All posts by Brian McMillin

Public Libraries

Public Library (Paullina, Iowa)

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Public Library (Paullina, Iowa)

When Boston resident Fred G. Frothingham died in 1896, $2,000 was given to the O’Brien County community of Paullina to construct a library building. The money was accepted and in 1907, Paullina residents voted to purchase a lot for the building and donated over $2,800 in additional funds to purchase the book and build the new library. The Fronthingham Free Public Library was dedicated March 5, 1908 with Iowa Governor Albert B. Cummins addressing the audience.

In September 1972, the trustees of the Grace Methodist Church in Paullina provided the city with a land lot and $5,000 toward the construction of a new library building. The new (and present) library construction was finished in in 1975; at time of completion, the facility was renamed the Paullina Public Library. Iowa Governor Robert D. Ray spoke at the official dedication in October 1975.

City Halls

City Hall (Letts, Iowa)

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City Hall (Letts, Iowa)

The City Hall is located between the Post Office and Public Library in the Louisa County town of Letts. Founded in 1855, Louisa was originally known as Ononwa. Confusion grew between Ononwa and the western Iowa town of Onawa, so city officials decided to change the name. At this time, the local Methodist Church was looking for a $600 donation for a bell and fixtures. The first $100 was donated by resident Madison Letts; in gratitude, townspeople voted to rename the town Lettsville. The name was shortened to Letts and officially incorporated as Letts in 1877.

Courthouses

Butler County Courthouse (Allison, Iowa)

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Butler County Courthouse (Allison, Iowa)

After much controversy, a two-story courthouse was constructed in the now-non-existent hamlet of Butler Center in 1860 at a cost of $2,000.  Though the Courthouse operated in Butler Center for twenty years, the village contained few businesses and was described in an 1875 atlas a place without “commercial or other importance.” Several communities, including Clarksville, Bristow and Shell Rock, sought to obtain county seat status, but it was ultimately awarded to the town of Allison and a new courthouse was in place in January 1881.

Several additions were made to the courthouse to keep up with the county’s growing needs, but by the late 1950s the building developed inadequacies and structural cracks. The board of supervisors state the building was beyond repair and finally, after three failed bond elections, in May 1973, a proposal to construct a new $940,000 courthouse passed with 72% approval. Construction began on April 14, 1974, and the new Butler County Courthouse was formally dedicated on December 14, 1975.

Features

Photo Follow-Up

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Several previously-featured places are in the news. Details in our special Saturday post:

  • St. Joseph’s Catholic Church (Featured January 18, 2011)
    After sitting vacant over two years, a wrecking crew tore apart the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in the Webster County town of Duncombe in March 2011. The church was built in 1907.
  • Gallery: Iowa Post Office Closings (February 27, 2011)
    According to Carroll radio station 1380 AM, up to 64 post offices in Iowa could be on the chopping block. They highlight the potential closing of the area town of Lohrville. In addition, the Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier notes Post Offices in Orchard and St. Lucas are in jeopardy.
  • Feature: Burlington Bees (June 16, 2010)
    Over the baseball off-season, the Minor League Burlington Bees team switched affiliates; it’s now the lower-level Single A affiliate of the Oakland A’s. Their first home game is Monday, April 11, when the Peoria Chiefs are in town. Schedule and ticketing information can be found on the Bees’ website.

St. Joseph's Catholic Church (Duncombe, Iowa)

Post Offices

Post Office 52749 (Fruitland, Iowa)

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Post Office 52749 (Fruitland, Iowa)

On June 1, 2007, a tornado twisted through the communities of Fruitland, Grandville, and Muscatine damaging or destroying more than 100 homes and businesses and causing $2.7 million dollars in damage. The Fruitland Post Office was among the buildings destroyed in the tornado, and for a while, the future of postal service in the Muscatine County town was unclear.

A town hall meeting was held September 25, 2007, during which time the U.S. Postal Service informed residents service would only resume if the city committed to rebuilding the post office in the same location where a lease agreement was in place. Moving the Post Office to a new location would require termination of the lease, resulting in formal suspension of operations that could mean a 4-5 year timetable to rebuild or even discontinuation of the Fruitland branch.

On October 9, 2007, the Muscatine Journal reported city officials were committed to rebuilding the Post Office at the same location, even if it required fundraising for building supplies and donated construction labor. A local committee was formed to manage the rebuilding process and coordinate with the U.S. Postal Service to ensure the new facility met current specifications.  Nearly 30 months later, construction was complete on the new Fruitland Post Office, which officially reopened February 18, 2010. The location is open seven hours weekdays, plus two hours each Saturday.