5/25/2006
Marilyn Dodgen (Editor's note: My thanks to Ron and Sharon Larson of Renwick, who furnished information and photos for this article). Renwick is one of many small Iowa towns that have passed their 100th year, and will be honoring their 125th year this summer, with a community-wide celebration. Tucked into the northeast corner of Humboldt County and the Wright County line, the site was surveyed in November of 1881. The completion earlier that year of the Toledo branch of the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad made this an ideal site for a town. The town plat was filed by the Western Lot Company on Jan. 24, 1882. The land was then sold by lots. Historians disagree as to whether it was the engineer or a conductor on one of those trains that suggested the town be named after him, Mr. Renwick. It was later noted that the town and surrounding county was well settled by an enterprising, thrifty class of people. Land was cheap and crops were good, encouraging persons seeking homes and new locations for their businesses to settle there. Those hardy pioneers survived and endured many hardships, including Iowa blizzards, summer drought, grasshopper scourges, and financial struggles. Disease and sickness took a heavy toll, including smallpox, diphtheria and pneumonia. But, in spite of such adversity, the town grew and became a thriving community moving into the next century. The A. B. Richardson General Merchandise Store had the longest running business in Renwick, having been established in 1882. A son, Carroll, followed his father in the business and the store remained a prominent fixture until it closed in 1953. The town also had five grocery stores at one time on Main Street. Dr. L.R. Turner was the town doctor for forty-eight years, beginning in 1908. He delivered 4,800 babies during his years in the community. He retired to Colorado and returned in 1968 when the Izaak Walton League dedicated and named their new lodge in his honor. The importance of their religious beliefs was evident, with the early establishment of several church groups, including the Baptists, Methodists and Lutherans, and the construction of their church buildings. They joined together with other church groups in the rural areas and in surrounding towns, putting down roots that are still firmly planted and keeping today's citizens well attached to their religious beliefs. Education was also a primary concern and Renwick soon turned their attention to establishing a good school system. The first class to graduate from RHS, did so from a large frame building in 1896. In 1916, a three-story brick school building was constructed in the north part of town. That building houses the Boone Valley Implement and Hardware business today. In 1956, Renwick, Hardy and Vernon Consolidated schools reorganized to become the Boone Valley Community School On Jan. 29, 1916, there was a special township meeting held to discuss the possibility of forming a consolidated school district in Vernon Township, five miles north and west of Renwick. A vote in favor of consolidation took place in May, and contracts were let for the construction of a three-story brick schoolhouse. The first classes were held in the fall of 1916, and this was only the third consolidated school in the State of Iowa. The building had its own independent light plant for the first two years, and the students, who were farm children, were picked up in horse drawn busses. A bus barn was built and was used as a gym until a real gymnasium was built in 1935. The 1920s and 1930s were the golden years of many small towns and Renwick enjoyed their highest population during that time, with 550 citizens recorded in the census. In 1931, a butter/creamery business was established in the center of downtown. It was gradually converted into a cheese plant by owners Arthur and Emaline Gimer (great-grandparents of Vivian Kitley of rural Hardy). Vivian said the butter churn was so large she could crawl into it, as a child, and she and her siblings loved eating the cheese curds. They also played on the conveyor rollers and were fortunate that they never got hurt doing it. Her dad, Ernest Pergande, drove the cream truck. In 1967, the Gimers purchased the Pioneer Cheese factory, which by that time had established a fine reputation in the cheese business. Their factory was located north of town. An earlier cheese factory was owned by nine Swiss farmers and established in the late 1800s. Ernie Macha, who moved to the area in 1937 from Wisconsin, had tried to purchase the factory, and when that didn't work out (there were 81 heirs to deal with), he built his own factory down the road from the original one. Macha worked with the Rosedale Creamery out of Fort Dodge. They delivered a lot of cheese in Iowa, selling and delivering it by the box to grocery stores. Towards the end, most of his cheese was shipped in barrels, by truck, to Kraft Foods in Chicago. His son, Ellis of rural Renwick, said that his dad made the decision to sell the business when milk became harder to buy. He said that the farmers were tired of being tied down with cows to milk and were going from raising livestock to grain farming. Many other small town cheese plants closed during the 60s for the same reason. His dad went into farming following the sale of his cheese factory. The building is still standing. The elder Gimers made an apartment upstairs over the plant and their cheese business flourished for the next 50 years. Their sons, Harl and Tom, eventually took over the business after learning the process as they grew up. The cheese business closed in 1984. Tom's widow, Marie, lives in Iowa Falls. The 30s brought financial stress through the Depression, and several businesses had to close during this decade. This small community also sustained a tragic loss, when on Oct. 22, 1937, 26 high school students, two teachers and a bus driver were in a bus that was struck by a train while on a tour of the Mason City Brick & Tile Co. The bus driver, Rex Simpson, the two teachers, Dorothy Ross and Lauren Morton, and seven students were killed, and many of the other students suffered severe injuries. Donald Amosson, Jimmie Bell, Lillian Cedar, Norman Eggerth, and Patsy Turner, Lowell Kelling and Albert Siemens were the students killed. Such a loss could only be sustained by a community of strong faith. Following the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, several farmers in the area hired an attorney to help establish a co-op that they named Boone Valley Cooperative. An agreement was made with Renwick for the purchase of wholesale power, and a franchise was granted for the building of electric lines. William H. Helmke, through his volunteer hours spent gaining member signatures for the R.E.A. loan application, helped the co-op to success. He was elected the first president of the cooperative and served until his retirement in 1954. A dairyman, he delivered the bottled milk into the customers' small milk boxes setting near the street. On Dec. 2, 1936, Howard Barton, superintendent of the Renwick Municipal Plant, climbed a pole at the Helmke farm and made the connection that was to bring the first Iowa farm family electricity, one of the first in the nation. Twenty interested people, including friends and neighbors, witnessed the event, as 43 miles of distribution lines were activated, making the Boone Valley Electric Co-op the first one energized under the R.E.A. loan program. The luxuries they enjoyed with this new innovation are considered necessities today. The old electric plant still stands just off main street in Renwick. During the 1993 ice storm, one of the antique generators was activated and provided the town with power during the days when surrounding towns were without for many days. On June 28, 1979, Renwick was one of several communities in the area to be struck by a tornado system that split and destroyed a large portion of Manson. The other half traveled over Algona, causing great destruction, hit Goldfield and then moved towards Renwick, taking the roof off of the Vernon schoolhouse. Renwick had to evacuate the residents due to the rupture of two ammonia tanks that were leaking fumes. A year before that tornado, Ron and Sharon Larson had purchased the vacated Vernon School site and had created what was to be the first athletic club in this area. They had gymnastics, team sports, a pre-school, and other activities. Ron had graduated from that school and he enjoyed giving new life to the old school site. He and Sharon lived in a house nearby. The project had to be abandoned following the extensive damage of the tornado. In 1988, the Boone Valley School District was dissolved due to declining enrollment. Most students became part of the Humboldt School system when new borders were drawn up. Some families opted to become part of the Clarion/Goldfield and Corwith/Wesley-LuVerne schools. Today there are over 20 active businesses and organizations in Renwick; churches include the United Methodist, the Baptist and St. Paul Lutheran Churches; organizations include the Delta Phi Sorority, Hi Neighbors, the Masonic Lodge (Eastern Star merged with the Eagle Grove Lodge), Izaak Walton, and the Cosmopolitan Club. The Harvey McPeak American Legion Post limits their activities to special military-related occasions, parades and funerals. Farm related businesses are the Gold Eagle Cooperative, Boone Valley Implement / Hardware, the Pioneer Hi-Bred International, and the Hefty Seed Company and a new business, Watts Landscaping. Trucking businesses include S & H Trucking and Dan Kraft Trucking. Construction includes The Carpenters and Rick Rodgers Construction. There is a U. S. Post Office, a Public Library, Millie Nelson's Pro-Advantage Insurance firm, Garry-Roberts-Murphy-Schaaf Funeral Home, and until recently, a branch bank. The City Council and several private citizens are attempting to bring another bank in to serve Renwick. The town is also very proud of their volunteer fire department and ambulance service. Other businesses include: Legacy Restaurant and Martini Bar, Palmer Pools & Spas / Randy's Rec Room, Harry's Place, W&H Convenience Store, M&L Enterprises, Cars New and Used, Repairs and Towing, Renwick Motors, BV Auction Service, Jo's Beauty Hut, Boone Valley Newsletters, and Rick's Sport Cards. Renwick is a closely-knit small town, where neighbors care for their neighbors. They are planning a three-day celebration, crammed full of activities to be enjoyed by people of all ages, on June 2, 3, and 4. Posters listing the activities are posted in surrounding communities and plans are being finalized for the parades, car and antique displays and other activities on Saturday, June 3.
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The Humboldt
Independent • Official paper of Humboldt County
Telephone: (515)
332-2514 |
