HERITAGE VIGNETTES by Marilyn A. Bekker

IN THE CITY

Bloomington was the former name of the present City of Muscatine. It was platted in 1836 as Newburg, but within a year the name was changed to Bloomington, which it remained until 1849 when it became Muscatine. Bloomington was the name of the post office from 1839 to 1849. At earlier times, the names were more colorful and descriptive. As a steamboat fuel stop it was known as “Casey’s Landing” or “Casey’s Woodpile.” Before that time, passing steamers once called the location “Grindstone Bluffs.” Another long forgotten name for the site was Horsetooth Landing.”

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Muscatine…an unusual name. In a letter written February 17, 1852, Antoine LeClarie wrote: “The word is a sort of combination of an Indian and a French word; Mus-qui-ta, the Indian word, means ‘prairie’; the French added the termination ‘tine’ to ‘Musquita’ and the compound word ‘Musqui’ or ‘Musquitine’ means ‘little prairie’. The Indian word ‘menis’ means ‘island’; ‘ashocota’ means ‘fire’; ‘musquaw’ means ‘red’. The Indians used to call the island at your place “mus-quo-ta-menis’ which means ‘Prairie Island’. Co. John Vanater (Vanata), an early Muscatine settler, who was also familiar with the language of the Sac and Fox Indians, agreed with LeClaire in his description of the origin of the name, Muscatine.

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Mascoutin Island, now called Muscatine Island, was written of as early as 1805. When Zebulon M. Pike, ascending the Mississippi River, made camp on August 25, 1805, he noted his location as on ‘la Grande Prairie des Mascoutins.” Pike also noted that no settlement would occur just up-river because of the sandstone bluffs which came to the river’s edge. This is the site where Muscatine is located. United States Agent, Thomas Forsyth, traveling up-river in 1819, noted that on June 21 he “encamped at the upper end of Grand Mascoutin.” Not long before the founding of the town of Muscatine, the artist George Catlin also stopped at Mascoutin Island and sketched the grand prairie that he admired.

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Muscatine was one of forty special charter cities in the State. The charter was issued in 1838 to the City of Bloomington by the legislature convened at Burlington. The City of Davenport was chartered at the same time. When Iowa became a state in 1846, a total of 15 cities had been granted special charters. In 1858, the granting of special charters to cities was ended by the passage of the first legislative act for the incorporation of cities and towns. Comanche, in Clinton County, was the smallest city in the state to have a special charter, granted in 1857. Of the 40 special charter cities, only Comanche, Davenport, Wapello and Muscatine still hold theirs.

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In February, 1839, Bloomington was incorporated as a town of the second grade and on May 6, Joseph Williams was chosen as its first president. Other officers chosen at this election were: Arthur Washburn, Benjamin P. Howland, and Henry Reece, as trustees; Moses Couch, recorder, John Marble, constable; and Giles Pettibone, street commissioner. The population in February, 1839 was 71, mostly men and only four or five children. Thirty-three buildings had been constructed, including dwellings, stores, shops, and stables. Only three buildings wee located north of Papoose Creek.

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An 1856 County Directory recorded some of the firsts of the area. The first child born in Bloomington was the daughter of Samuel Kinney born the spring of 1837. The first death, Mrs. J.W. Carey, occurred a little earlier that year. George Bumgardner taught the first school in the same year. The first schoolhouse was built in Bloomington in 1839. It was used for a long time as a church, schoolhouse and a public meeting house. The first sermon was preached by a Baptist minister named Lowren, in the house of Samuel Kinney in the spring of 1837. The first preacher stationed here was Rev. Norris Hobert, a Methodist. The first church was Methodist, organized in 1839.

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The first tax account records for Muscatine appeared on September 16, 1840. On August 8, 1843, the records show: “received of A. Blanchard for tax on dog, 75 cents.” This is the first account of a dog tax being collected in Muscatine. On the following day, Howe and Mabbie paid $5 for a circus license. Also, in 1843, the records show that lots in the old part of the cemetery in the third ward were placed on sale at $5 for the best ones. The cash receipts were $705.82 for the years. The town also collected two day’s road tax for every voter under age 45. If a man could not work, he could hire a replacement to do his job or pay 75 cents per day. At the end of the decade, the city had no debts.

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A test of the power of the Water Works Company to throw water for fire protection was held on July 12, 1878, and was successful to a point. Champion Hose Company succeeded in throwing a stream 80 feet from a point at the summit of Third Street hill. Excelsior Hose Company threw a stream equally strong at Fourth Street near the reservoir. In the midst of the test the water suddenly ceased. The problem was at the engine house where one of the pumps had burst. When pressure had been increased 150 pounds, one of the pumping cylinders had burst with terrific force. The break revealed two separate flaws in the iron. An investigation revealed similar flaws and cracks in the other pump. Both pumps, manufactured by Cope and Maxwell, were warranted to stand 300 pounds pressure and that company was liable for the loss.

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The central part of Muscatine had town mail deliveries beginning July 1, 1897. The change was made possible by the addition of another carrier on the local department. The balance of the City had one delivery, but all mail would be delivered by 1:00 p.m., none as late as 2 or 3 o’clock as had been the custom. Carriers left the post office on their first rip at about 6:45 a.m. and on the second at 9:30. Service was also extended on East Hill to include Monroe and Lincoln Streets and in Musserville to Demorest and the J.E. Hoopes Addition. Twice a day mail deliveries in Muscatine continued until April, 1950. Twice a day mail deliveries in Muscatine continued until April, 1950.

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Wagon delivery of Christmas packages began on December 22, 1909. Foot carriers, being relieved of packages, could deliver their whole route easily and the public no longer had to call at the post office for larger parcels. The mail wagon was well loaded on its first trip, but all packages arriving on the morning train were delivered by noon. One of the greatest features of the wagon was the delivery of packages on Christmas morning. Earlier in the month, patrons had been warned not to mark packages, “Do Not Open Until Christmas”, as this constituted a message and would require first-class postage.

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On May 13, 1899, Dr. James Weed deeded 63 acres on East Hill for a public park for the City. The grounds were a southeast portion of the Mary and James Weed property located on Washington Street. The magnificent oaks and the beautiful terraces which overlooked the Mississippi River were cited as special features. The property was deeded to the Muscatine Park and Floral Association. Late, Weed Park Club was organized for the purpose of park beautification. An agreement was signed by the members under which each pledged to pay a fee of 10 cents per year. Weed Park Club House was constructed and dedicated on September 27, 1907. It was destroyed by fire on June 15, 1930.

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In February, 1904 Muscatine boasted of having nearly none miles of brick street paving. This was a good showing in proportion to other cities in the state when size was taken into consideration. During the previous year, 1.06 miles were laid for a total of 8.91miles or 177,355 square yards. The average cost of $1.195 [check] per yard was much lower that many cities of the state. Muscatine also had something not possessed to any extent by any other city-about four miles of clam shell streets. These streets had concrete curbs and gutters and about 12 inches of shells and three inches of gravel, all having been rolled to make a fine road. The cost of this type of road surface was about 90 cents a lineal foot.

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In September, 1905, water mains to extend the city water district and to supply water to the Heinz Pickle Factory had to be laid under Mad Creek, which necessitated a trench 20 to 25 feet deep. The main connected with the end of the former water district at Tenth Street. The mains were laid by means of an “easy turn” and were about 10 feet below the Creek bottom. The mains being laid in Kecklerville had been taken out of the grounds in South Muscatine. Large additions to the Heinz plant were also being completed at this time.

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1913 – Muscatine was to have a new City Hall! After years of discussion, on April 7, 1913, the people voted approval of a $90,000 bond issue for a municipal building. The structure then being used, located on the northwest corner of Third and Sycamore Street, was built in 1845 for use as a church. It had been remodeled to serve the City. The new site selected had been the Hay Market on the southeast corner of the same streets. The contract was awarded to James Selden of Muscatine at the low bid of $67,999. The building was to be completed by May 17, 1915 and local contractors and products were to be used where possible.

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The retiring City Council met on March 18, 1920, with the new Council members attending. The Street Car controversy occupied a part of the mayor’s report. Mayor McNutt said that he considered the situation in Muscatine the best of any city in the United States. For the previous two years, fares had remained at four cents from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., which was only an increase of one cent over the 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. fare, while in the Tri-Cites, all had to pay a straight seven cent fare; in Kansas City, eight cents; and in Boston and most other Eastern cities the fare was ten cents.

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A city milk ordinance was passed on June 16, 1921. The ordinance provided for tuberculin tests of dairy cattle, effective July 1. Under the new regulation, no milk was to be sold for human consumption in the City of Muscatine unless it had been obtained from cows which had shown a satisfactory negative reaction to the tuberculin tests within the 12 months preceding. The tested cows were to be marked, numbered and a description identifying each animal filed with the City Recorder. The City food inspector could inspect, at any time, milk or cream from any herd supplying the local trade. The owner’s refusal to permit the inspection could result in a fine of not less than $10 or more than $100.

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In March, 1923, the City launched into the lighting business. It was small in the beginning, only six electric lights, but they were planned to be the nucleus for a new municipal electric light and power plant proposed to be operated by the City. Alderman B.D. Lilly presented the motion to a meeting of the City Council on March 1, 1923. It was unanimously adopted. Two lights were to be installed on Orange Street, two on Monroe, one on Stewart Road and another at the Fourth Street foot bridge where a hold-up had recently taken place. Power would be furnished by the Muscatine Lighting Company, however, the lights were owned by the City and would remain their property should the utility company give way to the City’s own plant.

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At the August, 1923 council meeting, Muscatine aldermen went into long debate before deciding to buy a motor driven street sweeper for the City of Muscatine. The councilmen were told that the sweeper would save 50% to 80% on street cleaning and would save its cost in a year and a half. The Elgin sweeper costing $6,500 would lightly sprinkle the dust and sweep it into a hopper for later disposal. The company advised that delivery could be made in one week. After hours of debate, the council voted to purchase one Elgin street sweeper.

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The decision that the police department of Muscatine needed a new car was reached in April, 1928, following reports to the Council that the bills for maintenance expense the previous year amounted to $528. The City would purchase a new Whippet at a cost of $645. The question of making the car with the name of the department was also discussed, but it was decided that to label the car would defeat its purpose since many trips it would make would be for observation. The department would have the advantage if not identified. A daily report of trips would be filed by the officers using it in order to stop criticism of the department as to improper use of the vehicle.

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Muscatine airport dates back to the days of the “Jennie” and “barnstorming”. In 1927, a local group formed the company known as Muscatine Airport, Inc. April 7, 1928, Muscatine’s formal application was mailed to the Bureau of Aeronautic officials in Milwaukee. On the same day, a government inspector was given a convincing demonstration that the airport site would permit take-offs and landings in all kinds of weather. In 1930, the deed was drawn, transferring ownership from the private company to the City. The Muscatine Airport Commission was officially formed in 1930. On September 3, 1973, a new terminal building was dedicated.

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“Just raise your hand to stop the coach and be our guest”. This was the invitation of the Muscatine Coach lines for Sunday, March 17, 1929. The free bus service was given to introduce the Muscatine community to the new transportation service. Eight new Mack coaches had been purchased, each carrying 25 passengers. Each seat was equipped with air cushions for comfort. The coaches had balloon tires, overhead lighting, heating systems of the latest type for uniform temperature, automatic ventilation and vacuum brakes for positive safety. The buses had aluminum surfaces with beautiful color finished of Egyptian lacquer. The street car franchise expired March 16, 1929 and they supplanted by motor coaches.

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New traffic lights were installed at the intersection of Front and Sycamore Streets in November of 1937. The lights were the first to be installed on all four corners of an intersection. The Illinois law required lights at four corners and it was expected that Iowa would follow suit and since new fixtures were being put up they should conform to any laws which might eventually be passed. Work was also under way with the installation of the same four light system at the corner of park Avenue and Washington Street. These lights, operating on their own regulator, would function 24 hours of the day.

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