Parks

City Park (Sharpsburg, Iowa)

City Park (Sharpsburg, Iowa)

Between 1927 and 1941, the Taylor County town of Sharspburg was one of five in the area to participate in a Home Talent Chautaqua Circuit. The arrangement created annual five-night chautauqua events, with one town presenting a program each night. The Sharpsburg chautauqua was sponsored by the local Women’s Christian Temperance Union group, and event profits were used for community improvements.

While the chautauqua circuit was discontinued in 1941, accumulated income was invested so the WCTU could continue to enhance the Sharpsburg community. In April 1967, the group voted to use the funds for a city park. They purchased 4 lots of land to present as a gift to the city and its residents. The park was equipped with picnic tables, swings, slides, and the pictured storage shed.

Sharpsburg dedicated the new park on July 28, 1967. Business firms joined the WCTU in sponsoring the celebration, which included a tractor pulling contest at 9 a.m., kid races and bicycle races at 1 p.m., and a free barbecue in the evening. Pony rides were also available, while lunch was served by local churches.

Post Offices

Post Office 52530 (Agency, Iowa)

The first post office in Wapello County was established in the community of Sac and Fox Agency on December 23, 1843. By 1849, the name of the office was changed to Agency City, with the word “City” officially dropped from the name in 1883. Since 1938, the Post Office has been located in a two-story brick building which houses the City Hall, Public Library and Olive Branch Masonic Lodge #21.

Churches

First United Methodist Church (Fort Dodge, Iowa)

The First United Methodist Church in the Webster County seat of Fort Dodge can trace its roots to 1851 when a traveling preacher came to the community. The church was officially organized in 1855, with a small white frame building constructed for services within three years. A new building was constructed in 1873 before the current brick structure was built in 1915. Extensive renovations were made to the historic facility in the early 2000s, including the installation of new heating and cooling equipment along with a re-carpeted and redecorated sanctuary.

Public Libraries

Public Library (Palmer, Iowa)

Public Library (Palmer, Iowa)

The public library in the Pocahontas County town of Palmer moved to its current location in 1975. That year, grant money combined with proceeds from the Palmer Jubilee allowed a former chicken hatchery to be purchased for use as a community building. Though the building originally housed the city hall, it now is used exclusively for the community library.

Resident Hazel Metzger led the push to get the library into its new facility and served as librarian until her death in 1981. Bernadetta Howie served a two-year stint before Sally Butcher took over in 1983. She retired at the end of 2011; Ramona Miller is the current librarian.

Churches, City Halls, Public Libraries

Town Hall and Public Library (Plover, Iowa)

Town Hall and Public Library (Plover, Iowa)

The Town Hall and Public Library in the Pocahontas County town of Plover dates to December 8, 1889, when the 26 x 40 feet building was dedicated as the first permanent home for the Plover Presbyterian Church. Constructed at a cost of $1,800, the church was active for 75 years before merging with the nearby Presbyterian Church in the county seat of Pocahontas. It shortly served as an Open Bible Church before being sold to the town in the early 1970s. After some remodeling, the building was repurposed for use as Plover’s town hall and library.

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