Located in Woodbury County in northwest Iowa, Pierson was one of over twenty communities across the state to debut new brick post offices in the late 1990s and early 2000s. In a Sioux City Journal article, postmaster Bonnie Saxen indicated she had been working with postal officials “for years” to get a new, larger facility. “Finally our dream came through.” The “dream” post office was roughly 1,600 square feet, almost three times larger than the previous facility. Postal service was established in Pierson in 1884.
Not much has changed over the last forty years in the Milwaukee Wiener House in downtown Sioux City. From the green formica booths to the old-fashioned cafeteria trays to the wood-paneled walls, you’ll step back in time when you step inside the front door and to the counter to order your food. A handful of menu items are displayed on the framed menu on the wall, split into three columns. Most diners will order a hot dog, taken from the large rectangular grill which sits along the front window.
The most common hot dog configuration is with mustard, home-made chili, and onions. Big eaters may need two or three hot dogs to satisfy their hunger, or choose from the handful of sides including soup, chili or chips. If you’re not a hot dog fan, try a hamburger patty topped with cheese and/or chili. After paying for your meal (with cash only), grab a seat in one of the booths along the wall. Several historic (and interesting) newspaper articles are framed throughout the clean dining area, or take a seat under the first mustard stick, which supposedly was used to top over 10 million hot dogs.
The Milwaukee Wiener House is open Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Iowa-Nebraksa Bank is one of a handful of businesses along Main Street in Hornick, a town of 253 residents in Woodbury County in northwest Iowa. The building, which dates to 1931, was originally home to State Savings Bank, established in Hornick in 1904. The present owners purchased the location in 1982. When the bank’s main offices were relocated to Onawa in 1984, the Hornick building was converted to a branch location.
The bank has undergone two name changes since 1984: first to Iowa State Bank in 1997, then Iowa-Nebraska State Bank in 2000 following a merger with Nebraska State Bank. The Hornick location has remained in place through the changes, with a drive through open six days each week. The lobby holds more limited hours, only open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
Retired Iowa farmers Richard and Donna Hamann surprised the community of Anthon in December 2004 by paying the electric bills for all residents and businesses in the town, due on Christmas day. Located in Woodbury County, the town of 650 people received another gift from the Hamanns the following year: a new memorial library building that was dedicated on October 15, 2005.
This former Mobil Gas Station was constructed in 1934 from local river and glacial stone. After over 40 years of operation, the full-service station closed its doors in the late 1970s. In 1999, the city of Correctionville purchased and renovated the vacant station, adding a new roof, floor, plumbing and electrical system.
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