Iowa Old Press
Dunlap Reporter
Dunlap, Harrison County, Iowa
July 10, 1914
EARLY MORNING FIRE
One of the fiercest fires that Dunlap has experienced occurred early Wednesday morning, which destroyed the ice house owned by Frank MERRITT and the Implement warehouse owned by DAVIS and MOORE.
About three o'clock the fire was discovered by Professor KENNY, of Woodbine, one of the owners of the WOOD Telephone Company, who was sleeping in a room in the chamber of the company's garage, near the burned buildings. When he saw it the ice house was all ablaze. He immediately gave the alarm as best he could. The hotel people were aroused, and Messrs. Kenny and Art JENSEN started to ring the fire bell. The rope to the bell in some manner got twisted, and they could only make a few strokes. Then Jim BONAR climbed the tower and pounded the old bell with a hammer. On account of the trouble with the bell, the fire department was not aroused as quickly as usual, but they soon arrived. Then the ice house was beyond any help and the attention of the boys was directed to the DAVIS and MOORE building. They made strenuous efforts, but the fire was so hot that the stream of water had but little effect on the building, and it was nearly destroyed. The north portion still stands, but is of little or no value. The contents of the building were nearly destroyed, about the only salvage being a mower and a binder or two, and some piping and pumps in the north end. As it was all done so quickly, and the warehouse was filled with smoke, it was almost impossible to carry out any of the machinery.
As to the origin of the fire there are a few well defined rumors, but the Reporter does not deal in rumors. It seems to be the general opinion that the fire started in a sort of a lean to on the west side of the main building of the ice house.
The loss of DAVIS and MOORE was the heaviest, being put by them at $6.500 on building and stock was insured for $2,000 only.
Mr. MERRITT'S ice was covered with a thick coating of sawdust and most of it was left uninjured. He has taken steps to protect this by building a temporary building over it.
LOCAL NEWS
Mrs. B.H. CUTLER and Miss Edith KERR were Omaha visitors Wednesday.
Mrs. E. SCHLENSIG and daughter, Eva, left yesterday for Bassett, Nebraska to visit relatives.
Miss Hazel WILSON and Jessie WILKINS, of Woodbine, were guests of Miss Gladys WETTENGEL July 4th.
Mrs. Jas. STEWART and daughter, Edna, of Manilla, were guests at the A.E. SMITH home over the Fourth and Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. Sam ACKER and two daughters, Erma and Faye, were guests at the Fred WETTENGEL home over the Fourth.
Ed REMDE is building a big barn on his farm just south of town, the main part of which will be 24 x 48 with a 16 foot shed around it.
Mrs. G.A. CONRAD, daughter, Sarah and son, Robert, returned home last evening from Grinnell and Des Moines where they have been visiting friends for the past few days.
Miss Marjorie BARRETT left yesterday morning for Atlantic to visit a school friend a few days. At Missouri Valley she was joined by Miss May DEUR, who will accompany her.
Mr. and Mrs. Fred LANDIS left Tuesday for Frego, Wisconsin to visit Fred's brother and family. Fred says the fishing is good in that corner, and he promised to send us one on ice if he had a good run of luck.
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Dunlap Reporter
Dunlap, Harrison County, Iowa
July 24, 1914
J. W. WRIGHT TAKES BRIDE
The following article clipped from the News, of Mansfield, Washington, tells of the marriage of a former Dunlap boy, the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. H. WRIGHT, of this place:
"The many friends of Mr. J.W. WRIGHT and Miss Clara E. CHESTER in this part of the county were surprised last Monday morning when they announced that they were married and had been joined in the holy bonds of matrimony since the 30th day of June. Unbeknown to their closest friends, they were married in Couer d'Alene, Idaho, on the last day of last month. Upon returning to Douglas County, Mrs. WRIGHT went immediately to her old home in Bridgeport, while "Mike" busied himself with the work of getting the construction of his new building under way, and the community was none the wiser, although there were many rumors afloat.
Miss CHESTER was a popular member of Bridgeport's society circles, where she has been teaching music for a number of years. J.W. WRIGHT is well known throughout the Big Bend where he has been identified with the WRIGHT Brothers Lumber Company for several years and is at present the vice president of that firm. He was one of the first to start in business in the new town of Mansfield and was the first mayor of the town. The happy couple will be at home to their friends in Mansfield after July 20. The News joins their many friends in offering congratulations.
OBITUARY
DEATH OF MRS. MESENBRINK
Monday evening, July 20, occurred the death of Mrs. Mary MESENBRINK at the home of her son, Henry MESENBRINK, four miles North of Dunlap. A paralytic stroke was the cause of her death. The deceased was seventy-five years of age and leaves to mourn her loss, six sons. For many years she has made here home with her son, Ed, at Earling, but for the last month has resided with her son near Dunlap. The funeral was held from the Catholic Church at Denison Wednesday morning.
LOCAL NEWS
Monday last, Frank DIXON, Jas. GRADY and Miss Mary LEDDEN left for Lake Okoboji, where they will join the party of Dunlap citizens already at the lakes.
J.M. PETT and family traveled to Woodbine by auto Sunday.
Jack TERRILL purchased a fine span of gray three-year-old colts for farm work.
Harry HUNTINGTON and wife traveled by auto to Dunlap and then to Dow City Monday.
Charlie TREFT and wife came for a visit with home folks last week.
Glen ARFOTSINGER has been very fortunate in securing the help of Homer WOODARD on the farm for a month.
Mrs. MASON, a niece of Henry TREFT, came from Logan, Illinois last week for a visit at the TREFT home and with other relatives.
Ray DAVIE expects to be in this vicinity next week with his threshing outfit. Everybody will want to thresh so they won't have to stack their grain.
Dr. MANCHESTER was called to the Fred BABER'S Wednesday morning on professional business.
The band boys held a meeting Sunday afternoon and decided to make a new start toward having a band. A committee of three was appointed to see Mr. C.M. WILDER, of Logan, and make arrangements with him for instructor. They will hold another meeting next Sunday at the church after the afternoon services for the purpose of making further arrangements.
WHAT SHOULD BE DONE
The Reporter says that the park needs a caretaker, which is true.
Does the Reporter advocate the employment of a man for that position or does it want the clubwomen to take turns in swinging a scythe and pushing a lawn mower?
The city council has power to hire a man to mow the grass and keep the ground tidy. It has power to punish any parties who trespass on park property or who injure or deface it in any way. It has power to give notice that it will so punish to the full extent of the law any and all parties guilty of injuring park or other public property. It has power to offer a reward for information regarding the same; it has power to put lights in the park and have them on duty overnight and to do several other things that would add to the usefulness of the park.
Does the Reporter favor a petition to the council asking them to order the park work done? A Club Woman
Iowa Old Press
Harrison County