often flooded and made into an ice skating rink in winter. During the summer the playground was used for recreation purposes. When the preliminary group became kindergarten “A” and was taught by the regular https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined kindergarten teacher, the basement room became an assembly and music room. An upstairs room, not needed as a classroom, was converted into an attractive all school library in 1943. With the growth of population and an outdated building, a new Arey Elementary School was built in the same location at the intersection of 1st Avenue South and South 17th Street. The new Arey School was built in 1965. The Arey Elementary School was closed in the 1980’s and was converted into the public school administration office building. Sources *Fort Dodge in Pioneer Days …. 1944… by Lucy Taff *Fort Dodge – Postcard History …. Megan Bygness and Pamela Bygness History of the Public Schools 1845 Fort Dodge has a long history of education. Parochial schools played a significant role in Fort Dodge education beginning in the 1860’s. Arey Elementary School 1889 The first Arey School was built between 1889 and 1890. It was named for Melvin F. Arey who was superintendent of schools at the time. This first building had only four rooms. General184 Butler School Read More Butler School began in a rented house on south Twenty-second street in 1906. The district was then known as the Oleson Park district. The school board rented a one-room house, and three grades were taught in it. The next year the board rented another one-room house on Twentieth street and three grades were also taught there. Both of these early schools were under the supervision of Arey School. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_2135f50273a1489e8cbc63ea4983c5b4~mv2.png In 1910 a new building was built in the Oleson Park district. It was named Butler School for Mr. J. B. Butler who was an active, helpful member of the school board at the time. Mr. and Mrs. Butler were always interested in the school and presented it with a picture that was hung in the hall. At the time the school opened in 1910 only four rooms were needed. The board had built the building larger because they expected the southeastern part of the city would grow. That is exactly what happened, and soon all the rooms were needed. In fact the district grew so rapidly that in 1928 a six-room addition to the building was completed. This made a sixteen-room modern school building. Many changes have happened in Butler District since it began, back in 1906. The first school had a Round Oak heating stove while the present one has a modern heating and ventilating system. The first Butler School had a tin dipper and pail for drinking purposes. At first the little one-room buildings were out in the open spaces, often win swept and snow blocked. One of the outstanding features of Butler School is its playground which is a recreation center throughout the year. The playground covers four acres and is well equipped for physical education and forms of recreation. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined The building has an attractive all school library where children meet for regular library periods. A music room for both instrumental and vocal activities is enjoyed by the students and teachers. It often becomes an assembly room for interesting programs. The setting of Butler School makes Oleson Park available for nature study, hikes, picnics, etc. The Great Western Bridge which is easily visible from the building has been and always will be a source of interest and fascination to the children. With an increasing enrollment and a building that was close to 90 years old, the Fort Dodge Community School Board began planning for a new building for Butler Elementary in 1997. The new Butler Elementary School was built in 1999 in the same location as the original Butler School. Butler Elementary serves approximately 500 students in kindergarten through fourth grade. Its goal is to provide a safe, fun and stimulating environment where all kids can learn and excel. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_169dcd6b789e47ffb2f9d92cef35ebbd~mv2.jpg Sources: *Fort Dodge in Pioneer Days …. 1944… by Lucy Taff *Fort Dodge Community Schools website Butler School 1906 Butler School began in a rented house on south Twenty-second street in 1906. The school board rented a one-room house, and three grades were taught in it. General178 Carpenter School Read More Carpenter School has the honor of being named for ex-governor Cyrus Clay Carpenter,(https://www.fortdodgehistory.com/iconic-people) the teacher of the first public school in Fort Dodge. In 1925, a bronze plaque of the Gettysburg Address was presented to the school by the Sons of Union Veterans and its auxiliary in cooperation with Carpenter’s Parent Teachers’ Association. The governor of Iowa in 1925, as well as the mayor of Fort Dodge, were present when the presentation was made. A picture of Governor Carpenter was presented to the school by the Carpenter family. The original school was completed in 1917 at was located at 1301 S.24th Street. The enrollment quickly doubled. Carpenter School was closed by the fall of 1976. The building at the location now serves as the home of the Early Childhood Center that provides childcare and afterschool programs for children from infants to age 12. Carpenter Elementary School 1917 Carpenter School has the honor of being named for ex-governor Cyrus Clay Carpenter, the teacher of the first public school in Fort Dodge. General20 Community Christian School Read More Giving the Fort Dodge area an option for Christian-based, protestant education, Community Christian School has a history of providing high quality educational services in the Fort Dodge area since 1978. Many families representing over 25 churches have selected Community Christian School as their school of choice, based on its commitment to a philosophy of Christian education and academic excellence, small class size, commitment to building Christian character, ministry-minded staff that truly care about each individual student, the safe environment provided, and opportunity for parental involvement. Community Christian School (CCS) was founded on January 18, 1978, through a vote taken by the members of the First Evangelical Free Church (FEFC) of Fort Dodge (now Crossway Church). Classes began in the fall of 1978. A high school was added in 1980 and operated until 1991. The intent was to “parent and guide a Christian school” that would be nondenominational in its focus and teachings yet would stress those central truths of the Bible that unite Christians. Classes met for the first time in the fall of 1978. The school remained housed in the basement of FEFC until the spring of 2013 when the school relocated to 2406 9 and 1/2 Avenue South, Fort Dodge, (formerly the Holy Rosary Church and School). At that time, the school also became an independent, non-denominational school no longer governed by the FEFC. In January of 2018, the school added a daycare center to CCS serving infants to school age children. CCS provides education for students pre-K through 8th grade. CCS is currently accredited by the State of Iowa and is pursuing accreditation with Christian Schools International (CSI). Community Christian School’s Mission is: Serving God by providing families an academically-excellent, Biblically-integrated education, which encourages spiritual development and social responsibility in an environment where students can develop their God-given gifts and talents. Source: *http://www.ccsfd.org Community Christian School 1978 Giving the Fort Dodge area an option for Christian-based, protestant education, Community Christian School has a history of providing high quality educational services in the Fort Dodge area since 1978. General187 Duncombe School Read More Construction of Duncombe School was begun in 1912 when the school board saw there was a growing need for a school in the northeast section of the city. When the land for Duncombe School was purchased, it was a truck garden planted with corn. There were only two or three houses to the north of the school and none to the east. So the school was practically out in the country. When the plan for the building was made, it called for eight classrooms, a community room, office, and a rest room. Many people said this was too large a building for the needs of the time. But the school board realized that this section of the city would grow. This proved to be true because the very first year the school was used, all eight rooms were filled, and a kindergarten was arranged for in the basement. They were still crowded for space. So the office became a supply room and the rest room an office. Later the community room became two classrooms making the building an eleven classroom structure operating on three floors. In 1925 an annex of two rooms, moved over from Lincoln School, was added, making a total of thirteen classrooms in use. The upper hall was also used for classes. One of the reasons for the great need of classrooms was that the seventh and eighth grades were enrolled at Duncombe until the junior high was established in 1931. When the seventh and eighth graders went over to the Junior High there was more room available and the annex became space used as an assembly room for students and community activities. The basement of the annex was used as a practice room for high school wrestlers. The building was named after Charles F. Duncombe who was president of the board of education at the time the school was constructed and was a distinguished citizen. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined One of the outstanding features of the school was the large playground which covered two square blocks. The large field to the east of the school was the athletic field for high school football, baseball, and track practice until Dodger Field was completed. In 2015, bricks began to fall from the 100 year old building forcing the building to be closed for safety reasons. The Duncombe School students were temporarily relocated to the former Fair Oaks Middle School that was previously closed when the new Fort Dodge Middle School Building opened in 2013. A bond referendum was passed by the citizens of Fort Dodge in 2016 to build a new Duncombe Elementary School at the same location as the original Duncombe School. In 2017, the new Duncombe Elementary School was opened, replacing the 105 year structure. Duncombe Elementary serves approximately 450 students in kindergarten through fourth grade. Sources: *Fort Dodge in Pioneer Days …. 1944… by Lucy Taff Duncombe School 1912 When the land for Duncombe School was purchased, it was a truck garden planted with corn. There were only two or three houses to the north of the school and none to the east. So the school was practically out in the country. General185 Schools' History Read More https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined By 1868 the ever increasing school population of Fort Dodge had outgrown three upgraded buildings. So in that year bonds were issued, and a new twelve-room school house was started. It was ready for the school year in September, 1869. The building was built at the corner of 2nd Avenue North and 10th Street. However, five months later on January 20, 1870, the school building burned to the ground. The school board used the insurance they collected and began a new building on the same location. This new building was ready for use in the fall of 1872. Until it was completed, classes were held in various places: churches, empty store rooms, etc. The new building was named for D. K. Lincoln, president of the school board and an outstanding citizen. The building was then on the edge of town, and people complained of having to send their children “way out on the prairie” to school. It was often referred to as the “School on the Prairie.” The Lincoln School housed all grades, with the high school located on the third floor. In 1872 the teaching staff consisted of ten women and one man. Early records do not speak of anyone as principal but refer simply to superintendent, or professor, as he was called. The high school became known for its progressive ideas. New supplies needed in the building were paid for by socials, programs, bazaars, suppers, etc., which students and teachers worked out as money-making schemes. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined The first class of three members graduated on July 1, 1875. The graduating program was an elaborate one of declamations, dialogues, and music. In 1877 there was no graduating class. In 1878 seven students graduated and in 1879 only four. In December, 1882, the town was given a scare when the fire bell rang and the high school was said to be on fire. School had been dismissed, but several boys who were still in the building helped Professor Arey put out a fire before the hose company arrived. They carried water up five flights of stairs. It is said that Professor Arey froze the fingers of both hands. Football was introduced into the school in 1894. Interclass baseball was also played. In 1897 basketball for both boys and girls appeared. Those who played football in those days furnished their own equipment and did the coaching themselves. By 1897 the population of Fort Dodge had grown to 14,000. A new high school building was necessary. It was built on First Avenue North and Tenth Street. It was a three story building of yellow brick with many large windows and three outstanding entrances. Every foot of space in it was used. An unusually high basement had been built so that the superintendent’s office, three recitation rooms, a bicycle room, a gymnasium, coal, boiler, and heating coil rooms were all found there. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined This building was damaged by fire in June, 1907. Because it was not totally destroyed, it was restored and ready for school in the fall. Due to an increased enrollment, several rooms were enlarged. Most of the parties held by high school groups in the early days were held in the homes. Occasionally, lectures were held in the building. The music department of the high school did not get underway until 1909. Then the first orchestra had six members. Athletics became more important about 1910 when a coach was obtained. A small area for a practice field was bought just east of Duncombe School. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined By 1918, the high school building on First Avenue North rapidly became outgrown. In 1919, petitions were started to ask the Board of Education to call an election to vote to issue bonds so a new lot might be bought and a new school be built and equipped. The vote for a new school carried easily. Because Fort Dodge had spread out on both sides of the river and the distances from outlying districts were great, the question of a location for a new school was important. A consultant from Iowa City surveyed the city, found the center of population, and suggested a location. The Board then chose the site located at 1015 5th Ave North. The building was ready in September, 1922. It is built of dark red brick and is three stories high. Compared to the previous high school, it looked large and massive. In 1921 the Fort Dodge School system added advanced courses beyond the regular four year high school program as the first step toward the establishment of a junior college, a new educational concept of the times. The college classes occupied the third floor of the new high school. The junior college was an extension of the Fort Dodge School System. The first teachers were high school teachers given additional assignments, a practice necessary because state funding did not extend beyond high school. The practice continued until the 1950s. Fort Dodge was the third school in the state to establish such a program. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined During the following three decades, education continued to transform but no new school buildings were built until World War II ended. In the 1950s, the number of youth enrolled in the Fort Dodge public schools continued to grow. Country schools were closing and as county roads continued to develop bus transportation also became a better option. When country school students began attending school “in town” in the late 50’s and early 60’s, it put a squeeze on the available space. The need for a new high school became evident. In 1958, a new high school was built on several acres of land located in the north-central part of Fort Dodge between Martin Luther King Drive and North 25th Street. By the early 1970’s, public school enrollment hit all-time highs. Fort Dodge Senior High enrollment surpassed 1,500 students for grades 10, 11 and 12. Fort Dodge High School 1869 By 1868 the ever increasing school population of Fort Dodge had outgrown three upgraded buildings. So in that year bonds were issued, and a new twelve-room school house was started. It was ready for the school year in September, 1869. General165 FD Junior College, Iowa Central Read More In 1921, the Fort Dodge School system added advanced courses beyond the regular four year high school program as the first step toward the establishment of a junior college, a new educational concept of the times. The college classes occupied the third floor of the new high school on Fifth Avenue North. The junior college was an extension of the Fort Dodge School System. The first teachers were high school teachers given additional assignments, a practice necessary because state funding did not extend beyond high school. The practice continued until the 1950s. Fort Dodge was the third school in the state to establish such a program. For four years only the freshman year was offered and it wasn’t until 1925 that the sophomore year was added. The first class, consisting of thirty-one students, graduated from the junior college in 1926. The curriculum was limited to the traditional liberal arts until the 1950s when vocational courses and adult education were added and the school was renamed the Fort Dodge Community College which recognized the change. In 1953, Fort Dodge Community College introduced a two year elementary teaching program and in 1960 the college became one of the first colleges in the country to offer a two year program for registered nurses which replaced the three year hospital associated program. With the construction of the new high school in 1958, the college followed the high school to the new location. In 1960 the college was recognized as a separate entity from the high school with its own administrative structure. In 1965 the voters of Fort Dodge passed a bond issue for constructing buildings solely for the college and the Fort Dodge Betterment Foundation gave 100 acres just to west of Friendship Haven for a new college campus. The same year the state legislature passed landmark legislation creating the state wide community college system and Fort Dodge Community College became Iowa Central Community College with a nine county district. Iowa Central was organized in 1966 after the State of Iowa issued a mandate that required the state to offer a vast array of educational opportunities to the residents of its nine-county area. Iowa Central was built on the foundation of three area junior colleges which had been operating in the region since the 1920’s by the local public school systems. Fort Dodge Junior College (organized in 1921), Webster City Junior College (organized in 1926) and Eagle Grove Junior College (organized in 1928) joined forces to become Iowa Central as a result of the Area School Act, passed by Iowa’s 61st General Assembly. This legislation authorized two or more county school systems to merge to form an area community college. Nine counties comprise the Iowa Central region: Buena Vista, Calhoun, Greene, Hamilton, Humboldt, Pocahontas, Sac, Webster and Wright. The resulting Merged Area V has approximately 28,000 students in 31 public school districts. In 1971, a fourth center was added with the completion of a new building in Storm Lake. Dr. Edwin Barbour became the first president of Iowa Central Community College, who at that time had been Eagle Grove’s superintendent of schools for more than a decade. Barbour served as president from 1966 through 1983. Dr. Barbour recalled the beginning this way: “When I became superintendent in the summer of 1966, only the foundations of the science and library buildings on the north end of our complex had been poured. Those buildings had been authorized by voters of the Fort Dodge Community School District which was then operating the two-year college. There was a soybean field where our administration and voc-tech buildings and parking lots now are, a vacant lot bordering U.S. 20 where the dormitories are…. We were scattered all over. The Dodge Building – a former bowling alley bordering U.S. 169, which later became Iowa Central Rehabilitation Industries – was one of our centers. We had seven temporary metal buildings as classrooms; we rented the old 4-H building on the grounds and the Shaffer Building near the Expo Pool.” In 1975, Iowa Central joined with Buena Vista College in Storm Lake in a cooperative venture whereby students can earn a bachelor’s degree attending evening classes. The students’ first two years are completed at Iowa Central and the final two years at Buena Vista at the Fort Dodge center. Today, Iowa Central has over 5,000 students of which 1,100 live on campus. Iowa Centrals offers 45 different degrees that transfer to a four year college; it has over 100 programs from which to choose; over 60 career and technical programs; Iowa Central holds 40 national championship titles and the student /teacher ratio is 19:1. Iowa Central also partners with local high schools, whereby high school students can earn “dual credits” by taking “Early Bird” classes (i.e., college courses offered at Fort Dodge Senior High) at the high school and receive college credit upon completion. The high school provides the instructor. High school students can also take online courses and earn college credit while in high school. Sources: *Fort Dodge Historical Society - Fort Dodge History…. Roger Natte *Messenger Newspaper… October 4, 2016 *www.iowacentral.edu *Wikipedia Fort Dodge Junior College/Iowa Central Community College 1921 In 1921 the Fort Dodge School system added advanced courses beyond the regular four year high school program as the first step toward the establishment of a junior college, a new educational concept of the times. General201 Read More More information to come Fort Dodge Junior High 1922 The Junior High was organized in 1922 in the old Senior High Building when the new senior high building was completed in that year, and the four upper grades were transferred there. General218 Hawley School Read More Hawley School has one of the most beautiful settings in Fort Dodge. It is situated in the northwest part of the city on a lovely ridge called Round Prairie. There are still many virgin trees around to add to the pleasant environment. The building was erected in 1917. Before the school was built, the children of this district attended Pottery School and Wahkonsa School. Pottery School was a single room school on North First Street. Hawley School was named in memory of Henry W. Hawley, who was at one time a prominent citizen of Fort Dodge. When he died, he left $10,000 to be given to worthy graduates of our high school as college scholarships. Since Hawley School was built, Round Prairie has grown rapidly, and until it became necessary to use all the classrooms in the building and to make the gymnasium and part of the hall into additional classrooms. Hawley School was closed around 1985. Hawley School 1917 Hawley School has one of the most beautiful settings in Fort Dodge. It is situated in the northwest part of the city on a lovely ridge called Round Prairie. There are still many virgin trees around to add to the pleasant environment. General188 Junior High/Middle Schools Read More In 1868, the original Lincoln School was constructed. In January, 1871, this building burned, and the building which is still standing was built. For a time seventh and eighth grades were taken care of in this Lincoln Building. They were housed on the third floor of the Lincoln Building from 1869 until it was condemned as unsafe in 1913. The annex to the east of the main building was then used for classrooms for the 7th and 8th grades. As the enrollment in junior high grew, each district cared for its own seventh grade. The Junior High was organized in 1922 in the old Senior High Building when the new senior high building was completed in that year and the four upper grades were transferred there. The seventh and eighth grade pupils were transferred from Lincoln School to the old high school building that was located on 1st Avenue North and 10th Street, and the first Fort Dodge Junior High came into existence. The fire marshal had condemned the third floor of the building so only the two lower floors were used. In 1929 the land for new junior high building was bought and plans were made for the building that would accommodate the seventh and eighth grade students. The site for Junior High was chosen because the location was found to be the exact center of the school population at that time. In 1930, the city voted a bond issue for the erection of the building, and digging started August 1. The building was completed and accepted just one year later, August 1, 1931. The Junior High building was located at 416 South 10th Street in Fort Dodge, Iowa. The school building was situated between 4th Avenue South on the north, 5th Avenue South on the south, South 7th Street on the west, and South 12th Street on the east. The site of the school includes grassy areas, trees, and landscaping on all sides of the building. An athletic field was situated on a portion of level land within an otherwise steeply sloping hill just west of the school building. The hill slopes from the site of the school building to the athletic field. In 1937, the school board decided to bring the ninth grade from senior high to the junior high building to make the Junior High system incorporate grades 7, 8 and 9. The senior high also needed more room for the three upper grades. A new addition was made to the Junior High building in 1937 to accommodate the added numbers. In 1965, another addition was added to the building to accommodate the growing student population. Since 1937, the Fort Dodge Junior High consisted of three grades: seventh, eighth, and ninth until the Fort Dodge Community School board restructured the junior high system into a middle school model that incorporated the 5th and 6th grades in one building at the Junior High building (Fair Oaks Middle School), and grades 7 and 8 into the former senior high school building (Phillips Middle School). This transition occurred in 1992. With two aging middle school buildings, the Fort Dodge Community school board began the planning for a new middle school in 2011. Besides offering a new, modern facility, the school board’s plan was to bring all four grades, 5-8, together in one building. The school board felt that one middle school building, in the long run, would be much more efficient and would save operating costs. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined Early in the design process for this middle school, participatory workshops resulted in abandoning the idea of traditional classroom in favor of creating a new student-focused learning environment. Each learning environment (known as a learning community) was comprised of several learning centers and houses approximately 150 students. At the fifth and sixth grade levels, the learning communities each house six learning centers, including science studios. At the seventh and eighth grade levels, the learning communities each house five learning centers, including one science lab. In addition, each learning community offers spaces for specialized learning and teacher collaboration. At the center of each learning community is a common space that offers opportunities for individual, small group, and large group learning. The new Fort Dodge Middle School building is located just four blocks east of the high school on 10th Avenue North and 32nd Street in east Fort Dodge. The new building was completed in August of 2013. The Fort Dodge Middle School serves approximately 1,100 students in 5th through 8th grade. Lincoln School 1868 Lincoln School is the oldest of the school buildings in this city. In 1868, many students came into Fort Dodge. The school board saw a need for more room, so the first brick school building in Fort Dodge was completed on Lincoln School grounds. General216 Pleasant Valley School Read More The citizens of the district of Pleasant Valley were given the privilege of choosing a name for their new school building. They chose the name, “Pleasant Valley”, because it describes the valley well, and because they hoped the school might be a pleasant place for everyone who worked there. The Pleasant Valley district was known as the First Ward school in the earlier days. It has been impossible to locate the data of the first school house in the district. Early settlers think that the district is about 60 years old, but they do not know where the first building was located nor when it was built. The first records found were in some school board notes of March 15, 1887. This seems to mean that the first school property in the district was bought in that year. The building was known as the First Ward Building, Number 2. It was a one-room school house with an outside well and other inconveniences the children of the present day school never knew. The school had three grades and one teacher. By 1908 this school had grown to a three-room frame building with a teaching staff of three. The building was heated by stoves while water pails and public drinking cups provided water for the pupils. In 1913 a Parent-Teacher Association was formed. That spring a petition for a new building was started and circulated. A special election was held, and money for a new school was voted. In 1914 the present school building was ready, having been built just across from the three-room building. The brick building has seven classrooms and a gymnasium which is much used by the children as well as being a recreation center for adults in 1843 one end of the upper hall was converted into an all school library to which all grades come as part of their regular classwork. Pleasant Valley School 1887 The citizens of the district of Pleasant Valley were given the privilege of choosing a name for their new school building. They chose the name, “Pleasant Valley”, because it describes the valley well, and because they hoped the school might be a pleasant place for everyone who worked there. General214 Presbyterian College Read More Presbyterian College/Fort Dodge Collegiate Institute In October, 1883, the Calliope Academy was taken under the care of the Ft. Dodge Presbytery which then constituted the Northwest quarter of the state of Iowa. Two years later the school was moved to Ft. Dodge and given the name of the Ft. Dodge Collegiate Institute. It was located at the corner of First Avenue North and Fifth Street in a Victorian mansion referred to as the Haskell House, which twelve years later served as the first hospital in Fort Dodge. The Rev. F. L. Kenyon was chosen president and served in this capacity until the spring of 1889. He was succeeded by the Rev. L. Y. Hayes. This school offered college preparatory courses, a traditional liberal arts program and a commercial program. It was very innovative for its time because it offered individualized instruction, night courses and simulated model banking and retailing experiences. It also had music, art, debate and speech. Its enrollment peaked at 95 students. In 1891, the college closed due to financial problems. Presbyterian leaders decided that the school would not be successful located in Fort Dodge. Accordingly the Ft. Dodge and Sioux City Presbyteries, which had resulted from a division of the old Ft. Dodge Presbytery appointed a joint commission of twelve men to take into consideration a new location and the reorganization of the school. After much careful and prayerful consideration of a number of propositions from different towns, the commission met in Storm Lake on the 8th of July, 1891, for final action. On the following day, the decision was made to locate the college in Storm Lake, Iowa, and reorganized the school. It was incorporated as Buena Vista College, (which became Buena Vista University in 1995). The college was first granted accreditation by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools in 1952. Source: *The Presbyterian Church in Iowa - 1837-1900 – History – Prepared by Committee of Synod of Iowa *www.bvu.edu Presbyterian College 1813 This school offered college preparatory courses, a traditional liberal arts program and a commercial program. It was very innovative for its time because it offered individualized instruction, night courses and simulated model banking and retailing experiences. It also had music, art, debate and speech. Its enrollment peaked at 95 students. Riverside School 1813 This school offered college preparatory courses, a traditional liberal arts program and a commercial program. It was very innovative for its time because it offered individualized instruction, night courses and simulated model banking and retailing experiences. It also had music, art, debate and speech. Its enrollment peaked at 95 students. General177 Catholic Schools Read More The Catholic schools played a significant role in Fort Dodge education beginning in the 1860’s. The Catholic community in Fort Dodge from the early pioneer days of the community has always valued the importance of providing students with Christ-centered education. As early as 1862, there were two Catholic schools that were organized in the frontier Fort Dodge community. Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School was established in 1862 by Father John Marsh and the original building was erected on what is known as "Seminary Square," a beautiful plat of ground just north of the Catholic church. The second Catholic schools was also established with the Corpus Christi Catholic Church. The Sisters of Charity of the B. V. M. came from Dubuque to conduct the classes. Unfortunately, the two schools were discontinued in 1866 due to financial challenges owing to the sparse population and the sisters returned to their mother house. In 1874, the old school building was enlarged and under the direction of the Very Reverend T. M. Lenihan, a flourishing school was established. The Sisters of Mercy came from New York City and made this convent their mother house. Unfortunately, fire destroyed the buildings and for some years the parish was without a parochial school. A new Catholic school building was erected in 1901, at a cost of $25,000, and the Sacred Heart school was opened in 1902. The Sisters of Charity of the B. V. M., of Dubuque returned to Fort Dodge to teach the classes. By 1912, the Catholic school had ten teachers employed and an enrollment of 257 https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_ca206f9ffa9a431eb2b5497030118162~mv2.jpg students. Up until 1955, there were three Catholic high schools in Webster County; Corpus Christi and Sacred Heart High Schools in Fort Dodge, and St. Mathews in Clare. In 1947 Bishop Edmond Heelan announced plans to build a centralized Catholic high school in Fort Dodge to serve Webster County. Two major fund raising campaigns ensued, and enough money was raised to purchase a 22 acre tract of land (located at 501 North 22nd Street) and pay for the building of a new Catholic high school. Mr. Robert Hermans was the general contractor on the Saint Edmond project. In a tragic development, Mr. Hermans passed away during the process. This unfortunate setback led to major issues in completing the building including significant cost increases. Mr. Hermans widow, Frances, came to the rescue. Fran Hermans sold a farm and used the funds to defray the cost overruns, thus bringing the building in at the original budgeted price. The Saint Edmond community owes a great deal of gratitude to the entire Hermans family for their gracious philanthropy. The design of the new high school was not without conflict. When the school’s first Superintendent, Msgr. Gerald Kelly saw the design plan, he liked what he saw with one exception. Msgr. Kelly’s vision of the school included a full-fledged auditorium, not a stage in the gymnasium as was common in those days. At the time, Bishop Joseph Mueller argued against the auditorium, but Msgr. Kelly stood his ground and thus a 500 plus seating auditorium became a part of the building. The St. Edmond’s auditorium has become a major part of Saint Edmond history. For 60 years, St. Edmond students and families have enjoyed musicals, dramas, band and concert performances and most importantly the sacred rite of Mass in the beloved auditorium. Until recently, the auditorium at Saint Edmond High School was the only one in a Catholic high school in the Holy Trinity Diocese. Saint Edmond High School saw 69 students graduate from its first Class in 1956. The school showed great growth, with peak enrollment of 700 students, 9th thru 12th grades, in 1969. In 1963, a convent was added at the south end of the building. The original building saw an addition of a cafeteria, library, chapel, 8 classrooms, a faculty lunch room, a new kitchen and a priest’s residence, finished in 1967. In 1981, a new addition gave the school a new wrestling room, weight room and two locker rooms. In 1998, the junior high school / middle school was moved to the second floor of Saint Edmond. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined In the early 2000’s, a school planning committee developed a plan for closing the Sacred Heart and Corpus Christi elementary sites and adding an extensive building addition to develop a single site system. In 2002, the plan came to fruition and the biggest addition yet to the high school building, a new elementary school, was attached to the original building. The new addition included several classrooms for the elementary system and a new gymnasium for use by elementary and middle school physical education classes and athletics. This completed the goal of developing a single site system for St. Edmonds. St. Edmond Catholic School is now officially known as the Saint Edmond Catholic School System, no longer segregated into individual sites or complexes. In 2012, the St. Edmond Catholic School System bought the Phillips Middle School gymnasium and athletic field from the Fort Dodge Community School System. This purchase provided St. Edmonds with two addition basketball/volleyball courts, exercise space, a practice football field and track. This athletic space was needed when the decision was made to build a new one-site parish on the former St. Edmond football field, adjacent to the St. Edmond School. St. Edmond's Catholic School 1956 Saint Edmond High School saw 69 students graduate from its first Class in 1956. The school showed great growth, with peak enrollment of 700 students, 9th thru 12th grades, in 1969. St. Paul Lutheran School 1864 While valuing its Lutheran heritage where students are daily in God’s Word, the school continues to value the partnership between church, school, and family, just as its pioneers leaders did over 150 years ago. General213 Wahkonsa School Read More The location of Wahkonsa School has a great deal of historical interest connected with it. The plot on which the school is built was the site of the old military post from which Fort Dodge had its beginning. The fort was placed upon the hill overlooking the valleys of the Des Moines River and Soldier and Lizard Creeks for protection from the Indians. The barracks for the officers were built upon what is now the playground. In 1891, an eight-room brick building was erected upon the side of the old fort. The school was named for a friendly young Sioux Indian who had been a frequent visitor at the fort. At midday, February 2, 1912, the building burned. The day was bitterly cold and a high north wind blew the flames across the street. The heat was so great that families living near the school had to leave their homes. The heat cracked the glass and melted frost on windows in nearby homes. There were only a few pupils in the building with the teachers when the fire started. All had plenty of time to escape from the building. The fire was on Thursday. On the following Monday the children began school in various rooms in the business district. Two grades went to the Y. M. C. A., two went to the public library, and others to lodge rooms. A new school was begun immediately, and within a year’s time the present school building was ready. Because the children and teachers had experienced so much inconvenience, they heartily welcomed the new building. Shortly after the new structure was erected, the school board purchased the plot of ground just east of the building for a playground. At that time an old log cabin on which modern siding had been placed occupied the site. The school board removed the siding and presented the cabin to the Fort Dodge Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. These women had the cabin removed to Oleson Park where it still stands to give us a clear picture of what an early log cabin was like. In 1928 this society placed a marker on the lawn at Wahkonsa School to mark the site of the old military post. The marker is a bronze tablet set in a five foot stone, and it gives a brief history of the fort. The old lot school of 1854 has given way to a modern building with a music room and auditorium for the use of the children and patrons. One room has been fitted for a dark room where students may develop films and study photography if they so desire. Wahkonsa School was located at 330 1st Avenue North. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_125789b18a0240c4b93b6bf2be3be0dd~mv2.jpg Wahkonsa School 1891 The location of Wahkonsa School has a great deal of historical interest connected with it. The plot on which the school is built was the site of the old military post from which Fort Dodge had its beginning. General164 Tobin College Read More Tobin College was founded in 1892 and was the fourth school founded by Professor Thomas Tobin, the other three being: Tilford Academy, at Vinton, Iowa; Waterloo College, at Waterloo, Iowa , and Ellsworth College, at Iowa Falls, Iowa. Professor Tobin, who was a native of Ireland, was born August 15, 1835 , and died May 27, 1900. He came to America when fourteen years of age. He did not have a chance to learn his letters until he was seventeen. But even at that age, he had the courage to set out to secure a college education, earning the necessary means himself. But so hard was the struggle, that for three months at a time, he did not have money enough to buy a postage stamp. After graduation, Professor Tobin resolved to make it easier for backward boys to obtain an education, and to give them a chance to secure instruction suited to their individual needs. Accordingly, in 1870, he came to Iowa and established Tilford Academy, at Vinton. In 1885 he went to Waterloo and started Waterloo College . In 1889, he removed to Iowa Falls, where he founded Ellsworth College . Early in the year 1892, he began corresponding with Mr. Frank Gates, Mr. Frank Farrell, and others, concerning the establishment of a college in Fort Dodge. Satisfactory arrangements having been made, Professor Tobin moved his family here in April of the same year, and work on the college was started. The property for the college site was purchased from Mrs. Sarah Dwelle, the widow of the last landlord of the old St. Charles hotel. This property included the hotel and a quarter of a block of ground on the corner of First avenue North and Seventh street. While the college building was not completely finished, yet school began on the second Monday in September, 1892. The new college began without a name. A week or so after it opened, Professor Tobin was invited by some friends to spend the day in the woods. While he was gone, the teachers and students took matters into their own hands, called a meeting, and by a unanimous vote, christened the new college, "Tobin," in recognition of the work he had done for the cause of education through the founding of so many colleges. The formal dedication of the building did not take place until the last of October, 1892. The dedicatory exercises consisted of an afternoon and evening program. At these programs, congratulatory addresses were made by prominent business men of the city; also by Rev. William Randall, pastor of the Baptist church at Iowa Falls, and Rev. F. E. Eldredge, state Sunday school missionary of the Baptist church, both of whom were very close friends of Professor Tobin. The enrollment of the first term numbered about fifty. At the opening of the winter term, many of the country boys came in, and the enrollment reached the one hundred mark. The boarding department, the first fall, numbered about twenty. In the winter this number increased to forty. This department was carried on in the old St. Charles, the kitchen and dining rooms of the college building not being finished until 1893. The faculty the first year numbered nine. Professor Tobin taught general history, which was his favorite subject, and gave the rest of his time to the supervision of the school. Professor J. F. Monk had charge of the stenography department and taught the languages. Mrs. J. F. Monk and Miss Mable Allison taught the normal branches. Professor B. T. Green taught the sciences and mathematics and had charge of the commercial department. The music department was under the direction of Professor W. V. Jones and his daughter, Miss Gertrude Jones. Miss Amelia Goldsworthy had charge of the art department. The first class graduated in June, 1893, and was composed of thirteen members from the commercial and stenographic departments. Those from the commercial department were: J. Oscar Ahlberg, Otto L. Boehm, Walter M. Boehm, Edwin Brickson, Nora Lenihan, Benjamin F. McNeil, Charles R. Peterson, Jennie M. Slate. The stenography class included: Jurgen N. Anderson, Ella W. Beach, Annie G. Fahey, Lizzie E. Harvison and Bessie B. Norton. The first normal class graduated in 1894, and consisted of Jessie V. Cox and Ida M. Prink. In 1893, Professor Tobin made a contract with Messrs. Green and Monk, by which they were to take charge of the school, buying it from him. But the hard times in 1893-94 so cut down the attendance, that they were unable to make their payments, and Professor Tobin again assumed active control in the fall of 1894. Professor Monk remained on the college faculty, but Professor Green followed his natural inclination and studied medicine. During the school year 1894-95, the two literary societies, the Philomathean and the Amphycton, were established. The societies have remained in existence ever since. The Snitkay Debate Prize has had much to do in stimulating the interest in debate. This prize is offered by Dr. C. J. Snitkay, an alumnus of the class of '97, and his wife, Mrs. Emma Monk Snitkay, an alumnus of the class of '95. The society winning the contest in debate is given a prize of $10.00. This prize money has always been used by the societies for the benefit of the school. It was in declamatory work, the teaching of young men and women to think and talk upon their feet, that Professor Tobin was especially interested. To this work he gave freely both of his time, and of his zeal. Many of the older students of the college remember how night after night, he sat in the rear of the chapel, criticizing and commending, but always urging onward his students. And the present success of many of the alumni is due in a large measure to the training of Professor Tobin. His interest was such that he never missed a program of the literary societies, nor any program in which his students took part. His enthusiasm and interest was so genuine and from the heart that it engendered a longing for success in his pupils. The first declamatory contest of the college was held in the year 1893, and was won by Miss June McNeil, now Mrs. Kusterer, of Moorland. In the year 1896, the first of the present series of gold medal contests was held. These contests, held annually, provide for three prizes: A gold medal to the winner; a silver medal to the one winning second place, and a souvenir spoon of the college to the one winning third place. The medals have been the gifts of various persons, who have thus shown their interest in the work of the college. The spoon has always been the gift of the college management. The contest is usually held the last Friday evening in March. A system of preliminary contests held each term leads to the selection for the closing contest in the third term. There are three contestants chosen each term, thus making nine for the finals. The honors in the contests since their beginning, together with the donors of the medal are as follows: Year Winner Donor 1896 R. G. Tobin Professor T. Tobin 1897 George E. Q. Johnson Mr. Isaac Garmoe 1898 Mrs. Nora Haviland-Moore Hon. John F. Duncombe 1899 M. J. Fitzpatrick Mr. J. F. Carter 1900 Otto V. Bowman Mr. J. B. Butler 1901 Miss Edith Bird Hon. O. M. Oleson 1902 E. E. Cavanaugh Captain S. J. Bennett 1903 Miss Ethel Jondreau Mr. M. F. Healy 1904 James A. Martin Mr. J. G. Early 1905 Francis Murphy Messrs. Monk & Findlay 1906 Miss Eva Southwick Mrs. Julie Haskell-Oleson 1907 Miss Ellen Schmoker Messrs. Monk & Findlay 1908 Leon W. Powers Mr. H. M. Pratt 1909 William Ryberg Mr. H. D. Beresford 1910 Miss Christine Brown Mr. Charles Iles 1911 Miss Myrtle Tullar Mrs. Margaret Tobin-Pratt 1912 D. L. Rhodes* Mr. John S. Heffner Perhaps no school of its size has as strong an alumni association as Tobin College . This association was organized in 1895 and now numbers over three hundred. A unique feature of the Tobin College Alumni Association is the alumni fund. This fund was started in 1899 by Professor Tobin, its purpose being "for the aid of worthy students in their efforts to gain an education." In 1899, Professor Tobin sold the college to Messrs. Monk and Findlay, who have carried on the work along the lines originally laid down. The college has continued to prosper and grow until now the annual enrollment numbers about four hundred. With the lives of such men as Professor Tobin, Professor Monk and Professor Findlay dedicated to its service, Tobin College could not help but be the source of blessing it is to the community and to the young people who have attended it. * D. L. Rhodes and Miss Mildred Sperry tied for first place, and on drawing lots the honors went to Mr. Rhodes. Sources: *Iowa Biographies Project: History of Fort Dodge and Webster County, Iowa… by H. M. Pratt.1913 *Chicago: The Pioneer Publishing Company, 1913. Tobin College 1892 The new college began without a name. A week or so after it opened, Professor Tobin was invited by some friends to spend the day in the woods. While he was gone, the teachers and students took matters into their own hands, called a meeting, and by a unanimous vote, christened the new college, "Tobin," in recognition of the work he had done for the cause of education through the founding of so many colleges.

Fort Dodge experienced increased economic development in the late 1800's and early 1900's. Agriculture and local natural resources contributed to this expansion. A number of leaders from the Fort Dodge community visited the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago, where they learned of new trends and developments in architecture, urban planning, parks and commercial buildings. Many of these new initiatives were incorporated in the new construction of downtown buildings and residential homes. The boulevard-style street in the Snell Crawford neighborhood, Northwood Avenue, are representive of one of the new road designs these individuals brought back from the World's Fair. Frequently asked questions Iconic Buildings Blanden Memorial Art Museum https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_604b6ae0928d456b82b5ac9cdebce57b~mv2.jpg The Blanden Memorial Art Museum was constructed in 1932 as the first art museum in Iowa. It is located in the Historic Oak Hill District. Charles Blanden donated the funding to build the museum. Blanden had been the mayor of Fort Dodge from 1887 – 1889. He later became a banker in Chicago, and subsequently devoted his time to creating poetry. He was renowned for his poetry, receiving many awards throughout the United States. Mr. Blanden’s wife Elizabeth was a teacher in Fort Dodge when they lived here. She was the daughter of a Fort Dodge clergyman, Reverend Mills, one time pastor of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. Later in their lives they moved to California and in 1929, Mrs. Blanden passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. Mr. Blanden wanted to something to honor his wife’s life and decided to build an art museum, but he wasn’t sure if he should build it in Fort Dodge or in San Diego, California. A group of ladies that lived in Fort Dodge in the late 1920’s really wanted Mr. Blanden to build the museum here. But at that time, there was a state law that only allowed cities with a population of 50,000 or more people to have a municipal museum. Fort Dodge had around 30,000 people living in it at that time, not enough for a municipal museum. A State Senator from Fort Dodge helped the group and through the Iowa government system, sponsored a law that lowered the population requirement to 20,000 – this way; Fort Dodge could build a museum. The Blanden was designed by architect E. O. Damon, Jr., of Fort Dodge in 1931 and was modeled after the neo-classical design of the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, Ohio. The façade (front) of the Blanden was influenced by the architectural design of other builds, such as the Petit Trianon at Versailles near Paris, France. At the time of the Blanden’s opening, there were not light fixtures in the galleries, so skylights open to the outside were on the ceilings. These have since been covered, and special light fixtures added that better protect the artwork. The Blanden Memorial Art Museum continues to be a vibrant art museum in northwest Iowa today. It has multiple exhibits each year, art classes for adults and children, creative community outreach and artist talks throughout the year. The Blanden permanent collection includes the Ann R. Smeltzer Modernist collection of European and American painting and sculpture, the Harold D. Peterson collection of European and American prints, American photography, contemporary American art, Iowa artists and Japanese screens and prints. The Blanden’s mission continues to be to integrate visual arts into everyday life. Fort Dodge Messenger www.blanden.org(http://www.blanden.org/) Webster County Historical Society Breen Home The E. J. Breen Sr. residence occupies a prominent location https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_6c566071227f4e1599713725c36defa2~mv2.jpg on the corner of Second Avenue South and Tenth Street. Constructed in 1910, the home has been continuously occupied by members of the Breen family since that time. The house at 925 2nd Ave. S. has a red brick exterior with red tile roof, and is another of the sturdy early 20th Century residences built in this area by prominent families of the city. It has a full basement and three floors. On the first floor are living, dining and cooking areas; on the second floor four bedrooms, sleeping porch and bath; and on the third floor a ballroom. The Breen family came to Fort Dodge in 1904 from Estherville. The family included Mr. and Mrs. Breen, sons Maurice J. and Edward Jr. and daughter Paulyne. During their early years in the city the Breens resided in houses at Fourth Avenue North and Twelfth Street and Fifth Avenue South and Twelfth Street before their home on Second Avenue South was completed in 1910. Source: Historic Homes: Fort Dodge, Iowa https://www.gutenberg.org/files/63118/63118-h/63118-h.htm(https://www.gutenberg.org/files/63118/63118-h/63118-h.htm) PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALLEN R. LOOMIS • TEXT BY KARL F. HAUGEN The Boston Center 1914 809 Central Ave https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_14020825e78b434f8051c39894efd17c~mv2.jpg The building that housed the Boston Store at 809 Central Ave., consisted of four floors and a basement for the retail activity and a balcony for the general offices, mail order department, credit department and exchange desk. The third floor also featured a small restaurant and tea room. Richard Snell, from Clinton Illinois, was the original owner of the Boston Centre and also the Snell Building, both located at 809 and 805 Central Avenue. He received the land on which both buildings are located from his father, Thomas Snell, who owned it when it was originally platted in 1856. Although the two buildings differed in size, appearance and function, they were both part of the same investment project for Snell. Both buildings were constructed at the same time, however the building for the Boston Store was completed first and had its formal opening in September of 1914, while the Snell Building was completed in January of 1915. The building that housed the Boston Store at 809 Central Ave., consisted of four floors and a basement for the retail activity and a balcony for the general offices, mail order department, credit department and exchange desk. The third floor also featured a small restaurant and tea room. Below is a list of the various departments and merchandise that was on each floor: The First Floor Women and children’s shoes, woolen dress goods and linings; silks and velvets; linens, wash goods and white goods; patterns; embroideries, laces, trimmings; neck wear, handkerchiefs and veiling, jewelry, leather goods, parasols and umbrellas, toilet goods and drug sundries; knit underwear and hosiery; gloves and notions and bed spreads. “Worthy of particular mention is the department store innovation, the drug sundries and the toilet article department under the management of George Gilman. Mrs. Helga Rand, for fifteen years a well-known and efficient clerk in Fort Dodge, is in charge with Miss Rose Pelican as her assistant. The outlay of merchandise in this section of the big store has attracted a great deal of attention because of its completeness and beauty. One particularly interesting line of goods shown there is the imported French white ivory toilet articles. Purchased before the war, it is on sale at prices greatly under the average price for imported stuff in other markets. That it is soon to be a rarity on the American market if the war continues, is also adding to the interest in the display. In addition to this, the department shows a complete line of toilet articles in every line, including perfumes, toilet articles and powders. A full line of rubber goods is also carried. Cottons, gauzes and bandages are also to be seen. This department undoubtedly will be particularly popular with the feminine shopper.” - The Fort Dodge Messenger. September 19, 1914 On the Balcony In the balcony placed across the south end of the first floor are the general offices, mail order department, cash cages for the five floors, credit department and exchange desk. The Second Floor “Ready to wear department” Millinery (women’s hats); suits, coats and dresses, skirts, waists, furs, kimonas, petticoats and sweaters. “This department is beautifully equipped with mahogany furnishing. A deep green velvet carpet covers the floor. Many glass cases enclose dresses and suits and coats on forms and an abundance of long mirrors gives the buyer every opportunity to see herself as others will see her.” - The Fort Dodge Messenger. September 19, 1914 Boston Store Shopping Bag https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_a93fed07bc2a443cbd5a122b90f43a72~mv2.jpg The Third Floor Hair goods and beauty parlor, muslin underwear and corsets; infant’s department, and the art goods and yarn department. The restaurant and tea room occupied the southeast quarter of this floor as well. With a beautiful atmosphere with very fine mahogany furniture, chairs and tables with heavy opaque glass tops, the restaurant and tea room was not expected to make money, but was provided “as a matter of convenience to the people.” Special lunches were served each day from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. During the afternoon, the regular dishes were served. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_deff9c49b5674e9f983f21c097416d94~mv2.jpg The Fourth Floor Rugs, linoleums, carpets; draperies and curtain goods, photograph studio, wall paper, paints, window shades, pictures and picture framing. Basement Various kinds of general merchandise and special sales. Trunks and suit cases; stationery; bedding, blankets and comforters; domestic prints, percales, cotton goods and bakery goods. Today, the Boston Centre is home to Olde Boston’s Restaurant; “Within” Marketing Company; Action Reality, Inc.; Alyssa Kenville, P.C.; Fort Dodge Reality; Johnson & Bonzer PLC; Johnson Law Firm; RDG Media Inc.; Snyder & Associates, Inc.; Storey Kenworthy office supplies; Valentine Law Office, P.C. Captain Bennet House https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_d6cb9dfe1a14408898b31893a12398f5~mv2.jpg This large house at 911 3rd Ave. S.—set well back from the street—was built in 1890 by an early-day businessman—S. J. (Capt.) Bennett who came to Fort Dodge in 1870. It occupies a prominent location at the southeast corner of Third Avenue South and Ninth Street and has a two-story carriage house at the rear. The three-story residence is built of St. Louis granite-brick with Sioux Falls jasper trimmings, an early-day history of the city notes. It has a slate roof with copper trim. Wide porches extend along the north and west sides of the house. Since 1923 this spacious home, built by one of the city’s most prominent early-day residents, has been owned and occupied by members of the Schaupp family. Enjoying the gracious living quarters in the home were the late Judge and Mrs. John M. Schaupp, their sons John Jr., and Bradley and Judge Schaupp’s mother, the late Mrs. Emma Schaupp. Judge Schaupp, a Fort Dodge attorney for many years, was appointed to the Webster County District Court bench in 1944 and served for 19 years before retiring. He died in 1971 at age 80. The family residence is now occupied by son John Jr. The other son, Bradley, resides in Cedar Rapids. Source: Historic Homes: Fort Dodge, Iowa https://www.gutenberg.org/files/63118/63118-h/63118-h.htm(https://www.gutenberg.org/files/63118/63118-h/63118-h.htm) PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALLEN R. LOOMIS • TEXT BY KARL F. HAUGEN Carnegie Library https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_5e13a4b656834f6a8d04f7c50396c2b2~mv2.jpg Location: 605 1st Ave N. Construction Timeline: 1901 - 1903 Architect: Henry Koch Original Owner: City of Fort Dodge Size: 2 stories with basement Purpose of Building: Library Built in 1903, the Carnegie Library was considered one of the best libraries of its time. Reading Room, FD Library, 1897 https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_778cf0285059473f917ac915b8c6e80b~mv2.jpg Captain W.H. Johnston is considered the founder of the Fort Dodge Public Library. Captain Johnston had an unselfish commitment to public service and untiring application of his talents to library interests. He was first to establish a private library association in Fort Dodge in 1874. In 1890, the first free public library was opened in Fort Dodge. Captain Johnson induced others to help him in the creation of the small library and reading room in his office. He served gratuitously as the librarian for many years. Nine years later, a group of citizens began planning for a much larger building to house the growing collection of boos. Out of this grew the initiative to build the Fort Dodge Carnegie Library that served the Fort Dodge community for 98 years. The continued desire of the community for high quality library services led to the present Fort Dodge Public Library which largely through the labors of Captain Johnston, has become more than merely a beautiful edifice housing a collection of books, but has developed a deep and genuine taste by the public of Fort Dodge for library advantages. In June of 1899, Martha Haskell, a local citizen and early library supporter, offered $10,000 for the construction of a new library building. Three other leading citizens, Webb Vincent, O.M. Oleson and George Ringland offered a site on 1st Avenue North and 7th Street and $5,000 if the rest of the community would donate another $8,000. Within three weeks the goal was reached. Shortly after this fundraising campaign, it was discovered a larger sum of money may be available from Andrew Carnegie and his Carnegie Foundation. Carnegie, who made an immense fortune in the steel industry in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, was a nationally known philanthropist that made grants to help communities across the nation construct public libraries. Two prominent Fort Dodgers who lived in Washington D.C., George Roberts, Director of the U. S. Mint, and M. D. O’Connell, Solicitor General of the federal government, were asked to personally contact Carnegie with the city’s request. On Christmas Day 1900, Roberts and O’Connell telegraphed the mayor of Fort Dodge announcing that Carnegie had approved $30,000 for the construction of a new public library building. The architect for the new building was Henry Koch and the construction was done by Northwestern Building Company – the same architect and construction company that was hired for the new courthouse that was being constructed at the same time. The building layout was a modification of what was referred to as the “Chariton Plan” which provided for the entrance in the center of The "check-out" desk https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_1180241f7edf408f9e9426ce2304ff89~mv2.jpg the front of the building, a hall leading to the “delivery” room with the stacks directly behind. To one side of the delivery room was a general reading room and to the other was a children’s room. The stone for the new building came in rough from the Black Hills Stone Company, then was smoothed and fashioned on the construction grounds by the cutters. The total cost of the building was $47,293. The new library was formally dedicated on October 12, 1903. However, from the very beginning, the new building had one major flaw – that being the roof leaked severely, which constantly caused interior damage and staining. For fifteen years, all types of remedial measures were tried to fix the roof, yet all were unsuccessful. In 1919, the library board of trustees committed itself to action to the point of asking two architects to submit repair/improvement plans. T. W. Reely was chosen for the job and recommended that the only real cure would be the addition of a second story, a change which had been allowed for in the original plans in the event more space might be needed in the future. For the next ten years the proposal was considered, only to be rejected because of a lack of funds and the hope that a cheaper solution might be found. In an attempt to overcome this financial impasse, the state legislators from the county, M. J. Mitchell and C. V. Findlay, who also served as the president of the library board, proposed a bill to the state General Assembly which would give cities in Iowa with a population of 20,000 the power to levy a property tax to provide funds for necessary repairs and alterations to public libraries. Beautiful architecture in the FD Public Library https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_fd093b00e3704349a6bed696affcb1dc~mv2.jpg Although the bill passed, nothing was done with the library building until 1929 when the building began to rapidly deteriorate because of the leakage. After 26 years of roof problems, Frank Griffith, a local architect was hired to handle the job of adding a second story, which he estimated the cost at $33,000. However, when the economy and stock market crashed, contractors were eager to get any work they could, and the contract for the second story was awarded to John Smith for only $16,200. Originally, that cost was intended to be covered by a tax payer approved property tax levy, but with the drastically lower bid, the trustees felt that it could come out of the regular budget. Plans for the new addition called for the west room to serve as the children’s library, which had previously been moved to the basement, a small room on the east to be the board room, a second large room to be an auditorium and another to be used as an art gallery. The construction of the Blanden Gallery changed plans for that gallery room and it became a library for teachers to house reference books, supplemental reading materials and picture collections for classroom use. The second story addition was opened to the public on October 6, 1930. With the addition of the second floor, the library enjoyed the luxury of having far more space than was needed. In November of 1930, it was decided that the west room in the basement could be used as a museum to collect and preserve data and relics pertaining to Fort Dodge and Webster County history. As the collection expanded, so did the need for more space. In 1934, the adjoining hall was used for the museum and later in 1937, with $1,000 donated by Alice Granger, another room was renovated for additional historical relic exhibit space. The museum remained in those quarters until 1964 when the Fort Museum was established. The library remained in operation in this building until 2001, when it moved into its new building at 424 Central Ave. The Carnegie building was bought privately and the interior was renovated for market-rate apartments. Source: *Roger Natte & Fort Dodge Historical Society Dave Prelip Fort Dodge Memories Facebook https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_69c666ae455540ca9cd950c0d2c4b8c1~mv2.jpg Carver Building https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_1a7922f1d5f74e22a880e2046b77d485~mv2.jpg Location: 1007 & 1003 Central Ave. Construction Timeline: 1916 (first two stories), 1921 – 1922 (addition of six stories) Architect: J. H. Albright Original Owner: Dr. W. F. Carver Size: 8 stories & basement Purpose of Building: Office and store rooms In March of 1916, it was announced that Dr. W. F. Carver would be constructing a two story building for office and store rooms on the site of the old Colonel Blanden homestead, which he purchased weeks before. Jensen Construction Company was given the contract to build the two story, 70’ x 140’ building. The foundation was constructed to support seven stories, as Carver had the intention to add five more stories as soon as he saw a sufficient demand for more office rooms. When the iconic Carver Building opened, Mrs. Anna Kirwin ran the cafeteria that was in the basement of the building. The Jones Piano Company, Sperry Hutchinson Green Trading Stamp Company, Peterson Brothers Grocery, Proeschold Brothers Twin Toggery Clothing Store and Welch Pharmacy were the first five businesses that occupied the five store rooms on the first floor. The second floor had 25 office rooms, five of which were used by Dr. Carver for his medical practice. During the summer of 1921, work began on adding six additional stories onto the Carver Building. The project was completed with a formal announcement and opening in August of 1922. The new addition housed over 150 first-class and highly modernized office rooms and suites. The seven-story building became another Fort Dodge “skyscraper” structure that has been an iconic building on Central Avenue in downtown Fort Dodge for decades. Below are the businesses within the eight story Carver Building. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_335ccd043258419aba069f22b749b34f~mv2.png The majority of the eighth floor was occupied by the Fort Dodge Clinic, which had a well-arranged group of rooms all surrounding a large and attractive reception/waiting room. The doctors within the Fort Dodge Clinic were: · Dr. Carver – eye, ear, nose, throat · Dr. Gibson – general practice and obstetrics · Dr. Archer – general practice and surgery · Dr. Dorsey – physician and surgeon · Dr. Kersten – general practice and surgery · Dr. Munson – internal medicine, diagnoses and consultation · Dr. Saunders – general practice and radiology · Dr. Remer – dentist · R. S. Hopkins – laboratory technician Today, the Carver Building is home to Heartland Communications Group that purchased and refurbished the building in the winter of 1985. Heartland Communications offers digital and print publications and resources for the agriculture, aviation, construction and industrial markets that connect buyers and sellers of new and used equipment and provides information about new products, practices and services. Sources: *The Fort Dodge Messenger. March 23, 1916 *The Fort Dodge Messenger. April 12, 1916 *The Fort Dodge Messenger. December 9, 1916 *The Fort Dodge Messenger. August 7, 1922 https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_6a3774cb97bd4797a9f567206686f408~mv2.jpg Dolliver House https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_1f00f3fce2a9426e9bd6994c3325057a~mv2.jpg 915 2nd Ave South One of the stately residences built along Second Avenue South prior to the turn of the century is now the Women’s Clubhouse, but for many years it was the home of United States Senator Jonathan P. Dolliver and family. Built in 1895 and located at 915 2nd Ave. S., the large three-story red brick residence has been owned by the Women’s Club since 1935. While generally known as the Dolliver house it was built by Sen. Dolliver’s father-in-law, George R. Pearsons and occupied by his family for several years. The same year the house was built, Dolliver married Pearson’s daughter, Louise, but it was not until Pearson’s death in 1904 that the Dollivers moved into the home. The home site originally included four lots. Pearsons, a prominent early-day resident, came here as agent for the Illinois Central Railroad. He served as mayor for two terms and was a member of the school board. The Dolliver home originally had a parlor, drawing room or music room, dining room, kitchen and pantry on the first floor; five bedrooms and one large bath on the second floor and other rooms on the third floor. In later years the upstairs was extensively remodeled. There is a huge open stairway leading from the first floor to the upper floors. In the rounded window area of the drawing room there once was a large stone hollowed out for a small pool. A fountain was located in the center of the pool from which water flowed continuously. Goldfish in the pool added charm to the unique window arrangement. In 1968 the Women’s Club remodeled the house, enlarged the first floor meeting room to the west, removed the old porch and added a small patio and new entrance. Source: Historic Homes: Fort Dodge, Iowa https://www.gutenberg.org/files/63118/63118-h/63118-h.htm(https://www.gutenberg.org/files/63118/63118-h/63118-h.htm) PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALLEN R. LOOMIS • TEXT BY KARL F. HAUGEN E.H. Rich House https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_6fa8b4d4347b434a9b3a66e9ca2b75cd~mv2.jpg 819 3rd Ave. South E. H. Rich, a prominent Fort Dodge banker, built this large brick home at 819 3rd Ave. S. in 1880 and it was occupied continuously by members of the Rich family until the recent death of Miss Eva Rich. Rich came to the city in 1874 and was cashier of the early-day First National Bank for many years—a bank that later was reorganized as the State Bank. The Rich house is located on a three-lot site at the southwest corner of Third Avenue South and Ninth Street. Foundation of the home is constructed of large hand-hewn limestone blocks 20 inches thick and upper walls are 14 inches thick. The soft burned red brick used on the exterior was produced at a local brickyard using wood logs at that time to fire the kilns. The house contains seven bedrooms, living room, dining room, music room, kitchen and two bathrooms. The third floor attic area has three large rooms and there is a fourth floor with two unfinished rooms now reached only by a ladder. The interior stairway, doors and trim of the home are of solid walnut, cut out and formed from local walnut trees. Originally the house had seven open fireplaces, four on the first floor and three in upstairs bedrooms. With the coming of gas heat these were sealed off and six of the eight chimneys on the house removed. The house is now heated by two hot air gas-fired furnaces. The home was piped for gas lighting long before there was any city gas in Fort Dodge. A large tank filled with naphtha was buried in the backyard and the naphtha was piped to a gas machine in the basement. The naphtha dripped over a large enclosed rotating drum which generated illuminating gas by evaporation. A pump then forced the gas into distributing pipes. Power for this home gas system was supplied by clockwork gears run by gravity from 2,000 pound millstones. Each evening it was necessary to wind up the machine before lighting the gas fixtures. There were no telephones in the town when the house was built so Rich installed a telegraph line from the home to the bank a few blocks distant. Mr. and Mrs. Rich learned the telegraph code and one day when Mrs. Rich was injured she telegraphed her husband “Come quick—badly hurt.” Mr. Rich ran the distance from the bank to his home and found his injured wife. It was believed the telegraph message saved her life. In later years the Rich home was completely modernized. In 1973 the house was sold by Willis Rich, last of the family of seven, to Bill and Bruce Algood who are reconditioning and furnishing it in the tradition of the era when it was built. A large floor based mirror from the home was given by Rich to the governor’s mansion—“Terrace Hill”—in Des Moines. Source: Historic Homes: Fort Dodge, Iowa https://www.gutenberg.org/files/63118/63118-h/63118-h.htm(https://www.gutenberg.org/files/63118/63118-h/63118-h.htm) PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALLEN R. LOOMIS • TEXT BY KARL F. HAUGEN First National Bank/Beh Building https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_5f307bf73416432c8104b19e1dd4eca3~mv2.jpg Location: 629 Central Ave. Construction Timeline: 1907 – 1908 Architect: Liebbe, Nourse and Rasmussen (Des Moines, IA) Original Owner: First National Bank Size: Six stories Purpose of Building: Bank and office suite Built in 1908, this was one of Fort Dodge’s most prestigious buildings. Built in 1907-1908, the First National Bank Building is a prominent landmark in Fort Dodge. The history of the First National Bank runs almost parallel with the development of Fort Dodge since 1866. The officers and directors of the First National Bank were among the city's most prominent businessmen, active in city commerce and politics as well as the regionally important gypsum extraction and milling industry. The bank itself was the most prominent financial institution in Fort Dodge. Costing over $200,000 and rising six stories tall, this building was at its completion the city's most celebrated office structure. For almost 60 years, the building housed one of Fort Dodge's most prominent banks--either the First National Bank or the State Bank--on its first floor. And during this time its upper-level offices were occupied by many of the city's most prestigious commercial and professional tenants. Erected by the city's principal financial institution at the height of its affluence, the First National Bank Building played a pivotal role in early Fort Dodge commerce. Of the three major banks then operating in the city, by far the most prominent was the First National Bank. This institution had been founded on June 16, 1866, with an initial capitalization of $50,000. Its first officers--Charles B. Richards, President; Charles C. Smeltzer, Vice President; and E.G. Morgan, Cashier--and its directors were prominent businessmen and capitalists in the developing town. Most of the bank's early officers and directors were directly involved in the gypsum industry, through both management and investment. Stillman Meservey and Webb Vincent, co-founders of the formative Fort Dodge Plaster Mills, served as bank presidents between 1890 and 1916. Additionally, directors such as Charles Smeltzer, John Duncombe and E.H. Rich were also heavily involved in the gypsum industry. The bank initially did business from a small one-story brick building on the corner of Seventh Street and First Avenue South. When Richards resigned as president in 1874, his replacement, E.G. Morgan, moved the bank to 610 Central Avenue a year later. Morgan was succeeded by L. Blanden, bank president between 1875 and 1890, and Blanden was in turn succeeded by Stillman Meservey, who served between 1890 and 1902. It was Meservey who presided over the bank's next move in 1892 to larger quarters at the corner of Sixth and Central. After the turn of the century, Meservey turned over management of the bank to Webb Vincent. After the turn of the 20th Century, with the region's economy booming and Fort Dodge prospering, Vincent, Rich and the other First National directors began considering another move, this time into a multi-story building that the bank would build. The directors intended their building to serve as a landmark in downtown Fort Dodge, befitting the bank's prestigious standing in the community. Planning for a new structure began in 1906, when they purchased a two-story commercial building at the corner of Seventh and Central, a block down and across the street from their existing facility. In August 1906 the Fort Dodge Messenger announced under the headline, "Sky-Scraper Office Building to be Built," that the bank would raze the existing building on the site and construct a five- or six-story structure to house its offices and provide rental office space for many of Fort Dodge's professionals on the upper floors. To design their new building, the bank directors commissioned Liebbe, Nourse and Rasmussen, one of the state's most prestigious architectural firms. By the end of January 1907 the architects had drafted plans for the new bank building, which would cost more than $100,000. This move on the part of conservative financiers proves the confidence that is felt in Fort Dodge's future. In April 1907, C.E. Atkinson of Webster City, Iowa, was awarded the contract for the six-story building. Atkinson's crew began work soon thereafter, demolishing the existing structure on the site and excavating for the foundations that spring. Despite minor delays due to material shortages, the contractors completed the new bank building in April 1908. As the most extravagant office building in town, the First National Bank Building immediately became home to many of the city's lawyers, doctors, realtors, accountants and gypsum companies. The 1917 city directory, for instance, listed fourteen doctors and dentists, twelve lawyers, seven real estate brokers, six insurance companies and an architect among its tenants. During the 1910s and 1920s, the bank continued to do business from its street-level offices as Fort Dodge's strongest financial institution. In September 1915 the First National acquired the Fort Dodge Savings Bank, the third such institution that it had overtaken since the 1880s. A year later Webb Vincent was succeeded as bank president by E.H. Rich, long-time bank director and one of the principal owners of the Iowa Plaster Association. Sixteen years later the bank failed. In December 1930 the institution had been reorganized as the First State Bank and Trust Company. But First State was one of the many bank failures in the Great Depression. When President Roosevelt declared a bank holiday in March 1933, the bank closed and did not reopen under its own power. As the First National Bank, it had once boasted $8 million in deposits. After years of decline, a downgrading of its charter and a massive run by its depositors in the 1930s, however, the bank's deposited assets had plummeted to only $355,000 when it finally closed its doors. Placed under state receivership, First State reopened a short time later on a restricted basis, paying out 50 cents on the dollar to depositors while state auditors liquidated a trust fund formed from frozen assets and real estate holdings. In July 1934 First State closed altogether, and a new institution, the State Bank, opened in the original First National Bank Building. The State Bank took on many of the depositors who had been burned by the First State's closure. The building itself soon became known as the State Bank Building. By that time several other office structures had been built in downtown Fort Dodge, but this building still housed many of the city's professional elite. When the State Bank moved to new suburban quarters in 1966, the downtown building was acquired by Carleton Beh, a Des Moines capitalist and real estate investor. Beh grandly renamed the structure after himself, though by now its clientele had begun to lack the luster of the bank's heyday. Fewer, less prestigious tenants occupied the building in the 1970s, and by 1980 the Beh Building was largely vacant. The once prominent and prestigious building remained vacant and the interior spaces slowly deteriorated for a number of years until MDI Limited Partnership, out of St. Paul, Minnesota, purchased the building in 2002. MDI rehabilitated the interior and now the building is home to Central Place Apartments, which provides income-based apartments for senior citizens. Sources: *Fort Dodge Historical Society *National Register of Historic Places Fort Dodge Armory 1904 https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_b5a29f33265a4697924854419f327a57~mv2.jpg 710 1st Ave N The armory in Fort Dodge was built in 1904, spearheaded by the City’s Commercial Club (Chamber of Commerce) which raise $8,000 to construct the castle-like building that house the National Guard Regiment and provided a venue for the community band and various civic events. The armory in Fort Dodge was built in 1904, spearheaded by the City’s Commercial Club (Chamber of Commerce) which raised $8,000 to construct the castle-like building that housed the National Guard Regiment and provided a venue for the 56th Regiment Band, the community band and various civic events. The Armory was equipped with a gymnasium, swimming pool and bowling alley. The Armory Committee was chaired by Captain W. T. Chantland, a Spanish-American War Veteran and worked to raise the money and oversee the project. The architectural firm of Libbe, Nourse and Rasmussen from Des Moines designed the building to resemble an impregnable fortress, with imitation spots for gun placements. Especially durable, hard paving brick was used in the front part. The grand opening and dedication on February 11, 1904 was “the most brilliant function Fort Dodge social life had ever witnessed,” according to the Messenger. During two world wars, soldiers were drafted at the Armory, and ration books were issued to residents. After Pearl Harbor, many people worried that armories might be attacked, so soldiers were stationed around the building. It was also used to “capture” those who were not obeying gas rationing. The basement of the Armory was first used as a rifle range; it has also been used as a shower all for horses, skaters, locker room, and restaurants. By 1927, the Traffic Bureau, C of 1929, Iowa Airways, A. M. Auto Association, Ft. Dodge Grocers Association, and the Geer Dancing Emporium were added to its use. Over the net years, other companies: R. L. Polk Company, Men’s Civic Glee Club, F. D. Drum Corp, Allied Food Stories, F. D. Community Chest, and the Iowa National Guard and many others were housed at the Armory. In 1903, Fort Dodge secured the regimental band of the Fifty-sixth Regiment, Iowa National Guards. This organization was composed of members from a number of local musical organizations. Under the leadership of Carl Quist, the band reached a high stage of efficiency, and soon became known among the musical organizations of the state. For five years they played at the Iowa State Fair. Three times they were the official band at the head camp of the Modern Woodmen of America, attending the encampments at Indianapolis, St. Louis and Milwaukee. They were the official band of the Iowa delegation to the national convention of the B. P. O. E. held at Detroit in 19 10. They were also the official band for American Day at the Dominion Fair in Calgary, Alberta, during 1908; and were also the official band for Iowa Day at the World's Fair at St. Louis. During the year 1910 the band was mustered out of the service of the militia, and since that time has maintained its organization under the name of the Iowa Military Band. The Fort Dodge Armory remained the home for the band. In 1938, the armory was purchased by Larry and Margaret Geer from the Chamber of Commerce and became the Laramar Ballroom. From the 1930’s to the 1960s it became one of Iowa’s premier ballrooms hosting most the famous big bands of the day and the rock and roll bands of the 50s and 60s. When the ‘Big Bands’ and singers were touring the country, as well as the territorial bands, you could find the best of them right here. Such names as Skippy Anderson, Guy Lombardo, Lawrence Welk, Guy Deleo, Leo Piper, Benny Goodman, Kay Kaiser, The Dorsey Brothers, Woody Herman, Al Minke, Jan Gaber, just to name a few, performed here. In the late 1970s, the Laramar was purchased by Dick and Lee Derrig and operated for twelve years as the Twilight Ballroom. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_a9ce62ef28594b23a30558ed3290be13~mv2.jpg In 1985, the Derrigs sold the Twilight and the ballroom retained its original name as the Laramar. The ballroom continued to offer various events for the next three decades. In recent years, the Laramar has been used for a variety of purposes: as a site for weddings, mixed martial arts bouts and as a Spanish bar with music and dancing, but has struggled for an identity. The Laramar building remains on at its same location but has been used sporadically for various events and is now vacant and for sale. Gillman Home https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_1987ff70d579464992b449a0eb434644~mv2.jpg The large two-story brick and cement faced residence at 400 N. 9th St. has been known as the Gillman home since it was built in 1915 by George W. Gillman, a prominent pharmacist and businessman of Fort Dodge. Gillman lived there until his death in 1959. The house was later owned by William J. Thatcher. Two apartments in the home are currently rented out. Henry Kehm & Sons—well-known brick masons and home builders here for many years—constructed the house for Gillman. Originally it had living room, solarium, music room, dining room and kitchen on the first floor; four bedrooms, bathrooms and sleeping porch on the second floor. A large attic provided storage space. Gillman started his drug store here in 1904 at the southwest corner of First Avenue South and Seventh Street in a new building erected by Colby Brothers, who operated a livery barn here in the earlier days. The store was in operation at this location until the spring of 1974 when it closed its doors after 70 years of continuous operation. Roy W. Gillman, son of the store’s founder, was associated with the firm for 56 years and the owner until the store closed. The senior Gillman, who was 79 at time of his death, was born in Nowlin, S. D., and came with his family to Badger at an early age. As a boy he worked in the Campbell & Tower drug store here and later graduated in pharmacy from Highland Park University in Des Moines. After working with Campbell & Tower as a registered pharmacist he opened his own store. Gillman was active in pharmacy circles and was a member of the State Board of Pharmacy for 18 years, serving as its chairman several times. Gillman was also interested in the theater and was president of the Princess Theater Company which built and operated the Princess here for many years. During his years as manager, the theater offered some of the finest vaudeville available and also booked in outstanding shows with celebrated performers. The theater finally closed its doors and in 1939 the building was sold to the First National Bank. It is now the home of the bank at 18 N. 9th St. Source: HISTORIC HOMES of Fort Dodge, Iowa PUBLISHED BY THE BLANDEN FEDERATION OF ARTS FORT DODGE, IOWA APRIL, 1975PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALLEN R. LOOMIS • TEXT BY KARL F. HAUGEN Griffith Home 1234 6th Avenue South https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_60ec8612e67a46009e2a379f7cd0de79~mv2.jpg One of the fine homes in the south part of Fort Dodge is the residence at 1234 6th Ave. S. whose history dates back to the 1870s. Familiarly known as the Griffith home, it was occupied by the Frank Griffith family for many years. City assessor records show the original portion of the home at this location was built in 1871, but was remodeled, enlarged and modernized years later. Located on parts of two lots, the house has a 93-foot frontage on Sixth Avenue South and 106 feet on Thirteenth Street. John F. Duncombe, pioneer attorney here, was the first owner of the property before a house was erected there. He sold the lots in 1861 to a William Kellner who, in turn, disposed of the property to William C. Young. The original house is believed to have been built by Young as he retained ownership of the property until 1883. Frank W. Griffith, an architect who later was manager of the U. S. Gypsum plant here, purchased the home in 1914. Age of the house is shown by the fact that its construction includes solid walnut studdings, walnut floor joists and walnut sheathing. Foundation walls are of limestone. The two-story house has a shingle exterior. The first floor has living room, L-shaped dining room, playroom, kitchen, screened-in porch and large entrance hall. On the second floor are three bedrooms, bath, screened-in porch and attic space. Griffith came to Fort Dodge in 1901 to design the Blanden gypsum mill located about a mile east of the present Celotex plant. He also supervised construction of the plant of the American Independent Gypsum Company organized in 1906. Griffith then went to Chicago with the United States Gypsum Company and in 1908 was transferred to Fort Dodge as manager of the local mill and office. Later he was transferred to Alabaster, Mich., and then returned to Fort Dodge in 1913 as manager of the U. S. G. plant. He remained as plant manager here until 1921 when he resigned to resume architectural work. His son, Stanford W. Griffith, later joined him in the business and became head of the Griffith Company architectural firm in Fort Dodge. The elder Griffith continued work as an architect until his death in 1953. Source: HISTORIC HOMES of Fort Dodge, Iowa PUBLISHED BY THE BLANDEN FEDERATION OF ARTS FORT DODGE, IOWA APRIL, 1975 PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALLEN R. LOOMIS • TEXT BY KARL F. HAUGEN Haire Home 502 North Ninth Street https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_40a6011f6220470cab5c37f4f7c5de4e~mv2.jpg One of Fort Dodge’s earliest businessmen—John Haire—purchased property along north Ninth Street and built the home at 502 N. 9th St. in the 1880’s. Haire acquired the property along the west side of Ninth Street from Fourth to Eighth Avenues North in 1878 and platted it as Haire’s Seminary Square Addition to Fort Dodge. Shortly after purchasing the property, Haire built the north Ninth Street residence. He and his family resided there during his lifetime; then the property passed on to his heirs. In 1941 the home was purchased by the late Verne Schram and his wife Thora. The Schrams remodeled the home extensively and added a small apartment and garage at the rear of the house. Earlier, in 1914, Haire’s son Jack, had remodeled the house for apartments. Presently there are four apartments, three on the first floor and one on the second floor. John Haire came to Fort Dodge from his native Ireland in 1855 and entered into the mercantile business. His store was reported to be the third one opened in the newly-founded town and was located at First Avenue South and Sixth Street.17 In 1879 Haire was elected Webster County auditor and held that office until 1885. He also served as county clerk of courts and was a member of the Fort Dodge School board and its vice president for 10 years. He retired from active business life here in 1870, some years before being elected to county offices. Haire and his wife were parents of 10 children, seven sons and three daughters. The sons were prominent in business affairs of the city for many years. They were M. J. Haire, Oleson Land Company; W. W. Haire, Sackett & Haire Drugs; Jack Haire, Fort Dodge Lumber Company; Dave Haire, who served as county clerk; Tom Haire, Haire Clothing Store; Edward and Fred who were associated with Sackett & Haire Drugs. The daughters were Anna, Josephine and Mrs. Margaret Haire Kinney. Two grandsons of the pioneer businessman are former Fort Dodge residents—George M. Haire and John Haire, sons of the late Mr. and Mrs. Jack Haire. Source: HISTORIC HOMES of Fort Dodge, Iowa PUBLISHED BY THE BLANDEN FEDERATION OF ARTS FORT DODGE, IOWA APRIL, 1975 PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALLEN R. LOOMIS • TEXT BY KARL F. HAUGEN Healy House 1885 https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_4de603a176b049acbf1230cefed58ecc~mv2.jpg 1218 5th Ave N A native of Lansing, Iowa, Healy came to Fort Dodge with his parents in 1892. He was a graduate of Notre Dame University, attended Harvard University one year and received his law degree from the University of Michigan in 1885. He began law practice in Fort Dodge with pioneer statesman and attorney John F. Duncombe. Later he was in partnership with his brothers, Thomas D. Healy and Robert Healy and his son, Thomas M. Healy. Other well-known attorneys with whom he was associated were A. N. Botsford, D. M. Kelleher, B. B. Burnquist and Seth Thomas who later was a federal circuit court judge. Healy gained statewide and national distinction as an attorney, orator and political leader. He was active in the Democratic party and attended nine national Democratic conventions. In 1924 he seconded the nomination of Al Smith for the presidency. He was in great demand as a speaker and gave addresses at many public functions and celebrations. Failing eyesight afflicted Healy in the later years of his life and he was stricken with blindness in 1916. Despite the handicap he continued his law practice until his death 13 years later. The Healy children included four daughters and two sons—Mrs. Ruth Healy Coughlin, Fort Dodge; Mrs. John (Margaret) Rourke, Providence, R. I.; Mrs. Carl (Eleanor) Mangelsdorf, Rock Island, Ill.; and Mrs. Joseph (Kathryn) Pleck, Evanston, Ill.; the Rev. Kerndt Healy, an instructor at Notre Dame University, and Thomas M. Healy, Fort Dodge, both of whom are deceased. The Healy home is now owned by Larry D. Lee. Source: Historic Homes: Fort Dodge, Iowa https://www.gutenberg.org/files/63118/63118-h/63118-h.htm(https://www.gutenberg.org/files/63118/63118-h/63118-h.htm) PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALLEN R. LOOMIS • TEXT BY KARL F. HAUGEN Laramar Ballroom 1920s https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_9f96f1722af243f7b79f44feccd86632~mv2.jpg 710 1st Ave N For the thousands who frequented the ballroom over the years, the brick building with loft seating that rings the wooden dance floor holds many special memories. For most of its 115 years, this joint was jumpin' – On January 30, 1959, the Laramar Ballroom was hoppin’ when the Winter Dance Party and its headliners – Buddy Holly and the Crickets, the Big Bopper, Ritchie Valens, and Dion and the Belmonts - performed on its stage on a cold, snowy night in Fort Dodge. It was the Laramar Ballroom, and some 1,000 fans crowded into the downtown building at 710 First Avenue North to watch, dance and sing along as the musicians played their hit songs - never imagining that a few days later, in the early hours of Feb. 3, 1959, three of them – Holly, J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson Jr. and Valens — would die in a plane crash after performing at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake. "The whole show was great. Little did we know that this was the last time we would see them,” said Wes Trickel, of Fort Dodge, who was at the Laramar with his wife, Bertha, that night and got to meet Richardson and Valens. “We were so sad when we heard the news that we all never wanted to believe what had happened.” That tragic moment on a wintry night in a cornfield north of Clear Lake was “the day the music died” as Don McLean would sing in his 1971 classic "American Pie.” But until the last few years, there was still plenty of music left to play at the Laramar - later known as the Plamor and then the Twilight Ballroom before becoming the Laramar again. The old brick building that started as the Fort Dodge Armory in 1904 is now vacant and for sale. For the thousands who frequented the ballroom over the years, the brick building with loft seating that rings the wooden dance floor holds many special memories. For some, it was where they met their future spouse. Many of the top performers of the day – playing all genre of music - mesmerized their audiences. And newbies to the dance floor were introduced to the “trap.” A trap would be set up by three or more girls or three or more boys, who would wander through the dance floor and surround a dancing couple. If it was a guy trap, the girl dancing would choose one of those in the trap or stay with her partner. If it was a girl trap, the guy dancing would choose one of those in trap or stay with his partner. Some remember a Laramar bouncer of the late 1960s - John Matuszak, an All American football player at Fort Dodge Junior College for one season who later became the No. 1 pick in the 1973 NFL draft. Big John played several years for the Oakland Raiders of the NFL and then went on to appear on television and in movies (He died in 1989 at age 38). The history of the Laramar Ballroom began in 1903 when the Armory in Fort Dodge was built, spearheaded by the City’s Commercial Club (Chamber of Commerce). $8,000 was raised to construct the castle-like building that housed the National Guard Regiment and provided a venue for the 56th Regiment Band, the community band and various civic events. The Armory was equipped with a gymnasium and a bowling alley. The basement was first used as a rifle range; it has also been used as a shower all for horses, skaters, locker room, and restaurants. The building was designed to resemble an impregnable fortress, with imitation spots for gun placements. Especially durable, hard paving brick was used in the front part. The grand opening and dedication on February 11, 1904 was “the most brilliant function Fort Dodge social life had ever witnessed,” according to the Messenger. In the 1920s, the Armory also offered commercial space for various businesses and organizations. By 1927, the Traffic Bureau, C of 1929, Iowa Airways, A. M. Auto Association, Ft. Dodge Grocers Association, and the Geer Dancing Emporium were added to its use. Over the years, other companies: R. L. Polk Company, Men’s Civic Glee Club, F. D. Drum Corp, Allied Food Stories, F. D. Community Chest, and the Iowa National Guard and many others would be located there. During the two World Wars, soldiers were drafted at the Armory and ration books were issued there to Fort Dodge residents. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, many were worried that armories would be attacked so soldiers were stationed around the building. Over the years, the Armory was the scene of many charity balls, police and firemen's balls, craft shows, reunions, banquets, dance parties and much more. Music has always been part of the building's DNA from the outset, when it was built so the Company G, 56th Infantry would have a place for a regimental band under the direction of Carl Quist to rehearse and perform. The end of World War I marked an upswing across the country in ballrooms where people would gather to dance to the new music of the times. The Jazz Era was where they got their start and the 1930s and 40s were the highpoint of the ballroom era. Ballrooms, some elegant and some plain, could be found in the biggest cities or smallest rural areas. All shared a common denominator of music and dancing. Gradually, it became an entertainment center. As a dance hall, its fame was legendary in Iowa. The first dance was held in 1925. When the ‘Big Bands’ and singers were touring the country, as well as the territorial bands and other musical performers, one could find the best of them at the Armory or later at the Laramar. Such names as Lawrence Welk, Guy Lombardo, Glen Miller Orchestra, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Skippy Anderson, Guy Deleo, Leo Piper, Benny Goodman, Kay Kaiser, The Dorsey Brothers, Woody Herman, Al Minke, Jan Gaber, Johnny Cash and others all performed at the Laramar. The Armory was purchased by Larry and Margaret Geer from the Chamber of Commerce around the time they were married in 1938. Larry Geer had operated the ballroom at the armory since the 1920s, possibly before. Their first names – Larry and Margaret — were merged to create the name Laramar. Geer said that at one of Welk's appearances, his father had to loan Welk enough money for gas so he and his five-piece band to get to their next stop. The biggest crowd was brought in by Guy Lombardo when a record 2,400 were crowded in elbow to elbow. The Geers sold the business around 1964, when it became the Plamor for the next eight years. In the '50s-'60s teen era, performers Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and the Big Bopper performed at the Laramar just three days before the fatal plane crash in 1959 during the ‘Winter Dance Party’ tour. Some other stars that appeared at the Laramar included: Johnny Cash, Barbara Mandrell, Del Shannon, Gary Lewis & the Playboys, Bobby Vee, the Coasters, Tommy James and the Shondells, Freddie Cannon, Jimmy Clanton, the Crew Cuts, the Everly Brothers, the Diamonds, the Fabulous Flippers, and the famous Midwest band, the Rumbles, among others. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_bc3e6b6b8c59427f8067d33b191e40e6~mv2.jpg Over the years, there have been charity balls, Police and Fireman’s Balls, craft showers, wedding receptions, class reunions, banquets, and so much more. This building is truly a part of Fort Dodge history. Geer was 15 at the time of the Winter Dance Party performance in 1959 and as the son of the owners, it was not his first chance to be around big stars. One of his lasting memories was helping Johnny Cash climb through a back window and back stairway to his dressing room one night, to get through the crowds." About 1,000 people were on hand that night 60 years ago, with the balcony reserved for adult spectators and the dance floor for teens only, Geer said. The 11 performers arrived late on an old bus that didn't have a heater that worked. One of the members of Holly's Crickets band was future country star Waylon Jennings. The book, “The Day the Music Died: The Last Tour of Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens - and the Fatal Air Crash That Took Their Lives" detailed the musicians' appearance at the Laramar. The ballroom's next owners were Dick and Lee Derrig. Dick had worked at the ballroom under two different owners prior to buying the building. Dick and his wife Lee loved the ballroom and when they had the opportunity, they took the leap into proprietorship. Dick and Lee began running the ballroom as The Twilight on New Year’s Eve 1972. In 1979, Dick and Lee actually purchased the ballroom. For twelve years, they had a great reputation for bringing quality entertainment to Fort Dodge. People would come not just from Fort Dodge but also miles from the surrounding towns to enjoy the fun. The Twilight Ballroom was always known as ‘the Fun Spot and rock n' roll wasn't all the Laramar offered as there were old-time dances on Thursday nights with waltzes, swing, polkas and even square dances. Thursdays at the Twilight was the place to be for great big bands and ballroom dancing. Some favorite big bands Dick and Lee brought to you are: Jeff & Eddie Skeets, Kenny Hofer, Erv Reutzel, Jack Schultz, Al Godfredsen, Jan Garber, Don Glasser, Greg Spevak, Billy Redman, Riney Rinehart, Vern Claussen, Al Pierson (currently director of Guy Lombardo orchestra), Wayne King, Don Hoy, Ted Weems, Sammy Jensen, Russ Morgan (under direction of Jack Morgan), and many others. On Saturdays, you would find 50s and 60s rock n roll. Many ‘oldies’ bands that Dick and Lee brought back for repeat performances here were: The Cleavettes, The Do’s & The Dont’s, Rockin’ Hollywoods, American Grease, Faze Four, Hot Moose & Da Sharks, Spirits of the Past, Sundown, Travelin’ Band, Studebaker, Reflections, Last Shades of Dawn, Nifty Fifties, White Sidewalls, The Backbeats, Buckeye, Phoenix, Fantasia, Vixen, and so many more; too numerous to name them all who also donated their time for benefits. Aside from the local and regional bands, Dick and Lee also brought their share of major recording artists from the 50s and 60s to town: Tommy James & the Shondells, Bobby Vee, The Coasters, and Gary Lewis & the Playboys. Lee was also well known in town for her cake decorating. The Twilight was pretty much ‘one-stop shopping’ for wedding receptions. You could pick out your cake, decorations, food, and entertainment. Dick and Lee took care of most of the decorating for you as well as the clean-up. Reunions, retirement and anniversary parties, charity events, craft shows, and other benefits were also held here. They donated the ballroom for use and many bands donated their time for benefits held here. The Twilight was simply the place to have a big event. Crowds would gather for some of the dances, filling the main floor and the balcony both. The Fireman’s Balls and the Policeman’s Balls used to always be held at the Twilight and they were always packed! People liked Dick and Lee and how they managed and promoted the Twilight Ballroom. The Twilight enjoyed a good reputation. There were very few problems or disturbances. People, young and old, were there to have fun. In 1985, the Derrigs sold the Twilight and the ballroom retained its original name as the Laramar. The ballroom continued to offer various events for the next three decades. In recent years, the Laramar has been used for a variety of purposes: as a site for weddings, mixed martial arts bouts and as a Spanish bar with music and dancing, but has struggled for an identity. Sometime between 2001 – 2013, Jorge Blanco, whose family owned Blanco roofing business in Fort Dodge, purchased the Laramar. Since that time, the Laramar has been used sporadically for various events and is now vacant and for sale. The hope of many is that someone will purchase the building, restore it and bring it back as a recreational asset for our community, like it once was. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_d71f87c42a38451c913e9ef6c42a2ce4~mv2.jpg In late 2023, the Laramar Ballroom re-opened after a year-long renovation. Laramar Acquisition Co., LLC (formed by Chris O’Brien, Brady O’Brien and Joe Tuel) bought the Laramar in June, 2022. The two-story, 8,000 square foot event center with ballroom, wraparound balcony, main floor cocktail lounge, upstairs/balcony bar and a 20x30’ stage has seating for over 350 people. It has a full lighting and sound system that accommodates many types of events, such as weddings, corporate meetings, concerts and live performances. Many services can now be provided, such as a wedding coordinator, full lines of various décor and bridal suites on site. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_4414aa84af91441eade7f5117c234581~mv2.jpg A marble “Laramar” sign greets attendees as they enter the historic Laramar Ballroom. This beautiful 1904 building, originally constructed as an Armory in 1904, has gone through many metamorphoses. How wonderful that its renovation has allowed it to continue to serve the Fort Dodge region beautifully. Sources: The Fort Dodge Messenger *Messenger Spotlight…. January 30, 2019 by Paul Stevens *Twilight Ballroom Memories… 1972-1985… Dick and Lee Derrig *www.iowarockandroll.co/ballrooms *www.rockandrollroadmap.com Meservey Home https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_1c5e1e287dce4759ac1ba44616e6bf1d~mv2.jpg 923 1st Avenue South President Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt was a guest in the Stillman T. Meservey home at 923 1st Ave. S. when he visited Fort Dodge in 1902—the residence that now is the Bruce Funeral Home. The Meservey home was large and spacious with many elegantly furnished rooms on its three floors. There were seven fireplaces in the home which provided heat to the many rooms during the winter months. The first floor included living room, dining room, library finished in black walnut, kitchen and pantry, butler and maid’s quarters. There was also a large reception hall from which the solid oak open stairway led upstairs. The second floor had a balcony area at the head of the stairs, five bedrooms and two bathrooms. On the third floor is a complete apartment. Meservey, one of the city’s most prominent early-day residents, was born in Clinton, Ill., in 1848 and came to Fort Dodge with his parents in 1856. After completing his education in the public schools and high school here he graduated from Clinton Liberal Institute with a degree in pharmacy. He returned to Fort Dodge and for some time was associated with the Cheney and Meservey drug firm. That was the start of his meteoric rise as a merchant, industrialist, banker, financier and politician. In 1886 Meservey bought the property at the southwest corner of First Avenue South and Tenth Street and in 1890 erected the large brick residence. It was the showplace of the town and the meeting place for many social and civic events. During this era the Meserveys entertained President Roosevelt. Meservey was one of the founders of the gypsum industry here in 1872 and for many years was associated with the U. S. Gypsum Company as secretary. He was also associated with civic and commercial enterprises, including the city’s street railway system. Interested in politics he was elected to the City Council for several terms and served as mayor of Fort Dodge for three terms. He also was elected to the Iowa Legislature. In 1905 Meservey moved to Chicago where he was active with the U. S. Gypsum Company. In 1908 he sold the home here to Thomas D. Healy and the Healy family resided there for many years. In 1936 it was sold to Mr. and Mrs. Byron Wilder who moved their funeral parlor there and it since has been used as a funeral home. Mack B. Bruce acquired an interest in the business in 1938 and it operated as Wilder & Bruce until the Bruces purchased the Wilder interest in 1945. Since then, it has been Bruce’s Funeral Home. Source: HISTORIC HOMES of Fort Dodge, Iowa PUBLISHED BY THE BLANDEN FEDERATION OF ARTS FORT DODGE, IOWA APRIL, 1975PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALLEN R. LOOMIS • TEXT BY KARL F. HAUGEN Municipal Building https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_7424635439da4489ab74665d11cf8eb7~mv2.jpg Location: 819 1st Ave. S Construction Timeline: 1914 – 1915 Architect: E. O. Damon (Fort Dodge) Original Owner: City of Fort Dodge Size: 2 stories with basement Purpose of Building: Municipal building for all of the city’s departments, police, jail and fire department In February of 1914, the commissioners of the city of Fort Dodge unveiled their plan to build a new city hall that would house the various city departments, the police, jail and fire department. Up until that point, the city’s offices and departments were scattered around the town. The city commissioners had their offices in the court house. The police, city jail and central fire station were located in a building one block south of the court house. A half block east of the fire station, the city leased ground for the storing of its hook and ladder truck for the fire department. Across the street from that was the Duncombe Auto Company, where the fire department was able to keep their chemical wagon. In the Keenan building, half a block west of the central fire department was fire station Number 2 for the hose wagon and horses. On the lot next to the Keenan building, a section of open land was rented to store more fire equipment. The city engineer’s office was on the second floor of the Butler and Ryan building on North 7th street, over the Independent Printing Company. With the increasing population and prominence of Fort Dodge, having one location for the city’s departments was necessary for the efficiency of the city departments operation and the progressive and professional appearance of growing Fort Dodge. On Tuesday, June 30, 1914, the city commissioners held a public vote on the issuance of $100,000 bonds with which to purchase the site and pay for the construction of a new city hall on First Avenue South and Ninth Street. Women were allowed to participate in this vote, however, separate ballots were printed for men and women. The June 29, 1914 edition of The Fort Dodge Messenger reported the city council planed “a building that will be large enough for future needs. It will contain a modern jail in place of the present quarters that have been condemned repeatedly by grand juries. It will contain adequate quarters for the police department. The fire department apparatus, instead of being housed in various places about the city to the detriment of quick work, will be where it will be instantly available. The city engineer’s office and that of superintendent of sewers and water works will be under one roof with the rest of the departments.” The proposition for the issuance of bonds for a new city hall passed by a majority of only 56. Men cast a total of 899 votes and women of 124. The men returned a majority of 82, but the women voted down the proposition by 26. After the passing of the proposition, the city quickly began to advertise and seek out buyers for the $100,000 bonds. However, the outbreak of World War 1, which occurred just days earlier, greatly upset the world financial markets. It was reported there was an urgency to sell American securities by Europeans who had to have the gold that there was no demand for five percent bonds, which was what the city of Fort Dodge was trying to market. On November 16th, the city agreed to sell $80,000 in five percent bonds to C. W. McNear & Company of Chicago. Eight days later, the city contracted with the J. B. Evans Construction Company of Mexico, Missouri, for their bid of $68,920 for the general construction work of the new city hall building. Excavation of the land then construction began shortly thereafter. Although this project was viewed as a major and necessary improvement for Fort Dodge, a certain aspect of the funding was met with opposition. On August 5, 1915, Charles Trost filed an action asking that Mayor John Ford and Councilmen C. H. Smith and F. W. Collins be restrained from spending more than the approved $100,000 for the new city hall project. Trost claimed to have been “credibly informed” that the project will cost about $120,000 and that the city council intends to pay the $40,000 difference out of the general funds. Trost also alleged that he had information regarding the city paying J. J. Ryan and Richard Snell $27,000 for the site of the new city hall and that Councilman Collins had already negotiated the sale of $3,200 worth of general fund warrants to fulfill obligations in connection with the construction of the building. He also claimed he had information about the city administration’s plan to borrow $40,000 on the city’s credit and issue bonds to be paid from the general fund. Trost believed this was illegal and asked for a restraining order against it. A few days later, Frank Maher, attorney for the Evans Construction Company, made a public statement saying they were owed a payment from the city for $3,750 for work that had been completed and if they did not receive that payment, work on the city hall would be suspended until payment is made. The next day, Councilmen Collins and Smith addressed the issue and acknowledged that payment had not yet been made. Smith went on to say the usual time for submitting payment requests and estimates was between the tenth and fifteenth of the month and the payment request in question was submitted prior to the permitted timeframe. There was no dispute over the payment request and Smith said it would be processed and taken up in the usual course of business. The payment was made to Evans Construction on the same payment schedule as the six previous payments were made. On August 17th, the trial of the suit for injunction brought by Charles Trost against the city was held. Before Judge R. M. Wright, testimony was heard from Trost, Councilman F. W. Collins- head of the department of accounts and finance for the city, W. L. Tang- city clerk, and Otto Weiss- city assessor. The Fort Dodge Messenger reported that late in the hearing, Trost asked for a dismissal of the case. Judge Wright denied this request and said this case was of great concern to the people of Fort Dodge and these issues should be examined. The next day, Judge Wright made his ruling which denied the injunction restraining the city council from using money from the city’s general fund to cover any costs that were more than the voter-approved $100,000 for the city hall project. According to The Fort Dodge Messenger, Judge Wright found the following: 1. That the defendants have been guilty of serious and very reprehend sensible irregularities. 2. That they have made the moneys of one fund perform the function of moneys of another and different fund in the manner not only not contemplated by the statute, but against both its letter and spirit. 3. I do not find, however, that any intentional wrong has been committed by the defendants, nor do I find that, because of such irregularities, any such injury (as complained of) is contemplated by them in the future as would warrant or call for the issuance of a temporary injunction at this time. The application for the writ is, therefore, denied and the plaintiff excepts. Work on the new city hall continued and became open for business in early December of 1915. The following is from an article in The Fort Dodge Messenger describing the layout of the building. Fireproof from top to bottom, it will furnish a city hall of adequate size when Fort Dodge reaches a population of 50,000. In back of the first corridor are rooms for meter reader and repairer, coal bunkers and boiler rooms, a “bull pen” for the police where drunks may be kept and storage quarters under the fire department. On the first floor opposite the head of the stairs leading to that floor, are the quarters for the city clerk. A long counter faces the lobby. Two private rooms also are provided for the use of the clerk. At the east end of the building are the offices for councilmen and at the other end, are the offices for the mayor and the water department. Opening from the hall near the mayor’s office is the council room. On the second floor, some rooms will be vacant at the east end of the building to be used when necessary in the future. At the other end of the building are the office of the chief of police and locker room for the patrolmen. Over the city clerk’s office is the court room where police court is held. The west wing of the building will be for the police. A jail, as complete as any in the middle west, with separate wards for women, juveniles and men, is to be found. The jail is connected with the first floor by a stairway. Underneath the jail is room for the patrol wagon and other police equipment. In the east wing of the structure is the fire department. The big room on the ground floor with its high ceiling will house the apparatus. The big doors swing our on Ninth Street. On the second floor are the dormitories and gymnasium for the firemen. In the basement in the rear are driveways and garage rooms. The driveway will also be used by coal wagons and delivery of coal to the bunkers will be easy. Fort Dodge’s new city hall was considered one of the best in the state and the concept of one building that housed the city administration, police department, jail, city court and fire department was one of the first such municipal buildings in the state. The layout and construction of the building were both seemingly very well done because over the years, virtually no changes or repairs to the building were needed. In 1966, the Fire Department moved to 1515 Central Avenue and is still located here. In the early 1980s, the Fort Dodge Police Department and the Webster County Sheriff’s Department moved into the new constructed County Law Enforcement Center at 701 First Avenue South. A 1984 renovation plan which was not carried out, called for moving the City Council meeting room to the ground floor on the Ninth Street side of the building. In 2002, Haila Engineering Group Ltd., of Boone, prepared a plan for renovating the building. The estimated price of that project was $5,485,000. Two years later, that same firm returned with a plan for an entirely new Municipal Building at the corner of Eighth Street and Second Avenue South that would cost between $5 million to $5.8 million. Both plans were rejected. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_b6d4742aa07e462bafc9ec82b291a748~mv2.jpg In 2008, a new roof was installed. In 2011 and 2012, the boilers were replaced, the concrete floor in the boiler room was repaired, a ventilation system was installed and a new electrical service connection was put in place. In July of 2016 a major interior renovation project was completed. An old garage port that was originally used by the fire department then subsequently housed various city vehicles and abandoned bicycles collected by police officers was transformed into a very modern and accommodating City Council meeting room that can seat an audience of more than 100 people. An elevator was installed in the southeast corner of the building that could provide access to all levels of the building and the original steps on the front of the building were replaced. Another remodeling project was completed in January of 2018. The Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department offices were moved from the back of the building to an area in the front where the city clerk’s office used to be. The move provided for easier access to the office for walk-in customers. The utility billing office was remodeled and restrooms the second floor were updated. Today, the Fort Dodge City Hall / Municipal Building continues to house the offices for the city’s administrative departments. This building is a significant historical and architectural landmark in Fort Dodge. The fact that this structure has, and continues to serve the city as the municipal building without any major repairs or a dire need for more space, serves as a major testament to the city leaders and architects who designed this building for that exact purpose – to be able to adequately serve and meet the needs of Fort Dodge as a municipal building for numerous generations. Sources: *The Fort Dodge Messenger. February 24, 1914 *The Fort Dodge Messenger. June 29, 1914 *The Fort Dodge Messenger. July 1, 1914 *The Fort Dodge Messenger. July 2, 1914 *The Fort Dodge Messenger. August 15, 1914 *The Fort Dodge Messenger. November 2, 1914 *The Fort Dodge Messenger. November 24, 1914 *The Fort Dodge Messenger. November 16, 1914 *The Fort Dodge Messenger. August 5, 1915 *The Fort Dodge Messenger. August 9, 1915 *The Fort Dodge Messenger. August 10, 1915 *The Fort Dodge Messenger. August 17, 1915 *The Fort Dodge Messenger. August 18, 1915 *The Fort Dodge Messenger. November 20, 1915 *The Fort Dodge Messenger. January 25, 1916 *The Messenger. February 26, 2008 *The Messenger. July 17, 2016 *The Messenger. April 11, 2017 Oleson House 1906 https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_e0b74ac5182e4fbc99d90419ec54ec54~mv2.jpg 1020 3rd Ave. South O. M. Oleson, pioneer pharmacist and philanthropist, erected this large three-story brick residence with green tile roof in 1906. O. M. Oleson, pioneer pharmacist and philanthropist, erected this large three-story brick residence with green tile roof in 1906. Located at 1020 3rd Ave. S. it probably is the only home in the city to have had a pipe organ for many years. The home was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Oleson until 1938 when it was sold to Mr. and Mrs. O. J. Whittemore. Mrs. Whittemore continues to reside in the house following the death of her husband who was prominently identified with the Vincent Clay Products Company here. The home has a full basement, first floor with living room, dining room, and kitchen; second floor with five bedrooms and two baths; and third floor with recreation room and attic storage space. The pipe organ which Oleson enjoyed playing was removed from the home prior to its sale to the Whittemores and given to Lutheran Hospital’s nurses’ home. The nurses’ home was torn down some years ago during rebuilding work at the hospital (now Trinity Regional West). Oleson was noted for his countless philanthropic acts. He donated land to the city for Oleson Park in the southeast part of the city and Leif Erickson Park in west Fort Dodge. He was the principal benefactor of Lutheran Hospital when it was organized and began operations here. His widow, Julie Haskell Oleson, willed more than $2 million to the hospital at the time of her death. Oleson was a native of Norway and came to Fort Dodge as a young man and started in the drug business. In 1894 he erected the three-story brick building at Central Avenue and Eighth Street which was long the home of his drug firm—the Oleson Drug Company. The first floor and basement were occupied by the drug firm which for many years had both retail and wholesale operations. The second and third floors had apartments and some offices. The building was razed in recent years along with other structures to make way for the City Green Parking lot. Oleson enjoyed good music and in the early 1890s organized the Grieg Male Chorus and was its director for many years. The chorus had a large hall on the third floor of the Oleson building where members rehearsed and held social activities. His love of music led to some composing. One of the numbers he set to music was the celebrated World War I poem by Col. John McCrae—“In Flanders Fields the Poppies Grow.” Ringland Smeltzer House https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_6d56227453ad44d7a168c8f92d4920aa~mv2_d_3888_2592_s_4_2.jpg The Ringland/ Smeltzer House was built in 1903 by George Ringland. Ringland was a founder of U.S. Gypsum and held the patent for improving plaster. This patent contributed to the growth of the gypsum industry and changed the nature of building construction. The house , located on the corner of South 12th Street and 2nd Avenue South in the historic Oak Hill District, was designed by Chicago architect Solon Spencer Beman. Beman was the foremost American church architect of his time and one of the founders of the American Institute of Architecture. Beman designed a home for the Ringlands that exhibited Jacobethan Revival architecture, which featured unique brickwork, tall chimneys, multiple gables and rectangular window frames with leaded glass panes. Beman moved to Chicago when he was offered a commission to design the town of Pullman, Illinois, the company town for the Pullman Railroad Car Company. Included among his most noteworthy buildings were two major buildings in the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893, the Fine Arts/ Studebaker Building in downtown Chicago and the Mother Church of Christian Science in Boston. The original style of the home comes from the English manors of the early 16th century reign of James I. This style achieved some popularity between 1895 and 1920 but is relatively uncommon in Iowa. It exists more frequently in educational buildings than in residential structures. The only other local example is the Phillips Middle School, formerly the Fort Dodge Public High School, constructed in 1922. In Fort Dodge, the Beman firm also designed the Christian Science Church, now the Hawkeye Community Theatre (521 N. 12th Street), and the Roberts/Deardorf house (1414 3rd Ave. South) in the Oak Hill Historic District. The Ringland/Smeltzer House is also significant as part of the Oak Hill District, a four block district placed on the National Register of Historical Places in 1977. The district consists of 15 homes which together reflect the changing architectural styles of the post-Civil War period, 1870-1910, and the prosperity and optimism which dominated in Fort Dodge during its golden era. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_9e7a6b39bcc94eb085962f36ea25966b~mv2_d_3888_2592_s_4_2.jpg The styles of homes in the district include French Second Empire, East Lake, Queen Anne, Craftsman, Jacobethean Revival, and Prairie, a virtual showcase of the architectural evolution of that period. Each family sought to outdo the neighbors in size, quality and elegance of their home, reflecting on the local level the “conspicuous consumption” ethic of America’s “Gilded Age.” The Ringland/Smeltzer house reflects the zenith of the local development. The Oak Hill District, which was originally the southeastern edge of the city, included the homes of the community’s business leaders and leading citizens. Among its residents were a U.S. senator, an inspector for the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs, Iowa’s state printer, the director of the U.S. Mint, the president of U.S. Gypsum Company, the publisher of the local newspaper, and most of the city’s early bankers and entrepreneurs. Beman’s plans for the house are dated May 13, 1902 but the contract for its construction was not let until September 3, 1903. The contractor was the W. J. Zitterell Company of Webster City, one of the largest and best known construction companies in northern Iowa during this period. The contract price was $25,000; $6,000 of which went just for plumbing and heating. There are no other buildings remaining in Fort Dodge that are associated with the family. Records and newspaper accounts make no mention of any out-buildings on the grounds. The lack of a carriage house may be explained by the fact that Ringland’s downtown office was located on Central Avenue in close proximity to the city’s largest livery stable. Likewise, with the advent of the automobile, it might have been expected that the family would have added a garage, but Ann, even in later years, never had the inclination to do so and kept her automobile outside all year long. There appears to have been no formal attempts at landscaping at the time of its construction although over the years shrubs and trees were obviously added. Ann, the last member of the family, was less interested in formal gardens than she was in a more natural state. Over the years there have been few changes in the house, either internally or externally, or the grounds, with the exception of the removal of the main entrance porch on the north side of the house. In 2008 this porch was restored to its original appearance. Ballroom on the third floor https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_c52141fb90004ebe9f371590df2225f2~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg The house is important locally because the Ringland/Smeltzer family played a significant role both economically and culturally in the history and development of both Fort Dodge and North Central Iowa. From the very first years of settlement in the 1850s until the end of the twentieth century and the death of Ann Smeltzer, the last member of the family, the Ringland-Smeltzer family was a foundational family of Fort Dodge. The house epitomizes the industry and success of its owners and the Fort Dodge community. It is important nationally because George Ringland was an entrepreneur whose patent for the improvement of plaster contributed to the growth of the gypsum industry and changed the nature of building construction. Ringland was also one of the founders of one of the nation’s leading corporations in the building industry, the U.S. Gypsum Company. Jeannie Ringland Smeltzer was a cultural leader in the community. Under her, the Smeltzer house became a cultural center of the community. Concerts were held in the third floor ballroom and featured nationally recognized musicians. In addition to her music school, Mrs. Smeltzer operated a private school for local children in the home’s third floor ball room as an alternative to the public schools. In developing the curriculum she consulted and worked with Dr. A. A. Berle, America’s first and foremost advocate of and innovator in home schooling at a time that the movement was first attracting popular attention. Dining Room https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_71994b5613d543d4bca454d52ba2b457~mv2_d_3000_2250_s_2.jpg Over the years, the daughter of Charles and Jeannie Smeltzer, Ann, acquired many renowned pieces of art which later became part of the Blanden Art Museum’s permanent collection. The Ringland/Smeltzer Home continues to display many pieces of valuable art throughout the house. Today, the Ringland/Smeltzer House is used for many events. Musical performances in the living room, dinners in the dining room, meetings, showers and wedding receptions are some of the events held in the home. The furniture is original to the home and there are over 5,000 books in the home, many are signed first editions. Ann Smeltzer, who never married, was a very strong supporter of the community, both personally and civically. She would often allow the neighborhood children to play in her third floor ballroom. This was quite generous of her, because between the three houses to the south of hers, there were eighteen children! The neighborhood children would roller-skate in the ballroom and would perform plays on its stage for the neighborhood. With the death of Ann Smeltzer in 1999, the property came under the control of the Ann Smeltzer Charitable Trust which maintains the home as a house museum. It stands today as a reminder of a period in which Fort Dodge flourished and the contributions that the Ringland/Smeltzer family made and continues to make to the community through its charitable trust. The Ringland/Smeltzer House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is a property that is associated with the lives of a person or persons significant in the past whose activities are demonstrably important within a local, state and national context. George Ringland, who built the house, and his family, clearly met the requirements on both the local and national level. The Ringland/Smeltzer house was a family home; when Ringland’s daughter, Jeannie, married Charles Smeltzer, a banker and land manager, the couple and their daughter Ann lived with Jeannie and Charles all their married life in the home. https://www.smeltzertrust.org/ Des Moines Register Photos: Ryan Paschke Sears Building https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_41c3b228e151457db42ce05304aa85a2~mv2.jpg 610 Central Ave. This eight-story building built in 1916 was the tallest structure in Fort Dodge. Location: 610 Central Ave. Construction Timeline: 1916 – 1917 Architect: E.O. Damon (Fort Dodge) Original Owner: E.E. Prusia (Fort Dodge) Size: 8 stories Purpose of Building: Prusia Hardware Company E.E. Prusia, who came to Fort Dodge in 1855, in many ways was the great American success story. His occupation was that of a tin smith, a minor but essential skill on the frontier. He was, however, quick to recognize opportunities as they developed. Every frontier settlement needed blacksmiths and blacksmiths in tum had a need for iron. The closest supplier of iron was in Dubuque, some two hundred miles away with no railroads to deliver it. By the time of the Civil War, Prusia had established himself as the primary wholesaler of the metal in northwestern Iowa. The next logical step was to move into the general hardware business. In 1866 he built his own two story brick store on the site of the current building, only to lose it in a fire in the 1880s. It was rebuilt as a three story structure only to have it too destroyed by fire again in 1914. Prusia decided to rebuild at the same site, only this time he called for a building which would be the most modern and technologically advanced for the time. It was to be large enough to accommodate the growth that the community's leaders predicted and was to be as fireproof as could be built. A local architect of statewide reputation, E.O. Damon, was employed to design the building. The C.E. Atkinson Construction of Webster City was given the job of contractor. The company previously had built the local Congregational Church, the Loomis Building, the National Bank, the Wahkonsa Hotel, the McQuilkin building, Mercy Hospital and an addition to the Fort Dodge Grocery Company. Damon responded with a building in the Chicago Commercial style which had been developed in Chicago in the late 1890s. The rapid growth of the cities of the period required additional office and retail enterprises. Land space was at a premium so the best way to build was to build up and create skyscrapers defined in 1900 as any building of five or more stories. This required new building methods and technology. Prior to the 1890s most buildings were constructed with thick load bearing walls. This type of construction limited the height to five or so stories. Architects offered a new model, a building with a skeleton framework of iron, steel, or reinforced concrete which carried the load and with the walls filling in with non-load bearing masonry. The new system allowed for structures of virtually unlimited height. Damon's first plan was for a seven story building but when the plans were finalized an eighth story was added making it the tallest structure in Fort Dodge. The total square footage was 82,000. The eighth floor was reserved for the company's office and the first floor was to be retail. The second through seventh would be the warehouse area. This explains why there are no windows on the east and west sides of the building except for the eighth floor. Warehouse areas had no need for windows which would just reduce storage space. Windows in the office areas, however, would provide light and ventilation. The windows that were used were double sash windows which could be open to allow for air flow. In constructing the building, reinforced concrete pillars were used to provide the supporting framework. The walls between the pillars were brick. Since these walls were non-load supporting, windows could easily be installed. The Chicago Commercial Style buildings are characterized by a much greater use of windows than earlier commercial buildings. The Prusia building followed this pattern with seventy windows on the Central Avenue face. With the increase in the number of windows and the reduction in the amount of wall space there was reduced room for architectural decoration. Damon did, however, include some decorative elements; the fancy brick work on the front facade and the ceramic heads of the kings and lions on the top story just below the cornice. The windows used in the front are called the Chicago style are in sets of three, a large single pane window in the middle, flanked by double pane sash windows, again allowing for ventilation and illumination. After losing two previous buildings to fire, Prusia was adamant about making the building fireproof. Wood was to be as limited as possible in the basic construction, extra thick concrete and block walls were used to enclose stair wells and elevator shafts and fire proof doors were used at all points of access. Regular window glass was to be rejected where illumination was not a primary consideration in favor of wire glass which in case of a fire would be less likely to blow out and allow for fire or wind drafts. The construction of buildings exceeding three or four stories required the inclusion of elevators. This building was designed with two elevators, a passenger elevator and a freight elevator. The freight elevator was made extra-large to allow the entry of a delivery truck. The elevator would carry the truck to the appropriate floor where it would be unloaded, eliminating as much unloading and moving of goods as possible. Another feature employed was the use of chutes to move goods. A spiral chute allowed boxes to slide from an upper floor to a destination on a lower level. Another chute carried mail and documents. Prusia wanted the latest technology where possible. The passenger elevator was self-operated with the passenger just pushing the button for the correct floor. Every other building with an elevator depended upon an operator. To facilitate communication among the departments, forty telephones were installed and three trunk lines to the outside were created. A centralized money handling system was installed using a pneumatic tube carrier system. A departmental clerk would send the money by tube to a cashier in the office who would then return the receipt. The system consisted of 2,200 feet of tubing. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_ef9579045a8946d8b14f4fbd5157cb30~mv2.jpg The Prusia Company remained in operation in Fort Dodge until 1930 when it declared bankruptcy, a victim of the Depression. For the next six years the building remained empty. In 1935 the building was leased to Sears and Roebuck. Sears had been established as a catalog store in 1886 and it was not until 1925 that it opened its first retail department store. In 1936 it leased and opened the store in the old Prusia Building. Sears made few changes in the building itself which was a tribute to the planning and foresight of Prusia and Damon some twenty years earlier. The telephone system, the elevator system, the pneumatic tube arrangement and the structure as a whole were barely changed. The only apparent change was the installation of a black glass and chrome trim street level facade to suit the art deco taste of the time. Sears’ grand opening came on November 1936, a welcome economic boost to a city which was suffering through the Great Depression. The new store provided jobs for some 85 local residents. The Sears store remained downtown until 1965 when the Crossroads Mall opened in East Fort Dodge. The old building remained vacant. Over the years there have been several changes in ownership but none have been able to put together a plan of restoration or usage. In 1969, a referendum for downtown renewal failed to pass. Fires in the meantime destroyed several downtown blocks and buildings. Ed Breen, in the 1970s, led a move to rehabilitate the area by establishing a downtown mall. Part of these proposals called for the demolition of the buildings between the City Square and 9th Street on the north side of Central Avenue and on the south side from the City Square to the Court House. Many of the buildings were demolished and replaced by parking lots, empty lots and two new banks on 9th Street. The Prusia Building was the only historic building in the 600 block north side to survive and it remained vacant. The Historic Preservation Commission attempted to place the building on the National Register of Historic Places but the City Council rejected the move. However, the downtown district has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places which gives the building Register status. Today, the Prusia/Sears Building is home to Heartland Senior Housing, which provides 1 & 2 bedroom, income-based rental apartments for senior citizens. Snell Building 1915 https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_655d535bd198407ca580f6570387cdeb~mv2.jpg 805 Central Ave. Built in 1915, the Snell Building was seven stories tall and Fort Dodge’s first “skyscraper.” Richard Snell, from Clinton Illinois, was the original owner of both the Snell Building and the Boston Centre, both located at 805 and 805 and 809 Central Avenue in downtown Fort Dodge. He received the land on which both buildings are located from his father, Thomas Snell, who owned it when it was originally platted in 1856. Although the two buildings differed in size, appearance and function, they were both part of the same investment project for Snell. Both buildings were constructed at the same time, however the building for the Boston Store was completed first and had its formal opening in September of 1914, while the Snell Building was completed in January of 1915. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_c9228d9d47ee41ab95aa1f70e9cbaad2~mv2.jpg The Snell Building, at 805 Central Avenue, was seven stories tall and Fort Dodge’s first “skyscraper.” The ground level was occupied by First National Bank and the Charles A. Brown clothing store; the remaining floors had over 150 rooms for various offices. Today, the Snell Building at 805 Central Avenue is the location of Authentic Therapy of Iowa, LLC; Chingren Financial Advisors, Inc.; Diamond Detailing; Kersten, Brownlee, Hendricks, LLC; Miller Counseling Services, LLC; Monty Fisher, Attorney; O’Brien Law Office. Leon Vincent Home https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_b3de1d56979146909f59d753f444c78e~mv2.jpg 1024 3rd Avenue South The large brick residence at 1024 3rd Ave. S.—known in earlier years as the Leon Vincent home—was built by a pioneer Iowan who was a civil engineer, railroad builder and gypsum industrialist. The house dates back to 1896 when it was erected and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Leon Vincent. The house, of exterior brick construction, now has three rooms and bath on the first floor, four rooms and two baths on the second floor, two bedrooms on the completely finished third floor and a large finished basement area. Ownership of the house has changed several times since it was built by Vincent. At one time it was owned and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Harry Vincent and later by Mr. and Mrs. Shirley Thornton. In 1965 the Thorntons sold the property to Mr. and Mrs. Paul C. Eide; Gary and Mary Moore also resided in the home. Jenny Kersten Becker and Luke Becker and family currently reside in the home. Leon Vincent, a first cousin of Webb and Beth Vincent, came to Iowa in 1867 and as a civil engineer worked in laying out the Sioux City and Pacific Railroad, now part of the North Western system. He continued in this work until 1873 when he came to Fort Dodge. In 1881 Vincent was employed as assistant cashier of the Merchants National Bank until its merger with the early-day First National Bank here. He was secretary-treasurer of the Iowa Plaster Association in 1891 and was identified with gypsum operations here for many years. In 161899 he rebuilt and re-equipped the Central Gypsum mill, first of the early-day gypsum plants here. When the U. S. Gypsum Company took over the Iowa Plaster Association in 1902, Vincent remained as manager of the Blanden mill. Vincent was active in many affairs, one of which was designing and building of the present St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, which replaced an earlier edifice destroyed by fire. He also helped in laying out and beautifying of Oleson Park and in designing of 17th Street as a boulevard. In 1911, Leon Vincent and the brothers Harry S. and Donald Vincent, sons of Webb Vincent, founded the Vincent Clay Products, Inc., which operated its big plant at Shady Oaks until recent years. Many of the plant’s machines and processes were inventions of Leon Vincent. In failing health for many years, Leon Vincent died in 1916 at age 69. Mrs. Vincent died in 1928 at age 81. Mr. and Mrs. Vincent were grandparents of Al Loomis, photographer for most of the houses shown in the book. Source: HISTORIC HOMES of Fort Dodge, Iowa PUBLISHED BY THE BLANDEN FEDERATION OF ARTS FORT DODGE, IOWA APRIL, 1975PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALLEN R. LOOMIS • TEXT BY KARL F. HAUGEN Vincent House https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_6177f976c73e481eab9752fccb104140~mv2.jpg One of the few remaining landmarks in Fort Dodge is the historic Vincent home at 824 3rd Ave. S. The house is now more than a century and a half old, having been built in 1871 by James Swain, a pioneer Fort Dodge resident who was in the wholesale and retail drug business. The house was purchased in 1879 by Webb Vincent, an early-day Fort Dodge industrialist and one of the founders of the gypsum industry here in 1872. Associated with him at that time in the establishment of the Fort Dodge Plaster Mills were George S. Ringland and Stillman T. Meservey. The Webb Vincent family moved into the spacious home Oct. 17, 1879. It had been occupied continuously by members of the family until the death in 1969 of Mrs. Anne Vincent, widow of Donald Vincent. The home has an exterior of red brick—a “soft brick” made from red clay that was found extensively in this area. Foundation walls are of limestone set in mortar. These stones of different sizes and roughly hewn form a foundation wall about seven feet high. Exterior house walls are 30 inches thick and interior walls are 24 inches thick. Rooms of the house are large. Ceilings on the first floor are 14 feet high, on the second floor 12 feet high and on the third floor nine feet high. The third floor included a ballroom, 20 × 50 feet in size, where many early-day parties were held. Source: HISTORIC HOMES of Fort Dodge, Iowa PUBLISHED BY THE BLANDEN FEDERATION OF ARTS FORT DODGE, IOWA APRIL, 1975PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALLEN R. LOOMIS • TEXT BY KARL F. HAUGEN Wahkonsa Hotel https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_cc6d85a5aca94c5aae69ffb982f9072e~mv2.jpg Address: 927 Central Ave. Construction : 1909-1910 Architectural firm of Liebbe, Nourse & Rasmussen (Des Moines) Original Owner: Fort Dodge Commercial Club Size: 65,000 square feet Purpose of building: First Class Hotel The Wahkonsa Hotel (currently Wahkonsa Manor) is a five-story, plus basement building, featuring symmetrical brick facades with Italian Renaissance Revival-style influenced brick detailing including quoining and relief brickwork. Situated on Fort Dodge’s historic main street, Central Avenue and South 10th St., the building was developed and constructed by the Fort Dodge Commercial Club in 1909-1910. It had the distinction of being the largest fireproof hotel in Iowa at the time of completion and was considered one of the premier hotels in the state. The hotel movement had its inception in the Commercial Club when C.V. Findlay, a director, made a motion that President McQuilkin appoint a committee of three to look into the possibility of a hotel being built in Fort Dodge. As a result, the Fort Dodge Hotel Company was formed and the excavation and construction for the new hotel began in August of 1909. Liebbe, Nourse & Rassmussen, architects from Des Moines secured the order for the plans and C.E. Atkinson, the contract for the building’s construction. Cold weather hindered the work on the structure, the winter of 1909-1910 being one of the most severe in many years, however, work progressed steadily until the completion and opening of the hotel in September 1910. The three person committee who conducted the campaign and oversaw the building process of the hotel were O.M. Oleson, G.W. Mason and A.D. McQuilkin. The other directors of the Fort Dodge Hotel Company were A.R. Loomis, John Hower, T.H. Wright and W.F. Carver. The following is an excerpt from an article from The Fort Dodge Messenger on September 20, 1910, after the formal opening of the Wahkonsa Hotel. The Interior View Both the Central Avenue and the Tenth street entrances admitted people to the main lobby, the office and foyer of the hotel. Here a brilliant spectacle was observed for the roomy place with what hotels rarely have; two street sides admitting plenty of light and affording an excellent view, was brilliant with artificial light and a very gay assemblage in evening dress. The beautiful frescoed walls of light color, the massive leather furniture presented interesting contrast in color, the thick velvet rugs on a tiled floor of most attractive pattern and the marble of the walls and staircase, contributed to make a superlatively good impression. The orchestra was discovered in an alcove especially provided for such use, on the second floor at the head of the staircase. From here and from the balcony which surrounds the staircase opening, the myriads of flowers and palms scattered about the landings, staircase and foyer, offered a most festive appearance. The dining room opens directly off of the south end of the foyer and is about equal in length, half of the depth of the building. It is slightly wider than the foyer and to the west of it, through large doors, is discovered the smaller dining room which is finished in a beautiful combination of dark oak and a frieze in grape design on the walls. Panels of woods extend part way up the walls with the frieze above the plate rail. A massive buffet conceals the entrance from the kitchen. The floors of these two rooms, like the remainder of the ground floor, are tiled. The kitchen section of the hotel lies in the southwest corner. In the main dining room, the entire east wall is plate glass windows, hung with attractive lace embroidery with heavy monograms. Small English windows are at either side of each large window and can be opened. The south and north sides are supplied with large plate glass mirrors except on the south in the center where a buffet with leaded glass window above, finishes the dining room beautifully. The Upper Floors Heavy hall carpets of velvet Brussels cover the upper halls, clear to the top story. The floors are entirely of cement stained to harmonize with the rugs and carpets. Wails are rough plaster and stained in colors that harmonize with the hangings, rugs and mahogany furniture. In some of the bedrooms heavy brass beds vary the general appearance. No wood but mahogany is used in many of the rooms. Just opposite the elevator on every floor is an alcove furnished attractively for a small parlor, where guests can make themselves at home. On the second floor there is one parlor for women visitors at the hotel, which commands a good view from the east of the building. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_8ca8bc4dc670485d8126ab9d22272568~mv2.jpg The Wahkonsa operated as a first-class hotel for over 60 years (by various owners) until 1972 when it was converted into apartment housing for low-income residents. The Wahkonsa continues to provide affordable housing, with several commercial outfits still in operation on the first floor and basement levels. Wahkonsa Annex The Wahkonsa Hotel was first leased to R. W. Johnston and Company, who opened it on September 17th, 1910. They operated until October 11, 1911, when the lease was transferred to George W. Reynolds. Mr. Reynolds operated tho hotel for two years, and then sold it to A J. Morton on November 10th, 1913. Mr. Morton continued the operation of the hotel until September 9th, 1915, when he sold the property to Theodore G. Warden of Chicago. Within a few months after Mr. Warden took over the Wahkonsa, he decided to enlarge his property, so on April 12th, 1916, he bought the two lots south of the hotel, at the corner of Tenth street and First avenue South. On this property was erected the Wahkonsa Annex, four stories in height. There were seven stores on the first floor, one hundred guest rooms on the second and third floors, and the club rooms of the Chamber of Commerce, a ball-room, and a luncheon room took up most of the fourth. The Annex was formally opened for business on January 21st, 1916. Two additional floors were later built on to The Annex when the Warden Plaza was constructed. The Wahkonsa Hotel was already regarded as one of the best hotels in the state, but with the addition of The Annex, its reputation grew to that of the finest hotel of any city its size in the United States. Today, the Wahkonsa Annex is empty and has been empty for a number of years. It will be torn down as part of a new downtown revitalization project. Source: Fort Dodge Historical Society Fort Dodge Messenger, 1910 Fort Dodge Messenger, 1916 Warden Plaza Building https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_2b2c878208ba420a99449d5021db4d46~mv2.jpg The sheer half-block size of downtown Fort Dodge’s Warden Plaza is enough to pique one’s curiosity, but a brief glimpse at the building’s rich history confirms its significant place in the city’s past history. Location: 908 1st Ave. S Construction Timeline: 1922 – 1923 Architect: E. O. Damon (Fort Dodge) Original Owner: Theodora Warden (daughter or Theodore Warden) Size: 8 stories Purpose of Building: Retail shops, apartments, office suites The sheer half-block size of downtown Fort Dodge’s Warden Plaza is enough to pique one’s curiosity, but a brief glimpse at the building’s rich history confirms its significant place in the city’s past history. The 316,000-square-foot building, located at 908 First Avenue South, represents more than just the architectural skill of E.O. Damon Jr. in combining bricks, mortar and marble; it represents the soul of this Midwest city. From the mid-1920s through 1970, the Warden Plaza Building was the social, economic and political center of Fort Dodge. The Warden Shops and Apartments are the outgrowth of the original Wahkonsa hotel built by the public spirited men of Fort Dodge, under the name of the Fort Dodge Hotel Company. O. M. Oleson was the principal stock holder of this company. The original building covered two lots at the corner of Central Avenue and Tenth Street, 120 feet on Central Avenue and 140 feet on Tenth Street. It has 165 rooms and four store rooms. The hotel was first leased to R. W. Johnston and Company, who opened it on September 17th, 1910. On September 9th, 1915, the hotel was sold to Theodore G. Warden of Chicago. Within a few months after Mr. Warden took over tho Wahkonsa, he decided to enlarge his property, so on April 12th, 1916, he bought the two lots south of the hotel, at the corner of Tenth street and First avenue South. On this property was erected the Annex, four stories in height, which was opened on January 21, 1916. Early in 1919, Mr. Warden decided that there was an urgent need for kitchenette apartments in Fort Dodge and in May of that year began the construction of three additional floors on the Annex. These floors were completed a year later and contained eighty-five apartment rooms that greatly relieved the housing shortage of the city at that time. The need for the kitchenette apartments having been demonstrated, and knowing the ever increasing popularity of the specialty shops throughout the country, Mr. Warden decided to erect a building that would offer patrons combined shops, store-rooms and apartments, a combination at that time was rare or unknown in the United States. Mr. Warden first purchased the three lots just west of his Annex properly on which he proposed to erect the Warden Shops and Apartment building. One of these lots was purchased from Chris Hohn and the other two from the George W. Mason estate. The excavation for the building began on August 22, 1922. On November 8, 1922, the contract was let to W. J. Zitterell and company for the basement and first floor. They also secured the contract for the super structure, when the other was completed in May, 1923. It took just one year to complete this eight story building. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_285fce854523487abb6016c3f5319a0d~mv2.jpg The new Warden building contained thirty-six shops and five medium sized stores. The three upper floors had 84 apartments, which were mostly of the dinette-kitchenette type, while a few others were labeled "bachelor" type apartments because they did not have the dinette-kitchenette feature. The apartments were seen as ideal living quarters. At that time, every convenience was provided for “eliminating most of the hard work in house-keeping.” The kitchenettes had electric ranges and cabinets; the refrigerators were placed so that the ice, which was furnished for free, could be put in the boxes from a hall; the garbage and waste paper are removed from the hall by the porter. The first and mezzanine floors were truly a sight to be seen. In addition to the large and beautiful lobby, there were fourteen shops on the first floor that opened on to an eighteen foot L-shaped corridor that faced Ninth street and First avenue South. On the mezzanine floor was a large and exquisitely furnished lounge that overlooked the lobby. Also on this floor were twenty-two shops of different sizes that opened onto a walk that gave a view of the activities below. In the basement of the building was a grocery and delicatessen store. The store had a street entrance on Ninth, and an entrance from the apartments. The elevators ran to the basement with a marble hall leading to the grocery. This store was a great convenience for those who lived in the building. They were able to secure their daily needs without leaving the building. An Amazing Place “The Warden Plaza was the place to live in Fort Dodge. It was absolutely marvelous,” recalled Drexel Peterson, who was a longtime radio personality for KVFD, which was founded by Ed Breen in the Warden on Christmas Eve 1939 and located there for many years. Peterson and his wife, Ruth, and children Anne and Drexel, Jr., lived in the Warden Apartments from 1945 to 1953, a time when few children lived in the facility. “It was the only full-service apartment building in Fort Dodge, ant it had elevator and switchboard operators 24 hours a day. There was a head housekeeper, but you took care of your own apartment, and if you had pipe problems in the middle of the night, there was a maintenance man on duty to take care of it,” Peterson said. “There were marvelous people that lived there. Many were doctors, lawyers and people who worked downtown. All in all, it was an amazing place.” https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_be035d1a99c04df890677edd2e4078fd~mv2.jpg His daughter Anne Miller, who lives in Concord, Mass., has fond memories of living on the fourth floor of the Warden Apartments and exploring the huge building as a child. “As a child I loved it! It used to be the classy place to live. If you didn’t have a house or wanted to live downtown, it was great,” Miller said. She recalled the beauty salons, barber shops, bakery, drapery shop and “a wonderful place” called the Smoke Shop among other businesses that were located in the north arcade of the Warden Apartments. “The Smoke Shop was like a modern day 7-Eleven. It had pop, chips, cigarettes, cigars, milk, bread, etc., as well as a pinball machine. I wasn’t to hang out there but was sent down to buy bread, milk and pop,” she said. he mezzanine, which is the floor located between the ground and second floors, “was a fun area as a child,” she said. “It had a huge ornate railing that looked down over the lobby, but half of the open space was filled with offices in the early 1970s.” On Fort Dodge resident who at one time worked at the Warden as did his father, said the Warden also used to feature a fountain, a marble-adorned front desk, skylights and its own water tower. A well in the basement piped water up to the roof into two 5,000-gallon tanks, which would supply the apartments with water. He added that a Warden resident once told him that there were glass sidewalks in front of the Warden that were illuminated at night and a bowling alley in the basement. In the fall of 1970, Glen Machovec and William Sergeant bought The Warden from Theodora Westenberger, who was the daughter of Theodore Warden, the original proprietor and visionary of The Warden. The building underwent extensive interior renovations; remodeling the existing apartments and finishing the construction of apartments and office spaces on the third and fourth floors. The office and commercial space on the ground floor and mezzanine remained essentially intact. In the early 1980’s, many retail businesses were relocating to the Crossroads Mall area on the east side of Fort Dodge, and new office space was being developed in the community. These modifications led to a changing culture in downtown Fort Dodge and the detriment of the Warden Plaza. In 1983, the Warden Plaza was purchased by Real Property Services, a property management company from Carlsbad, California. Unfortunately, this marked the beginning of the slow, but steady demise of the Warden Plaza. In April of 1994, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) foreclosed on the property, due to the owners failing to make payments on the outstanding mortgage of more than $3.5 million. A few months later, the building was purchased by Barry Smith, a private investor from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Smith had visions of bringing The Warden back to its former glory, however, the cost of the mandatory repairs to the occupied apartments that were needed in order to bring the building up to code along with other issues proved to be too costly for Smith. He sold the property to HLI Properties of Fort Dodge after just two years. In December of 1996 HLI Properties acquired the ownership and management of The Warden. Deteriorating conditions within the building caused the few remaining tenants to move out of The Warden in 2005 and the building was permanently closed at that time. From 2005 to 2016, Harvest Baptist Church then the company Corale LLC owned the once iconic building. During this period, The Warden remained vacant and uninhabitable. The interior and exterior became increasingly dilapidated and vandalized. Fortunately, in June and July of 2016, the City of Fort Dodge was able to take possession of the building as part of a collaborative effort to renovate and restore The Warden back to the grand centerpiece of Fort Dodge that it once was. For eight decades, the Warden Plaza served as the home for many businesses and organizations, as well as individuals who lived in the Warden apartments. The following is a list of some of the Fort Dodge businesses and organizations that were located in the iconic Warden Plaza building between 1922 – 2000. · World Travel AAA · AAA Motor Club of Iowa · Otis Elevator · Farmers National Co. · Xerox · Eddie Quinn Clothier · Mid States Commodities Inc. · Jet Print · KSMX – Radio Station · Maiwurm Assoc. – Architects · Iowa Farms Associates · Mid States Grain · Equifax Inc. · Land and Water Publication · Bolt Security · Heights Finance Corp. · Schlotfeldt Engineering Inc. · Webster County Red Cross · Webster Construction · Louis Rabiner Trust · W. W. Wilson – Insurance · One Hour Martinizing · Household Finance Corp. · Woodruff – Evans Construction · Secretarial Answering Service · Svana’s Imports · Lakota Girl Scouts · Bob Singer Insurance Agency · KVFD – Radio Station · March of Dimes · Birthright · Bergman Photos · Old Northwest Co. – Insurance · Mr. Bob’s Shoe Shine · Aunt Nancy’s Day Care Center · Comedia Musica Players · Rasch Construction · County Furs · McClure Engineering · Herbert-Hansen Fur Company · The Terrace Lounge · The 34th Club · Home Federal Savings · Katy’s Alterations · Eddie’s Grocery · Waller-Wendling Assoc. – Insurance · Stark, Crumley & Jacobs – Attorneys · Fort Dodge Chamber of Commerce · City of FD Community Development Office · Sergeant & Sergeant – Attorneys · Sample Alley – Women’s Clothing · Dr. Walter Gower & Dr. Matt Sander’s Office The Fort Dodge Laboratories occupied the third floor and Quaker Oats occupied the second floor, which were later turned into residential floors. Warden ownership timeline: 1924 – 1970: Theodora Westenberger (Warden) 1970 – 1983: Warden Plaza Partnership (Glen Machovec & William Sergeant) 1983 – 1994: Real Property Services – Carlsbad, CA 1994 – 1996: Barry B. Smith – Cedar Rapids, IA 1996 – 2005: HLI Properties, Inc. – Fort Dodge, IA 2005 – 2008: Harvest Baptist Church – Fort Dodge, IA 2009 – 2016: Corale LLC 2016 – 2017: City of Fort Dodge 2017 – Present: KDG LLC Sources: *The Messenger & Chronicle. November 8, 1924 *Fort Dodge Messenger. October 8, 1970 *Fort Dodge Today. Beth Buehler. February 199 Webster County Courthouse 1900 https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_19de689bb987498f853610825364ea35~mv2.jpg 701 Central Ave. The courthouse when finally turned over to the county, was a plain, two story' stone building, fifty by one hundred feet in size. The basement was used for the county jail, the first floor for offices, and the second floor for the courtroom and court offices. Location: 701 Central Ave. Construction Timeline: 1900 – 1902 Architect: Henry C. Koch Original Owner: Webster County Size: 4 stories Purpose of Building: Courthouse and city/county government In 1856, Fort Dodge became the county seat for Webster County. John Duncombe led the movement of petitioning the court for an election to be held to vote on the issue of moving the county seat from Homer to Fort Dodge, with Fort Dodge coming out victorious. The population of Webster county in 1859, according to an old manuscript, had reached about 4,500. The census returns for that year, however, showed but 2,596. Whichever may be correct, a courthouse was needed, and had been talked of ever since the locating of the county seat at Fort Dodge. The question of the building was submitted to the voters the first Monday in April, 1859, and carried by a majority of 200. Webster county's title to her first courthouse site in Fort Dodge, and which is still the present site, bears date of August 20, 1858. The grantor is Jesse Williams, trustee, by his attorney in fact, William Williams. The name of John F. Duncombe appears in the transaction, as the notary whose seal was affixed to the document. The contract for the new courthouse was let by the county judge, L. L. Pease, to Jenkins and Merritt, and afterwards they sublet to Sweeney and Tierney. The original contract price was $39,450.00. To this had been added several items making the figure just a little within the $50,000 limit set in the proposition to build. The designs for the building were drawn but various changes were made, however, before the building was completed. The corner stone of the building was laid May 8, 1859. No sooner was the building begun, however, than trouble commenced. The designs were constantly undergoing change. Many mistakes were made. It was difficult to get labor or material and project became underfunded, which proved a most serious problem. The time of completion had been extended two years and yet the first story was still not finished. The lack of funds to carry on the work proved a most serious problem and the animosities of the county seat fight were still active. It was at this point that Thomas Snell of the firm of Snell & Taylor, high respected contractors, was urged by the leading citizens of Fort Dodge to undertake the work. This he finally consented to do, and the contract was assigned to his firm, and by them, completed. Yet with the new contractors the building did not go on so smoothly. Numerous conflicts arose including the delays with the project, the many changes that were made, and accusations of fraud. The underlying problem that seemed to be the foundation of so much distrust and dissatisfaction was the continued hard feelings within the county over the legality of the vote that moved the county seat to Fort Dodge. Bitter personal feelings festered around the county seat fight. At last, worn out with fighting, the county leaders came to their senses, for the time being, intense personal feelings were eventually overcome by better reasoning, and the difficulties were adjusted and the county seat fight was ended. The courthouse when finally turned over to the county, was a plain, two story' stone building, fifty by one hundred feet in size. The basement was used for the county jail, the first floor for offices, and the second floor for the courtroom and court offices. This building during its entire existence was being remodeled and repaired. After a number of years a clock tower was added, and the stairway leading to the courtroom was changed. Still later rooms were fitted up for the federal court offices. But all these changes could not keep pace with the growth of the county. The county superintendent's office was forced out and across the street to the Doud block. In 1885 Judge Henderson of the district court declared the jail quarters unsanitary and ordered the prisoners confined in the Hamilton county jail. In view of this latter condition. Captain S. J. Benett, a member of the Board of Supervisors, introduced a resolution before that body calling for a vote upon a three mill tax levy to build a jail. On the first submission to the voters of the county it was lost; but the next year upon resubmission it was carried. The jail when constructed was of brick, two stories in height, and standing at the southeast corner of the courthouse. It contained four cells and corridors, which could also be used for the honest prisoners. The building was not the most confining and several deliveries were made out of it. The changes in the courthouse were but temporary makeshifts. The conditions were still crowded. During the last session of the Board of Supervisors for the year 1898, and the January session of the following year, the board were besieged with petitions from every county officer telling of the crowded and unsafe condition of the county vaults. A new courthouse seemed absolutely necessary. A committee consisting of S. J. Bennett, Andrew Hannon, Swan Johnson, and T. J. Ryan were appointed by the board to investigate the conditions and to make a report at the April session. At this session the committee reported in favor of building a new courthouse. The board, however, took no action upon the matter during that session. Again in September the committee reported in favor of a new building and most strongly urged that it be started at once. This time the board unanimously adopted the resolution and ordered it submitted to the voters at the general election to be held November 7, 1899. The vote stood 2,394 for and 1,146 against, being a majority of 1,248 in favor of building. Many people favored the construction of the new building upon a larger site, and for this reason wanted the old site sold and a new one purchased with the proceeds. Investigation, however, showed that the deed by which the county acquired the site, made it revert back to the original owner, when it ceased to be used for courthouse purposes. Rather than lose this valuable property it was deemed best to build upon the old site. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_9563face6565499aad073c3f569dcd56~mv2.jpg Plans for the new four-story building were submitted to the board February 1, 1900. The new stone building represented a significant expansion over its predecessor. After a careful consideration those submitted by H. C. Koch & Co., of Milwaukee. were accepted. Later the contract for the building was let to the Northern Building Company of Minneapolis at their bid of $99,720.00 and Mr. C. B. Hepler of Fort Dodge was appointed as superintendent of construction. The contract called for the completion of the building by November 1, 1901. This time was later extended to March 1, 1902. The formal dedication of the building was held Friday, September 12, 1902, and on the following Monday the county officials moved into their new home. The building was accepted by the board October 11, 1902. The razing of the old building and the constructing of the new courthouse building was due to the work of Captain S. J. Bennett, chairman of the building committee. He devoted practically his entire time to the task; and in the efficient public work, which he did. He won the approval of every loyal citizen and taxpayer of the county. On September 11, 1902, the county officers were all at home in their new quarters, and during the evening a concert was given by the Fort Dodge Military Band. The formal dedication was held the next morning. Special trains brought people from all parts of the county. Senator Jonathan P. Dolliver acted as presiding officer and made the first address. He was followed by Senator T. D. Healy, and Hon. R. M. Wright. Proud as were many of the younger citizens of the county of the structure, which they had helped to build, their pride could not equal that of those pioneers, who had outlived the decay of two courthouses, and who out of the wildness had wrought the means with which to frame the magnificent county home. They were the true builders. Today, the courthouse is the site of much local and regional government business and offices for the state courts of the Second Judicial District. History of Courthouse Restoration Year Phase Amount 1980: Specifications for Courthouse Repair and Jail Removal from the Courthouse $98,780.60 1985-1986 Exterior Restoration $313,888.70 *Cleaning & repair of Limestone *Restoration of copper clock tower *Replacement of flat and sloped roof areas *Replacement of exterior atrium skylight 1987 Phase I Renovation $113,966.00 *Data processing department – 4th floor *Replacement of electrical panels/services to all floors 1988-1989 Phase II Renovation $465,345.00 *County Engineers Office – 4th floor *Three Judges Chambers – 4th floor *Main entry – 1st floor *Rework Atrium handrails – 2nd and 3rd floors *Main District Courtroom – 3rd floor 1991-1992 Phase III Renovation $202,477.80 *District Court Administrator Office – 4th floor 1993-1994 Phase IV Renovation $593,870.80 *County Treasurer Office – 1st floor *Motor Vehicle Department – 1st floor *Small Claims Court Office – 1st floor *Sprinkler Main Entrance *Central Cooling Equipment installed 1997-present Final Renovation Phase V $2,500,000.00 *Renovate 2nd floor – County Offices *Renovate 3rd floor – Judicial Spaces *Handicapped accessible restrooms – 2nd & 3rd floors *Handicapped accessible elevator *Completion of sprinkler system *Completion of central cooling system Grand Total$4,288,328.90 Sources: *The Fort Dodge Messenger. September 12, 1902 *The Fort Dodge Messenger. December 13, 1902 *The History of Fort Dodge and Webster County… by H.M. Pratt Blanden Memorial Art Museum The Blanden Memorial Art Museum was constructed in 1932 as the first art museum in Iowa. Charles Blanden donated the funding to build the museum. Blanden had been the mayor of Fort Dodge from 1887 – 1889. Mr. Blanden’s wire Elizabeth was a teacher in Fort Dodge when they lived here. Later in their lives they moved to California and in 1929, Mrs. Blanden passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_604b6ae0928d456b82b5ac9cdebce57b~mv2.jpg Mr. Blanden wanted to so something to honor his wife’s life and decided to build an art museum, but he wasn’t sure if he should build it in Fort Dodge or in San Diego, California. A group of ladies that lived in Fort Dodge in the late 1920’s really wanted Mr. Blanden to build the museum here. But at that time, there was a state law that only allowed cities with a population of 50,000 or more people to have a municipal museum. Fort dodg had around 30,000 people living in it at that time, not enough for a municipal museum. A State Senator from Fort Dodge helped the group and through the Iowa government system, sponsored a law that lowered the population requirement to 20,000 – this way, Fort Dodge could build a museum. Fort Dodge Messenger www.blanden.org(http://www.blanden.org/) Webster County Historical Society

Learn about the evolution of the new community of Fort Dodge during this historic time period when the population and the industry in Fort Dodge experienced amazing growth. GROWTH OF OUR FRONTIER TOWN Historical Eras Iconic People Iconic Buildings Iconic Places Iconic Events Nostalgia Places of Worship Industry Education Healthcare Sports Archives HISTORY Historical Era: Growth of our Frontier Town 1860-1890 1860-1890 …. Growth of our Frontier Town After the post was abandoned with the troops leaving Fort Dodge in April of 1853, Major William Williams remained at the post and with financial assistance from Jesse Williams, a banker and land speculator from Fairfield, Iowa, Williams purchased the abandoned military reservation, organized the Fort Dodge Town Company, and platted the town. In 1855, a federal land office was established in Fort Dodge and investors from the East flocked in to purchase land. The early growth of the new community was due to land speculation in the great land boom of 1855-57. Temporary population rose to around one thousand as speculators sought a quick fortune. Money made in land speculation was used to finance more lasting enterprises in later years. Prosperity and growth, however, were interrupted by the Panic of 1857 and the subsequent Civil War. The Civil War – 1861-1865 During the Civil War years, Fort Dodge, like other fledgling towns, saw its growth stagnate as the nation was coping with the devastations of war. The one major milestone during this time period was Fort Dodge was established as the county seat. The Civil War era brought considerable change to Iowa's politics and Fort Dodge was no exception. During the 1850s, the state's dominant Democratic Party developed serious internal problems, as well as being unsuccessful in getting the national Democratic Party to respond to their local needs. Iowans soon turned to the newly emerging Republican Party. The new party opposed slavery and promoted land ownership, banking, and railroads, and Iowa voted heavily for Abraham Lincoln and other Republican politicians in 1860 and throughout the war. Leading up to the start of the Civil War, Fort Dodge, not unlike other communities and cities in the north was divided on the central issue of slavery and the cessation of the southern states. The two competing newspapers in Fort Dodge at the time were on opposite sides of the issue. Republicans adamantly supported Abraham Lincoln and the Union’s position to end slavery and reunite the country. Democrats leaned in the direction of being anti-abolitionist. Many young men from Fort Dodge that went to war ended up in Company A which distinguished itself in action and was recognized by a Union General as one of the best Companies fighting for the Union. In spite of its small size and lack of activity, several of the company’s officers stationed at Fort Dodge played significant roles in subsequent military history. With the outbreak of the Civil War all but one of the officers resigned their commissions and joined the Confederate army. Only the commanding officer, Samuel Wood(s), remained with the Union. He gained recognition for serving as paymaster general for the entire Army of the West which covered all the territory west of Iowa. He retired after serving more than 50 years. Lewis Armistead, the second in command surrendered his commission to become a general for the Confederacy and led Pickett’s charge at Gettysburg where he lost his life. James Corley went on to become chief quartermaster for Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. The end of the Civil War in 1865 brought many veterans west, ambitious young men who brought a revival of the town’s fortunes and provided leadership for the rest of the nineteenth century. Fort Dodge Becomes an Incorporated City During the period beginning in 1854 when Major William Williams platted the village of Fort Dodge and for the next 15 years, Fort Dodge was just a growing frontier village. Then on August 22, 1869, by order of the circuit court of Webster county, Major Williams and four others were appointed commissioners to call an election and to do all things necessary for the incorporation of the city of Fort Dodge. The result of this first city election, held on October 1, 1869, was to give the mayoralty honors to Major Williams. He held the office of mayor for just two years until 1871. Unfortunately, his age and feeble health compelled Major Williams to refuse to continue in the office, which the people would have gladly given him. With great respect by all and numerous honors for distinguished service to his country and community, this pioneer tradesman, militia officer and founder of the city died at his home in Fort Dodge on February 26, 1874. At the time of his death, Major William Williams left an unparalleled legacy and a community that would grow into a thriving Midwest city that would become one of the most vibrant and industrious cities in Iowa for decades to come. TRANSPORTATION A major form of transportation during this period was stagecoaches even though American West roads were rocky, muddy, rutted, and sometimes impassible. Bandits were also a constant threat to stagecoach riders; nevertheless, the stagecoach was a vital method of transportation in the American West and Iowa in particular. They were far more comfortable than riding on horseback. Even though a trip on a stagecoach was often a very rugged and uncomfortable ride, it was a form of transportation that was used by settlers coming from the East to Fort Dodge. Stagecoaches were also used to transport the mail. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined In 1863, Aden Haskell established the Northwestern Stage Company in Fort Dodge and built it into one of the largest stagecoach companies in the state. By 1865, the Northwestern Stage Company had established daily and tri-weekly routes across Iowa, making travel across Iowa much more efficient. In 1867, Haskell brought in a new partner, John Cheney, and the two of them continued to grow the business, so much so, that the Northwestern Stage Company had become the most predominate stagecoach business in Iowa. Travel by stagecoach continued to be a main form of transportation during this period. The growth of the railroad system in Iowa in the later 1800’s and early 1900’s, along with the development of the automobile eventually led to the demise of the stagecoach business. In the days preceding the arrival of railroads, river transportation offered the preferred method of moving people and goods. In Iowa the Mississippi and Missouri served as the major transportation highways and within the state the Des Moines River offered great promise. The first attempts to navigate the upper reaches of the Des Moines came in 1857 when a small man powered boat, the Rolling Wave reached Fort Dodge. In 1858 leaders invested in the construction of a steam boat, the Charles Rogers. Largely because of a wet spring the boat was able to reach Fort Dodge three times before the water level dropped and travel became difficult. River navigation as a solution was a fleeting vision which died with the coming of railroads. Impact of Railroads: The period between the years 1860 to 1890 saw huge expansion of railroads in Iowa and across the nation. With the advancement of the steam engine, Railroads were able to cut travel time by 90% and greatly improved the comfort and safety of cross country travelers. These factors brought thousands of settlers to Iowa using the Railroads to move west. New cities and towns emerged along the route of the railways and many industrialists acquired great wealth. Both for the nation and for the state of Iowa, railroads created a more interconnected society. Counties were able to more easily work together due to the decreased travel time. With the use of the steam engine, people were able to travel to distant locations much more quickly than if they were using only horse-powered transportation. In fact, on May 10, 1869, when the Union and Central Pacific Railroads joined their rails at Promontory Summit, Utah Territory, the entire nation was joined with 1,776 miles of track. The Transcontinental Railroad meant that the frontier could be extended with a greater movement of population. Thus, the Railroad also allowed people to change their place of living with greater ease than ever before. This certainly had a major impact on the growth of Fort Dodge. The growth of a rail network expanded available markets for goods. This had a two-fold effect on the economy: the sellers of goods found new markets in which to sell their goods , and individuals who lived on the frontier were able to obtain goods that had previously been unavailable or extremely difficult to get. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined In the 1850s, the first railroads reached Iowa from the east. Rail transportation was safer, quicker and more reliable than riverboats, and they quickly had a major influence. The federal government gave four railroad companies substantial grants of land to build lines connecting the Mississippi and the Missouri rivers. In consequence, Iowa farm goods flowed into Chicago and merchants purchased goods from Chicago warehouses on the return trips. Railroads aggressively encouraged settlement as Railroad companies became town buildersprang up w. Towns shere the railroads created depots and refueling stations, often every seven or eight miles along the track. In the 1870s and 1880s, railroad construction was at its peak and soon almost no Iowans lived more than 10 miles from a rail line. The railroads also opened new economic opportunities and Fort Dodge was a major beneficiary. Farmers could move their grain to markets much more cheaply. Trains also made it easier for people to travel from town to town and out of state. Towns along the route thrived as places where travelers could find layover points and residents find new markets for goods. Not only did the railways provide greater opportunity through extending markets, they also stimulated more people to start businesses and thereby enter the markets. An extended marketplace provided a greater number of individuals the opportunity to produce and sell goods locally and regionally, and even allowed for the shipment of goods to a broader, interstate area. Fort Dodge business and government leaders were very aggressive in their efforts to bring Railroads to Fort Dodge and were successful in doing so. Construction of early railroads in Iowa were assisted by Federal land grants. In 1869, two land grant railroads reached Fort Dodge, the Illinois Central from Dubuque and the east, and the Des Moines Valley that connected to Des Moines and all the way to Keokuk, offering rail connections to the south. In 1876 the M and St. L. line (Minnesota – St. Louis) was extended north with the construction of the Fort Dodge and Fort Ridgely line, largely with the use of local funds. The 1880s brought still another line, the Mason City and Fort Dodge, which later became the Chicago Great Western, giving Fort Dodge another connection with Minneapolis and Chicago. With the turn of the century both the Great Western and the Illinois Central extended their lines southwest to Omaha, fulfilling the early dream of transcontinental connection. Fort Dodge and Webster County had a special appeal to railroad interests because of the coal deposits here. Before the 1980s, the coal fields were the farthest north and west in the nation. Webster County coal was needed not only to fuel the trains but also the new towns and the developing industries of the upper Midwest. Fort Dodge soon became an important rail hub for the Midwest and the future of as a vibrant and growing city was secured. BUSINESS & INDUSTRY During the last four decades of the 1800’s, Fort Dodge area industry grew substantially. The Fort Dodge area was blessed by extensive mineral deposits, so many that at the turn of the century it acquired the nickname of Iowa's "Mineral City." In the 1870s, coal mining developed, largely because of the need of the railroads for fuel. Three railroads had ties to the mine fields in the county. In the 1870s and early 1880s in the United States, there were still no coal fields developed to the north or to the west. Coal was important for later economic development. Local coal was of lower quality because of its high sulfur content , but since the coal fields of Wyoming and Montana had not yet been opened, Webster County coal was seen as accessible and in high demand as fuel for transportation, industrial needs and home heating in Iowa and Minnesota. By 1875, Webster County ranked fourth in the state in coal production. In 1883, the peak year for production there were thirty-seven mines in operation, employing over 700 miners and producing one quarter of a million tons of coal. The earliest and largest of the coal companies was the Fort Dodge Coal Company/ Holiday Creek Railroad and Coal Company. Local figures associated with the mines of the late 19th century were John F. Duncombe, Samuel Rees and C. B. Richards. The most prominent was Duncombe who also had ties with the railroads and served for many years as the attorney for five railroads. He also had financial interests in new coal fields in Wyoming. The major years of coal mining ended in 1903 when miners across the nation unionized, resulting in smaller coal fields closing down because they were no longer competitive. Not only was coal available, but the “Mineral City” area had abundant supplies of clay, gypsum, and limestone. Coal fueled the establishment of the gypsum industry, which at the time, was considered the most important mineral. Gypsum was first mined for plaster shortly after 1870. The first gypsum mill was established in 1871 when the railroads gave Fort Dodge access to markets beyond the immediate area. Over the years, 13 mills were built in the county, making Fort Dodge reportedly the largest producer in the world. The three figures most prominent in the local industry who are considered to be the industry's founders were George Ringland, Stillman T. Meservey and Webb Vincent. They opened the first plaster mill in 1871 and several years later Ringland patented a process tor creating a superior form of plaster, which for the first time made plaster a cheap and very practical material for the use in construction. The second largest industry in Fort Dodge during this period was the clay products industry. It, too, was dependent upon local coal. At one time, five plants produced brick, sewer pipe, and drainage tile. Fort Dodge clay products were used to build many of the towns in Iowa, the Dakotas, and Minnesota. Locally produced drainage tile helped drain the extensive wet lands of north central Iowa, making available the world’s best soil for agriculture. Clay stoneware, produced between 1870 and 1910, was also a major product, and Fort Dodge was by far the largest producer of stoneware in Iowa. A third important mineral based industry in Webster County was clay products. Webster County could boast of thirty foot thick deposits of top quality clay, some of the best in the state. The first brick yards were opened in the 1850s. They were one person operations for strictly local construction; a market that didn’t change until the arrival of the railroads. By the end of the century there were five plants producing brick and tile in the city. The first yards were located in Fort Dodge but as markets expanded, production expanded to plants in Kalo and Lehigh. Although brick yards were located in these two communities ownership and investors were primarily from Fort Dodge. Key Fort Dodge investors in the industry were E.C. Breen, C.S. Corey, Leon Vincent, and the Schnuurs. At first, production was limited to bricks but about 1885 farmers began draining the wet lands out on the prairies, not just in Webster County but also in the surrounding counties in north central Iowa. Clay tile was in great demand and local plants began to produce it. Closely related to brick and tile production was stoneware. The first stoneware plant opened in 1870 by Martin White who had previously operated a plant in Cedar Falls. He moved to Fort Dodge because of the superior quality and quantity of local clay. Over the next forty years, six different companies produced jugs and crops here making Fort Dodge the largest producer in the state. From the beginning Fort Dodge was a grain milling center and over the years a dozen small mills were established. The first commercial mill was the Arnold mill which was located on the Des Moines River just south of what is now Loomis Park. A dam was built to provide power but the width of the river at this point made the dam unstable and it washed out and was rebuilt twice. Finally the mill was lost in a fire and future mills turned to steam for their operations. Most of the mill owners had other investments in the community and are familiar names in early Fort Dodge; Arnold, Leander Blanden, Charles Wolfe, and the Kirchner family. In general, the earliest business leaders in Fort Dodge were primarily men who migrated from the northeast and they achieved local success in land sales and in banking. Before the railroads, local business was limited largely to small retail general stores and craftsmen serving the immediate farming communities. Much of the early industries were started by German immigrants who had left Germany after the failure of the democratic revolts there had failed. Largely successful middle class businessmen and craftsman they came to achieve relief from an oppressive government and for greater opportunity. They brought not only their skills but also wealth enough to establish themselves in a new land. Fort Dodge offered them opportunity. Germans established and operated new brick yards, flour mills, metal work and blacksmiths, a brewery, wagon shops, harness shops, and furniture manufacturing, contracting and construction, specifically: - Thiede Brickyard - Arnold's flour mills Kirchner flour mill - Koll's brewery - Prusia iron and metal work, later into hardware; retail and wholesale - Laufersweiller furniture - Fackler Foundary - Rank Bookbinding - Preschau cigar manufacturing - Proeshold Construction As a major rail hub in the Midwest, combined with the rich mineral deposits in Fort Dodge and Webster County, the “Mineral City” was set for continued growth and expansion for years to come. Agriculture The farmland around Fort Dodge and in Webster County is some of riches farmland in the world. Because of this, agriculture with its grain and livestock production was a foundational piece of Fort Dodge’s economy during most of the city’s history. With the farms in Webster County, very few single men attempted to operate a farm; farmers clearly understood the need for a hard-working wife, and numerous children, to handle the many chores, including child-rearing, feeding and clothing the family, managing the housework, feeding the hired hands. The woes faced by farmers transcended economics. Nature was often unkind with blistering summers and cruel winters being commonplace. Frequent drought spells followed by intense rains causing major flooding challenges, making farming even more difficult. Insect blights raged through some regions, eating further into the farmers' profits. During this period, the farm site was in transition between subsistence agriculture (producing enough for the family to survive) and becoming a profit-making farm. Most farms in 1850-1860 averaged 160 acres in size, with farmers cultivating anywhere from 25 to 40 acres. Horse drawn plows were used to cultivate the tillable land. Corn, wheat, and potatoes were the three major crops. Most farmers used their corn crop to feed the pigs that were then sold for profit. Wheat and hogs were cash crops for farmers, and potatoes were a staple with nearly every meal . Pioneer families relied on poultry for three major purposes: meat, eggs, and money. Pioneers used small barns to store tools and some crops, rather than to house animals. The big barns, associated with modern farms, were not built in Iowa until the 1870s. When the railroads came to Fort Dodge in the 1870’s to 1890’s, they helped expanded agriculture by opening up new markets for agricultural products. By rail, Fort Dodge area farm goods flowed back east to Chicago for storage until being shipped out to the east coast. The Chicago Board of Trade offered an efficient system for trading corn, wheat, oats and soybeans. A major factor is the growth of agriculture in the Fort Dodge and Webster County area during this period was the implementation of the state’s drainage laws passed in the 1870s. The first documented case of a drain tile being installed in Iowa occurred in 1868 on the grounds of Iowa State University in Ames. The region’s extensive swamps and sloughs were remnants of the last glacier, which loosened its icy grip on Iowa approximately 12,000 years ago. There was a lot of water and nowhere for it to go. Drainage ditches had to be dug and tile lines had to be laid before the sloughs and swamps of Iowa could be farmed. This started around 1880 and picked up speed in the early 1900s as drainage technology became more advanced. Drainage affected Iowa’s settlement patterns during this period. By 1880, many landowners realized underground drainage tile was needed to remove the excess water in order to effectively farm the land. As more settlers moved into Iowa and demand for tile drainage grew, tile kilns and factories popped up across the state to manufacture clay tile. Fort Dodge clay products were used to make the much needed drainage tile in Iowa, the Dakotas, and Minnesota. This locally produced drainage tile helped drain the extensive wet lands of north central Iowa, making available the world’s best soil for agriculture. Most of the drainage of the Midwestern wetlands occurred in the early 1900's in response to federal and local government support for drainage districts and improvements in drainage technology. Cow Town, USA A unique part of Fort Dodge’s history during this period was an unusual city ordinance that allowed cows to roam freely throughout the community. It was very common for cows to wonder through the downtown area of Fort Dodge and would even create havoc with the local business, so much so, that many businesses put fences around their establishments to keep the cows out. This tradition was allowed in the early 1850’s and continued for four decades. In 1883, a Messenger editorial reported that Fort Dodge had as many as 500 free roaming cows. In the decade of 1880, this local ordinance became a very divisive issue in the city. Those who favored allowing cows to roam freely took the position that most of the cows were owned by ordinary people who relied on their cows for milk on a daily basis and needed the cows to be close by, and, they needed the milk to stay healthy. The wealthier citizens favored a new ordinance to require the cows to be pastured while the working class favored letting the cows continue to roam. Around the state and even the nation, Fort Dodge became sarcastically known as “Cow Town.” It wasn’t until 1892 that the ordinance was deposed and the cows could no longer roam the streets of Fort Dodge. In 1889, the mayor of Fort Dodge was Charles G. Blanden. He favored the ordinance to end the roaming cows. The only Fort Dodge physician at the time, Dr. Nicholson, wrote a poem in support of continuing to let the cows roam. “The cow, the cow, oh the beautiful cow Is queen of the city in spite of the row; And her dutiful subjects in the council declare She must have free pasture in spite of the mayor.” Immigration In the 1850s, he earliest settlers were almost all native born with an English heritage who had come from eastern states. By 1860 through 1890, Fort Dodge reflected a mix of ethnic groups. Migrants of Swedish, Norwegian, German and Irish descent came to the region attracted by the rich agricultural lands and opportunities to own land and farm. The Germans were attracted by business opportunities and places for skilled craftsmen. By the 1890s an increasing number began arriving primarily from eastern and southern Europe; Greeks, Italians, Jews, Czechs, and Slovaks. As cheap lands disappeared and with limited education and skills many of these found their place as unskilled labor in the mines, with the railroads, and in the new industrial plants. Education The first school in Fort Dodge was taught by C. C. Carpenter, (later to become the Governor of Iowa) in the winter of 1854-55. The school was in an old building just in back of the old Wahkonsa hotel. The next winter D. A. Weller taught school in one of the government buildings. In 1856 the first school building was erected on the corner of Second Avenue South and Seventh Street. In the early days this building was known as "the old brick" school. At the time, it was the only public building in town, and was used for holding the courts, political meetings, churches, festivals, and other affairs considered of a public nature. It was there that the two companies for the Spirit Lake expedition were organized. The first school was taught in this building by Henry Gunn during the winter of 1856- 1857. In 1869 Fort Dodge had one school building and nine teachers including the principal. The number of pupils in attendance was about 350. In 1878 there were thirteen teachers, with the principal. In 1884 there were seventeen teachers, not including the superintendent. The buildings at that time were the Lincoln, Arey, West Fort Dodge (one room), and First ward (one room). During the year 1890, twenty-one teachers were employed. Fort Dodge has had a long history of education beyond the high school. The first high school graduating class was in 1876. It graduated three students, one boy and two girls. This was at a time in which most cities and towns only carried their public school education through the eighth grade. As late as 1890, only 88 school districts in the state offered four years of high school. In Fort Dodge, the public high school just sixteen years later graduated ninety-two (92) students, thirty-seven (37) boys and fifty-five (55) girls. In 1863, the German Lutheran school was organized by Rev. Godfrey Endres . The school building was erected thirty-two years later in 1895 at a cost of $7,500. There were two Catholic parochial schools in Fort Dodge, Corpus Christi and Sacred Heart, that were organized in 1862 with Rev. John Marsh as pastor. The Sisters of Charity of the B. V. M. came from Dubuque to conduct the classes. In 1866, it was decided to discontinue the school and the sisters returned to Dubuque. In 1874 the old school building was enlarged and under the direction of the Very Rev. T. M. Lenihan, a flourishing school was established. Sisters of Mercy came from New York City and made this convent their mother house. Fire destroyed the buildings and for some years the parish was without a parochial school. In 1885, the Presbyterians organized the Fort Dodge Presbyterian Collegiate Institute in a house directly across First Avenue North from the old Carnegie Library. The school offered college preparatory courses, a traditional liberal arts program, and a commercial program. It was highly innovative for its time offering individualized instruction, night courses, and simulated model banking and retailing experiences as well as music, art and debate, and speech competition. The total enrollment at its peak reached 95 students. The college floundered largely because of financial difficulties. Neither the Presbyterian churches in northern Iowa nor the Fort Dodge community were able to provide the financial support that they had promised. The Presbyterians became concerned about the college’s future in Fort Dodge, thinking it may not be the right city to host a college. At the time, Fort Dodge was known as a rough and tumble mining community and the Presbyterians harbored concerns about excessive drinking and philandering in the community. In 1891 the college closed and was moved to Storm Lake to become Buena Vista College. Conclusion During this period (1854-1869), Fort Dodge grew from a settlement started by William Williams to an incorporated town (in 1869), but population growth of Fort Dodge was sluggish due to the difficulty of travel from the east to Fort Dodge and from the Panic of 1857. Growth was also slowed by the American Civil War. When the Civil War ended in 1865 and then four years later when the railroads finally arrived in Fort Dodge, the transportation of people and goods became much easier and faster. In the following three decades, Fort Dodge saw its local economy expand and become more diversified. The population of Fort Dodge quadrupled and the population of Webster County grew from 2,500 in 1860 to over 21,000 by 1890. During this time period, Fort Dodge was blessed with strong leaders and entrepreneurs who were committed to Fort Dodge and invested in the community with an optimistic belief in the town’s future. Many of these leaders are highlighted in the “Iconic People” section on this website. Sources: *A Capsule History of Fort Dodge …. by Roger Natte *State Historical Society: IowaCulture.gov *Wikipedia – Iowa in the American Civil War *The Untold Story of Iowa's Ag Drainage Systems… by Darcy Maulsby *The History of Fort Dodge and Webster County… by H.M. Pratt *Pioneer History of Fort Dodge, Lucy Taff, 1944 For more in depth information on the history of Fort Dodge, we encourage people to review this book that highlights Fort Dodge history. *Images of America – Fort Dodge, 1850-1970… by Roger B. Natte Railroads RAILROADS SPURRED THE GROWTH OF FORT DODGE Railroad transportation did not come to Iowa until 1850. Ten years later, Iowa had approximately 655 miles of track in operation by 1860 and 2,683 miles by 1870. This mileage grew to almost 9,200 miles at the turn of the century. Most of the people in Iowa were anxious to have railroads built. They asked Congress to donate land for this purpose. In response to these requests Congress in 1856 made four grants of land to Iowa to aid in railway construction. The State of Iowa then gave this land to companies, and they in turn could sell the lands and use the money in building the roads. One of these grants was for a road to be built from Dubuque to Fort Dodge and then to Sioux City. The roads were to have every other section of land for six miles on each side of the right-of-way. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined interconnected society. Counties were able to more easily work together due to the decreased travel time. With the use of the steam engine, people were able to travel to distant locations much more quickly than if they were using only horse-powered transportation. In fact, on May 10, 1869, when the Union and Central Pacific Railroads joined their rails at Promontory Summit, Utah Territory, the entire nation was joined with 1,776 miles of track. The Transcontinental Railroad meant that the frontier could be extended with a greater movement of population. Thus, the Railroad also allowed people to change their place of living with greater ease than ever before. This certainly had a major impact on the growth of Fort Dodge. For Iowa and particularly the Fort Dodge area, the growth of a rail network expanded available markets for goods. This had a two-fold effect on the economy: the sellers of goods found new markets in which to sell their goods , and individuals who lived on the frontier were able to obtain goods that had previously been unavailable or extremely difficult to get. In the 1850s, the first railroads reached Iowa from the east. The federal government gave four railroad companies substantial grants of land to build lines connecting the Mississippi and the Missouri rivers. In consequence, Iowa farm goods flowed into Chicago and merchants purchased goods from Chicago warehouses on the return trips. Railroads aggressively encouraged settlement as Railroad companies became town builders. Towns sprang up where the railroads created depots and refueling stations, often every seven or eight miles along the track. In the 1870s and 1880s, railroad construction was at its peak and soon almost no Iowans lived more than 10 miles from a rail line. The railroads also opened new economic opportunities and Fort Dodge was a major beneficiary. Farmers could move their grain to markets much more cheaply. Trains also made it easier for people to travel from town to town and out of state. Towns along the route thrived as places where travelers could find layover points and residents find new markets for goods. Not only did the railways provide greater opportunity through extending markets, they also stimulated more people to start businesses and thereby enter the markets. An extended marketplace provided a greater number of individuals the opportunity to produce and sell goods locally and regionally, and even allowed for the shipment of goods to a broader, interstate area. Fort Dodge business and government leaders were very aggressive in their efforts to bring Railroads to Fort Dodge and were successful in doing so. Construction of early railroads in Iowa were assisted by Federal land grants. In 1869, two land grant railroads reached Fort Dodge, the Illinois Central from Dubuque and the east, and the Des Moines Valley that connected to Des Moines and all the way to Keokuk, offering rail connections to the south. In 1876 the M and St. L. line (Minnesota – St. Louis) was extended north with the construction of the Fort Dodge and Fort Ridgely line, largely with the use of local funds. During the year 1877, the business men of Fort Dodge were aroused to action by the report that a railroad was to be built northwest of the city into the town of Humboldt. The chief promoter of this road was S. H. Taft, of Humboldt, and he had interested J. J. Smart, of Des Moines, in the enterprise. In addition the board of supervisors of Humboldt county had entered into an agreement to convey a considerable amount of swamp land as a bonus for building the road. The road was to be extended from Ames by way of Webster City to Humboldt, and thence to Rutland. The success of such a road would mean the loss of considerable business to the Fort Dodge business men. A public meeting was called and action was taken to immediately begin building a railroad into Humboldt county. A company was organized composed of the leading business men of the city and known as the Fort Dodge & Fort Ridgley Railroad & Telegraph Company. George R. Pearsons was chosen treasurer and general superintendent. The city and township voted a tax in aid of the enterprise, and the line of the proposed road was run to the south line of Humboldt county. S.H. Taft of Humboldt originally opposed the Fort Dodge & Fort Dodge Ridgely Railroad & Telegraph project and he proved to be a very formable opponent. George Pearsons made two remarks in connection with the building of this road there were characteristic of the man. In referring to Mr. S. H. Taft, from Humboldt, who had opposed the granting of aid by Humboldt county to the road, Mr. Pearsons said: "I don't want to go to heaven if Mr. Taft is going to be there, for I have fought him all I want to in this world, and I don't want to carry into the next." The fight over, Mr. Pearsons then replied to the warm words of welcome of Mr. Taft, "I shake hands across the bloody chasm." With Mr. Taft and Humboldt County on board, the original plan was to be build narrow gauge width rail line from Fort Dodge in a northwesterly direction to the north line of the state in Kossuth or Emmet county, and then connect with a railroad and telegraph company running in the direction of Fort Ridgley, Minnesota. The capital stock proposed was $2,000,000 in shares of $1,000 each, to be called in at the rate of ten per cent monthly, as the board of directors might direct, and the total indebtedness of the company was at no time to exceed $1,000,000 in the aggregate. The officers 'of the company were : Walter H. Brown, president ; George W. Bassett, vice president ; George R. Pearsons, treasurer and general superintendent ; Gus T. Peterson, secretary, and Elliott E. Colburn, chief engineer. At this time the number of inhabitants in Webster county was a little over 3,000 while the counties of Humboldt, Kossuth and Palo Alto had less. All of these counties as well as Pocahontas, Emmet, Clay and Dickinson were to tribute to the building of the rail line. The plan adopted by the board of directors was to build the road on as cheap a scale as possible, using light iron and light engines, so as not to subject it to the necessity of a foreclosure of its bonds, as had been the case with so many western roads, and it was confidently believed that with the aid of the people in the way that had been proposed and had already been started, by subscriptions of stock in the various townships along the line, and from private subscriptions that this object would be accomplished. The stated goal was to have the line in running order and be able to maintain speed of 15 miles per hour. The estimated cost for building the rail line was $6,500 per mile. A public subsidy to build the rail line was needed. Webster County voted a subsidy of $38,000 and Humboldt County $35,000, in addition to 7,000 acres of swamp lands. This was financial foundation sufficient to warrant the promoters starting project in the spring of 1878. Work was started in the east part of Fort Dodge on a vacant lot for the Fort Dodge & Fort Ridgley road. The summer was a wet season and the work of grading and hauling rails by team was greatly behind schedule. Several bad sloughs caused trouble in getting a grade over. George R. Pearsons, who had personal charge of the work, was a giant in strength and he threw his whole reserve force of energy and power into the work with a determination born of desperation. It was told of him that he used to start with a rail in each hand on the run up the grade, so anxious was he to reach the county line of Humboldt and have the road completed before the expiration of the time limit for doing the work. The wet weather and other drawbacks experienced, which necessitated great exposure, soon told on this man of herculean strength, and in time brought him home to a sick bed. The members of the directory felt that their project had been dealt a hard blow by this bit of bad news, but there were others who rallied to the rescue. A red-headed Irishman, who had charge of the men during Mr. Pearson's absence, proved an unknown hero. "Billy" O'Brien showed them he knew a few things about railroad building, and as fall came on and the weather continued bad, with the sloughs open and roads heavy, he threw his great strength into the work of reaching the goal, which was the Humboldt county line. Small freight cars were run by horse or mule power from the supply yard at Fort Dodge to the point where the graders were at work. It was the custom of the directors to lend a hand in loading these cars when they arrived, and otherwise making themselves useful in the work. The near approach of the first of the year and the continued bad weather served to bring out all of the combined energy of the force engaged in constructing the road, and it was seen that something must be done to reach the Humboldt line in time. The recovery of Mr. Pearson from his sickness brought out a plan of operation which was adopted at once. Three shifts of men were put at work. There was no let-up in the race. Every man contributed his every pound of muscle and energy to the work. With only a margin of a day or two, the rails were laid over the county line and six picked men passed over the county line on a handcar at a rate of speed exceeding fifteen miles an hour. The work had progressed to a point across the Des Moines river known as the Jones farm when negotiations were opened with the Minneapolis & St. Louis road, which at that time came as far south as Livermore. Their survey ran through the town of Belmond and they were seeking a southern outlet. In the Fort Dodge & Fort Ridgley road they saw a connecting link which would serve their purpose to a good advantage, and the officials at once proposed before the local company a plan to buy the railroad. A condition of the sale was that the local company should continue the work of construction and deliver it to them complete to Livermore. The business men of Fort Dodge, who had become interested in the road at its inception and had were most enthusiastic and willing to entertain the proposition because they had growing concerns about the ultimate success of the rail line. They were joyous over the prospects of getting out of their investment without loss to themselves. With the Minneapolis & St. Louis offer to buy in sight, it did not take the members of the board long to reach an agreement. Upon the completion of the road to Livermore an excursion was run to celebrate the completion. This was in 1879, and the Fort Dodge depot at the time was in the extreme eastern part of the city. Shortly after the first excursion was run from Fort Dodge to Minneapolis. Both were great events at the time and were liberally patronized by the settlers. Shortly after the Minneapolis & St. Louis had acquired the Fort Dodge & Fort Ridgley, the officers of the road decided to change the entrance into Fort Dodge and come in around the north, west and south sides in order to allow them to continue the railroad south. The 1880s brought still another line, the Mason City and Fort Dodge, which later became the Chicago Great Western, giving Fort Dodge another connection with Minneapolis and Chicago. With the turn of the century both the Great Western and the Illinois Central extended their lines southwest to Omaha, fulfilling the early dream of transcontinental connection. Fort Dodge and Webster County had a special appeal to railroad interests because of the coal deposits here. Before the 1890s, the coal fields were the farthest north and west in the nation. Webster County coal was needed not only to fuel the trains but also the new towns and the developing industries of the upper Midwest. Fort Dodge soon became an important rail hub for the Midwest and the future of as a vibrant and growing city was secured. Sources: *The History of Fort Dodge and Webster County…. by H.M. Pratt *A Capsule History of Fort Dodge …. by Roger Natte *Iowa Rail History…. by the Iowa Dept. of Transportation *Iowa History Project…. the Coming of the Railroads(http://iagenweb.org/history/soi/soi36.htm) The Civil War The Civil War Years – 1861-1865 https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined The state of Iowa played a role during the American Civil War in providing food, supplies, and troops for the Union army. As the Civil War erupted, Governor Samuel J. Kirkwood led efforts to raise and equip volunteer troops for the Federal service. There were no significant battles in Iowa, but the state sent large supplies of food to the armies and the eastern cities. 76,242 Iowa men (out of a total population of 674,913 in 1860) served in the military, many in combat units attached to the western armies. 13,001 died of wounds or disease (two-thirds of whom were of the latter). 8,500 Iowa men were wounded. During the war, there were many Iowans who were supportive of the South and wanted the South to win the war. These people were called Copperheads. Sometimes they wore suits of butternut jeans, and a badge of half a butternut, or a copper cent. On Saturday, August 1, 1863, a Copperhead meeting was held in Keokuk County, and a clash between the people loyal to the North and the Copperheads took place. In this affair George C. Tally, a minister with southern sympathies, was shot. The Copperheads threatened revenge and began to collect their forces. The loyal citizens asked Governor Kirkwood to send troops to their aid. He not only did this but came himself to the scene of the trouble and his prompt action helped to stamp out the disloyalty to the Union. During the four years of the war Iowa furnished a total of forty-eight regiments of infantry, nine regiments of cavalry, and four batteries - nearly seventy seven thousand men. Iowa soldiers fought bravely in many of the important battles of the war. While the men of Iowa were doing their part to win the war, the women and boys and girls at home did their share, too. Women not only made bandages and comfort kits for the soldiers, but many of them ran the farms and shops while their husbands were at the front. Boys helped to plant the fields and harvest the crops; while girls helped their mothers scrape lint for bandages. Though the total number of Iowans who served in the military during the Civil War seems small compared to the more heavily populated eastern and southern states, no other state, north or south, had a higher percentage of its male population between the ages of 15 and 40 serve in the military during the course of the war. The Civil War era brought considerable change to Iowa's politics. During the 1850s, the state's dominant Democratic Party developed serious internal problems, as well as being unsuccessful in getting the national Democratic Party to respond to their local needs. Iowans soon turned to the newly emerging Republican Party. The new party opposed slavery and promoted land ownership, banking, and railroads, and Iowa voted heavily for Abraham Lincoln and other Republican politicians in 1860 and throughout the war. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined Fort Dodge’s Role in the Civil War: Leading up to the start of the Civil War, Fort Dodge, not unlike other communities and cities in the north was divided on the central issue of slavery and the cessation of the southern states. The two competing newspapers in Fort Dodge at the time were on opposite sides of the issue. Republicans adamantly supported Abraham Lincoln and the Union’s position to end slavery and reunite the country. Democrats leaned in the direction of being anti-abolitionist. Several of the company’s officers that were stationed at Fort Dodge played significant roles in the Civil War and subsequent military history. With the outbreak of the Civil War all but one of the officers resigned their commissions and joined the Confederate army. Only the commanding officer, Samuel Wood(s), remained with the Union. He gained recognition for serving as paymaster general for the entire Army of the West which covered all the territory west of Iowa. He retired after serving more than 50 years. Lewis Armistead, the second in command at Fort Dodge surrendered his commission to become a general for the Confederacy and led Pickett’s charge at Gettysburg where he lost his life. James Corley went on to become chief quartermaster for Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. When the news of the battle of Bull Run was received in Fort Dodge and Webster County, a number of young men, who had been drilling during the spring and summer, resolved to organize a company for the service, and messengers were sent up the Des Moines river as far as Spirit lake. The men of Fort Dodge and Webster County furnished a company of cavalry for service in the Union armies. On September 2, 1861, the company met at the courthouse in Fort Dodge, and, before electing its officers, was sworn into the service of the United States, by James R. Strow, justice of the peace. Franklin A. Stratton was elected captain ; G. S. Ringland, first lieutenant, and George W. Bassett, second lieutenant. The company went by stage to Cedar Falls, and thence by railroad to Dubuque, where, on September 21, 1861, it was mustered into the service of the United States by Captain Washington. It left Dubuque on October 6th, and reached Washington, D. C, October 10, 1861. This company was originally raised for Colonel Josiah Harlan's "Independent Cavalry," but afterward was sent east and became Company "A" of the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry. While the company was considered an Iowa company, and was credited as such by the War Department. Many young men from Fort Dodge/Webster County (83 men) went to war and fought for the Union. Company A was recognized as a loyal and strong fighting force for the Union. Company A fought in several battles in Maryland and Virginia. Company A’s duties were wide-ranging from being on the front lines in several skirmishes, participating in raids against the Confederacy, going on scouting expeditions and providing guard duty. Historical records show that Company A distinguished itself in action and was recognized by a Union General as one of the best Companies fighting for the Union. It will thus be seen that this splendid Iowa company, while assigned to and serving with a regiment from another state, nobly maintained the honorable record which was made by Iowa soldiers everywhere, throughout the great War of the Rebellion. Its first captain, Franklin A. Stratton, became major, lieutenant colonel, and colonel of the regiment, and brevet brigadier general of volunteers, at the close of the war. He was twice wounded. Many of the members of the company have since achieved success in various avocations, both as private citizens and in official positions. Two Fort Dodgers that served in Company A, George Ringland, a Captain, and Webb Vincent, a Company Quartermaster Sergeant returned to Fort Dodge after the war and became successful business leaders in the gypsum industry. The Civil War created a sudden emergency for Iowa and Minnesota because the general government found itself confronted with the need to withdraw of the Federal troops from military posts in this region to fight the war. The Indian tribes were quick to take advantage of the situation, and a series of depredations and massacres of whole families of the settlers ensued. The Indian outbreak in Minnesota in the latter part of August and in September, 1862, (the Minnesota Massacre of 1862) which killed over 800 settlers sent a resounding alarm to the settlers in Webster County all the way up to the Minnesota border. The Indians continued to attack settlements in Minnesota and along the Iowa border almost every week, keeping up a constant alarm among the people. It is estimated that over five thousand persons had left their homes and all of their property, causing immense loss and suffering. It became evident that the Indians could not be subdued by the forces then operating against them, and that adequate protection could not be furnished to the settlers, without the establishment of a regularly organized body of state troops and the erection of a chain of defenses along the Iowa frontier. Thus, the great war between the states, inaugurated by the Southern states, imposed an unusually heavy burden upon the Northern states which, in addition to furnishing their full quota of troops for the regiments which were being sent to the South, were compelled to protect their own frontiers from the incursions of hostile Indians. For a time it seemed that there was no safety for any of those hardy pioneers, and that they must all be either driven from their homes or share the fate of those who had already met death at the hands of the Indians. The greatly alarmed the citizens sent numerous appeals for aid and protection to the Governor Kirkwood of Iowa and Governor Ramsey of Minnesota. Both governors earnestly responded and cooperated in their efforts to give adequate protection to the helpless settlers on the borders of their respective states. Due to travel difficulties to the region, relief was necessarily slow in reaching the imperiled settlers. After the legislature, in extra session, passed a bill providing for the raising of troops for the protection of settlers in Northern Iowa against hostile Indians, full power and authority was put into effect authorizing the organization of the Northern Border Brigade. In 1862, companies of militia were mustered into service in Fort Dodge, Webster City, Denison and Sioux City. Major William Williams, at the age of 64, was again called upon to organize frontier defense after the Sioux uprising around New Ulm, Minnesota. The Northern Border Brigade was a force of 250 mounted men, well-armed and equipped. It was commissioned and cooperated with the cavalry forces already operating against the hostile tribes of Indians to provide protection for the settlers. The construction of military posts, blockhouses and stockades were also commissioned. These places formed the nucleus of the principal settlements on the northwestern border of the state. Company B, led by Major William Williams and comprised of men mostly from Fort Dodge and Webster County, played an important role in helping control the northern border from more Indian attacks and was responsible for building Fort Schuyler in Emmet County. While the danger from attack was not so great as it had been before these precautions were taken, the fact remained that the number of Indian warriors then engaged in hostilities far exceeded the number of troops. In spite of the disparity in numbers, the splendid troops displayed bravery and a keen understanding of how to fight hostile Indians and defeated the Indians in several pitched battles, and had driven them far beyond the frontier. While the records do not show that the troops composing the Northern Border Brigade were ever engaged in major conflicts with the Indians, they do show that they performed most important service and endured great hardships. During the time they were engaged in constructing the fortifications along the line of the frontier, they were in constant danger. Upon more than one occasion before the works were completed, such a contingency seemed likely to occur. It is therefore evident that those hardy sons of Iowa, who braved the rigors of the northern winters and the risk of the fierce conflict with the hostile tribes of Indians who had murdered so many of the hapless settlers on the frontier, are entitled to an honored place in the history of their country's defenders. The descendants of those hardy pioneers, whose families and homes were saved from destruction, will ever hold in grateful remembrance the men who came to the rescue of their ancestors. Civil War Enlistees from Fort Dodge and Webster County ROSTER COMPANY A, ELEVENTH PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER CAVALRY Franklin A. Stratton, captain; George S. Ringland, first lieutenant; promoted captain, 1862; George W. Bassett, second lieutenant. Aleagher, Thomas, private Barclay, John J., private, wounded and taken prisoner, June 29, 1864, Bassett, George W., Second lieuteant; promoted first lieutenant, Beyers, John F., private Bowers, Peter; private, killed, 1861, Burright, William H., private, taken prisoner, was in Andersonville; Carpenter, William, first corporal, Carter, Allen B., private Chase, Leander, private Crosby, Charles T., private Crosby, George H., sergeant, Cruikshank, George L., fourth sergeant; promoted company quartermaster sergeant, Fitzgerald, John, eighth corporal; promoted company quartermaster sergeant, 1864; Fuller, Jared, seventh corporal; Gardner, William V., private, promoted to corporal, Holloway, Joseph H., company quartermaster sergeant; Horton, James, promoted to lieutenant; was killed Jenkins, Andrew R., private, age twenty-five; Jenkins, James S., private Jenkins, John S., private Jones, George W., private Kendall, Edward, private, wounded, June. 1863, Kennedy, Edward, private Lindsay, James, private Morgan, Edward D., fifth sergeant; promoted second lieutenant, Olcutt, George, private Peterson, John; private Piatt, Henry A., private Rood, Isaac P., private Shaftner, Francis, private Sherman, Charles A., third sergeant; promoted to regimental quartermaster, Simmons, Jason B., promoted corporal, 1864; Smith, George, third corporal; Smith, William H., private Stratton, Franklin A., appointed captain, promoted brevetted brigadier general, twice wounded. Trusty, Joseph S., private Underwood, Alonzo, private Vincent, Webb, second bugler; promoted company quartermaster sergeant, 1863; Welch, William, private Wentworth, Harrison H., private Wilson, Richard W.; private, deserted; ROSTER OF COMPANY B, NORTHERN BORDER BRIGADE William Williams, captain; John M. Hefley, first lieutenant; Jasper N. Bell, second lieutenant. Allen, Samuel F., private Bass, James, promoted fourth corporal Bell, Jasper N., appointed second lieutenant, 1862; Blaine, William H., private Buck, William, private Coleman, Timothy, private Conlee, Smith T., private Crouse, Edward, private Crouse, Irwin, private Crouse, Jacob, promoted farrier Fitch, Edward, private Flaherty, James, private Harper, John, private Hefley, John M., appointed first lieutenant, 1862; Hoisington, Jesse, private Holt, J. M., private Hubbard, John N., private Humphreys, James A., promoted quartermaster sergeant Jenkins, Andrew K., bugler Jenkins, James S., first sergeant Kaylor, Thomas J., private Landreth, Matthew, fourth corporal Landreth, Thomas, private Landreth, William R., private Landreth, Zachariah, private Long, Eli, private Lowe, Emanuel E., private McCosker, Charles, private McDonough, Martin, private McGuire, Blythe, private Morrissey, Daniel, third corporal; Nicholson, Alfred J., private Payne, Jonathan W., private Phipps, Luther, private Pierce, Francis M., private Powers, Walter, private Richey, Gasper A., private Weeks, Arthur, private White, James P., third sergeant Williams, William, appointed captain, 1862 Wright, Nathan, private Wright, William, private Sources: *Iowa History Project…. Iowa in the Civil War *The Full History of Fort Dodge and Webster County Iowa *Webster County Historical Society… Roger Natte Growth of our Frontier Town - 1860-1890

Fort Dodge, Iowa Iconic Buildings Iconic Buildings Historical Eras Iconic People Iconic Buildings Iconic Places Iconic Events Nostalgia Places of Worship Industry Education Healthcare Sports Archives HISTORY Iconic Buildings Blanden Memorial Art Museum https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_604b6ae0928d456b82b5ac9cdebce57b~mv2.jpg The Blanden Memorial Art Museum was constructed in 1932 as the first art museum in Iowa. It is located in the Historic Oak Hill District. Charles Blanden donated the funding to build the museum. Blanden had been the mayor of Fort Dodge from 1887 – 1889. He later became a banker in Chicago, and subsequently devoted his time to creating poetry. He was renowned for his poetry, receiving many awards throughout the United States. Mr. Blanden’s wife Elizabeth was a teacher in Fort Dodge when they lived here. She was the daughter of a Fort Dodge clergyman, Reverend Mills, one time pastor of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. Later in their lives they moved to California and in 1929, Mrs. Blanden passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. Mr. Blanden wanted to something to honor his wife’s life and decided to build an art museum, but he wasn’t sure if he should build it in Fort Dodge or in San Diego, California. A group of ladies that lived in Fort Dodge in the late 1920’s really wanted Mr. Blanden to build the museum here. But at that time, there was a state law that only allowed cities with a population of 50,000 or more people to have a municipal museum. Fort Dodge had around 30,000 people living in it at that time, not enough for a municipal museum. A State Senator from Fort Dodge helped the group and through the Iowa government system, sponsored a law that lowered the population requirement to 20,000 – this way; Fort Dodge could build a museum. The Blanden was designed by architect E. O. Damon, Jr., of Fort Dodge in 1931 and was modeled after the neo-classical design of the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, Ohio. The façade (front) of the Blanden was influenced by the architectural design of other builds, such as the Petit Trianon at Versailles near Paris, France. At the time of the Blanden’s opening, there were not light fixtures in the galleries, so skylights open to the outside were on the ceilings. These have since been covered, and special light fixtures added that better protect the artwork. The Blanden Memorial Art Museum continues to be a vibrant art museum in northwest Iowa today. It has multiple exhibits each year, art classes for adults and children, creative community outreach and artist talks throughout the year. The Blanden permanent collection includes the Ann R. Smeltzer Modernist collection of European and American painting and sculpture, the Harold D. Peterson collection of European and American prints, American photography, contemporary American art, Iowa artists and Japanese screens and prints. The Blanden’s mission continues to be to integrate visual arts into everyday life. Fort Dodge Messenger www.blanden.org(http://www.blanden.org/) Webster County Historical Society Breen Home The E. J. Breen Sr. residence occupies a prominent location https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_6c566071227f4e1599713725c36defa2~mv2.jpg on the corner of Second Avenue South and Tenth Street. Constructed in 1910, the home has been continuously occupied by members of the Breen family since that time. The house at 925 2nd Ave. S. has a red brick exterior with red tile roof, and is another of the sturdy early 20th Century residences built in this area by prominent families of the city. It has a full basement and three floors. On the first floor are living, dining and cooking areas; on the second floor four bedrooms, sleeping porch and bath; and on the third floor a ballroom. The Breen family came to Fort Dodge in 1904 from Estherville. The family included Mr. and Mrs. Breen, sons Maurice J. and Edward Jr. and daughter Paulyne. During their early years in the city the Breens resided in houses at Fourth Avenue North and Twelfth Street and Fifth Avenue South and Twelfth Street before their home on Second Avenue South was completed in 1910. Source: Historic Homes: Fort Dodge, Iowa https://www.gutenberg.org/files/63118/63118-h/63118-h.htm(https://www.gutenberg.org/files/63118/63118-h/63118-h.htm) PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALLEN R. LOOMIS • TEXT BY KARL F. HAUGEN The Boston Center 1914 809 Central Ave https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_14020825e78b434f8051c39894efd17c~mv2.jpg The building that housed the Boston Store at 809 Central Ave., consisted of four floors and a basement for the retail activity and a balcony for the general offices, mail order department, credit department and exchange desk. The third floor also featured a small restaurant and tea room. Richard Snell, from Clinton Illinois, was the original owner of the Boston Centre and also the Snell Building, both located at 809 and 805 Central Avenue. He received the land on which both buildings are located from his father, Thomas Snell, who owned it when it was originally platted in 1856. Although the two buildings differed in size, appearance and function, they were both part of the same investment project for Snell. Both buildings were constructed at the same time, however the building for the Boston Store was completed first and had its formal opening in September of 1914, while the Snell Building was completed in January of 1915. The building that housed the Boston Store at 809 Central Ave., consisted of four floors and a basement for the retail activity and a balcony for the general offices, mail order department, credit department and exchange desk. The third floor also featured a small restaurant and tea room. Below is a list of the various departments and merchandise that was on each floor: The First Floor Women and children’s shoes, woolen dress goods and linings; silks and velvets; linens, wash goods and white goods; patterns; embroideries, laces, trimmings; neck wear, handkerchiefs and veiling, jewelry, leather goods, parasols and umbrellas, toilet goods and drug sundries; knit underwear and hosiery; gloves and notions and bed spreads. “Worthy of particular mention is the department store innovation, the drug sundries and the toilet article department under the management of George Gilman. Mrs. Helga Rand, for fifteen years a well-known and efficient clerk in Fort Dodge, is in charge with Miss Rose Pelican as her assistant. The outlay of merchandise in this section of the big store has attracted a great deal of attention because of its completeness and beauty. One particularly interesting line of goods shown there is the imported French white ivory toilet articles. Purchased before the war, it is on sale at prices greatly under the average price for imported stuff in other markets. That it is soon to be a rarity on the American market if the war continues, is also adding to the interest in the display. In addition to this, the department shows a complete line of toilet articles in every line, including perfumes, toilet articles and powders. A full line of rubber goods is also carried. Cottons, gauzes and bandages are also to be seen. This department undoubtedly will be particularly popular with the feminine shopper.” - The Fort Dodge Messenger. September 19, 1914 On the Balcony In the balcony placed across the south end of the first floor are the general offices, mail order department, cash cages for the five floors, credit department and exchange desk. The Second Floor “Ready to wear department” Millinery (women’s hats); suits, coats and dresses, skirts, waists, furs, kimonas, petticoats and sweaters. “This department is beautifully equipped with mahogany furnishing. A deep green velvet carpet covers the floor. Many glass cases enclose dresses and suits and coats on forms and an abundance of long mirrors gives the buyer every opportunity to see herself as others will see her.” - The Fort Dodge Messenger. September 19, 1914 Boston Store Shopping Bag https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_a93fed07bc2a443cbd5a122b90f43a72~mv2.jpg The Third Floor Hair goods and beauty parlor, muslin underwear and corsets; infant’s department, and the art goods and yarn department. The restaurant and tea room occupied the southeast quarter of this floor as well. With a beautiful atmosphere with very fine mahogany furniture, chairs and tables with heavy opaque glass tops, the restaurant and tea room was not expected to make money, but was provided “as a matter of convenience to the people.” Special lunches were served each day from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. During the afternoon, the regular dishes were served. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_deff9c49b5674e9f983f21c097416d94~mv2.jpg The Fourth Floor Rugs, linoleums, carpets; draperies and curtain goods, photograph studio, wall paper, paints, window shades, pictures and picture framing. Basement Various kinds of general merchandise and special sales. Trunks and suit cases; stationery; bedding, blankets and comforters; domestic prints, percales, cotton goods and bakery goods. Today, the Boston Centre is home to Olde Boston’s Restaurant; “Within” Marketing Company; Action Reality, Inc.; Alyssa Kenville, P.C.; Fort Dodge Reality; Johnson & Bonzer PLC; Johnson Law Firm; RDG Media Inc.; Snyder & Associates, Inc.; Storey Kenworthy office supplies; Valentine Law Office, P.C. Captain Bennet House https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_d6cb9dfe1a14408898b31893a12398f5~mv2.jpg This large house at 911 3rd Ave. S.—set well back from the street—was built in 1890 by an early-day businessman—S. J. (Capt.) Bennett who came to Fort Dodge in 1870. It occupies a prominent location at the southeast corner of Third Avenue South and Ninth Street and has a two-story carriage house at the rear. The three-story residence is built of St. Louis granite-brick with Sioux Falls jasper trimmings, an early-day history of the city notes. It has a slate roof with copper trim. Wide porches extend along the north and west sides of the house. Since 1923 this spacious home, built by one of the city’s most prominent early-day residents, has been owned and occupied by members of the Schaupp family. Enjoying the gracious living quarters in the home were the late Judge and Mrs. John M. Schaupp, their sons John Jr., and Bradley and Judge Schaupp’s mother, the late Mrs. Emma Schaupp. Judge Schaupp, a Fort Dodge attorney for many years, was appointed to the Webster County District Court bench in 1944 and served for 19 years before retiring. He died in 1971 at age 80. The family residence is now occupied by son John Jr. The other son, Bradley, resides in Cedar Rapids. Source: Historic Homes: Fort Dodge, Iowa https://www.gutenberg.org/files/63118/63118-h/63118-h.htm(https://www.gutenberg.org/files/63118/63118-h/63118-h.htm) PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALLEN R. LOOMIS • TEXT BY KARL F. HAUGEN Carnegie Library https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_5e13a4b656834f6a8d04f7c50396c2b2~mv2.jpg Location: 605 1st Ave N. Construction Timeline: 1901 - 1903 Architect: Henry Koch Original Owner: City of Fort Dodge Size: 2 stories with basement Purpose of Building: Library Built in 1903, the Carnegie Library was considered one of the best libraries of its time. Reading Room, FD Library, 1897 https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_778cf0285059473f917ac915b8c6e80b~mv2.jpg Captain W.H. Johnston is considered the founder of the Fort Dodge Public Library. Captain Johnston had an unselfish commitment to public service and untiring application of his talents to library interests. He was first to establish a private library association in Fort Dodge in 1874. In 1890, the first free public library was opened in Fort Dodge. Captain Johnson induced others to help him in the creation of the small library and reading room in his office. He served gratuitously as the librarian for many years. Nine years later, a group of citizens began planning for a much larger building to house the growing collection of boos. Out of this grew the initiative to build the Fort Dodge Carnegie Library that served the Fort Dodge community for 98 years. The continued desire of the community for high quality library services led to the present Fort Dodge Public Library which largely through the labors of Captain Johnston, has become more than merely a beautiful edifice housing a collection of books, but has developed a deep and genuine taste by the public of Fort Dodge for library advantages. In June of 1899, Martha Haskell, a local citizen and early library supporter, offered $10,000 for the construction of a new library building. Three other leading citizens, Webb Vincent, O.M. Oleson and George Ringland offered a site on 1st Avenue North and 7th Street and $5,000 if the rest of the community would donate another $8,000. Within three weeks the goal was reached. Shortly after this fundraising campaign, it was discovered a larger sum of money may be available from Andrew Carnegie and his Carnegie Foundation. Carnegie, who made an immense fortune in the steel industry in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, was a nationally known philanthropist that made grants to help communities across the nation construct public libraries. Two prominent Fort Dodgers who lived in Washington D.C., George Roberts, Director of the U. S. Mint, and M. D. O’Connell, Solicitor General of the federal government, were asked to personally contact Carnegie with the city’s request. On Christmas Day 1900, Roberts and O’Connell telegraphed the mayor of Fort Dodge announcing that Carnegie had approved $30,000 for the construction of a new public library building. The architect for the new building was Henry Koch and the construction was done by Northwestern Building Company – the same architect and construction company that was hired for the new courthouse that was being constructed at the same time. The building layout was a modification of what was referred to as the “Chariton Plan” which provided for the entrance in the center of The "check-out" desk https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_1180241f7edf408f9e9426ce2304ff89~mv2.jpg the front of the building, a hall leading to the “delivery” room with the stacks directly behind. To one side of the delivery room was a general reading room and to the other was a children’s room. The stone for the new building came in rough from the Black Hills Stone Company, then was smoothed and fashioned on the construction grounds by the cutters. The total cost of the building was $47,293. The new library was formally dedicated on October 12, 1903. However, from the very beginning, the new building had one major flaw – that being the roof leaked severely, which constantly caused interior damage and staining. For fifteen years, all types of remedial measures were tried to fix the roof, yet all were unsuccessful. In 1919, the library board of trustees committed itself to action to the point of asking two architects to submit repair/improvement plans. T. W. Reely was chosen for the job and recommended that the only real cure would be the addition of a second story, a change which had been allowed for in the original plans in the event more space might be needed in the future. For the next ten years the proposal was considered, only to be rejected because of a lack of funds and the hope that a cheaper solution might be found. In an attempt to overcome this financial impasse, the state legislators from the county, M. J. Mitchell and C. V. Findlay, who also served as the president of the library board, proposed a bill to the state General Assembly which would give cities in Iowa with a population of 20,000 the power to levy a property tax to provide funds for necessary repairs and alterations to public libraries. Beautiful architecture in the FD Public Library https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_fd093b00e3704349a6bed696affcb1dc~mv2.jpg Although the bill passed, nothing was done with the library building until 1929 when the building began to rapidly deteriorate because of the leakage. After 26 years of roof problems, Frank Griffith, a local architect was hired to handle the job of adding a second story, which he estimated the cost at $33,000. However, when the economy and stock market crashed, contractors were eager to get any work they could, and the contract for the second story was awarded to John Smith for only $16,200. Originally, that cost was intended to be covered by a tax payer approved property tax levy, but with the drastically lower bid, the trustees felt that it could come out of the regular budget. Plans for the new addition called for the west room to serve as the children’s library, which had previously been moved to the basement, a small room on the east to be the board room, a second large room to be an auditorium and another to be used as an art gallery. The construction of the Blanden Gallery changed plans for that gallery room and it became a library for teachers to house reference books, supplemental reading materials and picture collections for classroom use. The second story addition was opened to the public on October 6, 1930. With the addition of the second floor, the library enjoyed the luxury of having far more space than was needed. In November of 1930, it was decided that the west room in the basement could be used as a museum to collect and preserve data and relics pertaining to Fort Dodge and Webster County history. As the collection expanded, so did the need for more space. In 1934, the adjoining hall was used for the museum and later in 1937, with $1,000 donated by Alice Granger, another room was renovated for additional historical relic exhibit space. The museum remained in those quarters until 1964 when the Fort Museum was established. The library remained in operation in this building until 2001, when it moved into its new building at 424 Central Ave. The Carnegie building was bought privately and the interior was renovated for market-rate apartments. Source: *Roger Natte & Fort Dodge Historical Society Dave Prelip Fort Dodge Memories Facebook https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_69c666ae455540ca9cd950c0d2c4b8c1~mv2.jpg Carver Building https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_1a7922f1d5f74e22a880e2046b77d485~mv2.jpg Location: 1007 & 1003 Central Ave. Construction Timeline: 1916 (first two stories), 1921 – 1922 (addition of six stories) Architect: J. H. Albright Original Owner: Dr. W. F. Carver Size: 8 stories & basement Purpose of Building: Office and store rooms In March of 1916, it was announced that Dr. W. F. Carver would be constructing a two story building for office and store rooms on the site of the old Colonel Blanden homestead, which he purchased weeks before. Jensen Construction Company was given the contract to build the two story, 70’ x 140’ building. The foundation was constructed to support seven stories, as Carver had the intention to add five more stories as soon as he saw a sufficient demand for more office rooms. When the iconic Carver Building opened, Mrs. Anna Kirwin ran the cafeteria that was in the basement of the building. The Jones Piano Company, Sperry Hutchinson Green Trading Stamp Company, Peterson Brothers Grocery, Proeschold Brothers Twin Toggery Clothing Store and Welch Pharmacy were the first five businesses that occupied the five store rooms on the first floor. The second floor had 25 office rooms, five of which were used by Dr. Carver for his medical practice. During the summer of 1921, work began on adding six additional stories onto the Carver Building. The project was completed with a formal announcement and opening in August of 1922. The new addition housed over 150 first-class and highly modernized office rooms and suites. The seven-story building became another Fort Dodge “skyscraper” structure that has been an iconic building on Central Avenue in downtown Fort Dodge for decades. Below are the businesses within the eight story Carver Building. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_335ccd043258419aba069f22b749b34f~mv2.png The majority of the eighth floor was occupied by the Fort Dodge Clinic, which had a well-arranged group of rooms all surrounding a large and attractive reception/waiting room. The doctors within the Fort Dodge Clinic were: · Dr. Carver – eye, ear, nose, throat · Dr. Gibson – general practice and obstetrics · Dr. Archer – general practice and surgery · Dr. Dorsey – physician and surgeon · Dr. Kersten – general practice and surgery · Dr. Munson – internal medicine, diagnoses and consultation · Dr. Saunders – general practice and radiology · Dr. Remer – dentist · R. S. Hopkins – laboratory technician Today, the Carver Building is home to Heartland Communications Group that purchased and refurbished the building in the winter of 1985. Heartland Communications offers digital and print publications and resources for the agriculture, aviation, construction and industrial markets that connect buyers and sellers of new and used equipment and provides information about new products, practices and services. Sources: *The Fort Dodge Messenger. March 23, 1916 *The Fort Dodge Messenger. April 12, 1916 *The Fort Dodge Messenger. December 9, 1916 *The Fort Dodge Messenger. August 7, 1922 https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_6a3774cb97bd4797a9f567206686f408~mv2.jpg Dolliver House https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_1f00f3fce2a9426e9bd6994c3325057a~mv2.jpg 915 2nd Ave South One of the stately residences built along Second Avenue South prior to the turn of the century is now the Women’s Clubhouse, but for many years it was the home of United States Senator Jonathan P. Dolliver and family. Built in 1895 and located at 915 2nd Ave. S., the large three-story red brick residence has been owned by the Women’s Club since 1935. While generally known as the Dolliver house it was built by Sen. Dolliver’s father-in-law, George R. Pearsons and occupied by his family for several years. The same year the house was built, Dolliver married Pearson’s daughter, Louise, but it was not until Pearson’s death in 1904 that the Dollivers moved into the home. The home site originally included four lots. Pearsons, a prominent early-day resident, came here as agent for the Illinois Central Railroad. He served as mayor for two terms and was a member of the school board. The Dolliver home originally had a parlor, drawing room or music room, dining room, kitchen and pantry on the first floor; five bedrooms and one large bath on the second floor and other rooms on the third floor. In later years the upstairs was extensively remodeled. There is a huge open stairway leading from the first floor to the upper floors. In the rounded window area of the drawing room there once was a large stone hollowed out for a small pool. A fountain was located in the center of the pool from which water flowed continuously. Goldfish in the pool added charm to the unique window arrangement. In 1968 the Women’s Club remodeled the house, enlarged the first floor meeting room to the west, removed the old porch and added a small patio and new entrance. Source: Historic Homes: Fort Dodge, Iowa https://www.gutenberg.org/files/63118/63118-h/63118-h.htm(https://www.gutenberg.org/files/63118/63118-h/63118-h.htm) PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALLEN R. LOOMIS • TEXT BY KARL F. HAUGEN E.H. Rich House https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_6fa8b4d4347b434a9b3a66e9ca2b75cd~mv2.jpg 819 3rd Ave. South E. H. Rich, a prominent Fort Dodge banker, built this large brick home at 819 3rd Ave. S. in 1880 and it was occupied continuously by members of the Rich family until the recent death of Miss Eva Rich. Rich came to the city in 1874 and was cashier of the early-day First National Bank for many years—a bank that later was reorganized as the State Bank. The Rich house is located on a three-lot site at the southwest corner of Third Avenue South and Ninth Street. Foundation of the home is constructed of large hand-hewn limestone blocks 20 inches thick and upper walls are 14 inches thick. The soft burned red brick used on the exterior was produced at a local brickyard using wood logs at that time to fire the kilns. The house contains seven bedrooms, living room, dining room, music room, kitchen and two bathrooms. The third floor attic area has three large rooms and there is a fourth floor with two unfinished rooms now reached only by a ladder. The interior stairway, doors and trim of the home are of solid walnut, cut out and formed from local walnut trees. Originally the house had seven open fireplaces, four on the first floor and three in upstairs bedrooms. With the coming of gas heat these were sealed off and six of the eight chimneys on the house removed. The house is now heated by two hot air gas-fired furnaces. The home was piped for gas lighting long before there was any city gas in Fort Dodge. A large tank filled with naphtha was buried in the backyard and the naphtha was piped to a gas machine in the basement. The naphtha dripped over a large enclosed rotating drum which generated illuminating gas by evaporation. A pump then forced the gas into distributing pipes. Power for this home gas system was supplied by clockwork gears run by gravity from 2,000 pound millstones. Each evening it was necessary to wind up the machine before lighting the gas fixtures. There were no telephones in the town when the house was built so Rich installed a telegraph line from the home to the bank a few blocks distant. Mr. and Mrs. Rich learned the telegraph code and one day when Mrs. Rich was injured she telegraphed her husband “Come quick—badly hurt.” Mr. Rich ran the distance from the bank to his home and found his injured wife. It was believed the telegraph message saved her life. In later years the Rich home was completely modernized. In 1973 the house was sold by Willis Rich, last of the family of seven, to Bill and Bruce Algood who are reconditioning and furnishing it in the tradition of the era when it was built. A large floor based mirror from the home was given by Rich to the governor’s mansion—“Terrace Hill”—in Des Moines. Source: Historic Homes: Fort Dodge, Iowa https://www.gutenberg.org/files/63118/63118-h/63118-h.htm(https://www.gutenberg.org/files/63118/63118-h/63118-h.htm) PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALLEN R. LOOMIS • TEXT BY KARL F. HAUGEN First National Bank/Beh Building https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_5f307bf73416432c8104b19e1dd4eca3~mv2.jpg Location: 629 Central Ave. Construction Timeline: 1907 – 1908 Architect: Liebbe, Nourse and Rasmussen (Des Moines, IA) Original Owner: First National Bank Size: Six stories Purpose of Building: Bank and office suite Built in 1908, this was one of Fort Dodge’s most prestigious buildings. Built in 1907-1908, the First National Bank Building is a prominent landmark in Fort Dodge. The history of the First National Bank runs almost parallel with the development of Fort Dodge since 1866. The officers and directors of the First National Bank were among the city's most prominent businessmen, active in city commerce and politics as well as the regionally important gypsum extraction and milling industry. The bank itself was the most prominent financial institution in Fort Dodge. Costing over $200,000 and rising six stories tall, this building was at its completion the city's most celebrated office structure. For almost 60 years, the building housed one of Fort Dodge's most prominent banks--either the First National Bank or the State Bank--on its first floor. And during this time its upper-level offices were occupied by many of the city's most prestigious commercial and professional tenants. Erected by the city's principal financial institution at the height of its affluence, the First National Bank Building played a pivotal role in early Fort Dodge commerce. Of the three major banks then operating in the city, by far the most prominent was the First National Bank. This institution had been founded on June 16, 1866, with an initial capitalization of $50,000. Its first officers--Charles B. Richards, President; Charles C. Smeltzer, Vice President; and E.G. Morgan, Cashier--and its directors were prominent businessmen and capitalists in the developing town. Most of the bank's early officers and directors were directly involved in the gypsum industry, through both management and investment. Stillman Meservey and Webb Vincent, co-founders of the formative Fort Dodge Plaster Mills, served as bank presidents between 1890 and 1916. Additionally, directors such as Charles Smeltzer, John Duncombe and E.H. Rich were also heavily involved in the gypsum industry. The bank initially did business from a small one-story brick building on the corner of Seventh Street and First Avenue South. When Richards resigned as president in 1874, his replacement, E.G. Morgan, moved the bank to 610 Central Avenue a year later. Morgan was succeeded by L. Blanden, bank president between 1875 and 1890, and Blanden was in turn succeeded by Stillman Meservey, who served between 1890 and 1902. It was Meservey who presided over the bank's next move in 1892 to larger quarters at the corner of Sixth and Central. After the turn of the century, Meservey turned over management of the bank to Webb Vincent. After the turn of the 20th Century, with the region's economy booming and Fort Dodge prospering, Vincent, Rich and the other First National directors began considering another move, this time into a multi-story building that the bank would build. The directors intended their building to serve as a landmark in downtown Fort Dodge, befitting the bank's prestigious standing in the community. Planning for a new structure began in 1906, when they purchased a two-story commercial building at the corner of Seventh and Central, a block down and across the street from their existing facility. In August 1906 the Fort Dodge Messenger announced under the headline, "Sky-Scraper Office Building to be Built," that the bank would raze the existing building on the site and construct a five- or six-story structure to house its offices and provide rental office space for many of Fort Dodge's professionals on the upper floors. To design their new building, the bank directors commissioned Liebbe, Nourse and Rasmussen, one of the state's most prestigious architectural firms. By the end of January 1907 the architects had drafted plans for the new bank building, which would cost more than $100,000. This move on the part of conservative financiers proves the confidence that is felt in Fort Dodge's future. In April 1907, C.E. Atkinson of Webster City, Iowa, was awarded the contract for the six-story building. Atkinson's crew began work soon thereafter, demolishing the existing structure on the site and excavating for the foundations that spring. Despite minor delays due to material shortages, the contractors completed the new bank building in April 1908. As the most extravagant office building in town, the First National Bank Building immediately became home to many of the city's lawyers, doctors, realtors, accountants and gypsum companies. The 1917 city directory, for instance, listed fourteen doctors and dentists, twelve lawyers, seven real estate brokers, six insurance companies and an architect among its tenants. During the 1910s and 1920s, the bank continued to do business from its street-level offices as Fort Dodge's strongest financial institution. In September 1915 the First National acquired the Fort Dodge Savings Bank, the third such institution that it had overtaken since the 1880s. A year later Webb Vincent was succeeded as bank president by E.H. Rich, long-time bank director and one of the principal owners of the Iowa Plaster Association. Sixteen years later the bank failed. In December 1930 the institution had been reorganized as the First State Bank and Trust Company. But First State was one of the many bank failures in the Great Depression. When President Roosevelt declared a bank holiday in March 1933, the bank closed and did not reopen under its own power. As the First National Bank, it had once boasted $8 million in deposits. After years of decline, a downgrading of its charter and a massive run by its depositors in the 1930s, however, the bank's deposited assets had plummeted to only $355,000 when it finally closed its doors. Placed under state receivership, First State reopened a short time later on a restricted basis, paying out 50 cents on the dollar to depositors while state auditors liquidated a trust fund formed from frozen assets and real estate holdings. In July 1934 First State closed altogether, and a new institution, the State Bank, opened in the original First National Bank Building. The State Bank took on many of the depositors who had been burned by the First State's closure. The building itself soon became known as the State Bank Building. By that time several other office structures had been built in downtown Fort Dodge, but this building still housed many of the city's professional elite. When the State Bank moved to new suburban quarters in 1966, the downtown building was acquired by Carleton Beh, a Des Moines capitalist and real estate investor. Beh grandly renamed the structure after himself, though by now its clientele had begun to lack the luster of the bank's heyday. Fewer, less prestigious tenants occupied the building in the 1970s, and by 1980 the Beh Building was largely vacant. The once prominent and prestigious building remained vacant and the interior spaces slowly deteriorated for a number of years until MDI Limited Partnership, out of St. Paul, Minnesota, purchased the building in 2002. MDI rehabilitated the interior and now the building is home to Central Place Apartments, which provides income-based apartments for senior citizens. Sources: *Fort Dodge Historical Society *National Register of Historic Places Fort Dodge Armory 1904 https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_b5a29f33265a4697924854419f327a57~mv2.jpg 710 1st Ave N The armory in Fort Dodge was built in 1904, spearheaded by the City’s Commercial Club (Chamber of Commerce) which raise $8,000 to construct the castle-like building that house the National Guard Regiment and provided a venue for the community band and various civic events. The armory in Fort Dodge was built in 1904, spearheaded by the City’s Commercial Club (Chamber of Commerce) which raised $8,000 to construct the castle-like building that housed the National Guard Regiment and provided a venue for the 56th Regiment Band, the community band and various civic events. The Armory was equipped with a gymnasium, swimming pool and bowling alley. The Armory Committee was chaired by Captain W. T. Chantland, a Spanish-American War Veteran and worked to raise the money and oversee the project. The architectural firm of Libbe, Nourse and Rasmussen from Des Moines designed the building to resemble an impregnable fortress, with imitation spots for gun placements. Especially durable, hard paving brick was used in the front part. The grand opening and dedication on February 11, 1904 was “the most brilliant function Fort Dodge social life had ever witnessed,” according to the Messenger. During two world wars, soldiers were drafted at the Armory, and ration books were issued to residents. After Pearl Harbor, many people worried that armories might be attacked, so soldiers were stationed around the building. It was also used to “capture” those who were not obeying gas rationing. The basement of the Armory was first used as a rifle range; it has also been used as a shower all for horses, skaters, locker room, and restaurants. By 1927, the Traffic Bureau, C of 1929, Iowa Airways, A. M. Auto Association, Ft. Dodge Grocers Association, and the Geer Dancing Emporium were added to its use. Over the net years, other companies: R. L. Polk Company, Men’s Civic Glee Club, F. D. Drum Corp, Allied Food Stories, F. D. Community Chest, and the Iowa National Guard and many others were housed at the Armory. In 1903, Fort Dodge secured the regimental band of the Fifty-sixth Regiment, Iowa National Guards. This organization was composed of members from a number of local musical organizations. Under the leadership of Carl Quist, the band reached a high stage of efficiency, and soon became known among the musical organizations of the state. For five years they played at the Iowa State Fair. Three times they were the official band at the head camp of the Modern Woodmen of America, attending the encampments at Indianapolis, St. Louis and Milwaukee. They were the official band of the Iowa delegation to the national convention of the B. P. O. E. held at Detroit in 19 10. They were also the official band for American Day at the Dominion Fair in Calgary, Alberta, during 1908; and were also the official band for Iowa Day at the World's Fair at St. Louis. During the year 1910 the band was mustered out of the service of the militia, and since that time has maintained its organization under the name of the Iowa Military Band. The Fort Dodge Armory remained the home for the band. In 1938, the armory was purchased by Larry and Margaret Geer from the Chamber of Commerce and became the Laramar Ballroom. From the 1930’s to the 1960s it became one of Iowa’s premier ballrooms hosting most the famous big bands of the day and the rock and roll bands of the 50s and 60s. When the ‘Big Bands’ and singers were touring the country, as well as the territorial bands, you could find the best of them right here. Such names as Skippy Anderson, Guy Lombardo, Lawrence Welk, Guy Deleo, Leo Piper, Benny Goodman, Kay Kaiser, The Dorsey Brothers, Woody Herman, Al Minke, Jan Gaber, just to name a few, performed here. In the late 1970s, the Laramar was purchased by Dick and Lee Derrig and operated for twelve years as the Twilight Ballroom. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_a9ce62ef28594b23a30558ed3290be13~mv2.jpg In 1985, the Derrigs sold the Twilight and the ballroom retained its original name as the Laramar. The ballroom continued to offer various events for the next three decades. In recent years, the Laramar has been used for a variety of purposes: as a site for weddings, mixed martial arts bouts and as a Spanish bar with music and dancing, but has struggled for an identity. The Laramar building remains on at its same location but has been used sporadically for various events and is now vacant and for sale. Gillman Home https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_1987ff70d579464992b449a0eb434644~mv2.jpg The large two-story brick and cement faced residence at 400 N. 9th St. has been known as the Gillman home since it was built in 1915 by George W. Gillman, a prominent pharmacist and businessman of Fort Dodge. Gillman lived there until his death in 1959. The house was later owned by William J. Thatcher. Two apartments in the home are currently rented out. Henry Kehm & Sons—well-known brick masons and home builders here for many years—constructed the house for Gillman. Originally it had living room, solarium, music room, dining room and kitchen on the first floor; four bedrooms, bathrooms and sleeping porch on the second floor. A large attic provided storage space. Gillman started his drug store here in 1904 at the southwest corner of First Avenue South and Seventh Street in a new building erected by Colby Brothers, who operated a livery barn here in the earlier days. The store was in operation at this location until the spring of 1974 when it closed its doors after 70 years of continuous operation. Roy W. Gillman, son of the store’s founder, was associated with the firm for 56 years and the owner until the store closed. The senior Gillman, who was 79 at time of his death, was born in Nowlin, S. D., and came with his family to Badger at an early age. As a boy he worked in the Campbell & Tower drug store here and later graduated in pharmacy from Highland Park University in Des Moines. After working with Campbell & Tower as a registered pharmacist he opened his own store. Gillman was active in pharmacy circles and was a member of the State Board of Pharmacy for 18 years, serving as its chairman several times. Gillman was also interested in the theater and was president of the Princess Theater Company which built and operated the Princess here for many years. During his years as manager, the theater offered some of the finest vaudeville available and also booked in outstanding shows with celebrated performers. The theater finally closed its doors and in 1939 the building was sold to the First National Bank. It is now the home of the bank at 18 N. 9th St. Source: HISTORIC HOMES of Fort Dodge, Iowa PUBLISHED BY THE BLANDEN FEDERATION OF ARTS FORT DODGE, IOWA APRIL, 1975PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALLEN R. LOOMIS • TEXT BY KARL F. HAUGEN Griffith Home 1234 6th Avenue South https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_60ec8612e67a46009e2a379f7cd0de79~mv2.jpg One of the fine homes in the south part of Fort Dodge is the residence at 1234 6th Ave. S. whose history dates back to the 1870s. Familiarly known as the Griffith home, it was occupied by the Frank Griffith family for many years. City assessor records show the original portion of the home at this location was built in 1871, but was remodeled, enlarged and modernized years later. Located on parts of two lots, the house has a 93-foot frontage on Sixth Avenue South and 106 feet on Thirteenth Street. John F. Duncombe, pioneer attorney here, was the first owner of the property before a house was erected there. He sold the lots in 1861 to a William Kellner who, in turn, disposed of the property to William C. Young. The original house is believed to have been built by Young as he retained ownership of the property until 1883. Frank W. Griffith, an architect who later was manager of the U. S. Gypsum plant here, purchased the home in 1914. Age of the house is shown by the fact that its construction includes solid walnut studdings, walnut floor joists and walnut sheathing. Foundation walls are of limestone. The two-story house has a shingle exterior. The first floor has living room, L-shaped dining room, playroom, kitchen, screened-in porch and large entrance hall. On the second floor are three bedrooms, bath, screened-in porch and attic space. Griffith came to Fort Dodge in 1901 to design the Blanden gypsum mill located about a mile east of the present Celotex plant. He also supervised construction of the plant of the American Independent Gypsum Company organized in 1906. Griffith then went to Chicago with the United States Gypsum Company and in 1908 was transferred to Fort Dodge as manager of the local mill and office. Later he was transferred to Alabaster, Mich., and then returned to Fort Dodge in 1913 as manager of the U. S. G. plant. He remained as plant manager here until 1921 when he resigned to resume architectural work. His son, Stanford W. Griffith, later joined him in the business and became head of the Griffith Company architectural firm in Fort Dodge. The elder Griffith continued work as an architect until his death in 1953. Source: HISTORIC HOMES of Fort Dodge, Iowa PUBLISHED BY THE BLANDEN FEDERATION OF ARTS FORT DODGE, IOWA APRIL, 1975 PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALLEN R. LOOMIS • TEXT BY KARL F. HAUGEN Haire Home 502 North Ninth Street https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_40a6011f6220470cab5c37f4f7c5de4e~mv2.jpg One of Fort Dodge’s earliest businessmen—John Haire—purchased property along north Ninth Street and built the home at 502 N. 9th St. in the 1880’s. Haire acquired the property along the west side of Ninth Street from Fourth to Eighth Avenues North in 1878 and platted it as Haire’s Seminary Square Addition to Fort Dodge. Shortly after purchasing the property, Haire built the north Ninth Street residence. He and his family resided there during his lifetime; then the property passed on to his heirs. In 1941 the home was purchased by the late Verne Schram and his wife Thora. The Schrams remodeled the home extensively and added a small apartment and garage at the rear of the house. Earlier, in 1914, Haire’s son Jack, had remodeled the house for apartments. Presently there are four apartments, three on the first floor and one on the second floor. John Haire came to Fort Dodge from his native Ireland in 1855 and entered into the mercantile business. His store was reported to be the third one opened in the newly-founded town and was located at First Avenue South and Sixth Street.17 In 1879 Haire was elected Webster County auditor and held that office until 1885. He also served as county clerk of courts and was a member of the Fort Dodge School board and its vice president for 10 years. He retired from active business life here in 1870, some years before being elected to county offices. Haire and his wife were parents of 10 children, seven sons and three daughters. The sons were prominent in business affairs of the city for many years. They were M. J. Haire, Oleson Land Company; W. W. Haire, Sackett & Haire Drugs; Jack Haire, Fort Dodge Lumber Company; Dave Haire, who served as county clerk; Tom Haire, Haire Clothing Store; Edward and Fred who were associated with Sackett & Haire Drugs. The daughters were Anna, Josephine and Mrs. Margaret Haire Kinney. Two grandsons of the pioneer businessman are former Fort Dodge residents—George M. Haire and John Haire, sons of the late Mr. and Mrs. Jack Haire. Source: HISTORIC HOMES of Fort Dodge, Iowa PUBLISHED BY THE BLANDEN FEDERATION OF ARTS FORT DODGE, IOWA APRIL, 1975 PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALLEN R. LOOMIS • TEXT BY KARL F. HAUGEN Healy House 1885 https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_4de603a176b049acbf1230cefed58ecc~mv2.jpg 1218 5th Ave N A native of Lansing, Iowa, Healy came to Fort Dodge with his parents in 1892. He was a graduate of Notre Dame University, attended Harvard University one year and received his law degree from the University of Michigan in 1885. He began law practice in Fort Dodge with pioneer statesman and attorney John F. Duncombe. Later he was in partnership with his brothers, Thomas D. Healy and Robert Healy and his son, Thomas M. Healy. Other well-known attorneys with whom he was associated were A. N. Botsford, D. M. Kelleher, B. B. Burnquist and Seth Thomas who later was a federal circuit court judge. Healy gained statewide and national distinction as an attorney, orator and political leader. He was active in the Democratic party and attended nine national Democratic conventions. In 1924 he seconded the nomination of Al Smith for the presidency. He was in great demand as a speaker and gave addresses at many public functions and celebrations. Failing eyesight afflicted Healy in the later years of his life and he was stricken with blindness in 1916. Despite the handicap he continued his law practice until his death 13 years later. The Healy children included four daughters and two sons—Mrs. Ruth Healy Coughlin, Fort Dodge; Mrs. John (Margaret) Rourke, Providence, R. I.; Mrs. Carl (Eleanor) Mangelsdorf, Rock Island, Ill.; and Mrs. Joseph (Kathryn) Pleck, Evanston, Ill.; the Rev. Kerndt Healy, an instructor at Notre Dame University, and Thomas M. Healy, Fort Dodge, both of whom are deceased. The Healy home is now owned by Larry D. Lee. Source: Historic Homes: Fort Dodge, Iowa https://www.gutenberg.org/files/63118/63118-h/63118-h.htm(https://www.gutenberg.org/files/63118/63118-h/63118-h.htm) PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALLEN R. LOOMIS • TEXT BY KARL F. HAUGEN Laramar Ballroom 1920s https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_9f96f1722af243f7b79f44feccd86632~mv2.jpg 710 1st Ave N For the thousands who frequented the ballroom over the years, the brick building with loft seating that rings the wooden dance floor holds many special memories. For most of its 115 years, this joint was jumpin' – On January 30, 1959, the Laramar Ballroom was hoppin’ when the Winter Dance Party and its headliners – Buddy Holly and the Crickets, the Big Bopper, Ritchie Valens, and Dion and the Belmonts - performed on its stage on a cold, snowy night in Fort Dodge. It was the Laramar Ballroom, and some 1,000 fans crowded into the downtown building at 710 First Avenue North to watch, dance and sing along as the musicians played their hit songs - never imagining that a few days later, in the early hours of Feb. 3, 1959, three of them – Holly, J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson Jr. and Valens — would die in a plane crash after performing at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake. "The whole show was great. Little did we know that this was the last time we would see them,” said Wes Trickel, of Fort Dodge, who was at the Laramar with his wife, Bertha, that night and got to meet Richardson and Valens. “We were so sad when we heard the news that we all never wanted to believe what had happened.” That tragic moment on a wintry night in a cornfield north of Clear Lake was “the day the music died” as Don McLean would sing in his 1971 classic "American Pie.” But until the last few years, there was still plenty of music left to play at the Laramar - later known as the Plamor and then the Twilight Ballroom before becoming the Laramar again. The old brick building that started as the Fort Dodge Armory in 1904 is now vacant and for sale. For the thousands who frequented the ballroom over the years, the brick building with loft seating that rings the wooden dance floor holds many special memories. For some, it was where they met their future spouse. Many of the top performers of the day – playing all genre of music - mesmerized their audiences. And newbies to the dance floor were introduced to the “trap.” A trap would be set up by three or more girls or three or more boys, who would wander through the dance floor and surround a dancing couple. If it was a guy trap, the girl dancing would choose one of those in the trap or stay with her partner. If it was a girl trap, the guy dancing would choose one of those in trap or stay with his partner. Some remember a Laramar bouncer of the late 1960s - John Matuszak, an All American football player at Fort Dodge Junior College for one season who later became the No. 1 pick in the 1973 NFL draft. Big John played several years for the Oakland Raiders of the NFL and then went on to appear on television and in movies (He died in 1989 at age 38). The history of the Laramar Ballroom began in 1903 when the Armory in Fort Dodge was built, spearheaded by the City’s Commercial Club (Chamber of Commerce). $8,000 was raised to construct the castle-like building that housed the National Guard Regiment and provided a venue for the 56th Regiment Band, the community band and various civic events. The Armory was equipped with a gymnasium and a bowling alley. The basement was first used as a rifle range; it has also been used as a shower all for horses, skaters, locker room, and restaurants. The building was designed to resemble an impregnable fortress, with imitation spots for gun placements. Especially durable, hard paving brick was used in the front part. The grand opening and dedication on February 11, 1904 was “the most brilliant function Fort Dodge social life had ever witnessed,” according to the Messenger. In the 1920s, the Armory also offered commercial space for various businesses and organizations. By 1927, the Traffic Bureau, C of 1929, Iowa Airways, A. M. Auto Association, Ft. Dodge Grocers Association, and the Geer Dancing Emporium were added to its use. Over the years, other companies: R. L. Polk Company, Men’s Civic Glee Club, F. D. Drum Corp, Allied Food Stories, F. D. Community Chest, and the Iowa National Guard and many others would be located there. During the two World Wars, soldiers were drafted at the Armory and ration books were issued there to Fort Dodge residents. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, many were worried that armories would be attacked so soldiers were stationed around the building. Over the years, the Armory was the scene of many charity balls, police and firemen's balls, craft shows, reunions, banquets, dance parties and much more. Music has always been part of the building's DNA from the outset, when it was built so the Company G, 56th Infantry would have a place for a regimental band under the direction of Carl Quist to rehearse and perform. The end of World War I marked an upswing across the country in ballrooms where people would gather to dance to the new music of the times. The Jazz Era was where they got their start and the 1930s and 40s were the highpoint of the ballroom era. Ballrooms, some elegant and some plain, could be found in the biggest cities or smallest rural areas. All shared a common denominator of music and dancing. Gradually, it became an entertainment center. As a dance hall, its fame was legendary in Iowa. The first dance was held in 1925. When the ‘Big Bands’ and singers were touring the country, as well as the territorial bands and other musical performers, one could find the best of them at the Armory or later at the Laramar. Such names as Lawrence Welk, Guy Lombardo, Glen Miller Orchestra, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Skippy Anderson, Guy Deleo, Leo Piper, Benny Goodman, Kay Kaiser, The Dorsey Brothers, Woody Herman, Al Minke, Jan Gaber, Johnny Cash and others all performed at the Laramar. The Armory was purchased by Larry and Margaret Geer from the Chamber of Commerce around the time they were married in 1938. Larry Geer had operated the ballroom at the armory since the 1920s, possibly before. Their first names – Larry and Margaret — were merged to create the name Laramar. Geer said that at one of Welk's appearances, his father had to loan Welk enough money for gas so he and his five-piece band to get to their next stop. The biggest crowd was brought in by Guy Lombardo when a record 2,400 were crowded in elbow to elbow. The Geers sold the business around 1964, when it became the Plamor for the next eight years. In the '50s-'60s teen era, performers Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and the Big Bopper performed at the Laramar just three days before the fatal plane crash in 1959 during the ‘Winter Dance Party’ tour. Some other stars that appeared at the Laramar included: Johnny Cash, Barbara Mandrell, Del Shannon, Gary Lewis & the Playboys, Bobby Vee, the Coasters, Tommy James and the Shondells, Freddie Cannon, Jimmy Clanton, the Crew Cuts, the Everly Brothers, the Diamonds, the Fabulous Flippers, and the famous Midwest band, the Rumbles, among others. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_bc3e6b6b8c59427f8067d33b191e40e6~mv2.jpg Over the years, there have been charity balls, Police and Fireman’s Balls, craft showers, wedding receptions, class reunions, banquets, and so much more. This building is truly a part of Fort Dodge history. Geer was 15 at the time of the Winter Dance Party performance in 1959 and as the son of the owners, it was not his first chance to be around big stars. One of his lasting memories was helping Johnny Cash climb through a back window and back stairway to his dressing room one night, to get through the crowds." About 1,000 people were on hand that night 60 years ago, with the balcony reserved for adult spectators and the dance floor for teens only, Geer said. The 11 performers arrived late on an old bus that didn't have a heater that worked. One of the members of Holly's Crickets band was future country star Waylon Jennings. The book, “The Day the Music Died: The Last Tour of Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens - and the Fatal Air Crash That Took Their Lives" detailed the musicians' appearance at the Laramar. The ballroom's next owners were Dick and Lee Derrig. Dick had worked at the ballroom under two different owners prior to buying the building. Dick and his wife Lee loved the ballroom and when they had the opportunity, they took the leap into proprietorship. Dick and Lee began running the ballroom as The Twilight on New Year’s Eve 1972. In 1979, Dick and Lee actually purchased the ballroom. For twelve years, they had a great reputation for bringing quality entertainment to Fort Dodge. People would come not just from Fort Dodge but also miles from the surrounding towns to enjoy the fun. The Twilight Ballroom was always known as ‘the Fun Spot and rock n' roll wasn't all the Laramar offered as there were old-time dances on Thursday nights with waltzes, swing, polkas and even square dances. Thursdays at the Twilight was the place to be for great big bands and ballroom dancing. Some favorite big bands Dick and Lee brought to you are: Jeff & Eddie Skeets, Kenny Hofer, Erv Reutzel, Jack Schultz, Al Godfredsen, Jan Garber, Don Glasser, Greg Spevak, Billy Redman, Riney Rinehart, Vern Claussen, Al Pierson (currently director of Guy Lombardo orchestra), Wayne King, Don Hoy, Ted Weems, Sammy Jensen, Russ Morgan (under direction of Jack Morgan), and many others. On Saturdays, you would find 50s and 60s rock n roll. Many ‘oldies’ bands that Dick and Lee brought back for repeat performances here were: The Cleavettes, The Do’s & The Dont’s, Rockin’ Hollywoods, American Grease, Faze Four, Hot Moose & Da Sharks, Spirits of the Past, Sundown, Travelin’ Band, Studebaker, Reflections, Last Shades of Dawn, Nifty Fifties, White Sidewalls, The Backbeats, Buckeye, Phoenix, Fantasia, Vixen, and so many more; too numerous to name them all who also donated their time for benefits. Aside from the local and regional bands, Dick and Lee also brought their share of major recording artists from the 50s and 60s to town: Tommy James & the Shondells, Bobby Vee, The Coasters, and Gary Lewis & the Playboys. Lee was also well known in town for her cake decorating. The Twilight was pretty much ‘one-stop shopping’ for wedding receptions. You could pick out your cake, decorations, food, and entertainment. Dick and Lee took care of most of the decorating for you as well as the clean-up. Reunions, retirement and anniversary parties, charity events, craft shows, and other benefits were also held here. They donated the ballroom for use and many bands donated their time for benefits held here. The Twilight was simply the place to have a big event. Crowds would gather for some of the dances, filling the main floor and the balcony both. The Fireman’s Balls and the Policeman’s Balls used to always be held at the Twilight and they were always packed! People liked Dick and Lee and how they managed and promoted the Twilight Ballroom. The Twilight enjoyed a good reputation. There were very few problems or disturbances. People, young and old, were there to have fun. In 1985, the Derrigs sold the Twilight and the ballroom retained its original name as the Laramar. The ballroom continued to offer various events for the next three decades. In recent years, the Laramar has been used for a variety of purposes: as a site for weddings, mixed martial arts bouts and as a Spanish bar with music and dancing, but has struggled for an identity. Sometime between 2001 – 2013, Jorge Blanco, whose family owned Blanco roofing business in Fort Dodge, purchased the Laramar. Since that time, the Laramar has been used sporadically for various events and is now vacant and for sale. The hope of many is that someone will purchase the building, restore it and bring it back as a recreational asset for our community, like it once was. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_d71f87c42a38451c913e9ef6c42a2ce4~mv2.jpg In late 2023, the Laramar Ballroom re-opened after a year-long renovation. Laramar Acquisition Co., LLC (formed by Chris O’Brien, Brady O’Brien and Joe Tuel) bought the Laramar in June, 2022. The two-story, 8,000 square foot event center with ballroom, wraparound balcony, main floor cocktail lounge, upstairs/balcony bar and a 20x30’ stage has seating for over 350 people. It has a full lighting and sound system that accommodates many types of events, such as weddings, corporate meetings, concerts and live performances. Many services can now be provided, such as a wedding coordinator, full lines of various décor and bridal suites on site. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_4414aa84af91441eade7f5117c234581~mv2.jpg A marble “Laramar” sign greets attendees as they enter the historic Laramar Ballroom. This beautiful 1904 building, originally constructed as an Armory in 1904, has gone through many metamorphoses. How wonderful that its renovation has allowed it to continue to serve the Fort Dodge region beautifully. Sources: The Fort Dodge Messenger *Messenger Spotlight…. January 30, 2019 by Paul Stevens *Twilight Ballroom Memories… 1972-1985… Dick and Lee Derrig *www.iowarockandroll.co/ballrooms *www.rockandrollroadmap.com Meservey Home https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_1c5e1e287dce4759ac1ba44616e6bf1d~mv2.jpg 923 1st Avenue South President Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt was a guest in the Stillman T. Meservey home at 923 1st Ave. S. when he visited Fort Dodge in 1902—the residence that now is the Bruce Funeral Home. The Meservey home was large and spacious with many elegantly furnished rooms on its three floors. There were seven fireplaces in the home which provided heat to the many rooms during the winter months. The first floor included living room, dining room, library finished in black walnut, kitchen and pantry, butler and maid’s quarters. There was also a large reception hall from which the solid oak open stairway led upstairs. The second floor had a balcony area at the head of the stairs, five bedrooms and two bathrooms. On the third floor is a complete apartment. Meservey, one of the city’s most prominent early-day residents, was born in Clinton, Ill., in 1848 and came to Fort Dodge with his parents in 1856. After completing his education in the public schools and high school here he graduated from Clinton Liberal Institute with a degree in pharmacy. He returned to Fort Dodge and for some time was associated with the Cheney and Meservey drug firm. That was the start of his meteoric rise as a merchant, industrialist, banker, financier and politician. In 1886 Meservey bought the property at the southwest corner of First Avenue South and Tenth Street and in 1890 erected the large brick residence. It was the showplace of the town and the meeting place for many social and civic events. During this era the Meserveys entertained President Roosevelt. Meservey was one of the founders of the gypsum industry here in 1872 and for many years was associated with the U. S. Gypsum Company as secretary. He was also associated with civic and commercial enterprises, including the city’s street railway system. Interested in politics he was elected to the City Council for several terms and served as mayor of Fort Dodge for three terms. He also was elected to the Iowa Legislature. In 1905 Meservey moved to Chicago where he was active with the U. S. Gypsum Company. In 1908 he sold the home here to Thomas D. Healy and the Healy family resided there for many years. In 1936 it was sold to Mr. and Mrs. Byron Wilder who moved their funeral parlor there and it since has been used as a funeral home. Mack B. Bruce acquired an interest in the business in 1938 and it operated as Wilder & Bruce until the Bruces purchased the Wilder interest in 1945. Since then, it has been Bruce’s Funeral Home. Source: HISTORIC HOMES of Fort Dodge, Iowa PUBLISHED BY THE BLANDEN FEDERATION OF ARTS FORT DODGE, IOWA APRIL, 1975PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALLEN R. LOOMIS • TEXT BY KARL F. HAUGEN Municipal Building https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_7424635439da4489ab74665d11cf8eb7~mv2.jpg Location: 819 1st Ave. S Construction Timeline: 1914 – 1915 Architect: E. O. Damon (Fort Dodge) Original Owner: City of Fort Dodge Size: 2 stories with basement Purpose of Building: Municipal building for all of the city’s departments, police, jail and fire department In February of 1914, the commissioners of the city of Fort Dodge unveiled their plan to build a new city hall that would house the various city departments, the police, jail and fire department. Up until that point, the city’s offices and departments were scattered around the town. The city commissioners had their offices in the court house. The police, city jail and central fire station were located in a building one block south of the court house. A half block east of the fire station, the city leased ground for the storing of its hook and ladder truck for the fire department. Across the street from that was the Duncombe Auto Company, where the fire department was able to keep their chemical wagon. In the Keenan building, half a block west of the central fire department was fire station Number 2 for the hose wagon and horses. On the lot next to the Keenan building, a section of open land was rented to store more fire equipment. The city engineer’s office was on the second floor of the Butler and Ryan building on North 7th street, over the Independent Printing Company. With the increasing population and prominence of Fort Dodge, having one location for the city’s departments was necessary for the efficiency of the city departments operation and the progressive and professional appearance of growing Fort Dodge. On Tuesday, June 30, 1914, the city commissioners held a public vote on the issuance of $100,000 bonds with which to purchase the site and pay for the construction of a new city hall on First Avenue South and Ninth Street. Women were allowed to participate in this vote, however, separate ballots were printed for men and women. The June 29, 1914 edition of The Fort Dodge Messenger reported the city council planed “a building that will be large enough for future needs. It will contain a modern jail in place of the present quarters that have been condemned repeatedly by grand juries. It will contain adequate quarters for the police department. The fire department apparatus, instead of being housed in various places about the city to the detriment of quick work, will be where it will be instantly available. The city engineer’s office and that of superintendent of sewers and water works will be under one roof with the rest of the departments.” The proposition for the issuance of bonds for a new city hall passed by a majority of only 56. Men cast a total of 899 votes and women of 124. The men returned a majority of 82, but the women voted down the proposition by 26. After the passing of the proposition, the city quickly began to advertise and seek out buyers for the $100,000 bonds. However, the outbreak of World War 1, which occurred just days earlier, greatly upset the world financial markets. It was reported there was an urgency to sell American securities by Europeans who had to have the gold that there was no demand for five percent bonds, which was what the city of Fort Dodge was trying to market. On November 16th, the city agreed to sell $80,000 in five percent bonds to C. W. McNear & Company of Chicago. Eight days later, the city contracted with the J. B. Evans Construction Company of Mexico, Missouri, for their bid of $68,920 for the general construction work of the new city hall building. Excavation of the land then construction began shortly thereafter. Although this project was viewed as a major and necessary improvement for Fort Dodge, a certain aspect of the funding was met with opposition. On August 5, 1915, Charles Trost filed an action asking that Mayor John Ford and Councilmen C. H. Smith and F. W. Collins be restrained from spending more than the approved $100,000 for the new city hall project. Trost claimed to have been “credibly informed” that the project will cost about $120,000 and that the city council intends to pay the $40,000 difference out of the general funds. Trost also alleged that he had information regarding the city paying J. J. Ryan and Richard Snell $27,000 for the site of the new city hall and that Councilman Collins had already negotiated the sale of $3,200 worth of general fund warrants to fulfill obligations in connection with the construction of the building. He also claimed he had information about the city administration’s plan to borrow $40,000 on the city’s credit and issue bonds to be paid from the general fund. Trost believed this was illegal and asked for a restraining order against it. A few days later, Frank Maher, attorney for the Evans Construction Company, made a public statement saying they were owed a payment from the city for $3,750 for work that had been completed and if they did not receive that payment, work on the city hall would be suspended until payment is made. The next day, Councilmen Collins and Smith addressed the issue and acknowledged that payment had not yet been made. Smith went on to say the usual time for submitting payment requests and estimates was between the tenth and fifteenth of the month and the payment request in question was submitted prior to the permitted timeframe. There was no dispute over the payment request and Smith said it would be processed and taken up in the usual course of business. The payment was made to Evans Construction on the same payment schedule as the six previous payments were made. On August 17th, the trial of the suit for injunction brought by Charles Trost against the city was held. Before Judge R. M. Wright, testimony was heard from Trost, Councilman F. W. Collins- head of the department of accounts and finance for the city, W. L. Tang- city clerk, and Otto Weiss- city assessor. The Fort Dodge Messenger reported that late in the hearing, Trost asked for a dismissal of the case. Judge Wright denied this request and said this case was of great concern to the people of Fort Dodge and these issues should be examined. The next day, Judge Wright made his ruling which denied the injunction restraining the city council from using money from the city’s general fund to cover any costs that were more than the voter-approved $100,000 for the city hall project. According to The Fort Dodge Messenger, Judge Wright found the following: 1. That the defendants have been guilty of serious and very reprehend sensible irregularities. 2. That they have made the moneys of one fund perform the function of moneys of another and different fund in the manner not only not contemplated by the statute, but against both its letter and spirit. 3. I do not find, however, that any intentional wrong has been committed by the defendants, nor do I find that, because of such irregularities, any such injury (as complained of) is contemplated by them in the future as would warrant or call for the issuance of a temporary injunction at this time. The application for the writ is, therefore, denied and the plaintiff excepts. Work on the new city hall continued and became open for business in early December of 1915. The following is from an article in The Fort Dodge Messenger describing the layout of the building. Fireproof from top to bottom, it will furnish a city hall of adequate size when Fort Dodge reaches a population of 50,000. In back of the first corridor are rooms for meter reader and repairer, coal bunkers and boiler rooms, a “bull pen” for the police where drunks may be kept and storage quarters under the fire department. On the first floor opposite the head of the stairs leading to that floor, are the quarters for the city clerk. A long counter faces the lobby. Two private rooms also are provided for the use of the clerk. At the east end of the building are the offices for councilmen and at the other end, are the offices for the mayor and the water department. Opening from the hall near the mayor’s office is the council room. On the second floor, some rooms will be vacant at the east end of the building to be used when necessary in the future. At the other end of the building are the office of the chief of police and locker room for the patrolmen. Over the city clerk’s office is the court room where police court is held. The west wing of the building will be for the police. A jail, as complete as any in the middle west, with separate wards for women, juveniles and men, is to be found. The jail is connected with the first floor by a stairway. Underneath the jail is room for the patrol wagon and other police equipment. In the east wing of the structure is the fire department. The big room on the ground floor with its high ceiling will house the apparatus. The big doors swing our on Ninth Street. On the second floor are the dormitories and gymnasium for the firemen. In the basement in the rear are driveways and garage rooms. The driveway will also be used by coal wagons and delivery of coal to the bunkers will be easy. Fort Dodge’s new city hall was considered one of the best in the state and the concept of one building that housed the city administration, police department, jail, city court and fire department was one of the first such municipal buildings in the state. The layout and construction of the building were both seemingly very well done because over the years, virtually no changes or repairs to the building were needed. In 1966, the Fire Department moved to 1515 Central Avenue and is still located here. In the early 1980s, the Fort Dodge Police Department and the Webster County Sheriff’s Department moved into the new constructed County Law Enforcement Center at 701 First Avenue South. A 1984 renovation plan which was not carried out, called for moving the City Council meeting room to the ground floor on the Ninth Street side of the building. In 2002, Haila Engineering Group Ltd., of Boone, prepared a plan for renovating the building. The estimated price of that project was $5,485,000. Two years later, that same firm returned with a plan for an entirely new Municipal Building at the corner of Eighth Street and Second Avenue South that would cost between $5 million to $5.8 million. Both plans were rejected. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_b6d4742aa07e462bafc9ec82b291a748~mv2.jpg In 2008, a new roof was installed. In 2011 and 2012, the boilers were replaced, the concrete floor in the boiler room was repaired, a ventilation system was installed and a new electrical service connection was put in place. In July of 2016 a major interior renovation project was completed. An old garage port that was originally used by the fire department then subsequently housed various city vehicles and abandoned bicycles collected by police officers was transformed into a very modern and accommodating City Council meeting room that can seat an audience of more than 100 people. An elevator was installed in the southeast corner of the building that could provide access to all levels of the building and the original steps on the front of the building were replaced. Another remodeling project was completed in January of 2018. The Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department offices were moved from the back of the building to an area in the front where the city clerk’s office used to be. The move provided for easier access to the office for walk-in customers. The utility billing office was remodeled and restrooms the second floor were updated. Today, the Fort Dodge City Hall / Municipal Building continues to house the offices for the city’s administrative departments. This building is a significant historical and architectural landmark in Fort Dodge. The fact that this structure has, and continues to serve the city as the municipal building without any major repairs or a dire need for more space, serves as a major testament to the city leaders and architects who designed this building for that exact purpose – to be able to adequately serve and meet the needs of Fort Dodge as a municipal building for numerous generations. Sources: *The Fort Dodge Messenger. February 24, 1914 *The Fort Dodge Messenger. June 29, 1914 *The Fort Dodge Messenger. July 1, 1914 *The Fort Dodge Messenger. July 2, 1914 *The Fort Dodge Messenger. August 15, 1914 *The Fort Dodge Messenger. November 2, 1914 *The Fort Dodge Messenger. November 24, 1914 *The Fort Dodge Messenger. November 16, 1914 *The Fort Dodge Messenger. August 5, 1915 *The Fort Dodge Messenger. August 9, 1915 *The Fort Dodge Messenger. August 10, 1915 *The Fort Dodge Messenger. August 17, 1915 *The Fort Dodge Messenger. August 18, 1915 *The Fort Dodge Messenger. November 20, 1915 *The Fort Dodge Messenger. January 25, 1916 *The Messenger. February 26, 2008 *The Messenger. July 17, 2016 *The Messenger. April 11, 2017 Oleson House 1906 https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_e0b74ac5182e4fbc99d90419ec54ec54~mv2.jpg 1020 3rd Ave. South O. M. Oleson, pioneer pharmacist and philanthropist, erected this large three-story brick residence with green tile roof in 1906. O. M. Oleson, pioneer pharmacist and philanthropist, erected this large three-story brick residence with green tile roof in 1906. Located at 1020 3rd Ave. S. it probably is the only home in the city to have had a pipe organ for many years. The home was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Oleson until 1938 when it was sold to Mr. and Mrs. O. J. Whittemore. Mrs. Whittemore continues to reside in the house following the death of her husband who was prominently identified with the Vincent Clay Products Company here. The home has a full basement, first floor with living room, dining room, and kitchen; second floor with five bedrooms and two baths; and third floor with recreation room and attic storage space. The pipe organ which Oleson enjoyed playing was removed from the home prior to its sale to the Whittemores and given to Lutheran Hospital’s nurses’ home. The nurses’ home was torn down some years ago during rebuilding work at the hospital (now Trinity Regional West). Oleson was noted for his countless philanthropic acts. He donated land to the city for Oleson Park in the southeast part of the city and Leif Erickson Park in west Fort Dodge. He was the principal benefactor of Lutheran Hospital when it was organized and began operations here. His widow, Julie Haskell Oleson, willed more than $2 million to the hospital at the time of her death. Oleson was a native of Norway and came to Fort Dodge as a young man and started in the drug business. In 1894 he erected the three-story brick building at Central Avenue and Eighth Street which was long the home of his drug firm—the Oleson Drug Company. The first floor and basement were occupied by the drug firm which for many years had both retail and wholesale operations. The second and third floors had apartments and some offices. The building was razed in recent years along with other structures to make way for the City Green Parking lot. Oleson enjoyed good music and in the early 1890s organized the Grieg Male Chorus and was its director for many years. The chorus had a large hall on the third floor of the Oleson building where members rehearsed and held social activities. His love of music led to some composing. One of the numbers he set to music was the celebrated World War I poem by Col. John McCrae—“In Flanders Fields the Poppies Grow.” Ringland Smeltzer House https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_6d56227453ad44d7a168c8f92d4920aa~mv2_d_3888_2592_s_4_2.jpg The Ringland/ Smeltzer House was built in 1903 by George Ringland. Ringland was a founder of U.S. Gypsum and held the patent for improving plaster. This patent contributed to the growth of the gypsum industry and changed the nature of building construction. The house , located on the corner of South 12th Street and 2nd Avenue South in the historic Oak Hill District, was designed by Chicago architect Solon Spencer Beman. Beman was the foremost American church architect of his time and one of the founders of the American Institute of Architecture. Beman designed a home for the Ringlands that exhibited Jacobethan Revival architecture, which featured unique brickwork, tall chimneys, multiple gables and rectangular window frames with leaded glass panes. Beman moved to Chicago when he was offered a commission to design the town of Pullman, Illinois, the company town for the Pullman Railroad Car Company. Included among his most noteworthy buildings were two major buildings in the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893, the Fine Arts/ Studebaker Building in downtown Chicago and the Mother Church of Christian Science in Boston. The original style of the home comes from the English manors of the early 16th century reign of James I. This style achieved some popularity between 1895 and 1920 but is relatively uncommon in Iowa. It exists more frequently in educational buildings than in residential structures. The only other local example is the Phillips Middle School, formerly the Fort Dodge Public High School, constructed in 1922. In Fort Dodge, the Beman firm also designed the Christian Science Church, now the Hawkeye Community Theatre (521 N. 12th Street), and the Roberts/Deardorf house (1414 3rd Ave. South) in the Oak Hill Historic District. The Ringland/Smeltzer House is also significant as part of the Oak Hill District, a four block district placed on the National Register of Historical Places in 1977. The district consists of 15 homes which together reflect the changing architectural styles of the post-Civil War period, 1870-1910, and the prosperity and optimism which dominated in Fort Dodge during its golden era. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_9e7a6b39bcc94eb085962f36ea25966b~mv2_d_3888_2592_s_4_2.jpg The styles of homes in the district include French Second Empire, East Lake, Queen Anne, Craftsman, Jacobethean Revival, and Prairie, a virtual showcase of the architectural evolution of that period. Each family sought to outdo the neighbors in size, quality and elegance of their home, reflecting on the local level the “conspicuous consumption” ethic of America’s “Gilded Age.” The Ringland/Smeltzer house reflects the zenith of the local development. The Oak Hill District, which was originally the southeastern edge of the city, included the homes of the community’s business leaders and leading citizens. Among its residents were a U.S. senator, an inspector for the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs, Iowa’s state printer, the director of the U.S. Mint, the president of U.S. Gypsum Company, the publisher of the local newspaper, and most of the city’s early bankers and entrepreneurs. Beman’s plans for the house are dated May 13, 1902 but the contract for its construction was not let until September 3, 1903. The contractor was the W. J. Zitterell Company of Webster City, one of the largest and best known construction companies in northern Iowa during this period. The contract price was $25,000; $6,000 of which went just for plumbing and heating. There are no other buildings remaining in Fort Dodge that are associated with the family. Records and newspaper accounts make no mention of any out-buildings on the grounds. The lack of a carriage house may be explained by the fact that Ringland’s downtown office was located on Central Avenue in close proximity to the city’s largest livery stable. Likewise, with the advent of the automobile, it might have been expected that the family would have added a garage, but Ann, even in later years, never had the inclination to do so and kept her automobile outside all year long. There appears to have been no formal attempts at landscaping at the time of its construction although over the years shrubs and trees were obviously added. Ann, the last member of the family, was less interested in formal gardens than she was in a more natural state. Over the years there have been few changes in the house, either internally or externally, or the grounds, with the exception of the removal of the main entrance porch on the north side of the house. In 2008 this porch was restored to its original appearance. Ballroom on the third floor https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_c52141fb90004ebe9f371590df2225f2~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg The house is important locally because the Ringland/Smeltzer family played a significant role both economically and culturally in the history and development of both Fort Dodge and North Central Iowa. From the very first years of settlement in the 1850s until the end of the twentieth century and the death of Ann Smeltzer, the last member of the family, the Ringland-Smeltzer family was a foundational family of Fort Dodge. The house epitomizes the industry and success of its owners and the Fort Dodge community. It is important nationally because George Ringland was an entrepreneur whose patent for the improvement of plaster contributed to the growth of the gypsum industry and changed the nature of building construction. Ringland was also one of the founders of one of the nation’s leading corporations in the building industry, the U.S. Gypsum Company. Jeannie Ringland Smeltzer was a cultural leader in the community. Under her, the Smeltzer house became a cultural center of the community. Concerts were held in the third floor ballroom and featured nationally recognized musicians. In addition to her music school, Mrs. Smeltzer operated a private school for local children in the home’s third floor ball room as an alternative to the public schools. In developing the curriculum she consulted and worked with Dr. A. A. Berle, America’s first and foremost advocate of and innovator in home schooling at a time that the movement was first attracting popular attention. Dining Room https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_71994b5613d543d4bca454d52ba2b457~mv2_d_3000_2250_s_2.jpg Over the years, the daughter of Charles and Jeannie Smeltzer, Ann, acquired many renowned pieces of art which later became part of the Blanden Art Museum’s permanent collection. The Ringland/Smeltzer Home continues to display many pieces of valuable art throughout the house. Today, the Ringland/Smeltzer House is used for many events. Musical performances in the living room, dinners in the dining room, meetings, showers and wedding receptions are some of the events held in the home. The furniture is original to the home and there are over 5,000 books in the home, many are signed first editions. Ann Smeltzer, who never married, was a very strong supporter of the community, both personally and civically. She would often allow the neighborhood children to play in her third floor ballroom. This was quite generous of her, because between the three houses to the south of hers, there were eighteen children! The neighborhood children would roller-skate in the ballroom and would perform plays on its stage for the neighborhood. With the death of Ann Smeltzer in 1999, the property came under the control of the Ann Smeltzer Charitable Trust which maintains the home as a house museum. It stands today as a reminder of a period in which Fort Dodge flourished and the contributions that the Ringland/Smeltzer family made and continues to make to the community through its charitable trust. The Ringland/Smeltzer House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is a property that is associated with the lives of a person or persons significant in the past whose activities are demonstrably important within a local, state and national context. George Ringland, who built the house, and his family, clearly met the requirements on both the local and national level. The Ringland/Smeltzer house was a family home; when Ringland’s daughter, Jeannie, married Charles Smeltzer, a banker and land manager, the couple and their daughter Ann lived with Jeannie and Charles all their married life in the home. https://www.smeltzertrust.org/ Des Moines Register Photos: Ryan Paschke Sears Building https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_41c3b228e151457db42ce05304aa85a2~mv2.jpg 610 Central Ave. This eight-story building built in 1916 was the tallest structure in Fort Dodge. Location: 610 Central Ave. Construction Timeline: 1916 – 1917 Architect: E.O. Damon (Fort Dodge) Original Owner: E.E. Prusia (Fort Dodge) Size: 8 stories Purpose of Building: Prusia Hardware Company E.E. Prusia, who came to Fort Dodge in 1855, in many ways was the great American success story. His occupation was that of a tin smith, a minor but essential skill on the frontier. He was, however, quick to recognize opportunities as they developed. Every frontier settlement needed blacksmiths and blacksmiths in tum had a need for iron. The closest supplier of iron was in Dubuque, some two hundred miles away with no railroads to deliver it. By the time of the Civil War, Prusia had established himself as the primary wholesaler of the metal in northwestern Iowa. The next logical step was to move into the general hardware business. In 1866 he built his own two story brick store on the site of the current building, only to lose it in a fire in the 1880s. It was rebuilt as a three story structure only to have it too destroyed by fire again in 1914. Prusia decided to rebuild at the same site, only this time he called for a building which would be the most modern and technologically advanced for the time. It was to be large enough to accommodate the growth that the community's leaders predicted and was to be as fireproof as could be built. A local architect of statewide reputation, E.O. Damon, was employed to design the building. The C.E. Atkinson Construction of Webster City was given the job of contractor. The company previously had built the local Congregational Church, the Loomis Building, the National Bank, the Wahkonsa Hotel, the McQuilkin building, Mercy Hospital and an addition to the Fort Dodge Grocery Company. Damon responded with a building in the Chicago Commercial style which had been developed in Chicago in the late 1890s. The rapid growth of the cities of the period required additional office and retail enterprises. Land space was at a premium so the best way to build was to build up and create skyscrapers defined in 1900 as any building of five or more stories. This required new building methods and technology. Prior to the 1890s most buildings were constructed with thick load bearing walls. This type of construction limited the height to five or so stories. Architects offered a new model, a building with a skeleton framework of iron, steel, or reinforced concrete which carried the load and with the walls filling in with non-load bearing masonry. The new system allowed for structures of virtually unlimited height. Damon's first plan was for a seven story building but when the plans were finalized an eighth story was added making it the tallest structure in Fort Dodge. The total square footage was 82,000. The eighth floor was reserved for the company's office and the first floor was to be retail. The second through seventh would be the warehouse area. This explains why there are no windows on the east and west sides of the building except for the eighth floor. Warehouse areas had no need for windows which would just reduce storage space. Windows in the office areas, however, would provide light and ventilation. The windows that were used were double sash windows which could be open to allow for air flow. In constructing the building, reinforced concrete pillars were used to provide the supporting framework. The walls between the pillars were brick. Since these walls were non-load supporting, windows could easily be installed. The Chicago Commercial Style buildings are characterized by a much greater use of windows than earlier commercial buildings. The Prusia building followed this pattern with seventy windows on the Central Avenue face. With the increase in the number of windows and the reduction in the amount of wall space there was reduced room for architectural decoration. Damon did, however, include some decorative elements; the fancy brick work on the front facade and the ceramic heads of the kings and lions on the top story just below the cornice. The windows used in the front are called the Chicago style are in sets of three, a large single pane window in the middle, flanked by double pane sash windows, again allowing for ventilation and illumination. After losing two previous buildings to fire, Prusia was adamant about making the building fireproof. Wood was to be as limited as possible in the basic construction, extra thick concrete and block walls were used to enclose stair wells and elevator shafts and fire proof doors were used at all points of access. Regular window glass was to be rejected where illumination was not a primary consideration in favor of wire glass which in case of a fire would be less likely to blow out and allow for fire or wind drafts. The construction of buildings exceeding three or four stories required the inclusion of elevators. This building was designed with two elevators, a passenger elevator and a freight elevator. The freight elevator was made extra-large to allow the entry of a delivery truck. The elevator would carry the truck to the appropriate floor where it would be unloaded, eliminating as much unloading and moving of goods as possible. Another feature employed was the use of chutes to move goods. A spiral chute allowed boxes to slide from an upper floor to a destination on a lower level. Another chute carried mail and documents. Prusia wanted the latest technology where possible. The passenger elevator was self-operated with the passenger just pushing the button for the correct floor. Every other building with an elevator depended upon an operator. To facilitate communication among the departments, forty telephones were installed and three trunk lines to the outside were created. A centralized money handling system was installed using a pneumatic tube carrier system. A departmental clerk would send the money by tube to a cashier in the office who would then return the receipt. The system consisted of 2,200 feet of tubing. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_ef9579045a8946d8b14f4fbd5157cb30~mv2.jpg The Prusia Company remained in operation in Fort Dodge until 1930 when it declared bankruptcy, a victim of the Depression. For the next six years the building remained empty. In 1935 the building was leased to Sears and Roebuck. Sears had been established as a catalog store in 1886 and it was not until 1925 that it opened its first retail department store. In 1936 it leased and opened the store in the old Prusia Building. Sears made few changes in the building itself which was a tribute to the planning and foresight of Prusia and Damon some twenty years earlier. The telephone system, the elevator system, the pneumatic tube arrangement and the structure as a whole were barely changed. The only apparent change was the installation of a black glass and chrome trim street level facade to suit the art deco taste of the time. Sears’ grand opening came on November 1936, a welcome economic boost to a city which was suffering through the Great Depression. The new store provided jobs for some 85 local residents. The Sears store remained downtown until 1965 when the Crossroads Mall opened in East Fort Dodge. The old building remained vacant. Over the years there have been several changes in ownership but none have been able to put together a plan of restoration or usage. In 1969, a referendum for downtown renewal failed to pass. Fires in the meantime destroyed several downtown blocks and buildings. Ed Breen, in the 1970s, led a move to rehabilitate the area by establishing a downtown mall. Part of these proposals called for the demolition of the buildings between the City Square and 9th Street on the north side of Central Avenue and on the south side from the City Square to the Court House. Many of the buildings were demolished and replaced by parking lots, empty lots and two new banks on 9th Street. The Prusia Building was the only historic building in the 600 block north side to survive and it remained vacant. The Historic Preservation Commission attempted to place the building on the National Register of Historic Places but the City Council rejected the move. However, the downtown district has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places which gives the building Register status. Today, the Prusia/Sears Building is home to Heartland Senior Housing, which provides 1 & 2 bedroom, income-based rental apartments for senior citizens. Snell Building 1915 https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_655d535bd198407ca580f6570387cdeb~mv2.jpg 805 Central Ave. Built in 1915, the Snell Building was seven stories tall and Fort Dodge’s first “skyscraper.” Richard Snell, from Clinton Illinois, was the original owner of both the Snell Building and the Boston Centre, both located at 805 and 805 and 809 Central Avenue in downtown Fort Dodge. He received the land on which both buildings are located from his father, Thomas Snell, who owned it when it was originally platted in 1856. Although the two buildings differed in size, appearance and function, they were both part of the same investment project for Snell. Both buildings were constructed at the same time, however the building for the Boston Store was completed first and had its formal opening in September of 1914, while the Snell Building was completed in January of 1915. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_c9228d9d47ee41ab95aa1f70e9cbaad2~mv2.jpg The Snell Building, at 805 Central Avenue, was seven stories tall and Fort Dodge’s first “skyscraper.” The ground level was occupied by First National Bank and the Charles A. Brown clothing store; the remaining floors had over 150 rooms for various offices. Today, the Snell Building at 805 Central Avenue is the location of Authentic Therapy of Iowa, LLC; Chingren Financial Advisors, Inc.; Diamond Detailing; Kersten, Brownlee, Hendricks, LLC; Miller Counseling Services, LLC; Monty Fisher, Attorney; O’Brien Law Office. Leon Vincent Home https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_b3de1d56979146909f59d753f444c78e~mv2.jpg 1024 3rd Avenue South The large brick residence at 1024 3rd Ave. S.—known in earlier years as the Leon Vincent home—was built by a pioneer Iowan who was a civil engineer, railroad builder and gypsum industrialist. The house dates back to 1896 when it was erected and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Leon Vincent. The house, of exterior brick construction, now has three rooms and bath on the first floor, four rooms and two baths on the second floor, two bedrooms on the completely finished third floor and a large finished basement area. Ownership of the house has changed several times since it was built by Vincent. At one time it was owned and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Harry Vincent and later by Mr. and Mrs. Shirley Thornton. In 1965 the Thorntons sold the property to Mr. and Mrs. Paul C. Eide; Gary and Mary Moore also resided in the home. Jenny Kersten Becker and Luke Becker and family currently reside in the home. Leon Vincent, a first cousin of Webb and Beth Vincent, came to Iowa in 1867 and as a civil engineer worked in laying out the Sioux City and Pacific Railroad, now part of the North Western system. He continued in this work until 1873 when he came to Fort Dodge. In 1881 Vincent was employed as assistant cashier of the Merchants National Bank until its merger with the early-day First National Bank here. He was secretary-treasurer of the Iowa Plaster Association in 1891 and was identified with gypsum operations here for many years. In 161899 he rebuilt and re-equipped the Central Gypsum mill, first of the early-day gypsum plants here. When the U. S. Gypsum Company took over the Iowa Plaster Association in 1902, Vincent remained as manager of the Blanden mill. Vincent was active in many affairs, one of which was designing and building of the present St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, which replaced an earlier edifice destroyed by fire. He also helped in laying out and beautifying of Oleson Park and in designing of 17th Street as a boulevard. In 1911, Leon Vincent and the brothers Harry S. and Donald Vincent, sons of Webb Vincent, founded the Vincent Clay Products, Inc., which operated its big plant at Shady Oaks until recent years. Many of the plant’s machines and processes were inventions of Leon Vincent. In failing health for many years, Leon Vincent died in 1916 at age 69. Mrs. Vincent died in 1928 at age 81. Mr. and Mrs. Vincent were grandparents of Al Loomis, photographer for most of the houses shown in the book. Source: HISTORIC HOMES of Fort Dodge, Iowa PUBLISHED BY THE BLANDEN FEDERATION OF ARTS FORT DODGE, IOWA APRIL, 1975PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALLEN R. LOOMIS • TEXT BY KARL F. HAUGEN Vincent House https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_6177f976c73e481eab9752fccb104140~mv2.jpg One of the few remaining landmarks in Fort Dodge is the historic Vincent home at 824 3rd Ave. S. The house is now more than a century and a half old, having been built in 1871 by James Swain, a pioneer Fort Dodge resident who was in the wholesale and retail drug business. The house was purchased in 1879 by Webb Vincent, an early-day Fort Dodge industrialist and one of the founders of the gypsum industry here in 1872. Associated with him at that time in the establishment of the Fort Dodge Plaster Mills were George S. Ringland and Stillman T. Meservey. The Webb Vincent family moved into the spacious home Oct. 17, 1879. It had been occupied continuously by members of the family until the death in 1969 of Mrs. Anne Vincent, widow of Donald Vincent. The home has an exterior of red brick—a “soft brick” made from red clay that was found extensively in this area. Foundation walls are of limestone set in mortar. These stones of different sizes and roughly hewn form a foundation wall about seven feet high. Exterior house walls are 30 inches thick and interior walls are 24 inches thick. Rooms of the house are large. Ceilings on the first floor are 14 feet high, on the second floor 12 feet high and on the third floor nine feet high. The third floor included a ballroom, 20 × 50 feet in size, where many early-day parties were held. Source: HISTORIC HOMES of Fort Dodge, Iowa PUBLISHED BY THE BLANDEN FEDERATION OF ARTS FORT DODGE, IOWA APRIL, 1975PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALLEN R. LOOMIS • TEXT BY KARL F. HAUGEN Wahkonsa Hotel https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_cc6d85a5aca94c5aae69ffb982f9072e~mv2.jpg Address: 927 Central Ave. Construction : 1909-1910 Architectural firm of Liebbe, Nourse & Rasmussen (Des Moines) Original Owner: Fort Dodge Commercial Club Size: 65,000 square feet Purpose of building: First Class Hotel The Wahkonsa Hotel (currently Wahkonsa Manor) is a five-story, plus basement building, featuring symmetrical brick facades with Italian Renaissance Revival-style influenced brick detailing including quoining and relief brickwork. Situated on Fort Dodge’s historic main street, Central Avenue and South 10th St., the building was developed and constructed by the Fort Dodge Commercial Club in 1909-1910. It had the distinction of being the largest fireproof hotel in Iowa at the time of completion and was considered one of the premier hotels in the state. The hotel movement had its inception in the Commercial Club when C.V. Findlay, a director, made a motion that President McQuilkin appoint a committee of three to look into the possibility of a hotel being built in Fort Dodge. As a result, the Fort Dodge Hotel Company was formed and the excavation and construction for the new hotel began in August of 1909. Liebbe, Nourse & Rassmussen, architects from Des Moines secured the order for the plans and C.E. Atkinson, the contract for the building’s construction. Cold weather hindered the work on the structure, the winter of 1909-1910 being one of the most severe in many years, however, work progressed steadily until the completion and opening of the hotel in September 1910. The three person committee who conducted the campaign and oversaw the building process of the hotel were O.M. Oleson, G.W. Mason and A.D. McQuilkin. The other directors of the Fort Dodge Hotel Company were A.R. Loomis, John Hower, T.H. Wright and W.F. Carver. The following is an excerpt from an article from The Fort Dodge Messenger on September 20, 1910, after the formal opening of the Wahkonsa Hotel. The Interior View Both the Central Avenue and the Tenth street entrances admitted people to the main lobby, the office and foyer of the hotel. Here a brilliant spectacle was observed for the roomy place with what hotels rarely have; two street sides admitting plenty of light and affording an excellent view, was brilliant with artificial light and a very gay assemblage in evening dress. The beautiful frescoed walls of light color, the massive leather furniture presented interesting contrast in color, the thick velvet rugs on a tiled floor of most attractive pattern and the marble of the walls and staircase, contributed to make a superlatively good impression. The orchestra was discovered in an alcove especially provided for such use, on the second floor at the head of the staircase. From here and from the balcony which surrounds the staircase opening, the myriads of flowers and palms scattered about the landings, staircase and foyer, offered a most festive appearance. The dining room opens directly off of the south end of the foyer and is about equal in length, half of the depth of the building. It is slightly wider than the foyer and to the west of it, through large doors, is discovered the smaller dining room which is finished in a beautiful combination of dark oak and a frieze in grape design on the walls. Panels of woods extend part way up the walls with the frieze above the plate rail. A massive buffet conceals the entrance from the kitchen. The floors of these two rooms, like the remainder of the ground floor, are tiled. The kitchen section of the hotel lies in the southwest corner. In the main dining room, the entire east wall is plate glass windows, hung with attractive lace embroidery with heavy monograms. Small English windows are at either side of each large window and can be opened. The south and north sides are supplied with large plate glass mirrors except on the south in the center where a buffet with leaded glass window above, finishes the dining room beautifully. The Upper Floors Heavy hall carpets of velvet Brussels cover the upper halls, clear to the top story. The floors are entirely of cement stained to harmonize with the rugs and carpets. Wails are rough plaster and stained in colors that harmonize with the hangings, rugs and mahogany furniture. In some of the bedrooms heavy brass beds vary the general appearance. No wood but mahogany is used in many of the rooms. Just opposite the elevator on every floor is an alcove furnished attractively for a small parlor, where guests can make themselves at home. On the second floor there is one parlor for women visitors at the hotel, which commands a good view from the east of the building. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_8ca8bc4dc670485d8126ab9d22272568~mv2.jpg The Wahkonsa operated as a first-class hotel for over 60 years (by various owners) until 1972 when it was converted into apartment housing for low-income residents. The Wahkonsa continues to provide affordable housing, with several commercial outfits still in operation on the first floor and basement levels. Wahkonsa Annex The Wahkonsa Hotel was first leased to R. W. Johnston and Company, who opened it on September 17th, 1910. They operated until October 11, 1911, when the lease was transferred to George W. Reynolds. Mr. Reynolds operated tho hotel for two years, and then sold it to A J. Morton on November 10th, 1913. Mr. Morton continued the operation of the hotel until September 9th, 1915, when he sold the property to Theodore G. Warden of Chicago. Within a few months after Mr. Warden took over the Wahkonsa, he decided to enlarge his property, so on April 12th, 1916, he bought the two lots south of the hotel, at the corner of Tenth street and First avenue South. On this property was erected the Wahkonsa Annex, four stories in height. There were seven stores on the first floor, one hundred guest rooms on the second and third floors, and the club rooms of the Chamber of Commerce, a ball-room, and a luncheon room took up most of the fourth. The Annex was formally opened for business on January 21st, 1916. Two additional floors were later built on to The Annex when the Warden Plaza was constructed. The Wahkonsa Hotel was already regarded as one of the best hotels in the state, but with the addition of The Annex, its reputation grew to that of the finest hotel of any city its size in the United States. Today, the Wahkonsa Annex is empty and has been empty for a number of years. It will be torn down as part of a new downtown revitalization project. Source: Fort Dodge Historical Society Fort Dodge Messenger, 1910 Fort Dodge Messenger, 1916 Warden Plaza Building https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_2b2c878208ba420a99449d5021db4d46~mv2.jpg The sheer half-block size of downtown Fort Dodge’s Warden Plaza is enough to pique one’s curiosity, but a brief glimpse at the building’s rich history confirms its significant place in the city’s past history. Location: 908 1st Ave. S Construction Timeline: 1922 – 1923 Architect: E. O. Damon (Fort Dodge) Original Owner: Theodora Warden (daughter or Theodore Warden) Size: 8 stories Purpose of Building: Retail shops, apartments, office suites The sheer half-block size of downtown Fort Dodge’s Warden Plaza is enough to pique one’s curiosity, but a brief glimpse at the building’s rich history confirms its significant place in the city’s past history. The 316,000-square-foot building, located at 908 First Avenue South, represents more than just the architectural skill of E.O. Damon Jr. in combining bricks, mortar and marble; it represents the soul of this Midwest city. From the mid-1920s through 1970, the Warden Plaza Building was the social, economic and political center of Fort Dodge. The Warden Shops and Apartments are the outgrowth of the original Wahkonsa hotel built by the public spirited men of Fort Dodge, under the name of the Fort Dodge Hotel Company. O. M. Oleson was the principal stock holder of this company. The original building covered two lots at the corner of Central Avenue and Tenth Street, 120 feet on Central Avenue and 140 feet on Tenth Street. It has 165 rooms and four store rooms. The hotel was first leased to R. W. Johnston and Company, who opened it on September 17th, 1910. On September 9th, 1915, the hotel was sold to Theodore G. Warden of Chicago. Within a few months after Mr. Warden took over tho Wahkonsa, he decided to enlarge his property, so on April 12th, 1916, he bought the two lots south of the hotel, at the corner of Tenth street and First avenue South. On this property was erected the Annex, four stories in height, which was opened on January 21, 1916. Early in 1919, Mr. Warden decided that there was an urgent need for kitchenette apartments in Fort Dodge and in May of that year began the construction of three additional floors on the Annex. These floors were completed a year later and contained eighty-five apartment rooms that greatly relieved the housing shortage of the city at that time. The need for the kitchenette apartments having been demonstrated, and knowing the ever increasing popularity of the specialty shops throughout the country, Mr. Warden decided to erect a building that would offer patrons combined shops, store-rooms and apartments, a combination at that time was rare or unknown in the United States. Mr. Warden first purchased the three lots just west of his Annex properly on which he proposed to erect the Warden Shops and Apartment building. One of these lots was purchased from Chris Hohn and the other two from the George W. Mason estate. The excavation for the building began on August 22, 1922. On November 8, 1922, the contract was let to W. J. Zitterell and company for the basement and first floor. They also secured the contract for the super structure, when the other was completed in May, 1923. It took just one year to complete this eight story building. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_285fce854523487abb6016c3f5319a0d~mv2.jpg The new Warden building contained thirty-six shops and five medium sized stores. The three upper floors had 84 apartments, which were mostly of the dinette-kitchenette type, while a few others were labeled "bachelor" type apartments because they did not have the dinette-kitchenette feature. The apartments were seen as ideal living quarters. At that time, every convenience was provided for “eliminating most of the hard work in house-keeping.” The kitchenettes had electric ranges and cabinets; the refrigerators were placed so that the ice, which was furnished for free, could be put in the boxes from a hall; the garbage and waste paper are removed from the hall by the porter. The first and mezzanine floors were truly a sight to be seen. In addition to the large and beautiful lobby, there were fourteen shops on the first floor that opened on to an eighteen foot L-shaped corridor that faced Ninth street and First avenue South. On the mezzanine floor was a large and exquisitely furnished lounge that overlooked the lobby. Also on this floor were twenty-two shops of different sizes that opened onto a walk that gave a view of the activities below. In the basement of the building was a grocery and delicatessen store. The store had a street entrance on Ninth, and an entrance from the apartments. The elevators ran to the basement with a marble hall leading to the grocery. This store was a great convenience for those who lived in the building. They were able to secure their daily needs without leaving the building. An Amazing Place “The Warden Plaza was the place to live in Fort Dodge. It was absolutely marvelous,” recalled Drexel Peterson, who was a longtime radio personality for KVFD, which was founded by Ed Breen in the Warden on Christmas Eve 1939 and located there for many years. Peterson and his wife, Ruth, and children Anne and Drexel, Jr., lived in the Warden Apartments from 1945 to 1953, a time when few children lived in the facility. “It was the only full-service apartment building in Fort Dodge, ant it had elevator and switchboard operators 24 hours a day. There was a head housekeeper, but you took care of your own apartment, and if you had pipe problems in the middle of the night, there was a maintenance man on duty to take care of it,” Peterson said. “There were marvelous people that lived there. Many were doctors, lawyers and people who worked downtown. All in all, it was an amazing place.” https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_be035d1a99c04df890677edd2e4078fd~mv2.jpg His daughter Anne Miller, who lives in Concord, Mass., has fond memories of living on the fourth floor of the Warden Apartments and exploring the huge building as a child. “As a child I loved it! It used to be the classy place to live. If you didn’t have a house or wanted to live downtown, it was great,” Miller said. She recalled the beauty salons, barber shops, bakery, drapery shop and “a wonderful place” called the Smoke Shop among other businesses that were located in the north arcade of the Warden Apartments. “The Smoke Shop was like a modern day 7-Eleven. It had pop, chips, cigarettes, cigars, milk, bread, etc., as well as a pinball machine. I wasn’t to hang out there but was sent down to buy bread, milk and pop,” she said. he mezzanine, which is the floor located between the ground and second floors, “was a fun area as a child,” she said. “It had a huge ornate railing that looked down over the lobby, but half of the open space was filled with offices in the early 1970s.” On Fort Dodge resident who at one time worked at the Warden as did his father, said the Warden also used to feature a fountain, a marble-adorned front desk, skylights and its own water tower. A well in the basement piped water up to the roof into two 5,000-gallon tanks, which would supply the apartments with water. He added that a Warden resident once told him that there were glass sidewalks in front of the Warden that were illuminated at night and a bowling alley in the basement. In the fall of 1970, Glen Machovec and William Sergeant bought The Warden from Theodora Westenberger, who was the daughter of Theodore Warden, the original proprietor and visionary of The Warden. The building underwent extensive interior renovations; remodeling the existing apartments and finishing the construction of apartments and office spaces on the third and fourth floors. The office and commercial space on the ground floor and mezzanine remained essentially intact. In the early 1980’s, many retail businesses were relocating to the Crossroads Mall area on the east side of Fort Dodge, and new office space was being developed in the community. These modifications led to a changing culture in downtown Fort Dodge and the detriment of the Warden Plaza. In 1983, the Warden Plaza was purchased by Real Property Services, a property management company from Carlsbad, California. Unfortunately, this marked the beginning of the slow, but steady demise of the Warden Plaza. In April of 1994, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) foreclosed on the property, due to the owners failing to make payments on the outstanding mortgage of more than $3.5 million. A few months later, the building was purchased by Barry Smith, a private investor from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Smith had visions of bringing The Warden back to its former glory, however, the cost of the mandatory repairs to the occupied apartments that were needed in order to bring the building up to code along with other issues proved to be too costly for Smith. He sold the property to HLI Properties of Fort Dodge after just two years. In December of 1996 HLI Properties acquired the ownership and management of The Warden. Deteriorating conditions within the building caused the few remaining tenants to move out of The Warden in 2005 and the building was permanently closed at that time. From 2005 to 2016, Harvest Baptist Church then the company Corale LLC owned the once iconic building. During this period, The Warden remained vacant and uninhabitable. The interior and exterior became increasingly dilapidated and vandalized. Fortunately, in June and July of 2016, the City of Fort Dodge was able to take possession of the building as part of a collaborative effort to renovate and restore The Warden back to the grand centerpiece of Fort Dodge that it once was. For eight decades, the Warden Plaza served as the home for many businesses and organizations, as well as individuals who lived in the Warden apartments. The following is a list of some of the Fort Dodge businesses and organizations that were located in the iconic Warden Plaza building between 1922 – 2000. · World Travel AAA · AAA Motor Club of Iowa · Otis Elevator · Farmers National Co. · Xerox · Eddie Quinn Clothier · Mid States Commodities Inc. · Jet Print · KSMX – Radio Station · Maiwurm Assoc. – Architects · Iowa Farms Associates · Mid States Grain · Equifax Inc. · Land and Water Publication · Bolt Security · Heights Finance Corp. · Schlotfeldt Engineering Inc. · Webster County Red Cross · Webster Construction · Louis Rabiner Trust · W. W. Wilson – Insurance · One Hour Martinizing · Household Finance Corp. · Woodruff – Evans Construction · Secretarial Answering Service · Svana’s Imports · Lakota Girl Scouts · Bob Singer Insurance Agency · KVFD – Radio Station · March of Dimes · Birthright · Bergman Photos · Old Northwest Co. – Insurance · Mr. Bob’s Shoe Shine · Aunt Nancy’s Day Care Center · Comedia Musica Players · Rasch Construction · County Furs · McClure Engineering · Herbert-Hansen Fur Company · The Terrace Lounge · The 34th Club · Home Federal Savings · Katy’s Alterations · Eddie’s Grocery · Waller-Wendling Assoc. – Insurance · Stark, Crumley & Jacobs – Attorneys · Fort Dodge Chamber of Commerce · City of FD Community Development Office · Sergeant & Sergeant – Attorneys · Sample Alley – Women’s Clothing · Dr. Walter Gower & Dr. Matt Sander’s Office The Fort Dodge Laboratories occupied the third floor and Quaker Oats occupied the second floor, which were later turned into residential floors. Warden ownership timeline: 1924 – 1970: Theodora Westenberger (Warden) 1970 – 1983: Warden Plaza Partnership (Glen Machovec & William Sergeant) 1983 – 1994: Real Property Services – Carlsbad, CA 1994 – 1996: Barry B. Smith – Cedar Rapids, IA 1996 – 2005: HLI Properties, Inc. – Fort Dodge, IA 2005 – 2008: Harvest Baptist Church – Fort Dodge, IA 2009 – 2016: Corale LLC 2016 – 2017: City of Fort Dodge 2017 – Present: KDG LLC Sources: *The Messenger & Chronicle. November 8, 1924 *Fort Dodge Messenger. October 8, 1970 *Fort Dodge Today. Beth Buehler. February 199 Webster County Courthouse 1900 https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_19de689bb987498f853610825364ea35~mv2.jpg 701 Central Ave. The courthouse when finally turned over to the county, was a plain, two story' stone building, fifty by one hundred feet in size. The basement was used for the county jail, the first floor for offices, and the second floor for the courtroom and court offices. Location: 701 Central Ave. Construction Timeline: 1900 – 1902 Architect: Henry C. Koch Original Owner: Webster County Size: 4 stories Purpose of Building: Courthouse and city/county government In 1856, Fort Dodge became the county seat for Webster County. John Duncombe led the movement of petitioning the court for an election to be held to vote on the issue of moving the county seat from Homer to Fort Dodge, with Fort Dodge coming out victorious. The population of Webster county in 1859, according to an old manuscript, had reached about 4,500. The census returns for that year, however, showed but 2,596. Whichever may be correct, a courthouse was needed, and had been talked of ever since the locating of the county seat at Fort Dodge. The question of the building was submitted to the voters the first Monday in April, 1859, and carried by a majority of 200. Webster county's title to her first courthouse site in Fort Dodge, and which is still the present site, bears date of August 20, 1858. The grantor is Jesse Williams, trustee, by his attorney in fact, William Williams. The name of John F. Duncombe appears in the transaction, as the notary whose seal was affixed to the document. The contract for the new courthouse was let by the county judge, L. L. Pease, to Jenkins and Merritt, and afterwards they sublet to Sweeney and Tierney. The original contract price was $39,450.00. To this had been added several items making the figure just a little within the $50,000 limit set in the proposition to build. The designs for the building were drawn but various changes were made, however, before the building was completed. The corner stone of the building was laid May 8, 1859. No sooner was the building begun, however, than trouble commenced. The designs were constantly undergoing change. Many mistakes were made. It was difficult to get labor or material and project became underfunded, which proved a most serious problem. The time of completion had been extended two years and yet the first story was still not finished. The lack of funds to carry on the work proved a most serious problem and the animosities of the county seat fight were still active. It was at this point that Thomas Snell of the firm of Snell & Taylor, high respected contractors, was urged by the leading citizens of Fort Dodge to undertake the work. This he finally consented to do, and the contract was assigned to his firm, and by them, completed. Yet with the new contractors the building did not go on so smoothly. Numerous conflicts arose including the delays with the project, the many changes that were made, and accusations of fraud. The underlying problem that seemed to be the foundation of so much distrust and dissatisfaction was the continued hard feelings within the county over the legality of the vote that moved the county seat to Fort Dodge. Bitter personal feelings festered around the county seat fight. At last, worn out with fighting, the county leaders came to their senses, for the time being, intense personal feelings were eventually overcome by better reasoning, and the difficulties were adjusted and the county seat fight was ended. The courthouse when finally turned over to the county, was a plain, two story' stone building, fifty by one hundred feet in size. The basement was used for the county jail, the first floor for offices, and the second floor for the courtroom and court offices. This building during its entire existence was being remodeled and repaired. After a number of years a clock tower was added, and the stairway leading to the courtroom was changed. Still later rooms were fitted up for the federal court offices. But all these changes could not keep pace with the growth of the county. The county superintendent's office was forced out and across the street to the Doud block. In 1885 Judge Henderson of the district court declared the jail quarters unsanitary and ordered the prisoners confined in the Hamilton county jail. In view of this latter condition. Captain S. J. Benett, a member of the Board of Supervisors, introduced a resolution before that body calling for a vote upon a three mill tax levy to build a jail. On the first submission to the voters of the county it was lost; but the next year upon resubmission it was carried. The jail when constructed was of brick, two stories in height, and standing at the southeast corner of the courthouse. It contained four cells and corridors, which could also be used for the honest prisoners. The building was not the most confining and several deliveries were made out of it. The changes in the courthouse were but temporary makeshifts. The conditions were still crowded. During the last session of the Board of Supervisors for the year 1898, and the January session of the following year, the board were besieged with petitions from every county officer telling of the crowded and unsafe condition of the county vaults. A new courthouse seemed absolutely necessary. A committee consisting of S. J. Bennett, Andrew Hannon, Swan Johnson, and T. J. Ryan were appointed by the board to investigate the conditions and to make a report at the April session. At this session the committee reported in favor of building a new courthouse. The board, however, took no action upon the matter during that session. Again in September the committee reported in favor of a new building and most strongly urged that it be started at once. This time the board unanimously adopted the resolution and ordered it submitted to the voters at the general election to be held November 7, 1899. The vote stood 2,394 for and 1,146 against, being a majority of 1,248 in favor of building. Many people favored the construction of the new building upon a larger site, and for this reason wanted the old site sold and a new one purchased with the proceeds. Investigation, however, showed that the deed by which the county acquired the site, made it revert back to the original owner, when it ceased to be used for courthouse purposes. Rather than lose this valuable property it was deemed best to build upon the old site. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_9563face6565499aad073c3f569dcd56~mv2.jpg Plans for the new four-story building were submitted to the board February 1, 1900. The new stone building represented a significant expansion over its predecessor. After a careful consideration those submitted by H. C. Koch & Co., of Milwaukee. were accepted. Later the contract for the building was let to the Northern Building Company of Minneapolis at their bid of $99,720.00 and Mr. C. B. Hepler of Fort Dodge was appointed as superintendent of construction. The contract called for the completion of the building by November 1, 1901. This time was later extended to March 1, 1902. The formal dedication of the building was held Friday, September 12, 1902, and on the following Monday the county officials moved into their new home. The building was accepted by the board October 11, 1902. The razing of the old building and the constructing of the new courthouse building was due to the work of Captain S. J. Bennett, chairman of the building committee. He devoted practically his entire time to the task; and in the efficient public work, which he did. He won the approval of every loyal citizen and taxpayer of the county. On September 11, 1902, the county officers were all at home in their new quarters, and during the evening a concert was given by the Fort Dodge Military Band. The formal dedication was held the next morning. Special trains brought people from all parts of the county. Senator Jonathan P. Dolliver acted as presiding officer and made the first address. He was followed by Senator T. D. Healy, and Hon. R. M. Wright. Proud as were many of the younger citizens of the county of the structure, which they had helped to build, their pride could not equal that of those pioneers, who had outlived the decay of two courthouses, and who out of the wildness had wrought the means with which to frame the magnificent county home. They were the true builders. Today, the courthouse is the site of much local and regional government business and offices for the state courts of the Second Judicial District. History of Courthouse Restoration Year Phase Amount 1980: Specifications for Courthouse Repair and Jail Removal from the Courthouse $98,780.60 1985-1986 Exterior Restoration $313,888.70 *Cleaning & repair of Limestone *Restoration of copper clock tower *Replacement of flat and sloped roof areas *Replacement of exterior atrium skylight 1987 Phase I Renovation $113,966.00 *Data processing department – 4th floor *Replacement of electrical panels/services to all floors 1988-1989 Phase II Renovation $465,345.00 *County Engineers Office – 4th floor *Three Judges Chambers – 4th floor *Main entry – 1st floor *Rework Atrium handrails – 2nd and 3rd floors *Main District Courtroom – 3rd floor 1991-1992 Phase III Renovation $202,477.80 *District Court Administrator Office – 4th floor 1993-1994 Phase IV Renovation $593,870.80 *County Treasurer Office – 1st floor *Motor Vehicle Department – 1st floor *Small Claims Court Office – 1st floor *Sprinkler Main Entrance *Central Cooling Equipment installed 1997-present Final Renovation Phase V $2,500,000.00 *Renovate 2nd floor – County Offices *Renovate 3rd floor – Judicial Spaces *Handicapped accessible restrooms – 2nd & 3rd floors *Handicapped accessible elevator *Completion of sprinkler system *Completion of central cooling system Grand Total$4,288,328.90 Sources: *The Fort Dodge Messenger. September 12, 1902 *The Fort Dodge Messenger. December 13, 1902 *The History of Fort Dodge and Webster County… by H.M. Pratt Blanden Memorial Art Museum The Blanden Memorial Art Museum was constructed in 1932 as the first art museum in Iowa. Charles Blanden donated the funding to build the museum. Blanden had been the mayor of Fort Dodge from 1887 – 1889. Mr. Blanden’s wire Elizabeth was a teacher in Fort Dodge when they lived here. Later in their lives they moved to California and in 1929, Mrs. Blanden passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_604b6ae0928d456b82b5ac9cdebce57b~mv2.jpg Mr. Blanden wanted to so something to honor his wife’s life and decided to build an art museum, but he wasn’t sure if he should build it in Fort Dodge or in San Diego, California. A group of ladies that lived in Fort Dodge in the late 1920’s really wanted Mr. Blanden to build the museum here. But at that time, there was a state law that only allowed cities with a population of 50,000 or more people to have a municipal museum. Fort dodg had around 30,000 people living in it at that time, not enough for a municipal museum. A State Senator from Fort Dodge helped the group and through the Iowa government system, sponsored a law that lowered the population requirement to 20,000 – this way, Fort Dodge could build a museum. Fort Dodge Messenger www.blanden.org(http://www.blanden.org/) Webster County Historical Society

The era from 1940 to 1950 saw dramatic changes as a result of World War II. Fort Dodge was a bustling city with a busy downtown. Full of businesses and life, Fort Dodge had many opportunities for work and entertainment. OUR BEGINNINGS Historical Eras Iconic People Iconic Buildings Iconic Places Iconic Events Nostalgia Places of Worship Industry Education Healthcare Sports Archives HISTORY 1940-1950 Fort Dodge During World War II Fort Dodge and the Second World War After the December 7, 1941, Japanese attack on the American naval fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, the U.S. was thrust into World War II (1939-45), and everyday life across the country was dramatically altered. Food, gas and clothing were rationed. Communities conducted scrap metal drives. To help build the armaments necessary to win the war, women found employment as electricians, welders and riveters in defense plants. Japanese Americans had their rights as citizens stripped from them. People in the U.S. grew increasingly dependent on radio reports for news of the fighting overseas. And, while popular entertainment served to demonize the nation’s enemies, it also was viewed as an escapist outlet that allowed Americans brief respites from war worries. The Task of Winning the War On December 7, 1941, the U.S. was thrust into World War II when Japan launched a surprise attack on the American naval fleet at Pearl Harbor. The following day, America and Great Britain declared war on Japan. On December 10, Germany and Italy declared war on the U.S. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_e2fc85c6843a43e28c54961623098353~mv2.png Did you know? During World War II, as an alternative to rationing, Americans planted “victory gardens,” in which they grew their own food. By 1945, some 20 million such gardens were in use and accounted for about 40 percent of all vegetables consumed in the U.S. In the earliest days of America’s participation in the war, panic gripped the country. If the Japanese military could successfully attack Hawaii and inflict damage on the naval fleet and casualties among innocent civilians, many people wondered what was to prevent a similar assault on the U.S. mainland, particularly along the Pacific coast. This fear of attack translated into a ready acceptance by a majority of Americans of the need to sacrifice in order to achieve victory. During the spring of 1942, a rationing program was establishe Rationing was encouraged https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_804bc20eb64a40058dce7070242fc973~mv2.png d that set limits on the amount of gas, food and clothing consumers could purchase. Families were issued ration stamps that were used to buy their allotment of everything from meat, sugar, fat, butter, vegetables and fruit to gas, tires, clothing and fuel oil. The United States Office of War Information released posters in which Americans were urged to “Do with less–so they’ll have enough” (“they” referred to U.S. troops). Meanwhile, individuals and communities conducted drives for the collection of scrap metal, aluminum cans and rubber, all of which were recycled and used to produce armaments. Individuals purchased U.S. war bonds to help pay for the high cost of armed conflict. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_9d82c79382514623bb568a2e66d13904~mv2.png The Role of the American Worker From the outset of the war, it was clear that enormous quantities of airplanes, tanks, warships, rifles and other armaments would be essential to beating America’s aggressors. U.S. workers played a vital role in the production of such war-related materials. Many of these workers were women. Indeed, with tens of thousands of American men joining the armed forces and heading into training and into battle, women began securing jobs as welders, electricians and riveters in defense plants. Until that time, such positions had been strictly for men only. A woman who toiled in the defense industry came to be known as a “Rosie the Riveter.” The term was popularized in a song of the same name that in 1942 became a hit for bandleader Kay Kyser (1905-85). Soon afterward, Walter Pidgeon (1897-1984), a Hollywood leading man, traveled to the Willow Run aircraft plant in Ypsilanti, Michigan, to make a promotional film encouraging the sale of war bonds. One of the women employed at the factory, Rose Will Monroe (1920-97), was a riveter involved in the construction of B-24 and B-29 bombers. Monroe, a real-life Rosie the Riveter, was recruited to appear in Pidgeon’s film. Rosie the Riveter https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_12c1e8bb008a489da0bbd55414513c3a~mv2.png During the war years, the decrease in the availability of men in the work force also led to an upsurge in the number of women holding non-war-related factory jobs. By the mid-1940s, the percentage of women in the American work force had expanded from 25 percent to 36 percent. Baseball and the Battlefield In January 1942, Kenesaw Mountain Landis (1866-1944), the national commissioner of baseball, wrote a letter to President Roosevelt in which he asked if professional baseball should shut down for the duration of the war. In what came to be known as the “green light” letter, Roosevelt responded that professional baseball should continue operations, as it was good for the country’s collective morale and would serve as a needed diversion. During the war, 95 percent of all professional baseball players who donned major league uniforms during the 1941 season were directly involved in the conflict. Future Hall of Famers Bob Feller (1918-), Hank Greenberg (1911-86), Joe DiMaggio (1914-99) and Ted Williams (1918-2002) exchanged their baseball jerseys for military fatigues. Feller, in fact, enlisted in the U.S. Navy one day after Pearl Harbor. Because baseball was depleted of so many able bodies, athletes who otherwise likely never would have made the big leagues won spots on rosters. One of the more notable was Pete Gray (1915-2002), a one-armed outfielder who appeared in 77 games for the St. Louis Browns in 1945. Not all those who served in the military were superstars. Elmer Gedeon (1917-44), an outfielder who appeared in five games for the 1939 Washington Senators, and Harry O’Neill (1917-45), a catcher who played in one game for the 1939 Philadelphia Athletics, were the two big leaguers who died in combat. Over 120 minor leaguers also were killed. Other players overcame debilitating wartime injuries. One was Bert Shepard (1920-2008), a minor league pitcher turned air force fighter pilot. In 1944, Shepard’s right leg was amputated after he was shot down over Germany. The following year, he pitched three innings for the Washington Senators in a major league game. The Movies Go to War Throughout World War II, American moviegoers were treated to a steady stream of war-related programming. The movie-going experience included a newsreel, which lasted approximately 10 minutes and was loaded with images and accounts of recent battles, followed by an animated cartoon. While many of these cartoons were entertainingly escapist, some comically caricatured the enemy. Among these titles were “Japoteurs” (1942) featuring Superman, “Der Fuehrer’s Face” (1943) Why We Fight - Series created by Frank Capra https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_e109944bb2404d18b5c41081c78ce5c2~mv2.png starring Donald Duck, “Confessions of a Nutsy Spy” (1943) with Bugs Bunny, “Daffy the Commando” (1943) with Daffy Duck and “Tokyo Jokie-o” (1943). Documentaries such as the seven-part “Why We Fight” series, released between 1943 and 1945 and produced and directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Frank Capra (1897-1991), included Axis propaganda footage and emphasized the necessity of America’s involvement in the war, as well as the importance of Allied victory. As for the main program, movie theaters showed non-war-related dramas, comedies, mysteries and Westerns; however, a significant segment of feature films dealt directly with the war. Scores of features spotlighted the trials of men in combat while demonizing the Nazis and Japanese who perpetuated the conflict. “Wake Island” (1942), “Guadalcanal Diary” (1943), “Bataan” (1943) and “Back to Bataan” (1945) were a few of the titles that centered on specific battles. “Nazi Agent” (1942), “Saboteur” (1942) and “They Came to Blow Up America” (1943) portrayed America’s enemies as spies and terrorists. “So Proudly We Hail!” (1943) and “Cry ‘Havoc'” (1943) recorded the heroics of women nurses and volunteers at faraway battlefronts. “Tender Comrade” (1943), “The Human Comedy” (1943) and “Since You Went Away” (1944) focused, respectively, on the trials of average American women, communities and families while exploring the very real fear that a loved one who went off to war might never return. The struggles of citizens in occupied countries were portrayed in such films as “Hangmen Also Die!” (1943) and “The Seventh Cross” (1944). Meanwhile, some of Hollywood’s top stars joined the military. Many appeared in government-produced training films and morale-boosting short subjects. Others participated directly in the fighting. Clark Gable (1901-60), the beloved, Academy Award-winning actor, served as a tail-gunner with the U.S. Army Air Corps and flew combat missions over Germany. James Stewart (1908-97), another equally adored Oscar winner, had enlisted in the corps even before Pearl Harbor. He eventually became a B-24 combat pilot and commander and also flew missions over Germany. Patriotic Music and Radio Reports from the Frontline As the U.S. became immersed in the war, Americans listened to more patriotic or war-related music. Even before the country entered the war, such ditties as “The Last Time I Saw Paris,” which evoked nostalgia for a peaceful pre-war Paris, and “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” which charted a young soldier’s military experiences, were extremely popular. Other songs with self-explanatory titles were “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition,” “Comin’ In on a Wing and a Prayer” and “You’re a Sap, Mr. Jap.” Radio was the primary source of news and entertainment for most American households during the war, and as the conflict progressed, people grew increasingly dependent on radio for updates on the fighting overseas. They were riveted by the frontline reports from such legendary journalists as Edward R. Murrow (1908-65). Meanwhile, big bands, most famously the orchestra headed by Glenn Miller (1904-44), and entertainers such as Bob Hope (1903-2003) performed before thousands at military bases. These programs were aired directly on the radio to listeners from Maine to California. Dramatic radio programming increasingly featured war-related storylines. One of the most jarring was “Untitled” (1944), a production penned by writer Norman Corwin (1910-) and broadcast on the CBS radio network. “Untitled” traced the story of Hank Peters, a fictional American soldier who was killed in combat. Sources: WW 2 Museum YouTube Wikipedia Smithsonian https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_f56cd72d5fd84ebea76b286afa8780db~mv2.png Downtown Fort Dodge Following World War II Fort Dodge 1940-1950 https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_31f8914d92a54e6497c735fb62c1f176~mv2.jpg The period between 1940 and 1950 was a period of great change in Fort Dodge. Leaving the devastation of the Great Depression behind, residents were begin to return to a sense of normalcy. However, the onset of the Nazi invasions in Europe soon brought the world to its feet, including people in Fort Dodge. During the 1940’s, 9% of the U.S. population served in the U.S. armed forces. This greatly changed the complexion of the home front: many men went to war, women served as nurses, WAC’s (Women’s Army Corps), WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) and “Rosie the Riveter” (a cultural icon (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_icon)of World War II, representing the women who worked in factories and shipyards during World War II,(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II) many of whom produced munitions (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munitions)and war supplies at home). By 1945, one out of four married women was in the workforce and nearly 37% of the entire U.S. workforce was made up of women. Locally, it is estimated that approximately 2,000 Fort Dodge residents served in the Armed Force during World War II. Ninety seven Webster County residents lost their lives in WW II. Fort Dodge served as a recruitment center for WAC’s. This office, located in The State Bank Building, served as an information and testing center for eighteen Iowa Counties. Interested women were given a “Mental Alertness Test” and if they passed that test, the women were sent to Des Moines for a physical exam. If they passed the physical exam, they were enrolled in active duty where they assumed responsibilities that were previously held by men so that the men could go into combat. During WWII, Fort Dodge was still very much a rural community. In 1940, 85% of Iowa was farmland; the average farm was 160 acres. Farming was returning to profitability following the devastating Depression years. Farmers raised livestock and grain (mainly corn). 66% of Iowa’s farms had telephones and 40% had electricity. These rates were the highest in the United States at that time, but despite these amenities, farming was still a difficult and demanding life. Farmers were using a combination of horses and tractors but mechanization was quickly gaining popularity. The use of tractors led to other new developments: use of oil and fuel to run the machines and new buildings in which to house the tractors in order to protect the tractor from the elements. These new buildings were made of durable material and were less fire – prone. Many were made of steel and were termite and pest resistant; different types of tires were needed (as opposed a horse drawn plow). Iowa began using hybrid seed corn, increasing yield and quality. Farming was becoming more a business than a way of life. Iowans were divided about possible involvement in WWII. In 1941, many young men were required to register for the draft. Farmers were called upon to grow the food to feed the troops and were often given deferments. Additional tractors and equipment were being used for farming – fewer horses were being used, which helped increase the acreage for crop and livestock production (since the horses weren’t using the land for grazing. Farmers also turned to machinery to help with farming due to labor shortages during WWI when so many young men were enlisted as the war wore on. Migrants began working on Iowa farms; many “townspeople”, including women and civic groups, often helped with farm work. When WWII ended and the veterans returned home, they were greatly relieved to have survived and were grateful to be back at home. Many took advantage of the GI Bill. The GI Bill established hospitals, made low-interest mortgages available and granted stipends covering tuition and expenses for veterans attending college or trade schools. From 1944 to 1949, nearly 9 million veterans received close to $4 billion from the bill’s unemployment compensation program. Many veterans also got married and started families. Fort Dodge’s population grew from 22,904 in 1940 to 25,115 in1950. The number of homes in Fort Dodge increased from 4,286 before 1940 to 5,358 in 1950 – a 28% increase. Vets were building families, homes and strengthening the community. Many veterans were able to attend college or trade school, something many wouldn’t have been able to do without the help of the GI Bill. Education and families were priorities. This, “The Greatest Generation”, as it became known in newscaster and author Tom Brokaw’s book, was known for duty, honor, country, flag, family, church, faith, loyalty, self-sacrifice, purpose, modesty, responsibility. They did “the right thing” because that was what they were supposed to do. Not for recognition or glory, but because it was the right thing to do. And Fort Dodge grew and thrived because of this generation. Tract Housing was built – often using leftover materials from WW II. Houses were built in the northeast and west sections of Fort Dodge, as well as other locations throughout the community. Ranch style and split level homes seemed to be the most popular and economical to build. Tract housing could be built quickly and efficiently, using similar designs and materials. Over these years, these homes, once almost identical, have developed their own personalities and facades. Fort Dodge’s industries began to flourish: meatpacking, food production and local natural resources (gypsum, coal, gravel) industries also grew. Many of these products were in high demand. The location of Fort Dodge, which was at the crossroads of many railroads, was ideal for shipping both raw materials and finished goods. Many babies were born to WW II veterans and their spouses, thus, the beginning of the “Baby Boomer” generation, those children born between 1946 and 1964 – seventy six million were born between these years, creating a huge demand for housing, furniture, food and everything else it took to raise a family. Radio stations served as very important communication tools for Fort Dodge. During WW II, local attorney and broadcaster Ed Breen published “Your Letter From Home”, a newsletter that told what was happening with local service men and women. Following the war, Ed Breen’s radio station, KVFD, was well-known for its news and entertainment. This also created a need for additional schools in Fort Dodge. Between 1952-and 1958, the following schools were built to handle the increased student populations that began immediately following WW II in Fort Dodge 1952: Highland Park School 1952: Corpus Christi Grade School 1952: Holy Rosary School 1955: St. Edmond School 1956: Hillcrest School 1956: Cooper School 1958: New High School Fort Dodge also had a number of theaters: Theaters, all on Central Avenue: Dodge Theatre, 1018 Central Ave; Iowa Theatre, 605 Central Ave; Park Theatre, 524 Central avenue, Rialto Theatre, 604 Central Avenue, Strand Theatre, 912 Central Avenue and the Drive-In Theatre, “RFD” (Rural Free Delivery” (Rural Free Delivery is a service that began in the United States in the late 19th century to deliver mail directly to rural farm families. The rural delivery service has used a network of rural routes traveled by carriers to deliver mail to and pick it up from roadside mailboxes). People began having disposable income and the wherewithal to go to movies and concerts. The community also enjoyed many events at the Oleson Park Band Shell, a W.P.A. project that was completed in 1939. The end of the decade was full of optimism, growth and industriousness. Leaving the difficulties of the war years behind them, Fort Dodge residents looked to the future with hope, a strong work ethic and hope. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_b1d61c1ecaf44d55b121e30322f19e84~mv2.jpg Following the end of World War II, downtown Fort Dodge flourished and was a hustling-bustling place with robust economic activity. During the period between 1946 to 1949, there were 402 businesses, organizations, doctors and dentists located in downtown Fort Dodge (between 1st Avenue North, Central Avenue, and 1st Ave South - from 15th Street on the east end to the Des Moines River on the west end). Here are the number of businesses in each category: Women's Clothing Stores (20) Men's Clothing Stores (9) Department Stores (11) Cafes/Eating Establishments (37) Shoe Stores/Shoe Repair (13) Movie Theaters (5) Furniture Stores/Furniture Repair (9) Drug Stores (10) Hardware Stores (5) Barber/Beauty Shops (18) Taverns/Bars/Entertainment (9) Hotels (9) Grocery Stores (34) Jewelry Stores (3) Appliance Stores (9) Gift Shops/Confectioners/Cigars (15) Retail/Photography/Other (24) Industry (29) Transportation (15) Insurance and Real Estate (39) Organizations and Services (46) Churches (2) Veterinarians (2) Lawyers (27) Medical/Dental/Opticians (45) Here is the list of businessess: Women's Clothing (20) Ames Apparel Co Ames Millinery Beenar's Women's Clothing Colonial Shop Cownie Furs Dottie Dunn Millinery Fantle's Hollywood Style Shoppe JC Petersen Lilyan's Mode Malloy Hat Shop Miller Wohl Women's Apparel Mode O'Day O'Connor Millinery O'Day Frock Shop Peoples Clothing Reo C. Green Rug Dealer Sperry Furs Three Sisters Tru-Value Dress Shop Men's Clothing Stores (9) Charles A Brown Fantle's Boys' Shop Harry Tuel, Tailor JC Peterson Larson Clothing Model Clothing New Leader People's Clothing Walrod's Men's Store Department Stores (11) Boston Store Fantle's Gambles JC Penney Kresge's McClellan's Montgomery Ward (Catalog, too) Sears Roebuck and Co Turk Mercantile co Woolworth's Younkers Cafes/Eating Establishments (37) Bennie Salvatore Bob's Burgers Butterfly Café Carl's Hamburger Shop Chas Hartung Café Constance Hockert Restaurant Edwin Davisson Restaurant Ethel's Clausen's George Smith's Gust Katsoulis's Café Guy Boswell Harriett Malvey's Henry Heesch Joseph Simone's K Coffee Shop and Restaurant Kermit Taylor Restaurant Lester Treloar Mae's Coffee Shop Maid-Rite Sandwich Shop Maywood Restaurant Michael Mori's Milo Hlavacek Restaurant Nelson Argus Root Beer New Club Café New Goody Shop Café Norman Grimes Oasis Café OK Coffee Shop Pop's Lunch Royal 400 Restaurant Schrader's Steak House Sonny's Grill Stephan Valissiades The Interstate Company Tierney's Café Warden Hotel Coffee Shop Wimpy's Place Restaurant Shoe Stores/Shoe Repair (13) Boston Shoe Repair Essig and DeFoe Shoe Repair Harry Wilson Shoe Shine James Scott Shoe Repair Kinney Shoes Ragner Johnson Shoe Repair Sami Hayes Shoe Shiner Schill Shoe Company The Bootery Tradehome Shoe Store Wahkonsa Shoe Shop and Repairs Walker Shoe Company Welch Brothers Shoe Co. Movie Theaters (5) Dodge Theatre Iowa Theatre Park Theatre Rialto Theatre Strand Theatre Furniture Stores/Furniture Repair (9) Bender Furniture FD Furniture Mart Gambles Dept Store Home Furniture Company Landry Furniture Repair McKinney Furniture Repair McQuilkin Furniture/Rugs/Drapes Munn Furniture Richardson Furniture Drug Stores (10) Bohan Pharmacy Clinic Pharmacy Dick Brothers Walgreen Agency Ford Hopkins Com George Gellman Pharmacist Hine Thome Drug Co Iowa Medical Supply O'Connell Bros Drug Store Oleson Drug Co Wiewel Drug Store Hardware Stores (5) Bickford Johnson Hardware Gambles Dept Store Leighton Supply Sears Roebuck Thiede Mueller Hardware Barber/Beauty Shops (18) Alonzo Bradley Arcade Beauty Shop Benjamen Bugg Barber Carl Dillman, Barber Carl Michaels, Barber Cecelia's Beauty Shop Ester Ryerson Beauty FD Beauty Academy Field Beauty Salon Johanna Hanrahan Beauty Shop John Sandeline Barber O'Hern Beauty Shop Powder Puff Beauty Parlor Rose Beauty Shop Vivian Anderson Beauty Shop Wahkonsa Beauty Shop Wm Rowland, Barber Youth Beauty Salon Taverns/Bars/Entertainment (9) FD Beer Garden FD Recreation Parlor Frost Bowling Alley Habhab Tavern Hotel Eilers Tap Room Leonard's Tavern Royal 400 Nite Club Stiles Beer Equipment and Service The Brass Rail Hotels (9) Central Hotel Cornbelt Hotel Eilers Hotel Logan Hotel New Crawford Hotel Tremont Hotel Wahkonsa Hotel Warden Apt/Hotel Grocery Stores (34) Andersen's Food Market Andy Johnston Grocery Big Three Market Brown Grocery Consumers Market Edward Zemke Grocery Fareway Stores Fort Dodge Creamery Frank Kennedy Grocery Gold Bar Dairy and Grocery Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company Harry's Market Horace Robinson Grocery Hutchinson Grocery Jeffries Grocery John Anderson's Grocery Kleber Grocery and Bakery Martin Armato Grocery National Foods Pappas Fruit Market Porter's Poultry Place Raymond Hilton Market Red Arrow Food Center Royal 400 Food Store S&O Supermarkets Saigh's Groceteria Market Scandia Bake Shop Steph Messa Grocery Sturdevant Meat Market Sunbeam Dairy Thompson Dairy Store Uncle John's Grocery Vito Amanzio Grocery Wholesale Fruit Exchange Jewelry Stores (3) Kirkberg Jewelers Olson Jewelry Store Wicker Jewelers Appliance Stores (9) Central Appliance Store Essinger Electric FD Appliance Co FD Maytag Iowa Illinois Gas and Electric Modern Appliance Swaney Home Appliance Thiede Mueller Hardware Co Walker Appliance Gift Shops/Confectioners/Cigars (15) Art Kruckman Cigar Co Constantine's Confectionery Dodge Confections Donly's Cigar Store Dutch Mill Confectioner Flower Flavor Gift Shop Goldie Hoffman Gift Shop Iowa Sweet Shop Louis Luggage Shop Mary Stevens' Nugent's Gift and Beauty Shop Roy Owen Candies Snell Cigar Shop Strand Sweet Shop Wahkonsa Cigar Stand Retail/Photography/Other (24) Baldwin Studio Photography Bergman Photos Bergman Photos Central App Collins Beier Paints Cook Paint and Varnish Dick Bros. Walgreen Drug Store Don Peterson Photos FD Appliance FD Upholstering Company Hogans Sporting Goods Hoover Sales & Vacuum Cleaners Jahns Upholstering Shop Kautzky Sporting Goods King Music Company MidBell Music National Farm Loan Associations Ruth King Music Shoppe Singer Sewing Machine Co Smith Photo Center The State Bank Tiny Tots Toggery Wretman's Toy Town Zakeer Auto and Home Supply Industry (29) Adams Agricultural Implements Brown Supply Cargill Clagg Hide and Fur Co. Dr. Pepper Bottling East Side Lumber Company Edwin Bowles Grain Essingler Electric Farmers Coop Grain and Coal Co FD Feed Company Firestone Retread Shops Fort Dodge Grocery Company Fort Dodge Iron and Metal Fort Dodge Roofing Hagen food Brokers Horn Brothers Mfg. Iowa Farm Management J&B Machine Work Lehigh Sewer and Tile Loots Supply and Roofing Midwest Grain Company Quaker Oats Co. Rabiner Feeds Sundberg Implement Tobin Meat Packing United Packing House Vincent Clay Products Walker Appliance Webster County Lumber Store/Coal/Hardware Transportation (15) Algona Bus Line Chicago Great Western Railroad Station City Cab Corn Huskers Bus Line Firestone Stores Fort Dodge Transportation Company Illinois Central RR Depot Kelsey Burtis Filling Station Liberty Cab Company M&S Railroad Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad Station Royal Oil Filling Station Union Freightways Garage Walker Motor Co Yellow Cab Insurance and Real Estate (39) 30 Real Estate Offices A.R. Loomis Real Estate Aetna Life Ins. American Mutual Life Ins. Bankers Life Ins. Barton and Crowl Insurance Butler & Rhodes Abstracts Central Life Insurance Co Clayton Meyers Real Estate Codner Realty Dilocker & Son Real Estate Durian Ins. Agency Edward Trost Ins. Equitable Life Insurance (farm loan dept) Farmers and Bankers Life Insurance Farmers Mutual Fire Ins. Assoc FD Title and Investment Co Glen Southwick Real Estate Hawkeye Mutual Hail Ins. Assoc Henry Luebke Real Estate John Hackett Real Estate John O'Connor Insurance Kelley Insurance Co. Lauderdale Co. Insurance Lincoln Nat'l Insurance McTigue Bros. Insurance Mulholland Realty Mulroney Ins. Co National Fidelity Life Insurance Nelson Realty New York Life Ins Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Olaff Larson Insurance Penn Mutual Life Ins. Co Prudential Insurance Underwriters Adjusting Co. Webster County Abstract Webster County Farm Bureau Willis Rich Agency (real estate) Organizations and Services (46) Am Federation of Labor American Red Cross Bureau of Animal Industry (Div. Virus Serum Control) Campfire Girls Carpenters Union/Hall Christian Science Reading Room City Assessor Coast to Coast Store (Auto Accessories) County Engineer, Treasurer, Supervisors, Auditor, Clerk County Insanity Commission County Jail County Motor Vehicle Dept County Recorder County Sheriff County Supt of Schools Court House Earl May Seed Company FD Lodge FD Tobin Business College FD Typographical Union Fort Dodge Seed Store International Harvester Internat'l Brotherhood of Teamsters and Chauffeurs Iowa District Health Service Iowa State Dairy Assoc. IRS Italian Mutual Society Jewish Community Center Junior Chamber of Commerce Boxing Center Modern Display Service (Signs) Moose Hall Navy Recruiting Office Northwestern Bell Telephone Post Office Preferred Beer Probation Office, District Court Public Health Nursing Services Salvation Army Sharp Needle Service Social Security Office Soldiers Relief Commission United Spanish War Veterans US Selective Service US Soil Conservation Office VFW Western Union Telegram Churches (2) Coppin Chapel African Methodist Church Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Hall Medical/ Dental/Opticians (45) Albert Archer, MD Albert Kinne, Dentist American Optical Arentz Ericson, Dentist Carolyn Barker, Osteopath Chas Baker, MD Chas Moe, Optometrist Chase Sumner, MD Claude Friedrich, Optometrist Clement Hughes, Dentist Cloyde Eatinger, Chiropractor Elton Hoover, Dentist Emerson Dawson, MD Ernest Kersten, MD Ernest VanPatten, Osteopath FD Dental Laboratory Frank Larsen, MD Fred Klepper, Dentist Geo Sayles, Dentist Hal Clough, Dentist Harold Larson, MD Harry Framptom, Dentist Henry Heilman, Optician Hewett Hines, Dentist Iowa Medical Supply Drugs Irish Green and Hand Dentist John Schrader, MD Jos Magennis, Dentist Jos Weyer, MD Kasemer, Dentist Leon Smith, Dentist LeRoy Larson, Dentist Lloyd Titsworth, Dentist Loran Martin, MD Mills Neslund Dental Lab Otto Glesne, MD Paul Maggio, Dentist Paul Otto, MD Phil Dorr, Dentist Reuben Bloomberg, Dentist Reuben Mater, Chiropodist Robt Mace, Optometrist Robt Kruger, Dentist Roger Minkel, MD Veterinary (2) Francis Ludgate Kaderabek & Rhodes Lawyers (27) 34 lawyers in 1946s 58 lawyers in 1951 Alan Loth Austin Hogan, Attorney Breen Breen and McCormick Fred Grosenbaugh, Lawyer Frederick Larrabee, Lawyer Helsell Burnquist & Bradshaw Lawyers Horace Melton James Cross, Attorney James I Dolliver John Schaupp, Lawyer Kelleher & Kelleher Lawyers Kirchner & Kirchner Lawyers Laith & Melton Lawyers Loth and Melton Maher and Mullen, Lawyers Mitchell & Mitchell Attorneys Paul McCarville, Lawyer Phelan Karr & Kerr Lawyers Reynolds Thomas, Lawyer Richard Mitchell Rider & Bastian Robert Knudson, Lawyer Stowe and Kramer, Lawyers Thomas Healy, Lawyer Wm Peters Sources: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=13635&context=rtd(https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=13635&context=rtd) www.history.com Wikipedia Healthcare: 1940 - 1950 The quality of healthcare improved vastly during the decade between 1940-1950. The onset of World War II brought new methods of treatment and medications to the civilian population. Probably the most important was the use of penicillin. Prior to WWII, its use was not prevalent, nor was it mass-produced. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_68b12f71d8184ec593032b98376756b7~mv2.png The U.S. Government worked with scientists, both public and private, to produce massive quantities of penicillin prior to D-Day. The government knew there would be horrible wounds and wanted to be able to treat the soldiers as quickly and effectively as possible. The drug was used by the Allied Forces, saving many, many lives. After the war, the civilian population, including those in Fort Dodge, was able to use penicillin (priority had been given to the armed forces during the war). Many lives were saved – prior to the use of penicillin, a minor scratch could have become infected and potentially cause the patient to die. Other medical developments made during the 1940’s include the kidney dialysis machine and synthetic cortisone. Synthetic Cortisone, used for treatment of adrenocortical deficiency and treatment of conditions associated with inflammation. Corticosteroids are synthetic drugs that are used to treat a wide variety of disorders, including asthma, arthritis, skin conditions and autoimmune diseases. Synthetic rubber was invented in the 1940’s – this led to the manufacture of rubber gloves, another way healthcare was improved because they provided improved sanitary methods for doctors and nurses. In the 1940’s, there were two hospitals in Fort Dodge – Lutheran Hospital and St. Joseph Mercy Hospital. Lutheran Hospital opened in 1932 and St. Joseph Mercy Hospital open in 1909. After the World War II ended, hospital admissions increased dramatically and the demand for more hospital beds became a priority. In 1948, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital began construction on its third expansion, adding more beds and surgical space. The trustees of Lutheran Hospital also embarked on the planning for expanding its bed capacity to meet the growing need of the community. Mercy Hospital https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_d4a6f53e63aa442599108acaf4b8c2e2~mv2.png Lutheran Hospital https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_2c35de7ca70c45648e3b527e2c5d426f~mv2.png After the war, many physicians established their practices in Fort Dodge. Many physicians had offices in the Physician’s Office Building (at the corner of 1st Avenue North and North 10th Street) and in the Carver Building (at the corner of Central Avenue and 10th Street). These physicians had “privileges” at both hospitals. Lutheran Hospital was a Protestant hospital and Mercy Hospital was a Catholic hospital. Many of these physicians had accelerated medical school training and graduated early in order to serve in the armed forces. While in the armed forces, these physicians had many front line and varied experiences, treating all sorts of injuries, illnesses, infections and maladies. These experiences proved to be very valuable learning experiences because when they returned to Fort Dodge to practice, they had exceptional experience and critical decision-making skills, developed during their years in the armed forces. Friendship Haven, a retirement community, opened in 1947, headed by director Rev. Clarence Tomkins, who served as director for 25 years. It was built on land from the Fort Dodge Betterment Foundation, a lead gift from Mrs. O.M. Oleson. Friendship Haven opened in 1947 and soon grew to a large retirement community https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4607_a2091814afc7445fba2d6158f23c60a1~mv2.png Shortly after the end of World War 2, there was a sudden surplus of hospital beds nationwide, and realizing that patients and families were not willing or able to use hospital services at the prices demanded, leaders of hospital associations and of medical associations, such as the American College of Surgeons, began to look for models of collective health care payment. They remarked that European countries which had adopted government-funded health plans did not seem to have the same problem of surplus capacity. The apparent ability of European systems to coordinate supply and demand reinforced the belief of these American leaders that a similar plan would be desirable for the United States. But political opposition to a national health care system was strong, and the medical community itself was divided on this idea. State-level legislations were passed to allow pre-payment plans, such as Blue Cross and Blue Shield programs, to obtain non-profit, tax-exempt status and to offer insurance coverage without the reserve requirements imposed on commercial insurance companies. With these successive legislations and rulings, commercial insurance entered the health care market more willingly and employers began to offer health insurance to employees on a very large scale. Between 1940 and 1950, the number of people with health insurance grew from less than 10 million to over 80 million Americans. Beginning in the second half of this decade, the economy began to grow and health care utilization and costs increased at a rapid pace. Contributing to the rise in costs was the level of scientific and technological advances in medicine. Sources: www.friendshiphaven.org(http://www.friendshiphaven.org/) Etsy

Fort Dodge, Iowa Healthcare History Healthcare Historical Eras Iconic People Iconic Buildings Iconic Places Iconic Events Nostalgia Places of Worship Industry Education Healthcare Sports Archives HISTORY General189 Hospitals and Healthcare history Read More https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined Healthcare today, as in the past, is a curious mingling of the practitioner and the facility, of opportunity and need, of technology and resources. Fort Dodge, as a frontier settlement founded in 1853, managed to attract its first physician just two years later in 1855. Excerpts from the diary of Dr. Stephen Berry Olney recount the hardships of the frontier doctor’s life. Though his practice was established in an office with “the first professional shingle hung out in this town,” there would just be an occasional office patient. But, as a frontier physician, he often traveled by horse and buggy to the homes of his patients throughout the county. Olney’s practice flourished in Fort Dodge and Webster County until 1890 with the exception of a period between 1862 and 1865 during the Civil War when he served as a surgeon in the 3rd Iowa Volunteer Infantry. Olney’s son, Floyd Benjamin, was only four years old when he and his mother joined his physician father in Fort Dodge. Educated in Fort Dodge schools, Floyd became a printer following school and worked for a number of city newspapers, including the Chicago Tribune. Eventually he followed in his father’s footsteps, graduating from the Hahnemann Medical College in 1881. Following graduation, he set up his medical practice in Fort Dodge and was one of the area’s best-known doctors for more than 35 years. In the years to follow the first doctor, many more physicians would come to serve the community, including surgeons, such as: Dr. W.F. Carver, an Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist. Dr. Carver was very instrumental in organizing his fellow physicians to bring better medical care to the area. He and his colleagues worked together to establish a Laboratory in 1905, a facility that all doctors could use. It would be the first of many times in Fort Dodge’s history that the medical community would do what is best for their patients. The stately home and office of Dr. Carver was tore down and replaced with the Carver Building on Central Avenue which would accommodate other doctor practices in the city in the early 1920s. Were the younger Olney or Dr. Carver here today to recount their experiences, doubtless they would point to the myriad changes in healthcare during the decades of their practices. There was, for example, movement toward caring for the sick and injured in a hospital, a place specifically designed to properly facilitate recovery. Fort Dodge’s first hospital was located in a refurbished Victorian Mansion. About a decade later a much larger and more functional hospital was built – St. Joseph Mercy Hospital –– thanks to the financial support of the community responding to Fort Dodge’s growing healthcare needs. The Hospital Saga Begins While the city of Fort Dodge had been settled for over 40 years and several doctors had come to the area, it was not until 1894 when a group of nurses had a vision to provide care for the sick and establish a hospital. At first, the efforts to create a hospital were considered by some to ‘be purely utopian in its character and destine to a short career, because the field for its usefulness was too limited.’ It was not long before local groups such as the King’s Daughters and the Railway Auxiliary Corps shared the vision and began to raise funds. Formal hospital care actually became available in Fort Dodge around 1900. That year a private group of nurses took over a sturdy brick Victorian Mansion on the corner of First Avenue North and 5th Street. Known as the Haskell House, the building had previously served as a stagecoach stop on the way to St. Paul, Minnesota and prior to that as the home of Presbyterian College. Before the hospital’s first year came to a close, with the help of several organizations and a few generous philanthropists, enough furnishings, bedding, equipment, and funds were donated to care for the sick and infirm of the Fort Dodge area. Although running water was available in the Haskell House, there was only one bathroom that was used by hospital staff, patients and by the physicians to scrub for surgery. Laundry facilities were limited, so patient bed linens were changed infrequently. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined The 18 bed “hospital” consisted of a living room/waiting room on the first floor, a kitchen in the basement, and an operating suite on the second floor. Patients were urged to walk from their hospital beds to surgery, and those who were unable to do so were carried up 22 stairs by the doctors and nurses. In addition to caring for the patients and assisting the doctors, the nurses prepared and delivered all the patient meals to the hospital patients. Staff themselves often satisfied their hunger by eating the left over food on patient trays. There was no residential facility for the nurses at the hospital, and staff slept in the waiting room on the couch or on the floor. As early as 1903, Abraham Slimmer, a wealthy philanthropist from Waverly, Iowa, donated his home estate to the Sisters of Mercy in the Archdiocese of Dubuque intending that it should be used to build another hospital. The Dubuque sisters were already operating hospitals in Sioux City, Clinton, and the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, St. Joseph’s Sanitarium and St. Anthony’s Home in Dubuque. Hoping that a hospital might be built in Fort Dodge, Slimmer offered the city of a gift of $50,000 for the establishment of a hospital if the city were to pledge a like amount. To the astonishment of some, the offer was not accepted, and for the time being, the matter was dropped. Though Slimmer’s offer did not materialize in Fort Dodge, he found support for a community hospital in Webster City. He convinced his friend, Jacob Funk of Webster City, to endow the community with a sum of money and a tract of land so that a hospital similar to one in Waverly could be built. The impetus had begun and a 25 bed hospital was planned. Upon its completion it was given to the Methodist Church congregation to maintain. Known as “The Mercy Hospital,” the facility in Webster City was the nearest hospital to Fort Dodge and a haven for the critically ill who could be transferred there. By 1905 interest in a hospital for Fort Dodge was beginning to stir again, and the Knights of Columbus volunteered to raise funds to build a non-sectarian hospital. The City of Fort Dodge expressed some interest in the concept, but thought a municipal hospital would be a sounder choice. The State Legislature was petitioned to provide the legal authority for a bond issue and tax levy in the amount necessary to build and aid in the maintenance of the hospital, and in time the law was passed. Despite the progress made in providing a method for financing the proposed hospital, it was clear that all the interested parties were not working together for the common goal. At the same time the bond and tax levy was being pursued, the Knights of Columbus were in the midst of negotiation to procure hospital staffing in Fort Dodge with a community of sisters from Washington, D.C., and with another order from Philadelphia. In the summer of 1905 the Webster City Mercy Hospital was closed because of insufficient funds to maintain it. In October 1905, the citizens of Webster City made an appeal to Sister Mary Agnes, Mother Superior of the Sisters of Mercy, Dubuque, Iowa, to accept their hospital as a gift if she would provide the necessary personnel to staff and provide services to the community. In November, the Sisters of Mercy accepted Webster City’s offer, and for the next several years Webster City Mercy Hospital was able to adequately meet the healthcare needs of both Webster City and Fort Dodge. The only progress made on the Fort Dodge hospital project was the $6,000 which had been raised by the Knights of Columbus. Epidemics Force Serious - Consideration of a Formal Hospital In the fall of 1907 a typhoid epidemic threatened the Fort Dodge area. Miss Julie Downey, city social worker for the indigent, was faced with caring for seventeen typhoid patients, but there appeared to be no place to provide such care. Her dilemma was that these patients could not be admitted to the Haskell House due to the highly contagious nature of their disease. Seeking the assistance of City Hall, Miss Downey threatened to resign unless steps were immediately taken to relieve the situation. Recognizing the gravity of the emergency, the City Council took immediate steps to prepare a veterinary barn for the patients. The much needed equipment and supplies was accumulated was supplied and the utilities, light, heat and running water, were provided in the makeshift hospital. This medical emergency in the community created an urgent interest in Fort Dodge for a hospital project. Having observed Webster City’s successful alliance with Mother Agnes, the Knights of Columbus, along with many of the foremost businessmen of the city, re-appointed a committee and charged them with approaching Mother Agnes with a similar proposition that had been reached in Webster City. The new committee was headed by Right Reverend Monsignor Lenihan and was assisted by Doctors Seymour, Bowen and Evans. Hoping for an offer from Abraham Slimmer similar to the offer of a previous time, or for a sizeable sum of money from Jacob Funk, the committee soon faced the reality that no such offers would be forthcoming. It was Mother Agnes who proposed that if Fort Dodge could raise twenty-five thousand dollars and donate a tract of land for the hospital, the Sisters of Mercy would match the amount. The offer was accepted, and for the first time in many years Fort Dodge was on its way to having its first formal hospital. The drive was launched by the Commercial Club (Chamber of Commerce) with the assistance of John Haire, George Mason and O. M. Oleson. The original Board of Trustees appointed included C. F. Duncombe, O. M. Oleson and M. F. Healy. Miss Julie Downey was appointed by the trustees to collect and receive all subscriptions. By the time half of the amount necessary had been raised, several sites had been proposed. While all were considered desirable, most were unsuitable because of their distance from water, gas, electric and sewer services. The most suitable site was the beautiful grounds on 17th Street between 7th and 8th Avenue South. Patrick Riley, a pioneer resident of Webster County, purchased this property for the sum of $5,000 and donated it to the Sisters of Mercy. The contract for the new hospital was then let to C. E. Atkinson of Webster City. By this time, excitement and community pride were building. A magnificent new hospital was planned at a projected cost of nearly $75,000. Many local residents predicted that it would be one of the finest hospitals in the Midwest. As the hospital neared completion, Mother Agnes made the decision to open temporary quarters in Fort Dodge. On June 15, 1908, the sisters arrived in Fort Dodge from Dubuque and took over care of patients and operations of the Haskell House. A School of Nursing was established in 1908 shortly after the Sisters assumed responsibility for the temporary hospital. The School of Nursing prepared a class of well-trained nurses to assist with the care of patients for the forthcoming new hospital. St. Joseph Mercy Hospital was completed in early 1909 at an actual cost of $89,378.80, of which $39,547.76 was raised by the community. St. Joseph Mercy Hospital was dedicated by the Most Reverend Bishop Garrigan on the feast of St. Joseph, March 19, 1909. The first patients were admitted on Monday of the following week. The new hospital had no facilities for housing the sisters who staffed it, and during the first few months they used whatever vacant patient rooms were available. Eventually a ward was set aside for use by the sisters. Sister Mary Xavier was the first administrator, with the following assistants: Sister Mary Thaddeus, head of the Nurses Training School, Sister Mary Dorothy, Sister Mary Consuelo, Sister Mary Rita, Sister Mary Julianne and Sister Mary Joseph. St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Opens The people’s preference for hospital care almost immediately began to affect Mercy Hospital just as it affected most other hospitals in the Middle West. The new facility represented a considerable improvement in hospital conditions. There were surgical, obstetrical and https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined medical departments, but at first there were no facilities for children. A scarlet fever epidemic during the early years taxed the facilities as did typhoid outbreaks and pneumonia. Surgical cases included hernia repair, appendectomies, treatment of bone fractures and other problems consistent with accidents and injuries. As early as 1912, crowded conditions were experienced regularly, and it was apparent that in the near future additional rooms would need to be added. In 1917 a large private home south of the hospital was purchased to provide accommodations for student nurses. Rooms previously occupied by students were then available for use as semi-private patient rooms at the hospital. In 1920 when the physicians returned from World War I and re-established their practices, conditions were so crowded that every available room was only used for the extremely ill or injured. For a period of two years, elective cases were postponed. In 1921, another home was built to accommodate the sisters and for the X-Ray and Laboratory technicians who were on twenty-four hour call. By 1923 despite efforts to expand the hospital’s capacity to serve, the need for additional space was imperative. The original bed capacity of Mercy Hospital was sixty. The census, however, often reached between seventy-five and ninety patients. At this same time, the actual debt of the hospital was sixty-four thousand dollars and carrying this level of debt made it impossible to plan for further additions. A committee of doctors and businessmen appealed to Mother Mary Ursula, Mother Superior of the Sisters of Mercy in Dubuque. After presentation of the facts, it was apparent that some steps had to be taken to reduce the present debt and obtain an additional loan. Since he had been close to the hospital since its inception, The Most Reverend Edmond Heelan, Bishop of Sioux City, was in complete sympathy with the committee. He cooperated wholeheartedly with Mother Ursula’s proposal, and in June a fund drive was started. Almost simultaneously, the Lutherans in Fort Dodge launched a similar drive for a Lutheran hospital. It was not practical to have two fund raising organizations operating at the same time, so the Chamber of Commerce decided since Mercy Hospital was already in Fort Dodge, it should be given priority for one year to finish its drive and proceed with the much needed addition. Under the able direction of C. W. Gadd, the amount required to pay for the indebtedness was over subscribed and several thousand dollars was left with which to begin work on the addition. During the winter of 1924, all plans were drawn and completed by William Steele, an architect from Sioux City, Iowa. The plans Steele presented were for a new three-story addition and remodeling of existing hospital areas. Rooms in the 1908 hospital were remodeled for private rooms, while the new addition was being planned so that private rooms could readily be converted into semi-private wards should the need arise. The third floor contained a new obstetrical department including “lying-in” and delivery rooms as well as the infant nursery. The third floor was also home to the surgical department, which was enlarged to care for the increased volume of surgery. The second floor was utilized for the care of surgical cases, and the first floor housed the administrative office and patient rooms for medical cases. The central area of the ground floor of the new addition had a fully equipped laboratory, a pharmacy, radiology and an emergency operating area. The north end of the hospital housed a sizeable auditorium with seating capacity for one hundred and twenty-five people. This area was also used for classes and demonstrations, as well as for social functions. The south end of the hospital had its own outside entrance to an isolation unit equipped to care for cases requiring segregation from general hospital patients. Finally, the addition also had a sub-basement with elevator service, janitors’ quarters, and storage space. Opening in 1924, the new addition doubled patient capacity and it appeared that Mercy Hospital was built for the future of Fort Dodge and Webster County. A Second Hospital Emerges Fort Dodge had been served by one hospital for nearly a generation when members of the Lutheran churches in the area decided to organize a second hospital they could call their own. As early as 1920, Lutherans and non-Lutherans alike agreed to a plan whereby the Lutheran community would raise half of the $200,000 needed to build a new hospital, with other Protestant congregations committing to the balance. The goal was to provide a Protestant hospital under the leadership of a single church organization with other Protestant congregations supportive of the new hospital through their subscriptions and allegiance. In 1921, it appeared that the new hospital would be off to a good start when the unexpected happened: “like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, the financial rash dropped on us,” reported the Fort Dodge Messenger. An economic farm crisis hit Iowa in the early ‘20s. Recognizing that it was useless to try and raise funds under the serious financial constraints, organizers instead devoted their efforts to formalizing the organization, writing a constitution and incorporating the new organization under State of Iowa laws. The organization then stood ready to begin when the financial climate was more conducive to fund raising initiatives. By 1923, momentum was again building to begin the fund drive to raise the $200,000 necessary to build the new hospital. At a May 23rd meeting of the Lutheran Hospital Association, the vote to re-start the fund drive at some time in the near future was approved unanimously by nearly 100 members of the Association. The community appreciated the virtue of the proposition that two hospitals in the city would enhance services offered while providing both Catholics and Protestants with high quality hospital care in keeping with faith and training. Due to the “fraternal support” Protestants had given to Mercy Hospital in its formative years, an expectation for similar goodwill and support existed as plans for the new hospital emerged. The drive for funds was launched on September 27, 1923 with a $20,000 donation by O.M. Oleson, pharmacist and philanthropist. Doctors of the community pledged another $27,000 to the project, and a community goal of $150,000 was set. The drive quickly reached $137,000 in contributions and pledges, and the Lutheran Hospital Association decided to begin the project by the end of 1923. By March of 1924 the site for the new hospital had been selected, a 20 acre tract of wooded hillside land overlooking the Des Moines River. The land, owned by Charles Larrabee, was purchased for $500 an acre, and plans were made to run a railroad spur between the site and the nearby Chicago and Northwestern tracks to facilitate building materials being transferred to the site during construction. After completion, the spur would be used to deliver coal that was needed to fuel the hospital’s boilers. Frank Griffith was named architect for the project and selected the gothic design that was eventually used. Bids were taken on the main structure of the building in August 1924 and Clarence E. Larson was the successful bidder at an estimated cost of $91,960. The Lutheran Association obtained a building permit listing the value of the completed project at $250,000 and work began in September 1924. In November of 1924, the cornerstone was laid in a ceremony witnessed by a crowd of 8,000 people. Work progressed rapidly on the hospital project until a lack of funds brought it to a halt. Payments were delayed and contractors pulled away from the work awaiting payment for their labor. While additional fund raising initiatives were undertaken, little success was realized during the lean agricultural years of the late 1920s. At one time there were “half a dozen law suits pending and at least a half dozen liens against the incomplete hospital structure.” https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined After repeated disappointments with local fund raising efforts, a professional fundraiser was called in and given a goal of $100,000. The drive was over-subscribed, raising about $123,000 and the hospital was quickly completed. It had been eight years since the laying of the cornerstone and twelve years since the first meeting of the Lutheran Hospital Association, but finally the new 105-bed hospital was complete. The new Lutheran Hospital was opened and the first patient was admitted on February 24, 1932. A report in the January 30, 1932 issue of the Fort Dodge Messenger noted that the new Lutheran Hospital, one of the finest in the area, was designed to accommodate 100 patients. There are 65 private room and suites, some of which have private baths and all are equipped with lavatories. The additional rooms have two to four beds each. The building was constructed so that every room would have natural light and sunshine at some period of the day. Telephone and radio service connections were installed in each room and were available to every patient if desired. The Changing Face of Healthcare The decade of the depression (October 29, 1929 – 1939) weighed heavily on Fort Dodge’s hospitals, and particularly St. Joseph Mercy Hospital. The hospital continued to experience a heavy patient load that led to financial difficulties because many patients were unable to meet their financial obligations. At that time, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital was not receiving any reimbursement from prepayment plans and few dollars were available for indigent cases from Webster and the surrounding counties. Even with the opening of Lutheran Hospital in 1932, Mercy was often short of clinical space as the services of the hospital became better known and understood. The early Fort Dodge hospitals served as a home to the nursing staff. During this period, it was considered inappropriate for young women to live independently away from the hospital, and since nurses were to be available whenever needed, it made sense that the accommodations for them would be provided by the hospital. Each hospital dealt with issues of limited space for patient care and held fund drives to build nursing residence halls which freed hospital space for patient care. Lutheran Hospital completed its nurse’s home in 1938 and Mercy purchased additional land south of the hospital in 1940. Mercy’s acquisition was large enough to construct a new nurses’ residence that would include school facilities – classrooms, a recreation room, a demonstration room – as well as executive offices and a small auditorium. The home housed seventy-five students in semi-private accommodations. In 1939 and 1940, the Blue Cross Insurance Plan came into existence. This lessened the patient’s financial load and the future looked a bit brighter for the Fort Dodge hospitals. However, with the end of World War II, crowded conditions became more and more prevalent. Medical specialties such as radiology and pathology were emerging fields, and the Fort Dodge hospitals again found themselves strapped for space. In 1948 work began on a third addition to Mercy Hospital. The six-story structure including the daylight basement was located on the east side of the original building. The new addition provided convent quarters on the top floor, a pediatrics department, and increased patient facilities, raising the hospital’s patient capacity to 175 on a regular basis and 200 in emergencies. Completed in 1950, additional facilities included a pediatrics unity and the Sisters’ Convent on the fifth floor. On the fourth floor there was a new surgery unit with five major operating rooms, one orthopedic room, a recovery room and a new radiology department. A doctor’s lounge, dressing rooms, sterilizing and workrooms were also available as was space for storage. The third floor was used for medical cases and the second floor for surgical cases. The first floor of the new addition housed the chapel, administrative and purchasing offices, a business and insurance office, two guest rooms, the switchboard office and waiting rooms. Pathology was located on the ground floor along with the doctor’s lounge, the auditorium, coffee shop and private dining rooms. A sub-basement provided space for storage and could be used in case of mass emergencies. Lutheran Hospital, too, was experiencing space constraints. Overcrowding of hospital facilities led to the addition of the west wing to Lutheran Hospital in 1950. The addition raised the bed capacity to around 240. The addition included three floors, two of which were completed immediately. The third floor was finished seven years later, and two more floors were added, with the interior finishing of the fifth floor postponed until 1967. An administrative wing and new entrance to the hospital was added in 1964 and 1965. Numerous smaller renovations were completed as time went by to accommodate specialized services and facilities. The Future is Foreshadowed From 1908 and throughout the next fifty years, the Mercy Nursing School had operated as an independent three year nursing program to educate graduate nurses. By 1959 it had become difficult to staff the nursing school adequately, and a decision was made to discontinue the school after graduating 560 nurses in its half-century existence. During the last decade of service, the school was operated as a unit of the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital School of Nursing at Sioux City. Before the school was closed, there was discussion about instituting a nursing program at Fort Dodge Junior College. This forward-looking idea was realized with the organization of Iowa Central Community College in 1966 which allowed a degreed nursing education program established in 1908 to continue in Fort Dodge. In 1969, declining support and rising costs led the Sisters of Mercy to withdraw from hospital operations in Fort Dodge. The desire to keep Mercy Hospital operating prompted the formation of a local corporation known as Fort Dodge Mercy Hospital; this association took over operation of the hospital and purchased its assets from the Sisters of Mercy. Among those assets was a 28.9-acre tract of land on Fifteenth Street in the vicinity of Twentieth Avenue North. By 1960 plans were drawn for the construction of a building at this new site at an estimated cost of $3 million. Merger Talks Begin In 1964 administrators from Lutheran Hospital and St. Joseph Mercy Hospital began meeting with discussions aimed at room rates, salary schedules and other mutual problems. Over the next few years, many small issues such as improved reimbursement for county patients receiving hospitalization and the sharing of pathology services were resolved. However, the bigger issue of a one-hospital concept was not pursued, largely because the Board of Directors for both hospitals felt that the emotional climate of the community did not support the concept. In November of 1965, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital began formal long-range planning in an effort to insure a solid future for the hospital. The medical staff, advisory board and administration met and agreed that there was a serious need for a new hospital on a new site. This decision was based on the condition, age and layout of existing buildings in the Mercy Hospital complex. The Board noted that in addition to the fact that the present site did not allow for expansion, the costs of remodeling an old structure would likely exceed the cost of new construction. On January 12, 1965, upon recommendation of the long-range planning committee, Sister Mary Ruth requested permission of Mother Provincial to hire a hospital consultant to study the feasibility of building a new hospital. In July of 1966, Assistant Mother Provincial and Kenneth Kelley of Hamilton Associates met with the local long-range planning committee. Agreeing that a new hospital building was needed, they recommended meeting with the State Department of Health to determine if federal funds would be available for the project before proceeding. As a consequence of the meeting in September of 1966, the Department of Health reached a consensus that building a new hospital was the only reasonable choice for modernization of facilities. Further, the Department of Health representatives indicated that federal funds would be available pending the priority of applications and funds available. Board members were encouraged to proceed with planning and fundraising activities. In October of 1966, the Board sought approval from Mother Provincial to proceed with plans for a new facility for St. Joseph Mercy Hospital. In April of 1967, the Provinciality approved hiring consultants to conduct a community survey and make recommendations for current and long-range plans for Mercy Hospital. Recommendations were presented in October of 1967 that supported the new building project. The consultants indicated that ideally and logically, a single hospital would best serve the interests of the community, but they did not think this was feasible now or in the future. One contributing factor was the results of a physician survey in which physicians responded strongly in favor of maintaining both hospitals in Fort Dodge. At a meeting of the Mercy Hospital Board in October of 1967, a resolution passed urging the Sisters of Mercy to build a new hospital in accord with the consultant’s recommendations. The Board was unable to convince the Sisters of Mercy to proceed with the building project because the Sisters believed the community should decide the future of the hospital. In January of 1969, a building site in northeast Fort Dodge was identified as an exceptional site for the new hospital. The Sisters of Mercy agreed to approve the purchase of the thirty-acre tract, but were convinced more than ever that a local board should govern St. Joseph Mercy Hospital. After much discussion, ownership was transferred to a local corporation on April 1, 1969 and the hospital was renamed Fort Dodge Mercy Hospital. It was at this time that the Webster County Medical Society expressed a renewed interest in the concept of a single hospital and requested a meeting with the hospital consultants. Knowing the former recommendations of the consultants, the Mercy Board took the initiative and offered Lutheran Hospital an opportunity to build a new consolidated health complex on the new site. After hearing of the Mercy offer, the Medical Society invited the Executive Committee from the boards of both hospitals to meet jointly to discuss and develop a possible merger. Several meetings took place and after much contentious discussion, negotiations were finally terminated with the suggestion that each hospital pursue its respective plans. Not long after the change of ownership of Mercy Hospital, the Lutheran Hospital Association celebrated its 50th Anniversary of its founding and members reviewed their original charter. At the time, there was consensus by the members to broaden the base of community involvement in hospital finances and governance. Membership in the association and on the board of directors had been restricted to Lutherans, but new articles adopted in 1969 lifted the restrictions of association membership and provided that up to 40 per cent of the board of directors could be non-Lutherans. In support of this change to broaden the hospital’s base, the decision was made to change the name of Lutheran Hospital to Bethesda General Hospital. Although the hospitals continued to operate independently, community leaders were quick to recognize the need for change within the Fort Dodge healthcare community. Smaller communities in the surrounding counties were building new community hospitals and competition for patients had increased dramatically. Consequently, both Fort Dodge hospitals were experiencing a decline in the number of patients admitted. With Fort Dodge Mercy Hospital landlocked in an aging facility, community leaders again found themselves engaged in discussions surrounding the merger of the two hospitals. As an early step toward unification, the two boards jointly formed the Citizens Hospital Study Committee. Members were G.W. Graalmann, commercial supervisor with Iowa-Illinois Gas and Electric Company; Ralph P. Hofstad, president of Felco; Richard T. Lindeberg, President of First Federal Savings and Loan Association; John H. Mitchell, attorney; Dr. Gene Siekmann, pastor of First Presbyterian Church; and Maurice E. Stark, attorney. The group was charged with answering questions such as: Would a single Fort Dodge hospital better serve the people of this area? Would one hospital eliminate the duplication of costly services? Would one hospital be able to provide the latest techniques and up-to-date training for personnel at a lower cost to the patient? And finally, could a single hospital meet the religious and spiritual needs of patients inclusive of all denominations? Ronald Probasko from the Iowa Regional Medical Program and the Area V Health Planning Council assisted the committee in answering these and many other questions. While the boards of Mercy and Bethesda had jointly endorsed the unification proposal as early as 1970, the by-laws of Bethesda General Hospital prohibited disbanding the association without a two-thirds affirmative vote of the membership. The Mercy Hospital board of directors voted in favor of a merger in 1972; however, on May 23 of that year, a proposal to empower the Bethesda board to proceed with such a merger was defeated on an 85 to 62 vote of the membership. It was another year before the proposal was again brought before the membership. On May 30, 1973, the Bethesda General Hospital Association met again to consider a proposal for the merger of Fort Dodge Mercy Hospital and Bethesda General Hospital. During the emotion-filled four-hour meeting, concerns were raised about the ownership and control of the $2.1 million from a bequest from the O.M. Oleson family to Bethesda General. The Association finally voted in favor of the proposal to merge with Fort Dodge Mercy Hospital. As part of the compromise necessary to effectuate the consolidation of the two hospitals, the Oleson Foundation was established and 50% of the funds accrued from the Oleson family bequest were transferred to the Oleson Foundation and the remaining 50% were retained by the new corporation that was name Trinity Regional Hospital. Building Trust and Cohesion In May of 1974, Duncan Moore was hired as C.E.O. and administrator of Trinity Regional Hospital to lead the complicated process of consolidating all hospital services to one site. The consolidation process proceeded rapidly and by September 4, 1974, all patient care was transferred to the Trinity Hospital site, at the time, called Trinity West. The Mercy Hospital building, called Trinity East, was used for office space and other ancillary services. The consolidation of all clinical operations to one facility eliminated the duplication of equipment and services, and increased efficiencies and enabled Trinity Regional Hospital to provide a higher level of care to citizens of Fort Dodge and surrounding communities. Mercy Hospital brought a strong Auxiliary tradition to the merger. Mercy Hospital auxilians, particularly, played key roles as ambassadors for change as they assisted in interpreting the importance of the merger and consolidation to internal hospital audiences and the public. Staff at both facilities experienced apprehension as the first steps were taken following unification. In the public arena, too, old alliances with both hospitals were not readily set aside. Thoughtful advocates for the merger on both sides of existing loyalties understood that the transition to a unified hospital organization needed time and experience together before absolute trust would be established. With the merger of the two hospitals in 1973, the Mercy Hospital Auxiliary officially became the auxiliary of the newly consolidated Trinity Regional Hospital, thus expanding the field of service to include the entire hospital complex. By 1975, the Auxiliary history had established a Volunteer Blood Bank, a salaried Director of Volunteers and a patient visitor and escort service. The concern for meeting the growing healthcare needs of the community and region prompted the board of Trinity Regional Medical Center to consider the development of a building expansion program. Federal regulators were demanding that an entirely new hospital be built stating that the buildings did not meet Federal Code Regulations. In April of 1976, after months of study and extensive negotiations, Trinity Regional Hospital announced plans for an addition and modernization program at a total estimated cost of $12 to $15 million. On December 21, 1976, groundbreaking ceremonies were held. Richard Lindeberg, president of the hospital board, Maurice E. Stark, secretary, and Duncan Moore, C.E.O., turned the first spade of earth. The construction project included two major elements: construction of a new clinical service wing and patient bed tower, both of which were served by a new elevator core. The project also included modernization of existing clinical departments and renovation of existing patient rooms. The project improved the hospital’s ancillary services, increased the number of hospital beds, and improved access to the existing site and facilities. The new $15 million addition was completed and fully occupied in February of 1980. In addition to this project, the first of two physician office buildings were planned. Through negotiation with the Kersten Clinic, the hospital constructed the building that would later become the Fort Dodge Medical Center. Building, located on the eastern side of the hospital, was opened in 1979. At the same time, the hospital made a commitment to build a second physician office building for use by physicians not associated with the Fort Dodge Medical Center and to provide space for new physicians wanting to practice in Fort Dodge. The building projects represented the culmination of plans for the consolidation of the two hospitals. The wisdom behind the consolidation became increasingly evident as Trinity Regional Hospital continued to expand and grow to meet the needs of Fort Dodge and the surrounding communities. Trinity Explores a Regional Role As the staff and services of the two hospitals consolidated and a sense of family began to emerge, much of the work in the years following the merger was devoted to melding staff and removing duplication of services and equipment. In March of 1980, just two and a half months before the formal dedication of the new hospital complex, Duncan Moore, Administrator, announced his intent to leave Fort Dodge. Tom Tibbitts, who had previously served with Moore as an assistant administrator, was named Trinity Regional’s new President and Chief Executive Officer. With his considerable expertise in strategic planning and experience on the Health Planning Council, Tibbitts recognized the Board’s need for a broad understanding of the regionalization process and a firm grip on the challenges of the environment. In the dynamic healthcare arena of the early 80s, the board of Trinity Regional Hospital believed it reasonable to assume that Trinity’s future would include a broader scope of services and programs and an expansion of inpatient services to meet both local and regional needs. Through a Long Range Planning process which culminated with the adoption of a long range plan in 1982, the Board of Directors determined that a new parent corporation, Trinity Health Systems, Inc., was the most logical way to fulfill the hospital mission and purpose while responding to future demands and pressures. This new parent corporation would encompass Trinity Regional Hospital, the Oleson Foundation, and affiliated health-related entities. Trinity Health Foundation In 1983, the Trinity Health Foundation was born out of the long range planning strategy to help sustain and grow the healthcare organization by developing charitable funds to support the hospital’s mission. The Trinity Health Foundation was established as a nonprofit charitable organization made up of friends of Trinity Regional Medical Center who had a caring interest in supporting the mission of the hospital. The mission of the Trinity Health Foundation was to assure that Trinity Regional Medical Center would have the necessary financial resources to meet the healthcare needs of the citizens of Fort Dodge and surrounding region. Innovative Approaches to Meeting Area Health Needs The 1980s were marked with a series of strategic initiatives that improved the hospital's ability to meet the growing health needs of Fort Dodge and the North Central/North West Iowa region. With a vision for transforming Trinity Regional Hospital into a regional center for healthcare services, the Board and Administration of Trinity Regional Hospital recognized that growing the physician base and scope of medical specialties would be critical. By sharing resources and expertise, the hospital began partnering with the local physician groups in the physician recruitment process. Physician recruitment in the 80s proved to be difficult primarily because of a fractured referral base in the region and a lack of cohesion among the medical staff. The leadership at Trinity realized that these two obstacles had to be overcome in order to successfully build a strong foundation for a vital regional health system. In turn, a strong regional health system would be critical to attracting qualified physician specialists and sub-specialists. Anticipating stronger physician outreach to rural clinics in the area, the Board saw this strategy as a way to sustain and advance healthcare services in rural communities. In 1989, the Trinity Health Systems Board and Administration initiated a long-term strategy for the development of a regional physician network. Rural physicians in the region welcomed the concept of a physician network that would provide them with administrative support for their practices. This was the beginning of a new physician network called Physician Practice Management Corporation (PPMC). Financial support from the Oleson Foundation was extremely important to the development of PPMC because it allowed Trinity Health Systems to purchase numerous physician practices in the region. In turn, PPMC provided administrative support in rural clinics allowing the physicians to concentrate on patient care. Other advantages to the relationship included increased efforts aimed at physician recruitment and retention and the upgrading of clinical and financial information systems to improve operational efficiencies. By December of 1996, 13 clinic sites in the region had joined PPMC. In January of 1997, Trinity Health Systems acquired the Fort Dodge Medical Center, which added primary and specialty physicians to the organization and provided a foundation to launch the expansion of medical specialty services in the community and region. Realizing the significant changes made through the numerous physician practice acquisitions, the Trinity Health Systems’ Board felt the need to establish a new identity for the PPMC organization. To facilitate marketing and to develop a homogeneous group culture, PPMC changed its name in 1997 to Trimark Physicians Group. Since that time, the success of the new Trimark Physicians Group has been impressive. By January, 2003, Trimark Physicians Group had grown to 61 physicians and 454 employees located throughout 27 clinics in Fort Dodge and 11 other communities in Northwest and North Central Iowa. As the rural physician network was developing in the mid to late 90s, rural hospitals in these same communities were at financial risk and struggling with declining patient census and reimbursement. Rural communities that had a strong Trimark presence began approaching Trinity Health Systems for support. Recognizing the importance of stabilizing healthcare in these rural communities, the Board of Trinity Health Systems agreed to provide administrative-management services. By 1998, four primary care hospitals in Humboldt, Pocahontas, Sac City and Clarion, became affiliated with Trinity Health Systems. Trinity Health Systems’ rural hospital network, working in conjunction with area Trimark clinics, had successfully stabilized and advanced healthcare in the rural counties surrounding Fort Dodge by 2002. The Trinity Health Systems’ network of clinics and hospitals became recognized in the state of Iowa as a model for a successful integrated rural health system. Keeping Pace With Change In 1983, the entire hospital industry was shaken by Medicare’s change from the traditional fee for service reimbursement system to a Prospective Payment System (PPS) - a method of reimbursement in which Medicare payments to hospitals is made based on a predetermined, fixed amount. The payment amount for a particular service is derived based on the classification system of that service called Diagnostic Related Groups (DRGs) for inpatient hospital services. Regardless of how long or how short the hospital stays, Medicare would pay the provider a single set amount. Effectively, this new payment model was designed to cut health care costs by putting pressure on hospitals to provide cost effective and efficient care within a short time frame. In response to these significant changes, other delivery options were explored. Trinity introduced home health services which provided professional clinical care and support services in the patient’s home. While Trinity Regional Hospital performed well under DRGs, it appeared that all payers (insurance companies) would be moving toward payment systems intended to cut hospital costs. In order for Iowa hospitals to survive, they would have to be able to adapt to this change and implement effective care protocols consistent with cost efficient business practices. This dramatic change in hospital reimbursement forced a new movement toward outpatient services, and despite reservations from many sectors of the healthcare community, the impact on services for patients and families proved to be positive. Patients could receive the care they needed without a traumatic family upheaval that used to routinely accompany the need for hospital care. While ambulatory care services came on the heels of demands by insurance companies for more cost effective methods of providing hospital care, outpatient surgeries, tests and treatments along with same-day admissions for inpatient hospital stays became more of the norm. This model of care, combined with experienced medical staff, advancing technology and a full range of hospital resources backing up the care protocol became recognized as the model for state-of-the-art medical care. Healthy Community Model With a vision of building a healthier community, the Board of Directors of Trinity Regional Medical Center took the initiative to provide financial support for a comprehensive community–based process to improve the health status, well–being and quality of life of the community. In 1999, the hospital launched the Community Action Network, a new initiative of the hospital that defined health in broad, holistic terms. The Community Action Network employed the “healthy communities” model to improve the health of the community and reduce healthcare costs by promoting wellness and healthy lifestyles throughout the community. The concept embraced advancing new ideas, projects and initiatives focused on keeping the population healthier, thereby reducing the need for more expensive hospital services. This “healthy communities” model was based on building relationships and partnerships with other critical sectors of the community, including education, business, human service organizations, government, and the faith community. Prevention and wellness services were expanded and offered in community settings to make it easy and convenient for citizens and families to access the services. Other projects and programs to improve the long-term well-being of youth, families and adults were also implemented. This innovative approach to advancing health and wellness led to Trinity Regional Medical Center receiving the prestigious NOVA Award from the American Hospital Association in 2003. Change Leads to Growth For Trinity Regional Hospital, the decade of the 90s was marked by remarkable growth and significant change in the delivery of healthcare services. The Federal Medicare system was under extreme financial duress which inevitably led to reimbursement cuts to healthcare providers. At the same time, the costs of providing healthcare services were skyrocketing in response to increased demand, especially due to an aging population. The trend toward providing more services in the outpatient setting continued in an upward spiral. Programs and services in the areas of skilled nursing, substance abuse and mental health were particularly hit hard by cuts in insurance and Medicare reimbursement. Simultaneously, hospital stays became drastically shorter in an attempt to cut costs. Challenged to identify ways to provide quality healthcare services in an environment of decreasing reimbursement, Trinity’s board, administration and medical staff were continually challenged to identify ways to change healthcare processes and protocols. In the face of these challenges, the leadership of Trinity Regional Hospital saw an opportunity to broaden the hospital’s influence in the region by taking progressive action to expand services to address the ever increasing demand. With an aging population, orthopedic services were a critical specialty. Complimenting this service area was the heightened need for outpatient rehabilitative services. In 1991, Trinity Regional Hospital purchased an abandoned elementary school in the Highland Park neighborhood in Fort Dodge, and through renovation, transformed the school building into a state-of-the art rehabilitation facility. Highland Park Center became Trinity’s first off-campus outpatient clinic and quickly developed into a “Center of Excellence,” providing comprehensive physical, occupational and speech therapy services as well as sports medicine and other rehabilitative services. 1995 was a pivotal year for Trinity Regional with major renovation and new construction https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined closely linked to expanded services. The Outpatient Center, a totally new structure, was underway following approval of the Certificate of Need application. The plan called for ground level space to be devoted to a new Outpatient Center, a remodeled Emergency Department and the addition of a fixed base MRI in Radiology. Other selected areas –– the front entrance and the Cafeteria–– were enlarged and modernized. At the same time, an overall facility assessment was conducted allowing the hospital to evaluate vacated space while planning for future use of the new space available as a result of the Outpatient Center project. In the late 80s and early 90s, obstetrical services were forced to make major changes in the labor/delivery process. Shorter stays became the norm. In 1990, Trinity Regional Hospital made a bold move by investing in the renovation of the fourth floor of the North Tower, transforming it into a modern Labor-Delivery-Recovery-Postpartum (LDRP) obstetrical unit. This new unit with its nine LDRP suites offered a comfortable home-like setting which allowed for labor, delivery and the recovery process in the same room –– a concept embraced by expecting parents. In conjunction with its new “Birthplace,” a new secondary-level nursery was established and a new pediatric wing was opened adjacent to Obstetrics to meet the specific needs of the pediatric patient. When Trinity’s new Outpatient Center was opened in the summer of 1996, convenience for patients was significantly improved. Its necessity was prompted by explosive growth in outpatient services. Continually challenged to look for additional ways to reduce costs while improving care and service to the patient, accommodations for enhanced services were underway. Trinity Regional’s administration and nursing management team evaluated care delivery models and proposed a case management model with accountability for improving patient care. Providing a major linkage between patient services, home health care and other community and social services, the model improved communication between caregivers, enhanced patient education and improved patient recovery. Responding to a rising demand for joint replacement procedures, in 1998 Trinity opened a Joint Ventures Unit that specialized in providing a first-class setting for the recovery and rehabilitation of patients following joint replacement surgery. Under the new Joint Ventures venue, Orthopedic physicians collaborated on implementing an advanced process for total hip, knee and shoulder replacement surgery that improved patient outcomes while reducing patient length of stays. In the late 90s, Trinity was faced with the challenge of meeting the need for an ongoing expansion of services which would require significant capital investments in new technology and facilities. At the same time, the hospital was facing a need to expand information technology. In March of 1998, with costs for equipment, technology and facilities skyrocketing, the Trinity Regional Hospital board endorsed the exploration of a formal affiliation between Trinity Regional and the Iowa Health System (IHS). On January 1, 1999 Trinity became a senior affiliate of IHS. The Trinity Health Systems (THS) board of directors strongly endorsed the change based on the IHS commitment to make capital available for future growth, to provide leadership and support for information systems and technology, and to offer opportunities to consolidate administrative functions for improved efficiencies. Having reached general agreements in October, 1998, governing boards of both organizations signed formal documents in December. The affiliation, while not a legal merger, allowed Trinity Regional Hospital to remain a separate non-profit corporation under Iowa law. Both corporations retained ownership of currently held assets. The Iowa Health System pledged substantial resources to the local community and region over time to facilitate expansion and coordination of clinical services. One of the first joint initiatives between Trinity and the IHS was the diabetes initiative. Diabetic educators from across the system worked to standardize care for diabetics assuring patients seamless access to education, resources and assistance. With the 21st Century approaching, two additional areas of need were not being met by Trinity Regional Hospital. Comprehensive heart care and cancer services had remained elusive despite the commitment of Trinity’s board, administration and medical staff to bring these needed services to the area. In 1997 Trinity developed a new partnership with a highly reputable cardiology physician group from Des Moines –– the Iowa Heart Center, P.C. This partnership brought new cardiologists to Fort Dodge and promulgated a plan for the development of a state-of-the-art cardiology center. With health statistics strongly verifying the need for a comprehensive heart program, the Certificate of Need was approved in 1999 and Trinity began building a new heart center that would include two heart catheterization labs and a surgical suite. In April, 2000, the first of the two Cath Labs was opened. The surgical component followed in June of the same year. While Trinity had been confident of the need for heart services, the success of the new heart center was impressive. The quality of care provided by the cardiologists and staff was outstanding and the number of heart catheterizations performed far exceeded all projections in the first year. Responding to the enormous demand for services, the second Cath Lab was opened in the summer of 2002. With the significant expansion of specialty services provided to a broader seven county region, the board of directors voted to change the name of Trinity Regional Hospital to Trinity Regional Medical Center in the 2000. Expanding Critical Services Continues Just as early leaders of the hospitals in Fort Dodge invested in meeting the healthcare needs of the population, the board of directors of Trinity Regional Medical Center continued planning for meeting the growing needs for advance medical care in Fort Dodge and the region. Following their investment in heart care services, the board of Trinity realized that providing comprehensive cancer treatment services was a critical need. In 2003, with the goal of bringing quality health care to the people with cancer, Trinity Regional Medical Center officially opened the Trinity Cancer Center, providing chemotherapy and support services. Seven years later, Trinity received approval to add radiation therapy services to its center to achieve its long-awaited dream of providing comprehensive cancer care. With the need to add more space to accomplish future growth and enhance patient comfort and convenience, the board of the medical center invested $32 million in a new building addition. In November of 2008, Trinity Regional Medical Center opened the new “front door,” to the hospital with an 80,000 square foot addition that serves as the home to a new ambulatory surgery center, several outpatient services, and a new obstetrics unit. In 2016, Trinity Regional Medical Center expanded its emergency room facilities to meet the continually growing need for emergency services. The $5 million expansion doubled the space, adding more examination rooms that offer greater privacy and building other clinical space for expanded emergency and outpatient services. The impressive new facilities starting in 2000 up through 2016 have provided Trinity Regional Medical Center the opportunity to expand and reorganize outpatient services in a way that enhanced operational efficiencies and improved patient satisfaction, and positioned Trinity to meet future healthcare needs. The Legacy Continues Since 1900 when the first hospital was established in Fort Dodge and every decade since, forward-looking leaders sought to anticipate and meet the healthcare needs of current and future generations. The first 120 years of hospital history is a testament to the physicians, nurses and other medical staff who were dedicated to providing high quality medical care, serving Fort Dodge and the surrounding communities. This long tradition of caring continues today as the medical professionals and leaders of Trinity diligently strive to meet the healthcare needs of the community and region while responding to the ever-changing healthcare environment. Hospital History Timeline 1894 – Haskell House 1909 – St. Joseph Mercy Hospital 1932 – Lutheran Hospital 1969 – Fort Dodge Mercy Hospital – Prior to merging with Lutheran Hospital, a local corporation would purchase St. Joseph Mercy Hospital from the Sisters of Mercy and rename it Fort Dodge Mercy Hospital. 1969 – Lutheran Hospital becomes Bethesda General Hospital. 1974 – Trinity Regional Hospital – Fort Dodge Mercy Hospital and Bethesda General Hospital merge forces to provide more efficient and effective health care to the Fort Dodge area. 1982 – Trinity Health Systems – With a vision to become the preferred provider of Northwest Central Iowa, Trinity’s leaders determined a new parent corporation was the most logical way to fulfill the hospital’s mission and purpose while responding to future health care demands. Trinity Health Systems would encompass Trinity Regional Hospital and the Oleson Foundation. In later years, it would include Trimark Physicians Group, the Berryhill Center, Trinity Foundation, and Trinity Building Corporation. 1989 – Physician Practice Management Corporation (PPMC) – The beginning of a new physician network. By 1996, thirteen clinic sites in the region joined PPMC. 1997 – PPMC changes name to Trimark Physicians Group – By 2003, Trimark Physicians Group had grown to 61 physicians, 27 clinics, and 11 communities throughout Northwest Central Iowa. 1998 – Trinity Health Systems’ network expands as they partner with critical access hospitals in the region. 1999 – Partnership with Iowa Health System – As costs for equipment, technology, and facilities continue to skyrocket, Trinity Health Systems’ board strongly advocates a formal affiliation with Iowa Health System. By becoming a senior affiliate, Trinity Health Systems has improved opportunities and efficiencies for future growth, leadership, and support for Information Systems. 2000 - The board of directors voted to change the name of Trinity Regional Hospital to Trinity Regional Medical Center to reflect the significant expansion of specialty services provided to a broader seven county region. 2003 - Trinity Regional Medical Center opened the Trinity Cancer Center, providing chemotherapy and support services. Seven years later, Trinity received approval to add radiation therapy services to its center to achieve its long-awaited dream of providing comprehensive cancer care. 2008 - Trinity Regional Medical Center opened the new “front door,” to the hospital with an 80,000 square foot, $32 million addition that serves at offers a new front entrance to the hospital and serves as the home to a new ambulatory surgery center, several outpatient services, and a new obstetrics unit. 2013 – Iowa Health Systems changes its name to UnityPoint Health – As Iowa Health Systems expands past the borders of Iowa, a new name was needed, a name that reflected the way its hospitals, physicians, and home care entities were transforming health care delivery through patient-centered coordinated care. Trinity Regional Medical Center’s name was changed to Unity Point – Trinity Regional Medical Center. 2016 – Unity Point-Trinity Regional Medical Center expanded its emergency room facilities to meet the continually growing need for emergency services. The $5 million expansion doubled the space, adding more examination rooms to offer greater privacy and building other clinical space for expanded emergency and outpatient services. General192 Friendship Haven Read More In the early 1920s, periodic efforts to create a “senior home” in Fort Dodge drew increasing support, but no funding. In 1946, incentives of 25 acres and $75,000 sparked grass roots fundraising, construction and the opening of what would ultimately become Friendship Haven. This phrase is quoted from the organization’s founder, Rev. Dr. Clarence Wesley Tompkins, a motivational and dynamic leader and Friendship Haven’s first executive director in 1947, a position which he held for 25 years. “Dream No Little Dreams” has been a guiding vision of Friendship Haven since its humble beginnings in a cow pasture more than 60 years ago. Land from the Fort Dodge Betterment Foundation, a lead gift from Mrs. O.M. Oleson, a brilliant leader Rev. Dr.Clarence Tompkins and tremendous community support made the dream for a senior home in Northwest Iowa a reality. Timeline 1950 Residents move into the East Building 1951 Friendship Haven Memorial Foundation is established 1955 Residents move into the West Building — Heritage Apartments 1959 Chapel on the Hill opens 1965 Dr. Tompkins’ dream of a geriatric health center becomes reality 1977 The first 11 of 52 town homes are occupied 1983 The Laura Epple Tompkins Special Care Unit for dementia opens 1987 The Herbert R/ Bennett Wellness Center opens for therapy 1996 Dr. Tompkins passes away on August 8. Introduction of Adult Day Services and Home Health Care 2000 Friendship Haven celebrates its 50th Anniversary — more than 5,000 residents since 1950. 2004 Building on the Dream Expansion project opens with completion of The Gardens Assisted Living, Celebration Center and Wellness/Aquatics Center 2005 Kenyon Place opens 2009 The Catalyst Rehabilitation Program launches 2010 Second Family offers in – home services and care management 2012 River Ridge Apartments opens to offer assisted living 2013 Simpson Health Center opens its doors 2013 Dedication of Tompkins Celebration Center, Tompkins Drive and Historical Display 2014 Schmoker Adult Days Services celebrates a free-standing building on campus 2017 Journeys at Friendship Haven opens the doors for enhanced memory care service Source: *www.friendshiphaven.org General191 Kersten Clinic Read More The Kersten Clinic was founded in July, 1952, by Drs. E.M. Kersten and J.J. Weyer. Located at the corner of 5th Avenue South and 13th Street, the clinic first opened for patients on July 7, 1952. Two other doctors joined them that week, Dr. John Kersten (son of Dr. E.M. Kersten) and Dr. John Baker. Dr. E.M. Kersten was born in 1892 in De Pere, Wisconsin, a suburb of Green Bay, the youngest of ten children. His father was Dr. A.M. Kersten. After attending school schools in Green Bay, E.M. enrolled in Marquette University’s Medical School and graduated there in 1913 at the age of 21. After receiving his medical degree, E.M. began practice with Dr. Albert M. Farrell in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, where he remained until 1916 when he moved to Fort Dodge. Dr. Joe Weyer practiced medicine in the Fort Dodge area from 1932 until his retirement at age 70. He was born in Livermore, Iowa to Mary and Peter Weyer. His father died when Joe was only three months old, leaving his mother to raise three children on her own. Joe supplemented family income while going to medical school, sometimes working seven hours a day in addition to keeping up with his medical studies. Dr. Kersten’s practice was interrupted by World War I. He had enlisted in the Army while still living in Wisconsin, and when war was declared in 1917, he was called into service. He eventually served in France. Following WWI, Dr. Kersten returned to Fort Dodge and entered into medical practice with Dr. F.E. Seymour. They had offices in the Snell Building. Later, he had an office in the Carver Building until the founding of the Kersten Clinic. According to E.M.’s son, John Kersten, it is presumed that the main reason Dr. Kersten decided to found the clinic was because three of his four sons became physicians and “he recognized the community’s need for more doctors and specialists.” The new Kersten Clinic was organized in 1952 when their new clinic building built. An article in the June 30, 1952 Fort Dodge Messenger and Chronical states: “Completely modern in design, exterior of the new building is of dark red Roman brick with a flat roof, making possible the addition of another floor at a later date. Dimensions of the clinic are 100 by 50 feet. The clinic is completely air conditioned, with thermos pane windows on all sides. Acoustically treated walls and ceilings make street noises nearly inaudible. For the convenience of patients, the clinic has a completely equipped pharmacy and parking facilities.” With the continued growth of physicians and patients, the Kersten Clinic needed more space. In 1964, a two story addition to the Clinic was built. The new addition extended 75 feet along 5th Avenue South and was 47 feet in depth. The addition was comprised of a ground floor and a basement. The Kersten Clinic grew into a multi-specialty medical clinic. There were a number of medical specialists located in the Kersten Clinic: Surgery, Radiology, Psychiatry, Internal Medicine, Dermatology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Family Practice and Urology. At its peak, the Kersten Clinic included 21 physicians and 42 staff members. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined When the two Fort Dodge hospitals merged in 1973, all the clinical services for the new hospital system were consolidated on the campus of Trinity Regional Hospital. In 1977, the hospital began construction on a $15 million expansion and modernization program of it facilities. Through negotiation with the Kersten Clinic, the hospital constructed a new medical clinic building to accommodate the Kersten Clinic. The building, located on the eastern side of the hospital, was opened in 1979. This move allowed for the consolidation of medical services on the expanding medical campus of Trinity Regional Hospital. This move also significantly enhanced convenience for patients. A few years later, the clinic’s name was changed to Fort Dodge Medical Center. The former Kersten Clinic building on 5th Avenue South was leased to Arrowhead Area Education Agency (AEA). AEA later purchased the building and is still operating in that same location. In 1989, the Fort Dodge Medical Center was purchased by Trinity Health Systems and became the anchor clinic for the new network of physicians called the Physician Practice Management Corporation (PPMC). In 1997, PPMC’s name was changed to Trimark Physicians Group. This network of physicians had grown to 61 physicians and 27 clinics in 11 communities throughout Northwest Central Iowa. The anchor behind the growth of physician services serving Fort Dodge and northwest –central Iowa began with the vision of two Fort Dodge physicians back in 1952 when they decided to open and build a new medical clinic - the Kersten Clinic. History of Fort Dodge Hospitals 1855 Fort Dodge, as a frontier settlement founded in 1853, managed to attract its first physician just two years later in 1855. Friendship Haven 1946 420 Kenyon Road In the early 1920s, periodic efforts to create a “senior home” in Fort Dodge drew increasing support, but no funding. Kersten Clinic 1952 1250 5th Ave S Dr. Kersten decided to found the clinic because he “recognized the community’s need for more doctors and specialists”. Three of his four sons were physicians and had returned to the community to practice and would join him in the new clinic to open their medical practices and help recruit additional physicians to Fort Dodge. General190 Lutheran Hospital & Oleson Foundation Read More O. M. Oleson and his wife, Julie Haskell Oleson, began a long and admired tradition of philanthropy in Fort Dodge. Combining their assets for the good of the community, O. M. and Julie Oleson were strong advocates for the advancement of the city and healthcare. O. M. Oleson was elected to the Lutheran Hospital Board of Directors on June 4, 1926 and retained that position until his death on February 8, 1944. O. M. Oleson was instrumental in the establishment of hospital care in Fort Dodge. He assisted with the fund drive to build Mercy Hospital in the early 1900s and served on the original Board of Trustees. He was also provided a lead gift for the establishment of a new Lutheran Hospital and was a vital force in the opening of Lutheran Hospital. He was credited with saving Lutheran Hospital from bankruptcy during the Great Depression. Upon their deaths, the Oleson left a very significant financial legacy to Lutheran Hospital. The Oleson Foundation was formed in June of 1973 for the purpose of administering the funds accrued from the original Oleson family bequest of $2.1 million to the Lutheran Hospital Association. As part of the compromise necessary to effectuate the consolidation of the two hospitals, 50% of the funds accrued from the Oleson family bequest were transferred to the Oleson Foundation and the remaining 50% was retained by the new corporation. Herman Larson, Merlyn Groot, Gerald Hanson, Richard Carlon, William Dahlberg, J. J. Johnson, Emil Bahls, Dennis Skow, M.E. Kraushaar, M.D., Earl Fredrickson and Franklin Larson were the original Board members of the Oleson Foundation. The funds were managed separately for a number of years until the Board of Directors for Trinity Regional Hospital and the Oleson Foundation agreed that the funds should be brought back together and managed by the Oleson Foundation. Although separate accounts were maintained, eventually all funds were transferred into one Oleson fund. By 2005, due to prudent investment management of the funds, the Oleson Foundation grew to over $8 million. Foundation activities included financial support of chaplaincy programs, and programs and activities sponsored or directed by Trinity Regional Hospital, including equipment and building needs. Significant financial support provided by the Oleson Foundation assisted in the development of a strong rural physician network (Trimark Physician Group) that help stabilize and advance healthcare in a seven county region serve by Trinity Regional Medical Center. The Oleson Foundation has shown admirable judgment in its selective support of the various health projects and activities, both directly and indirectly related to operations of Trinity Regional Medical Center. Such projects and activities have contributed greatly to the health and well-being of residents of Webster County as well as those in surrounding counties. The Oleson Foundation personifies and preserves the legacy of O. M. and Julie Haskell Oleson and their desire to improve the lives and well-being of the people of Fort Dodge and the community they loved so dearly. The Oleson Foundation was merged into the Trinity Health Foundation in 2007 to improve administrative efficiency and eliminate duplication of foundation activities. Oleson Foundation 1973 O. M. Oleson and his wife, Julie Haskell Oleson, began a long and admired tradition of philanthropy in Fort Dodge.