Part of the IAGenWeb Project
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
This site is supported by Friends of IAGenWeb  |
Just barely across the border of the northwest corner of Decatur County, into Clarke County, is the town of Hopeville.
The first white settlers in Clarke County were Mormon emigrants who started from Nauvoo, Illinois, in 1846, with the hope of reaching Salt Lake City. When they came to the region that is now Clarke County, they became separated from the larger group of emigrants, and tarried for a while. They erected cabins at a place which they called "Last Camp, " planted corn, and remained for a year or two before moving on westward.
In 1850 the first permanent settlement was made in the vicinity of Hopeville, Doyle Township, Clarke County, Iowa. This was known at the time as "Hopewell Colony." The following year, a post office was requested for
"Hopewell" but there already was a Hopewell in Mahaska County. Thus, the name of "Hopeville" was adopted and a post office was established, becoming one of the two earliest settlements in Clarke County. The town reached its peak in 1875 with 332 citizens. In 1906, it was believed that two railroads (one from Sioux City to St. Louis; the other from Creston to Osceola) would pass through Hopeville. However, the railroads bypassed Hopeville and the community started to slowly decline.
Today Hopeville is almost a ghost town with a population fluctuating around 20 people. However, Hopeville's population more than doubles every
2nd Sunday in September when the town hosts the Hopeville Rural Music Reunion, held in the County Park Square.
The Rural Music Reunion has been held free annually since 1979. It is a reunion of area country and bluegrass musicians to play together just for fun. It is not a contest, and there is no admission to play or attend.
Old-style songs on acoustic instruments is the norm, although a full sound system is provided. Hopeville is one of the longest running free music festivals in Iowa. Musicians play free and come and go throughout the day. No group is ever booked in advance. The morning church service begins the day, followed by jam sessions. Lunch is
available on the grounds. Music winds down roughly at 5 p.m.
Creston News-Advertiser
This will be the fifth-annual cribbage tournament, with the last three held in conjunction with the rural music reunion. The tournament is named after Jim Overholtzer, the longtime postmaster of Grand River and master at cribbage. The first cribbage tournament was held in 2010.
His family purchase a trophy each year to award to the tournament winner. The tournament is open to anyone at no charge. Each contestant plays five games of cribbage against other contestants of their choice. The person with the highest overall score after five games is the winner. Most of the games are played on picnic tables under shade trees in the northeast corner of the park.
Finding Hopeville can be a problem for newcomers. It is the oldest town in Clarke County and is located almost at the confluence of Ringgold, Union, Clarke, and Decatur counties. No paved road goes to Hopeville, and the population in town is about 20 people. However, the event draws hundreds of visitors annually for free music and a reunion with friends in the shaded park. The closest paved road is the county paved road south of Murray. The Clarke County Conservation Board will have signs up from that highway to direct newcomers to Hopeville.
For more information about the festival, contact Chris Duncan at the Clarke Conservation Board at 641-342-3960. For cribbage tournament information, contact John Klein at 712-309-5992.
Osceola Sentinel-Tribune
HOPEVILLE — On Sunday, Sept. 11, the tiny town of Hopeville will hold its 38th annual Hopeville Rural Music Reunion.
Along with a day of music, the festival will also host a local cribbage tournament for old time card players. Hopeville is an “almost” ghost town in southwest Clarke County. The rural music reunion has been held free annually since 1979. It is a reunion of area country and bluegrass musicians to play together just for fun. It is not a contest, and there is no admission to play or attend. Old style songs on acoustic instruments is the norm, although a full sound system is provided.
Hopeville is one of the longest running free music festivals in Iowa. Musicians play free and come and go throughout the day. No group is ever booked in advance. Music winds down roughly at 5 p.m.
The Jim Overholtzer Memorial Cribbage Tournament will be held simultaneously with the old time music festival. Card players must think with live music in the background. The rural music reunion starts before noon and the cribbage tournament soon afterwards in the northeast corner of the Hopeville Square County Park.
This will be the sixth annual cribbage tournament. It’s namesake is the late longtime postmaster of nearby Grand River and master at cribbage. Hopeville has not had a post office since the 1930s. His family purchases a trophy each year to award to the tournament winner.
The tournament is open to anyone at no charge. Each contestant plays five games of cribbage against other contestants of their choice. The person with the highest overall score wins. Games are played on picnic tables under shade trees. Janice Vandervelde of Des Moines was the 2015 cribbage winner.
Finding Hopeville can be a problem for newcomers. It is the oldest town in Clarke County and is located almost at the confluence of Ringgold, Union, Clarke and Decatur counties. No paved road goes to Hopeville.
The current population in town fluctuates around 20 people. However, the event draws hundreds of visitors annually for a reunion with friends and music in the shaded park. The closest paved road is R15, the county paved road going south of Murray. Festival organizers will have signs up from that highway to direct newcomers to Hopeville.
For more festival information, contact Cheryl German in Hopeville at 641-447-2699. For cribbage information, contact John Klein at 712-309-5992.
SOURCES:Mullen, Elvera V. (Johnson). History of Hopeville.
| ||||
HOPEVILLE — The 2015 Hopeville Rural Music Reunion that will be held in Hopeville on Sunday, Sept. 13, will also host a local cribbage tournament for old time card players. The Jim Overholtzer Memorial Cribbage Tournament will be held ongoing with the old time music festival in the background. The rural music reunion will start roughly at noon and the cribbage tournament will begin at 12:30 p.m. in the northeast corner of the Hopeville Square County Park.
The Hopeville Rural Music Reunion is also a free music event that has run annually since 1979. It is a reunion of area country and bluegrass musicians to play together and learn from each other. It is one of the longest running free music festivals in Iowa.