Constructed in 1914, the dark red brick Iowa Falls Post Office is one of 31 properties in Hardin County on the National Register of Historic Places. The building stands on a foundation of North Carolina granite and features four marvelous columns 30 inches in diameter and 22 feet high. The 450-square-feet lobby retains much of its original white oak woodwork, marble terrazo floor, and vaulted ceiling. Postal service was first established in Iowa Falls in February 1856.
The Castle Theatre originally opened in the Delaware County seat of Manchester on June 25, 1935. Considered state-of-the-art at the time, the movie house not only featured a well-appointed theatre room with a seating capacity of 500, but also the latest motion picture equipment from Western Electric Company. When the community received word the theatre was planned for closure in 2009, a group of Manchester residents formed a non-profit group to raise money to purchase the theatre and make plans for its long-term operation.
After taking over ownership of the Castle Theatre in September 2009, members and friends of the Friends of Castle Theatre group have spent hundreds of hours cleaning the lobby, concession area, and auditorium. Additional investments were made to repaint the lobby and upgrade the theatre projection equipment. Following the initial round of improvements, the theatre reopened with a fresh look on October 23, 2009, and a formal grand opening celebration was held the following month.
For movies and showtimes, visit the Castle Theatre website or call (563) 927-5726.
In 1995, the Buena Vista County of Linn Grove authorized construction of a new building to house the community center, city hall, fire station, and library. The library, which dates to 1923, has been in the space since April 1996. The library’s first permanent location was in the back of a local general store.
The Shelby County community of Kirkman constructed a new community center in 1992, using proceeds from a celebration held in June to mark the 100 year anniversary of the town’s incorporation. Used for graduation and birthday parties, local organizations, and wedding receptions, it is one of a handful of non-residential buildings remaining in the small community. Students living in Kirkman attend school at buildings in Manilla and Irwin as part of the Irwin-Kirkman-Manilla (IKM) school district.
Construction of a new community building was jumpstarted in 2004 when the late E. Lucille Miller left the Hancock Community of Corwith with a $100,000 donation. The state-of-the-art building includes city offices, the Public Library, and the Post Office. With a population of 309, the community has seen other improvements from private donations: Corwith native Bill Bonnstetter purchased the former Baptist Church and remodeled it for use as a spacious community center, and local business Hawkeye Pride Egg Farm committed $200,000 toward a new fire station, to be constructed in early 2012.
Corwith is part of the Corwith-Wesley-LuVerne School District. A recent article in the Mason City Globe Gazette noted the district high school had the highest average ACT score in Iowa for 2006-2007, and has averaged over 23 points three of the past five years. (The national average score is 21.2.)