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Picture of the Memorial Building

THE MEMORIAL BUILDING

       Shortly after the beginning of the Second World War Stanwood citizens began talking about the possibility of erecting a fitting memorial to those from this community who served their country in World Wars I and II. The American Legion, Hegarty-Busching Post #348 decided to call a public meeting to discuss the project. A fairly representative group of people of Stanwood and surrounding area attended this meeting, held in the Stanwood school building October 26, 1944.

       The plans called for a Board of Trustees of seven members, four to represent the surrounding community and three for the town proper. The surrounding area was divided into four districts, Highway 30 and Highway 38 serving as quadrants. Walter Lehrman was elected trustee for the northwest district, George Thumma for the northeast district, Ed Crist for the southeast district, and Lawrence Kroemer for the southwest district. Within the town of Stanwood, Glenn Ridenour represented the business men, Fred Young, the town Council, and Elmer Barnes, the American Legion Post. Glenn Ridenour accepted the chairmanship of the Board and Fred Young was made Secretary-treasurer.

       By the middle of November 1944, the drive for funds was in full swing. No definite quota was set, but the response was good. On January 1, 1948 a total of $17,949.67 in donations and interest had been collected toward the erection of the Memorial Building.

       On September 22, 1948 Glenn Ridenour resigned as chairman and Ed Crist took his place. A new member was added to the Board: Earl Paist. A year later George Thumma resigned from the board and Harold Meyer was appointed to fill this vacancy.

       Before the site for the new building was finally settled upon, two other sites were considered, namely the present site of the library and lots where Don Flockhart’s home is now located. Eventually the old Legion building was traded to Clyde Jackson for this building which stood on the present site of the Memorial Building.

       As soon as the Jackson building was torn down (June 1951), the basement for the new building was dug and soon the work of the actual construction begun. Wayne Schoff did most of the building and Art Koering did the electrical and plumbing. The Lowden Plumbing and Heating Co. put in the heating system. Eager hands of many volunteers augmented the hired labor thus hastening the day of completion. The basement was ready for use some time before the main floor was entirely finished. The building was dedicated late in 1953 in a special ceremony, with Judge Penningroth as the speaker.

       Originally the Board of Trustees thought that the Memorial Building would be self-supporting, but this idea proved impracticable. On March 9, 1954 the operation of the building was turned over to the American Legion, Hegarty-Busching Post #348. The Legion has maintained the building since that time.

       As the Memorial Building serves this community as a meeting place for a wide variety of organizations, it achieves continually the purpose for which it was built, namely to keep alive the memory of the men who represented you and me as Uncle Sam’s servants in World War I and World War II.

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Served in the Legislature:

Pictures:
Robert G. Cousins, LL.D., Served one session in Iowa House. Served U.S. House 1893-1909 1885-1887
T. B. Miller State Representative – Republican Civil War veteran 1896-1900
F. L. Milton State Representative – Democrat 1911-1913
C. L. Rigby State Senator, 2 terms – Republican 1924-1932
A. W. Jackson State Representative – Republican 1917-1919 (No picture)

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Conversation Page

Pictures:
W. S. Graft, Good Roads Advocate, Stanwood, Ia.
Charles Rigby home now occupied by Paul Lehrman, 102 N. Elm Street
Strieby house now home of Keith Paulson, 306 1st Avenue
Will Smith, insurance agent, jeweler and watch repair work
William Preston Home built with brick from tile factory. West end of Preston Street. Later owned by Dick Gallmeyer
First house built in Stanwood 201 East Center, occupied by Cora Mitchell
First filling station in town gas was pumped for a barrel in this little shed. Homer Hart Garage.

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Conversation Page

Pictures:
John Gerber well known car racer who built his cars in the garage at the rear of Minnie Lehrman home, now occupied by Steve Kutschat, 301 1st Avenue
Lincoln Highway looking east. The year before the paving was put in. It is planked so that cars may pass over the mud holes.
Little German Band – Left to right, Jay Wilkins, Alfred Meyer, Elmer Meyer, Bateman, Kahler, Charles Findlay and Henry Busching
Harry Filson and his airplane 1919 Don Hart’s pasture
Charles Moffit, well known stock car racer, Raced 1950’s and 1960’s