Postal service was first established in the Sioux County community of Maurice on August 25, 1882, when a post office was established in the home of resident Alanson Sherman. After a number of location changes, the Maurice Post Office moved to its present building in July 1943. The brick structure was remodeled in the late 1970s when new exterior paneling was installed and the large plate glass windows were replaced with smaller, energy-saving window panes. Maurice is home to 254 residents.
The first Catholic Church to be built in the Jasper County town of Valeria was constructed in 1892. Four years later, on May 24, 1896, a deadly tornado swept through the community, killing 10 and destroying numerous buildings, including the church. The church was rebuilt the same year and remained independent until 1911, when Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Valeria became a mission church of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Colfax. Following this arrangement, the priest resided in Colfax and was the pastor of both churches.
In 1996, there was no available priest to send to Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Newton to be the associate priest, or parochial vicar. The priest in Colfax became both the pastor of Colfax and parochial vicar of Newton, leaving Valeria without a priest. Instead of fully closing, or suppressing, the church, Bishop Franklin of Davenport designated Sacred Heart an oratory, or a sacred building under control of the Bishop. Rules concerning oratories very by diocese; for the Diocese of Davenport, oratories may be used for funerals and one annual mass per year.
Since Sacred Heart became an oratory, three funerals were held along with an annual mass followed by a picnic each June. Attendance initially was very good but steadily declined, and by 2009, the future of Sacred Heart was in question. On April 1, 2010, Bishop Amos suppressed Sacred Heart of Valeria as an oratory and returned it and all its contents to secular use. Though preliminary discussions were held to tear the church down, the City of Valeria asked to use the rectory next door and keep the church as a historic landmark. The church was sold for $1, with the city signing a covenant agreement to restrict building use; for example, it cannot be used for any worship service, wedding, or as an establishment that sells alcohol.
The first ‘free’ public library in Eagle Grove opened in 1902, when a growing book location was created in the reception room of the local Masonic temple. Shortly after, the community was offered a $10,000 grant to build a public library building in Eagle Grove provided the city came up with a suitable location and a small tax to cover upkeep costs. The community spent $2,000 on the corner lot, construction began, and the new facility was formally dedicated in September 1903. It was used as a library until a new, single-story location was built in 1976.
The historic Carnegie building is now home to the Eagle Grove Historical Society and Museum. A fundraising campaign is underway to provide much-needed restoration to the century-old building.
The pictured railroad depot in the Howard County town of Elma was constructed in 1901, after a fire destroyed the community’s original station along the Chicago and Great Western Railway. As the twentieth century progressed and railroad prominence declined, Elma saw the last passenger train stop at the depot on April 28, 1962. The depot remained open for freight travel purposes until 1971, when several depots were closed in favor of a centralized location in New Hampton. A decade later, freight trains were discontinued on the line, and track was removed in April 1982.
After sitting vacant for over ten years, resident Kenny Stevenson initiated the restoration of the historic Elma depot. The depot now serves as a museum highlighting rail travel in Elma and other local artifacts. It’s operated by the Elma Museum Board and open weekends Memorial Day through Labor Day.
This booklet was distributed when the Fayette County Courthouse in West Union was dedicated October 8, 1924. The ceremony included music from the Oelwein City Concert Band, Fayette County Consolidated Bands, and the Girls Glee Club from Upper Iowa University. The dedication was followed by a barbeque held in the square and an open house later that afternoon. Evening festivities included a band concert and dancing at the Courthouse and Opera House starting at 9:00 p.m. that evening.
The cornerstone was laid for the $300,000 project on June 21, 1923, just over a year after the previous courthouse was destroyed by fire. Constructed of gray Bedford stone, the dedication packet highlights the marble in the toilet rooms, offices assigned to the County Attorney, the automatic electric elevator, the third story rotunda and courtroom, which featured natural lighting and modern furniture. Over a third of the courthouse was funded by private donations from West Union residents.