| MUSCATINE COUNTY IOWA | |
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Organizations
The Atalissa Union League was organized on January 20, 1863. The officers elected were President W. W. Watters, two Vice-Presidents were Sam Croxen and M. Shellhamer, the Secretary was William PG. Barkalow and the Treasurer was F. G. Waterman. This organization was formed because of the Civil War. Many good citizens felt more should be done to quell this horrible war and Party’s weren’t the answer. Any person wanting to help preserve this wonderful country was welcome in the Union League. The members felt true Patriotism was more important than any Political Party. All true patriots of the United States were called upon to unite in the efforts to suppress the rebellion going on in the country.
Picture: Masonic Hall
In the 1880’s the Masonic Order was given its charter as Ionic Lodge No. 122 in Atalissa. After a few years it purchased the wooden building at Third and Cherry known as the Johnson Brothers, then the Minshall Building and later on the Chesebrough Drug Store. After the Masonic Lodge purchase it, it was known as the Masonic Temple. The Ionic Lodge and the Order of the Eastern Star held their meetings in the upper floor. The lower floor was for parties and social functions. A fire destroyed all the records, a duplicate was issued on June 7, 1866 by the Grand Master Edward A. Gilbert. The officers at the time were Simon Shetler, W. M, C. W. Lundy, S. W, Charles Collison, J. W, C. W. Minshall, secretary, John Miller, treasurer, Harvey Lewis, S. D, William Wiese, J. D, and J Vauble, Tyler.
William Wiese organized the Order of the Eastern Star No. 426 on February 2, 1909 in Atalissa. Information received from Jim Stucker’s Grandmothers scrapbook show these people were charter members:
Mr. and Mrs. S. H. Archibald Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Johnson Mrs. Martha Bonham Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Kline Mrs. W. L. Black Mrs. Louise Lamb Mrs. R. E. Brisbane Mrs. Emma Stucker Mrs. J. W. Crees Mrs. Pearl Turkle Miss Alice Crees Mrs. E. V. VanHorne Miss Luella Crees Mrs. Jacob Vauble Mrs. M. J. Doyle Miss Etta Wiese Miss Emma Fiderlein Mrs. Emma Worrall Mrs. L. H. Heberling In the later part of the nineteenth century the Good Temperance Group owned a two-story building on the eastside of Cherry Street. It was used for traveling shows and local entertainment. Ed Speers and son had a grocery store and harness shop on the lower floor until the big fire in 1901 or 1902 destroyed the building.
The Modern Woodsmen of America Lodge was organized in 1894. The officers were James A. Fiderlein, V. C, William Grigg, W. A, Jake Vauble, banker, W. H Jones, clerk, I.S Pepper, escort, Jesse Stauffer, sentry, Charles Riddle, watchman, C. C. Croxen, J. W. Mellick and John Schnier, managers.
In the 1930’s and 1940’s the Royal Neighbor Lodge was very active in Atalissa. In 1914 it was located on the upper floor of the Bank building. It then moved to a building that was between the Post Office and Rick VanDusen’s house. The Ladies would meet every Tuesday for quilting bees. Dances, skits and a teenage night for the…
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... young people were also held.
Picture: Royal Neighbors 1932, back row Henrietta Schmidt, Mrs. George Champman, Ida Coss (far back), Edna Cooney (far back), Lillian Garvin, Leota Staley, Lil Eusler, Fern Thomason, Unknown, Sadie Staley and Martha DeVore, middle row Geraldine White, unknown, Myrtle LaFrentz, Daphne England, Vinnie Marticke and unknown, front row unknown, unknown, Fern Cogs?, unknown and a Pallet.
Picture: Royal Neighbor Hall 1961, Dick Sehleman and Terry Heathman
The opera house was built in the early 1900’s and was destroyed by fire in 1917.
Over the years several clubs in and around Atalissa were: Penn Avenue Club, Penn Avenue Grange, Champion Hill Club, Community Club, Get-to-Gather Club, Town and Country Club and Senior Citizen’s Club held at the Zion Lutheran Church and Camp Fire Girls.
Mrs. Mary DeVore was able to share with us the members of the Champion Hill Club in 1945. They were as follows Neat Miller, Florence Hinkhouse, Theresa Passmore, Treva McKillip, Beryl DeVore, Lillian Schmidt, Hilda Hinrichs, Gertie Kole, Helen Lanker, Edna Tharp, Mildred Omealia, Eda Smith, Fannie Smith and Maxine DeVore. Club members would get together to play games and have lunch. The name was changed to the Get-to-Gather Club later on.
Picture: Get-to-Gather Club tour at Grain Processing Co. 9-18-1960, front row left to right Valeria Stark, Ethel Burnett, Treva McKillip, Jean Ann Phillips, Florence Hinkhouse, Lois Nebergall and Bertha King. Back row Elsie Phillips, Shirley Hinkhouse, Audrey McMichael, Wilma Schofnit, Dorothy Carlisle, Grace Stucker, Eleanor Staley and Rosemary Wertzbaugher.
The Penn Avenue Progressive Club was formed on January 13, 1938. The charter members of this club were Ruth McFaddon, Ruth Hadley, Hulga Jensen and Larry, Geneva Billick and Joyce, Emma Stucker, Rosie Beh, Laura Phelps and Wesley, Ada Smith, Lena Foley and Louise Rummells.
The Penn Avenue Grange held their meetings at the Penn Avenue School.
The Community Club supplied many different forms of entertainment over the years.
Town and Country Club
The Camp Fire Girls had a campfire bacon and egg fry at Weise Slough in 1930.
Picture: Campfire Girls 1930 at bacon and egg fry at Wiese Slough. Back row Marjorie Roth, Mildred Smith, Mabel Smith, Yvonne Martin, Wilma Carlisle and Elma Oepping. Middle row Verlee Arnold Williams and Helen Zimmerman and front row Martha Ridenour.
The Goshen Township club was formed in 1938, it is now known as the Goshen Gladiators 4-H Club. Ernest Burke and Lester Corriell were…
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… first leaders and corn and dairy were main projects. Members who answered roll call the first year were Lee Tipton, Lauren Freyermuth, Dale Freyermuth, John Newman, James Newman, Donald Passmore, Lauren Jarrett, Virgil Jarrett, Guy Flater Jr., Leslie Hendriks, Russell Hildebrand, Leighton Passmore, Alvin Jarvis, Jean Ann Lindle and Betty Nauman.
The Goshen Wapsie 4-H Club was organized in September of 1928. Mrs. George Askam was the leader.
Picture: Senior Citizen Club
Picture: Easter hats on display at the Atalissa Senior Citizen potluck, first place winner was Dorothy Garvin (left), second place Theresa Passmore (right) and third place Lota Gerdts (center)
The Atalissa Betterment Committee
In 1991 a group of women formed The Atalissa Betterment Committee. The President was Ruth Streets, Secretary-Historian was Vada King-Baker, Treasurer, was Gracie Gritton. Marge Colton, Charlene Stillman, Sheila VanDusen, Connie Werling, Donna Blick, Maryann Gatzke and Carol O’Neill.
The group was formed to help those in need in the Community. We have held several fund raisers such as, soup suppers, garage sales, and dances.
Some of the funds were used to buy and install playground equipment for the City Park, and helped in rebuilding the basketball court across from the Lutheran Church. There have been Halloween Parties and an annual Easter Egg Hunt for the children. A Senior Citizen Christmas dinner is held each year. The Club gives each person attending a little gift plus there are many donated gifts that are given out after a wonderful meal. Santa visits each year and music supplied by local people with the singing of carols. The gifts are donated by area merchants and are greatly appreciated by all. The club purchased Christmas decorations for the City of Atalissa which are put up each Thanksgiving.
Picture: ABC’S annual Christmas senior citizen’s dinner.
Picture: The children getting ready for the annual Easter Egg Hunt.
Pg. 60Picture: Hayrack Ride the ABC’S had for the children of Atalissa
Picture: Men are hanging the Christmas Lights so the town would look nice.
Picture: Here we have another group at the Breakfast Evelyn Stiles, Gracie Gritton, Vada Baker and Grace Stucker.
Picture: Some of the seniors who came to our Breakfast to give information for the book, Dorothy Garvin, Norma Dickey, Wilma Carlisle and Jessie Pearl Stewart.
Picture: Getting some well needed rest time after working in the park Vada Baker, Sheila VanDusen, Ruth Lovetinsky, Jeanne Herrold, Gracie Gritton and Pattie Ray.
Picture: Cindy Schmidt giving Cody Lascala of Fruitland a check to help pay for his treatment for Cerebral Palsy.
Atalissa Fireman’s Ladies Auxiliary
In 1979 the wives of the firemen decided they wanted to form an Auxiliary since they always helped their husbands with all the events every year. They met in July and voted on the name The Atalissa Volunteer Fireman’s Ladies Auxiliary. The charter members were: Arlene Passmore, Judy Passmore, Gert Coleman, Sandy Peterson, Penny McKillip, Sharon Wilson, Maryann Gatzke, Marilyn Smock, Barb Rock, Donna Blick. Dyan Ruby, Barb Lanker, Mary White, Evelyn Hinkhouse, Linda Samuelson, Elaine Bergman, Jan Welsch, Cindy Schmidt, Kay Hammons, Joan VanDusen, Barb VanDusen, Ellen Coleman, Char Madsen, Diane Coleman, Shirley Smith and Pat Schroeder all joined later. The goal was to help the firemen raise money for new fire equipment. The ladies also helped the firemen with Sunday Breakfasts, Soup Suppers, Spaghetti Suppers, the Alumni Banquet and Atalissa Day’s.
The first money raising event the auxiliary had was a garage sale The goal was to raise enough money to get the firemen new helmets. The goal was reached plus many more over the years. The auxiliary bought tables and chairs, helped with a freezer (paid half), a new refrigerator, Air Pack, nozzles for the hoses and First Responder equipment (medical). They also got raffle prizes for Atalissa Days and bought a power washer for the guys to wash the trucks.
In 1997 the remaining members Evelyn Hinkhouse, Penny McKillip, Mary White, Sharon…
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… Wilson, Jan Welsch and Maryann Gatzke stepped down and let the new members take over the Auxiliary. We served for many years and needed new members. We are happy the club is doing well and continuing the tradition of helping the men. It would be a very sad community if we lost our dedicated firemen. The new Auxiliary consists of Kim Dickey, Pres., Chris DeVore Vice-pres., Brenda Spilger Secretary, Cindy Becker Treasurer, Doris McMichael, Sue Rock, Tami Plank, Mary DeVore, Ruth Grimm, Carol O’Neil and Bunny Willits. The ladies have been very busy since taking over and have done some good things for the Fire Dept. They’ve donated a brick to the Fire Fighters Memorial Wall, bought new roasters, have helped raise money for new overhead doors and purchased new dishes for the kitchen. The ladies host a Pancake-breakfast, have a Halloween dance and the Alumni dinner as yearly events. They cater private parties and hold other fund raisers throughout the year. They also help the fireman with Atalissa Day Celebration.
Picture: The Ladies Volunteer Fireman’s Auxiliary giving a Christmas party for the Henry Turkey Service men. Standing Kim Dickey with son, Jacob, Mary DeVore, Karla McKillip, Doris McMichael, Sue Rock, Santa Claus, Ruth Grimm and Christa DeVore. Seated Kim Campbell, Cindy Becker, Bunny Willits and Tami Plank.
Music Groups
In 1912-1916 Atalissa had an Orchestra and a Concert Band that played for the Community.
There was an Atalissa Band in 1949 consisting of Donna Phillips, Juanita Hinkhouse, Daphne England and Ralph Arnold.
The Rainbow Rangers were playing in the 1950’s. The group played for functions in and around Atalissa. They were teenage boys who decided to make music together. The Rainbow Rangers were Dale Thomas, Guy Hinkhouse, Phyllis Garvin, Bill McKillip, Gene Kopp, DeWayne Sharpless and Dick Garvin.
In 1950 there was a Muscatine County Rural Women’s Chorus that performed concerts at the different churches in the area.
Picture: Atalissa’s Concert Band in 1912-13. Front row Otis Arnold, Carl Phillips, Ed Hayes, John Hayes and Sigmund Histel. Second row Maurice Toyne, Harold Smith, Glen Toyne, Mat Stark, director, Vernet Hartman, Albert Wiese and Delmar Heston. Third row Arch James, Louis Staley, Dr. Ahrens, James H. Stucker, Archie Staley, Verle Miller, George Hartman, Bert Smith, Carl VanHorn and Hilbert Stucker.
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Picture: 1949 Atalissa Band left to right Donna Phillips, Juanita Hinkhouse, Daphne England and Ralph Arnold
Picture: Atalissa’s Concert Band enjoying a concert outside on a fine summer day.
Picture: 1954 Dale Thomas, Guy Hinkhouse, Phyllis Garvin, Bill McKillip, Gene Kopp, Duane Sharpless, Dick Garvin and Ed Garvin.
Picture: Atalissa Preparing for Barn Dance Frolic
In the large group are George Askam, Leland Billick, George McCoy, Arch James, Chet Passmore, Julius Sindt, Dwight Passmore, Kenneth Grunder, Mrs. Lyle Bridgeford, Lester Mitchell, Mrs. Carl Phillips, Mr. Phillips, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Carlisle, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Schmidt, Ray Billick, Fred Passmore and Mrs. Archie Staley.
Another performing group – each member of which will appear in costume shown - in the center picture are: Anita Wacker, Glenna Mae Wacker and Harold Wacker, Jr., roller skaters; Marilyn Birkhofer, toe dancer, and Dorothy Wolf, Geneva Foster, Helen Sterner, Mildred Lenker and Genevieve Oepping.