A Christian Church of Christ congregation was first organized in the Van Buren County town of Stockport in 1892. Early worship services were held in the local hoop factory. By 1894, the church had grown to 32 members, and Tarpley Early Taylor led the effort to build the permanent (and present) facility. Tarpley’s immediate family honored his efforts in spearheading construction with the front stained glass windows.
On February 27, 1868, Mr. Isaac M. Christy received a letter informing him that a proposed post office named Lucas had been approved. The office officially opened a week later with Christy appointed the first postmaster. The current facility was constructed in 1974 with the design and construction representing the first area office built to the latest postal service guidelines. The steel building featured a concrete driver for loading and unloading mail. The post office is open six days each week.
Methodists have been in the Story County town of Maxwell since the town was founded in the early 1880s. Shortly after railroad track was laid through the community, services were held in a schoolhouse before a permanent church facility was constructed in September 1882. The church served members for thirty years until construction began on the present building. A cornerstone was laid on September 17, 1912, with a number of items including a photo of the current church, a copy of the discipline, a local newspaper and a list of building committee and board members.
The church building will celebrate 100 years on February 23, 2013. There are around 150 members.
This modest red-and-white welcome sign sits along the Lincoln Highway in the Tama County town of Montour. Established as Orford in 1863, the name was changed to Montour a decade later. The name Montour either came from a city in New York or county in Pennsylvania. Both originate from the Montours, a French-Indian family who were known as being very helpful to early European settlers.
The first post office in the Buchanan County town of Winthrop in 1861 with Abbott E. Dulton as the first postmaster. Postal service was originally established in the town in 1853 under the name of Pine. In addition to mailing services, early post offices stocked a number of goods, with 1881 newspaper ads highlighting a number of available items:
After being housed in a number of homes and storefronts, the modern post office facility was constructed on the northeast corner of Madison and 3rd Streets in 1999.