Clinton's Centennial
Temple Studio Aided History
Typical of the early-day photos is this one of Charles Kohler, Mrs. Bertha Lorenzen and Mrs. Albert Miller. It was taken about 1881 when the studio was located at the site of the present postoffice.
1915 Year Local Y. W. Organized: Former Lafayette Lamb HomeUtilized
Credit for arousing interest in the formation of a Y.W.C.A. in Clinton goesto Miss Marguerite Meyer, who was impressed by the work of the organizationwhile affiliated with the University of Chicago unit.
By 1915 over 800 Clintonians had expressed interest in such an organization,and a local group was founded.
Mrs. Mary Welles Coan was the first president.
Through family connections she interested the Carpenter family in purchasingand remodeling the former Lafayette Lamb home and barn into a Y.W.C.A. in memoryof their mother, Olivia Detwiler Carpenter.
Lafayette Lamb's sister, Mrs. W. E. Young, gave the old Chancy Lamb home onthe corner of 7th Ave. S. and 3rd St. upon her death. Thus the Y.W.C.A.became the proud possessor of the quarter block which has meant so much toClinton girls.
Some years ago the Chancy Lamb residence was razed. The former Lambhome has served as the "Y.W." since 1921.
'Fish' Trademark on Many Wagons
Once located at 18th St. and Harrison Drive was a wagon manufacturing concernwhose trademark was well-known throughout the United States.
In the late 1800's the Fish Bros. Manufacturing Co. was shipping hundreds ofwagons from Clinton each year. Most of the firm's trade was in the west,where its Rocky Mountain and Freight wagons were hailed as being among thesturdiest available.
Several hundred men were employed in the plant when it reached peakproduction about 1900.
T. G. Fish was president of the firm; W. J. Young, Jr., vice president; W. P.Murray, secretary and treasurer; E. B. Fish, superintendent.
The Fish family home was located at the corner of 5th Ave. S. and Bluff Blvd.
Along with the Fish brothers, there were two other wagon producing firms inClinton at that time, one operated by P. J. Miller and the other by W. P.Poston.
WWII - The Most Costly in Clinton's 100-Year History
Clinton -- Like every other city -- went wild with joy on V-J Day.
During Clinton's first 100 years, its citizenry has participated in four major celebrations marking the end of war. But at no time was there more jubilation in evidence than on that August day in 1945 when the Japanese surrender marked an end to World War II. In this photo are shown soldiers stationed at Schick holding copies of The Herald's "extra" proclaiming V-J Day.
Cow in Sewer
Mother O'Leary's cow made history as the perpetrator of the Chicagofire. Mother O'Hara's cow in Clinton failed to achieve such notoriety, butshe did win a place in the official city records.
The Clinton animal fell in a sewer. For this catastrophe the citycouncil reimbursed Mrs. Mary O'Hara $22. She receipted for this payment onDec. 9, 1879, by making "X" her mark.
Dressmakers Kept Busy In "Gay 90's"
The Gay Nineties -- which featured lavish dresses for women -- was a lushperiod for dressmakers.
In those days, local stocks of women's clothing were largely limited tocottons and ginghams and it was necessary for the women to utilize the servicesof dressmakers for their more lavish party or "dress up" frocks.
Indicative of the volume of dressmaking business here is the fact that the1896 directory lists 81 dressmakers.
No other profession could claim as many representatives!
First Action Set Poll Tax
Even at the very outset, Clinton city fathers were concerned aboutrevenue. Hence the first ordinance enacted by the city council afterClinton got its charter in 1857 provided a $2 poll tax.
The measure was voted May 27, 1857, at the council's second session. Asrecorded in the council proceedings, the ordinance read:
"Sec. 1. Be it ordained by the common council of Clinton city thata road poll tax of two dollars on each mail resident in Clinton under the age of50 years and over the age of 21 years be hereby levied to be paid within 30 daysand after the expiration of said 30 days to be collected as other taxes in saidcity.
"Sec. 2. That the street commissioner be ordered to notify all personsliable to said tax within 10 days of this action and prepare a list of names tobe deposited with the treasurer."
Benevolent Group Organized in 1885
Now affiliated with the Community Federation, the Clinton AssociateBenevolent society was organized in 1885.
Its first purpose was to provide a more organized form of relief to needychurch members.
Two women from each of the participating churches comprised the originalgroup and in 1886 took the name of Benevolent society.
From an early date the society has employed a relief worker to administer theaffairs of the society.
The Lyons Ladies' Relief society coordinated with the group a number of yearsago.
Early-Day Clinton Grocery Store
This building housed the grocery store operated by Senius Godskesen, left, and L. L. Reese, right, which was discontinued in 1893. It was located on the southwest corner of Second street and Seventh avenue,South. The building is still standing. Reese later became county sheriff.
Dial Telephones Here in 1900's: Tri-City Office on Third Street
Early in the 1900's dial telephones were to be found in many Clinton business firms and homes.
The dial phones were favored by the Tri-City Telephone Co., which had beenorganized in 1895 in competition with the Iowa Telephone Co., a branch of theBell Telephone Co. (The photo is of A. G. Hawley, manager of Tri-CityTelephone Co. in 1909.)
The Tri-City's first exchange was located in the Corbin block, on thesoutheast corner of 5th Ave. S. and 2nd St.
Later a modern building was erected on Third street, the same one nowoccupied by Marhoul Furriers.
Eventually, the Tri-City facilities were purchased by the Bell Telephone Co.,the firm which has serviced Clinton since that time.
Even as this edition goes to press the Bell company is now converting to thedial system in Clinton.
Iron Works Had Popular Product
For many years "The Noyes Double Rotary Saw Mill" produced here bythe Clinton Iron works at 10th Ave. S. and 2nd St. was hailed throughout thelumbering industry as one of the best of its kind on the market.
Col. Frank G. Noyes was the proprietor of the iron works which hit its peakof production and popularity in the 1870's.
Testimonial letters were received from hundreds of mill owners and the firmwas hard-pressed to keep up with orders.
A clipping in the Eau Claire, Wis., Free Press proclaimed in 1871 that"the rotary equipment was unanimously conceded to be the best piece of millmachinery that has ever come into the Chippewa valley."
Gang saw gates and other mill equipment also was manufactured by the ClintonIron Works.
Lyons Had Its Own Waterworks: Reservoir Located at 32nd Ave. N.
Not too many years ago the last reminder of the old Lyons Water Works --which began operations in 1875 -- disappeared.
The company's large reservoir had been located at 32nd Ave. N. and PershingBlvd. and it was still designated on city plats as late as 1942.
It eventually was filled in, however, and the Mrs. Gertrude Ketelsen home nowstands on the site.
First officers of the Lyons Water Works was J. P. Gage, president; HiramGates, vice president; J. C. Root, secretary; J. H. Barnum, treasurer;directors, J. A. Nattinger, William Leimbach, John Gallion and N. Conway.
The works were a combination of the direct pressure and reservoirsystems. The original cost was listed as being $40,000. At one time37 fire plugs and three miles of mains were maintained.
Dancing Always Popular
From the earliest days of Clinton's history dancing has always been a popularpastime. Here's Mrs. Vernon C. Peters and G. Robert Petersen modelingattire which was popular with dancers in grandma's day.
(It doesn't state when the photo was taken, but I think probably the1950's.)
Hughes-Duley Livery Popular: One of Many OnceOperated Here
This picture shows the office of the Hughes-Duley livery business in 1906 when it was located at 114-118 5th Ave. S.
As 1900 was ushered in, no less than eight livery, feed and sale stables wereoperated in Clinton.
One of the better known among these was the one owned by Edward A. Hughes,114 to 118 5th Ave. S.
Many of the old-timers are more familiar with this particular business when afew years later Hughes joined in a partnership and it bore the name "Hughesand Dooley."
Other livery barns were: Champlin Bros., 117-121 6th Ave. S.; Peter Clark,117-119 4th Ave. S.; Z. W. Crouch, 418 Main Ave.; John B. Doran, 509 Main Ave.;E. H. Gheer, 216-218 Main Ave.; Seeber and Hefly, 122 5th Ave. S.; ConradTussing, 137 4th Ave. S.
Somewhat later Hart Bros. operated one of the largest livery and cab lines inClinton.
River Best Road
In the early years of Clinton's history, the best artery of transportationwas the frozen Mississippi. Sheltered by the high bluffs, the river wasnot heavily drifted as were most of the other roads.
However, an occasional tragedy took place when a traveler plunged through theice which had been weakened by the swift current.
Homes Were Spacious, But Lacked 1955 Plumbing
No. 1, residence of Silas Gardiner; No. 2, St. Irenaeus Church; No. 3,residence of George Gardiner; No. 4, residence of Charles Welles; No. 5,residence of D. J. Batchelder; No. 6, residence of S. B. Gardiner; No. 7,residence of Will T. Joyce; No. 8, residence of C. L. McMahan; No. 9, LyonsMethodist church; No. 10, Episcopal church and rectory.
'Tramp' Problem
"Tramps" posed a serious problem to Clinton city authorities in 1874.
It is estimated that on a single day during that period as many as 2,000 vagrants gathered in the city.
An early history reports, "Their behavior became more and more ruffianly and insolent, until many were severely handled by the police. MarshalBadger shot one through the body after the desperado had covered him with apistol and Marshal McKinley, with a huge club, knocked down and arrested adesperate and threatening crowd."
Trio of Flour Mills in 1910: All Three Have Now Disappeared
(The photo is of J. W. Henderson who was the owner of the Riverside Milling Co. backin 1909.)
By 1910 there were three flour mills in Clinton, all of which have sincedisappeared.
The Clinton Milling Co. was located at 615 S. 1st St., Model Roller Mills,corner of Main Ave. and 3rd St. and the Riverside Milling Co., northeast cornerof 1st Ave. and 2nd St.
The old Model Mill, more commonly known as Struve's mill, was dismantled inrecent years.
These two pictures were on the same page as a letter from President Eisenhower congratulating Clinton on her 100th birthday.
Clintonians all dressed up in "Gay Nineties"
(Does anyone happen to recognize any of these folks?)
The second picture is of workers laying new street car tracks at 6th Ave. S.and 2nd St.
SOURCE: Centennial Edition, Clinton Herald, Clinton Iowa, 18 June 1955