NEW SIDEWALKS BRING HAPPINESS

Perhaps it is difficult for the youth of the present day to understand the problems their great-grandmothers encountered when crossing early village streets. The roads were unsurfaced; after a soaking rain, they became a quagmire of deep sticky mud. Visualize, if you can, your maternal ancestor holding her ankle length skirts out of this goo with one hand, while attempting to maintain her balance with the other; each step an effort with the Iowa gumbo sucking at her boots. This during a period when showing the feminine leg was considered quite daring. Sidewalks were, indeed, happiness! Before the day of concrete, the street walks were constructed of boards; likely, crosswalks were of laid trimmed limestone. Stone walks can still be seen in Ossian today.

Ordinance 18 sets standards for board walks in town: The material to be used in sidewalk construction shall be good sound plank, two inches thick, to rest on three stringers, 2 X 8", and well supported. The width of said walks shall be 9 feet on Lydia to Mechanic Street, 5 feet on Main and 4 feet on all others.

Editor Carter describes these walks on wet days: "Like a pontoon bridge, sinking and rising under the pedestrian's weight."

An item in 1892 tells us that stone walk crossings have been laid from the Anderson & Gunderson store corner to the Gunderson corner. (This would be across Lydia on the north line of Main st.) And from the Gunderson corner to Mills drug store. (The Schroeder apartment building to the Schroeder Clothing Store.) Quite likely, the stone for these crossings was obtained from the F. Figge quarry near the creamery south of town.

On Oct. 15, I896, G. G. Oyloe laid the first cement sidewalk in front of his photo gallery. (This location is presently Ethel's Supper Club.) The Universalist Church followed with 50 feet of new walk the next year, and Klisart Brothers poured a new concrete walk in front of their new hardware store in 1899*

We suspect that the wooden sidewalks were rapidly replaced after the turn of the century; although we do have vague memories of a boardwalk in front of the Etteldorf general store as late as the early twenties.

1882

A meeting of the cemetery association was held at Sawyer's hardware store.

Mills and McWilliams have installed a new steam powered corn sheller in their elevator. It has a capacity of 3000 bushels a day.

The Ossian dramatic club presented, "The Flower of the Family", to a packed house in Calmar. Ervin's band played for a dance following the performance.

These teachers attended the normal institute this year: Lidia Collins, Mary Hoserud, Mary Scheidelmantel, Sarah Owens, Emma Freeman, A. E. Anderson, Elmie Nicholson, Dillia McMillan, Maria Peterson, Elizabeth Anderson and Bertha Anderson.

Charley Williams and Company shipped 1397 cases, plus 3500 dozen, eggs during the past six weeks.

James Kennedy has retired from the hotel business, leaving his son, Richard in charge of the Ossian House.

The Military Twp. vote on the Iowa prohibition amendment was: in favor--101; against—156. The amendment passed in the state.

Charley Mills new store is finished. He has moved his stock of drugs, medicine and sundries. The post office has also been moved to the new building. He now has a store, the locality, design and finish of which cannot be surpassed in this state. (This was the site, and probably the same building, now occupied by Schroeder Clothing.)

There will be a matched game of baseball between the Hubbell and Williams' teams. A purse of $50 has been wagered.

The total assessed valuation of the Ossian corporation has been set at $65,330. The taxes raised this year included: poll tax--$59; consolidated tax--$783.96;