Old Watson Mill, Stennett Iowa

houses were constructed more for show than comfort.  Consequently, he (Jason B. Packard) built on his farm near the old Watson Mill, north of Stennett, a stone house in the form of an octagon, the sides and angles being equal. The floor was of stone.  The upper floor was suspended by wires stretched across from side to side, a space of about one foot being left at the outer edge of the floor to permit the heat to ascend to the upper room from a fireplace built into the wall. Some crumbling walls are all that is left of this old landmark.

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Once an Active Center

   In 1880 a railroad switch was installed at Stennett to accommodate the increased shipping of locally quarried limestone. Later on much livestock and grain was loaded here.

   Also in 1880 H. P. Light, father of Mrs. Ella Moore and grandfather of Mrs. Eleanore Rea, established a general store in Stennett. Besides handling a stock of general merchandise, he was also postmaster.  The post office occupied one corner of the store. Mail came by train, from Red Oak twice a day.

    The railroad station agent, who took great pride in keeping the depot neatly swept and all bills of lading and other important papers in order, was one of the interesting personages of the town.  For several years, in the period back near the turn of the century, a civil war veteran named J. J. Abbott was custodian of this busy depot and freight office. He was the father of Mrs. Garnet Stratton of Red Oak and grandfather of Donald Stratton. A large picture he proudly displayed on the wall of the depot depicted a bloody civil war battle.  Children of the neighborhood viewed the scene in awe as the old veteran described in his eastern accent, the battle action.

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Ruins of Octagon House built by J. B. Packard, Stennett, Iowa

    He came to Stennett in 1889 and worked several years as a blacksmith before becoming depot agent for the railroad.

   For many years a telephone exchange switchboard was operated in her home by Mrs. Levi Mick, mother of Claude Mick.  She was a daughter of Allison Becknell, a pioneer settler just south of Stennett. As late as 1915 a log cabin  stood near the present Becknell farm house just east of the Stennett school house.

   Henry Becknell, brother of Mr. Nick, once related that, as boys, he and his brother Ed used to go to the Wayne Stennett house to play with the latter's sons, Frank and Marion.  At the time the big stone house had a flat roof of gravel, and tar paper which was reached through a large trap door. The boys considered it great sport to play on the roof.  The heavy iron dinner bell which was mounted ....

Old School House Where First Town Meeting Was Held, Stennett, Iowa