USA > Iowa > Allamakee County > History of Winneshiek and Allamakee counties, Iowa > Part 31
USA > Iowa > Winneshiek County > History of Winneshiek and Allamakee counties, Iowa > Part 31
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The Western Union Telegraph Office is in the postoffice. A. S. Bailey, of the firm of Bailey & Bro., of the Republican being i charge.
Decorah's telephone exchange, established in 1881 was origi- nally in the postoffice, but was removed to the adjoining office of C. W. Burdick.
The water works system of Decorah is admirable; the high bluffs about the city being particularly favorable therefor. The
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HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.
water works were erected in 1SS1 at a cost of about $25,000, in- cluding reservoir, pump house, and machinery, street pipes, etc. The large reservoir is situated on the summit of the high bluff in the southwestern part of the city, not far from the river, being reached by the road running southward from Upper or West Broadway. The reservoir is over 200 feet higher than the busi- ness streets, and over 100 feet higher than the most elevated res- idence portion of the city; it is covered with a cone shaped roof. The pumping works are in the valley in the southwestern part of the city, and the water is obtained from a large well, fed from abun- dant hidden springs. At the firemen's parade and celebration of the completion of the water works, on February 22, by the force of pressure of the water in the reservoir a stream was thrown over the top of the steeple of the Methodist Church on Upper Broadway, and also far above the Court House. A well drilled, efficient, and suitably equipped fire department as an auxiliary to the water works protects Decorah from fires. It consists of two hose companies and a hook and ladder company. The following are the officers of the department:
Chief Engineer, R. F. B. Portman; First Assistant, W. A. Bonstell; Second Assistant, Jas Alex. Leonard; Foreman of Hook and Ladder Company, E. D. Field; Foreman of Hose Company No. 1, Geo. Hislop; Foreman of Hose Company No. 2, Geo. Q. Gardner.
The military spirit is kept up and the city is honored by the Decorah Light Guards, under the efficient drill of their old com- mander, Capt. Geo. Q. Gardner, and the present one, W. E. Akers. They were winners of one of the prizes at the State military en- campment, June, 22, 1882. The officers are: Captain, W. E. Akers; First Lieutenant, E. R. Baker; Second Lieutenant, R. Reed. of the former members of the company Angus Johnson is Quar- termaster of the Second Brigade, I. N. G., with the rank of Cap- tain, and W. R. Toye is Quartermaster of the Fourth Regiment, with the rank of First Lieutenant.
The Decorah Drum Corps has won national as well as State rep- utation. On the 22d of June, 1882, at the State military encamp- ment of the Iowa National Guards, at Waterloo, it was awarded the first prize as being the best drum corps, Dubuque being its chief competitor. At the inter-state military encampment at Du buque, it was, on the 29th of August, awarded the first prize of $500, beating the Chicago Drum Corps. It is the Drum Corps of the Fourth Regiment Iowa National Guards, of which its leader, Frank Cutler, is Drum Major.
Of the secret societies, three are Masonic, viz: Great Lights Lodge, No. 181; A. F. & A. M .; King Soloman's Chapter, No. 35; Royal Arch Masons; and Beausant Commandery, No. 12, Knights Templar. They have for several years occupied a fine hall on the upper floor of the First National Bank building, but are just now
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HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.
completing an elegant new assembly hall on the third floor of the next building east, specially fitted up for them, and have rooms for other business on the floor below.
The Odd Fellows have Winneshiek Lodge, No. 58, I. O. O. F., and Decorah Encampment, No. 39, which occupies the third floor over the Dickerman block.
Nora Lodge, R. H. K. (Norwegian), has a hall on the third floor, over the Winneshiek County Bank.
There are also branch lodges of the A. O. U. W., Legion of Honor, and the V. A. S. fraternities, all mutual life insurance or- ganizations.
The fact that Decorah has a large and well arranged Opera House, with well equipped stage, and fine scenery, has caused the city to be favored with numerous first-class entertainments. Among the noted musicial and dramatic stars who have visited Decorah, have been Ole Bull, Remenyi, and Camilla. the great violinists; Janauschek, the great tragedienne, and other famous actors, Litta, the celebrated vocalist, and other famous singers and companies; and in the lecture field, the most prominent. Stey- er's Opera House, a monument to the enterprise of Joseph Steyer, who is still its active manager, was erected in 1870, and was 44 feet front by 85 feet deep. It was enlarged in 1875 by a frontage of 22 feet, the new part running back 114 feet. On its enlarge- ment it was entirely re-fitted, a circular gallery put in, and a suc- cession of raised seats beneath the gallery. New stage furniture and scenery by the best artists were provided, and chairs put in for seats throughout the whole lower floor of the hall. Opera House block is an imposing three story brick building, situated on Water Street, next to the Winneshiek House, and looking down Washington Street.
There are other public halls. Rudolph's Hall is neatly fitted up and furnished with fine and artistically painted stage scenery.
Decorah has several important manufactories, and ample water power for more. Among the oldest of these is what has been re- cently known as the mill, foundry, and agricultural manufactory of Ammon, Scott & Co. The agricultural works were founded by John Ammon in 1853. John Greer afterwards joined the firm which became Ammon, Greer & Co., and the company, purchased in 1870 the mill of Henry Heivly, formerly known as the Painter Mill. Mr. Greer retired, and in 1870 Geo. W. Scott became a member of the firm, which became a joint stock company until it went
out of business some two years ago. The flouring mill is now owned and run by Henry Heivly. The wagon making and agri- cultural department was wound up for the company, for the bell- efit of stockholders, by Leonard Standring, who in years past has been prominent in banking and manufacturing enterprises in De- corah, and who now has a pleasant home and extensive farm near the railroad in its southwestern suburbs. These extensive agri-
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HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.
cultural buildings on Upper Water street, are not now running, but will not, probably, long remain idle. Mr. Ammon is now in the milling business in the western part of the state, and Mr. Scott engaged in business in Minneapolis.
John Greer, formerly of the above firm, in company with Jas. Hunter, erected, in 1874, the Ice Cave Flouring Mill in the lower part of the city, it having three run of stones and costing $40,- 000. This mill has recenty been purchased by John Lawler and Peter Doyle, who are interested in the C., M. & St. P. Ry., and the track of that road is now being extended down to their mill to accommodate their extensive shipments, as well as to the ex- tensive stone quarries on the river bank beyond. Mr. Greer re- mains in charge of the mill, and Mr. Hunter is still a resident of Decorah.
The extensive building of the Decorah Woolen Mill, on the bank of the river or Upper Water street, was built in 1867 by the Decorah Woolen Mill Company, and cost with machinery $35,200. Its stock was owned largely by Englishmen, of whom there are many residing in the county, and are enterprising and · public-spirited, generally bringing with them a good deal of cap- ital. The Woolen Mill was managed for a considerable number of years by Capt. W. T. Baker, still a resident of this city, and was sold recently by Capt. Lloyd, a son-in-law of Capt. Baker, who had recently acquired the chief ownership, to Lawler & Doyle, owners of the Greer & Hunter Mill. The Woolen Mill has recently been leased for five years by John E. Duncan, who has repaired and improved the machinery, and will run it to its full capacity.
The Trout Run Woolen Mill, erected in 1866-7, at the head of Trout Run, where that large stream issues from a cave at the foot of the bluff, was the first woolen mill in the county, and did an extensive business. It was burned in November, 1874.
A prominent pioneer in early business enterprises was Diedrich Addicken. He was born in Oldenberg, Germany, Nov. 5, 1824; came to America in 1855, settling in Clayton County, and in 1857 came to Decorah where he built what has been known as the old brewery near the old stone mill, April, 1865, he commenced to build what is now the Addicken mill, brewery, and residence property on the Iowa River just above the city, about a mile from the prominent business center. He was an energetic, popular; and generous man, and his death, July 17, 1875, caused by being thrown from a wagon, the fall breaking his leg, was a shock to the people generally. The business was continued by Mrs. Ad- dicken until her recent death, assisted by her daughter, who with competent assistants has had charge since that time, and has been successfully and prosperously conducted. The machinery of these establishments is run by water power from Union Springs, near- ly a mile above.
1S
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HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.
Other prominent flouring mills in Decorah are the Tavener Mills, on the Iowa River, half a mile above the Addicken settle- ment. And in addition to the Heivly and Greer & Hunter Mills recently mentioned, the Trout Run Mill, at the mouth of Trout Run, and propelled by the water-power of that stream, where it flows into the river about a mile below the city. Benedict & Mott are proprieters of the West Run Mill.
Among other manufacturing enterprises are the wagon and car- riage works of Jennisch & Wendling, who do a large business; the wagon shop of Mckay & Bergeson; the extensive steam bakery of Joseph Hutchinson, which has custom through a large territory ; the planing mill of L. R. Fish, and a considerable number of smaller establishments.
Among other recently established manufacturing enterprises, is the Scale Factory, at what is known as Union Springs, a little more than a mile west of the city. In the spring of 1880, T. E. Gaston, in company with H. Heivly, began the erection of a large and commodious building for the purpose of manufacturing scales. It was completed the following September, and the first set of scales was turned out October 15, 1880. The machinery used in this . factory is of the latest style, has all the modern improvements, and is run by a water-power 22-horse strong, the water being fur- nished by a spring near the factory, and gives them 172 feet head. They employ from 15 to 20 men, and turn out from 3,000 to 4,000 scales a year. The quality of the scales is second to none manu- factured in the United States, being built after the pattern of the Fairbank's scales. Mr. T. E. Gaston is the efficient manager, and thoroughly understands the business, he personally superintends both the manufacture and sale, the latter extending through Iowa, Minnesota and Dakota.
The business of egg packing was commenced in Decorah by A. W. Grow, a number of years ago, and within the past two years has grown into such proportions as to necessitate the erection of a large building especially for the business, and its enlargement last year. Mr. Grow's egg packing house is situated on Washington Street, south of the railroad. He packs yearly about 250,000 doz- ens of eggs, making about 3,500 barrels and twenty-four car loads. When it is considered that each egg has to be handled, and the bad ones picked out, it will be seen that there is considerable work in the business, especially in the busy season. But Mr. Grow has found money in it. He has now purchased the H. H. Hoen paper warehouse property adjoining him on Washington Street, with a frontage of 100 feet on the railroad track, to use as a storage room, and as a cooper shop to manufacture barrels for his egg packing house, and for a coal yard, etc.
The past two or three years has seen the development of a new industry in the county. Grain growing has partially given place
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HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.
to dairying and stock raising, thus varying the products of the soil, and that, too, in a most desirable manner. In this connection the new system of butter making has added greatly to the dairy pro- ducts, as our dairy butter commands the very highest price in the eastern markets.
The Ice Cave Creamery, located in the eastern part of the city, and owned and operated by Wm. Beard & Sons, was the pioneer in the creamery movement in this county. It collects cream from farms nearly all over the county, having within this past year es- tablished branch creameries at Fort Atkinson and Hesper. The Ice Cave Creamery, of Decorah, which is the largest of the trio, is in itself the largest in the state, and in the world. It is operat- ed by steam, and has systematic machinery for operating it both summer and winter. The total product of the Ice Cave Creamery for sixty days, commencing June 3, 1882, was 192,361 pounds of butter, being on an average of 3,206 pounds a day. The largest product for one day was 4,955 pounds on July 13th, and the next largest 4,870 pounds.
Another creamery, known as Decorah Creamery, has been es- tablished in Decorah the present season. It is located in the Klein brewery building across the river in the northern part of the city. It is operated by P. S. Smout, and power furnished from the large spring at Spring Mill, just beyond it.
Pure cold water is furnished from an in mense spring that flows into the building, and underground vaults leading from the cream- ery into the bluff, make it admirably adapted for creamery pur- poses. Nearly 1,000 pounds of butter are made per day by this creamery.
This creamery business has caused further development of the inventive genius of P. S. Smout, of Decorah, who produced his patent refrigerant milk can, which is adapted to private dairies as well as for those who sell cream to the creameries. It is meet- ing with immense sale through this and other states. The result has been the building up of a large manufacturing business by Smout & Hoy, in Decorah, principally to manufacture these cans, and incidentally for the making of Smout's cream carriers.
The abundant supply of excellent stone for building purposes to be found in our quarries has been a matter of local knowledge for years, and stones that have been used in our business blocks for twenty-four years, still have the marks of the chisel as plain as when they were hewn, and show no sign of perishability. But it was not until very recently that public attention was called to our mineral treasure. Within the past year many car-loads have been shipped to different points by D. B. Ellsworth and others; and now Norman Willett, son of Judge G. R. Willett, having purchased Chase & Pinkham's quarry and works, and thirty acres of land, including the old Spring Mill on the north side of the river, and leased some other quarries, is putting in extensive stone
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HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.
and sawing machinery which will be run by the water power above the mill-formerly Dunning's Mill-which will run a gang of thirty saws which will cut a block of stone ten feet long and about five and a half feet wide and thick at the rate of 4 to 6 inches per hour. Other quarries will be more extensively worked and as the railroad track, as elsewhere referred to, is to be extend- ed to the quarries, this source of wealth and prosperity to the city will be very great, as the supply is inexhaustible. Experts who have examined it pronounce it even superior to the famed Anamosa stone in solidity and durability; and, as to the color of our stone, it is durable and lasting. For decorative purposes the Decoral stone is far superior. It will take on the highest possi- ble polish-which the Anamosa stone will not. Its fossil ledges, which are abundant, are wonderful, and marvelously beautiful. They are rich masses of fossilized animal life in past ages of the world. Prof. Gunning, of Boston, one of the best geologists of the day, says that nowhere in the United States is there to be found a stone that equals these fossil ledges in revelations given of the past. For intrinsic beauty he places it above the famous red stone of California-perhaps the most costly material used by artists for decorative purposes . A slab of this stone can be seen at the stamp window of the Decorah postoffie. Other more beau- tiful specimens have been made into paper weights and other orn- aments, and into table tops and books-and what a volume of un- written history these books contain-by M. Steyer, W. H. Spencer, and other workers in stone in Decorah. Prof. E. C. Kilbourne in his short stay here, was enthusiastic, over the treasures not only · found in quarries, but in the pavements on which we tread, and the ditches along the streets. He gathered and polished a splen- did collection of rare mineral beauties, some of them small, rare and exquisite enough for settings for pins or watch charms; others perfectly formed fossils of which geology tells us; and still others that were masses of various remains which, the rubbish be- ing removed, stood out in wonderful distinctness and perfectness.
The subject is almost inexhaustible. But enough has been said; suffice it that utility, durability and beauty exist in the high- est degree in this stone, and its development is but just com- mencing.
The railroad history of Decorah has been given in that of the county in a preceding chapter. Ever since the completion of the branch of the C. M. & St. P. road from Conover to Decorah, in September, 1869, its business has far exceeded expectations. It is suggested by those who are supposed to know, that these nine miles pay far better than any other nine miles on the road. The three elevators at Decorah have done a very large business, re- ceipts at times being nearly ten thousand bushels per day. And though the partial change from grain to stock raising and dairy- ing has correspondingly changed the character of shipments, those
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HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.
from Decorah for July and August, 1882, will compare favorably with the enormous wheat shipments seven or eight years ago, and outstrip any year since that time. But be it remembered that the difference in value between butter and beef cattle, and the same bulk in wheat, is greatly in favor of the former. The last day's shipments from Decorah of which we have record at the time of writing, consisted of ten cars, and none of them live stock.
Since the above was sent to the printer, ground has been pur- chased and a handsome passenger depot will be speedily built on Water street, just as it reaches Dry Run. It will closely adjoin the business part of the city and be less than two squares from the Winneshiek House and Opera House. The old passenger depot will be used for freight. Work is rapidly progressing on the ex- tension of the track of the C. M. & St. P. Railway down to the Greer & Hunter mill, and will be completed this fall; a side track will also probably be laid to the stone quarries this season.
In our county history a reference is made to the extension of the Postville branch of the B. C. R. & N. Railway to Decorah. Work upon that extension has been commenced, and though the time given for its completion in the voting of a five per cent tax by Decorah does not expire till September, 1883, the road may be finished to Decorah before the close of this season; and it means not only another line to the south and east, but also an extension northward to another connection with St. Paul, uniting the lum- ber regions with the coal regions of Iowa.
The Citizens' Association, designed to promote the interests of the city and county, was organized in Decorah early in 1882. The Chicago, Decorah and Minnesota Railway Co., was an out- growth of the above association ; and its purpose to secure addition- al railroad facilities seems in a fair way to speedy accomplishment.
There is also a well-founded belief that the C. M. & St. P. Rail- way will continue their road from Waukon to Decorah on their road-bed already graded, and thus secure another outlet for the northern and western roads which. meet at Calmar, and avoid the heavy grade between Calmar and McGregor, even if this road does not also build another extension northward from Decorah.
The business of the C. M. & St. P. Railway at Decorah is in charge of F. H. Merrill, a capable and popular official.
The dray and omnibus line is well conducted by Greer & Protheroe, successors to Jamieson & Greer -- Bob Jamieson, the popular old-time conductor on the branch having removed to fields further west. They run the omnibus for the Winneshiek House, while the St. Cloud has an omnibus of its own.
The United States Express Co. has an office which was for vears in charge of Albert Fewell, an excellent officer, who re- signed on account of ill-health, and now lives on his suburban farm, just south of the city. His place is capably filled by I. N. Morrill, an experienced express man.
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HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.
A fair indication of the growth of Decorah is its post-office bus- iness, which is steadily on the increase. Let us look at it for the past four years.
The total receipts of the office each year, exclusive of the money order business were: 1878, $6,102.74; 1879, $6,467.76; 1880, $6,762.45; 1881, $6,810.92.
For the first half of 1882 the business amounted to $3,963.55, and the business for the last half of the year will be larger, so that the total receipts of 1882 will probably exceed $8,000.
The paper mill of J. R. Booth, of Decorah, located at Freeport, in Decorah Township, can be reckoned as a Decorah institution. It was originally started by the Winneshiek Paper Co., and was afterward operated by Henry H. Horn, and by Henry Paine. It was purchased in the spring of 1880 by J. R. Booth, an experienced and successful manufacturer, and is doing a large business. The mill is run by water power from the Upper Iowa River, and em- ploys twenty hands. Its product is straw wrapping paper. of which it is making a nice article. It manufactures about three and a half tons of paper per day, and consumes from 1500 to 1800 tons of straw per year. It is an important branch of man- ufacture to the people, as well as to our business interests. The paper mill is connected with Decorah by telephone.
The Decorah Packing House, originally built by . G. F. Francis, who has done much to build up Decorah, in residences as well as business houses, has of late been operated by a stock com- pany. It does a large business and is a source of wealth to the city and county, besides a convenience to the people in improving the market for hogs. Mr. Francis still makes Decorah his family home, though now absent in Dakota during the summer and fall.
In stock raising, Winneshiek County is rapidly advancing to the front. The collection of cattle at the recent county fair in Decorah, was a superb one. Herds from this county also won the first premiums at fairs in adjacent counties, as well as at the Min- neapolis Exposition. Decorah is represented in this line by Sam- uel Aiken's stock farm and magnificent herd of Holsteins; by the Hesper Stock Farm, by Geo. Q. Gardner, of Decorah, and by other smaller herds.
The Decorah Driving Park, with large grounds, on which are held the annual fairs of the County Agricultural Society, has a fine and well used track. Thanks to the enterprise of C. C. Bates.
The extensive seed and hide store of N. H. Adams, present County Treasurer, does a very large business purchasing products from a large territory, extending into adjoining counties.
Jas. Alex. Leonard, a comparatively new comer, and proprietor of an extensive book store, news stand, and' circulating library, has shown his faith in the city by buying his store building, the one adjoining it on the south, and a pleasant residence on Broad- way.
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HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.
Among the jewelry firms is the old resident, S. T. Wilson, who keeps an excellent eating house and fruit stand.
The Decorah Green House, near the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul depot, a well-kept establishment with a choice and extensive collection of flowers and plants, is a bower of beauty as well as a great convenience to the people here and in surrounding towns.
Decorah has had her fires, but of late years destructive ones have been very rare. A prominent one was on what has become noted as Ben. Bear's corner. The old Adams building on the southwest corner of Water and Winnebago streets, was destroyed by fire on Thanksgiving Day, 1877, and Ben. Bear, who came here in 1876, was burnt out as well as some other smaller establish- ments mentioned in chronological history. The fine new Adams block of brick and stone was erected in 1878, and in November of that year Ben. Bear re-occupied it with a very heavy stock of clothing and furnishing goods. His business has continued to steadily increase each successive year.
Space will not permit mention of the numerous business houses of Decorah, but we will enumerate a few old established firms and recent changes to which the attention of the historian has been called: The "Pioneer Store" of C. N. Goddard, referred to else- where; the old dry goods houses of Oleson & Thompson, S. W. Landers & Son, McHenry & Allison; and L. F. Nelson, general merchant, who has recently erected a new building; and former- ly, the dry goods firms of Boyce & Wilson, R. F. Gibson, now justice of the peace, and some others who have retired from busi- ness, their places being supplied by K. I. Hangen, P. H. Whal- en, Iver Larsen, Lee & Johnson, and others. In grocery stores, George Pennington, continues the old establishment of Penning- ton & Fewell. D. B. Dennis is "still on Deck." P. J. Enright holds the fort. B. Holcomb & Son occupy the old Ammon & Scott store, and numerous other grocers and general merchants keep the people from starving. B. O. Dahly, who moved up from Freeport and established the Emporium of Fashion for the ladies, still keeps up his large establishment. Among the liverymen John Curtin continues worthy of the old reputation of Curtin Bros.' Stable, his brother and partner, M. Curtin, having died the present year. Among the comparative new-comers is A. W. Hay- ward, who occupies the Boyce & Wilson store, Mr. Wilson still residing here. Mr. Hayward has the finest and largest store in this part of the country. W. L. Easton continues active as proprietor of the Opera House Clothing Store and merchant tail- oring establishment, and J. H. Mackenstadt is still kept busy with custom work at his old stand. The Day brothers, first settlers of Decorah, have an extensive lumber yard, and E. J. Riley super- intends another for the Flemming Bros., of McGregor. The old hardware firm of Ruth Bros. still exists, and that of Finn Bros. is continued by Finn & Noble, while the Gulickson hardware store
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