| MUSCATINE COUNTY IOWA | |
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Businesses
From the time Atalissa was established there have been many businesses here. We have tried to get as many as possible to put into our history. We realize it is impossible to have a complete list but we have done our best.
Appliances and Electric Repairs
The shop was called McQuillen Gas and Electric Company. He did electrical wiring and repairing and also sold Westinghouse Appliances. It was 1955-56 but we don’t have the location of the shop.
Picture: McQuillen advertising 1955-56.
Butcher Shop
In 1890-1900 there was a butcher shop that was owned and operated by Tom Gladstone. Later on Allan Cook ran it, it was located across the street north from the brick building. Others had shops too; Willis Stucker had his shop in a two story building on the eastside of Main Street. Dr. Brisbane had his office on the upper floor. The building was built after the big fire and was located on the same spot as the Seth Hampton furniture and undertaking parlor had been. George Decker had a butcher shop where the City shed, with the tin roof, set. Richard and Willard Watters had a Butcher Shop in the rear portion of the Bank building.Picture: Willard Watters with his Meat Wagon. Watters Bros. Market located in back portion of Bank building.
Bakery
There was a bakery, in 1944, located on Cherry St. between the Mason Hall and Kandys Bar and Grill.
Barber and Beauty Shops
There have been several Beauty and Barbershops here. In the 40’s and 50’s there were four beauty shops, Mrs. Vern Oepping was at 140 Railroad St. now the home of Bobby Schmidt. Elsie King Adams was in Dennis Beinke’s house. Elsie was the daughter of George and Nellie King. Doc Barkhurst owned the building at the time. Mrs. Herb (Lillian) Gerdts was on the corner of Cherry and Third St., Evelyn Leggins worked there as well. Earl Dean Davis was at 151 First and Lundy St. where Billy Goodale lives now. Earl Dean was a girl with a boy name. Currently we have Cherry Street Cuts owned and operated by Beth Anne Kordick. She works out of her home and has been here about five years. She and her family moved to Atalissa where they felt their children would have a safe place to grow up.
Picture: Beth Anne Kordick, cutting Nate Anderson’s hair.
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There were three barbers George Worrell, Mr. Shauls was in the house where Jason McKillip lives, and Mr. Hart was where the post office is now. In 1977 Virgil Shouse Sr. moved to Atalissa and ran his Barbershop out of his home until his death a few years ago. He said he wanted to live in a small town and have a nice yard and garden. He and his wife Mavis were wonderful neighbors. Virgil had owned a shop in Muscatine for many years and when he moved a lot of his customers also came to Atalissa for haircuts. He was as busy as he wanted to be, if he didn’t feel like working a whole day he just closed up.
Picture: Virgil Shouse, Barber
According to the Atalissa Directory written in 1879 F. M. Cole and Brothers were barbers in Atalissa.
Blacksmith Shops
Since 1880 there was a blacksmith shop here. It was owned by many different people but always stayed in the same location. It was back toward the alley between 114 and 122 Third Street. Elias Sanders was the blacksmith in 1880, and other followed, as recorded in Fred Croxens’ memoirs. They were Joe Polechek, Sam Hallock, Jim Desbrow and the last one known was Earl Ellsworth (1920-1940). Earl built an airplane out of hammer handles and kept it is his back yard. It was said not to have ever flown. Dale Ellsworth was said to have Roller Skated to Des Moines, Iowa. No one knows why he did this. We have an advertisement from the Atalissa Mutual Free Exchange Directory from 1910 showing Theo. Schwob had a Blacksmith shop here.
Picture: Advertisement from Theo Schwob’s shop. This was from the Atalissa Mutual Free Exchange.
Brick Factory
There was a Brick Factory located on the eastside of Dwight Passmores’ house. It was on the corner of Cherry and Fifth on the northwest corner of the intersection. The office set close to Fifth Street where a concrete slab was poured. By the 1940’s the factory was gone. When City volunteer workers were digging a ditch, for better drainage, they found hundreds of bricks that had been buried.
Lumberyard
To the best of our knowledge the lumberyard was always located on the southeast corner of Deport and Cherry Street and north of the Railroad track. In 1910-1920 it was Wilson Lumber and Fuel. In the early 1920’s Fred Stortz had it and the name was Atalissa Lumber Company. 1930-1946 it was Hawkeye Lumber owned by Charles E. Turner, in 1946 it was Markham Lumber also Walker and Markham Lumber. In 1951-1955 or 56, it was Waldo Elder Lumber Co., and from 1956-1961 it was Wayne Beinke. The Lumberyard closed in 1961 and Otto Wendling bought the building. Records show, the building was owned by a Mr. Gladfelter. When William McKillip was Mayor Mr. …
Picture: Advertisement for the Wilson Lumber and Fuel Company in 1910. This was from the Atalissa Mutual Free Exchange.
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… Gladfelter requested permission to hold weekly furniture sales in the building. A motion was made to allow him to do this. In 1971 Rick White and Bill Rock tore the building down.
Picture: Calendar from 1920. Compliments of Barb Rock.
Picture: Louis Gerdts and the truck he drove for the Waldo Elder Lumberyard in 1935-36.
Creative Hot Prints
In 1993 Bob and Cindy Schmidt started a business, out of their home, called Creative Hot Prints. It is located at 322 Fifth Street. They do screen printing, embroidery, specialty adds, pens, balloons, bumper stickers, etc. They also have transfers for all occasions that go on hat’s, sweatshirt, T-shirts, jackets and just about any type of clothing.
Picture: Bob and Cindy Schmidt.
Cobbler Shops
A cobbler shop was located on Cherry Street, between the alley and Rick VanDusen’s home. The cobbler shop was owned and operated by Jonathan Miller. He was of the old school and didn’t use the tools and machinery that were available. Instead he used the old cobbler bench and the tools that went with the old way of doing things. In the earlier days he started out as a shoe and boot maker. He was said to have been a very religious man and was a leader in the Presbyterian Church.
There was a J. Temple who sold boots and shoes according to the 1879 Atalissa Atlas.
Livery Barn
A livery barn was located across from on the South East corner of Cherry and Third Street. We couldn’t find anyone who knew who ran it.
Creamery
There was a creamery operated by Mr. Jim Starr, a Civil war veteran, on the eastside of town just north of the Railroad. It did a lot of business and was great for the folks in Atalissa and the surrounding area. A fire destroyed the creamery and it was never rebuilt. After the fire people had to haul their cream to the West Liberty Creamery or to a larger city. Dave Brotchie would buy the cream at his store in Atalissa also.
Ice House
August Aye owned the Icehouse and also was a beekeeper. L. W. McKillip also owned the icehouse, it was located where Duffy Grain is today. Sandy Stewart drove the ice truck. L. W. McKillip was Dennis, Dale and Darrel McKillip’s grandfather. Lloyd VanDusen has a pair of Ice tongs from there.
Furniture Stores and Undertaker
In the late 1890’s or early 1900’s, Seth Hampton operated a furniture repair shop and also sold caskets. He was the only undertaker Atalissa had for many years. He was an early settler in the town and was liked by all those who knew him. His black hearse is long gone now but many wish it were still here as a town keepsake. After taking care of so many, his burial place is unknown but some of his family members are in…
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… the old Timberlake cemetery southwest of Atalissa, on the old stage road. It was located on Cherry Street, and the building had a veranda. Gilbert and Jennella Arnold, Jesse Stewart’s grandparents, lived where Don Passmore is now, kept the hearse in their garage.
There was also a funeral home here called the S. C. Snider Funeral Home. Very little is known about this but it was in business in 1947.
Picture: Advertisement of C. B. Berry Furniture Dealer and Funeral Director from the 1910 Atalissa Mutual Free Exchange courtesy of Jessie Stewart.
Millinery and Dressmaking Shops
Sarah Hart Worral had the first millinery and dressmaking shop in 1857-1874. Before coming to Atalissa she had been in the millinery business in Ohio.
There was a dress shop owned by Mary Alice Moore who was an accomplished seamstress and had taken courses in dress making
The Watson sisters and Florence Small also had a milliner shop here. No Dates as to when either of these shops were in business was available to us.
M. Stoneburner was seamstress here in 1879. This was taken from the 1879 Atalissa Directory.
Photographers
When tintypes were still being made Bill and Mollie Jones were the first photographers in Atalissa. We believe they were located on the second floor of the bank building. They were also beekeepers. They lived on Fifth Street. Francis Carlisle recalled that Molly wore long dresses and a big sunbonnet.
Grist Mill
The Gristmill was located on the north end of town and owned by Jake Vauble in the late 1900’s It was operated by steam power and ground feed for the surrounding farmers. Mr. Vauble lived at 311 Fifth St.
Grocery Stores and General Dry Goods
There have always been grocery stores in Atalissa, at one time there were three. We have a copy of Fred Croxen’s memoirs of Atalissa in the late 1890’s and early 1900’s. Same Lambert and son Ernest owned the first, John and Lute Johnson the second, and Cyrus Lundy and sons Frank and Lute the third. All three stores did a big business because of the big trade from the citizens of Atalissa and people came from the surrounding areas as well. They were all general stores and had whatever you needed, if they didn’t they would order it for you. They also bought butter and eggs from the farmers.
Ed Speers and son Will had a store on the eastside of Main Street on the lower floor of the building known as the “Good Temperance Hall”, which was upstairs. Mr. Speers had a grocery store and a harness shop combined. In 1901 or 1902 the building mysteriously burned. Ed built and started a store on the West Side of Main Street, just south of the bank building.
In 1917-1918, Charlie Overman had a grocery and dry goods store, where Kandy’s Bar and Grill is now. Hilbert Stucker and Vern Oepping worked for Charlie.
Willard and Richard Watters ran “Watters Bros. Market” which was located in the back portion of the bank building. The years are not known just a photo of the wagon used to deliver meat. Turkle and Whitehead had a store in 1910. Brochie had a store where the Corner Tap is now located.
There are advertisements showing some of the owners, over the years. Bill Hohnke in the 1930’s, Mitchell’s Clover Farm Store in the 1940’s, The Winter’s had Tru-Value Market and Winters Self-Service Market in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s. Robert Schmidt also had a store in the bank building in the late 1940’s. Jim Stucker managed the Atalissa store for Cot Winters, who lived in Wilton, Iowa. It also served the community as the post office and a dry goods store. One side was grocery and the other was the post office and dry goods store. Bill McKillip had one in 1946, Floyd Owens in 1948, Dick Garvin from 1957-…
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… 1963, Betty and Paul Thompkins in the early to mid-60’s, Frank and Norma Yeager in the 1965-1978, Don and Connie Hennings 1978, Bob and Glenna Staley Wilson 1982, Al and Joyce Digman from 1982-1987. In 1987 the Digman’s sold the store to Roger Conklin, who turned it into a bar. It is now the Corner Tap owned by Donna Williams.
In the late 20’s and early 30’s there was a store called Holsingers Grocery and Dry Goods. It was in a brick building north of Kandys.
The 1879 Atalissa Directory lists George Bagley running a store selling drugs, groceries, Queensware, books and stationery.
Picture: A receipt showing prices at the C. C. Lundy and Son General Store.
Picture: Frank and Norma Yeager in the store.
Picture: The store with Erle Turkle, Grandpa Hiatt and Roy Barkalow.
Picture: Advertisement from the 1910 Atalissa Mutual Free Exchange.
Picture: Advertisement from the 1910 Atalissa Mutual Free Exchange
Picture: Advertisement from the school year book.
Picture: Yeagers Grocery advertisement 1943.
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Ice Cream Parlors
There was an Ice Cream Parlor in the Holsingers Grocery and Dry Goods store in the late 20's and early 30’s. Jesse Stewart remembered taking her grandfather for a walk to the park so she could ask him to take her to get some ice cream. He was hard of hearing so if she asked him at home she would be in trouble with her mother.
Mary DeVore remembered an ice cream parlor run by Myrtle LaFrentz around 1943.
In 1947 Floyd Owens owned a grocery and ice cream parlor. Floyd had a contest to name the ice cream parlor. The prize was $5.00 and Lula Blick won it. The name was “The Pleasure Nook.”
Restaurants and Hotels
According to Fred Croxens memoirs the first hotel and restaurant was operated by Emerson and Louise Lamb. It was located on the east side of Main Street, between the Good Temperance Hall (Ed Speers and Sons store), and the Seth Hampton Furniture Repair and Undertaking Parlor. All these buildings burned later on.
Mr. and Mrs. George Worrall had a hotel and barbershop located where Ron Gatzke now lives. He ran a barbershop on one side and she ran the hotel on the other. After a while George decided to split the building and so he moved the left section around to face the same way as the right section. The two buildings are now Ron Gatzke’s home and the Post office.
Around 1895 or 1896 Hank Whitehead and wife built a hotel and restaurant. It was on the eastside of Main Street.
There was also a hotel run by Weaver and Judson and an H. Snyder had a boarding house in the 1879 Atalissa Directory.
Picture: George and Emma Worrall in front of the hotel.
M-M Café was run by Madsen and McKillip and also to a gas station. We have a photo of the building in 1947.
In 1952-1957 to the best of our knowledge Dick’s Café owned by Dick and Gert Cale was located on Highway 6. Jacqueline Cale, a daughter, sang this little song at a social gathering. It was to the tune of “The Little Brown Jug.” “My Dad and Mommy busy are Feeding folk from near and far. They serve the finest pies and cakes-also hamburgers and steaks. Ice Cream, malts and things they fix-Cleanest place this side of heaven. But hurry folks? We close at seven.” Martha Watters Ridenour worked for the Cale’s in 1958. She recalls some of the pranks the local people would play. Carl Wessie and Chuck Evans put a napkin over the water glasses and then turned them upside down on the table. John and Wayne Bienke would hide their bread under the counter and then her boss would think she hadn’t given them any. In 1962 Francis and Hadie Crone bought the diner and opened a Steak House.
A Mr. Hurdleman had a restaurant just north of Rick VanDusen’s new garage. He then moved it to the south end of town.
Picture: The M-M- Café on Highway six.
Picture: Jackie Cale and friend Melissa in Dick’s Café 1953.
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Taverns
A man named E. Weaver was listed as having a saloon and billiards parlor.
Mr. Brown had a tavern in the bank building in 1938-1939.
The building at 215 Cherry has been a bar for many years. Some of the previous owners are as follows, Arkey Clarkey had it first, Cooney’s from 1942-1949, Lloyd Maplethorpe had the bar after Cooney’s. Vi’s Tavern, Ann’s Place in the 1960’s run by Ann Bergran and then by Ruth Pallet, Audrey’s Place run by Audie and Vernon McMichael, Taylor’s Tap run by Evelyn Taylor, then it became Everett’s Inn, owned by Everett Clester and managed by Peggy Shenkle. Everett still owns the building but the bar has been leased to several people. People who have leased it under Everett’s Inn are Gary and Jane Clester, Jeanie Robertson and Freddie and Ruby Franks. Under the University of Atalissa there were John Baker and Felicia Miller, Harlan “Skeeter” Phillips, Dave Phillips and back to Skeeter. Then it changed to GD’s and was run by Gary Clester and Diane. It then became Kandy’s Saloon and Grill as is still to this date and is run by Kandy Honts-Chuck Atkins. A good time can be had on dance night and every Thursday you can enjoy a really good taco there.
At 215 highway 6 there was Pete’s midway Inn in 1946 run by Pete Carter, Harry and Mary’s Midway Inn run by Harry Thiessen from 1946-1956 as far as we know. To the best of our knowledge the following people owned it throughout the years. Red Bishop, Bob White, Dave Underlee, Amos Greenshaw, Sam Fuller and Jack Tobis, Neal Cassidy, John and Ann Peeters, Jack Peeters and John Maurice they called it Half Way In Half Way Out. Then Tom and Karen Roberts ran it. The building was then used as an office for Bill and Shirley Messner who had a graphic shop Dan O’Donnel had a game room facility for a short time for children. Dennis and Carol O’Neill opened it as Stoney’s Bar and Grill. In 1883 floodwaters caused the basement wall to cave in causing extensive damage to the original building. Dennis and Carol had to rebuild it.
In the early days of the Midway Inn the basement was known as the Blue Room where there were dances on Saturday nights.
The steak house was built and owned by Arkey Clarkey and it was called the M&M Café.it was a bar and restaurant and was named after two of his daughters. Then it was Dick’s Café owned by Dick Cale. Then it became a bargain known as the Steak House run by Francis Crone, after that it became apartments.
The Corner Tap was originally the Grocery Store. Al Digman sold the building to Roger Conklin in 1988 and he turned it into a bar called it The Double Shot. Madeline Black managed it for a while. Then George and Bill Pace ran it as George’s Double-Shot. After that Dennis and Carol Oneill ran it until they got the building on Highway 6. Howard and Donna Williams bought it in 1991 and called it the Corner Tap. Since Howard’s death Donna has kept it and it is managed by Donna Blick. The Corner Tap has several dances throughout the year where a good time is had by all. It is a friendly neighborhood bar where you can enjoy a hot Euchre tournament every Thursday night.
In the 1940’s there was a bar in the bank building run by a Mr. Cozad and then by a Mr. Browning.
Picture: Cooneys in 1949
Picture: Edna Cooney who owned the business.
Picture: The bartender Minnie Gritton in front of Ann’s Place 1963
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Picture: Harlan “Skeeter” Phillips taken in front of Bar 1995.
Picture: The employees of the Corner Tap. They are Mary Sward, Donna Williams, owner, Trudy Wright, Sheila VanDusen and Donna Blick, manager
Picture: Everett and Connie Clester owner of Kandy’s building.
Picture: Chuck Atkins and Kandy Honts in front of tavern.
Sawmill
Ewolt Schmidt owned the sawmill that was between Dwight Passmore’s and Mary DeVore’s houses on Fifth Street. There are no years available. But Dave Russell operated it in 1942
Service Stations, Oil Company and Car Dealerships
There was the Community Oil Company owned by the Arnold family. In 1938 Delbert Arnold was the proprietor. It remained active until in the 1980’s when Ralph Arnold, then the owner, retired.
Bill Honhke ran a grocery store at the corner of Deport and Cherry Streets and put in the first gas pump at the store. This was the first gas station in Atalissa to the best of our knowledge. It was out front between the store and the street. You had to turn a crank until the top filled up with gasoline. Then gravity would let the gas run into the gas tank.
In 1918 Inghram Garage was located where the Mini Mart is now.
There was also a Chevrolet Dealership in Atalissa in 1912 but no name could be found for the owner.
In the 1930’s and the 1940’s E. O. “Mun” Markham had the gas station where the Mini Mart is now. He ran it for many years until it burned down in the late 1920’s or 1930’s. Mutt then moved his station across the street to the Mid-Way Station.
In 1944 H. F. Stutzer owned the Mid-Way Station and had the Minneapolis-Moline dealership.
In 1945-1946 Tom Carlisle and George Adams ran the Mid-Way Auto and Implement Co. Tom sold the business to Gerald Chambliss who ran it until 1948. Then Tom Carlisle got it back and ran it until 1956. Este Buffum and Vern Brus had the Minneapolis-Moline Implement until 1959 when Vern took it over until 1961 and had a Welding shop there until Bill Messner bought it and had a Machine shop in the 1970’s and early 1980’s. It has remained empty since Messner closed his shop.
The Texaco Station was owned and operated by William and Grace Thomason then operated by Delbert and Fern Thomason in the 1950’s. It was located at 115 Highway 6. Along with the…
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… gas station there was a small grocery store that carried groceries and Ice Cream.
The Mobile Station was located on the corner of Highway 6 and Cherry Street where the Mini-Mart is now. In 1940-1947 Clyde Essex owned and operated it. From 1947-1957 George Moore owned and operated it.
After George purchased the business he changed it to a Standard station and added the grease racks. George built the house behind the station. John Connor had it after Mr. Moore. John changed it back to a Mobile Station. Mike Waack of Muscatine had it for a short time, then a Mr. Brookshire. Larry Armery owned and operated it in the 1980’s. It was closed until Cheryl Honts opened the Mini-Mart in the 1990’s.
The M-M Garage was run by Madsen and McKillip in the late 1940’s and was located on Highway 6. Atalissa Tires is located on Highway six and is owned and operated by Les Taylor and his son. They have been in business for a short time.
Picture: Pepper’s Block Repair Shop
Picture: Mobile Gas Station owned by John Connor.
Picture: MidWay Oil Company taken in 1937.
Picture: M-M Garage taken in 1947.
Picture: Markham’s Garage.
Picture: Atalissa Tire.
Picture: Texaco Station with a 1930 Chevy truck in 1954.
Picture: E. O. Markham inside his garage.
Picture: Delbert Thomason by the Texaco truck in 1954.
Picture: Mini-Mart with the employees. Cheryl Honts, Terry Honts, Gina Rhodes, Terra Lenz, Marci VanDusen, Renee Axsom, Joann Meade, Jesse Honts, Jeff Honts and Mike Honts.
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Harness Shop
Joseph Hiatt (father of Henry Hiatt, grandfather of Hazel Hiatt Dickey and great grandfather of Chester Dickey) owned the harness shop for years. It was located on Main Street just north and across the alley from the Thomas and Brotchie store. It was south of the brick building, which was a drug store. He sold out to Herman Tepple who sold it to Ed Streets.
Mr. Teufel also owned and operated a harness shop. No dates were available. He had a set of twins who attended the University of Iowa and were Track Stars.
Stockyard
The Stockyard was on the north side of Railroad Street on the west end of the 200 block, next to the railroad tracks.
Charles Cope was the weight master for many years. When he retired the position went to Harvey Klein.
In the 1920’s it was the Shipping Assoc. Secretary was Walter Smith. A Co-Operative purchased the business in 1933, run by Dave Russell it closed around 1935.
Jesse Stewart remembers, as a young girl, driving a wagonload of feed for her families’ stock to eat while being shipped to Chicago.
Clella Walton remembers that in the 1920’s farmers rode in the Caboose of the train to see their livestock sold. The shipyard closed when trucking livestock made it easier to get to market and Packinghouses opened in this area. During this period of time Core’s Packaging became Oscar Mayer in Davenport, Iowa.
Tannery
In 1879 a man named A. P. Harper was a tanner here in Atalissa.
Gift Shop
There was a Gift Shop and Indian Artifacts Shop called the Trading Post. It was located where Kevin Thomason now lives. Judy Passmore remembers buying a purse there.
Wagon Builder
There was a wagon maker in Atalissa in 1879 by the name of J. Barkman.
Atalissa also had a machinist by the name of L. Howard.
In the early 1900’s Jake Vauble had a machine shop on Cherry Street across from the Bank building. He repaired pumps, windmills and any other type of machine repairs that were needed.
Stone Masons, Plasterers, Cement Workers and Carpenters
The Atalissa Directory of 1879 states several carpenters in town. They were T. C. Berry, William Brokaw, C. O Doyle, S. Hampton and L. Lamb was with the CRI & PRR. T. Jones is listed as being a painter.
In the 1890’s and early 1900’s, Owen Doyle and Emerson Lamb were the principal carpenters and builders. George Worral, Harry Wallingsford and other people assisted them.
Oscar Stucker was also a carpenter and designer, but did his work in other towns and cities as well.
Enoch Atkinson was a carpenter and builder who worked alone most of the time. There were others but the men mentioned were the main ones at the time. According to Perky Carlisle, there was a woodworking shop on Cherry Street across from the post office but he couldn’t give us a date.
Herman Kettlson had a shop where he did carpentry, repair work and small buildings in there was a carpenter named J. S. Smith and a Z. Simmons.
In 1944 a Mr. Kettleston had a carpenter shop in Atalissa.
In the 1920’s there was a man named Nachbaur and his sons Will and Joe who were stone masons. They did the walls of cellars and laid foundations to houses and barns. When cement became popular their business gradually faded away.
Quartus Cornwall was the plasterer in town. He followed his trade for many years plastering most of the houses built in and around Atalissa. He was said to be very good at his trade and no one ever complained about his work.
Elmer Coss and the Stauffer brothers did most of the cement pouring of sidewalks and whatever else needed cement.
Trucking, Radio and Grinding
Lawrence McKillip started his trucking business in 1923 with one Gravel truck and in 1949 bought his first Corn Sheller. In 1977 he was run-…
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… ning an operation which did custom combine work, facilities for drying corn and a trucking operation which includes semi trucks.
His sons Lyle and Ernest joined their father in 1953. When Ernest died his son Dennis replace him in the business. It has always been a family owned business and today it is still run by Lawrence’s family.
In the 1940’s Tom Stewart also had a trucking business. He hauled livestock to Chicago and also did general trucking. Tom also had a portable grinder for grinding and mixing feed and grain.
Herb Gatzke and a Grinding business where he ground whatever you needed. His slogan read, “How you like it, when you like and where you like it.”
August Aye had a trucking firm here in Atalissa. He had a small truck and would haul anything people needed to have moved.
Clyde Essex had a complete radio service here in 1942.
Picture: Advertisement for Clyde Essex Radio Service in 1942.
Picture: Advertisement for Thomas Stewart Trucking in the 1970’s.
Picture: Advertisement for Herb Gatzke’s Grinding business.
Picture: Advertisement for L. W. McKillip’s Trucking business.
The Grain Elevator
The grain elevator has been in the same location since the early 1900’s. It is located at the corner of Cherry and Deport Street just north of the railroad trucks.
The earliest owner and operator, we could find, on record was Mr. W. L. Black. He had a grain and coal business in 1907 and was listed as owner in the Free Exchange Directory as late as 1910. In an article written in 1911 a Mr. Theron Thompson had a grain business in Atalissa in 1858. It was owned by Mr. Van Rowe and then sold to Mr. George Black. Jim Lowenberg, according to several people, operated the elevator in the early 1920’s.
An advertisement in the school year book shows Thomas Carlisle selling, “ Arcady Feed’s” at the elevator. He also had the MGH Co. and did Custom feed grinding in 1943.
In 1945 Tom Stewart managed the “Atalissa Grain and Feed Corp.” and was the dealer for Kent and Arcady feeds.
Marvin A. Hetzler was the manager and distributed for Kent Feed in 1952-1954. Ron Skubal was an employee at the elevator from 1951-1952. His wife, Jewel, remembers an incident that happened in the fall of 1951. Ron was delivering a load of shelled corn east of Atalissa on Lang Avenue, as he crossed a wooden bridge it collapsed.
Charles “Chuck” Evans managed the elevator from the Mid 1950’s to October of 1980. Chuck made many friends and was held in high regard among the residents of the community. As a way of showing their feelings, the community gave him a retirement party at the Fire Station.
Ron Lemkau bought the elevator in 1980 and was the owner until his son Mike bought it December 1, 1998. Mike has changed the name to, “County Wide AG”, he is continuing to carry on the tradition of the elevator in Atalissa. Along with Mike, John Werling and Virginia Struck work there. John and Mike deliver feed and grain and Virginia answers the phone and does the book-keeping. On any given morning you will see several pickup trucks at the elevator, having coffee with Mike. It really gets crowded in the winter when the farmers can’t be in the fields.
Picture: Floyd Maplethorpe, Jessie Stewart and Tom Stewart while working at the Elevator around 1942-43 or 44.
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Picture: John Werling, Virginia Struck and Mike Lemkau, owner taken in 1997.
Picture: Countrywide Ag
Picture: Mike behind the counter along with Ray Bein and Alvin Hinrichs in 1997.
Fertilizer and Chemical Plant
Cropmate is located on the Westside of Atalissa and was established in the 1960’s. Today it is currently managed by Ed Stokes and is owned by United Ag products. The plant provides fertilizer and chemicals for the farmers. It employs five people, Bruce Wright, Troy Vincent, Rich Beaver, Bob Peterson and Janel Hinkhouse. Dennis Meeks was a former employee.
Picture: Cropmate’s employees Troy Vincent, Rich Beaver, Bruce Wright, Ed Stokes, Janel Hinkhouse and Dennis Meeks. Bob Peterson is now working at Cropmate.
Water and Sewer Systems
Before 1972 the residents of Atalissa got their water from a spring at the corner of Fifth and Oak Street on the northeast corner. In 1969 the council met at Tom Stewart’s house to discuss the possibility of the city getting a water system. Grant Davis, of Federal Engineering, from Davenport, addressed the meeting and told the council if this is what they wanted all they had to do was sign the papers and he’d do all the work. A grant for $10,000.00 and a loan from the Farm Home Administration for $84,000.00 was approved in the fall. The loan was to be paid back over a Forty-year period and a minimum fee of $6.50 would be charge to the users. The well to be used was drilled in 1937 to supply drinking water for the school and to fill the boilers for heating. According to Stewart, Edwards Well Drilling Co. of West Branch, Iowa had drilled the well. The water was said to be the best in Iowa. For several years those who wanted city water could have it, however there were several home with wells that didn’t have city water.
Atalissa didn’t have a sewer system until 1990, until that time there were septic tanks installed at each home.
The new sewer system consists of new septic tanks and a holding station outside the city, on Penn Avenue.
Doctors and Drug Stores
The earliest doctor in Atalissa was Dr. David L. Rowe. He was born in Steuben County, New York, December 13, 1817. He spent many years living in the south and received his medical degree from the Memphis Medical College in Memphis, Tennessee in 1854. Dr. Rowe came to Atalissa in 1858 and practiced here for twenty years. In the A. T. Andreas Historical Atlas of Iowa written in 1875 there was also a Dr. J. W. Fullmer (physician and surgeon) in Atalissa.
In the 1880’s, 1890’s and the early 1900’s there were several doctors in Atalissa. The first was Dr. Riddle, who the oldest residents always said was the very best doctor to ever practice medicine in Atalissa. After Dr. Riddle there was Dr. Hurlburt, and then Dr. King. After Dr. King…
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… there were Dr. Minshall, Dr. Chesebrough, Dr. Reigner, and later Dr. Brisbine.
Dr. William W. Watters came to Muscatine County, Iowa and settled on a farm in Goshen Township in April of 1851. Dr. Watters was a physician by profession and practiced for several years but never set up a practice in Atalissa. However he would help out if someone needed him. After being in the Union Army where he was in the Second Iowa Cavalry, Company C. in August of 1861. He received an honorable discharge September 19, 1865, after being wounded in the left side in a battle at Coffeeville, Mississippi. After being discharge he returned to Muscatine County and continued farming. In 1868 he married Ruth H. Parker, who was the niece of Captain William Lundy. They lived on the farm and added to the original forty acres until there was four hundred acres. His farm was one of the more successful in the county. He used modern methods and a lot of energy and perseverance. After eleven years he was able to slow down and retired in 1899. This was taken from the History of Muscatine County Atlas and was written in 1911.
Evelyn Stiles remembers a Dr. Ahrens, who was here during the Flu Epidemic, around 1918. He and his wife would visit every house, affected by the flu, daily and leave a bottle of whiskey for medicine. Dr. Ahrens only lost two patients and that was because they didn’t follow his instructions. Dr. Ahrens was also interested in anyone who showed interest in medicine. He would teach them and when he felt they were ready he would hang a shingle over their door.
Picture: Chesebrough and wife on their Golden Anniversary.
Picture: Advertisement for Dr. R. E. Brisbane in 1910.
Drug Stores
The earliest record of drug stores in Atalissa in 1890 when Bob Hampton owned and operated one in the brick building later known as the Atalissa Savings Bank. He later sold it to George A. Moore who had worked for Mr. Hampton and had studies Pharmacy while working there. Next Dr. C. H. Marshall bought it and after him Dr. Sam Chesebrough owned it. Both men were doctors of medicine. After a few years Dr. Chesebrough moved his drug store to West Liberty. Because of the improved roads and automobiles he felt business would be better there.
In 1917 Dr. Ayers had a drug store in the lower level of the Masonic Hall.
Telephone Companies
Around 1900 there were several rural telephone lines going out of Atalissa. They were all connected to a local switchboard that was located at the Lambert Store. It had to be moved later on because it took up too much time answering the calls for Mr. Lambert to get other business done. Mina McDonald was the next person to run the exchange from her home at 119 Third Street for many years. The system had long distance connections so was really helpful to the citizens and the surrounding countryside. The telephone office was located at 119 Third Street from 1910-1945.
Albert Daufeldt had the Telephone Company after he got home from the Army. While in the service he learned a lot about communications so when he returned to Atalissa he…
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… took over the system. He updated the service and everyone received a black phone that was smaller and could be hand held. But still had to be hand cranked. This information was taken from the memories of Floyd Dallege.
Roads, Rivers and Bridges
In October on 1847 Enoch and Sarah Overman came to Muscatine County and settled at Sandy Hook, later called Overman’s Ferry. Enoch started a ferry across the Cedar River to make travel from Iowa City and Tipton to Muscatine. He ran the ferry for several years. After Enoch’s death Benjamin Tice bought the land and he continued to run the ferry until the bridge was built. He came to this area in 1866, When Mr. Tice took over the ferry the name was changed to Tice Ferry.
We have an article written by Ada Smith telling us some of the history of Tice Ferry. She got her background material from Martha Tice DeVore, the daughter of Benjamin.
A windlass was used to power the ferry across the river, you had to turn it by hand. The ferry was on pulleys along a cable stretched between large Oak trees on each side of the river. During the winter months they would use axes to chop the ice so they could get across. Martha helped her father from the time she was big enough to turn the windlass until she married Hiram DeVore.
Martha remembered one winter a team of horses got excited and plunged over the side of the ferry where they drowned. Martha recalled they hauled everything from people to elephants over the river. A circus caravan had trouble getting the elephants to board the ferry. It took awhile because they could only take them one at a time. Each elephant would test the boat with its foot before boarding.
If you needed to cross the river there was a bell to ring, shout and call when they were on the southwest landing until someone would hear and come get you.
Martha said that many times their home became an Inn for weary travelers who arrived at night and had to wait until morning to cross.
When the ferry was in operation there was also a blacksmith shop and a store building located at the landing. Many thought Atalissa would be located there if the railroad had not been built a few years earlier in 1857.
Penn Avenue was the main route from Tipton to Muscatine. Since the bigger highways have been built it is now a gravel road. It became known as Penn Avenue because the settlers living along the road had all come from Pennsylvania.
Flooding along the Cedar would habitually cut through the road below the Tice Ferry and stop traffic until it could be repaired. In 1897, a bridge, 578 foot long, was built over the Cedar replaced the ferry. The Indiana Bridge Company from Muncie, Indiana was hired to build the bridge.
In October 1967 Glen Phelps bought the bridge from the Muscatine County board of supervisors for one dollar. Mr. Phelps bought the bridge as he farmed both sides of the river. The bridge was torn down in 1993.
Around 1929 a bridge was built on Highway Six across the Cedar River east of Atalissa. In 1973 it had become unsafe so was replaced with a new one. The new one is very efficient but the charm of the old one is still missed by those of us who have seen so many old landmarks go away.
Just west of Atalissa was a bridge over the railroad tracks. It was known as the overpass. It was erected in the 1930’s and by 1988 was in need of replacement. Mr. Dave Ellis of the Iowa Department of Transportation said a new bridge could not be justified. The old bridge was torn down in the early 1990’s and now there is a railroad crossing with lights and arms.
In 1944 a portion of Highway Six was washed away due to heavy rains up North. We have no dates as to how long it took to replace it.
Picture: Tice Bridge over the Cedar River.
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Picture: Highway Six taken June 26, 1944. Sugar Creek flooded after several rains and washed into the Cedar River - compliments of Merlyn Spilger.
Post Office
In 1841 the post office was located at Sandy Hook (later known as Overman’s Ferry, then Tice Ferry) a Mr. Leander I. Lockwood was the postmaster.
In January of 1844 it was changed to Overman’s Ferry. John Overman was the postmaster. In 1844 Enoch Overman took over, then Soverelign H. Brown in 1849, John Timberlake in 1852, Maning Hull in 1855 and Francis S. Hammons in 1855. Cyrus Overman helped his father Enoch also.
The post office was moved to Atalissa in 1856. The postmaster’s are:
William Lundy – 1856 Samuel Chesebrough – 1901 N. C. Swank – 1856 Bert M. Smith – 1913 George Worrall – 1858 Charles C. Overman – 1918 Francis G. Waterman – 1861 Harry Whitehead – 1920 George Worrall – 1870 William J. Hohnke – 1920 Samuel V. Lambert – 1880 Floyd R. Coss – 1955 James M. Pendergast – 1886 Thomas Carlisle – 1957 George M. Hawk – 1886 Jane E. Littrel – 1978 Lewis H. Johnson – 1887 Mrs. Dyan Roby – 1979 William B. Barkalow – 1897 Peggy A. Griffith – 1990 Chester W. Minshall – 1900 Joyce H. Hollenbeck – 1991 We know the post office was located in the lower level of the Royal Neighbor Hall in 1920 and at 119 Cherry Street in the 1930’s. When it became a fourth class service Mr. Hohnke was told he had to move it from the store. He couldn’t be postmaster and own another business. It was then moved to The Worrall Barbershop building, which is the present location.
Picture: Tom and Wilma Carlisle taken in the Post Office just before they retired. Tom was Postmaster and Wilma was a clerk for many years taken in 1978.
Picture: Norma Staley receiving a Service Award from Dyan Roby, Postmaster. Norma was retiring after 10 years at the Post Office.
Picture: Jim Stucker having just celebrated his 25th year with the Postal Service.
Picture: Atalissa Post Office with Joyce Hollenbeck, Postmaster, Deb Weiss, Warren “Howdy” Williams and Naomi Birkhofer.
Picture: A Christmas card received by Roy H. Barkalow from his Rural Letter Carrier.
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Picture: Joyce Hollenbeck in the Post Office
Picture: Doris McMichael in the Post Office
Picture: Naomi Birkhofer Rural Carrier
Picture: Warren “Howdy” Williams relief Rural Carrier
The Atalissa Saving Bank
The bank was built in the late 1880’s and the very first business was a drug store. There were several other businesses before it became the Atalissa Saving Bank in the early 1900’s. The first cashier was Ray Neimaster, after Ray Mr. Archibald and then Joe Nachbaur.
At one time the bank building held school in the upper story. Fred Croxen’s Aunt Alice Moore and Quartus Cornwall attended school there.
The bank closed in the early 1930’s due to automobiles making it easier to go to bigger towns to shop and do their banking. It housed many different businesses and even served as the bus barn in 1950’s. It was torn down in 1989 and turned into a city Park. The city of Atalissa supplied the funds and the Atalissa Betterment Committee did a lot of the work to make it nice for the children.
Picture: A copy of Stewart K. Arnold’s bank book
Railroad
Atalissa was born because of the railroad coming through this area. The Chicago Rock Island Railroad came through here in 1857. There was a large spring located here and was owned by William Lundy. Mr. Lundy owned eighty acres of land near the spring. He and John PG. Cook built homes and developed the community of Atalissa, which means Peaceful Valley. Atalissa is the only community to have this name today.
Alan Smith recalled it cost $.25 to ride from West Liberty to West Branch in 1940. The train was called the Zipper Train.
Returning home from the service it took Alan three hours to travel from Chicago, Illinois to Davenport costing $4.55. Now you could probably get a cup of coffee for that price in the Deport.
Some of the Depot Agents available to us…
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… were George Robertson, Harold Coiner, Don Cooney Kenny Stokes, Margaret Mantor in 1944-1945, and a Mrs. Larson.
Picture: The first Train Depot in Atalissa, before burning down.
Picture: The new depot after the fire shows Elmer Coss, Emerson Lamb, George Robertson, Depot Agent and the other two men were unknown. The photo was taken in 1912 compliments of Jessie Stewart.
Auctioneers
Tony Herrold is an auctioneer with Herrold and Herrold of West Liberty.
Don Dickey is also an auctioneer in Atalissa and he is kept quite busy here and around the countryside.
Picture: Don Dickey all dressed up and ready for an Auction.