I am not an historian and don’t care to do too much research. I like to write about what I remember. Each article brings comments and light criticism from people, and this I enjoy as it’s just a natural thing to happen.
Abe Hass reminded me that in my article on colored people in early Chariton, I had left out Rastur Irvin. I remember him well as the shy, small man who skated a good deal on Mallory Pond. It was professional figure skating, very good. Somehow, he was always around Jones & Briles Drug Store, where Jones Drug is now. He seemed to be a fixture out in front of the store and his duties were rumored to be many.
A man from Chariton, now living in California, found a picture of the old Municipal Light Plant in Chariton at a flea market. He was puzzled as to the body of water near the plant. This was Lake Como, situated right where Yocom Park is now. The plant was located right at the east end of Braden Avenue. Templeton Percifield was the first engineer of the plant that I remember.
A little bit of history about Lake Como is that two people drowned there over the years. Keith Gartin’s brother was one. It seems two groups of kids were playing war and two rafts were involved. This one boy just turned up missing.
A professional researcher was here in the interest of a lady in Montana who used to live here. He said if contractor Andy Stevens built the house where the historical building is and also the Nazarene Church, how come the church looks so new? When Reverend Hegstrom was here, he, in conjunction with Renus Johnson Construction Company, built the new church right over the old church. Volunteer local labor was used. The new church was independent of the old church. It was just built over it. Later, the old church was torn out.
The added coverage the newsletter gets from being in the local paper really brings lots of calls to know this and that. Rose Holmes called to ask where W. B. Dutcher’s Bicycle Shop was. It was right across from the Steinbach Locker, between the beauty parlor and the gas station. The homemade lathe of Dutcher’s has been given to the historical building by his son Burt. Rose asked about the block building behind the beauty parlor. This was Agnes McKinney’s home in the last years of her life. Her restaurant was where the beauty shop is now. Bob Larimer, local insurance and real estate man, built the restaurant and the cement block home for Agnes.
A woman called from Butte, Montana, wanting to know where the Darlington Copeland home was. It was right where the Super Value Store was. Gripp owns this quarter block now. This Copeland built the mausoleum in the Chariton Cemetery and is buried there. After Copeland died, L. H. Busselle owned the place until his death, and then Petrus Johnson lived there with grandson Clayton. Keith Gartin then bought the home and built the Super Value store.
Mrs. Dave Lathrop wrote about an old home that stood across the street east from the Catholic Church, where Dr. Anderson’s office is now. This home was built by McFarlands. They were the parents of Mrs. Burt Gookin. Gookins built the big house just north of Dr. Anderson’s office. Donnelle Cusack lives there now.
Mrs. Cantrell of Bellevue, Iowa, writes about a casket salesman who lived here. She remembered his initals were W. J. and he had a son Maurice. This was W. J. Donnenworth. And where did he live? Originally, they lived in the old Hanlin house, right where Mae Thomas lives on Grand Street. That would be the first house north of Ed Larson’s home, on the corner of Grand and Osage. They then lived in the big apartment house at the corner of Ashland and Grand. Their last place was where Mike Grogan lives now. The house was razed and a new house was built there by the Grogans.
A lady from St. Louis wrote to say she remembered a little building at the corner of Main and Auburn that housed the Eikenberry and McElvain office. She wondered if it had been moved and could still be around somewhere. This little building was incorporated into the new lumber yard and was torn down in the end. It was sort of an inner office. I have sat in there many times talking to William Eikenberry, Sr., on business. This is where I learned about this little building and its history. She also remembered the old Eikenberry Elevator and wondered just where it was. It sat where Stone Motor stands now and supposedly was set on fire by a man who wanted to divert the attention of the police while he robbed the old National Bank. The elevator burned, but the bank robbery failed as the town marshal stayed uptown to watch the square, as was his duty.
Received a picture and a letter from a lady in Mason City. She found it at a flea market. Wanted to know where the building was, and who was the man. “Chariton, Iowa,” was written on the back of the picture. The building was the old ice plant and the man was Bill Edson, the manager for years. The building is standing on Brookdale to this day.
Charles Mickle, of Boone, wrote that he remembered the four wells at each corner of the courthouse square and the watering tanks. He wonders if the water would taste as good today as it did then. The wells are still there, covered by paving. They were not filled up. The courtyard was made smaller to give more parking room for cars, leaving the wells twenty feet out from the courtyard.
Our ride -
I was not sure we would go, so Prior went to a show in Des Moines by himself. George and I left at 2:45 p.m. and headed northwest. First we went to Red Haw to check on the redbud trees. Just a little early. Didn’t go too far, but stayed east of Norwood and south of Lacona working mostly B class roads. Had to back up twice on account of deep ruts caused by dried-up mud holes and tractor tires. Too windy for birds and a little early for many flowers. We checked out Mt. Zion Cemetery north of Oakley. We wound up at George’s cousin Esther Belle’s farm. Lots of nice calves and a nice farm. Visited half an hour, and then home. Esther is a nice hostess. Arrived home at 6:30 p.m.
A professional researcher was here in the interest of a lady in Montana who used to live here. He said if contractor Andy Stevens built the house where the historical building is and also the Nazarene Church, how come the church looks so new? When Reverend Hegstrom was here, he, in conjunction with Renus Johnson Construction Company, built the new church right over the old church. Volunteer local labor was used. The new church was independent of the old church. It was just built over it. Later, the old church was torn out.
The added coverage the newsletter gets from being in the local paper really brings lots of calls to know this and that. Rose Holmes called to ask where W. B. Dutcher’s Bicycle Shop was. It was right across from the Steinbach Locker, between the beauty parlor and the gas station. The homemade lathe of Dutcher’s has been given to the historical building by his son Burt. Rose asked about the block building behind the beauty parlor. This was Agnes McKinney’s home in the last years of her life. Her restaurant was where the beauty shop is now. Bob Larimer, local insurance and real estate man, built the restaurant and the cement block home for Agnes.
A woman called from Butte, Montana, wanting to know where the Darlington Copeland home was. It was right where the Super Value Store was. Gripp owns this quarter block now. This Copeland built the mausoleum in the Chariton Cemetery and is buried there. After Copeland died, L. H. Busselle owned the place until his death, and then Petrus Johnson lived there with grandson Clayton. Keith Gartin then bought the home and built the Super Value store.
Mrs. Dave Lathrop wrote about an old home that stood across the street east from the Catholic Church, where Dr. Anderson’s office is now. This home was built by McFarlands. They were the parents of Mrs. Burt Gookin. Gookins built the big house just north of Dr. Anderson’s office. Donnelle Cusack lives there now.
Mrs. Cantrell of Bellevue, Iowa, writes about a casket salesman who lived here. She remembered his initals were W. J. and he had a son Maurice. This was W. J. Donnenworth. And where did he live? Originally, they lived in the old Hanlin house, right where Mae Thomas lives on Grand Street. That would be the first house north of Ed Larson’s home, on the corner of Grand and Osage. They then lived in the big apartment house at the corner of Ashland and Grand. Their last place was where Mike Grogan lives now. The house was razed and a new house was built there by the Grogans.
A lady from St. Louis wrote to say she remembered a little building at the corner of Main and Auburn that housed the Eikenberry and McElvain office. She wondered if it had been moved and could still be around somewhere. This little building was incorporated into the new lumber yard and was torn down in the end. It was sort of an inner office. I have sat in there many times talking to William Eikenberry, Sr., on business. This is where I learned about this little building and its history. She also remembered the old Eikenberry Elevator and wondered just where it was. It sat where Stone Motor stands now and supposedly was set on fire by a man who wanted to divert the attention of the police while he robbed the old National Bank. The elevator burned, but the bank robbery failed as the town marshal stayed uptown to watch the square, as was his duty.
Received a picture and a letter from a lady in Mason City. She found it at a flea market. Wanted to know where the building was, and who was the man. “Chariton, Iowa,” was written on the back of the picture. The building was the old ice plant and the man was Bill Edson, the manager for years. The building is standing on Brookdale to this day.
Charles Mickle, of Boone, wrote that he remembered the four wells at each corner of the courthouse square and the watering tanks. He wonders if the water would taste as good today as it did then. The wells are still there, covered by paving. They were not filled up. The courtyard was made smaller to give more parking room for cars, leaving the wells twenty feet out from the courtyard.
Our ride -
I was not sure we would go, so Prior went to a show in Des Moines by himself. George and I left at 2:45 p.m. and headed northwest. First we went to Red Haw to check on the redbud trees. Just a little early. Didn’t go too far, but stayed east of Norwood and south of Lacona working mostly B class roads. Had to back up twice on account of deep ruts caused by dried-up mud holes and tractor tires. Too windy for birds and a little early for many flowers. We checked out Mt. Zion Cemetery north of Oakley. We wound up at George’s cousin Esther Belle’s farm. Lots of nice calves and a nice farm. Visited half an hour, and then home. Esther is a nice hostess. Arrived home at 6:30 p.m.
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