The Leon Reporter Leon, Decatur County, Iowa Thursday, May 06, 1915 THE REXALL FOUNTAIN'S BIG OPENING DAY. ______________ The second annual opening of the fountain at the Rexall Store last Saturday was a decided success. The store, which has the reputation of being the finest drug store in southern Iowa, was decorated with the flags of all the foreign nations. Old Glory, of course, outshining them all. Bell & Painter had issued an invitation through the newspapers, inviting everybody to call at the opening and be their guests and very early in the morning the crowds commenced to arrive, and long before noon it was hard to gain entrance to the store. At the door Misses Helen Deck and Dorothy Hull greeted the visitors, and after registering the ladies were presented with carnations, the gentlemen with cigars, and the children with colored whirlers and whistles. Of course, the big Rexall fountain was the attraction for the visitors. A special menu card with all the latest drinks, plain and fancy, and everything in the way of ice cream and fancy dishes, adorned each of the long row of serving tables which extended the entire length of the store. Irving Little was in charge of the fountain as chief dispenser, and with his assistants, Misses Ruby Gardner, Amy Benefiel and Freda Ferren, everyone who cared to eat or drink was served in just as careful a manner as on any other day of the year. The K. of P. orchestra furnished splendid music during the afternoon and evening. The only regret of the proprietors is that at times during the day and evening the crowd was so great that many could not get inside the doors. Some idea of the vast number of people who attended this fountain opening can be gained from the following figures: On the register at the door 1610 persons signed their names, 735 more than registered at the opening a year ago, and many visited the store during the day and evening who did not register on account of the big crowd. 1,000 carnations, 400 cigars, 720 whistles and 300 colored whirlers were given away. 50 gallons of ice cream and 557 ice cream cones were used, and hundreds of gallows of soft drinks, it being impossible to obtain figures. The Rexall Fountain is well known for the sanitary and cleanly manner in which it is operated, and the enterprising proprietors, Bell & Painter, are to be congratulated upon the success of their second annual opening. The fountain is one of the most expensive in the state, and everything is served at any fountain in the largest cities can be secured at this fountain. The expense of the opening like this one is something enormous, but Bell & Painter are mighty good fellows and want to treat the public once a year. Everybody who ever visited the Rexall Store, either at their openings or at any other time, is always treated right, for that is the motto of the firm, and is responsible for the big business which they have built up and which is increasing each year. Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2015

The Leon Reporter Leon, Decatur County, Iowa Thursday, May 20, 1915, Page 1 BIG FIRE AT GRAND RIVER. H. L. Van Nostrand's Implement House and J. F. Hines' Store Burned Last Wednesday ______________ At one o'clock yesterday morning the fire bell sounded its alarm and awoke the entire town and upon investigation it was found that the Van Nostrand implement house was on fire and that it had gained such headway that to save anything therein was an utter impossibility. The people turned their attention to the other buildings adjacent - the "Busy Corner" store and the Farmers State Bank. For a while it looked very much like the entire town would go and had the wind been a little stronger, what is today one of the liveliest little towns on the map would have been in ashes. No one can figure out anything but incendiaries, as there had been no fire where the blaze was discovered since the implement house was constructed. Just what the object anyone could have is another mystery, as Mr. H. L. Van Nostrand had no insurance compared with the stock he had stored in the building, and he informed us if he has an enemy in the world he does not know it. Others think it might have been the work of tramps, as they have found the back door open in the morning on several occasions. Be it as it may, no one will perhaps ever know how the conflagration first started, as the fire had made such headway that it was impossible to get into the building. The next building to catch on fire was the store of Mr. Hines. Here a great many of the goods were removed, but in bad condition, as it seems impossible for people to keep their heads in time of calamities of this kind. The loss will fall heaviest on Mr. Hines, as his building and stock came under the same blaze. The insurance carried by Mr. Hines and Mr. Van Nostrand will not cover their loss by at least fifty per cent. Mr. Switzer and Mr. Baker, owner of the implement house, had no insurance and their loss is a total one. The way the men, women and children turned out and worked, both in fighting the fire and trying to save the goods, was simply wonderful. They seemed to be trying to see just how much help they could render. It is needless to say that Grand River needs some kind of fire apparatus to fight fire with, for it has been said so often since the laws was incorporated that the little children are even aware of the fact. J. F. Hines' loss on building and fixtures will reach fully $4,000 with about half the amount in insurance. Mr. Van Nostrand's loss will be in the neighborhood of $2,000 with only $500 insurance. Mr. Hines could not say this morning whether he would rebuild this season or not and will not perhaps know until he gets his insurance adjusted. The lots where the implement building stood are owned by [illegible] Baker and he has planned to erect thereon the garage spoken of in our last issue. We all hope to see this corner built up again with good substantial brick buildings, which will no doubt be done whenever they are replaced. The city well proved that it was the right move in the right place, supplying water as long as water was needed. There should be at least two if not three more wells like it in town, and then we could have water, if nothing more. ~ Grand River Local. Transcription by Sharon R. Becker

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