Pg 71
EARLY BUSINESS
The business houses in Mechanicsville cover the same ground as they did a hundred years ago. Most of the places of business have new faces and some buildings have been remodeled and the streets, instead of mud, are now paved.
If you care to, you can follow the diagram and you can visualize about how the business area was used then and now. This one is from Jackson Street to West John Street.
| 1. | Fire Station which included Jail and Town Hall. |
| 2. | Empty lot used by Ellis Andre during many summers for his Pop Corn Stand. |
| 3. | Bagley’s Implement, also Smith’s Garage, McCaslin, H. Platner and Earl Kiehl also had garages. Now 1, 2 and part of 3 have been torn down and a beautiful new municipal building and fire station have replaced it. Part of 3 remains, a restaurant for many years with Inez Boyles as proprietor, now known as the Town and Country with Carl and Alberta Warren as proprietors. |
| 4. | Helmer and House Implement was replaced by Alice and Peter Klimek’s Theatre and Lamont’s Garage. |
| 5. | Formerly the I.O.O.F. Building, also used as a Hatchery and a Tropical Fish Shop. |
| 6. | Café, which burned in 1911 and a tabernacle was built which was torn down in 1912 and the lumber used to build an Ice House by Joe Cook in the west end of Mechanicsville, where he harvested ice each winter and delivered it for 14 years before the advance of electrical equipment. Yule’s DX station now occupies the lot. |
| 7. | Helmer and Gortner Bank and now an Insurance Office. |
| 7a. | Dentist office in the upstairs of Helmer and Gortner Bank, Dr. Littig’s office and telephone offices were upstairs, later made into apartments. |
| 8. | Home |
| 9. | Home |
| 9a. | Dr. Wells Dentist Office |
| 10. | Empty Lot |
| 11. | Telephone office with Ella Conner as operator. |
| 11a. | Drug store, also movie theatre and at one time a grocery store. |
| 12. | Pool Hall and barber shop. |
| 13. | Harness shop with W. E. Sturges and two sons as owners, now Scotty’s Place. |
| 14. | General Store, with Berry Brothers owners, then a butcher shop on the west with a restaurant on east half with several different owners, Ernie Allen, Hade Pieper, Jack Cranford and the following grocers, Boyles and H. Scott and for the past 42 years, Joe Paidar. |
| 15. | Another grocery store with Humbert and Taylor, Rob Smith, Charles Kahler, Myron Nalley, Bro Kohl and the present owners Lee and Marjorie Scott. |
| | The Sturgess Opera House was above 14 and 15. Many fond memories remain of the many dances, school plays, box socials and basketball games that were held there. |
Now follow along on diagram 2 from West John Street to East Cherry Street:
| 1. | From the corner of West John Street east we had at one time a drug store with C. E. Gould as proprietor. He was a pharmacist, but besides doling out medicine and pills, he carried a stock of school necessities, toys, wall paper, stationery and paint. He also made ice cream and served it in his store. |
| 2. | There was a small home attached to the drug store on the east. Mr. Huber built it and his daughter, Mrs. Lucinda Smith and her daughter Lottie lived here until Mrs. Smith’s death. Miss Lottie then went to Washington D.C. to live with her half-sister. When she died she left $7,000 to each of the following: The Cemetery Association, Town of Mechanicsville and the Library. |
| 3. | This was a small barber shop operated by Gene Jones, also by Frank Leinen who was the town barber for many years. These were home town men and excellent barbers. These buildings were torn down in 1954 and the Henry W. Sievers Memorial Building built. |
| 4. | This building has been a hardware store since it was built in 1876 by A. B. Heston. Mr. Heston operated this store until 1926 when he sold it to John I. Cook and George Wierengo. Mr. Wierengo sold his share to Cook in 1928 as he was in ill health. |
| 5-6. | These stores were operated by Roy and Charles Stoffel as Stoffel Brothers. Henry Stoffel started in business about 1865, carrying shoes for the family plus men’s clothing. Since their deaths the store has been sold several times, used as a restaurant, insurance office and attorneys office. As of now the west side is used as an upholstery shop, the east side as a pill factory. They make and ship out many vitamin pills. |
| 7. | A Mr. Wm. Chapman located in Mechanicsville in 1858 and started a grocery store which carried a full line of groceries and provisions. He was assisted by his two sons, Arthur and Edward. Until 1920 this was a busy place, but do to illness it was sold and several other business houses have been in this location. At present it is used by the “Black Mask Theatre”, plus the Friendly Pioneer Center, a senior citizens center. |
| 8. | This was at one time or another a restaurant, a butcher shop, grocery store and now it is a State owned Liquor store. |
| 9. | Another hardware store owned by Frank L. Wilson, operated for many years but at his death was sold to Frank E. Woods, following his death it changed hands several times and is now the Family Hardware store. |
| 10 | Was a bakery for several years with Clarence Gemberling as proprietor. It was in recent years remodeled into an apartment. |
| 11 | Years ago this building was a post office, with Lew Comstock as Post Master. When this building became too small, as the mail grew heavier, it was moved across the street to the old Rock Island Brewery and the old post office room was used as a harness repair shop, until it was remodeled into the Town Library with hundreds of books. |
In the third block of the business district, from Cherry Street East were the following businesses:
| 1. | The Electric Plant with its generator which provided electricity for the town. |
| 2. | A Blacksmith Shop. |
| 3-4-5. | Post Office, Blacksmith shop, Helmer Brothers Grocery, Bill Butler’s restaurant, Koch’s Paint, Dr. Wilson’s Veterinary Office, Gambles Feed Store and presently William’s Feed Service. |
| 6. | 6. The Methodist Church. |
Some business places 120 years ago were: General Merchandise, Hardware, Grocery, Boots & Shoes, Drugs & Medicines, Clothing, Harness, Millinery and Dressmaking, Furniture, Livery, Ag Implements, Wagon Makers, Copper, Lumber, Blacksmiths, Butter and Egg Store, Jewelry, Cigar Maker, Baker, Restaurants, Barbers, Meat Markets, Hotel, Photographer, Drayman, Billiards, Elevator and Insurance Agents.
The first business in Mechanicsville was the tavern opened by J. F. Cole; followed by: Carpenter John Onstott; Blacksmith Sam McWade; Shoemakers Mr. Shattuck, Phil Hyde.
In 1860 Mechanicsville added the following: Shoemaker Wm. Landahl; Tinsmith T. Patterson; Jeweler A. H. Bell; Cabinetmaker James Daton; Harnessmaker John and William Ramsey; Wagonmaker Abner Barnes.
Pg 73
JOHNSON DAIRY
The year of 1912 or 1913 saw the beginning of a dairy that was to serve the town of Mechanicsville for over 30 years. Graydon Johnson began processing and delivering milk to private customers and retail stores under the name of Johnson Dairy.
For a number of years the milk was delivered in ½ gallon tin pails with tight friction lids. When glass bottles became available there was some opposition to them from those who had been buying smaller amounts.
As many customers either had no refrigeration or simply ice boxes in which to store their milk while being used, the problem of keeping it sweet had to be dealt with. This was solved by 6 p.m. delivery during the warm months, May thru September, and then back to 7 a.m. delivery during the cooler months.
Milk for many years sold for 8 cents a quart and rose to a high in the early 1940’s of 12 cents.
Random Recollections: humor can usually be found in some of the most common happenings.
One winter day an irate housewife called about mid-morning to complain that we didn’t leave her bottle of milk though all her neighbors had received theirs. We assured her that we had also left hers. Next spring the missing milk showed up when the pile of snow at the edge of the porch melted.
Summer evening deliveries were usually pleasant, enjoyable times as many people would be sitting out on the porch or in the yard visiting and enjoying whatever breezes might be present. One particular evening a 5 or 6 years old boy ran out to take the milk. As he ran up the sidewalk with them, both the bottles slipped from his hands and crashed to pieces on the cement. He immediately looked at his dad who sprang from his chair with an oath. The last I saw of either one of them as the boy, bawling loudly in anticipation of the spanking he knew was coming, disappeared around the corner of the house with Dad in hot pursuit. I brought them two more bottles of milk, no charge.
HELMER AND GORTNER BANK
The Helmer and Gortner Bank was founded in 1874 by William Helmer and J. S. Gortner. It was operated as a private bank until it was incorporated as the Helmer and Gortner State Bank in 1902.
About 1884 Mr. Gortner was on a business trip in the East. The train on which he was supposed to be returning home was in a disastrous wreck somewhere in Oho. Many people lost their lives, and, in the ensuing fire their bodies were burned beyond recognition. A survivor of the wreck recalled having seen a man on the train who very much resembled the description that was given of Mr. Gortner. However, his body was never identified, and since he never returned home, it was assumed that he lost his life in that accident. The Gortner family continued to take an active interest in the bank until it closed.
Early officers of the bank were Lines Bennett, President, H. E. Gibeaut, Cashier and Mr. C. Gortner, Assistant Cashier.
The bank continued to grow and prosper until 1930 when it was one of the stronger banks of Cedar County. In 1930, the Directors of the bank were John S. Gortner, Chester D. Peck, A. H. Moffit, E. B. Moffit, Alex Buchanan, V. M. Bennett, L. J. Smith, H. E. Gibeaut and Wells C. Peck. The officers elected were John S. Gortner, President; A. H. Moffit, Vice-President; H. E. Gibeaut, Cashier; Walter Spry, Assistant Cashier and Gilbert Dutton, Assistant Cashier.
During the height of the 1931 depression in early September, heavy withdrawals by depositors made it imperative that the bank close.
The morning of September 10, 1931, the citizens of Mechanicsville were shocked to find the doors of the Helmer and Gortner Bank closed. Since there was another bank operating in the town, and because of the severely depressed economy, no effort was made to reorganize the bank.
Pg 74
Picture “John Cook is shown in Cook and Weirengo Hardware Store in 1926”
Picture: “Heston Hardware was a predecessor to Cook’s Hardware at the same location.”
COOK’S HARDWARE
In 1873, A. B. Heston and W. C. Cameron operated a hardware store in Mechanicsville. In 1876 Mr. Cameron sold his interest to Mr. Heston who then built a new all brick building which housed his hardware from 1876 to 1926, when due to ill health and old age, he sold the store to John I. Cook and George Wierengo. It was then known as Cook & Wierengo Hardware.
In 1928 Mr. Wierengo sold his holdings to John I. Cook and since that time it has been called Cook’s Hardware. John and his wife, Bertha, built the store into a busy place. They stocked hardware, cook stoves, tinware, furnaces, dishes, a full line of tools and paints, plus plumbing and heating. In recent years they have carried electrical appliances, such as washers, driers, refrigerators, radios and small electrical appliances.
In 1945 their son, James came home from four years in World War II and entered the business with his parents. He has added sporting equipment such as guns, ammunition and fishing gear.
There have been many changes in the store. The many small leaded windows have been replaced with large plate glass windows. Where once the store was lighted with kerosene lamps, it is now all electric. They have also added a new metal building at the rear for storage and a workshop.
Cook’s Hardware, now owned by Jim, his wife Marie, and daughter, Colette, will celebrate 50 years in business in 1976. John and Bertha are now retired, but are the oldest people to remain in business and the store having had only two owners is also the oldest continuous business on the Street.
It has been told that when Mr. Heston was owner of the business he had the only safe in town as there were no banks and many people and lodges left their cash and valuables with him. One night the store was entered and the safe was blown through the front end of the store. The thieves were never apprehended nor the $1500 which Mr. Heston said was in the safe, but later valuable papers were found in a hollow tree trunk out in Pioneer Grove, north of Mechanicsville. A new safe was immediately bought and installed and is still in use.
Pg 75
Picture: Mechanicsville’s Chicago and North Western depot in 1910 before it burned that same year. The blaze is pictured below in its early stages.
Picture: A. M. Kohl
EASTERN IOWA LIVESTOCK COMMISSION
The Eastern Iowa Livestock Commission Company was organized by Wilbur Colby, prominent Auctioneer, and Adolph Ahrens, who was connected with the livestock division of Wilson and Company of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The Sale Yards and pavilion were constructed in 1947.
The Sale Pavilion is located on a five acre tract adjoining the Chicago and Northwestern tracks and U.S. Highway 30 in the southeast part of Mechanicsville. The land was purchased from Robert Kramer. The Ernest Wilson property was bought by Eli Shada at a later date, for parking facilities. The first public sale was held Wednesday, September 3, 1947.
In 1948, Mr. Colby became owner and operated the business until it was purchased by Eli Shada, D. E. Buckley and Chris Nissen from Anamosa, Iowa, in June 1952. Wilbur Colby maintained a hog buying station in the building until 1970.
Eli Shada bought the Sale Barn in 1967 and it is now operated by him and his sons. Weekly sales have been held for 27 years, 20,000 head of cattle and 20,000 head of hogs were sold thru the barn in 1973.
A. M. KOHL
Now retired, A. M. (Bro) Kohl was associated with the grocery business for about 50 years. In 1909 at the age of 15, he started working for Mr. Chapman. In 1921 he started his own store, now the home of Gladys Scott. He moved his store in 1927 to the building in which the liquor store is now located. He sold out in 1960.
Bro also started a grocery store in Stanwood in 1924, and continued to operate it until 1945 when he sold out to Ropa Brothers. He also had a store in Olin for a few years, which his sister Hazel operated.
Years ago flour, salt, potatoes, sugar and apples were shipped by the carload. Vinegar came in barrels. Peanut butter, dried fruit, rice, dried peas and beans, and cookies were some of the food that came in bulk and had to be sacked or displayed. Much of the coffee was fresh ground. Oranges and bananas came in crates. The bananas were hung from a rope or chain and hands of bananas were cut off and sold. There was an occasional banana spider found.
Many brand names such as Libbys, Del Monte and Monarch are still found on grocers’ shelves.
RAILROADS
In the early 1850’s, a stage coach line ran from Clinton to Cedar Rapids and another from Davenport to Cedar Rapids. These served our community adequately until 1857 when the first railroad was built from Clinton to Cedar Rapids. This was the Chicago, Iowa, Nebraska line.
It came through Mechanicsville and on December 12, 1858, the first passenger train pulled up beside a box car which had been made into Mechanicsville’s first depot. The train consisted of 2 cars, one car for the passengers and the other the freight car. Many people came from near and far to see this marvelous mode of travel.
When the train stopped here, it was so muddy that sight-seers stood on railroad ties that had been scattered around. The engine on this first train was called “Peggy”.
The train that came later, usually two passenger cars and a engine, came from Tipton on a spur track, joining the main track at Stanwood. This train usually made two trips daily, to and from Cedar Rapids to Tipton picking up passengers here, Lisbon and Mt. Vernon. This train was called “The Tipton Plug.”
A depot was built in Mechanicsville in 1859 and Chicago Northwestern were now the owners. This depot burned in 1910 and another was built which served the community until Aug. 13, 1858, when Chicago Northwestern closed the depots at Clarence, Stanwood and Mechanicsville.
Pg 77
MECHANICSVILLE TELEPHONE CO.
Records show that the Mechanicsville Telephone company was organized Jan. 28, 1901 at the home of William Smith, a local attorney. The first officers were G. W. Fall, president; C. N. Buffington, vice-president; and C. E. Gould, secretary. The first franchise was granted to William Helmer, J. H. Onstott, A. F. Fairchild, William Sturgess and Frank Leach who were directors. Soon the company was incorporated. Capitol stock was $3,500; par value $35.00 per share. J. H. Onstott was named treasurer.
The first switch board was installed in the home of Mrs. Rebecca Moffit on the lot now occupied by the H. C. Rinehart store. The first part of the system was completed May 22, 1901. The first operator was Miss Minnie Moffit who served for 7 or 8 years. Wages were $3.00 per week but this was raised to $5.00 per week in 1904.
Mert E. Miller was the first lineman with a salary of $550 per year. He had to furnish his own transportation until 1913 at which time an automobile was furnished for his use.
On June 27, 1903, the office was moved to the upstairs of what was then the Helmer and Gortner State Bank. A lease was signed calling for a rent of $90 per year. It wasn’t until the 1950s that the rent was raised to $30 a month. At this time a place was rented for the storage of poles at $25 per year.
The company was growing and a larger switch board was needed. It was installed on Dec. 14, 1903 and was used until 1938 when a common battery board was installed. This served until the company switched to dial service.
For 2 years prior to dial service the company employed 4 operators, one of whom was Ella Conner who served for 48 years. The top salary for operators was $43.25 per week.
The company, it seems, was rather ambitious; they purchased a number of independent farm lines. They owned nine lines that centraled in Tipton as well as a switchboard in Buchanan. Two of the lines had central connections in both Mechanicsville and Tipton. The arrangement proved rather unsatisfactory, both financially for the telephone company and service-wise for the patrons. In July, 1941, the lines centraling in Tipton were sold to the Iowa Telephone Company in Tipton.
The company had 595 phones by the 1950s and began preparing lines for the dial system. A strip of ground 25 feet wide and 100 feet long north of the alley on North John St. was purchased and a cement block building erected to house dial equipment. Dial service became available June 17, 1958. In a short time more space was needed for an office of the lineman as well as storage for trucks and equipment. The rest of the Conner property was purchased and an addition to the building was erected.
Direct dialing became available in 1959. During the last 10 or 12 years the company has made a very rapid growth. They now have 678 phones and 65 miles of cable and wire. The increase in toll calls has made it necessary for the Northwestern Bell Company to increase the toll circuits from 2 to 19 at the present time. Customers do not have to wait for a line to place a call and get almost immediate action. The consolidation of the school systems placed such a load on communications with Stanwood that 9 circuits had to be provided between the 2 towns.
The last of the patrons were placed on individual lines the first of August 1974.
The Mechanicsville Telephone Company has become one of the stronger independent, locally owned and operated telephone systems in the state.
MECHANICSVILLE TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK
During the Summer of 1903, there was considerable discussion regarding the advisability of starting a second bank in Mechanicsville, Iowa. (Helmer and Gortner Bank had been organized in 1874 and received a charter as a state bank in 1902.) On August 5, 1903 a group of interested citizens met at the City Hall and organized the Mechanicsville Savings Bank. The following officers were elected: D. H. Snoke, President, an attorney of Durant, Iowa; W. C. Page, Vice-President; J. H. Onstott, Secretary; Directors were A. Krumroy, D. H. Snoke, Charles Statler, H. P. Stoffel, J. H. Onstott, W. C. Page, G. W. Fall, C. M. Buffington and J. J. Jackson.
Articles of Incorporation were adopted. Capitol stock was fixed at $25,000 divided into shares of $100 each, fully paid. There were 32 original stockholders. A room was rented from G. Fall for $8 per month; the Charter was issued September 8, 1903; and the Bank was officially opened for business September 14, 1903. Soon the bank purchased the building and lot from Mr. Fall for $2,000. In 1904 the present bank building was erected at a cost of $7,242.
In 1913 the total assets exceeded the $500,000 mark; the capital was increased to $50,000 and the Articles were amended, giving the bank general trust powers and changing the name of the bank to Mechanicsville Trust and Savings Bank. From 1920 to 1933 the Bank became a member of the Federal Reserve System. At that time, there were 18 banks in Cedar County; today there are nine banks.
Bank robberies were frequent occurrences in the Midwest during these early years. In order to provide . . .
Pg 79
. . . added security, a complete electric burglar alarm system was installed in 1919, and was maintained until 1968, when it was replaced by a more modern system.
During the bank failures of the 1930’s when a “run” seemed imminent, the City National Bank of Clinton, Iowa, sent a telegram to the bank pledging support and early the next morning sent an armored car with armed guards which brought in $100,000 in cash. The money was placed in the bank lobby where all could see it, and two local men, ex-soldiers, with army rifles stood guard over it. Those coming in to withdraw their money, and seeing the cash, went out reassured. A “run” had been averted.
During the national bank holiday of 1933 the Mechanicsville Trust and Savings Bank, as did other banks, entered into an agreement with its depositors to set up a trust including certain assets, which would be used to pay back 40% of the deposits, all as provided in Senate File 111. The trustees were D. C. Nell, Richard Jackson and H. J. Maurer. When the final dividend was paid to the Trust Certificate holders, the dividends totaled 101.65% of the face value of the certificates.
A change in the bookkeeping system from a manual posting one to the use of computer facilities was accomplished in 1966. During the same period, the building west of the original bank building was purchased from Hurley Scott and was made part of the banking house. A night depository was added in 1971.
The June 30, 1933 report to the Iowa State Department of Banking showed assets of $212,000; in 1943 they totaled $840,000; today’s assets are approximately $10,000,000.
Emil Webbles, the first cashier received a salary of $60 per month. He served until 1910 and was followed by O. M. Bundy, 1910 to 1919; R. D. Swartzlander, 1919 to 1926; D. C. Bell, 1926 to 1934; John Carville, 1934 to 1952; Robert H. Britcher, 1952 to 1957; L. J. Paulson, 1957 to 1965 and V. J. Hartzell from 1965 to date. During the same period, the following men have served as President of this Bank: D. H. Snoke, 1903 to 1905; H. P. Stoffel, 1905 to 1911; A. T. Spitler, 1911 to 1919; H. P. Stoffel, 1919 to 1922; C. J. Lynch, 1922 to 1937; H. J. Maurer, 1937 to 1965 when the controlling interest of the Bank was sold to V. J. Hartzell. Mr. Hartzell has served as both President and Cashier since 1965.
Present officers and employees and the date of their employment follow: V. J. Hartzell, President and Cashier, 1965; Janet Rybolt, Assistant Vice-President, 1956; Robert L. Davis, Assistant Cashier, 1969; Marilyn Skow, Secretary, 1960; and Tellers, Carol Lovell, 1964; Kathleen Evers, 1966; and Velma Young, 1959.
In addition to V. J. Hartzell and Janet Rybolt, those serving as directors are as follow: F. M. Wilson, who has served as Vice-President since 1964; Merle Clifton, 1965; Don J. Davidson, 1967; Bernice Hartzell, 1965; Harry Jackson, 1946; A. M. Kohl, 1948 and Don Puffer, 1966.
Interesting facts: Mrs. F. M. Wilson, whose husband has served as Vice-President since 1964 and whose father owned Mechanicsville’s first bank, Mr. Page’s Bank, was the first savings account customer of this bank and still has the original passbook dated in 1903.
The clock that was purchased in 1904 and made a part of the Bank still works perfectly and is used in the Bank.
Pg 80
NORTH CEDAR PRESS
The North Cedar Press, the weekly newspaper serving Mechanicsville, is in its 11th year of publication, but traces its lineage to the Mechanicsville Journal first published in 1866.
Publishers of The Journal in 1866 were Ragsdale and Bundy but the ownership changed 12 times in the next four years, a circumstance which prompted a Cedar county historian to write facetiously in 1878 “a change of editors names was made almost as regularly and frequently as the date line. The press upon which the first copies of this journal were printed was the pioneer printing piece of mechanism and is now lost sight of. At present, the press office is supplied with more modern and convenient materials.”
F. J. Williams assumed ownership of the paper March 18, 1870. He was described by a 1910 Cedar county historian as an “original character” and was a Democrat, even though all the previous owners had been Republicans. Williams sold out to W. A. Dorcas, publisher, and H. F. Dorcas, editor, in July 1896 and it was rechristened a Republican paper. The name had been changed to The Press by this time.
The Dorcas brothers soon traded the paper off and it had 4 different owners in as many years. N. F. Purcell bought the paper in June 1900 and remained owner-publisher until 1928, the longest period the paper has been owned by anyone. Purcell changed the name to Pioneer Press.
After Purcell sold it there was a quick succession of owners until August 1939 when Ray Simpson purchased it. Simpson bought the Stanwood Herald in 1940 and consolidated them into The Pioneer Press and Stanwood Herald.
The consolidation made the paper one of the 3 largest Cedar county and it became and remains an official county newspaper. The Simpsons bought the Bennett Gazette and it was published as a separate paper, printed in Mechanicsville.
Mr. Simpson died January 18, 1955, and his widow, Mrs. Helen Simpson, sold the paper to the Conservative Publishing Co., Tipton, the following August.
Hugh Doty, who was associated with George Langdon and Herbert Clark in the Conservative Publishing Co. became editor-publisher of the Press-Herald, September 1, 1955. The firm purchased The Clarence Sun and merged the publications into The North Cedar Press in 1964.
Sally Taylor became editor of The Press in November 1973 while Doty continues as publisher. Mrs. Don Driscoll manages the office.
PIONEER MILL
James High was born in 1814. He and his family settled in Mechanicsville in 1864 and in 1872 founded the Pioneer Mill two miles north of town. The mill was constructed on a portion of 48 acres which he purchased. The capacity of the mill was 75 bushels a day. James Miller, who came from a family of millers originating in Indiana, was the father of Henry High who for 32 years was associated with the Newport mill.
For at least half a century the grounds where this mill was located was the outdoor recreational center for the young people of Mechanicsville. In winter the pond and creek was the setting for wonderful skating parties; in summer an ideal place for picnics. After the mill and pond were gone, the owner, Mrs. Alice Page and family were hosts to a large group of friends for many years on the July 4th picnics. For many years this place was called the “Mill Pond”, with many fond and happy memories remaining.
STOFFEL BROTHERS STORE
Stoffel Brothers Store had its beginnings in August, 1868, when Henry P. Stoffel, who was born in Coblenz, Germany, came from Racine, Wisconsin, to make shoes for the Mechanicsville community. Those were the days when shoe factories and shoe stores were unknown. He brought his bride, Louisa Jennings from Monticello.
In 1892 he added a clothing store, which his son Charles purchased in 1898. An archway connected the two stores.
In 1902 his son Roy purchased the shoe store. He retired in 1952. As the clothing store had previously been sold it brought an end to the Stoffel stores after about 85 years of service to the community.
In 1903 Mr. Stoffel was one of the most energetic organizers of the Mechanicsville Bank and Savings Bank. He served as President and member of the Board of Directors for many years. He and his sons were active in the Masonic order as well as in the bank.
The Stoffels had another son, Earl and a daughter, Gladys (Mrs. H. C. Buell). Mr. Stoffel died Jan. 25, 1926 and his wife in 1935.
Mrs. Alberta Krumroy, daughter of Roy, and her son Kay Don are the only ones of the family now residing in this area.
Pg 81
Picture: An early view of the south side of the east block.
Picture: South side of the west block of the business district looked like this in 1910.
Picture: Another early view of downtown Mechanicsville
Picture: This is a view from the Cherry street intersection looking west in 1914
Picture: The Lincoln Highway went through Mechanicsville’s business district when this photo was taken from the west end near the fire station in 1918.
Picture: Automobiles were becoming popular when this photo was taken in 1920.
Pg 82
Picture: Another early business was Buell and Yule Merchandise. Shown here are Sam Buell, Addie Yule and George Thimmes.
Picture: Pictured in front of the old city bakery were Don Gemberling, Mary Robinson, Mrs. C. E. Gemberling, C. E. Gemberling and John Moir.
Pg 84
Picture: A popular spot in 1930 was Clair Hefflefinger’s restaurant. Shown here are Genevieve Hefflefinger, Ralph Lohman, Bill Hansen and Clair Hefflefinger.
Picture: Florence Taylor, Rex Taylor and Park Yule are shown here in Taylor’s store
Pg 86
Picture: Bill Riddle’s blacksmith shop was a popular spot. Shown here are Clyde Onstott, Cass Riddle, (unknown), Frank Bagley and William Riddle.
Picture: John Thimmes is shown at the “Old Picture Show” which he operated in 1910.
Picture: Belle Butler and Gene Onstott are shown in front of the City Restaurant in 1911
Pg 87
Picture: A Dutch costume party was held in about 1909 at the home of Kathryn Gray at the corner of Cherry and South Streets where Mrs. Bertha Koch lives. Among those attending were, front row, Miss Roberts, Berdena Frazee, May Gortner, Maude Helmer, Mrs. John Lynch and Mrs. Gray. Standing, (left to right) Mrs. Dorman, Mary Fritz, (unknown), Marjorie Crissman, Jane McCormick, Mrs. Chapman, Miss Foxwell, Mrs. Stookey, Mrs. O. H. Helmer, Adda Yule, Mrs. Dickey, Miss Schulz and Winifred McKibben.
Picture: Natural gas came to Mechanicsville in the mid 1960s. Dr. Elmer Littig, then mayor, had the honor of turning the gas on for the first time. Looking on are Councilmen Clarence Maher, Willard Boots, Ronald Albaugh, Hugh Lamont Sr. and Bill Boots as well as Louis Ross of Iowa Electric, who supplies gas to the city.
Pg 88
Picture: The famous blizzard of 1936 created these drifts in front of the Will Robinson home and closed the road for three weeks. It was closed again the night after it was opened.
Picture: The auction of the Bert Eagerty estate in 1957 attracted many curious persons as well as serious bidders and was a highlight of the year.
Picture: The first school in Pioneer Grove given by Pryor Scott. In later years it was sided. Three generations of the Scott family attended school here before consolidation of schools in Mechanicsville was approved in 1920. The original building, though not in use, still stands on the Wilbur Colby farm three miles northwest of town where Douglas Willey lives.
Picture: Members of Mechanicsville’s town baseball team in 1909 included, front row, Cliff Matlock, Dean Stewart, Pony West and Pretty West. Standing, Jim Gunn, Bill Blanch, Dr. Kerr, Rex Taylor, George Onstott, C. E. Gemberling and Little Sam Wilson.
Picture: An early gas station was this one owned by George Dewald and located on the site of the present Yule’s DXX. Dewald is standing at the left near the car.
WEATHER
Through the years Mechanicsville has had varying types of weather, just as we do today. Many extreme conditions remain in memory and some are passed down generation to generation, such as the tornado of 1860, the blizzard of 1936 and of course ice storms, wind storms and heat waves.
In reading the Cedar County History Book of 1878 we found the following snow and rainfall amounts for the years 1860 through 1878:
| Snowfall | Rainfall |
| 1861 44 ¾ inches | 1861 34 ¼ inches |
| 1872 24 ¼ inches | 1872 46 ¾ inches |
| 1873 46 ½ inches | 1873 23 ¼ inches |
| 1874 46 ¼ inches | 1874 38 1/16 inches |
| 1875 28 ¾ inches | 1875 59 ¼ inches |
| 1875 30 ¼ inches | 1876 59 ¼ inches |
| 1876 30 ¼ inches | 1877 57 1/10 inches |
| | 1878 9 ½ inches |
The rainfall amounts for 1878 are not complete, only three months. Apparently records were not kept for the years 1862-1871.
The hottest temperature during these years was 98 degrees and the lowest was -15 degrees. The mildest winter was during the year 1874.
~ * ~ End ~ * ~
