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Iowa News
from the
Postville Scrapbook
Page 1
Contributed to Iowa Old Press by Mary Durr
Sept. 7, 1900
Postville never gave such a sleepy impression as she did last week but the
terrific heat was to blame for this condition. Cooler weather will come
soon and bring new life to town.
Hearing an unusual noise on the street Tuesday, our first thought was -- it
is a threshing machine -- but it was an automobile of the largest kind.
This fine vehicle was driven with gasoline and could go 25 miles an hour.
It was occupied by a man with his wife and child who were going to the
vicinity of McGregor.
--
November 19, 1909
Night Marshal Ed Maroney has been instructed to discourage farm lads leaving
their horses tied to hitching post all night and until three and four
o'clock in the morning unattended. They will be instructed to drive into
the livery barns hereafter or the teams will be put there by the marshal at
the owners' expense.
--
February 1918
Local business houses are now operating on short hours because of the coal
shortage. Stores open at 8:30 a.m. and close at 5:30 p.m., daily except
Saturdays. Only a half ton of coal may be purchased at a time now,
according to Harvey Douglass, local fuel administrator, who recommended that
lodges call off all meetings for the time being; churches should hold union
services; bowling alleys and pool halls should open at 10:00 a.m. and
everyone should burn wood for heating wherever it is available.
--
February 1919
When grocerymen were brought before a dairymen's convention at Waterloo last
week to state why they persist in selling oleomargarine when Iowa creameries
are producing the highest grade butter in the world, to their astonishment
they were told that farmers are the biggest purchasers of oleo and some red
faces ensued among the program fixers.
March 21, 1919
Two inches of rain fell here over the weekend that filled cellars with
water, swelled the creek through south Postville, put Pearl Ellis'
blacksmith shop on an island and made the Gregg lumber yard look like a
lake.
Postville's cry for better light and power service will soon be answered. A
highline is being erected over the Mississippi river at McGregor and when
completed power will be available here from the hydro-electric plant at
Galena, Illinois.
June 6, 1919
Farmers of the district are sending petitions to Congressman Gilbert N.
Haugen to have the clocks in the rural districts set back to sun time.
Postville really has the paving bug, three more petitions are being
circulated in residential districts to have streets included in the
contracts now being considered.
July 1919
Postville is removing the hitching posts from its main street and along with
them will go the barnyard odors that have been so noticeable here since the
coming of the warm summertime.
Postage rates on letters will go back to two cents after July 1. The three
cent rate for letters and two cents for post cards in effect during the war
have been ordered discontinued.
August 1919
After May 1 soda fountains and confectioneries must charge a ten per cent
tax on all purchases. After that date a sundae that formerly cost
15¢ will be 17¢ each.
October 3, 1919
Rev. Hadwen Williams has been returned here as pastor of the Methodist
Church for another year.
It was 80 degrees in the shade here on October 2 and still no frost in sight
this fall. Even California can't beat that.
It takes $1.20 to buy a pound of butter and a dozen eggs this week, butter
jumping to 70 cents and eggs to 50 cents since last week.
November 1919
Max Shelhorn, an interned German sailor, who walked from New York to
Postville recently upon getting his release, has bought the fifty acres of
land from Wm. Dundee. Max has been working for Mr. Oehring since coming
here.
December 1919
Mayor W. H. Burling submitted his resignation at the council meeting on
Friday evening and A. L. Meier was chosen by the councilmen to succeed him.
Mr. Meier had held the office several years ago.
By order of Fuel Administrator Harvey Douglas all stores and business places
are now open only from 9:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Lodges are barred from
holding meetings and churches are limited to one service per week until the
shortage of fuel is alleviated. During the moonlit nights all street
lighting is also dispensed with.
--
July 1920
The town has the king drag out polishing off the dirt streets. Have a good
look, folks. After these same streets are paved the dragging will be a
thing of the past. And it can't come too soon to suit most of us -- the
paving, we mean. A car of sewer pipe arrived here this morning and the
Dearborn Construction Company should soon get started on the contract.
--
Interesting Items Taken From the Files of the Postville Herald of Thursday,
June 23, 1921
- Put it down on your calendar that on the first day of summer, June 21,
1921, the first cement was laid on the first street paving project in
Postville.
--
Nov. 1922
West Union and Elgin are doing their darndest to have No. 19 (now No. 18)
rerouted to leave Postville out, and propose to have the road go via Elgin,
Gunder and thence over the old Clermont-McGregor road. But they aren't
making much headway, according to last reports.
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