Grant Center, Iowa

I found a picture taken of the old grocery & filling station store located at the small one time village of Grant Center. 

I grew up 1/2 mile north of this community. At one time there was this store, across the road was a grain elevator, to the south was a small post office, a large country school on the hill next to the post office. A train depot with living arrangements was along the Milwaukee Road railways. Supposedly the first name of this village was Hays Center and changed to Grant Center. I attended the country school for K-4th grade and then took the long bus ride to Mapleton. There were a number of houses that have long been torn down and not much besides this decaying building remains. It is referred to as a ghost town. I imagine someone has old pictures of this long forgotten village as many of my relatives at one time lived there. It would be a treasure to find them! 

I remember as a child riding my bike to this store and getting something for my mother. My first attempt at bike riding I remember very well as I pedaled the half mile on a gravel road with the aid of training wheels. When I got there some fellows teased me about having training wheels. Embarrassed, I went home and told Dad to get those extra wheels off. 

Grant Center became a haven for some wild nights as it was an out of the way place to go to sin! A small bar and steak house meals were offered and you had to join a club called the Falcon Club. It featured card games, drinking parties, and a food menu. I remember one neighbor lost $400 one night in a poker game. In the 1950's that was a huge loss. It was rumored that people from Sioux City and surrounding towns joined the club as you were unlikely to get caught doing something you wanted to be kept secret. More than one wife didn't know where their hubbies were! I remember the many beer cans littered along the country road to and from this old business. It is sad to see it settling into the ground. If those old walls could talk! Respectfully, Larry Lundeen

Grant Center train depot (two photos top right and left)