In 1851, the first Catholic Church was constructed in the Wapello County seat of Ottumwa, in the downtown district north of the Des Moines River. A second church was constructed on the south side of the river 1883, with the pictured Sacred Heart Catholic Church constructed at the eastern end of the city in 1897. The parish operated for a century before closing in 1997.
The history of the public library in the Webster County town of Dayton can be traced to 1900, when a few women each purchased books for exchange. Books were housed in the back of the local bank with access for local children. In 1966, a new building was constructed to house the post office, city council chambers, and the public library. In 1993 the council chambers were relocated allowing the library to expand with an additional 420 square feet. The library is open four days each week.
When the Howard County town of Elma was established in 1886, water facilities consisted of private wells and cisterns. In 1914, a contract was signed with Des Moines Bridge & Iron Company for the construction of a water works system and tower for Elma. The 50,000 gallon tank sits on an 100-foot-tall steel trestle; a new well was connected to the tower in 1943.
The brick Hotel Williams was constructed on Main Street in the Jones County town of Wyoming in 1878. After nearly a half-century of operation, it discontinued operation as a hotel in 1932. The historic building has been repurposed as a local historical museum featuring a wide variety of displays. The collection includes items from early Iowa drug stores, old-fashioned showing machines, farm kitchen items, and a replica dental office and barber shop. It’s open Thursdays through Saturdays, May through September, or by appointment at (563) 488-3975.
Postal service was established in the Kossuth County town of Lakota in December 1892, though at that time the community was known as Germania due to the large German population. During World War I, the name was changed due to anti-German sentiments. The town was renamed Lakota, which means “allies” in the Teton dialect spoken by Sioux indians who once occupied the area.