Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, March 23, 2006

The Ellston community is planning to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the founding of the town.

The quasquicentennial event will be held Saturday, June 17. Activities being discussed include a parade, art show, antique car and tractor show, food, musical entertainment and museum show.

The events are being co-sponsored by the American Legion Post #541 and the American Legion Auxiliary. The Legion is sponsoring the evening barbecue, entertainment and auction.

The next planning meeting for the event will be held Thursday, March 30, at 7 p.m. at the Ellston city hall. Everyone is welcome to share their ideas and make the day a success.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, October of 2012

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, June 15, 2006

Ellston will have a day of celebration Saturday beginning with the opening of the antique car and tractor show and art show at 9:30 a.m.

The day will also be the grand opening of the Red Brick Winery in Ellston. A pictorial postmark will be available for the event as well.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. there will be a flea market, petting zoo and the Pioneer History Musuem will be open.

At 12 noon, Pumptown will play and there will be lunch and homemade ice cream served.

There will be a parade at 2 p.m. followed by The Dance Connections children's activies and games.

The American Legion will serve a supper at 5 p.m., followed by entertainment from Linda NICHOLS, Barry BURTON and friends.

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, June 22, 2006

Ellston marked its 125th birthday, Saturday, June 17, with a day-long celebration with activities for all.

The "parade of flags" was an entry in the hour-long parade which was enjoyed by a large crowd.

Twenty Ringgold county artists displayed 46 exhibits during Ellston's 125 year celebration this past weekend in the Hazel Glen Country School located on the Pioneer Historical Museum grounds.

A variety of work was on display including three-dimensional pieces of a wood carving, a basket and a wall hanging woven of natural fibers.

A sculpture entitled "Hope" showed a bird's nest made of barbed-wire with robbin's egg blue wooden eggs. A gourd was tranformed into a treasure box with a fitted lid and an antler handle. Two painted saw blades, plus a woven fabric decroative wall hanging and rug completed the sculptures.

Paintings in oil, watercolor, ink, pencil, acrylic and charcoal/pastel depicted landscapes, animals, birds, people, butterflies, flowers, automobiles and events.

Some of the artists were available to talk with more than 150 people who viewed the show.

  

At left: Parade marshals Marion Creveling and Lucille Jackson rode in style in the horse-drawn carriage by Greg Jobe.

At right: Ellston Belles and Darlene's card players were set to "party on."

  

At left: Pumptown Band entertained during the noon meal.

At right: Marilyn Wilkey's parade entry, "Casino Taxi" probably insures getting riders into Trouble(s)

Hester DERSCHEID participated in the Ellston quasquicentennial parade as one of the card players on the float sponsored by Darlene's Place. The Blackmore Corner Friendship Club also had a float with quilters on it. The club was organized in 1930 and the ladies met and quilted. It was started as a way to honor neighbors who had passed on and to provide flowers for funerals. The members on the float were Darlene MORGAN and Elaine TURTOR with Jeannette WILLIAMS driving. Larry Ford, a candidate for supervisor, was unable to attend but his daughters, Laura and Mary, grandsons, Dan HAUER and Andy FORD, and Andy's daughter, Riley, represented him.

Photographs courtesy of Mount Ayr Record-News

Transcriptions by Sharon R. Becker, September of 2012