'A CENTURY OF MEMORIES'
OF VAN WERT, DECATUR COUNTY, IOWA

1880 - 1980

OPERA HOUSE
 
In the early days the Van Wert Opera House was the center of social life for our prominent citizens. Chatauquas, lectures, music recitals, high school entertainement, out-of-town entertainers and community programs were held there. An old Van Wert Record dated September 21, 1909, introduced a great society play to our town entitled "East Lynn". Ticket prices were 15 cents, 25 cents and 35 cents. Belding's Store was listed as the place to purchase advance reservations.

Tuesday, October 12, 1909's Van Wert Record advertised "The Irish Senator" with admission prices of 25 cents, 35 cents and 50 cents. One wonders did inflation work that fast in those days, too?

On December 23, 1909, a "home talent play" entitled "The Deacon", was performed at the Opera House. Those members of the cast were as follows:
Miss Ida Thompson; Fern Lantz; Miss Inez Seymour; Loran Thompson;
Cliff Johnson; Ray Lantz; Arta Smith; Alice Leffler;
Raymond Storey; Charles Allen; Gary Saylor; Orban Hanks;
John Smith; Will Fuller; Miss Edith Lantz; Miss Clella Thompson.
Appearing in the Van Wert Record the following week, there appeared the following statement: "The Deacon" was a huge success. Proceeds were well over $70.00. The cast is greatly enthused and will go on to play at the Decatur City Opera House on December 31, 1909."

In February, 1915, one whole block of Van Wert's businesses burned, including the booming Opera House. Before she died, Arta Smith recalled practicing a play in the Lodge Hall, located north of the Opera House when the basement fire broke out. Several folks congregated nearby in such places as on top of the old hotel porch to watch the row of buildings burn. In the "Good Old Days" Van Wert had no Fire Department or fire equipment to battle the fire, just a "bucket brigade" fought the blazes. It was a helpless feeling, indeed, and such a loss to the community.

Even though the Opera House burned, the spirit of drama still sprang up from time to time.

Leonard Mallatt recollects an old dance platform in the city park where plays were often held.
 
PICADILLY PALACE
In 1976, the third floor of the schoolhouse was remodeled and opened June 6th as the "Picadilly Palace - Supper Club". Ray Russell, the elementary music teacher for the Clarke Community Schools, was the manager with Mike Rowe, our present mayor, as assistant.

The "Palace" idea originated one evening when Rowe and Russell were having dinner at the Van Wert Cafe. Both had an interest in theatre and nothing in particular to do for the summer, so they decided to undertake the opening of the dinner club. They went to several auctions to obtain materials useful in their endeavor, held tryouts, made costumes and received others as donations. They wallpapered and rented the entire third floor of the old schoolhouse for $1.00. Rent was low because the owner of the building felt the community needed this type of entertainment. Ray Russell acted as director and all players doubled as waitresses and waiters.

The theatre was a huge success, booked solid every night it was open, with people coming from as far as Des Moines regularly. Channel 8 featured one of the rehearsals which helped spread the word of the club's existence.

Due to the low admission cost ($3.50, $4.50 and $5.50 for meal and performance), the operators had a net profit of $6.00 each all summer, but thoroughly enjoyed their service to the community.

A list of all cast members is as follows:
Ray Russell, Mike Rowe, Beth Rowe, Jeff Edwards,
Linda Emary, Ruth Prochaska, Kent Christensen, Paul Henricks,
Laura Lewis, Sue Glen and Clyde Alspauch.
In the fall school started and both men had to return to the duty of teaching school. There was no way of heating the building without great cost during the winter months and when spring came, the cafe had been closed, people had moved away, etc., so the "Palace" never reopened. Its' time of existence was short but sweet and its enjoyment will live on in our memory for years to come.
 
MOTION PICTURES
Motion pictures were once a source of entertainment in Van Wert. The July 8, 1909 Van Wert paper said this about moving pictures: "We hesitate to mention so delicate a subject but will say in brief: 'It was a failure.' Now we don't pretend to know anything about moving pictures so we'll not try to place the blame but wish to exonerate our committees who were assured that the pictures would be satisfactory. The committee thought they were giving Van Wert something extra in the way of an evening of entertainment, but were disappointed."

Occasionally in the early 1950s, an outdoor movie screen was put up near where the fire station now stands and those people coming to town on Wednesday night could view the show from their cars. These shows were put on by the Community Theatre. Billy and Malcolm Tiedje ran this theatre from 1942 through the early 1950s. They had what was known as a circuit theatre and showed the movies in different towns during the week. Their first show building was the stucco building south of the new Tiedje station. They moved later to the building where Dean Houck's office now is located. As with most things, progress took its toll and television began to replace the movies.

Among the first owners of a T.V. set were Don and Jeanette Fry. They had a Crosley cabinet model which served them for several years. The decision was made to purchase a television when visiting the David Fry residence. Their daughter, Donna, about two at the time, thoroughly enjoyed the new wonderment. Another early television owner was Randal Cox and his family.
  
TOWN BAND
The first known record of a town band in Van Wert was in 1895 and 1896. The name of the band was Van Wert's Cornet Band. Theodore L. Rowe was the leader.

Another town band was started in June of 1909. The Van Wert Record said the following in an article dated August 11, 1910:

"Band Re-organized -- prospects are good for a 20-piece band. The maximum, 'history repeats itself', is fully demonstrated by the bands of small towns. They exist in a mysterious 'presto chango' now you see it and now you don't fashion and the small town hardly knows when they have a band. In the various exchanges that come to our desk, we frequently see headlines like the above, but we do not intend that these things shall affect our present organization that purports to be a much stronger band than we have ever had before.

"Since last week we have had two meetings. At the first meeting the following officers were elected: T.R. Storey, President; Eugene Branaum, Secretery and C.L. Wolfe, Treasurer; H.O. Tuttle, leader and bandmaster. New bylaws are in the hands of the committee and will be adopted soon.

"The instrumentation will be as follows when the present plans are perfected:

"H.O. Tuttle, lead cornet;
Ed Kelly, clarinet;
C.L. Wolfe, A.E. Blair, V.T. Lindsay, M.E. Boatman and Don Price, cornets;
Mr. McGrew, solo alto;
Frank Rush and Forrest Allen, first and second altos;
Chas. Fisher, baritone;
Gene Branaum and Loren Thompson, trombones;
Cliff Johnson and Charles Rushing, tenor;
Raymond Storey, tuba;
G.W. Johnson and J.T. Holt, drummers.

 "There are three or four other candidates who are on the fence for different reasons, then there are other boys who have not been solicited. Not a stone will be left unturned, however, before we get fully organized for we are determined to have a twenty piece band before we quit soliciting. Boys, young men and married men, not quite so young, are all invited and urgently requested to join our band; it may be that we have overlooked you in our soliciting. If we have, remember the invitation is open to all who will, to become members of Van Wert's new band. Some new instruments will be procured at once and then we will get down to business in earnest.

"The rehearsal on Monday was good and we feel proud of the interest taken by each member as well as the businessmen citizens.

"The band wishes to thank the businessmen who have already shown their appreciation by clearing up a portion of the indebtedness against our bass drum; we expect to redeem the balance just as soon as we can as we will also do with the tuba."

In the 1930s, the famous Hatcher Players were in Van Wert.

The Saints Band played for dances and benefit programs. They were together from July 1953 to May 1955. The band members were as follows:

Don Foland, trombone; Marion Thompson, sax; Benny Woosley, trumpet; Carroll Fuller, drum; Dick McKern, guitar; Chuck McKern, bass fiddle.

Russell Kernen also got together a band which played from January 1952 until March of 1953. The members of this band were:

Russell Kernen, trumpet; Jean Kernen, accordion; Carroll Fuller, drum (Bing Corsbie played drums first); Marion Thompson, sax; Don Foland, trombone; Geraldine Larkins, piano; Shannon Edwards, banjo; Nolan Foland, and later Dewey Hatfield, on the fiddle.
 
HOMECOMINGS
Homecoming Celebrations held in Van Wert were yet another source of enjoyment for Van Wert's people. The three day celebrations served as a time for family reunions or just old plain get-togethers. For the people of the town, it was often a profitable time. Leonard and Christy Mallatt recalled that for three years straight Bass and Fern Mallatt, and they ran a small stand. It was hard work but they made a little money and had a lot of fun.

"One particular year, they purchased ice cream in Des Moines which was packed in dry ice. Leonard said it was 80 degrees or better that day and the container of ice cream was set out in the hot sun all day. The other stand operating that day had run out of ice cream so the Mallatts decided to serve ice cream even if it was soup. They opened the container and found the dry ice had kept the ice cream so hard they couldn't even dip it. He then recalled another time when he was sleeping on a cot inside the stand and a friend slipped up and tied his feet to the cot. He laughed and said, "He still won't let me forget it."

At one Homecoming, Davy Jones danced with the gypsies. He lost his billfold because his partner was a very good pick-pocket.

Huge crowds always attended the Homecomings. It was very similar to today's County Fair. Jim Watson, father of Clyde Watson, for many years was in charge of displaying fruit and vegetables in the large tent set up in town. In the late 1930s, due to failure of Van Wert to apply for grant money, the State help for the Homecomings was turned over to Leon and from that time on, such celebrations were held there.
 
TOWN PARK
As early as 1910, our fair city had a town park. The land was donated by a generous citizen, Mr. Corbett, and still remains there today. The town park has been the scene for many family reunions and town celebrations, such as the children's Fun Day which was held there in the 1970s. After the Van Wert school was closed, playground equipment was transferred from the school ground to the park. Later the town purchased the big barrel for the enjoyment of our youth.
 
FUN DAY
The first Van Wert Fun Day was held June 8, 1974. The idea originated with the Mayor and Town Council (Don McClure, Mayor; Colleen Kastler, Eddie Parmer, Ron Parmer, Gloria McClure and Bert Grimm, Council Members). The original idea was to set aside one day each summer for the kids of Van Wert to enjoy. The first such day is said to have been the best. An Antique car show, parade, games, contests and a special appearance by Floppy was enjoyed. Trophies were given to the youngest and oldest citizen in town, Bill Belsor being the oldest and Mandy Collins, the youngest. The trophies were purchased from raffle money and donations and were also given for contests such as the egg race, sack race, wheelbarrow race, etc. Contests were for any age who wanted to enter. Several young couples engaged in the activities as well as a score of kids.

Jerry's T.V. Shop donated the television set, which was raffled off. At 3:00 that day, it began to pour down rain, ending the first Fun Day. The following day, the Van Wert Saddle Club held a rodeo in the town arena.

From 1975 to 1978, the Fire Department and Lions Club continued the Fun Day festivities. None was held in 1979.

Pages 129 - 134
 
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