hotel. Meals and lodging were provided for those who came to this area seeking homes. The first child born in McCallsburg, was Inez Fruitt, granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Smith. She was born in this hotel. A tiny paper was published carrying for the most part, the message of temperance. It was called the "Northern Light" and came out twice a month and was devoted to the interests of humanity and general intelligence. The press on which the sheet was printed had been used formerly by the Fremont Weekly Tribune, at Fremont, Nebraska.
The second store was that of N.B. Churchill followed closely by John A. Boston, and Mr. Solyst.
Other businessmen were: J. P. Hesson, Graves, Hendrickson and Griffith, grain and implements, Samuel Reid and The Boston Co. merchants, Reid and Silliman, hardware, John Peck and J.P. Hesson, stock men.
By September of 1883, oats were 18c per bushel, corn 30c per bushel, rye 40c per bushel, flax 94c per bushel.
In 1885, a school building was moved from the country into town. All was not happiness for our pioneer friends. Then, as now, sorrow came quickly and often in pairs. Although train-car crashes or airplane accidents, where several members of one family meet instant death, were unknown, there were multiple deaths occuring because of illness and often entire families, especially children, would die. One such case was the family of B. Frank and M.A. (Wells) Birch, whose six children died from diptheria.
Later three sons Howard, Clyde, and Charles and a daughter, Nellie, were born to this union. This family lived one mile east and approximately one-fourth mile south of McCallsburg on the west side of the road. Many present day members of this area recall Frank Birch, as he spent his retirement years in McCallsburg.
By 1890, J. W. Harden operated a restaurant and the first telephone exchange was located in the upstairs of this building. Al Synder built a creamery at this time.
Business was humming, and there was increased activity in McCallsburg, (which one book referred to as the capitol of Warren Township) and so it was the newspaper "McCallsburg Tribune" was started. Its first editor was Charles Beach, followed next by John Mills. The "Tribune" did a good job of reporting the comin's and goin's of local residents, the sorrows and joys, the "highs and lows" of life as they lived it. Additional information pretaining to the newspaper will be found elsewhere in this booklet.
Around 1900 two men by the names of Bullard and Drake came down from Radcliffe, built a building and started a bank. This building was used for many years as a Lutheran Parish house. These men also built a two-front building east of the present Dorcas Hall. A. P. Baer operated a general mercantile store there for many years. It was also during this time E.S.D. Kahr built the first drug store.
Now there was talk of a north-south railroad being built through the country. Warren Township began looking after its interests and one line did come through McCallsburg. The track was graded, a depot was built and town property advanced 500 per cent. There are now three churches, three general stores, two drug stores, two restaurants, two blacksmith shops, two elevators, two lumber yards, two implement stores, one furniture store, one harness shop, one shoe shop, and one creamery.
Our county Atlas, 1902, tells us there are now nine schools, three churches, two cemeteries, a Ravenmille Coal Mine, Section 27, and a coalshaft, section 34.
The soil of Warren Township will compare favorably with any in the state - dark rich loam just sandy enough to plow nice and make farming a pleasure. It is productive, yeilding large crops year after year. A failure of crops was never known in Warren Township. The roads are in good condition, farms are well tiled and land now sells readily for $75.00 to $80.00 per acre. In the town of McCallsburg property has advanced proportionately some lots selling as high as $250.00 each. The people of the town are contented and happy.
Excerpts from History of Story County or Iowa published in 1887. (1) McCallsburg expects to have a church, another railroad, and no saloon by the first of next March. (March 5, 1884). (2) The new firm of Smith Brothers are having quite a trade; and why should they not have? They are selling goods clear down at bottom prices. Prunes, fifteen pounds; Arbuckles coffee, seven pounds; dried peaches, fifteen pounds for one dollar; cotton batting, fifteen cents per pound; and prints from five to nine cents per yard. (September 2, 1885) (3) A large amount of pressed hay is being shipped from here. (March 28, 1883) (4) I have been interested in a decree of the superintendent of the Iowa Central railroad for some time, in regard to taking the authority to say how many men, and who, shall buy grain in McCallsburg. That is, they stopped John Peck from building an elevator and say they do not intend to have but one elevator here, nor allow men, or man, to load on track. We think this shot-gun policy. (September 2, 1885) (5) There is a coal famine at this place, but we hope to-day will bring relief. (January 13, 1886). (6) Easter went off quietly. (April 28, 1886)
McCallsburg did not sit back and let progress pass it by. People loved their town and there was a togetherness often lacking in present day small towns. They were interested then, as now, in some of the finer things and proved this by organizing a band, which became a popular addition to many of the more festive celebrations. Look in this booklet for the band pictures of yester-year, you'll see many familiar faces, and recall many humorous incidents.
McCallsburg boasted of its livery stable. It was very necessary for those who desired transportation to a nearby town, especially traveling salesmen, who might get to McCallsburg by rail and find it necessary to find other means of transportation to reach customers in neighboring towns. The livery stable also proved to be popular with the local "Romeos and Juliets" seeking a night "out of town."
The first livery stable was across the street from the present day school and later there was a livery