GROWTH & IMPROVEMENTS |
The population of Minburn increased each year,
from 222 in 1880, to a peak of 430 in 1915. For several years after
that, it decreased slightly each year until 1940. Since then there has
been a small increase each year. The last census in 1960 gave the
population as 357.
Harold Hunter has been Mayor of Minburn since 1953, and Russell Hawbaker
has served as Town Clerk the past 20 years. The present Council members
are Miles Webster, Richard Reiste, Lloyd Payton, William Moss and Arlo
Haymond who has served in this capacity over 30 years. Jim Cody is
Treasurer, and Lester Huggins is Town Marshall.
Other town mayors have been: |
Joseph Pratt |
|
-1907 |
W. Nourse | | 1907 -1912 |
J.D. Schaffer | |
1912 -1914 |
O.J. Basart | | 1914 -1918 |
L.U. Mortimer | |
1918 -1922 |
E.H. Little | | 1922 -1926 |
O.A. Bever | | 1926 -1942 |
P.O. Thompson | |
1942 -1953 |
|
S.H. Jones was town clerk until 1909. Following him were: |
J.D. Schaffer |
| 1909 -1911 |
O.J. Basart | | 1912 -1914 |
R.W. Boyd | | 1914 -1915 |
A.H. Nelson | | 1915 -1949 |
|
Others who have served as council members
include: L.R. Raney, Stanley Belden, Darrell Ingram, Donald A. Bassart,
Delbert Kimrey, William Warren, Oscar Hays, Vernon Bundy, Harold Hunter,
J.C. Crawford. Philip Basart, Fred Hagenstein, Guy Mitchell, L.V. Dugan,
L.B. Swartz, P.O. Thompson, Glen Marsh, James Hinchcliff, Lon Clark,
Harry Smith, H.V. Brenaman, R.W. Butler, George Voas, E.H. Shaw, G.W.
Clark, J.C. Untied, J.S. West, E. Welch, C.C. Sundby, J.D. Schaffer,
L.W. Nourse, O.J. Basart, W.J. McMullen, B.E. Gottschalk, S.R.
Gottschalk, O.W. Bever, George Shirley, Frank Hoover, Newt Brown, Albert
Hagenstein, T. Weddle, Wilson Nourse, Henry Belden (grandfather), Jim
Roush.
Electricity was brought into Minburn in 1915. Prior to that time the
town was lighted by oil street lights, with lamp posts on nearly every
corner. Lem O'Mea was the lamplighter of long, long ago.
A great many municipal improvements have been made in the past few
years. In 1952 a water tower and water system was installed. In 1957,
the town purchased land adjoining Elmwood cemetery, thus more than
doubling the size of the cemetery. The new part is restricted to the use
of flat, ground-level grave markers.
In 1957 the town purchased the Gilbert Clark Plumbing and Heating
building and remodeled it into an attractive Public Library and Town
Hall.
A new insulated steel building was erected in 1966, to be used as a
combination fire station and maintenance building. The windowless
structure is lighted by means of fiber glass doors, and is heated.
Another big event in the progress of Minburn was the start of natural
gas service September 14, 1966.
Late in 1967 work was started on a Sewage Lagoon, constructed one mile
west of Minburn. The cost of the project was about $77,000. There are
two pools in the lagoon, each about 2 1/2 acres in size. Minburn is one
of very few small towns to have such a fine system of disposal.
In the past 5 years practically all of the streets in Minburn have been
black-topped. |
U.S. POST OFFICE |
Postal service was first established in Minburn
on July 6, 1857, with the name being Pierce Point. It was changed to
Minburn on April 29, 1970.
The records show Postmasters to be as follows: |
Post Master | | Date of Appointment |
Samuel S. Wilson | | Juy 6, 1847 |
Daniel West | | October 6, 1857 |
Andrew Bray | | November 14, 1861 |
Isaac Warford | | February 9, 1965 |
Wm. S. Beall | | March 29, 1865 |
Jesse B. Hill | | November 4, 1867 |
Fayette H. Baker | | April 12, 1869 |
A.C. Nims | | July 15, 1870 |
John Warford | | February 23, 1872 |
Charles V. Brown | | May 16, 1879 |
John C, Craig | | April 6, 1880 |
D.L. Bligh | | October 30, 1885 |
Fred G. Anders | | June 25, 1889 |
Leonidas H. Jones | | December 4, 1893 |
E.K. Albin | | August 23, 1893 |
William E. Flynn | | September 29, 1893 |
Francis M. Little | | February 15, 1896 |
Leonidas H. Jones | | June 21, 1897 |
Minnie B. Crawford | | December 13, 1900 |
Lemuel Warford | | July 27, 1909 |
Arthur D. Smith | | January 3, 1911 |
Hazel N. Luellen | | May 3, 1911 |
Hazel N. Luellen | | September 22, 1914 |
Opal N. Mortrude | | May 22, 1919 |
Harry L. Brenton | | January 18, 1922 |
Anna A. Meek | | May 14, 1923 |
Marie Henderson | | May 27, 1935 |
Lillian E. Wicks | | October 10, 1937 |
Thursa L. Hinchliff | | October 31, 1954 |
|
The names of the Postal Clerks who have served since 1921 are as
follows: |
Clerk | | Period of Service |
Ethel Creswell | | 7-1-21 to 9-30-23 |
Lena B. Scott | | 10-1-23 to 9-30-24 |
E.L. Meek | | 10-1-24 to 9-30-31 |
Norma M. Voas | | 10-1-31 to 6-30-34 |
Lillian E. Wicks | | 7-1-34 to 10-9-37 |
Henrietta L. Voas | | 10-10-37 to 2-29-48 |
Thursa L. Hinchliff | | 3-1-48 to 10-31-54 |
Fae Mitchell | | 11-1-54 --- |
Jean Wright | | 11-1-54 --- |
|
The present Postmaster is Thursa L. Hinchliff,
and the present clerks are Fae Mitchell and Jean Wright.
Rural Free Delivery Service was established here on July 1st, 1902, the
first carrier on Route No. 1 being Frank C. Clement. He served on this
route until April of 1910. John C. Warford was the carrier from May 1,
1910, until May 20, 1918, when J. Henry West was appointed. Mr. West
served as rural carrier for more than 41 years. His retirement became
effective Dec. 31, 1959. "Mac" Shirley was substitute carrier until the
appointment of Lyle Collogan October 29, 1960. After seven years of
serving the Minburn patrons, Collogan was transferred to another post
office. Charles W. (Bill) Mueller has been carrying mail here since
November 4, 1967, have combined Minburn and Dallas Center route.
Route No. 2 was established 11-2-03, with Eugene E. Clement serving from
date until 3-13-17. C.C. Armstrong carried this route until 1-31-40, at
which time I.M. Shirley became the carrier. He served this route until
it was discontinued on 3-31-41.
Route No. 3 was established 12-15-05, with Charles H. Jones being the
first carrier. He served until 2-21-08. John Shelley was the carrier on
this route from 2-22-08 to 4-15-08, at which time it was taken over by
Hale H. Tuttle who carried until 11-30-09. Sam W. Fisher was the carrier
from 12-1-09 to 1-15-10, and Wm. A. Clement from 1-16-10 until the route
was discontinued October 15, 1915. |
MINBURN TELEPHONE CO. |
The Minburn Telephone Company came into being in
the year of 1903.
The first manual magneto switchboard was located in the Ed Basart Drug
Store, which was located near the present skating rink. It was later
moved upstairs, where it remained for a number of years until finally
being moved to the building it was housed in until the time of dial
conversion.
Ed Basart was responsible for obtaining the switchboard and establishing
the ringing code that was used for 62 years. According to the best
information now available the first operator was Kitty Basart Hays, and
it is interesting to note that the last operator at the manual
switchboard before cutting to dial was her daughter Elsi, Mrs. Malford
Kinney. At that time it was not unusual to have as many as 20
subscribers on a line.
Although there may have been other managers, the best information at
this time other than Ed Basart were: Milt Bever, Heck Kline, George
Slaughter, Dick Osborne, Joe Slaughter, and P.O. Thomspon, who served
for a period of 32 years. The present manager, Darrell Cornelison, has
been with the company for 18 years.
The town was cabled in the year 1928, by a contractor named Mr. Lake.
All trenching was done with a spade. One of the workmen was the late
John Taylor. This cable was used until 1965, and was then abandoned in
favor of the more modern plastic insulated type.
Records show the board members over the years were: N.P. Black, Harry
Hill, George Burket, Marion Webster, Lester Crumley, Francis Slaninger,
Dr. Lester Dugan and P.O. Thompson.
Present board members are: Harold Hunter, Pres.; Ralph Burket,
Vice-pres.; Russell Hawbaker, Sec-Treas.; and the Directors are Everett
Shaw and Wm. Brewer.
Operators remembered by many are: Kitty Hays, Edith Dawson, Goldie
Gander, Ilo Smith, Merle Shipley, Perry Moss, Irene (Thompson) Mitchcell,
Lena (Hagenstein) Myers, Lulu Crotts, Sadie Ballard, Mary Purdue, Verva
Gardiner, June Andrews, Helen (Gottchalk) Smith, Alice Crawford, Lennie
Brenaman, Lena West, Marie Mitchell, Fae Mitchell, Pearl Bever, Ethel
Miller, Mary Ann (Bever) Warren, Jean Wright, Elsie Kinney, Velma
Thompson, Irene Kinney, Penny Sue (Kinney) Henderson, and Shirley
Cornelison.
The stockholders voted in favor of a dial system, with buried
facilities, for a cut-over scheduled for June 29, 1965. At this time the
previous name of Minburn Mutual Telephone Company was changed to the
present Minburn Telephone Company. The company has the distinction of
being one of the first few 100% single-party customer service facilities
in the United States. Free service between Perry and Minburn was also
established at the cut-over date. The company now serves approximately
365 main stations with a total of 500 stations in service. |
DALLAS COUNTY SAVINGS BANK |
The Dallas County Savings Bank was founded by
N.P. Black in 1914. In 1927, he left Minburn and opened the Perry State
Bank. At that time, October 15, 1927, Lester Crumley became cashier of
the Minburn bank, where Marcia Luellen Carris was assistant cashier.
Directors at that time were N.P. Black, president; W. H. Royer, Albert
Storm, George Huffman, and R.W. Harrison. There was $350,000 on deposit
then, compared to more than $2,000,000 in 1967.
In 1928 the Dallas County Savings Bank merged with the Minburn Savings
Bank, located in the present post office building. At that time the
Minburn Savings Bank was staffed by Jerry Cunningham and Lena Scott
West.
The controlling interest in the bank was bought by Rex McCreary and
George Armstrong of the Perry State Bank, in July, 1963. At this time,
Bergen Raynor of Perry was named as Cashier, and Mr. Crumley was
advanced to President.
In 1965, extensive remodeling made the bank an attractive, modern
establishment, comparing favorably with banks in larger towns.
In May, 1965, Marcia Carris retired from the bank after more than 48
years of service. Mr. Crumley retired in March, 1967, having served as
Cashier for nearly 40 years. Another faithful employee of the bank, "Rosey"
Cummings, retired as custodian in April, 1967, at the age of 84, after
nearly 50 years of service.
Mr. Raynor had a sudden heart attack and died while decorating graves at
Elmwood Cemetery on Memorial Day, 1967. At this time Mr. Crumley
returned to the bank for temporary service.
Jim Cody, formerly of Cylinder, Iowa, joined the bank staff in November,
1967. In January, 1968, controlling interest in the bank was bought by
the Garst family of Coon Rapids.
The present Board of Directors includes: George Armstrong, President;
Jim Cod, Vice president and Cashier; Dr. Lester Dugan, Arlo Hymond,
Stephen Garst, and Kenneth Joslin. Mrs. Harold Smith is assistant
Cashier. |
MINBURN COOPERATIVE ELEVATOR |
The Minburn Cooperative Elevator was organized
on October 1, 1945. Previous to that time the company was known as the
Farmers Elevator Company. There were two employees to run the business
in which they bought and sold grain, feed, seed, tile, coal, and they
also custom ground grain for farmers. The grain holding capacity at the
time was approximately 40,000 bu. Existing buildings at that time were
two wooden crib elevators, wood annex, wood corn crib, two coal sheds
and a small feed warehouse. Shortly after the Coop was organized the
annex, corn crib and coal shed were removed from the south elevator and
the feed grinder was also sold.
In the past twenty-four years the Coop has grown to where it now has
eleven employees and has the following improvements: Feed Mill, metal
feed warehouse, concrete elevator, one original wood elevator, two wood
annexes, three steel grain tanks, six government flat storage grain
bins, metal shop building, bulk dry fertilizer plant, anhydrous storage
tank, three liquid storage fertilizer tanks, six petroleum storage
tanks, new office and truck scale, and numerous trucks, tractors and
fertilizer spreaders. The Coop grain storage capacity at present is
approximately 730,000 bu. The services offered have been expanded to a
complete line of fertilizer, petroleum products, feed grinding and
mixing, seed, tile, farm chemicals, and grain buying, selling, storage
and drying.
Stanley Belden was named manager of the Elevator in May, 1968, after
being an employee nearly 17 years. |
HAWBAKER HARDWARE STORE
"The Everything Store", slogan recently adopted by Russell Hawbaker,
owner, pretty well describes Minburn's hardware and variety store.
Russell purchased the store in 1955 from his father, Earl Hawbaker. He
had assisted his father in the business since it was established in
1937. His wife, Ruth, often helps him at the store. Russell is Minburn's
general "handy-man" -- he is an excellent sign painter, fixes small
appliances, figures income tax, and paints pictures When seeking
information, folks just naturally "ask Russ".
BROKAW PHOTO STUDIO
The photo studio is located in the old telephone building which was
purchased and remodeled by Bernard Brokaw in May, 1966. After August 15,
1969, the building will be converted to a commercial print shop by
Basart Printing and Publishing. Mr. Brokaw, professional wedding and
portrait photographer, has been in the photo business 13 years. He will
continue to operate his studio at his home 1 mile north of Minburn.
NISSLY INSURANCE CO.
The Nissly Insurance business was taken over by John Nissly on January
1, 1961. He has an office in his home. The business was formerly
operated by his uncle Martin Nissly.
KWIK WASH LAUNDRY
The coin operated laundry was opened May 1, 1960, by Mr. and Mrs.
Bernard Brokaw in the former produce building they purchased from Vern
Bundy. The business was sold to Mr. and Mrs. Harold Smith in June, 1968.
JACQUELINE'S HOUSE OF BEAUTY
The local beauty shop is operated by Mrs. Larry (Jackie) Dolan of Perry.
She opened the shop August 1, 1968. It is located in the Photo Studio
Building.
BILL'S BARBER SHOP
Bill Elder of Adel has operated the barber shop in Minburn since January
14, 1964. He comes here Wednesdays all day and evening, and Thursday
evenings. It is located in the laundry building.
EASTER GROCERY & LOCKER
Mr. and Mrs. John Easter, newcomers to Minburn, operate the local
grocery and locker, which they purchased in June, 1965, from Mr. and
Mrs. Everett Shaw.
WEBSTER TRUCKING
Miles Webster, better known as "Mike", has operated Webster Trucking for
20 years. He is currently operating four trucks. For four years he and
his father, John Webster were partners in the Minburn Produce.
NICHOLS GARAGE AND SAW SERVICE
George Nichols operates the Nichols Garage and Saw Service at his home
west of Minburn. In the kitchen of their country home Mrs. Nichols has
built up quite a business in making cakes for special occasions,
especially weddings.
SNYDER D-X
Lee Snyder purchased the Basart D-X Station July 15, 1967, from Phillip
Basart, who had owned and operated the station since 1941. Lee is native
of the Minburn area.
MICTHELL TRUCKING is operated by Merle Mitchell, who
has been in the trucking business about 23 years. He now has four units
in operation. Prior to 1966, his brother Lowell was associated with him
in the business.
KIMREY ELECTRIC
Delbert Kimrey has operated his own electrical business the past 6
years. He recently completed construction of a 25' x 60' building in
Minburn, to be used as a warehouse and office space. "Del" has been
doing electrical work for 22 years.
HUNTER OIL CO.
Harold Hunter, owner of the Hunter Oil Co. opened his station in Minburn
in 1941. Daryle Thompson is presently manager of the station.
KENNETH JOSLIN, area farmer, is president of Gruel-Omatic,
Inc., U.S. and Canadian distributor for Gruel-Omatic liquid hog feeding
equipment and ANCAR buildings and equipment The company office and
warehous is in Grimes.
THOMPSON SERVICE
Glen Thompson has operated a general repair and welding service for five
years at his home farm two mies east of Minburn.
MINBURN VETERINARY CLINIC
The new veterinary clinic and Cockrum home was built in 1963, when Dr
R.H. Cockrum became a partner of Dr. Lester Dugan, who had been
Minburn's veterinary since 1932. "Dick" moved here from Ames. Dr. Dugan
retired in 1965, but continues to help when needed.
SUBURBAN LUMBER CO.
Leonard Kollman and Don Taturn, of Waukee, purchased the Hanson Lumber
Co. in April, 1966. Prior to the new ownership, Ronald Masters had
managed the Hanson Lumber Co. for 25 years.
J.C. UNTIED has been representative of Sunburst Memorials for 36 years.
"Jap" also worked as a masonry contractor for many years.
SANITARY DISPOSAL HAULING
Forrest Hickman has served Minburn as garbage hauler for 11 years.
George Beaver also has a garbage route here.
SIMMER CAFE
Keith and Shirley (Mishler) Simmer have operated the local cafe the past
ten years. It was formerly operated by the latter's mother, Nellie
Mishler.
MINBURN OIL CO.
Bill Freeze has been owner and operator of the Minburn Oil Co. since
May, 1955. Bill has been in the oil business practically all his adult
life, having operated a station in Dexter 14 years before coming to
Minburn.
WRIGHT PLASTERING, INC.
Wayne Wright has been in business 17 years as a plastering contractor.
He operates the business from his home in Minburn. They have done work
in 16 states, and have employed as many as 25 men at a time.
WENGER INSURANCE CO.
Lloyd D. Wenger transacts insurance business from his home at the north
edge of Minburn, where he also farms the land.
THE MINBURN BOOSTER
The local newspaper is located in the former Dr. Hinchliff office
building which was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Brokaw in 1958.
Until recent years, the publishers of the weekly newspaper also did job
printing, including telephone directories, cook books, church program
books and bulletins, and Christmas letters. The Brokaws have published
the Booster, which they founded, since 1954, and in June, 1969 sold it
to Donald E. and Myrna Basart.
THE DALLAS COUNTY MAINTENANCE BUILDING is located in
the former Rittgers Garage which was operated by Bob Rittgers for
several years.
FARM-EL-SERVICES
Kyle Reed is owner-operator of the corn drying and storage equipmet
business known as Farm-El-Services. He has operated the business from
his home near Minburn, the past five years.
STINE SEED FARM
"Bill" Stine was in the farm seed business 25 years before his son Harry
joined him in the enterprise three years ago. They now have an extensive
soybean and oats processing plant at their farm in Washington Township.
GLENN CUSTODIAL HOME & APARTMENTS
Mr. and Mrs. Lee Glenn own and operate the Glenn Custodial Home in
Minburn. The recently constructed apartments are at the rear of their
home.
THE MINBURN PUBLIC LIBRARY is open Tuesday afternoons
and offers a variety of good reading material.
HYLINE POULTRY FARM, northeast of Minburn is operated
by "Bud" Erb. |
MINBURN SCHOOL |
The new Public School at Minburn was dedicated
March 20, 1915.
Invocation for the program was given by Rev. Marie Davies, and the
benediction by Rev. A.F. Conrey. Speakers for the occasion were C.W.
Lyon, Miss Carolyn Forgrave, County Superintendent, and Gilbert Clark,
President of the School Board.
Members of the Board of Education were Gilbert Clark, President; A.F.
McQuie, Treasurer, and O.A. Bever, Secretary. Directors listed were G.L.
Clark, W.N. Crawford, T.M. Hill, C.C. Sundby, D. G. Danner, and E.J.
Rowe, Director-elect.
Faculty members were Mrs. Verva Johnson, Principal; Mae Huckaba,
Assistant Principal; Ruth McCall, Grammar; Ora Benson, Intermediate; and
Ellen Bloomburg, Primary.
There was no grade 12 here at that time. The enrollment for 8th grade
was ten, 9th grade had sixteen, 10th grade had eleven, and there were
nine enrolled 11th grade.
The "senior" class included the following: Lovell Burkett, Hazel
Burkholder, Verle Carris, Edith Hill, Archie Nourse, Evelyn Rowe, Vera
Shelley, Elsie Sundby, and Mabel Yard. There were also two post
graduates listed, Josephine Hingely and Laura Boyd.
The 10th graders were Lillian Bloomberg, George Burkett, Lucille Clark,
Leslie Dills, Harry Hill, Lyle Nourse, Elizabeth Weddle, Edna Welch,
Paul Wood, Della Thompson and Don Scott.
Included in the 9th grade were Hazel Bartlett, Arylene Clark, Vera
Dills, Lavere Eveland, Leo Eveland, Mabel Edmundson, Bertha Gottschalk,
Lena Hagenstein, Ruth Hill, Mildred Luellen, Harold Rayhorn, Jeanette
Seibert, Pauline Slaughter, Florence West, Harry West, and Clarence
Hill.
Eighth graders were: Dorothy Boyd, Lula Burkholder, Isabelle Crawford,
Aaron Hill, Ruth McClain, Vivian Nelson, Carl Schoonover, Laura Welch,
Raymond Boyden, and Floyd Burket.
The past years have seen many changes in the local school situation,
just as it has all over the nation. During the period from March to June
of 1947, the Minburn district extended the boundary lines to include
rural districts in surrounding townships. In January, 1958, the first
new addition was dedicated, followed by the reorganization which
established the present territory.
Past superintendents or principals of the school in Minburn include
(dating back to 1904): E.R. Monroe, P.L. Sager, E.L. Meek, M.N.
Mitchell, Verva Johnson, Myrtle Sharon, Mr. Cornwall, Lawrence C. Smith,
Ivan Seibert, A.F. Silkett, James Duncan, Martha Dugan, Frank Lindeman,
Wayne Deledge, Leo Willadson, Dick Wilcox, Lloyd Johnson, Robert
Thompson, Rex Deputy, H.A. Hofer, and the present Supt., Kenneth Mallas.
The will of Frank W. Hoover, who passed away in 1957, named the Minburn
School District as the residuary beneficiary of his estate. The gift of
around $30,000 was designated to be used to benefit the boys and girls
of this community. A portion of the money was used to install the
lighting equipment at the Athletic field, install the lighted tennis
court, and purchase 11 sections of bleachers. The curtain for the school
stage was also purchased at that time. |
REORGANIZATION |
The Central Dallas Community School District was
given a 91% approval by the voters in an election held July 16, 1957.
There were 523 votes in favor of the reorganization and 48 opposed. The
district, as voted, included 92 sections of land with an assessed
valuation of $5,600,000. It included all of the Minburn, Washington
Township and Mayflower Districts, and part of the Gardiner District and
Lincoln Township. The new district became effective July 1, 1958.
The Gardiner School building, which was built in 1918, was closed in May
of 1961 and was sold four years later. It continues to stand vacant in
1969. The Washington building is used for elementary grades. |
|
Having been built onto several times during past
years, this is a view of CENTRAL DALLAS SCHOOL, from the northeast, as
it is at the end of the century. |
FRANK AND ANNA HOOVER |
HOOVER ADDITION |
When Mrs. Frank (Anna) Hoover died in September,
1961, she left a bequest of $84,696 to be used for the benefit of the
community, with the Board of Education in control of its expenditure. In
May, 1963, 179 voted "yes" and 28 "no" thus giving the Board authority
to spend the bequest on an addition to the Central Dallas School
building. The new Hoover addition, including an excellent, modern
library was ready for occupancy in the fall of 1964.
The Minburn community will be eternally grateful to Frank and Anna
Hoover for their wonderful generosity and community spirit.
In 1969, the Board of Education is as follows: Harry Bice, president;
Wayne Wright, Earle Reves, Richard Hoffman, Howard Goldsberry; Carolene
Hays, district secretary; Darlene Smith, treasurer. |
"SINGING WHEELS" SKATING SHOW |
In 1951, a small group of about 20 members of
the Minburn Roller Club presented the first skating show, as part of the
Fall Festival entertainment. They were directed by John Sanders, music
instructor at Minburn School at that time.
The annual Fall Festival was sponsored by the Minburn Community Club,
organized in 1946. Proceeds from the first festival were used toward
construction of the 100' x 50' concrete outdoor skating rink. The rink
was built in the spring of 1948, with labor donated by local men who
were interested in the youth of the community. Wednesday and Friday were
public skating nights, and a big time in Minburn. Various local
organizations operated the Food Stand, and stores stayed open. Many
times it was difficult to find a parking place on these nights.
For the first few years of the skating show costumes were furnished
individually by participating skaters. Later, material was bought by the
Community Club, and women of the community made the costumes.
In the ensuing five years, "John Sanders" and "Singing Wheels" became
known all over Iowa. The production rose to fame and a cast of 150, with
an estimated 10,000 persons coming to Minburn to see the show during the
three nights of production.
In 1956, Sanders left the community, and "Singing Wheels" was capably
carried on by Jackie (Mrs. Harold) Snyder and Dee Thompson, local
residents, who enjoyed working with young people. Mrs. Fern Fitz, now
deceased, came from Panora to assist in designing costumes. Anyone who
could skate, 3 to 60 plus, was welcome to participate in the show, which
was a community-wide cooperative project.
After 11 years of production, "Singing Wheels" was discontinued, leaving
many happy memories for the "Small Town with a Big Heart". |
|
THE MILITARY NUMBER was the closing number, and
one of the favorites, of the "Singing Wheels" productions. Only high
school age or older were included in this group each year. |
CENTENNIAL CLASS |
This is the 1969 graduating class of Central
Dallas Community School. Front row, left to right: Vickie Smith, Vicki
Wise, Mary Lou Culp, Susan Siglin, Nancy Little, Cathy Sheehy. Middle
row: Dan Collogan, Karen Payne, Gail Belden, John Blake. Back row: Chris
Downey, David Kenyon, Keith Lawshe, Keith Williams, Michael Fagen, Paul
Culp.
Inset: Roger West. Pictures of two other members of the class, Jan
Paschell and Terry Culp, were not available. |
MINBURN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION |
The organizational meeting of the Minburn
Business Association was held on June 5, 1967. The purpose of the
business people orgainzing was to promote activities in Minburn for the
benefit of the community.
Harold Hunter was elected president, Darrell Cornelison vice-president,
and Thursa Hinchliff secretary-treasurer.
The need of such an organization stemmed from the dissolving of the
MINBURN COMMUNITY CLUB, which had been active since 1946. During this
time they had sponsored Fourth of July Celebrations, Halloween and
Christmas parties, fall festivals and the skating show, and had charge
of operating the skating rink. This organization had served the Minburn
Community well, but due to lack of interest in later years, there was
too small an attendance at each meeting to continue. At a special
meeting May 29, 1967, the current officers resigned and the club was
declared dormant. The club's funds and properties were turned over to
the M.B.A. to be used for worthwhile community activities.
The M.B.A. has sponsored Fourth of July Celebrations, Halloween parties,
and teachers receptions the past two years. In the past year they
devoted most of their efforts to planning for the Centennial
Celebration. |
President
DWIGHT EISENHOWER as he waved his hand in greeting to a large group of
local people as he passed through Minburn September 20, 1956, enroute to
Boone. The President was standing up in his Lincoln convertible "bubble
car". Mrs. Eisenhower was seated at his side. The Minburn School Band,
in full uniform, and the Band majorettes were on hand to "play and
twirl" a greeting to the President and his party. President and Mrs.
Eisenhower spent a night in Boone at the home of an uncle and aunt of
the latter, and the next day appeared at the National Field Days and
Plowing matches southwest of Colfax. |
THIS IS #4 SCHOOL IN 1902. IDENTIFICATIONS
WERE NOT AVAILABLE. |
THIS AERIAL PHOTO OF MINBURN, LOOKING NORTH, WAS TAKEN JUNE 26, 1969.
-- Brokaw Photo (Click on photo for large view) |
THESE ADS WERE CLIPPED FROM COPIES OF THE
MINBURN STAR AND THE MINBURN CRITERION, FROM THE EARLY 1900'S |
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